Course Review: Greenhills Golf Club, by Jeffrey Reed
(September 2006)
Copyright 2006 London Ontario Golf

Greenhills Golf Club is the closest golf course to my south London home, yet it had been at least five years since I last tackled its tight doglegs and menacing greens. After yet another challenging round at this heavily-treed course, I discovered Greenhills hasn’t lost any of its bark, nor its bite.

Resting just south of Lambeth off Highway 4, just a chip shot from Highway 402, Greenhills was built in 1975. Well-known developer Mowbray Sifton was involved with the original ownership group which employed renown local architect Rene Muylaert to design the course. The land, willed to the Ontario Heritage Foundation and managed by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, was a pristine piece of property featuring gently rolling terrain and tranquil valleys. When opened for play, it instantly boasted the look and feel of a grand old course.

This is the real beauty of Greenhills: it’s one of the most peaceful places you’ll play anywhere in southwestern Ontario. With the exception of a few holes which run close to Highway 402, urban life seems so far away. A variety of wildlife including deer, hawks and herons make Greenhills Golf Club their home. 

In December 1999, ClubLink Corporation purchased the Greenhills course from Sonar Group, the majority of which was owned by London’s hockey brothers, Dave and Craig Simpson. ClubLink, based in King City, Ont., is Canada’s largest owner, operator and developer of premium golf courses. Owner of more than 38 high-quality facilities, including the Jack Nicklaus-designed Glen Abbey Golf Club, ClubLink Corp. is a public company, trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (LNK and LNK.DB).

There are more than 12,000 ClubLink members who have access to the corporation’s Ontario- and Quebec-based golf courses, plus more than 230 business, including athletic and business clubs operated around the world by Dallas-based ClupCorp. London businessperson Brian Semkowski is one of the major shareholders in ClubLink.

ClubLink provides access to a variety of golf courses with just one membership fee (which is transferable), and offers daily fee golf courses, golf resorts, plus the ClubLink Academy at Glen Abbey. There are a variety of entrance fees and annual dues to suit your golfing taste. As well, ClubLink has no gender restrictions.

On this early morning after the previous evening’s heavy rains, I enjoyed a round with ClubLink member Gerry Beer of St. Thomas. Because of the recent downpour, the fairways and greens were quite soft during our first nine holes, so it made for some challenging approach shots. In the past, Greenhills has experienced some sporadic spring flooding, again due to its low elevation, but that was the exception rather than the rule. On this morning, it was nothing more than Mother Nature adding yet another element to test our games.

I warmed up at the Greenhills practice range – you’ve no doubt passed it on Highway 401 en route to Sarnia. It’s a good range with a variety of targets, and conveniently rests adjacent to the first tee. The Greenhills golf dome is long gone, and ClubLink has not revealed any plans to revive the dome. However, there is an active Greenhills tennis community, not to mention a wonderful executive 9-hole golf course frequented by juniors and seniors. Under head professional Brad Esler, and assistants Matt Dominski, Dale Machesney and Chris Yeoman, Greenhills operates a solid junior program.

The par-72 Greenhills Golf Club measures 6,472 yards from the tips, and is sloped at 133. It has four additional tee blocks: blue at 6,209 yards; white at 5,717 yards; green at 5,402 yards; and the forward tees at 5,138 yards. While Greenhills plays much longer than 6,472 yards, it does offer something for everyone thanks to the variety of yardages.

Onto hole No. 1, a 377-yard par-4 opener playing straight to a very tricky green sloping back to front. There’s a treeline right, and pond left, but neither should come into play. No. 2 is another relatively straight hole, a 565-yard par-5 with bunker surrounding a slick green sloping left to right.

The only knock against Greenhills is the lack of variety amongst its five par-3s, none particularly tough off the tee. There is somewhat of a degree of difficulty added via bunker placements, but any bunker I found during the day allowed a simple up and down. Members no doubt appreciate this. The first par-3 of the day, the 168-yard No. 3, features a bunker front left, and a larger bunker front right.

Onto the 519-yard, par-5 No. 4, the first real dogleg of the day. Rated as the second toughest hole at Greenhills, this dogleg right features a fairway bunker left ready to snag your drive, then bunkers front right, right, and back left of an extremely slick green. No rest for the weary: par-4 No. 5 is a 375-yard dogleg left with trouble everywhere. Growth hugging the fairway off the tee can easily grab an errant shot. The only saving grace with this beauty is that you can run the ball up to the green – but watch the bunkers right.

The par-3 No. 6 is a 176-yard hole with a large waste bunker front and right of the green, and a small pot bunker left. The green is narrow but large, demanding pinpoint accuracy if birdie is on your radar. No. 7, a 349-yard par-4 features another difficult green which at first glance appears undulating but in fact plays relatively flat. Roll the rock per usual here and you can get escape with par.

The back nine at Greenhills plays much more difficult, thanks in part to the club’s signature hole. No. 13 is a 445-yard par-4. Here you’ll cross water off the tee, then face two ponds on your approach to a quick green. It’s a dogleg left demanding a straight tee shot through a narrow chute.

Thankfully, the back nine starts off with a much easier hole. No 10 is a 464-yard par-5 with water right and adjacent forest off the tee, but an accurate tee shot keeps you out of trouble. It was great to begin the back with a birdie. In fact, of the five par-5s, I bogeyed, birdied, and made three pars. Greenhills is a classic risk-reward course which, when you play it smart off dogleg tees, hitting 3-wood, hybrid or long iron, will reward you with a good score.

No. 16 at Greenhills is a tough hole, a 398-yard sharp dogleg right. You must shape your tee shot around the corner with precise accuracy or pay the penalty of hitting from a thick wooded area. The smart play here is to lay up with a long iron or hybrid, then hit an approach wide of the pond resting front left of the green. Your putt here is no gimme, either. The sun had dried up the greens, which were now playing even quicker than during the a.m.

A quirky hole, No. 17 is best played with a 3-wood. Measuring just 330 yards, this par-4 will see you overrun the fairway if you drive it well left of a tree which splits the fairway. Drive right, and there’s plenty of trouble. Your approach shot must be right on the money. There’s an immediate drop-off area left and behind the green, and a pond to the right.

You’ll complete your round at Greenhills at the 532-yard par-5 18th, running alongside the highway. Lots of room right here; drive it left and face the consequences of thick growth at the fence line.

Here are two telltale signs which attest to Greenhills’ quality: I used every club in the bag during my round, and immediately I wanted to play another. I doubt members ever get tired of this course. It’s a beautiful, old-school course with just enough hills and valleys to add difficulty, yet still an enjoyable walk for seniors. The doglegs are what make this course special: risk-reward is everywhere. It’s a real thinker’s course and, despite the fact it’s not considered one of ClubLink’s anchor properties, it is a gem of a track.

If ClubLink membership is for you, I recommend you visit Greenhills, one of the area’s most enjoyable and challenging golf courses. Visit www.clublink.ca for more information.