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Best New Courses
A five-way race to the finish concludes with an unlikely $40 bargain on top—one our panel can’t wait to play again!
As our panellists emailed in their selections for Ontario’s Best New Course for 2008, it quickly became clear that this would be a tight race. In fact, the first four submissions that arrived at our desks from our 13-member panel had a different first-place nominee. The battle remained too close to call until the final votes were cast, with Tarandowah Golfers Club, situated in the town of Avon, between London and Woodstock, emerging the winner, with an average score of 7.96 out of a possible 10.
This year’s field features five terrific mid-level, value-driven and very walkable public golf facilities, with green fees in the $40 to $80 range. Tarandowah, the new course at Woodington Lake and Piper’s Heath all fully opened for play late last summer or fall, while Baxter Creek GC opened in May, followed by Dragon’s Fire GC in June. Expectedly, that first trio to open held a slight advantage over their two younger siblings, especially when it came to course conditioning. Here’s a quick look at the courses and comments from our ranking panel.
1. TARANDOWAH GOLFERS CLUB
Avon (Dr. Martin Hawtree)
It’s hard to imagine that with over 800 golf courses in Ontario there could still be room for a unique golf experience, but that’s what you get at Tarandowah Golfers Club. Stuck out in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by farmers’ fields and woods is a devilish inland links layout designed by renowned English golf course architect Dr. Martin Hawtree, the current consulting architect for the British Open venues of Royal Birkdale, Carnoustie, Muirfield and Hoylake. While there’s a small but adequate temporary clubhouse and an unfinished feel to the various amenities, there are also 18 wonderful golf holes dotted with 104 tiny, fescue-rimmed pot bunkers. You’ll want to walk this one to fully appreciate Hawtree’s work. The course really steps up on No. 5 and doesn’t let up until you’re done. The closing four holes rank among the toughest finishes in the country—one that may be too challenging for the average golfer. Not that you’ll get any sympathy from Hawtree. “Fairness in golf is one of our hang-ups at the moment,” he says. “I’ve never bought into that obsession with fairness, with justice. Those were never meant to be a part of golf.”
PRIME-TIME GREEN FEES $40–$45
www.puregolf.net
PANEL COMMENTS
“North Sea, be damned! In a province overrun with links-style courses, Tarandowah looks to be the real deal—a fescue-rimmed, pot-bunkered, pockmarked roller-coaster ride that can be an angry, wind-whipped brute, even without an ocean at its doorstep. It’s a place of head-shaking bounces and shoulder-shrugging triple-breakers, of towering uphill par-4s and sharp-edged, shaggy-bearded bunkers that wait to swallow wayward play.
A truly screaming deal.” James McCarten
“Links-style golf is an acquired taste. In North America, the courses traditionally present themselves to you off the tee. That’s not always the case at Tarandowah, and I often found myself standing on the tee wondering where the heck you were supposed to hit it.”
Garry McKay
“Although the facilities were incomplete and the facility looks to have run short of money, the golf course was brilliantly laid out. Playing it was like savouring a great glass of wine. I can’t wait to go back! Our group stood on each of the tees and discussed and debated the various playing options in front of us, from the creeping bentgrass spilloffs around greens, to the humps and bumps, to the tremendous strategic bunkering. Each nine featured a short, driveable par-4. The closing four holes are probably the toughest anywhere. Bunkers are penal, but fair and playable, and I loved the fact that they will be relatively low-maintenance for years to come.” John Bladon
“The bunkers were spectacular and offered great visual appeal that created a framework around which to shape your shots. Hawtree has stepped outside the boundaries of Southern Ontario golf architecture and created a course that is truly distinct.” Vito Cirone
“A great representation of Old World links. The only missing part was the locals walking their dogs along the ocean. The fairways are set up to run, so hit it low and watch it roll. There’s a great selection of par-4s, each with its own personality. A course of this level would be in the £100 range overseas!” Chris Gallow
“Of the group, this stood out as one I’d want to play again. I truly believed I was playing a Scottish course. My only concern is that the last four holes may be four of the toughest I’ve played, and as such, the general public may require a shorter tee deck.” Stephen Johnston
“Tarandowah has the hallmark of artisan quality, with views that rival from every angle. The wispy golden fescue fluttering in the wind, abundance of pot bunkers and rippling mounds hail to the European heart and imagination. Phenomenal value.” Laura Aiken
