Riverbend Golf Community Wins 2026 Best of London Golf Award

Gated Golf Community Recognized for Outstanding Customer Service & Golf Amenities

January 5, 2026 (London, ONT) – LondonOntarioGolf.com (est. 2004), the Voice of Golf in Southwestern Ontario, today announces RiverBend Golf Community in London as winner of the 2026 Best of London Golf Award, as selected by the LondonOntarioGolf.com editorial team.

For 13 years, the highly-successful Best of London Golf Awards took the form of a readers’ choice poll honouring numerous golf industry sectors. This year and moving forward, the Best of London Golf Award focuses on one Southwestern Ontario golf club for its outstanding customer service and golf amenities.

When Sifton Properties’ RiverBend Golf Community opened its 18-hole, Doug Carrick-designed golf course for play in 2002, it did so with much fanfare – and deservedly so. In fact, today, with its twinning of community luxury homes and championship golf course, beautiful Kains Woods plus a myriad of first-rate course and clubhouse amenities, the RiverBend gated golf community is still unique to this part of Canada.

“RiverBend GC is the perfect choice as winner of the 2026 Best of London Golf Award,” said LondonOntarioGolf.com publisher and editor Jeffrey Reed. “As a golf journalist who has written and talked about the industry since 1980, I say without hesitation that RiverBend offers some of the finest golf amenities and all-around customer service anywhere in Canada. The RiverBend community has become an important part of our local golf fabric, and it’s one of the reasons London is the Golf Capital of Canada.”

Per capita, Southwestern Ontario is home to the most golf courses in North America. In London and surrounding counties, local golfers have access to 13 private golf clubs, 112 semi-private and public clubs, 20 stand-alone outdoor golf practice centres, numerous golf ranges housed at local clubs and public venues, plus a growing number of indoor golf simulators and practice centres.

The golf industry contributes tens of millions of dollars annually to the local economy, including spending at golf clubs, retail sales and charity golf fundraising. In addition to supporting pro shops, retailers and not-for-profit groups, local golfers also purchase equipment, apparel and accessories online.

“Yet golf is much more than dollars and cents,” added Reed. “It’s the heart of soul of many local residents who golf seven months of the year, and dream about golfing during the other five months. The game is a big element when defining London and surrounding municipalities, and RiverBend GC is the gold standard in terms of customer service and golf amenities.”

At RiverBend GC, an important part of the unique lifestyle includes the 28,000-square-foot clubhouse – the social hub of the RiverBend community. Here residents enjoy fitness classes, an indoor pool, casual and fine dining plus a number of social activities designed to bring neighbours together. RiverBend rests in the shadows of London Hunt & Country Club, but it deserves the spotlight alone for its unique offerings. And with multiple tee blocks accommodating every level of golfer, the RiverBend golf course is an exquisite, all-inclusive oasis within the city limits.

The real beauty of RiverBend Golf Community, though, is its staff who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to day-to-day operations. They include general manager Simon Bevan; head golf professional Tyler Vaillant; associate golf professionals Gareth Raflewski and Ty Vanthuyne; assistant golf professional Dale Millard; golf course superintendent Kevin Collier; assistant golf course superintendent Sean Davey, and second assistant Logan Mobberley;  business services manager Tara Reycraft; fitness director Kristen VanBerkel; food and beverage manager Shawn Greco; executive chef Kyle Nichol; sous chef Nathan Grindstaff; food and beverage event coordinator Alyssia Johnston; food and beverage supervisors Lesley White and Emily Lankin; head concierge Lisa Trelford; community grounds superintendent Jerry Hakkers; assistant community grounds superintendent Matt Bailey; and horticulturalist team lead Rebecca Walker.