Photo: Doug Wilson / LuxuryOntario

 

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In 2011, National Geographic recognized Muskoka as the number one ‘Top 10 Trips of Summer’ (in the world), edging out Patagonia in Argentina for the top spot.

This tremendous honour is partly due to the varied and beautiful selection of golf courses that Muskoka has to offer. From gentle park-like nine-hole courses to outstanding and challenging 18-hole courses, Muskoka has something for every golfer.

 

Doug Wilson with son Brandon and Bigwin copy
The author (right) with son Brandon on on Bigwin’s spectacular 18th (Photo: Doug Wilson / LuxuryOntario

 

The region’s unique landscape has enabled the world’s top course designers to express their wild side, embracing, rather than shying away from the granite and pine that’s everywhere here.

As a Muskoka resident, I have had the opportunity to play all 26 courses in the region, plus a few that are no longer around. This is my take, in no particular order, on some of the best golf courses in Muskoka that you might wish to add to your bucket list.

 

10 Best Golf Courses in Muskoka

 

Bigwin Island Golf Club
Bigwin Island Clubhouse at one of the best golf clurses in Muskoka
The Clubhouse on Bigwin Island (Photo courtesy Bigwin Island Golf Club)

Bigwin has an incredible history dating back to 1920. The first course which opened in 1922 was a 9-hole Stanley Thompson design. The current par 72 course is a completely new Doug Carrick design that opened for play in 2002.

I feel lucky that I was able to spend a few years working at Bigwin prior to my retirement and enjoyed many rounds there. Your day starts and ends with a 10-minute shuttle boat ride. It’s a good lead into some magnificent views of Lake of Bays, inviting fairways with deer sharing the surroundings with you.

Hole #6 is my favourite. It was a ski hill in the early days. I will get some pushback on this as many have #18 edging it out as their favourite. Regardless, put this one at the top of your bucket list. It’s a must if you want the entire Muskoka experience.

LuxuryOntario Recommends: Although a private club open only to members in the peak weeks of summer, those interested in a “spring swing” should look into the special packages on offer at neighbouring Port Cunnington Lodge. This family cottage resort shares a history with Bigwin that has resulted in guests being permitted to try this top-ranked course for themselves.

 

Muskoka Bay Resort
Muskoka Bay golf course view from Clubhouse at one of the best golf courses in Muskoka
Muskoka Bay golf course view from Clubhouse at one of the best golf courses in Muskoka (Photo: Bryan Dearsley / LuxuryOntario)

Consistently ranked as one of Canada’s best golf courses, this gem was also designed by Doug Carrick. In my few rounds here, I would say it is the most challenging in Muskoka. I definitely like to arrive there with my ‘A’ game, and a few extra balls can come in handy too.

It has a spectacular first hole with a beautiful panoramic view. Measuring out at 441 yards, this par 4 demands a good tee shot to set the tone for the day. You may not want to play the back tee but it’s worth the trip back just for the view. I recall trying out the very back tee on #5, a 547-yard par 5 the first time I played here. It took me four tries to get over the hazard.

For certain make sure you play the right set of tee blocks for your game. The clubhouse is something special, too, with a wonderful dining experience you might consider. Jot this one down for your next visit north.

LuxuryOntario Recommends: Muskoka Bay is now much more than a golf course: it just so happens to be one of the best golf resorts in Ontario. Check out the accommodations at the elegant new Muskoka Bay Resort building.

 

The Rock Golf Course
The Rock Golf Course in fall
The Rock remains a Muskoka classic (Photo courtesy The Rock Golf Course)

No, it wasn’t named after that Dwayne guy, but it’s just as tough. Some extremes from the original Nick Faldo design have been softened to make it more golfer-friendly. Hole #9, a par 5 dogleg left over water is my favourite. I usually feel some relief being able to mark down a par on this one.

Then they throw #10 at you. Sahara might be a good name for this one. It’s a course that requires some strategy and patience. Katie Doyle, the Director of Golf, and her team have always been most welcoming to me on my visits. Thanks, Katie.

LuxuryOntario Recommends: The spectacular Rock golf course is directly across from one of Muskoka’s best luxury resorts: check out the rates and availability at the JW Marriott The Rosseau Resort & Spa.

  

Rocky Crest Golf Club
Rocky Crest Hole 8 at one of the best golf courses in Muskoka
Rocky Crest’s hole 8 is a beauty Photo courtesy Rocky Crest Golf Club)

Rocky Crest Golf Club is one of three ClubLink courses in the region, the others being Grandview and Lake Joseph. Rocky Crest almost always wins out as the favourite of the three. This Thomas McBroom design is fair, challenging and simply beautiful, encompassing the natural beauty that is Muskoka.

I always look forward to hole #8, a 185-yard par 3 with a long carry where short isn’t a good option. You may wish you had taken a more advanced tee choice when you exit this green. Hole #18 with a view of the majestic log clubhouse is also a favourite. You can have a shot at a birdie finish here.

Long-time PGA Pro and Director of Operations, Mark Kerwin, leads a good crew who have always been extremely friendly. Particularly the starters who seem to return year after year. Well done, Mark.

LuxuryOntario Recommends: Those wanting to make a weekend of their game should check into the availability of rooms and suites at Rocky Crest Golf Resort.

 

Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course
DeerhurstHighlands Golf Course copy
Don;t be shy of Deerhurst’s wall of granite (Photo courtesy DeerhurstHighlands Golf Course)

Co-designed in 1990 by Bob Cupp and Thomas McBroom, the Highlands was the first championship course to be built in Muskoka and it’s a definite must-play. My favourite hole comes right off the bat at #1 with a stunning view of Fairy Lake stealing your focus from a tee shot that requires a clear target to get the round started.

