Devil's Paintbrush

[Dave Kemp]

I will have the opportunity, weather permitting, to play Devil's Paintbrush this coming Monday.  I played Devil's Pulpit earlier this year and am very much looking forward to playing the 'Brush.

I have read and will re-read the article in "Courses by Country" on this site to get prepared.  Are there any tips that you can offer this neophyte GCA'er to get a better appreciation of what is generally considered one of Canada's top courses.  No less an authority than our esteemed 'Fab Four'    put it in their Top Ten.

Many thanks, Dave


PS I just realized this is my first "thread starting post" at GCA.  I guess I am no longer a lurker.

[Matt_Ward]

Dave:

Best advcie I can give -- don't push the throttle down on any shots you face unless you can handle the slippery curves you face. To borrow a Clint Eastwood expression, "A man's got to know his limitations."

The "Brush" is good bit beyond that of the neighboring Pulpit.  

Hats off to Hurdzan & Fry because this is clearly one time where they didn't get carried away with all the bells and whistles. The course fits the property very well and evokes as god an Irish motif short of being across the pond.

Enjoy your time because I concur it's one of my personal ten best in Canada. I pray good weather finds its way on Monday for you.

[Wayne_Kozun]

I hope you get good weather as the course should be beautiful with the leaves in full autumn colour.  I played the Brush last year and the Pulpit this year and quite enjoyed both courses - and I agree with the common belief that the Brush is the superior course.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Dave,

You'll enjoy it. There's a lot fun golf out of there, at the Paintbrush.

As I said in our "top Canadian courses" piece at this web site, some gimicky stuff - double greens, sod wall and shored up bunkers - seem a bit forced to me. But, those features aside, the Paintbrush is pure fun.

Before we decided to put our "top Canadian courses" list together, I never thought I'd consider the Paintbrush one of the best in Canada. Now I think it is.

[henrye]

Dave,

You'll enjoy it. There's a lot fun golf out of there, at the Paintbrush.

As I said in our "top Canadian courses" piece at this web site, some gimicky stuff - double greens, sod wall and shored up bunkers - seem a bit forced to me. But, those features aside, the Paintbrush is pure fun.

Before we decided to put our "top Canadian courses" list together, I never thought I'd consider the Paintbrush one of the best in Canada. Now I think it is.

Jeff, I agree with everything you say except the very last sentence.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Henry,

I didn't agree with that sentence either, until Ben, Rob, Ian and I started thinking about the best courses here, in Canada.

Even though I can nitpick about Devil's Paintbrush, I don't think there are 10 better courses in our country.

How about you? If you can, name 10. I'd really be interested to see your list.

[Dave Kemp]

Thanks for your thoughts and wishes for good weather.  Ever tried to type with your fingers crossed.  

I will keep notes as I go and see if I can provide any of my own thoughts after the round.

Dave

PS Wayne,  played Scarboro a few weeks back and enjoyed it as always.  Staff did a great job bringing it back after the flooding.

[Ian Andrew]

Dave,

On the fun end of things, the Paintbrush is great to play. It's full of quirks, options and lots of charm.

I think Brian Silva summed up the place best when he said (I was invited to join Brian and Dana on a walking tour) "if they don't like it, it's just because they don't get it"

Enjoy Dave, I do every time I play it (what could be a better compliment than that - when you think about it)

Ian

[Robert Thompson]

While lots of time is spent discussing strategy and difficulty in golf courses, Dana got it right with the Paintbrush: It is about fun. That said, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Pulpit when I played there a few weeks back. Quite a strong 36 hole facility.

RT

[henrye]

If you can, name 10. I'd really be interested to see your list.

Firstly, remember that this is simply my opinion.  In no particular order, Algonquin, Banff, Beacon Hall, Eagle's Nest, Glen Abbey, Jasper, Lake Joe, all 3 Osprey courses, Toronto - I know that's 11, but it's close.  Ones that I think are as good - Mad River, St. George's, Granite, Rocky Crest.  On your top 10 list I haven't played Hamilton or Highland Links, but hey I have played the National a few times and I prefer the Paintbrush to it.

[Robert Thompson]

HenryE: St. George's isn't on your initial top 10? I think you can be burned at the stake for suggesting that in some parts of Etobicoke.
Lake Joe? Algonquin? Wow. I was supposed to be in Saint John and playing the Algonquin today, but it didn't happen. Glad to hear you thought the course was of that caliber.

