CAMLACHIE -- You won't be treated like a divot this summer when you play Sawmill Creek Golf and Country Club .

That's the promise of new owners of the Scottish links-style course just a few minutes' drive from where Mike Weir grew up in Bright's Grove.

Three Toronto developers -- Don Fleming, 55, Dan Odorico, 43, and Tony Alberga, 64 -- officially take over the course from owners Bill and Linda Gerritts on June 1.

The trio, who form GolfVest Capital Partners, say everyone who comes to play at Sawmill Creek will be treated royally as "a member for a day." Their golf bags will be picked up in the parking lot and clubs cleaned. They will receive a level of profession service usually provided only at high-end Toronto clubs open to the public. The cost for this service will be $35 on weekdays.

The new owners have some rather ambitious plans.

They will restore the bent-grass fairways to their original condition and are contemplating layout changes. The owners have hired Canadian golf architect Doug Carrick to review the Rene Muylaert-designed course.

They also plan to build upward of 100 luxury condominium units, which will sell for between $200,000 and $300,000.

Fleming recently toured the RiverBend golf course and community in London to pick up some ideas. Carrick designed that course.

"We believe (Sawmill Creek) has the potential to be positioned as the premier public facility in Sarnia," Fleming says. "We will be investing in improvements in the course and clubhouse."

One of the most important changes will be replacing the large waste bunker area on the left and right sides of the 349-yard, par-four third hole, with a large irrigation pond. The pond will serve two purposes. The club ran out of water two summers ago and last year almost ran out again. Second, the pond will discourage golfers from cutting the corner on the sharp dogleg, hoping to land near the green.

Gerritts built Sawmill Creek in 1988 after he sold his heating and plumbing business in Toronto and came home here.

He made some shrewd decisions at the time, bringing in Muylaert who designed an excellent course measuring 6,278 yards.

The course has many similarities of Muylaert courses -- the Oaks and West Haven -- with fescue grasses and gentle moundings dividing the holes.

Gerritts also built a 22,000-square-foot clubhouse, which caters to many weddings and parties.

When one of the new owners was discussing the golf course with Gerritts, he asked the owner what was the slope (course rating).

Gerritts replied: "We have lots of slopes."

The new owners have an impressive background -- in real estate. But like Gerritts, there are unanswered questions about their golf knowledge.

Fleming is a partner in Heron Homes, a Toronto firm, which has built about 5,000 homes in the Toronto area. He is also a former executive with ClubLink Corp., involved as vice-president of real estate.

Odorico and Alberga own Downing Street Holdings, a Toronto firm that owns and manages office buildings.

They manage three million square feet of property and about a dozen downtown Toronto office buildings.

Sawmill Creek is their first venture into the golf business. They chose the Sarnia area because they believed the demographics were right.

"There's something here with an upside to the golf operations and the real estate development has potential," Fleming said.

HOW IT RATES

SAWMILL CREEK

Challenge of holes * * * *

Very strong course for public play.

Best hole * * * * 1/2

The 12th, a very narrow par-4. The 394-yard hole is guarded at the front and right of the green by a water hazard.

Reception at club * * * *

The influence of the new owners already shows.

Condition of course * * 1/2

The fairways need some work to remove different types of grasses which have taken hold.

Value for dollar * *

$35 on weekdays is steep, given the conditions.

19th hole * * * * *

Excellent. The club also offers bed and breakfast.