You don't have to actually be any good at golf to have a wonderful weekend away playing in the Central Counties, despite the fact you'll be playing on beautiful championship golf courses.
Golf is a laid-back pursuit there, in the most glorious of settings. Sure, great golfers are welcome, and will love the challenges, but so will newbies, families, and just about anyone else that wants to take a swing.
"Being here feels comfortable, there's nothing stuffy and elite about it," says Trevor Hay, Golf Pro at Osprey Valley Golf Course in Caledon, which is a 54-hole facility with three distinct and individual top-ranked championship courses. "You could be a complete beginner and come here and have a really good time, it's not all about handicaps and rules."
Head just north of Toronto, and there you'll find Central Counties, made up of York, Durham and Headwaters regions. There's way more to do there than just play golf though, there are quaint villages to explore, craft beer to sip, farm-to-table dining to feast on, and as of recently, a winery with tasting room to enjoy too.
During your golf getaway at Osprey Valley Golf Course in Central Counties, top, save time for an energizing family hike, above.
A family affair
Kids play free at Osprey Valley Golf Course (and also at Bathurst Glen in Richmond Hill), and there are many incentives at courses across the region designed to bring more families out to play. For older children, or those with more experience, several courses in the region offer youth clinics, so you can nurture any skill or natural talent your budding Brooke Henderson might have. All ages are welcome though, and a love of golf can start at a tender age.
"Last week we had two girls aged eight and 10 out with their mother and father. We gave them a small set of clubs to hit a round," says Mr. Hay. "There's nothing like going out on a warm Ontario evening and playing golf. It's a nice walk in a beautiful setting, and perfect for families."
Off the golf courses, there's plenty of other cool stuff to do in the Central Counties with your children, from mini-putt to hiking, water parks to festivals and, of course, Canada's Wonderland. There are many family-friendly accommodation options too, from bed and breakfasts to ranch stays to luxurious hotel suites.
A bike ride in Uxbridge, above, is a heart-pumping prelude to an Adamo Estate Winery tour and tasting at Hockley Valley Resort, below.
Vines by the greens
If you choose to stay and play at the Hockley Valley Resort, which has 18 glorious holes set in lush rolling hills, you'll be in the right spot to sample the region's first home-grown wines. The Adamo Estate Winery is on the resort, adjacent to the golf course, which opened last September and is proving to be incredibly popular with visitors.
"We put our first releases on our shelves in October, and sold out of all of our wines in a month," says Adamo's winemaker, Shauna White.
"People have been blown away when they've stopped in. They're surprised at how healthy and beautiful our vineyard is, and we have a state-of-the-art facility."
Visitors to the winery can take their time sampling the unique character of the wines, sitting on the tasting room's comfy couches and chairs, and enjoying a cheese plate with their flights.
"You don't have to stand at the bar to taste our wines, you can take your time here," says Ms. White. "We feel like this is a very special place, and we're so happy to be able to share it with our visitors."
The Adamo Estate Winery is adjacent to the golf course at Hockley Valley Resort.
Kid-free romance
Prefer to golf but get away from your kids too? Don't worry, there's plenty of opportunity to do that in the Central Counties. At Osprey Valley Golf Course they have regular Nine and Dine events, which offer nine holes of casual golf, a beautiful meal, and door prizes (not skill related, so everyone has a chance to win). "It is a great way to spend an evening, playing golf then kicking back with a couple of glasses of wine on our patio listening to live music," says Mr. Hay.
Book yourselves in at the historic and multi-award-winning Millcroft Inn and Spa in Caledon for a truly romantic break, where you can indulge in couples massages and soaks in the new outdoor hot springs after playing a few rounds.
This content was produced by The Globe and Mail's advertising department. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.