Whitewater Golf Club 20th Season!
by Scott A. Sumner
If you were a golfer, there was a lot of excitement in the early 2000's when Bruno's Contracting decided to create a new golf course in Thunder Bay- Whitewater Golf Club!
I fully remember being taken through the process of the building of this beautiful course when Silvio from Bruno's Contracting would come by, pick up my father and myself and take us out for a tour of how the construction of the course was progressing. My father was an avid golfer from the age of 12 in Southern Ontario, and also was very instrumental in creating the Manitouwadge Golf Club. He really enjoyed seeing the course construction come along.
Silvio must have made hundreds of trips like this with potential members but always would say when I asked “This is my job.”
It was in the fall of 2003 that my father and I got to play one hole at the Whitewater Golf Club before it was open and that was an experience I will always remember.
Recently Whitewater held a special dinner for it's members, including some that have been at the club every year since its very beginning for 20 years. It was fun to see some of the original members at this dinner which I think number almost 50.
The course has seen many good achievements, including having five very successful PGA Tour Canada events, and also many, many rounds of play from the people of Northwestern Ontario and beyond.
It is also very interesting to see the growth of the residential subdivision adjacent to the course called King George's Park. In 2005 when we completed building a home in the subdivision there were five houses and four townhomes at that time. Today there are over 150 townhomes and individual houses which has certainly created your own little community. This summer, I've been told, the next street in King George's Park Drive will be under construction with new homes and paved this season to help complete this impressive community. There are building lots available if you want to experience living in a rural community.
The golf course itself is really a great asset for the community, designed by well-known Canadian architect Thomas McBroom. It is a championship course that you can definitely feel comfortable playing many, many times and not feel like it is boring. At almost 7300 yards it really is a championship golf course. I especially like the holes adjacent to the Kam River which are very scenic and basically right in nature. I think the course, when you get out and play, gives you the feel that Thunder Bay can offer the same amenities as much larger urban settings.
The team at Whitewater continue to advance the course with new golf carts this year as well as lawn equipment to prepare the course each day. I'm thinking, the future of Whitewater is good with new young management from the family involved to ensure it's continued growing for the next 20 years.
