Winter Wonderland: Ice Skating at Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club

Please note this is the booking site for ice skating only. The booking site for trail walking can be ACCESSED HERE.

Join us for outdoor winter activities including ice skating and walking trails at Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club in East Gwillimbury, Ontario. Given the challenges of the past year, we wanted to offer a bit of fun for the community and a chance to get outside with the family for some much-needed lockdown-safe exercise. Although there is no charge to use the ice pad or trails, we intend to offer the option upon booking to donate to one of three local charities (Bluedoor, Inn from the Cold, and Newmarket Food Pantry) which are helping those most in need during this pandemic and lockdown. Stay tuned as we iron out the details with the charities but we hope to have this set up later in January.

OUR GRAND OPENING IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, JAN 22 – bring your skates and your families! DOGS ON LEASH ARE WELCOME!

Come join us every weekend, Fridays to Sundays (10am to 5pm), weather permitting, FREE OF CHARGE on our very own ice pad! (scroll down below to see video of it being built!) We have also opened up our beautiful course for walking trails – the longer one (2.5km) is our Ursa Major trail, the shorter one is our Ursa Minor trail (1.5km) – making our Winter Wonderland the perfect activity for all! We are doing our best to keep the trails clear so strollers should be fine.

We are launching a new sister business, Sixteen Lakes Kitchen & Bistro, which will be preparing a delicious selection of seasonal snacks, hearty soups and wraps to keep you going after a brisk skate or walk. Delicious fresh and frozen take-home meals will also be available for purchase, as will treats for your furry friends. Please scroll down below to see menu!

Warm up next to our cozy wood-burning warming stations, then relax on our locally sourced hay bales* (please see below current lockdown modification to this) – hot chocolates for the kids and mulled wines for everyone else! Whether you prefer an energizing skate or a leisurely stroll, Silver Lakes has something for everyone this winter.

Come spend the day with us at Silver Lakes!

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

DUE TO CURRENT LOCKDOWN IN PLACE UNTIL AT LEAST FEB 10, PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING LOCKDOWN-SPECIFIC MEASURES. We may modify our approach based on additional guidance from the Government.

WE ARE ALLOWING UP TO 5 SKATERS ON THE ICE AT ANY ONE TIME. WE ARE ALLOWING UP TO 5 PEOPLE AN HOUR TO BOOK A TRAIL WALK. This does not mean you have to leave the property within an hour – this is just a way for us to manage the flow of people on the property.

*WE WILL HAVE ONE WARMING STATION FOR THE ICE PAD AND ONE FOR THE TRAIL WALK, with a max of 5 people allowed – spread apart and wearing masks. The 2 warming stations will be placed far apart (one near the ice pad and one near the 18th hole – see map) and will be clearly marked.

*WE WILL HAVE NO OUTDOOR SEATING SUCH AS PICNIC TABLES AVAILABLE. You will be able to sit on hay bales in order to put on your skates.

NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED – WE WILL HAVE HOT AND COLD DRINKS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. WE WILL ALSO BE SELLING TAKEOUT WRAPS AND SOUPS WHICH ARE EASY TO EAT WHILE STANDING OR WALKING. NO CONGREGATING WHILE EATING IS ALLOWED. Please stay at least 2 metres apart at all times.

After spending an activity-filled day with us, why not take the hassle out of lunch or dinner? Take home some ready-made soup or our signature all-day breakfast hash, or else a frozen steak pie or lasagna from our takeout counter to heat up for dinner.

You do not need to book a spot if you just want to buy from our take-out counter, be it fresh or frozen foods. Just come on by. You can also drop by on your way up to or back from the cottage (post lockdown of course) to stock up on easy meals!

MASKS MUST BE WORN OUTSIDE –INCLUDING WHEN WAITING IN LINE FOR TAKE OUT OR WAITING FOR THE WASHROOM. Please bring your own masks, though if you don’t have one, we have masks available.

THIS MAY SEEM VERY RESTRICTIVE BUT WE MUST DO THIS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO OPEN AT ALL. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. WE NEED YOUR COOPERATION TO MAKE THIS WORK – HELP US MAKE THE MOST OF THIS WINTER LOCKDOWN!

Please keep checking in with us as we may change this approach if government guidelines change. Ideally we would love to open up the ice to 2 groups of 5, for example, or allow additional seating or warming stations. Please stay tuned – we will be playing this by ear and updating this booking website and social media channels.

