A long course, with generous fairways and multiple tee boxes, Whistle Bear offers an appeal to golfers at every skill level. With a links-style look and feel, this course features 103 bunkers, challenging hills and fescue and water on 10 holes.
Tee Tip: Par is a great score on this opening par 4. Avoid the large hazard on the right side of this narrow fairway. Bunkers short and right of this green will make for a near impossible up and down.
Namesake: William Dickson purchased 94,305 acres for 24,000 pounds on July 3, 1816 from Six Nations Indian Trustee William Clause. By today’s standard, 24,000 pounds would be equivalent to approximately $1.00 per acre. This purchase included all of the current North Dumfries Township, which includes the property the Whistle Bear sits on. Robert Dickson was the eldest of William Dickson’s three sons. In 1856, Thomas Vair purchased the north half of Lot 27 Concession 12 from Dickson’s estate upon his death in Leghorn, Italy in 1846 at age 51.
Tee Tip: Aggressive players can cut the corner and give them a chance to attack this green with a mid to short iron. Any shot landing past the middle of this green will surely be found over the back.
Namesake: Joseph Bowan owned Part Lots 25 and 26 from 1829 to 1832. He was one of the founding fathers of the community of Blair and is credited with building Blair’s first saw mill in 1821. In 1828, Bowman purchased Lot 27 Concession 12 from the Dickson estate. The house, which is now the clubhouse at Whistle Bear, was built in the early 1830’s of solid log walls protected by horizontal wood siding.
In 1832, Wendell Bowman purchased the house and property from his brother Joseph. He lived in the house with his wife and seven children from 1832 to 1854. Wendell was an important man in the community, holding the positions of Pathmaker, Township Commissioner, Township Representative at District Council and Deputy Reeve for Dumfries.
In 1884, Allen Bowman took position of Part Lot 25. At that time he also inherited the saw mill and grist mill in Blair. In 1885, he sold Part Lot 25 to John McNally.
Tee Tip: This into the wind tee shot is best played down the right, avoiding fairway bunkers. Lay up to the top of the hill giving you a clear view of the pin location. Club selection will be important here, the green shape makes this shot awkward.
Namesake: In 1854, Henry McNally purchased Lot 24 from Wendell Bowman. One year later, John McNally purchased Lot 25 from Allen Bowman. The two family members farmed the property with mainly corn, grain and chickens until 1907. They farmed the land for nearly 53 years until they sold the farm to Ezra Synder.
Tee Tip: Hit a club that cannot reach the hazard on the left side of this fairway. Long is better on this approach but will also leave you a slippery putt.
Namesake: Thomas Vair arrived in North Dumfries in 1841 from Scotland. He built a single story cabin on a piece of property close to Lot 27 in 1840, and by 1842 was a practising blacksmith at the Hamlet of Whistle Bare.
Thomas Vair took possession of Part Lot 27 from 1856 to 1863. The name Whistle Bear comes from Thomas Vair, who was widely known for his famous whistling while he worked. Whistling Vair was later changed to Whistle Bare. In 1863, Whistle Bare sold his farm to Hugh Arthur Jr. and moved to Galt. He died in 1891 and was survived by five children.
Tee Tip: This long narrow green makes this par 3 difficult. A shot finishing in the middle of the green is your best option, regardless of the pin position.
Namesake: Hugh Arthur Jr. owned and farmed Part Lot 27 from 1863 to 1865. Arthur lived in the little log house for only two years before selling it to George Simpson
Tee Tip: A tee shot that flies the right fairway bunker will leave a short approach into this green. Only the brave will attack a left pin as this sloped green tends to be firm.
Namesake: George Simpson was a strong community figure as the Reeve, Deputy Reeve and Member of the Township Council in Branchton before he moved to North Dumfries in 1865 when he purchased Part Lot 27. In 1891, 26 years later, Simpson shot himself on the farm, leaving his wife and three sons. His wife, Isabella, and son, Thomas, stayed on the farm until 1904. They sold the farm to Archibald McKellar.
Tee Tip: An aggressive tee shot over the corner can be very rewarding or very penalizing. The middle of the green is the safe bet to this green, avoid missing left with your approach shot.
Namesake: From 1904 to 1908, Archibald McKellar, a druggist from Blanchardville in Layayette county, Wisconsin, was the owner of the farm, but never lived on the property. He sold Part Lot 27 to Lorne Sage
Tee Tip: Don’t let the beauty of this hole intimidate you. This short par 3 has a huge green, a shot finishing on the wrong side of the green will leave a very long putt.
Namesake: In 1907, Ezra Snyder purchased Part Lots 25 and 26. He owned the property for less than one year. Although it is not known why Snyder purchased the property, some accounts say he purchased the land as a finder fee for Kate Wilks.
Tee Tip: Pick your poison off the tee, the risk may be worth the reward. If you have to lay up, hit it short of the bunkers to avoid the dreaded 40 yard bunker shot. A short downhill approach shot leaves you a chance to hit one close. Get aggressive!
