In May of 2017, the RGF Real Estate Fund LP bought the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Woodbridge area golf course. The 290-acre course was iconic, the sight of many golf tournaments, networking events, and business function since its opening in the mid 1960s. Many golf courses are being sold across North America. High land values, declining golf use, and enormous demand for housing is driving the changes.
Only one third of the land sold can be developed; roughly 100 acres. The other two thirds of the sold golf course are green space off limits to real estate construction. Even though this is the case, the developer has said that the capacity to develop the 100 acres will be very profitable. The developer plans some 600 detached residential units and 60 townhomes. This plan was presented to the city of Vaughan and has yet to be fully approved. Many local residents are opposed to the development proposal, fearful of increased traffic, noise, and pollution.
In April of 2015, the 400 acre York Downs golf course was sold for $412 million. Both York Downs and the Country Club are courses adjacent to valuable suburban real estate and they are similarly sized. Assuming a similar valuation, it can be assumed that RGF bought the Country Club for roughly $300 million. Despite the fact that only a third of the course can be developed, this massive purchase will likely be very profitable. These transactions highlight the extent of housing demand in the GTA.