By Gavin McDougall – Valley Golf News May 1990
Christian Lavoie is the captain of the Mr. Gas Pro Tour and as a result is the usual go-between for this paper and the Ottawa Zone circuit. As was the custom last summer, Chris would phone in results from tour events that VGN had been unable to attend (which at the risk of sounding immodest, were very few).
Now I thought I had a good bead on every pro in the Valley, as far as who was who and what club they called home. So it was with some puzzlement that I listened to Chris last August tell me the winner of the Prescott Pro-Am.
“Scott MacDonald from Juniper Fairways,” he said. Scott who from Juniper where? “You sure got that right Chris,” I said to myself.
Completely right. And in the next couple of years golfers throughout the entire Ottawa Valley are likely to know about Scott MacDonald and the gem of an idea he is single-handedly developing in Montague Township, 11 kilometers east of Smiths Falls on Roger Stevens Drive.
Juniper fairways, named for the abundant juniper plants that grace the 257 acre property MacDonald bought in January, 1989, will be one of the most impressive practice facilities available to golfers anywhere. MacDonald has shaped a diamond-like a range with four distinct teeing areas that will allow golfers to play all kinds of shots under all the conditions they face on a golf course.
The range, which McDonald’s plans to open in 1992, is only the first part of elaborate plans the determined 28-year old CPGA entrepreneur has developed. A 7,000 yard eighteen hole course has been designed with additional space on the property reserved for another nine or a possible subdivision.
What’s most impressive about MacDonald’s endeavour is the way he’s doing it – by himself.
Last summer passerby on Regional Road 8 probably figured the guy on the tractor was just another farmer toiling his land. A closer look would have shown MacDonald leveling, clearing, and grading the 16 acres at that encompass the range. Ten, often twelve hour days were spent moving and clearing rocks and wild brush that were scattered over the rolling property. To be sure, more than a few people thought MacDonald was a little left of center.
“I’ve had people tell me I’m crazy and I just say, yeah ‘I’m crazy all right,’” says the Pembroke native who turned pro in 1980. “With each day though, I can see the range developing and I know it’s going to be unlike any other practice facility golfers have used.”
Golfers will be able to hit from four large teeing areas, all of which will be grass, and several of which are multi-tier. An island green will be located strategically within the range offering a target for both long and short iron play from the side tees.
The range is more than 440 yards in length and 220 yards wide. Grassy mounds and the four directions one can hit into will simulate conditions found on the golf course where hilly lies, prevailing winds, and the sun all affect one’s ability to score well.
The combination of these and other ideas MacDonald has for the range create what he calls a “total and complete practice facility”, one without 16 feet high giraffes and elephants. “I don’t visualize min-putt as being part of the practice range at Juniper fairways”, he says. “What I see is avid golfers coming here to work on all facets of their game. This will be a range where you hit every club in your bag, moving from tee to tee to work on a different part of your game.
The two side tees will be used to practice iron shots, with the island green situated from 100 to 200 yards from various spots of the facing tees. The largest tees, those facing North-South will be used for driving and wood play, both into and with the prevailing wind.
Apart from the Golf features of his range, MacDonald hopes to “stimulate the senses” of golfers through some unprecedented – for a driving range at least – landscaping. He feels aesthetics will make practicing golf more enjoyable.
“It’s difficult to practice golf because it becomes monotonous after a while”, says McDonald. “When you’re on a golf course you’re moving, and your senses are stimulated by the surroundings. Juniper fairways is going to give golfers that same feeling”.
“Golfers as a whole are appreciative of nature . The natural setting of Juniper Fairways along with a few things I have planned will create an intimacy of practice”.
Only someone as determined as MacDonald could pursue something like he is attempting with Juniper Fairways. His critics may think he’s crazy or that he’s chasing an unreachable dream, but the fellow out on the tractor isn’t listening.
“I suppose you have to be a bit introverted in a sense”, says McDonald. “You have to accept the slow transformation of pursuing your goals”.
Don’t let the long, lonely hours working on his range trick you into thinking he’s a loner though. On the contrary, MacDonald is a very outgoing and talkative type, who isn’t afraid of expressing himself. At last year’s Zone Championship he was decked out in the bright orange colors of Juniper fairways. Everything from the stripe in his golf shoes to the head of his driver makes a similar fashion statement. “I was thinking of showing up with a pure white driver for our first event this year”, he laughs. “I think it would be a bit of an eyesore though!”
Such is the carefree attitude that helps McDonald deal with the constant question of: “Why are you doing this?”
His answer is simple.
“Every golf pro dreams of owning his or her own course,” he says. “I also see the way the golf profession is going, and I decided I wanted to have something that was my own. The practice range is the first step towards that final objective.”
MacDonald has had plenty of offers from various sources wanting to buy into his project and build nine holes immediately, but he’s not rushing right yet. “I’m young, I can wait,” he says. “If it ends up taking me 18 years to build 18 holes, then fine. I’m in no hurry.”
It’s that kind of attitude that has already served him well. If his plans for the golf course are carried out half as well as those for the practice range, then Juniper Fairways will undoubtedly be an exceptional and all encompassing golf facility, no matter what year it’s completely finished.