In the late 1960s members of the Cobourg Golf and Curling Club began the process of deciding whether or not they should join forces with the Port Hope Golf Club to establish a new 18-hole golf course to be located halfway between the two towns. The proposed location of the new course would be on Theatre and Dale Roads.
At the time, the Port Hope Golf Club leased land on the west side of Port Hope for their 9-hole course. Port Hope purchased 200 acres of land at a cost of $90,000 with an eye to constructing their own course at the site of the Posnikoff and Philp farms.
The Cobourg 9-hole course was located at the corner of Division and Elgin Streets and, if offered for sale, would be much sought after for residential and industrial development.
The Cobourg committee was chaired by Dick Jeffery and members included Burnet Harden, Don Grant, Bob Bradford, Barry King, Don Markle, Harold (Tooter) Blow, Boyd Hendry and Harvey Brent. They recommended to the membership that the union with the Port Hope club be approved and that the net assets of both clubs should go to the new 18-hole golf course to be built and hopefully be ready for the 1973 season.
The committee reported that the current Cobourg course had become crowded to the point where the directors had to consider closing the membership to further new members and restricted the junior members. The inability of the club to expand was due to the high cost of adjoining land and future changes to the Ontario Assessment Act which would tend to assess property on the basis of its market value.
The membership vote took place on Wednesday, May 17, 1972 and the Cobourg Sentinel Star reported on May 19, 1972 that the vote to support the new golf course was near unanimous. There were 243 ballots cast and the vote was 228 in favour of amalgamation while only 15 opposed the motion.
The costs for constructing the new “Dalewood Golf Club” included $100,000 to purchase the land, $126,000 to develop the golf course, $120,000 for a new four sheet curling rink and $476,000 for a new 6000 square foot club house. The club house would have a bar area, lounge and dining facilities, locker rooms and club storage. The cost for the investment totaled $822,000.
Seeding of the tees and greens of the C E Robbie Robinson designed course was started the first week in May, 1973. Dalewood Golf Club, under club pro Stan Morris, was ready for golfers on July 2, 1974. It opened as a par 71, championship style course with many natural and man-made hazards built on a very picturesque setting. Robinson designed, redesigned, or expanded more than 100 courses worldwide.
The course itself has matured nicely since its opening with not much changing in the layout itself, but many upgrades such as paved cart paths, improved irrigation and a bunker renovation have made it a much sought after course to play by both members and non-members alike. The course offers a well-groomed picturesque setting with over 50 bunkers and 3 ponds located on the course, with Gages Creek coming into play on 8 holes.
It has hosted many Ontario Championship events such as the Ontario Juniors and the Ontario Senior’s Championship. In addition, the Club has a fully equipped pro shop, club storage facility and locker rooms with shower and changing rooms.
Dalewood Golf Club is a semi-private club and year-round facility. The clubhouse boasts one of the largest venues in Northumberland County to offer in-house catering for up to 175 people. This makes it ideal for weddings, banquets, meetings and parties. The restaurant bar & lounge has dramatic panoramic views of the golf course, a barbeque patio area, balcony and meeting room. One does not need to be a member to take advantage of the services and facility.
Back on Top
Layton Dodge
July 30, 1986 Cobourg Star
THE MOST DOMINANT PLAYER IN THE history of Dalewood Golf and Curling Club is back where he belongs - on top.
Chris Markle, 25, of Cobourg earned his fifth Dalewood club championship Sunday with a seven-shot victory over defending champ Bob Laronde. When all the "A" Flight contenders had completed the final round of the 72-hole competition, Markle was first with a total of 292. Laronde, who played in the same foursome as Markle, had led the field by one stroke at the halfway mark of the championships two weekends earlier but Markle pulled ahead on Saturday to carry a two-shot advantage over his chief rival into the final 18 holes.
"I was still up after nine and I was four up after 10," said Markle in discussing the closing round. Laronde faded out of the picture on Sunday to wind up second at 299. Ironically, Markle wasn't driving the ball up to par but he scrambled out of trouble effectively to make the shots he needed the most. “I was way in the rough sometimes but I hit the greens," Markle remarked.
Markle, who maintains golf shoes are not for him and wears running shoes instead is happy with his game these days. "I'm playing good golf right now and I'll be traveling more and entering other golf tournaments."
Andy Murray was a distant third at 309. Pete Fitzsimmons posted 310, George Brackenbury Jr. 313. Don Roy and Tim Haynes 314, Bob Finkle Jr. 319, Glenn Miller 321, Garth Miller 322 and David Davies 329.
Reviewed August 2020
The Cobourg Galloping Ghosts are the most famous team in Cobourg sports history. Managed by Fred Dufton, the Ghosts won eight Ontario championships, five after World War II. They were Canadian Dominion champions in 1946, 1948 and 1950. They were the first team in Canada to wear aluminum cleats and the second to wear white uniforms.
