Southern Strand courses offer feel of Old South

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

Murrells Inlet, SC - There may be no finer way to end a golf trip than by playing lots of golf, so it was decided to play 54 holes within 36 hours to wrap up a wonderful journey to a golfing Mecca in the U.S.

For the final two days in Myrtle Beach, it was all about Lowcountry golf, with rounds at Heritage Club and Pawley's Plantation in one day and then wrapping things up at the wonderful Caledonia Golf & Fish Club the next. What made this easily doable was the proximity of the first two courses and the third not much of a drive either.

The first taste of this style of golf, which has a different feel than that in the northern part of the Myrtle Beach area showed the area to look and feel, like you'd imagine Southern golf feels. The homes are magnificent and the oak trees even more so, with huge wing spans that drape over the fairways. Those limbs are draped heavily in Spanish moss adding to the look. On to of all that, the continual sightings of alligators on the shores and waters throughout the courses drove home the fact you were someplace special.

The Heritage Club, the first 18 we tested in the Southern Strand area, is a great all-round deal for golfers. For a single, reasonable price you get your round of golf on a good course and are also treated to a buffet breakfast, lunch and two beer or pop.

The Heritage Club offers wide fairways, but also some big old Oak trees which can prove hazardous to well-struck shots.

The golf here is great with scenic holes at every turn, where back in the days of slavery this was home to a huge rice plantation. In the recent past, the greens have been revamped and are now  seeded with Champions Bermuda, a blend where the ball rolls quick and true. The protection for the greens comes from deep bunkers, which are plentiful.

Playing to a lengthy 6,600 yards off the back tees, and that's a even bigger number when the sea breezes come to life, this popular playpen also has boxes measuring 6,300, 5,700 and 5,200 meaning anyone and everyone can enjoy this taste of Southern golf, not to mention the great all-around deal.

Next up on the day's list of jobs-to-do was to take on Pawley's Plantation Golf & Country Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature course which combines the feel of both parkland and links styles of golf. This is one of the bigger tracks in the area, topping out at over 7,100  yards but playing to more modest numbers like 6,500 and 6,100 from the blue and white tees. The front two boxes clock in at 5,500 and 4,900 yards.

As the name suggests, Pawley's Island offers lot of water to navigate.

Since this is a resort course, like Heritage, the fairways here are quite generous and the greens large. Again though, there is lots of sand on Pawley's and with plenty of water as well, it becomes a course that's as much about strategy and shot placement as it is about hitting it big. After all, three of the four par 5s on this track are under 500 yards, but that doesn't take anything away from their difficulty.

As for Pawley’s short holes, one of the most intimidating holes here is the shortest. The 13th test is nothing but Lowcountry marsh, reeds, water and finally, a green which sits above all of that. Lengthwise, the hole tops the scales at a meagre 150 yards, and plays as short as 40 yards from the front tee, but as the course attendant noted, "It's the shortest par 5 that Jack ever designed," referring of course to the initial tee shot of many that find marsh instead of the putting green meaning hitting three off the tee with your do-over.

A second tough par-3 comes to life on 17, and this could easily be another signature hole. It is a bit longer than its adjacent little sister but considering the tee shot again has to cover that marshy area, it's no guaranteed birdie chance. And yes, “5” is again a real possibility here.

The final stop on our Myrtle Beach swing was a beautiful setting, and the home to another former rice plantation, the renowned Caledonia Golf & Fish Club. The facility offers a great short game practice area to get you sharpened up for what awaits you on a loop that features tighter fairways than many of the courses here, and greens that are deceptively fast and tough to read.

The hazards are many on these South Strand area courses, but if you leave the beasts alone they'll leave you alone. At least, that's the theory around here.

Even though this track lost over 200 trees to the major storms in this area last fall, you  can't tell that as the fairways are heavily bordered by massive oak trees. Given its age, this is a course that isn't overly long, playing to 6,100 yards off the blue tees but, it's said, you can safely add 200 yards to that total in the manner it plays.

This is a course where it is important you play the right tees - after all, it is such a good test that playing from too far back can become frustrating given the length of the par 4 holes in particular. Only one of those holes is under 350 yards and the three par-5s here are all well over 500 yards off the blue tees on this par-70 track.

