London golfers are amongst the most fortunate on the planet. Sure, most of us put our clubs in mothballs for the winter, then stare hypnotically at our TV whenever The Golf Channel tortures us with palm trees and emerald green fairways. Is there anything as torturous as watching the PGA Tour season-opening events from Hawaii on a large screen while forced to practice putting on the living room carpet during a heavy snow day?

Our golf season may be short, but Londoners are fortunate to have access to more than 100 golf courses in southwestern Ontario - scores of quality courses within a half hour of downtown London. It's why London is called, "Golf Capital of North America." More strength for that argument: per capita, there are more golfers in London than almost anywhere in the world, and most of our golfers are avid participants rather than casual.

This summer, more Londoners have flocked to what has quickly become one of the most improved and friendliest area golf destinations: The Fox Golf Club, just minutes north of city. More than 40 new members - many from London - boost total membership to 160 and growing. Most of the improvement and golfer-friendly environment rests in the skilful hands of director of golf and course superintendent Patrick Brennan.

Play the links-style Fox GC, and visions of haggis and bagpipes may dance in your head. There's good reason. Brennan, from County Cork, Ireland studied turf management in St. Andrews, Scotland. Upon graduation in 1998, he actually worked at The Home of Golf before coming to Canada in 2002, joining his wife, Amy, whom hails from Stratford, Ontario.

Former City of London director of golf, Bill Fox, designed the front nine at The Fox (est. 1995), while his son, Bill Fox Jr., designed the second nine (est. 2001). Rolling hills, plentiful fescue, strategically-placed bunkers and undulating greens are the order of the day at The Fox, where ever-changing winds make the 6,409-yard course play much longer.

Brennan, who has adopted London as his own, has become an involved member of the community with efforts such as helping manage the Irish Canadian Connection charity golf tournament for Lupus. Since he became course superintendent in 2003, Brennan has created a gem, altering the greens so that they now rival those of private clubs. It's not uncommon for Brennan to be on the course at 2 a.m. making sure the course is properly groomed for play that day.

Be ready for more changes at The Fox. The local ownership family, led by Jerry Martens, will this fall add another 100 trees to the 100 added this spring, then another 100 in spring 2010. All bunkers are getting makeovers, and irrigation improvements now save water. New tee boxes will add another 160 yards. And greens are being converted to a new type of creeping bent grass - hardier in battling disease and providing a truer putting surface late in the day.

Times are tough for the golf industry. Rounds are down more than 10 per cent across the board, thanks to lousy weather this summer and a slumping economy. Despite this, The Fox continues to become even more golfer-friendly. It's one reason why London golfers are now considering The Fox more than ever as their golf destination.

If a gold medal was awarded this year to a local semi-private golf club with the most improved playing conditions, then it would be presented to The Fox Golf Club in Granton, just north of London.

Three years ago, I reviewed and raved about The Fox, not only because of its links-style layout and attentive staff, but also because it had great potential. Enter director of golf, Patrick Brennan, also The Fox's superintendent since September 2003. In less than five years, he has turned this track around to the point where it boasts terrific conditions.

The Fox, off Highway 7, provides the local golfer not only with a variety of holes - changing every day depending on wind conditions - but also a trip to Scotland. Former City of London director of golf, Bill Fox, designed the front nine at The Fox GC (established 1995), while his son, Bill Fox Jr., designed the second nine (established 2001). Rolling hills, plenty of fescue and undulating greens are the order of the day.

There's another reason why images of haggis and bagpipes dance in your head while tackling The Fox. Patrick, from County Cork in Ireland, studied turf management in St. Andrews, Scotland. Upon graduation in 1998, he actually worked at the Home of Golf before making the trek to Canada in 2002, joining his wife, Amy, who hails from Stratford.

Patrick's touch is evident on every hole at The Fox, in particular on the greens. They've gone from rags to riches since he took over the superintendent's reigns. It's not uncommon for him to be on the course at 2 a.m. making sure the course is being properly groomed for a loyal legion of members and faithful green fee patrons.

The Fox measures from 5,199 yards to 6,409 yards, and is a good venue for both beginners and low-handicap golfers who can risk a good round via the many risk-reward holes. Most fairways are wide open, but an errant tee shot can be lost in natural grasses.

