History

Robert Magill arrived from Scotland with his mother, 9 brothers and 2 sisters in the early 1830's. His father died during the long ocean voyage. The down payment for the land of 17 pounds 10 shillings (approximately $100.00 Cdn.) is not documented. It is not clear when Robert began the arduous task of clearing the land which is now known as the Wolf Run Golf Course. The final payment of 44 pounds, 8 shillings (approximately $230.00 Cdn.) was made in October 1850. Eventually, this land, which extended all the way down to the Scugog River, was given to Roberts oldest son William.

In the 1830's the government allowed the Scugog River to be damned in Lindsay to build Purdy's Mill and this resulted in the flooding of all the farms along the river. Farmers from as far away as Port Perry took up guns, pitchforks and axes to destroy the dam. Unfortunately, even although the government realized their error and did not rebuild the dam, the damage was done and the farmers did not regain their land. At this point, the McGill farm only went to what is now the shores of Lake Scugog instead of where it would have extended to the middle of the lake. In 1904, the Lindsay Bobcaygeon and Pontypool Railroad Co. took over more land. The tracks went along what is now our 7th, 6th and 15th holes. In 1933, the tracks were taken out and the Mc Gills got their land back.

The original log cabin was built about where the ladies ninth tee is now. William's first two wives died and he and his third wife, Elizabeth, built their new farm house in 1872. A large part of this original house is now the Clubhouse. There was a shed approximately where the McGill lounge is now. Part of the original stone wall can still be seen behind the bar in the banquet room, and part of the banquet room used to be the verandah. The original kitchen is where the oak bar is now.

After William died, his youngest son, Oswald, and his mother ran the farm until 1909 when Oswald married. It was shortly after this that Oswald officially changed the spelling of his surname to McGill to differentiate from all the other Magills in Manvers township.

As was the custom of that time, Elizabeth was provided with a place in the family home. Her bedroom was what we now call "Elizabeths Room". She lived there until her death in 1934 at the age of 89. Some say if it is all quiet, you can still hear the spirit of Elizabeth in her rocking chair overseeing her home. Her only son Guy continued to run the family farm and married Margaret (Lawrie) McGill. When Guy decided to retire, he and Marg sold the farm in 1980 - well over a century of the McGill's family farm came to an end. In 1987, the farm was again sold to View Lake Investment, a group of seven men who could see the potential in the land and had a great desire to build an 18 hole championship golf course - Wolf Run.

Wolf Run Golf Club   51 Golf Course Rd., RR #1   Janetville, Ontario   Proshop: 705-328-3949 ext. 22   Toll Free: 888-321-WOLF   Email Us

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