Page 32 - GBC English Winter 2022

The Nieuwland family is extremely busy at their Whisky Run Golf Club and the Barrel House accommodations, as well as launching their new Lake Effect Distillery.
Whisky Run Golf Club, Port Colborne, ON 27 holes, est. 1989
Lou and Maribeth Nieuwland purchased land just a long par 5 away from the tranquil shores of Lake Erie on the outskirts of Port Colborne. An executive 9-holes was a fitting start before completing a regular 9 hole addition 5 years later. With early 1990’s growth of golf, they purchased a farm across the street to complete a regulation 18 holes by 1997.
Exploring the land to map and dig irrigation lines, the crew kept on finding whisky bottles. There were so many they began mapping their locations and referring to them as a “run” of bottles. Turns out that this was indeed a sight for bootleggers who used the location as a landing spot during prohibition. Thus, the name Whisky Run ensued – a memento to the history of the area.
All of their children, Kevin (the artist), Jessica (the practical one) and Luke (the dreamer), were attracted to the golf business. For the past several years, they began “ramping up” the golf course offerings. Upping their game, they have transformed the snack bar into a full-on bar and grill – “The Bootlegger”.
Recently the family has announced the creation of an onsite distillery. A major project several years in development the Lake Effect Distillery will produce a variety of spirits – check out www.lakeeffect.ca/our-story. Did we even mention the “Barrel House”? A converted historic farm- house once the site of rum running in the area, it can now sleep 3 foursomes with a short walk to the first tee.
A few of Nisbet “boys” take a well-deserved but rare break from the daily hustle and grind of operating the Westview Golf Club.
Westview Golf Club, Aurora, ON
27 Holes, est. late 1940’s
Following World War 2, with a keen interest in horticulture “Pop” Nisbet purchased a fallow Stanley Thompson 9-hole facility in Aurora, ON. After bringing it back to life, over the years Pop with sons Keith and Doug built 18 more holes by 1963.
The slowly growing demand for golf was addressed by the family commitment to be a strong daily fee course open to the public. Keith, with a fervor and enthusiasm to follow Pop’s turf regimen, incorporated all the modern developments of turf management. His efforts presented the golfing public with a well-maintained golf challenge commensurate with the expectations golfers had become accustomed to as the game increased in popularity.
In the meantime, family who were attracted to the ongoing success of the business were taking part as contributing members of the operations. Today, Colin, Mike and Sharon share in the daily business of all aspects necessary in the routine that starts with the gates open at dawn and closes just after the sun has set and all can retire for the day.
Copetown Woods Golf Club, Copetown, ON 18 Holes, est. 2003
In the late 1990’s, broccoli farmer Gord Forth, unhappy with the sandy soil conditions of part of his farm, decided that his property might be more suited to becoming a golf course. Around the same time, Gord’s son Barry went off to school and pursued an education in sports marketing and marketing. Following graduation, Barry eventually landed a PR role managing the RBC Golf Team Ambassadors which had him travelling North America to all the PGA Tour stops, gathering exposure to world class courses and picking up great ideas along the way
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