The biggest challenge at The Fox stems from constant changing windy conditions. The front nine holes are for the most part wide open but challenging, thanks to a number of clever design features. For example, from the tips, No. 4 is a 466-yard par-5 featuring a shallow, undulating green fronted by a large pond and protected by a bunker to the left, and out of bounds at the rear.

Patrick's touch is also evident in new tee placements and better bunkers. In fact, like any good superintendent, Patrick's creative mind will continue to examine new ways to toughen this track.

The back nine at The Fox is more heavily treed and features some severe doglegs. The signature hole, No. 13, is a pretty par-3 measuring just 163 yards from an elevated tee. But again, changing winds not unlike Augusta National's Amen Corner make this hole tougher than it looks. The 18th, a par-5, 555-yard monster, features a double dogleg and tight fairway with an undulating green.

When you're ready for the 19th hole, clubhouse manager Cameron Ward makes sure The Thirsty Fox doesn't leave you dry. The pro shop boasts some of the friendliest staff you'll ever meet, too.

No matter what your skill level, a trip to The Fox will leave you with nothing but good memories - including a touch of the Old Course at St. Andrews.

One of the beauties of golf in southwestern Ontario - and in the city of London, for that matter - is the great variety of course types. The Fox Golf Club, a semi-private club on Elginfield Road just north of London, provides the local golfer not only with a variety of holes, but a trip to Scotland where links golf rules. Don't look for well-manicured fairways; do look for rolling hills, plenty of fescue, and undulating greens.

In fact, The Fox GC was in great shape from tee to green despite our hot, dry summer - a real testament to new management and a crack greens crew. The only downfall was the speed of the greens; however, members at this popular club like them that way, according to the pro shop.

The Fox GC measures from 5,199 yards to 6,409 yards, and is a good venue for both beginners and low-handicap golfers who can risk a good round via the many risk-reward holes. Most fairways are wide open, but an errant tee shot will be lost in the knee-high surroundings of natural grasses. The on-site practice facility runs adjacent to the fairway at hole No. 1, and so do many range balls, but having a range here is a real plus for the club, and the price is right at only $5 for a warm-up bucket of balls.

Former City of London director of golf, Bill Fox, designed the front nine at The Fox GC (est. 1995), while his son, Bill Fox Jr., designed the back nine (est. 2001). The rebuilt clubhouse, and 19th hole - The Thirsty Fox - boast character and very friendly staff who make visitors feel like members.

The biggest challenge at The Fox GC stems from constant changing windy conditions. The front nine are for the most part wide open but challenging, thanks to a number of design features. No. 2 is a narrow, 195-yard par-3 with out of bounds to the left, and an undulating green. The fourth hole, a 466-yard par-5, features a shallow, undulating green fronted by a large pond and protected by a bunker to the left, and out of bounds at the rear. No. 8 is a tough par-5 measuring 565 yards, with strategically placed deep fairway bunkers, a valley fronting the green, and a blind shot to the pin. A very tough par-3 ninth measures 200 yards but plays more like 220 yards in windy conditions. Once you're on the green, expect the quickest putts of the day on rolling turf.

The back nine at The Fox GC is more heavily treed and features some severe doglegs. A 327-yard par-4 12th hole at first glance appears like a birdie hole, but out of bounds left demands pinpoint accuracy off the tee to a slightly elevated green with a centre ridge. The signature hole, No. 13, is a pretty par-3 measuring 163 yards from an elevated tee. Then, the real fun begins at the par-4 14th, a dogleg left measuring 307 yards. Cut the corner with a 3-wood, or lay up for an easy pitch: the decision is yours. At the 339-yard 15th, you face a 90-degree dogleg left from the tee, but the smart play calls for a long iron to set up a pitch shot.

The finishing holes at The Fox GC are the toughest holes on the course. No. 17 is a 230-yard par-3 that plays like 250 yards downhill into the wind. The 18th, a par-5, 555-yard monster, features a double dogleg and tight fairway with an undulating green.

At The Fox GC, accurate tee shots will see you score low. You can bump and run all day long, but you will face some challenging greens, not to mention a nasty second cut and plenty of fescue during your journey.

I've always enjoyed my rounds at The Fox GC, and you will too: the price is right, the staff are courteous, and the rural surroundings make for an enjoyable afternoon.