Just one man's opinion...
The Best 18 Holes in OntarioHole 1: Lookout Point Country Club -- Par 4, 423 YardsThe perfect combination of forgiveness and demand can be found at Lookout Point's 1st. The view of Niagara Falls in the distance is stunning and the extra seconds of hang time on your tee shot is thrilling. Still, Walter Travis' nasty bunkers await an errant tee shot, and one of many severely tilted greens will punish those that don't spend enough time on the putting green. There is no better way to start a round of golf in Ontario than to play Lookout Point's 1st.
Honourable Mentions: Rocky Crest, Heron Point, Devil's Pulpit
Hole 2: Devil's Paintbrush Golf Course -- Par 5, 468 YardsDevil's Paintbrush is the best modern golf course in Ontario, and it's short par-5 2nd may be its most interesting hole. A visually daunting tee shot with a bunker of epic scale guarding the right side of the fairway. Those successfully finding the fairway are left to decide whether or not to take on the massive centreline feature guarding the green and give the green in two a go. Finding the green, though, is no guarantee of a two-putt, or even a three-putt really, as the 50,000 sq ft double green rolls in a way that would make Perry Maxwell blush!
Honourable Mentions: Kawartha, Ridge at Manitou, Burlington, Lakeview, St George's
Hole 3: Muskoka Bay Club -- Par 4, 399 YardsOn a golf course known for its bold features and difficult, the third hole may be the most subtle hole on the golf course (and it's by far my favourite!). The hole flows perfectly with the rolling terrain and architect Doug Carrick has cleverly routed the hole such that the tee shot is played over a diagonal ridge. Carrying the ridge on the bold line to the left leaves a much shorter approach, but fail to carry the ridge and the golfer is faced with a very difficult blind approach.
Honourable Mentions: Osprey Valley (Hoot), Georgian Bay Club, Bigwin Island, Toronto, Hamilton, Lookout Point, Rocky Crest, Deerhurst
Hole 4: Toronto Golf Club -- Par 3, 190 YardsMartin Hawtree recently completed a sympathetic restoration at Toronto Golf Club, but I was very happy to see that he had the good sense to the leave the 4th hole alone. In a clever piece of routing, Harry Colt set the green just steps over a diagonal ridge on a piece of ground that tilts not-so-subtly away from the tee. Though some par-3s will intimidate golfers with water, bunkers and OB, the 4th is as tough a par-3 as there is in Ontario.
Honourable Mentions: St George's, The National, Beacon Hall, Coppinwood, Legacy Ridge, Osprey Valley (Heathlands), Oviinbyrd, Twenty Valley, Rosedale
Hole 5: Weston G&CC -- Par 4, 424 YardsIn a bold piece of routing, Willie Park Jr's 5th at Weston plays up and over a rise in the fairway before heading downhill and crossing a stream. The tee shot is a demanding one, requiring either a bold carry over a dip in the fairway on the left, or a tee shot near the bunkers on the right, from where the golfer will have a blind approach. The green is simple in shape and contour, but its steep back-to-front tilt fits well with the land and ensures that only a precisely placed approach will leave a simple putt.
Honourable Mentions: Hamilton, Beacon Hall, Allandale, Bond Head (North), Lookout Point, St George's, Osprey Valley (Heathlands), Port Carling, Mad River, Couchiching, Grandview
Hole 6: Port Carling -- Par 3, 173 YardsA stunning (and difficult) par-3 with the green set at angle to the tee over a gorge that runs down into Marion Lake. With a bit of wind only a precise tee shot will find this narrow green. A steep diagonal ridge 1/3 the way back makes finding the right portion of the green essential.
Honourable Mentions: Kawartha, Lookout Point, Bigwin Island, Coppinwood, Rosedale, Grand Niagara, Rocky Crest, Mad River
Hole 7: Oviinbyrd Golf Club -- Par 4, 482 YardsA perfect use of land in an ideal setting. The beauty of the 7th hole at Oviinbyrd Golf Club may disarm the golfer, but he must stay focused to have any hope of making par on this monster par-4. Fortunately, the hole normally plays downwind, and the golfer may be able to make use of two speed-slots down the left-centre of the fairway. While the fairway is generous, the approach calls for precision as an aerial approach is required unless the golfer can fit a draw up the right side of the green. Heck, getting pin high in 2 is a feat in itself.
Honourable Mentions: St George's, Toronto, Deerhurst, Devil's Pulpit, Scarboro, Essex, The National
Hole 8: The Summit G&CC -- Par 4, 412 YardsA stunning downhill par-4, played to a fairway that lays between tilted and impressive landforms. Admittedly, I'd like to see the mowing lines widened, but the movement in the fairway and the semi-blind drop-down green reminds me of the 13th at Thompson's Highlands Links. The perfect combination of beauty, demand and quirk!
Honourable Mentions: Uplands, Bracebridge, St George's, Devil's Pulpit, Oviinbyrd, Scarboro, Osprey Valley (Heathlands), Cobble Beach, Wyndance
Hole 9: Bigwin Island Golf Club -- Par 4, 403 YardsThough the 6th and 18th holes at Bigwin Island are the most photographed, I believe the 9th hole is the most interesting hole on the golf course. Carrick, paying tribute to Willie Park Jr and C.B. Macdonald, has designed a clever 'bottle' hole, where the golfer must decide whether to take on the left-side carry for the ideal line, or whether to bail-out right to leave a difficult approach over deep greenside bunkering. The 9th at Bigwin is a hole that is fun to play over and over!
