Recreation: Some of Canada's best golf is in York Region

York Region has over 65 public and private golf courses from small par-threes to championship level course like Angus Glen, home to the 2007 and 2002 Canadian Open.  Here are a few golf story ideas:

Ballantrae Golf Club, Canada's first Audubon International Signature Sanctuary was designed by Doug Carrick, one of Canada's leading golf architects. This walkable 18-hole public course is the first in Canada to receive the sanctuary certification.

Audubon signature certification is awarded only to new developments that are designed, constructed, and maintained according to Audubon International's precise planning standards and environmental disciplines. According to Audubon International, golf courses provide extraordinary opportunities for nature conservation, when proper environmental management practices are followed.

Jackson's Point golf course has been welcoming families for 84 years

Lakeview House Golf Course, a nine-hole, par 34, in Jackson's Point, first opened its doors to the public in 1923. Owned by the same family for 84 years, it continues to welcome young families to the game. Reasonable rates include junior and senior discounts. During July and August, there is a junior school for ages 7 to 14 years. The "Lakeview Ladies" play every Thursday morning and women golfers are welcome to join. Open April to October, weather permitting.

At least, that's how York Region's Farm Fresh Association sees it. The association was formed to improve the awareness and economics of agriculture in York Region. Each year, it produces a "Just Picked Fresh" map and guide that steers consumers to fresh produce, fruits and meats available in the Region.

 In summer, the farms are operating at full steam and they produce an incredible choice of produce. The 'Round the Bend Farm, owned by the Feddema family near Kettleby, for example, sells its own farm fresh naturally grown turkeys, vegetables and fruit. During the spring and fall, hundreds of school groups from across greater Toronto descend on the Feddema farm for a tour of its fields and barns.

Sue Feddema, the family matriarch says, "It's amazing to see the kids' eyes light up when they see one of our bright cheddar cauliflowers, a violet queen broccoli or one of our purple haze carrots. We like to grow older, heritage varieties that have been bred for taste. Like it or not, much of the fruit and vegetables on the mass market have been developed to accommodate storage needs and packaging rather than taste. Take carrots, for example, most, if not all of what you see, have tips. That is so they are easy to package in bags. Some carrot types, however, actually have blunt ends such as the Nante carrot which we grow here. When customers first taste one of these, they can't believe how sweet it is." The Feddema farm is open to the public from May to October, based on weather.

To download a copy of the latest York Region Farm Fresh guide, click here.

Agri-tourism:          Canada's largest vegetable garden

Thousands of people pass Holland Marsh on Highway 400 every day but few are likely aware that the marsh is Canada's largest vegetable garden. Every year, it produces 120,000 tons of carrots as well as lettuce, potatoes, celery, parsnips, cabbage, cauliflower and beets. Tomatoes, cucumbers and commercial flowers are also grown in local greenhouses. To get an in-depth look at this fascinating corner of York Region, you can take an interpretive tour of Holland Marsh with Carl Wierenga, a master gardener from Terraflora Gardens, in Newmarket. Tours must be arranged in advance.

Formed after the last ice age, the Holland Marsh contained sedges, bullrushes, various marsh grasses and some trees. It was home to many species of fish, small animals and birds and was a source of food for the First Nations. By the 19^th century, early settlers were fishing and hunting here too. In 1904, William Day, a professor of physics at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph, started investigating the idea of draining the marsh. By 1925 drainage operations had begun and a canal and dikes 28 km long and 2 m deep were constructed around the marsh to divert the Holland River. The project was completed in 1930.

For more information on these and other York Region Spring adventures, contact us.