Woodview Golf Course opens Saturday

WOODVIEW — Golf will come to Woodview on Saturday when the Woodview Golf Course opens for business on Northey’s Bay Rd., just off Hwy. 28 north of Peterborough.

The course has been “a lifelong dream” for owner Eric Challenger, a former IBM employee who runs a supplychain logistics company in Toronto, and his wife, Diane.

“We have been cottaging in the area my whole life,” said Challenger, 49, who lives in Whitby. “We weren’t born and raised there but we’ve grown up there on weekends and summers. The next chapter of our lives is to be there and run the golf course.”

The 2,742-yard, par-35, nine- hole public course occupies 300 acres off Hwy 28.

Challenger bought the property seven years ago and broke ground two years ago.

An official opening with area politicians in planned for Friday at 10:30 a.m.

“If people would like to see or walk the course they can to that, and we will be open for tee-off at 8 a.m. Saturday,” said Challenger, who describes himself as a casual golfer.

“I didn’t get out once last year, and I usually get out half a dozen times tops. It wasn’t a dream to have my own course because I am a golfer. It was more about a sustainable future for my wife and me, living outdoors and enjoying the countryside versus being in the city.

“Our family has basically done the design and a fair amount of the construction, but we have also partnered with some professional contractors.”

As well, he said, “We are very grateful to all the friends who have helped. We have had some very gracious friends who put their blood, sweat and tears to help us along the way.

“We’ve been all in for the last couple of years, working around the clock to get this venture up and running, and we are quite excited.”

Challenger described the course as “quite generous. It has gently rolling hills, and we have kept all the topography of the property natural to its environment and to the original land. We’ve made some beautiful cart paths through the woods and it’s quite nice.”

NOTE: For rates details, go www.woodviewgolf.ca. and more

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Submitted photo The first green at the Woodview Golf Course on Northey’s Bay Rd., which has its official opening Friday morning with first tee-off Saturday morning.