This document lays out the Strategic Plan for the Deep River Golf Club (DRGC) for the years 2024 to 2028. Although there are various methods and depths for the development of strategic plans depending on the size and complexity of the organizations, this plan is prepared with the understanding that the DRGC is a small member-driven non-charitable not-for-profit corporation with limited financial resources and which relies heavily on the volunteer efforts of its members. The plan attempts to cover all aspects of the operations of the club and keeps goals and actions manageable and measurable with the best interest of maintaining a sound organization on behalf of the members. Click here for more...

Hello to all! The course is in good shape, thanks to our greens' crew, a dedicated volunteer corps that showed up en-masse on Sunday to rake and clean and those that continue to tidy up the winter debris.

We are ready to open on Monday, April 15 at 10 am. The course hours will be from 10 am to 7 pm over the next few weeks until morning frost is no longer an issue. The kitchen will also be open, although hours may be shorter depending on how many people are on the course on those forecasted rainy days in April.

Drew will have Chronogolf up and running by Monday, and the pro-shop will be open for booking by phone or in person. Remember, only paid members, and those who pay green fees will be able to book tee-off times. Cheques for membership payment will be accepted in the clubhouse starting Monday, however visa or interac payments cannot be used for membership. The e-transfer option, of course, is still available to all.

Welcome back to another season of golf at the Deep River Golf Club. Two additional tee sets have been added for play in 2024. We now have five tee sets beginning at 4768 yards and increasing in approximately 400-yard increments up to 6438 yards. Golf is best enjoyed when playing the appropriate length of course, which can be determined using one's average 7-iron distance. Playing the correct set of tees should allow for a variety of approach shots where one can use most all clubs in their bag.

The two additional tee boxes were made possible when the current tees were re-rated as part of our membership with Golf Canada. The course and slope ratings decreased a bit resulting in a “course handicap” of one to three strokes less for a low and high “handicap index” golfer. This will gradually reset itself as scores are entered into the handicap system, so be sure to enter your scores. The new course and slope ratings for each tee set along with the 7-iron distance that best matches each tee set are shown below.

The familiar “green and black” tee markers will no longer be in use. Only the traditional white, yellow, red and blue markers will be set out and the three hybrid (or combo) tee sets will be colour mapped on new scorecards. The three hybrid tees have been named the River (former G/B), Valley and Shore tees. An example is shown below along with a revised handicap stroke allocation sequence.

If you have any questions, please contact Ian Muir (drgccaptain24@gmail.com) or Pam Yakabuskie (drgc.womenscaptain@gmail.com).

With the 2024 golf season soon upon us, it is time to get ready for League. Deep River Golf Club offers both A and B Leagues, which is a team match-play event (a.k.a. four ball). Each golfer plays their own ball and the team’s score on each hole is the lower of the two players net score. Both leagues are open to all with A League being played from the “White-Yellow” and “River” (formerly Green-Black) tees and B League being played from the “Red-Blue” tees. Each League requires eight teams of six players. League matches are played on Wednesdays with A and B League playing on alternating weeks.

A few changes are proposed for 2024. All matches will begin on Hole 1 (i.e., no Hole 3 starts). League play will also begin earlier in the afternoon. For those that can, League play will begin around 4:00 or 4:30 pm and a few tee times will be set aside for after the working day.

Members that participated in League last year can expect to be contacted by their team captain or can sign up individually. Those who did not play previously and are interested in joining League this year can sign up individually.

To sign up a team, or as an individual looking for a team, please contact Wayne Ladouceur (wladourceur@primus.ca) or Ian Muir (drgccaptain24@gmail.com) and be sure to specify A, B or both Leagues, if you are looking to join a team, and if your participation requires an after work tee time.

With the potential early opening of our club (weather permitting) all members are respectfully reminded that our course is closed for play until our Greens Director/Staff indicate an opening date for the season. This means that no one - except our Greens Staff - should be operating any equipment on the course. This includes e-bikes, regular bikes and power carts. We are looking forward to another wonderful season, so please help us make sure the course is in mint condition for our opening.

Thank you.

In recent newsletters we have discussed the desire to migrate to the Golf Canada handicap management system and have also outlined some of the benefits Canadian golfers receive with their GC membership. Another aspect of Golf Canada is their recognition and awards programs, particularly the National Facility Awards for Junior Golf.

We are excited to share the news that our Junior Programs have been selected by Golf Canada as one of two national finalists in the Junior Grassroots Program of the year in 2023. This is an annual National Facilities Award that is given to a golf club in Canada that demonstrates community grassroots programming aimed at developing skills and a love for the game (as well as having fun!) for girls and boys up to the age of 18.

As many of you know, our Junior Program was revamped in 2021 during the pandemic and has proved immensely popular with young golfers aged between 7 and 18. It consists of 8 afternoon sessions during the summer school vacation, organized by age group and golfing experience. Each group of young golfers starts with a 20-30-minute lesson and fun contests with our CPGA Golf Pro, Drew Calver. This is followed by on-course play for the remainder of the afternoon when our course is closed to allow our Juniors the opportunity to play at their own pace.

And new for the 2024 golf season is a junior program called “Little Putters”. This is a free program for girls and boys between the ages of 4 and 7. Equipment will be provided, as well as prizes and treats. As its name suggests, the focus will be on putting as young golfers may not yet have the strength to swing a club. Putting also allows very young golfers to achieve success and promotes life skills such as patience and good sportsmanship. More details on timing and registration for “Little Putters” will be made public in the Spring, so please stay tuned.

The "Little Putters" Program has been made possible by a generous donation and our thanks go to the Canadian National Energy Alliance and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories staff for their support in this year's Community Crowdfunding campaign.

The executive of Golf Canada will meet in mid February to announce their 2023 awards recipients and we truly hope that our club will take home gold. Regardless of the outcome, we can certainly all take pride in knowing that we are part of a little club that fosters junior involvement and supports programs created to help children succeed.

Board of Directors
Deep River Golf Club

Etransfer Up And Running

As of 10am today, November 8, our etransfer is again operational at (drgcaccounts@bell.net).

The deadline for the Early Bird Special with 3 great prizes to be won (draw at the Spring Meeting), is December 15. Membership forms are available on the Members Corner.

Etransfer

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our etransfer function is not currently operable. We hope to remedy this within the next week or even sooner. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Mailing address for the Club

For those who are mailing in their Early Bird membership, here is the mailing address:

• Deep River Golf Club
• P.O. Box 100
• Deep River, Ontario
• K0J 1P0

We thank you in advance for your support of our Club!

The DRGC course will be CLOSED to all golfers on Wednesday, November 2 to allow the Greens staff to treat the greens for snow mould.

The Clubhouse is now closed for the season.

Please use the ball rack for tee times until the course is closed for the winter.

If you are not a member, please pay $10 per 9 holes in the collection box by the first hole.

See you in 2024!