Gorgeous Hole 4

Grey Silo Golf Club:

A Premier Grand River Golf Experience.

Posted by: Rick Parnham

The cities of Kitchener-Waterloo are renowned for being the hotbed of the Canadian high tech industry and famous for the annual Oktoberfest drawing thousands to the Grand River Valley. Well connected to the area's agricultural roots, the natural setting lends itself to plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities. The cities are graced with a fine collection of golf facilities, with three of them playing host the very best of the LPGA over the past couple decades.

Grey Silo Golf Club was one of those facilities to have played host to the LPGA. Between 2012 -2014, the Manulife Classic was held on this scenic and challenging layout.  The course is one of the prized possessions of the City of Waterloo. Envisioned as part of a major upgrade to the city's recreation facilities, it was built as a millennium legacy project along with the impressive RIM park complex.  Located in the north-eastern section of the city adjacent to the Elam Martin Farmstead Heritage site, this lovely piece of former farmland is framed by a high bluff and situated along a large bend in the Grand River. The task to transform this once lush cropland was presented to Steve Young to use his skill in crafting a premier public play facility. Now placed in the trusted hands of GolfNorth to manage the day to day operations Grey Silo, with its four sets of tees ranging between 5197 to 6532 yards, continues to be one of the most popular public play golf courses in the K-W area.

Paying homage to the community's agricultural roots and connection to the natural beauty, the wonderfully crafted farm-style clubhouse sitting atop the embankment high above the river valley below provides the first impression. The first tee awaits after a windy plunge down the slope to the wetlands and marshes along banks of the Grand River.  The scenic Grand River Trail shares the path bringing throngs of joggers, cyclists and families flocking to this splendid piece of nature for a peaceful stroll or vigorous workout and an audience for one of the most challenging tee shots of the round.  

Tricky Hole 7

The course is set on a relatively flat piece of floodplain, providing Young with a blank canvas to carve out his routing. At first glance the course seems tight and well protected by plenty of ponds incorporated into the design. In fact the hazards are not overly penal, but lend for careful consideration of both line of play and distance control. The greens provide a considerable level of playability, with most of them allowing for both the aerial attack and the ground assault. Many are crowned with vast closely mown areas collecting anything struck errantly. Care must be afforded with a few of the uphill approaches as the significance of the slopes on the putting surfaces can leave you with some taxing work with the flat-stick.

A couple notable holes share the largest of the ponds. The par 5 fourth hole plays as the longest of your round. The dogleg left is a true three-shotter for all but the longest hitters.  The safe route is to play the drive down the center or favour the right side to avoid the expansive pond on the left. The second shot must account for the narrowing of the fairway as it rises to the severely sloped hillside green. The risk /reward par 4 seventh plays in the opposite direction but puts greater demands on the drive. The snaking fairway resembles a reversed S bend. Most will chose the first section of fairway reachable with a long iron or hybrid as the target, however the landing area is squeezed between the large pond left and another on the right. The daring play is to take on the pond to the right leaving a wedge to the uphill, plateau green protected well by a series of bunkers front left and grass bunkers for anything hit long.

Challenging Design

Course Stats:

Golf has a large footprint in the Kitchener/Waterloo area with dozens of public play facilities dotting the region providing both variety and value for any level or budget. Grey Silo Golf Club is one of the region's many fine places to satisfy a craving for a challenging round.  Set amid the serene surroundings of the Grand River Valley, the course provides a beautiful reconnection with nature. Challenging, yet fair, this very playable, well regarded design is certainly worth the green fee and the few hours traversing this lovely piece of the Grand River Valley.

Driving Distances: Toronto Pearson 1 hr, Hamilton 1 hr, London 1 hr 20 mins.

Contact:

Grey Silo Golf Club

2001 University Ave,

Waterloo, ON

N2K 4K4

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