This is a beautiful course with its trees and flowers that are nicely cut into a piece of property that while once home to rice fields is now home to a great piece of golf real estate.

Now, going 36 holes in a day and 54 in 36 hours isn't an easy thing in what can be a humid and warm climate, but trust me, it's fun. And given the number of alligator sightings our group had on the final few days, it was a fun way to wrap up a memorable trip to the great courses in this part of South Carolina.

Tidewater a tricky treat; Lots of Love at Barefoot

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

North Myrtle Beach, SC - When you travel you want to play the best courses you can, As it turned out, the courses in this part of the Grand Strand area got the best of me.

The Tidewater Golf Club is one of those unimposing setups that can catch you by surprise, especially if you underestimate its tough greens. While the fairways here are wide the greens themselves make up for that by providing a number of false fronts and subtle breaks.

There are a number of memorable holes here, including a couple of the par-3s and a pair of interesting short par-4s.

The best of the short holes has to be the 12th, known as the Wishing Well, where, if you hit your tee shot like I did into the wind, and at sea level, you wished you had played one more club. Or even two more.

Yes, there really is a green back there, although this tee shot on No. 12 at the Tidewater Golf Club is an imposing one but when you make par, or even a bogey, you can walk away with your head held high.

That tee shot has to carry the lowland marsh area on this 152 yard test and with the ball going into a long, but narrow green well protected by a phalanx of bunkers, this is anything but an easy hole.

As for an interesting par 4 hole, the one called Tar Kiln proves you don't need to be stretched out to well over 400 yards to be tough. In fact, with this one coming in at an even 300 yards off the white tees, it looks like a birdie hole from the get-go. That is, of course, if you get your ball on the green in regulation and don't land it in one of the big bunkers that front the putting surface, or worse yet, tug the shot to the left side of the green. There, the bunker sits about 30 feet below the green which calls for a huge swing - and a lot of luck - to land anywhere near the green, let alone close to the hole.

This is a courses set in amongst a housing development but with a difference - you know the homes are there but they are set well enough back from the fairways to let you swing away without (too much) fear of smacking one. However, interestingly enough, the homeowners are nice enough to let you retrieve your ball from their premises, if you can reach it without setting foot on their property (I didn't get to try this out firsthand, so I just have to believe what the starter told me).

This hole on the back nine is a short par 4, but again, accuracy off the tee and with your approach shot are key to success as all sorts of trouble awaits a wayward volley.

From the tips this course measures out at just over 7,000 yards, but since it's at sea level, the whites which were used on this day, with the wind up, played to a fairly tough 6,300 yards.

The only downside to this course, which would be a great one to walk, is that that idea is spoiled  by the huge distances between greens and tees. In fact, some of those cart rides from Point A ti B seemed so long you wondered what the fare in a taxi would have been and if it would have equalled the green fee paid to play on this day. Well, probably not, but you get the idea.

That aside, this track has received great acclaim by notable publications, including being the only course ever to be honoured as the Best New Course by both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine.

So I guess their raters weren't bothered by those lengthy and possibly expensive cab fares.

Lots of Love for Davis

As one of four courses in the Barefoot Resort area, the Davis Love III course is seen by many as the top track among the layouts also designed by Pete Dye, Greg Norman and Tom Fazio. In fact, the foursome was so popular this fourplex was named as the 2017 North American Golf Resort Of The Year.

The Love Course at Barefoot Resort is said to be the most popular of the four-course layout, and from the first tee box, it's easy to see why.

The Love track is yet another one with large, generous landing areas but you often find your approach shots are into several false-fronted greens that are said to have much in common with those found at Pinehurst #2.

One of the interesting things about this course, and the other three, are the grasses used. There is a mixture of Tif-sport Bermuda for the approach areas; the greens are a newly acquired Champion Ultra Dwarf and the rough is seeded with 419 Bermuda. Not sure what all that means but it seems to work as the Love course on this day was in immaculate condtion.

