Adam Prudhomme
Editor
If by some stroke of bad luck a tee shot winds up in the sand at the Loyalist Golf and County Club, it’ll at least be a good excuse to check out the course’s upgrades.
After undergoing some hefty improvements over the winter, the staff of the 18-hole course in Bath recently invited media to tour its updated amenities.
“It was a very exciting time of transition for us over the winter time,” said Geoff James, director of sales and marketing for Loyalist Golf and Country Club. “We spent about $2 million in upgrades to the golf course. We had a major bunker restoration. Every bunker on the golf course was completely gutted with the sand and drainage. Brand new drainage systems in place and brand new sand brought in on top of it.”
A mild winter meant the vast majority of the work was able to be completed in the off-season and it’s ready for go for 2024.
“We brought in a brand new fleet of 72 electric carts which is another nice upgrade. It’s very comfortable and quiet and eco-friendly,” added James.
As Loyalist gets set for a busy summer showing off its upgrades to the public, they also have an eye towards getting back to hosting provincial and national tournaments in the coming years. In 2014 and ’15 the course was the site of the Great Waterway Classic, bringing in top golfers from across Canada and the US.
For this summer, they are focusing on local events for its members as well as the Bath and neighbouring community.
Napanee’s Josh Whalen, a member of Golf Canada’s Amateur Team and Kent State golf team alumni takes over as the course’s superintendent.
“This is his first year at the helm and he has this golf course in absolute mint condition,” said James.
Austin James, a Bath native and former member of the Golf Canada National Team as well as Charleston Southern University golf team alumni is also on the staff as a PGA of Canada Associate Professional.
“They know the standards the golf courses need to be at. They certainly obtain that here,” said Geoff James.
To learn more about the course, visit https://loyalistcc.com/.