Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Best in Canadian Golf – My Choices

I was surfing last Friday night when I ended up at the Score Reader’s Choice Awards and it got me thinking I should offer my best of Canadian Golf List. I hope this will spur some people on to go and explore some of these great courses and holes that they might not have otherwise seen. Score had a tendency to regionalize their choices and I will respect their system and do the same.














Best Course
Atlantic- Highland Golf Links
Quebec- Beaconsfield Golf & Country Club (this was a very tough choice between 4 different courses)
Ontario- St. George’s Golf & Country Club
Central- Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course
British Columbia- Capilano Golf & Country Club















Best ResortJasper Park Lodge Golf Course

Best Golf Destination – Saskatchewan (value and quality is unmatched in Canada)

Best Scenery – Furry Creek Golf Course
Best Service – Angus Glen (10 years without a drop in quality)

Best Condition – Dakota Dunes (on his budget, it was exceptional)















Best Value
Atlantic- Northumberland Links
Ontario- Allandale (Barrie)
Central- Dakota Dunes
(I couldn’t make a fair choice in other two regions)

Best Clubhouse
– Capilano Golf & Country Club













Best Par 3
Atlantic- 4th at Northumberland Links
Quebec- 15th at Beaconsfield Golf & Country Club
Ontario- 15th at Catarqui Golf & Country Club
Central- 4th at Banff Springs Golf Course
British Columbia- 6th at Greywolf Golf Course
*One special one to seek out – 8th at Uplands














Best Par 4
Atlantic- 2nd at Highland Links
Quebec- 7th at Mount Bruno Golf Club
Ontario- 2nd at St. George’s Golf & Country Club
Central- 4th at Banff Springs Golf Course
British Columbia- 7th at Capilano Golf & Country Club
*Best short par four – 7th at Scarboro Golf & Country Club














Best Par 5
Atlantic- 15th at Highland Links
Quebec- 10th at Laval-sur-le-lac Golf & Country Club
Ontario- 14th at Summit Golf & Country Club
Central- 8th at Waskesiu Golf Course
British Columbia- 18th at Capilano Golf & Country Club

Best Practice facility – Coppinwood Golf Club

Best Halfway House – Highland Links













*Special Places to Seek Out
Atlantic- Green Gables
Quebec- Braeside Golf Club (turn of the century golf)
Ontario- Allandale (9 holes of Thompson as it was – just the sand is missing on few bunkers)
Central- Waskesiu (the best fairway contours next to highlands)
British Columbia- Victoria Golf Course (a series of holes on the Pacific Ocean)

*Best Local Rule – The Raven Rule at Mountain View Golf Course (Yukon) (essentially a stolen ball is replaced without penalty)

*personal additions

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ian,

The Green Gables Golf Course is not about to be "gutted". This is a patently incorrect statement. It is a bunker and tee renovation project, with several new greens being constructed, one of which is the original Thompson green site, one is a green which replaces the horrible Robinson green, and the other is a new putting green.

Anonymous said...

Ian,
Great post and congrats on Scarboro. Great picture of the 5th at Highlands Links. It's looks like you had a beautiful day. For all of you that have not played there, it is that good. I've played a lot of golf around Ireland and North America and it's the most enjoyable round I can think of.
Allandale IS the best value that I've seen. Easily worth the hour drive from Downtown Toronto. It isn't entirely intact however. The 4th green was rebuilt years ago because it was sitting too low in an area that tended to remain wet. Other than that, and the growth of trees and grassing in of bunkers, I can think it is exactly as Thompson left it all those years ago. The McCann's (owners)are really friendly and I urge anyone in Ontario to seek out this course!
As for best Atlantic Par 4, I wouldn't be able to choose between 2 and 13 at Highlands Links. Most architect's wouldn't have the guts (nor would I) to leave an approach to the green such as this. Heck, the whole fairway is awesome!!!!! Did you pick the 15th over the 7th (at Highlands) for best par 5 because of the view. Again, I don't think I could choose if I had to, although the view on 15 is spectacular.
I would love if you gave your favourite courses that people can play (non-private) which would make it easier for us to seek out and play. Luckily I'm a member at Cataraqui, but that doesn't get me on St. Georges, Scarboro or any other course for that matter.
Keep up the good work,
Evan

Ian Andrew said...

Tom,

I'll take you at your word (change made on the original post). I had understood the plan to be far more ambitious than a renovation.

Ian

Anonymous said...

Ian, what are the other 4 courses in QC you had considered? I'm guessing Mt. Bruno, Laval-sur-la-Lac, Islesmere, Royal Ottawa.

Matt

Anonymous said...

Ian: As a future topic, what about a list of your top ten courses you want to see - anywhere in the world.

Anonymous said...

Another future topic for everybody. The worst holes. I'll start it off-The 8th at Donalda!!!! Also the 12th Green at Westmount (McBroom change). I really would like to hear your thoughts on poorly designed holes, and what could be done to make them better. I do realize that the architect of record would probably be hurt by these comments, but maybe it will stop them from making bad decisions.
It would be neat to compile a worst of list from good courses around the country (world). There are many holes that aren't good because they are featureless and boring, what I'm looking for is the hole with a poor design.

Ian Andrew said...

Anonymous,

nice idea about 10 I would like to play and why.

Evan,

I can't really do that. While I make comments like I did about Riviera, that's one thing; but I certainly can't say anything about Doug, Tom or Graham in particular.

Anonymous said...

Ian,
I know you can't really do that, but the rest of us could. Although if it was done on your blog, they may still take that as a slight towards them by you. Perhaps GCA would be a better forum for this.

evan

Anonymous said...

Evan. #8 at Donalda is very unusual (quirky) but never boring. I wouldn't call it a good hole, but it clearly makes the player think.

Ian. You've got the 4th at Banff in both your best par 3 & 4 categories. I think #2 at Banff is a better hole.

Unknown said...

What did you thing of Mount Bruno Country Club?

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