Hole #10 is also a fun hole with a wall of granite lining the right side of the fairway and a deceptive second shot that seems to trick me each time I play. This one is high on my list to play each year. Deerhurst Resort is also a great spot to stay for golf vacations.

 

Taboo Muskoka Golf Course
taboo-golf-course fairway at one of the best golf courses in Muskoka
Taboo offers superlative golf experiences (Photo courtesy Taboo Golf Course)

Once the home course of Canadian golf legend Mike Weir, Taboo was designed by Ron Garl and opened in 2002. This Gravenhurst course is a joy from start to finish, with some holes looking like elevated works of art with their backdrop of dense pine and that ever-present granite.

Top on my list is hole #3, a demanding 204-yard par 3 requiring your very best. On all my visits the course has been in superb condition and the Golf Shop team has been A1. Their resort hotel located adjacent to the course and on Lake Muskoka is also a great place to stay.

 

Grandview Golf Club
Grandview Golf Club course with pine trees
Grandview holds a special place in many a golfer’s hearts (Photo courtesy Grandview Golf Club)

Grandview in Huntsville was co-designed by the 1998 Masters and Open champion, Mark O’Meara.  In 2002, the club was thrust onto the international golf scene when it hosted the Telus World Skins Game with Mike Weir, John Daly, VJ Singh, and Sergio Garcia participating. A 22-year-old Sergio banked the top prize.

It is located in an area that holds a special place in my heart as my introduction to Muskoka as a kid was staying at the Grandview Inn, which was located on Fairy Lake just across Highway 60 from the golf club entrance, and as they say about Muskoka “once discovered, never forgotten”. Return visits to golf here always stir up some fond memories.

Hole #1 always captures me right away. This 420-yard par 4 starts from an elevated tee and doglegs right over the unforgiving wetland. The hole forces you to make a big decision right away with how much to bite off the corner. And you have to take into account the elevated tee. Be prepared by leaving enough time for a proper warm-up at their conveniently located practice facility.

A comment I hear a lot about the course is that there are too many blind shots. I have never had an issue with that, nor have I found any rule that says you should be able to see where you are going. I recall playing Old Prestwick in Scotland in a tournament and playing a blind par 3 where the caddy told me to “just hit ower the wee marker pole laddie”. You will be missing out if you skip this golf experience.

 

South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club 
South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club  course with water
The South Muskoka course is a Muskoka must-play (South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club)

This one doesn’t hit everyone’s radar as it tends to get overshadowed by the big-name courses. Don’t be misled: it’s definitely a course that you will enjoy. The course opened in the 70s in two phases. First, as a 9 hole, then four years later a second nine was added. It has a great pedigree and links to the history of golf course architecture in Canada as it was designed by Robbie Robinson who apprenticed under legendary Stanley Thompson. He was also an associate of Doug Carrick.

I love the finishing two holes on the front 9. On both holes, you are teeing off from elevated tees. Hole #8 is a par 3 over wetlands with tee locations playing from 125 to 167 yards. Being short is an obvious place to avoid but the green has a significant slope to the front which makes an up and down from behind the green a real challenge. Picking the right club to accommodate the change in elevation is the trick.

Hole #9 is just a fun hole to finish off the front. From the tips, it is only 303 yards. Getting it close with the approach shot and leaving an uphill putt is the challenge for me. You can’t always see the bottom of the flag from the fairway so take a mental note of the pin location from the range when you are warming up. The course conditions have been excellent on my visits, and it has always been a course that provides good value.

 

Windermere Golf & Country Club
Windermere Golf & Country Club tee at one of the best golf courses in Muskoka
Windermere was Muskoka’s first golf course (Photo courtesy Windermere Golf & Country Club)

History surrounds you at Windermere. Founded in 1919, it is one of the oldest golf courses in Canada and the first in Muskoka. Designed by an up-and-coming 27-year-old Stanley Thompson, the course opened for play in 1920 with 9 holes. Today, it is a 6260-yard par 72.

It is a course where local knowledge is very helpful as I found out on my first visit when I was faced with a difficult downhill putt from the back of the green on #1. Placing your shots on the green where you are left with an uphill putt will make scoring much easier. Hole #2 sticks in my mind. A 139-yard par 3 from an elevated tee. Hole #18 is one of those tantalizing par 4s that you feel you should birdie. It measures out at only 254 yards but don’t take it for granted.

Windermere the village is one of those places that has a strong feeling of the past. Check it out and stroll down to the beach and dock. Package up your visit with a stay at the iconic Victorian landmark Windermere House which is adjacent to the golf club.

 

Muskoka Lakes Golf Club

To me, Muskoka has always been about travelling back in time to when life seemed a little simpler. The feeling I get is that of comfort and relaxation. Take in a movie at the Norwood Theatre in Bracebridge and you will catch my drift.

Another place I get this feeling is Muskoka Lakes Golf Club. Tucked away off the beaten path in Port Carling on the shores of Lake Rosseau it is always a round that lights me up. Designed by Stanley Thompson it was one of the first clubs on the scene when it opened in 1922. Without a doubt the 390 yards, par 4, 18th is tops on my list. It lies on the prime Lake Rosseau waterfront and can steal your focus. It is simply breathtaking.

The lake borders the entire right side of the hole while the left is protected by a tree-lined embankment. Hitting the fairway isn’t good enough here. You have to be on the left side to see the green and avoid having to navigate some tall trees guarding the right side. The clubhouse is pure Muskoka. Located on the water by the 18th you will often see some of the classic old wooden boats moored at the side. It’s magical. The course conditions have always been pristine.

 

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Contributor Doug Wilson is a PGA of Canada Lifetime Member and resident of Muskoka. You can check him out at www.mymuskokagolfcoach.com.