Avid golfer and Northside Toyota’s dealer principal Mario Palumbo has always seen the potential in Crimson Ridge Golf Course, and now, he’s seizing the opportunity to make the property a revamped, year-round destination.
Palumbo and Jobst Construction Ltd. President Paul Jobst acquired the golf course on Aug. 1, and will fork out $600,000 for renovations and upgrades over the coming months, which will include a new restaurant and bar, a standalone pro-shop for golfers and a handful of winter activities.
“I’m a golfer and I’ve always golfed there, and I’ve been golfing there since the course opened in 2001 or 2002,” Palumbo told SooToday. “Always have liked the property, and Paul [Jobst] as well, I know he’s golfed there and he likes the property.”
“We felt that it was always an opportunity that could be better served if things were changed, and some money was put into it. We just felt that there was so much great potential that we’d love to do what we can to give back to the community and try to really make that property flourish in all its capabilities.”
The current pro-shop will be relocated to make way for the new dining and lounge area. It’s a move that Palumbo says will enable the pro-shop to expand by providing a full selection of golf merchandise and clubs, in addition to a golf simulator.
“We’re putting up a new pro-shop, which would be across the road from where the old pro-shop will be,” said Palumbo. “It will be a state-of-the-art pro-shop with full golf merchandise.”
Embers Grill and Smokehouse, meanwhile, will take over the revamped restaurant and dining area, which will also include a pub-style lounge.
The restaurant is scheduled to open its doors to the public Nov. 11.
“All year round the restaurant will be open, full service. It’ll be open Monday right through to Saturday - the only day it’ll be closed will be Sunday,” said Palumbo. “It’ll be open for lunch and dinner.”
“It will be available for banquets, Christmas parties, weddings - any special event.”
The new ownership also intends on hosting a number of winter activities, including snowshoeing, fat biking and a hill for tubing and tobogganing.
Fat bike and snowshoe rentals will be available on site.
There’s also talk of implementing a one-and-a-half kilometre skating trail, which would wind through one of the holes on the golf course.
Palumbo and Jobst hope to make Crimson Ridge Golf Course a year-round destination for the whole family.
“It’s such a great, great property up there. Great scenery, great landscaping. You know, really get people to enjoy it - not just during golf season, but enjoy in the wintertime with nice, family activities,” Palumbo said.
Ownership expects the golf pro-shop and simulator to be fully functional by February or March of next year.