RT

[Dick Kirkpatrick]

Robert Thompson:
The last time I was at Algonquin it was an hour and a half drive from St. John.
I worked there with McBroom and it is a great course with some wonderful views. Much improved over the supposed Donald Ross layout that was there (in St. Andrews, NB)

[Wayne_Kozun]

If you can, name 10. I'd really be interested to see your list.

Firstly, remember that this is simply my opinion.  In no particular order, Algonquin, Banff, Beacon Hall, Eagle's Nest, Glen Abbey, Jasper, Lake Joe, all 3 Osprey courses, Toronto - I know that's 11, but it's close.  Ones that I think are as good - Mad River, St. George's, Granite, Rocky Crest.  On your top 10 list I haven't played Hamilton or Highland Links, but hey I have played the National a few times and I prefer the Paintbrush to it.

I would add Redtail to this list but I don't think the Hoot and Toot at Osprey are in the same calibre as most of the other courses you mention.  There are probably other courses in BC and/or Alberta that deserve consideration as well.

Other "hidden gems" would be courses like Brantford, Weston and St. Thomas.  I will disqualify myself from mentioning Scarboro.

[Dave Kemp]

We stayed a night in St. Andrew's, N.B. this summer on our family vacation.   Unfortuntely no time for golf at Algonquin. However, I awoke at the crack of dawn before the rest of the gang was up and snuck off to Algonquin to look around.  I asked in the pro shop if they minded if I walked around with my camera. " No problem was the answer.  Here take a cart and a course guide to help you find your way around".  Off I went as the early birds arrived for their tee times.  Just me and the grounds crew working amongst the heavy dew.  Ended up with a dozen or so shots that maybe one day I will try and post.

My first impression was that I would have enjoyed the chance to play the course (but then again there are not too many places I wouldn't  ).  There were some nice views around the bay and it appeared to be in good shape.  Have to admit I am not schooled enough to be able to discern what if any of Ross' design was left behind.

Dave

[Robert Thompson]

Dick: I was supposed to fly to St. John and drive to St. Andrews. Too bad it didn't happen, though it might still come off this week. We'll see.
Mr. McBroom seems to think quite highly of the course and many have said it is among his best.

[Tom_Doak]

Matt:  I only saw Devil's Paintbrush when it was under construction, not the finished form.  But there were sure a lot of bells and whistles back then.  They left the foundation of an old house in play as a bunker.  There were double greens, high sod walls, and lots of other edgy stuff.  How is that different than Dana's other work?  

[Matt_Ward]

Tom D:

Compare Paintbrush to Pulpit ?

There is a MAJOR difference between them. You might notice that when you actually play the course instead of seeing it in construction mode. That's why I always wait to evaluate a course until it can be played. People who define courses prior to that time can be mistaken by a small or large amount until they actually tee it up.

In the latter you get all the over-the-top elements one can ever hope for in a course. I mean the 1st hole -- a marvel of throwing everything in the design book in one hole -- is simply way too busy and costly. You also have the added elements of holes that can be added or played from different lengths and it seems to be a major case of overdosing and trying toooooo hard.

I never said Paintbrush was a direct replica of Irish courses. I said it evokes a motif of what you find overseas. The land is nicely rolling and the green represent a good section of types, contours and positions.

No doubt there are a number of "added elements" but the overall pacing / routing worked well for me and I had the good fortune in playing both courses on the same visit when I played there the very first time several years ago.

The edgy stuff doesn't preclude player options when playing the holes. You can avoid the items in question and frankly I have seen houses and much more included on courses across the pond. In other Fry courses sometimes the edgy / fluff elements overwhelm the holes / land -- that didn't happen IMHO at Paintbrush.

Maybe you need to play it to see if what you saw in construction is what actually turned out. I believe you will be surprised in the final result.

[Mark Saltzman]

Devil's Paintbrush was rated as the #2 modern golf course in Canada by Golfweek Magazine -- and yet, somehow, the course manages to fly under the radar. 

When discussing the best courses around Toronto, there is the usual list of suspects named -- St. George's, National GC of Canada, Toronto, Hamilton -- and yet Devil's Paintbrush is never discussed.

With it's sister course, Devil's Pulpit [M. Bosela's Photo Tour: http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=40754.0], this 36-hole facility must be considered among the best in the world.

The golf course has everything GCA.com loves -- wild greens, lots of quirk, and firm and fast conditioning.  To see my review (and about 50 pictures, see my blog... and apologies for not getting it posted on GCA...)

http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.com/2012/02/devils-paintbrush-golf-course-review.html