“Perhaps this course is too severe for all but the very good player, and it will take several times to play before fully understanding all the nuances. This might frustrate the high-handicapper, who may not hit the ball consistently from game to game, let alone one shot to the next. But there are some exceptional green complexes.” Anne Edgar Dodds-Hebron
“Tarandowah’s birthing process was an extended one. Troubled by money, inexperience in the industry and other maladies, it should’ve been a disaster. It’s a testament to Hawtree that Tarandowah is a delightfully random, whimsical golf experience that mirrors what a links course should be.” Robert Thompson
2. DRAGON’S FIRE GC
Carlisle (Boris Danoff)
This secluded parkland golf course cleverly weaves through a former tree farm from six sets of tees ranging from 4,994 to 7,210 yards. It’s arguably the most walkable and player-friendly layout of the five nominees, with wide fairways, only a couple of blind shots and huge subtly undulating greens. The routing, Danoff’s best to date, is guarded by 80 bunkers, tree-lined fairways and an abundance of natural hazards. The course has a wonderful rhythm and draws its strength from a variety of hole lengths, including a 660-yard monster from the tips. The final two holes provide a great one-two punch with the par-3 17th to an almost island green followed by a strategic par-5 that plays around a large pond. Located between Highway 401 and the QEW just east of Highway 6, Dragon’s Fire features SkyCaddie GPS units on all golf carts. The clubhouse is scheduled to open in 2009.
PRIME-TIME GREEN FEES: $55–$74
www.dragonsfiregolf.com
PANEL COMMENTS
“A strong design, memorable holes and fantastic treed terrain. Obviously they’ve spared no expense—from the excellent sand in the bunkers to the ornate fairway signs and markers.” Anita Draycott
“Sure, he’s been known to build aggravating, tricked-up, target-style layouts (see Royal Ontario and Thundering Waters), but maybe it’s time Bo Danoff got some respect. There are no sharp edges, no nasty surprises—just 18 stout, secluded holes of forested parkland golf. The final two holes are among the most dramatic and satisfying conclusions in Ontario golf.” James McCarten
“You have to take your time and enjoy the surroundings because it’s built on a tree farm and the fairways are lined with countless varieties of trees and bushes, some of which you won’t find on any other courses in Ontario. That also makes the course look much older than it really is.” Garry McKay
“Clearly the most potential lying in wait of the nominees. Easily Danoff’s best design to date. From a conditioning standpoint, although a decent stand of turf exists, greens were shaggy and need to be mown tighter and top-dressed to gain density. Tees and fairways were soft and shaggy as well and are desperately in need of weed control.” John Bladon
“Very repetitive and also very punitive for the average golfer, with more than 60 to 70 percent coverage of traps guarding the entry
to the greens.” Stephen Johnston
“Dragon’s Fire opens with a friendly handshake and closes with a risk/reward par-5 that ensures you’re still on your toes. Visual interest abounds in the sporadic red maples and mongrel mix of vegetation, and there’s no housing or modern reminders to take away from the tranquil atmosphere.” Laura Aiken
“Having disliked most of Danoff’s previous work, I wasn’t expecting much. Instead, I found a playable, interesting layout that is both walkable and affordable. Sure, the greens were as slow as an SUV with four blown tires, but I expect that’ll change in time. It should be a hit with daily-fee golfers.” Robert Thompson
“This has the accelerated look and feel of a course that not only belongs on its property, but has been there for over 20 years. Look for it near the top of many public course lists in years to come.” Jeff Dykeman
“Very friendly staff with quick smiles and tales (check out the knickers). This is the type of course I’d never tire of playing.” Craig Loughry
3. PIPER’S HEATH GC
Milton (Graham Cooke)
Since its opening in late July 2007, golfers have been lining up to test their skills against one of Graham Cooke’s finest efforts, which is located just north of Oakville on Trafalgar Road. Given that it’s been open longer than any of the other nominees, it’s the most polished facility, with a comfy and welcoming halfway house that serves as the clubhouse. Four hundred-year-old oak trees, which Cooke calls “Friendly Giants,” greet golfers along the way, while his respect for the environment and its ecosystems is reflected in preserved wetlands and meadows that define the landscape. The easily walked, links-inspired layout features thought-provoking shot values, ragged bunkers and subtle greens, while a series of distinctive razor-backed, fescue-covered mounds separate the fairways. It also boasts the Academy at Piper’s Heath (the summer home of Stephen Ames’ coach Sean Foley), with a 20-acre, double-ended practice area.
