The History of Huron Oaks Golf Club:
The history of Huron Oaks Golf Club starts in a beautiful park on the pristine shores of Lake Huron in Brights Grove, Ontario. In this park sits a large magnificent Victorian styled century old house. This old home has been renovated and now operates as a Lambton County public library but it has a long and interesting history. It once was the former summer home of the famous Canadian beer baron John Labatt. It also included a six-hole golf course that was the beginning of what is now know as Huron Oaks Golf Course.
For many years this home was the summer residence of the Labatt family but in 1920 John Labatt was kidnapped while travelling from this summer home in Brights Grove back to his home in London. The Labatt family was so traumatized by the event they never returned and the six-hole golf course lay dormant until 1938 when Herb Crabbe Sr. purchased the property and expanded it to 9 holes. Crabbe named it Wildwood on the Lake. Eventually George Artis and Don Budd became involved with the club in the 50’s, expanding the course to 18 holes. Several years later a new Lakeshore road was built, which cut through the middle of the golf course and Wildwood on the Lake moved to the south side of Lakeshore in the 70’s. With the move came a new clubhouse and new golf holes, which now form the bulk of the current day Huron Oaks.
The club changed hands again in 1975 and was renamed Canterbury Country Club. Six years later the golf course was sold again to the Polysar Employees Recreation Association. The association was looking to build a recreation facility so the clubhouse was renovated and expanded to what it is today and the golf course was renamed Huron Oaks Golf Club after Lake Huron and the majestic oaks that adorn the property.
Canada’s most famous and current PGA star practiced, played, and worked at Huron Oaks as a young man. His name is Mike Weir. The left hander from Bright’s Grove would practice all day long hitting golf balls to work on his game. Now playing on the Champions Tour and competing in one PGA event yearly: The Masters. Mike has won several PGA tournaments including the Masters in 2003.
In 2003 a local group purchased Huron Oaks. In 2005 the new owners embarked upon a major redevelopment of Huron Oaks that included many new golf holes and an 80 unit residential development. In the fall of 2009 a newly constructed pro shop was built beside the new #1 tee.
Come play Huron Oaks golf course and you will see it is fantastic!
Download a copy of the Huron Oaks scorecard now.
