By ANDREW WAREING
TIMMINS -Hollinger Golf Club is evolving to become more competitive.
The Timmins-based golf club is bigger by 18 holes and, club manager Mark Stortini says that, after expanding the golf course from nine holes to 27. The original nine-hole golf course has been turned into a links course, while the new 18-hole course is considered a little more challenging.
"The links course is more well-suited to beginning players and it is predominantly used by senior players because of its lack of undulation," he says. "The Highland and Lakeland course, which was designed by (golf course architect) John F. Robinson, are severely undulating up to a height of 110 feet.
"It can really challenge the skill level of golfers," says Stortini.
The Hollinger Golf Course dates back to the 1920s when it was created by the owners of the Hollinger Mine as part of an incentive to attract miners to the area, says Stortini.
Transfer of ownership happened in 1960 when the members paid one dollar to purchase the course.
"In 1995, plans began in earnest to create another 18 holes and, in 1996, we broke ground," he says.
Although the course was completed by the fall of 2001 and operations began June last year, this year represents the first year of full operation at the new course.
"It's very popular," says Stortini. "Aestheticism is very important and this course is beautiful. Northerners are very active, especially in the summer months, and they like a challenge. They're always looking for something that's going to challenge them mentally and physically. Golf plays right into that interest and it is a rapidly growing activity in Northern Ontario."
Stortini says in previous years the Hollinger Golf Club was not in a position to do much marketing, but it is now moving forward with an aggressive marketing campaign. Among its marketing initiatives, it has invested money in Tourism Ontario Directional Signage (TODS), distinctive blue signs on major highways throughout Ontario that direct travelers to local attractions.
"We are continuing to look for new and unique partnerships throughout the community," says Stortini, adding that the goal is to make people think of Timmins as a golfing destination.
That includes stay-and-play golf packages between Hollinger, Spruce Needles Golf Club and the local hospitality industry. The packages allow people to pre-book tee times at both Hollinger and Spruce Needles golf courses as part of their accommodations.
Timmins tourism and leisure services manager Will Saari says that the golf packages, along with attractions packages developed through the tourism and leisure department, form an integral part of the city's overall initiative to develop the community's tourism industry.
"We're trying to find avenues where we can squeak out even an extra foursome or an extra couple of groups. Even if it's only a couple of extra groups a year," says Stortini. "We're turning over every stone in finding unique combinations you might not see in any other areas."
He says they are trying to facilitate the development of a golf tour offering stay-and-play packages throughout the North.
In addition to many club and private events, they are also looking at hosting the Northern Ontario Senior Championship and Northern Ontario Amateur Championship, two of the largest men's golfing events in Northern Ontario.
"It's a real testament to how our course has developed and how word has spread that this is a course that people really want to try. We're going to get a lot of people who might not have seen this facility come in and try it and want to come back," says Stortini.
Plans are also underway to move the clubhouse and pro shop facilities a little closer to the centre of all operations, says Stortini.