PRIME-TIME GREEN FEES: $60–$85
www.pipersheath.com
PANEL COMMENTS
“Hands down, best service. This course should mature nicely and take on more of a links style with age. The day I played, the pace was slow and they could have used stricter marshalling, but I was very impressed with the food in the lovely stone clubhouse. The chef uses organic produce and herbs from his own garden and buys from local farms.” Anita Draycott
“An intriguing layout and top-notch conditioning conspire to give an otherwise-nondescript tract of land a certain something—an Old-World presence, a permanence, a swagger—that its rivals lack. You feel it on the holes that skirt the wooded property line, notably the 431-yard fourth, a par-4 that showcases an ancient oak tree ‘whose noble canopy throws long shadows upon the course.’ The modest, understated clubhouse and pro shop is a welcome respite from garish country-club castles. But it feels pricey at $85, not including cart.” James McCarten
“While Cooke eliminated his typical tiered-green surfaces, he replaced the difficulty with crowned and shaved-down areas around the greens that provide a variety of options. The course’s only negative is pace of play. Widening the gap between tee-time intervals or hiring more course marshals might be needed.” Jeff Dykeman
“Graham Cooke, who has had a tendency over the years to design really silly greens, pulled in the reigns here and the putting surfaces are for the most part quite fair. But I found the pace of play to be a problem. I played it three times and never finished a round.” Garry McKay
“The best conditioned of the group in an absolute landslide. Greens held and putted phenomenally. The course’s weak link is its greens complexes, many of which have too much flair. Severe ridges may lead to three- and four-putts, while tongues and extensions will require chipping over rough and collars to access pins in other areas of the green. Many green surrounds are so severely sloped away from incoming shots that they will push off-centre shots even further off line.” John Bladon
4. WOODINGTON LAKE GC
Tottenham (Harry Allard)
The new course at Woodington Lake, designed by owner and 50-plus-year CPGA member Harry Allard, is one tough cookie. The GAO and RCGA have given it the highest course rating in Canada at 76.9 from the 7,606-yard tips, but there are five decks to choose from. While you’ll need to hit it long, note that the fairway landing areas are narrower than most of the new courses built over the past few years. A unique feature is the sandy waste bunkers that run the length of most of the holes and act as cartpaths. Allard’s fairway and greenside bunkering is steep, but the bottoms are flat, leaving a reasonable chance to get out in one shot. Huge greens feature plenty of movement, with well-thought-out shelves that can make for challenging two-putts.
PRIME-TIME GREEN FEES: $55–$99
www.woodingtonlake.com
PANEL COMMENTS
“This is a monstrous course, but with mint conditioning. It looks like it’s been open for a decade.” Craig Loughry
“With a few tweaks here and there, it could have been so much better. There are way too many hidden hazards that don’t need to be hidden. They’ve also missed one of the truisms in golf—that the vast majority of men prefer to play something around 6,500 yards. They have nothing between 6,200 and 6,800.” Garry McKay
“I was impressed with the putting quality these young greens possessed. I was also impressed with the storage of all the water within the reservoirs—very progressive (in spite of the permitting issues)—which will surely keep Woodington green no matter what future regulations restrict water use.” John Bladon
“The waste bunkers/cartpaths are overused, and unfortunately are recipients of slightly missed tee shots.” Vito Cirone
“Like fine wine, this course was allowed to mature before the first taste. The tee decks beg you to take off your shoes and run around. As you make your way around, you’ll be treated to some beautiful landscape.” Chris Gallow
“Who were they targeting with this course? U.S. Open-tight fairways and enough water to make the Great Lakes envious doesn’t seem to me to be the makeup of an attractive public course.” Robert Thompson
“It starts off with a mysterious five-minute cart ride out to the first hole that appears to be in the middle of the property; you keep asking yourself if you are going the right way while making sure to keep an eye out as you pass other holes adjacent to your cartpath. They may not see any traffic on those back tee decks until 2020.” Jeff Dykeman
5. BAXTER CREEK GC
Springville (David Moote)
An excellent addition to the mid-range cottage courses already established in the Kawarthas, Baxter Creek offers an innovative island green 19th hole. Although the opening tee shot is blind, the front nine is forgiving at the 6,601-yard David Moote design. The back nine weaves through some forested areas with a few tight landing areas that require pinpoint accuracy to score well. The course is situated three miles south of Highway 115/35 on Highway 28 near Kawartha Raceway.
