Where are the great Canadian Golf Courses built after 1949?

[Stanley Thompson]

I have spent the last few weeks getting myself reacquainted with Canadian Golf. Very disappointing! I've been out to see my courses; many have been ruined by idiotic fools, some even by the men I trained. It has not been a good couple of weeks, but I’m fairly certain I could get my business up and running quickly if I bought a new suit.

The one question that struck me was why hasn't there been a great Canadian course built after 1949?

The other question is where you get a good cigar in these parts.

[Joe Hancock]

Stan,

It's because they now call it the Upper Penninsula of Michigan.

Joe

p.s. Can't help with ya with the cigar, but the way you phrased the question I bet Bill Clinton could be of some help.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

The other question is where you get a good cigar in these parts.

This is very simple Stan.

The Thompson Catalog!

[Tyler Kearns]

Whitman & Mingay's Blackhawk in Edmonton is exceptionally good, opening a few years ago. The site is quite spectacular, and features 3 distinct landscapes which add a lot of character to the course. The opening seven holes play over rolling land at the top of the escarpment, while the next four holes play over severe terrain and serve as the transition to the riverside closers.

TK

[Andrew Cunningham]

The other question is where you get a good cigar in these parts.

This is very simple Stan.

The Thompson Catalog!

Stan,

If we're talking about the great cigars of the 20', 30's, and 40's you really need only take a stroll down the street in Yorkville.  By the way there was this thing called the "Bay of Pigs" and our friends to the South can no longer get the good stuff from our Cuban friends.

[henrye]

Andrew.  Thanks, but as a Canuk I'll take our American friends over our Cuban 'friends' anytime and on the rare occasion I smoke a cigar (usually fishing/never golf) I think the ones from Costa Rica, Dominican, and Jamaica are just fine.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Henry,

I agree with you that golfing and cigar smoking are cumbersome at best.  I prefer to enjoy a good cigar (of which Cuban's tend to be my favorites although many good cigars come from the Dominican) in a casual atmosphere when proper attention can be paid to the activity at hand.

[Stanley Thompson]

Trent and I built a course in Jamaica a long time ago, we found this great local guy to roll cigars for us. They were so good that I recommended the club install a phone on the course so you could order cigars from the guy and pick them up after your round was complete.

[Marty Bonnar]

Stanley,
genius architect that you are. Please would you correct your thread title to ARE.
My patent 'Apoplexy-O-Meter' is beeping strongly and the antenna is pointing directly towards Carmel Valley...

FBD.

[Robert Thompson]

There are good courses built after '49 -- Blackhawk, Eagles Nest, Bigwin Island, Paintbrush...

I think Whitman has talent and Blackhawk wouldn't be out of place in your roster of courses, Stan.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Although it hasn't been mentioned here The National generally ends up in the top 5 in Canadian rankings.

Others:

Redtail
Deerhurst Highlands
Osprey Valley Heathlands

[Matthew MacKay]

I think this question would be better posed about 10-15 years down the road.  Apart from The National, the best courses in Canada since 1949 have been built in the past few years, or will be built in the next few years.

Banff, Jasper, St. George's, Capilano, Highlands, are in rarified air...great sites, great design.

Courses (post 1949) that I've played which may possibly approach Thompson's best include...

Eagle's Nest
Devil's Paintbrush
The National
Redtail
Osprey Heathland and Hoot

Cottage country courses such as Bigwin, Grandview, Rocky Crest, Lake Joe, Wildfire, Taboo, etc. are excellent and unique in their landscape.  I know there are more up there, too.

It does seem the US has been more successful in getting more GREAT courses built in the last 50 years.  We can't deny the obvious fact that a main reason for this is the architects that have been working in each country.  Would have loved to have seen Doak, C&C, etc. get a few of the recent projects up here on very good sites...just for comparison sake.

[Gerry B]

matt:

fair list except redtail is hardly what I would call a great course - might as well include beacon hall if redtail is worthy of inclusion

[Matthew MacKay]

I don't know Gerry, Redtail in many respects is better than 99% of the courses built in Canada in recent times.

It is not overshaped, superb set of par 3's, great short 4's, interesting greens.  If nothing else, the look and feel of it is unique and it is a 'pure' golf club.  

[Jeff_Mingay]

Ok then, which are the best post-World War II courses in Canada?

Can you guys each come up with 5-10?

Tyler's already nominated Blackhawk  

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