Sadly, GolfNorth Properties had the unfortunate task of sharing the news that the current 2022 season will be the last one for Trafalgar Golf and Country Club. Anatolia Capital Group, the current owner of the property, will not be renewing the lease they currently have in place as they move forward with redevelopment.
The season will officially end on Sunday, October 30, 2022.
Hosting golfers for over 60 years many memories were made and some golf careers were developed at the Trafalgar Golf & Country Club located in Milton Ontario.
In January 1958, Keith Robinson obtained an option to purchase Ruthven’s sod farm to pursue his dream of building and operating his own golf course. Armed with his option and Robbie Robinson’s hand-coloured layout of the course, Keith and Bob Watson convinced nine astute businessmen to invest in what would become Trafalgar Golf & Country Club. In those days, the area was known as Trafalgar Township and this is why the name Trafalgar was chosen.
The concept of Trafalgar would be a truly family oriented golf course where men and women were to be treated equally, and baby-sitting would be provided. A swimming pool with a lifeguard would be built, and a junior program and clinic would be organized to promote an early interest in the game (a system which produced 2 Canadian Junior Champions and 5 Ontario Champions in 6 years).
Sandra Post came to Trafalgar at 8 years old. She was a member at Oakville where she was allowed to practice but could not play until she was 14, a rule of thumb held by most clubs at that time. Trafalgar had the most innovative junior program in Ontario initiated by Bud Corbett who volunteered to set up the clinics and programs, found trophy donors and in general, organized the junior section. Some of the junior Canadian and Ontario champions include; Sandra Post, Wayne Macdonald, Martin Mason, Stan Fay and Kelly Roberts to name a few—a phenomenal record for a fledgling club.
Marlene Streit and the owners convened the very first 3-day Junior Girls Ontario Championship at Trafalgar. The ladies billeted the out-of-town players, provided transportation to and from the course, and our junior boys carried their clubs. There was a big barbecue and dance with a live band on Thursday evening before the final matches on Friday. This event was the model for the Championship for many years.
Tragedy hit the club in 2017 when a fire devasted the clubhouse. A new 12,000 modern facility was immediately built and enjoyed for many years.
Unfortunately, as communities develop and expand golf courses are prime real estate targets for developers and Trafalgar Golf & Country Club is the next one to close.
All we can say now is thanks for memories.
