THE MAD POST

Submitted by Gary Ward, General Manager & C.O.O.

The weather has finally turned and the long-range looks like typical spring temperatures. We are targeting to open the golf course on May 1^st, Carl will provide further updates on booking conditions for opening day and weekend.

Project Updates
The clubhouse refresh project is nearing completion, and while there may be some deficiencies to be completed, I expect most of the work will be completed on opening day. We’re excited for you to see the changes and enjoy socializing at the Club again.
Unfortunately, there’s been a one significant delay:

• The carpet for the stairs, lower foyer and locker rooms had to be returned, the new shipment will arrive and be installed in the middle of May. The old carpet was removed from the lower foyer and locker rooms as the concrete cracks required repairs. As a result, those areas will remain as exposed concrete until the new carpet arrives We left the old carpet on the stairs, it will be removed when the new carpet arrives.

The contractor we’ve hired for the revitalization of the bunkers on #18 and at the practice range starts work on April 13^th. We anticipate they will complete the work and demobilize by the end of May.

The irrigation contractors are scheduled to start work April 20th. There are six holes left to complete, the driving range, beside the roadway up and to the entrance area. Given the significant snowfall we received this winter, we’ve had to modify our plans, they will start work on the driving range decks first rather than the golf course. The remaining on-course areas to irrigate are still too wet to access without significant damage occurring. The range decks are always among the first areas to clear and they are already reasonably firm. Unfortunately, this won’t permit us to open the driving range until they’ve completed the work and moved onto the course. It is still possible that the range will open the week of April 27th.

We are also refurbishing the on-course washrooms and that contractor will mobilize on April 13^th. The washroom interiors are the focus, but each building will also be painted. We’ll also be installing water dispensers at each site, I expect the washrooms will be completed and the water dispensers in operation by the end of May. We’ll start the season with bottled water at each location and will phase out of bottled water once the dispensers are online.

I’ll update the project section on Member Central and begin daily updates once all the crews are on site and making progress.

 
Submitted by Chad Vibert, Golf Course Superintendent

Overview
The winter of 2025/26 was once again, a more traditional southern Georgian Bay winter from a snow accumulation and temperature perspective.  We received snow very early in November, making things extremely difficult to complete both irrigation installation as well as winterizing the property.  When the golf course closed last October, we were just beginning to install irrigation on the 8^th hole, we have yet to complete number 8 due to rain/snow and freezing temperatures.  The early onset of winter also played havoc with our winter fungicide applications, all of which were applied by the end of November successfully.

During the later part of December we experienced our first melt of the winter season, during that time we had enough snow that melted just enough to turn into ice.  The clock then started to ensure we removed the ice prior to the 120-day mark, as a general rule Poa annua can withstand ice cover for about 60-90 days before injury occurs where bentgrass can with stand 120 days before anoxia sets in.  This is just one of the reasons we so actively try to remove poa from our surfaces at all times of year.  Initial observations show us that the small pieces of poa that we do have was injured by the ice cover this winter season.  Hopefully some small patches of poa was taken out by the extended ice cover.

We were able to use the extremely warm spell in March to remove the snow that was insulating the ice beneath.  This involved taking a large tractor mounted snowblower across many of our greens due to the sheer volume of snow that needed to be removed. Once we removed the snow, we let the ice melt on its own for the most part, as well as with help from sunflower seeds in some key locations.

With all this being said, we are very pleased to report that the golf course survived the winter season with just some very minor damage from a turf disease called snow mould.  This will recover with the help of some cultural practices and some extra TLC.   

Although we still do have snow on approximately 15-20 percent of the property, last week we had almost 90 % snow cover on the back nine.  In the shoulder seasons, our property tends to hold on to snow much longer than properties in our geographic area, this is due to the forested areas located on our back nine, snow generally sticks around longer along all tree lines across the countryside especially if shade is on the south side, we have an abundance of shade on the south facing sides of our fairways on 13,14,15,17. 
 

Submitted by Ryan Rinneard, Director of Instruction
.
Welcome Back. This is going to be a great season + Mother's Day Special!

 Director of Instruction | Ryan Rinneard, CPGA Class "A" Professional

There's something about that first warm morning on the range - and for me it's the smell of fresh-cut grass that brings me back to my early days at the Idylwylde Golf & Country Club. It's the quiet before the course fills up. After a long winter, that moment is almost here, and I can honestly say I've never been more excited for a season at Mad River.

This summer is packed. We have more programming, more experiences, and more opportunities for you to make this your best season yet. Whether you're just picking up a club for the first time or chasing your best season yet, there is something here for you.

Here's a taste of what's coming:

• Thursday Night Experiences — Wine & Wedges, Scotch & Short Game, 9 & Dine, Links Night, and more. Fun, social, and designed around the game you love.
• Ladies Golf Academy (Fridays) — Learn, connect, and grow your game all season long.
• Junior Camps  — Structured, high-quality programming for the Mad River's NexGen
• Private Instruction — TrackMan-powered lessons, seasonal packages, and personalized coaching for every level.

Full schedule and booking details coming very soon. Keep an eye on your inbox.

Submitted by Michelle Larcher, Food & Beverage Manager

As the winter fades, we are putting the final touches on our revitalized space, carefully organizing every detail to ensure it’s ready to welcome you back at the ‘Spring Thaw Cocktail Party’ on May 1^st. We are excited to reintroduce Chef Stephen, who returns with his signature creativity and a dynamic culinary team. They’ve been crafting new seasonal dishes, as well as beloved classics you’ve missed.

The next time you come in to dine, you will be greeted by many new faces within the front of the house team. This new group of individuals bring a range of experiences who are committed to elevating your member experience. Please welcome them with the Mad River warmth we have all grown to be known for.  This year, we’re proud to unveil an expanded wine list curated to surprise and delight—plus a fresh lineup of craft cocktails and mocktails. For our beer lovers—our new bar now boasts eight taps with a rotating selection of craft beers including member favourites like Peroni and Creemore.

This season, I will be writing a ‘Healthy Bites’ feature where I’ll share a quick healthy eating tip. For instance, did you know a hard-boiled egg adds 6g of protein or that just a ¼ cup of roasted chickpeas will give you 7g of protein and 7g of fibre? In line with this weekly note, we are pleased to announce our expanded offerings in Cupp’s Corner to include healthy grab-and-go snacks. Our freshly made sandwiches will be featuring Cobs bread and we will continue to offer gluten-free options too. We are proud to be focused on using local farmers, businesses and Canadian products—so every bite reflects our community.