Course Guidelines

Guests are encouraged to use our bag drop when they arrive at the golf course. Our guest services representative will take their bag and place it on the appropriate cart.

Guests should check in at the Pro Shop and pay for their fees if necessary. If the member intends to pay for the guest fees please make the Pro Shop aware of this in advance.

Whistle Bear does not accept cash, although we do accept debit or credit card, in addition to our member account chit system, at all payment stations in the club house and on the golf course. If a member wishes to give signing privileges to a guest they may do so by emailing us in advance with their member number and name of guest.

Gratuities

Whistle Bear Golf Club has an automatic gratuity on all items. These gratuities collect are paid to the staff on their pay cheque.

The highest standards of courtesy, consideration and behavior are a condition of guests at Whistle Bear Golf Club. Members, as well as their guests, will be held accountable for their demeanor at all times. Only members in good standing and their guests are entitled to use the clubhouse, course or grounds. The rights of any member to the privileges of the Club shall coexist with the period of his or her membership. The Club deems that all members, upon acceptance to the Club, have given their assent to follow the rules and guidelines of the Club.

Any member or guest causing damage or destruction to any Club property shall be held directly responsible for such damage or destruction. No member or guest shall be permitted to remove any Club property.

Cellular Devices must, at all times, be on vibrate or on silent mode. Cellular Devices may not be used if they affect pace of play or if the conversation can be heard by others

Guests are welcome to use both the practice green and the driving range facilities. Practice golf balls are provided at no charge and are set on the tee deck ready for use. Guests are also welcome to use the short game area at their leisure. If guests plan to walk the golf course, courtesy carts are available for transportation to and from the practice facility.

Please note that practice facilities, excluding clubhouse practice green, will be closed on Monday’s and Thursday’s until 10am.

Members and guests who are not properly attired in accordance with the Club’s dress code will be refused access to the facilities. It is the responsibility of the member introducing a guest to the Club, to insure that the guest is wearing the appropriate attire. Club management and staff have been advised and are obligated to strictly enforce the dress code rules at all times. The golf staff has the right to refuse play should the dress code not be followed.

Gentlemen’s Attire

When utilizing the golf practice facilities or playing golf, the men’s dress code consists of:

• Turtleneck, long and short sleeve mock neck shirts and collared golf shirts are acceptable. T-shirts are not acceptable.
• All shirts are to be tucked in at all times while using the golf course. Hats are to be worn forward at all times.
• Jeans, rugby, sweat, jogging or cargo pants with an exterior pocket (interior pockets are allowed) are not acceptable attire.
• Outwear must be golf design specific – other sport (i.e. tennis) warm- up or track suits are not acceptable.
• Bermuda-length shorts are appropriate. Denim, cargo shorts with an exterior pocket (interior pockets are allowed) and spandex shorts are not permitted.
• Socks of any length are acceptable.
• No metal spikes. Whistle Bear is a soft spike only facility.
• Golf sandals are permitted.
• Jeans are allowed at the Club with the exception of the golf course and practice facilities.
• The men’s dress code also applies to Junior Boys.

Ladies Attire

When utilizing the golf practice facilities or playing golf, the women’s dress code consists of:

• Sleeveless tops are acceptable provided they have a collar. Conversely, any top without a collar must have sleeves.
• Turtleneck, long and short sleeve mock necks and traditional golf shirts are also acceptable. T-shirts, halter tops, tube tops and tank tops are not acceptable.
• Tailored golf shirts may be worn outside the pant.
• Denim, rugby, sweat, jogging, cargo with an exterior pocket (interior pockets are allowed), stirrup pants and tights are not acceptable attire; however, the Club does permit Capri pants.
• Outerwear must be golf-design specific – other sport (i.e. tennis) warm-up or track suits are not acceptable.
• Bermuda-length shorts, golf skirts of appropriate length and skorts are permitted. Denim, cargo with an exterior pocket (interior pockets allowed) and spandex shorts are not permitted.
• Socks of any length are acceptable.
• No metal spikes. Whistle Bear is a soft spike only facility.
• Golf sandals are permitted.
• Jeans are allowed at the Club with the exception of the golf course and practice facilities
• The woman’s dress code also applies to Junior Girls.

Shoes

Proper golf footwear is required. (Soft spiked golf shoes or running shoes). Conversion of metal spiked golf shoes will be available in the Pro Shop for a nominal fee. Extra time is required to do this, and may not be possible the same day of your outing.

Members are responsible for the attire of their guests. 
Dress regulations are the same for seniors and juniors.