PRIME-TIME GREEN FEES: $44–$54
www.baxtercreekgolf.com
PANEL COMMENTS
“Put it back in the oven—it’s not done yet. Baxter Creek will be a strong, entertaining and popular golf course when it’s had another year or so under its belt; but for now, it’s still showing the scars of its birth—the platform green at the otherwise-exceptional par-5 13th is brown and balding, and there was sand but no bunkers guarding the dogleg at the par-4 fifth. But I like the water-ringed 19th hole to settle wagers and deadlocked 18th-hole presses, or to just offer one final chance at a birdie.” James McCarten
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The first nine are very solid, although the opening hole was a blind, almost drivable par-4 that would have been much better as anything but the first hole. It appears as though lots of earth was moved on the front nine to create separation for the holes. On the back nine, however, the course heads into the woods and goes from being very user-friendly to so tight you have to walk single file down the fairways. The change is too dramatic to be comfortable.” Garry Mckay
“Another Moote design that is pretty and playable but demonstrates no genuine greatness. If Dave has a strength, it’s in ensuring his courses have strong collections of par-3s (Guelph Lakes and Oaks of St. George). Baxter Creek is no exception.” John Bladon OG
The Panel
Laura Aiken, Editor
Bay Area Golfing magazine
Doug Ball, Ball Photography
John Bladon, agronomist,
Agrium Advanced Technologies
Vito Cirone, general manager,
Burnside Golf Services
Anita Draycott, managing editor, GolfStyle magazine
Jeff Dykeman, Canadian PGA manager of business development
Anne Edgar Dodds-Hebron,
competitive amateur player
Chris Gallow, Gallow Studios
Kevin Holmes, golf course architect, MBTW Golf Design
Stephen Johnston, president/principal of Global Golf Advisors
Craig Loughry, GAO director of handicapping and course rating
James McCarten, Canadian
Press editor
Garry McKay, Hamilton Spectator
golf writer
Robert Thompson, National Post
golf columnist
Average points per
panel member
Tarandowah: 7.96
Dragon’s Fire: 7.49
Piper’s Heath: 7.46
Woodington Lake: 7.00
Baxter Creek: 6.37
First Place Votes
Tarandowah 6*
Dragon’s Fire 3
Woodington Lake 3
Piper’s Heath 2
* One panel member had two courses tied for first.
Best Par-3
1. No. 17 Dragon’s Fire
2. No. 8 Piper’s Heath
3. No. 12 Tarandowah
Best Par-4
1. No. 11 Tarandowah
2. No. 6 Tarandowah
3. No. 15 Dragon’s Fire
Best Par-5
1. No. 18 Dragon’s Fire
2. No. 15 Piper’s Heath
3. No. 7 Woodington Lake
Best Service
1. Dragon’s Fire
2. Piper’s Heath
3. Woodington Lake
Best Overall Value
1. Tarandowah
2. Piper’s Heath
3. Dragon’s Fire
Best Conditioned
1. Piper’s Heath
2. Woodington Lake
3. Dragon’s Fire
Best Food
1. Piper’s Heath
2. Woodington Lake
3. Baxter Creek
Previous Best New
Course Winners
2007 Cobble Beach Golf Links
2006 Muskoka Bay Club
2005 Ridge at Manitou
2004 Eagles Nest Golf Club
2003 Tie: Taboo & Copper Creek
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