• Skaters and walkers MUST BOOK TIME SLOTS ONLINE. One person can book on behalf of a maximum of 5 people. Each skating session is one hour, with 30 minutes for maintenance and turnaround. Time slots will be open one week in advance.

• If you wish to skate and then walk, or vice versa, you must book two separate sessions, on two separate booking sites - this site for ice skating, this site is for trail walking. We cannot guarantee you will get adjacent sessions. It’s a bit clunky but until we hear more from the Government about capacity limits, this is the best we can do. Thank you for your understanding.

• NO WALK-UPS ALLOWED – ALL VISITORS MUST BE BOOKED ONLINE, EXCEPT FOR TAKEOUT-ONLY CUSTOMERS.

• If you change your plans, please cancel your registration to make the space available for someone else. You can do this through Eventbrite; otherwise please email us at events@silverlakesgolf.com.

• Capacity is limited to 5 skaters per session. Social distancing protocols must be practiced, though skating closely with small children in your household is permitted.

• Capacity is limited to 5 trail walkers per hour. Social distancing protocols must be practiced. Please stay to the marked trail.

• All guests, skaters, and walkers, MUST CHECK IN AT THE PRO SHOP so we know who is on the property for contact tracing, safety and insurance purposes. A map of the property is available at check-in and also if you scroll down below. You will receive a #silverlakesskates sticker at check-in so we can confirm everyone on the property has registered.

• COVID face masks must be worn by all skaters on the rink and inside the Clubhouse. Children under 10 years of age must wear a CSA helmet with full facial protector – COVID face masks must be worn underneath. Children ages 10-16 are also required to wear helmets, but full facial protectors are not required. It is strongly recommended that all skaters wear a helmet.

• Washrooms are available in the Clubhouse but skates must be removed before going indoors. Washrooms are to be used one at a time – please form a line outside the Clubhouse. Diaper change available in women’s change room.

• We have first aid points and two warming stations, as well as marshalls on the property to help ensure safety.

• Plenty of free parking available

• Unfortunately, we do not offer skate rentals.

• Hockey or shinny is not permitted.

• DOGS MUST BE KEPT ON LEASH –WARNING - THERE ARE MANY PONDS AND LAKES ON THE PROPERTY – WHILE THESE ARE CLEARLY MARKED, DOGS THAT RUN ONTO THESE PONDS COULD FALL IN - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHASE AFTER YOUR DOG ON ANY ICE SURFACE.

• You must clean up after your dog and dispose of waste in the bins provided (located at the entrance/exit of the trail as well as midway). Baggies are available at the Clubhouse if requested. We will have watering stations for your dogs to drink from at the entrance/exit of the trails.

• PLEASE DO NOT LITTER! TRASH BINS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.

• Please contact events@silverlakesgolf.com if you are interested in booking a private or corporate event post lockdown. You can also email us at events@silverlakesgolf.com if you are having problems booking a time slot.

• Your safety is our number 1 priority. Please maintain a safe distance of at least 6 feet from other people. Stay at home if you are feeling sick, have been out of the country, or suspect you have been exposed to COVID-19. Wash or sanitize your hands. We cannot guarantee you will not be exposed to COVID-19 - you assume the risk of COVID-19 exposure when you participate in activities at Silver Lakes.

• Please dress for the weather – wear warm clothes and appropriate footwear. You will not be permitted into the Clubhouse to warm up.

• GATES CLOSE AT 5:15pm SHARP – PLEASE START HEADING BACK TO YOUR CARS BY 5pm – LAST ENTRANCE FOR WALK IS AT 4pm.

• WARNING - Ice skating, winter trail walking and other outdoor activities involve inherent risks, including personal injury and death. By participating in these activities at Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club Ltd., you do so at your own risk and you assume these risks voluntarily. You and your legal representatives agree to waive all claims that you may have in the future and to release and forever discharge Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club Ltd. from all liability for all personal injury, death, property damage or loss resulting from your participation in these activities at Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club Ltd.

• Silver Lakes reserves the right to cancel any time slots due to bad weather or other safety concerns. You will be emailed with as much notice as possible if we have to cancel any time slots. If you have booked you will receive an email on the day of your reservation confirming the weather conditions for the day.