Heading to the RBC Canadian Open? Here are some helpful tips – SCOREGolf

The RBC Canadian Open takes place next week at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont. This will be Hamilton’s seventh time hosting the tournament but first since a massive restoration of the property was done by English architect Martin Ebert.

With much of the work occurring during Covid, Ebert oversaw the project from afar and utilized photographs, drone footage and virtual meetings to ensure things were done to his liking. The project saw thousands of trees removed, all bunkers, greens and green surrounds redone, some greens moved, new tee decks added and fairway lines changed. The result is a more expansive-looking course with longer sightlines.

After a date swap with the Memorial Tournament, this year will mark the first time in the Canadian Open’s history that a tournament round is played in May. While that initially raised some concerns about conditioning, the recent mild weather has been a big help. Next week’s forecast calls for slightly cooler temperatures hovering around 20 C with scattered rain Monday through Thursday with hotter and sunnier conditions arriving by the weekend.

“It’s been great to see the warmer temperatures. The mild winter and early spring gave us a great start, but things are now in high gear over the past few days,” said Alan Carter, Hamilton’s chief operating officer. “Turf areas have really kicked into high gear, and it’s been great to see all of the trees fully leafing out. The course is looking wonderful.”

Though the field is light on stars, Rory McIlroy, who won the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton, and defending champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., will draw large galleries. So too will Mackenzie Hughes of nearby Dundas, Ont., and the rest of the Canadian contingent. Tommy Fleetwood, he of the heartbreaking loss to Taylor a year ago, will be a fan favourite as well.

Here are some tips if you’re heading to Ancaster next week.  

Before you go

Download the Golf Canada app. While Golf Canada membership requires an annual cost of $50, the app is free to download and provides access to the tournament app, which is excellent. It offers a map of the property, ticket management, live scoring and the ability to track any golfer’s whereabouts at any time.

Getting there

For those driving, parking will be at the Ancaster fairgrounds on Trinity Road, from which complimentary shuttle busses will take you to and from Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Audi drivers can access a parking lot that’s closer to the golf course (though still requiring a shuttle ride) by pre-registering here. (Audi is a premier partner of the tournament.) 

The nearest Go Train station to Hamilton G&CC is Aldershot, which is a 20-minute trip (depending on traffic) to the ride share drop-off at Ryerson United Church. That is a short walk away from the golf course.

Where to hang

If you’re not lucky enough to have a corporate hospitality spot at Hamilton Golf and Country Club — or even if you do and want to wander the course — there are some excellent spots to position yourself in order to take in action on several holes. Even before the tree-removal program, Hamilton, while hilly in spots, was a good spectator golf course.

The best place is the area behind the par-3 eighth green. Also converging there are the second green, third tee, ninth tee, 11th green and 12th tee. That means you can see play on six different holes without walking more than 50 or so yards.

Another good spot is behind the 10th green. Quickly accessible from there are the 11th tee, 18th tee, fifth green and 13th tee. The 13th is this year’s Rink Hole and bound to be the most popular spot on the property once again.

Food & Entertainment

This is an area where the RBC Canadian Open has made a big improvement in recent years. The “Food Fareway,” tucked behind the clubhouse between the 18th green and 17th tee, will sell grub from Recipe Unlimited restaurants The Keg, Burger’s Priest, Swiss Chalet and New York Fries. Also located there is the Johnsonville (Sausage) Links Lounge and drink options from Sleeman, Stalk & Barrel Whiskey, Cottage Springs, Matt & Steve’s Caesar and Dobel Tequila. There are, of course, other concessions throughout the golf course. The tournament is cashless.

This year’s concert series is a three-day event featuring Loud Luxury and Frank Walker on Thursday, July Talk and Our Lady Peace on Friday and Lindsey Ell and Josh Ross on Saturday. All are Canadian artists.