It is the responsibility of all members and their guests to maintain a pace of play of four (4) hours and ten (10) minutes. When there is a clear hole open in front of you, allow the group following to play through. This is a rule of golf, and as such, is not a courtesy, but mandatory.

At whatever speed you may be playing, the rule still applies:

• If you are playing a four-ball game at an under four hour, twenty minute pace, you must allow faster players to pass if there is an open hole ahead.
• If you are playing behind a group and you observe an open hole in front of them, it is your responsibility to make the Pro Shop aware of the situation and ask for assistance.
• When you are waved through by the group ahead, you must play through.
• Speed of play is the responsibility of the low handicap member in the group.

Players should be ready to play as soon as it is their turn to play. When playing on or near the putting green, they should leave their bags or carts in such a position as will enable quick movement off the green and towards the next tee. When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green.

If a player believes his ball may be lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, to save time, he should play a provisional ball.

As of May 1, 2009, the provincial Highway Act penalties have been increased and the acceptable blood/alcohol level reduced to 0.05 from 0.08. It is against the law for the Club or any licensed establishment to serve members or guests to the point of intoxication. In addition, the Club may share liability for damages and injury caused by anyone it may have served to intoxication. The Club does not wish harm to any of its members or guests, nor does it wish harm to others. For this reason, staff will not serve anyone to intoxication. The Club believes that its members and guests come to the club for an enjoyable social outing and is happy to provide the same. The Club asks that all of the members participate in achieving this objective.

The laws of Ontario and recent court judgments make it clear that golf clubs and other liquor serving establishments must accept responsibility for actions involving the serving of alcohol, beer and wine. In Ontario, it is illegal to serve alcoholic beverages to those under the age of 19 and to any person who appears in the server’s mind to have consumed alcohol to a point of creating a potential inconvenience or danger to himself/herself or others.

The Board of Directors, Members Committee and Management expect that these and all rules and regulations governing alcohol sales will be followed by Club staff involved in the service of alcohol. All alcohol service staff must be and are certified in Smart Serve. Supplemental in-house training to all service staff is provided annually.

There are a number of rules of etiquette which each member should observe for the benefit of the membership as a whole. Listed below are a few important rules each member should be aware of and adhere to:

• Please repair ball marks, rake bunkers, and replace divots. Through the green, a player should ensure that he or she carefully replaces and presses down any turf he or she cuts or displaces (a divot).
• Take care to replace the divot so that it fits the divot hole properly or it is likely not to survive. Only when a divot is unrecoverable, utilize the soil/ seed mix provided.
• Please rake smooth all disturbances to the surface of the sand in the bunkers. This not only includes footprints but also the mark made from the ball entering the sand and the mark made by the club head when executing a shot from the bunker. The rake is to be left with the head of the rake in the bunker and handle (tip) just outside of the bunker.
• On the putting green, a player should carefully repair any ball marks or other damage. Players should ensure that when putting down bags, marking balls, handling the flagstick or removing the ball from the hole, they do not damage the putting green or hole. The Club allows practice only in the designated practice areas and not on the golf course.
• When taking practice swings, players should avoid causing damage to the course, particularly on tee boxes.
• No player shall tee-off until the players in front have played their second shot and are out of range nor shall they play to any greens until the preceding players have holed out and have moved off the greens and are safely out of range.
• It is the duty of every member to report infractions of rules and breaches of golf etiquette orally to the Players’ Assistants, Professional Staff, or in writing to the General Manager. Breaches of golf etiquette and golf rules are subject to disciplinary action.

The Members Committee, or the various committees appointed by the Board in the exercise of powers, deal with all matters pertaining to the conduct of the Club and its members.

• Abusive behaviour, either verbal or physical, directed toward other members, their guests or Club employees.
• Coarse or loud conversations that might embarrass others.
• Poor golf etiquette, such as hitting into the group in front of you, slow play or failure to comply with staff enforcing golf course policy.
• Behaviour that is unbecoming or life threatening.
• Non-compliance with the Club’s dress code both on and off the golf course.
• Members disciplining other members or staff.

If members are involved in or observe any of the above actions or behaviour, the Club will take the following procedures:

• The Head Golf Professional will contact both the member and any other member(s) involved in an incident to discuss and review the situation.
• The appropriate Committee Chairs will be asked for input and feedback with regard to disciplinary action.

If we have experienced large amounts of precipitation carts may be required to stay on the cart paths throughout their round.

We prefer to have all carts drive in the fairway although driving in and out of the rough at 90 degrees is acceptable.

Driving in the fescue or long grass is not acceptable as it will create damage to the grass.

We hope you enjoy your day with us at Whistle Bear.