Namesake: From 1907 to 1928, Part Lots 25 and 26 were purchased as part of Kate Wilks expansion of Cruickston Park, which included Langdon Hall. During this time, Cruickston was known for its thoroughbred horses. Many major racing events, including the Kentucky derby, were captured by Cruickston’s thoroughbred horses. Purebred cattle were also a big part of the farm operation, along with state-of-the-art farming practices. At its peak, Cruickston occupied 1400 acres. In 1928, when Mrs. Wilks began to downsize, she sold Part Lots 25 and 26 to John Beckett.
Tee Tip: This blind tee shot is best played up the left, aim at the pines at the end of the fairway. This shot tends to play a little longer, choose your club wisely.
Namesake: Lorne Sage and his wife Ada expanded the little log cabin on Part Lot 27 in 1908 to a large two storey home. The logs used for construction were rolled down from Arnold Rife’s property on Roseville Road. The additional space was put to good use, as the Sage’s had 11 children. Lorne was a well-known runner, competing at many fairs. He once challenged the great North American Indian Runner, Tom Longboat. In 1961, Lorne Sage passed away, leaving the farm to his son, Earl, who sold it in 1966 to Stephen Underhill and John Martini.
Tee Tip: Attacking the left side off the tee will give you the shortest approach into this green. This downhill shot gives you a chance to be aggressive.
Namesake: Part Lots 25 and 26 were purchased by John Beckett in 1928. It is not known whether Beckett lived on the property or rented it to someone else. However, it is known that the land was still in crop production when he sold it to Austin Bricker in 1930.
Tee Tip: Tee shots landing on the top of the hill may give you a chance to rip at this green in two. Lay up down the left, shots down the right may kick into the gunga. Note the front of this green that slopes severely front to back.
Namesake: Austin Bricker farmed Lots 25 and 16 from 1930 to 1941. He was also the first Road Superintendent for the Township of North Dumfries. This responsibility included road construction and road maintenance. In 1941, he sold the farm to Charles Schneider.
Tee Tip: Tee shots that finish near the 150 marker give you the best look at this green. Make a smart club selection, the shape of this green could leave a tough 3rd.
Namesake: Charles Schneider lived on Part Lots 25 and 26 from 1941 to 1946. Schneider was a distant relative to J.M. Schneider (owner of Schneider Meats). Schneider farmed the property with various crops until he sold the farm to Vivian Church and James Tutton.
Tee Tip: The undulations in this green make par a great score. Choose the right club, a shot finishing over the green will make for a tough up and down.
Namesake: Vivian Church and James Tutton owned Part Lots 25 and 26 for less than two years. It is not known whether they lived in the house or rented it out. In 1948, they sold the property to George Porter.
Tee Tip: This tee shot encourages a left to right flight, hit the fairway and par is obtainable. A shot to the middle of the green will give you a make-able putt to any pin location.
Namesake: George Porter immigrated to Canada with his wife and eight children from England in 1948. Before coming to Canada to become a farmer, he worked as a Foreign Exchange Banker in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The Porter family resided at Forest View Farms. They lived on the farm from 1948 to 1960 before selling it to Stewart and Doris Domm in 1960.
Tee Tip: A 3 shot hole for most, driver may not be the best choice off the tee. A good lay-up here will give you a good chance to hit your approach close. The front left of this green will kick your ball to the back of the green.
Namesake: Stewart Domm farmed Part Lots 25 and 26 from 1960 to 1963. He was recognized as a very successful farmer in the area. He was known for saying, “The man who farms in modern form is sure to grow a lot more corn”. It has been recorded that Domm grew corn 17 feet high on the very same land the golf course sits on. On Lot 27 Concession 12, Domm raised beef and turkey. In 1965, Domm expanded his business into residential construction. He did this for 20 years before retiring. He is now back into growing corn and raising beef on a farm on Roseville Road.
Tee Tip: It may be able to feel the wind among the trees on this tough par 3. Any shot on the green is a good one and will leave you a good chance to make par.
Namesake: In 1966, Stephen Underhill and John Martini purchased Lot 27 Concession 12 from Earl Sage. Stephen Underhill and his wife, Pennylynn, have resided there since 1974. They farmed the land and raised their children, Amy, Jennica, Jordy Shane, and Stephen Jordan. Unfortunately Jordy Shane passed before his first birthday. The Underhills still reside in the area and have many wonderful memories of their time spent with George Lackie.
Tee Tip: Enjoy the view as you rip your driver on the longest par 4 on the golf course. A slightly up hill 2nd forces you to choose the right club, do your best to cover the left green-side bunker.
Namesake: In 1963, the Lackie family purchased Part Lots 25 and 26, and in 1987, they purchased Part Lot 27. George Lackie had a successful Crane Rigging business and entered into a second business with E&E Seegmiller Limited. Their gravel pit opened in 1989 and at its peak production encompassed 18 hectares. In 1999, the pit ceased operation. The property was then purchased by Regional Sewer and Watermain Ltd. on May 20th, 1999, who built the golf course as you see it today.