[Ryan Chin]

Hi everyone - first original post on my favourite website...think I caught the moderator at a weak moment and he let me in. Heh.

Other than the accepted "top" courses in Ontario - Redtail, St. George's, The National, Beacon, Hamilton, both Devil's courses - I'm trying to compile a list of 5 courses (new to me) to play in 2009 based on ***architectural interest***. The less is known about them, the better. They don't have to be ranked highly. Please don't say Glen Abbey.

Here are my five:
- Lookout Point (Walter Travis)
- Westmount (Stanley Thompson)
- St. Thomas (Thompson)
- Mad River (Bob Cupp)
- Essex (the only Donald Ross original in Ontario?)

Honourable mention: Kawartha, Summit, Cataraqui
Already played: Osprey Valley Heathlands, Toronto GC, Thornhill

Any suggestions? Thanks...

[Bruce Leland]

Ryan:

Although not an old time golden age course, I found Georgian Bay in Collingwood to be a very good test and an interesting layout.  It is a Hurdzan Fry course done by Jason Straka, I believe.

[Ian Andrew]

Essex (Ross)
St. Thomas (Thompson/Robinson)
Highland GC (thompson/Cumming
Cherry Hill (Travis)
Lookout Point (Travis)
Whirlpool (Thompson)
Glendale
Westmount (Thompson)
Lakeshore (Strong)
Weston (Park/Alison)
Rosedale (Ross/ Bendelow)
Summit (Cumming/Thompson)
Allandale (9) (Thompson)
Brantford (N. Thompson)
Kawartha (Thompson)
Cataraqui (Thompson)
Ottawa Hunt (Park/McBroom)

[Sandy Smith]

Ryan , don't you have a couple of feet of snow in Ontario by now ?

[Will MacEwen]

I notice Brockville G&CC says it has "Stanley Thompson roots".  Does that refer to a previous location.

Cornwall is also quite old, but not sure if it is a hidden gem, or just hidden.

Thus ends my shout out to the St. Lawrence Seaway.

[Matthew MacKay]

Beverly
Cutten
Galt
Maple Downs
Oakdale
Oshawa
Uplands
Sunningdale (Old)
Chedoke (Beddoe)

[Matt Bosela]

Ian's list is very strong but I believe he means Lakeview, a Herbert Strong designed muni in Mississauga, not Lakeshore.

I'll add my two cents when I get a chance later in the day.

[Matt Bosela]

Ryan , don't you have a couple of feet of snow in Ontario by now ?

I know you're being sarcastic Sandy but autumn in Ontario is definitely the best time to play golf, with all the colours on the trees, less congestion, etc.

This past weekend likely qualifies as the best we've had all year, bar none.  Temps in the high 60's and glorious sunshine all three days (Thanksgiving long weekend).

[Ronald Montesano]

Agreed on the weather.  Our varsity played its annual alumni match (and got skunked... I played as an honorary alum) at Cherry Hill on Friday.  We had a chance to see Ian Andrew's bunker work on the back nine and it is something special.  He currently has holes 6 and 7 torn up for work and is doing a remarkable job.  He is creating corridors that force a good bit more thought off the tee.  Interesting thing is that one enormous change to the course (the removal of trees behind number eight green) was wrought not by Mother Ian, but rather by Mother Nature!  I agree with his Niagara hidden gems of Cherry, Lookout and Whirlpool.  None of the newer courses are of that ilk, although Hamilton G&CC (Colt) and Willow Valley (Cooke) would be my two additions between Niagara and TO.

[Ryan Chin]

I didn't know Smitty was in this group, but we go way back. He's laughing at me because we used to play golf together at Marine Drive before I moved away from Vancouver.

Thanks for the advice everyone - I guess a trip to Niagara and to Guelph for Cutten / Galt is in order. Plus I had never heard of Allandale or Brockville before. And I now have confirmation that Kawartha and Summit are worth seeing.

Ian - surprised you put Rosedale in that group. Even some members I know aren't thrilled about their home course. Weston I have played and the routing is fantastic...but why did the club wish to revamp the bunkering? I thought it was fine before.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Not yet mentioned are Eagles Nest, Coppinwood, Scarboro, Tarandowah and Cobble Beach - I haven't played the last two yet but have heard good things about them.  No one has mentioned any of the Muskoka courses yet either - surely Rocky Crest, Bigwin, Oviinbyrd and Deerhurst deserve a look.

[Todd Kuspira]

Ryan,

Welcome to the site.  Are you still playing in Ontario?

tk

[John Foley]

Wayne - I played Tarandowah, but did not have a camera.

There we're some very good holes and a few that I didn't care for but for the most part it was an enjoyable round. 

Not sure I would make it a destination, but in the area I owuld defiently put it on the list to see.

As a value it can't be beat.

[Ronald Montesano]

Way east in ONT are Black Bear Ridge and Trillium Woods, in Belleville.  We played a league championship there a couple years back and the kids raved about the layouts.

[Will MacEwen]

Way east in ONT are Black Bear Ridge and Trillium Woods, in Belleville.  We played a league championship there a couple years back and the kids raved about the layouts.

Way East?  That is still west of Kingston.

Upper Canada is a pretty fun course, but I haven't played it in some time.

[Jeff_Mingay]

If you're making a trip to Windsor to play Essex, you should also make time to visit Roseland.

Designed by Donald Ross in 1926 (a couple years before Essex), Roseland is a muni, owned by the city these days. It's flat (like Essex), but there are some really good holes and more than a few interesting greens (all 18 originals are intact... I have Ross' sketches to prove it).

With some work, Roseland could be nearly as interesting as Essex... it just doesn't have the same ambiance.

[Ryan Chin]

Thanks Jeff....Roseland sounds like a true hidden gem.
And I can't think of any many Ross courses in the GTA.

[Gerry B]

scarboro- ian andrew you are being modest

st thomas - stanley thompson gem near london, on - ranke in the 50's in score magazine - i hvae it in my top 10 in the country

cataraqui - have not played but heard it is great


eagles nest

essex - so i am told

lookout point - ditto

lakeview - old herbert strong public course adjacent to the toronto golf club LV hosted canadian opens in the 1920's- short but fun

osprey valley

toronto hunt club - 9 hole fun track just outside the city limits - willie park / update possibly by stanley Thompson with a mcbroom renovation currently underway. the course has 3 - 4 all world holes in a great setting - the  9th is an extraordinary par 4

[Jeff_Mingay]

Gerry,

Essex is NOT the National GC of Canada, but I think you'd enjoy it 

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