The Love namesake is more of a links-style layout than its brothers, with a number of waste areas scattered. While there isn't a lot of water it is there so you can't just whale away without caution. The greens, while large, don't have a lot of undulation to them so if you can hit your putts straight, which I seem to have trouble doing, you can score well here.

The Love Course offers up a glimpse of the past, with a reconstructed ruins of a Plantation home from the Deep South.

One of the most interesting holes on this 7,000 yard layout from the tips, or just over 6,000 off the whites, is the short par-5 13th. At only 484 yards from the back, and 447 off the whites, it would seem like easy birdie pickings. That though is belayed by the fact the fairway is split down the middle by water with the longer route being down the left side. Then, to top things off, the  green is elevated making for a great risk-reward hole.

And if you're unsure whether this is enough of a course to test  your game, just remember it hosted Golf Channel's Big Break, so that in itself should be enough to ensure you a challenge on this Davis Love III grand design.

Southern golf swing a chance to end winter's fast

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Even though it's had a facelift and a name change, Pine Lakes GC is still a looker.

Originally known as Ocean Forest Hotel & CC, the first golf course in this area where more than 100 tracks line the area, Pine Lakes went under the surgeon's knife in the early 2000s to become a fun course where you don't necessarily have to hit it long. From the back deck it measures out at just over 6,600 yards, however that is countered somewhat by the fact it's at sea level.

Well, OK, the elevation is about 30 feet but in this game, what's 10 yards here and there?

The thing is, Pine Lakes may not be long but be warned, you do have to hit it straight. While this was a Scottish replica back in the day before it's design mulligan, it still has some Old World charm to it. One of the club pros described it as "A Scottish style tee to green course," which is about as good a character reference as you're going to get. 

This track, that was in outstanding condition for early March, opens with a nice little par-4 that is followed by a pretty par-3, letting you get your feet on the ground quickly with those two tests, especially if you haven't played the game for a few months.

The third hole is a long, challenging 426 yards from the middle tees and with a green guarded by water, it's one of those holes where if you put a big crooked number on your card, you feel fully justified. Immediately after that hole things smooth out again with a short, manageable par-4 and a mid-length par-5.

From the front porch at this course, those that don't have a lot of "Oomph!" in their swing will find it an enjoyable play. The total distance for all 18 holes, from tee to green, is 4,758 yards with no forced carries, as their teeing ground is often well removed from the tees further back

The fairways here offer plenty of landing space and the greens are smooth and they do hold fairway shots well. They aren't overly large in size or in breaks but the slight inclines on them can be well disguised meaning the odd putt, if you tend to rush and not take your time looking things over,  can come up a little light ... or way, way heavy!
One thing that should be mentioned here, especially for us Western Canadians that aren't used to sea level golf is to not just think about using that one extra club but actually pulling it out of the bag and swinging it, especially if the wind gets up.

The landing areas for tee shots at Pine Lakes are huge, making your opening round of a new season a wee bit easier.

What's really nice about Pine Lakes is the time it takes to play - we went out at 9 a.m. on a day where the tee sheet was full, and were off the course four hours later, a testament to how this course is designed in order to let it's guests enjoy a day of fun golf without too many of those big, crooked numbers sprayed onto their scorecard.

Although some of the original design elements from 1927 still exist the changes here were well done so it's likely original course designer Robert White would still be proud of this playground.

Thistle Golf Club

"If you think the clubhouse is nice wait until you see the golf course ... and I don't even golf!"

Those words from the restaurant waitress at Thistle Golf Club echoed time and again through my head as we toured this outstanding property in Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

Simply put, this 27-hole facility, about a half hour from North Myrtle Beach, is stunning in its beauty and its challenges. As it turns out, these tracks are named in honour of one of the original Scottish courses that was founded in 1815. The present day club sits just over 100 miles away from Charleston, SC, which is the site of the first mention of golf in America.

From the get-go on the Cameron and Stewart nines (we didn't get to the MacKay nine) this was a  continual test of hitting your target. If you tend to stray too far left, or right, you're going to need lots of ammunition to make it around thee nines as there is, it seems, water everywhere. And if it's not the wet stuff making life difficult for you out here there is also a tremendous amount of sand, and in particular waste bunkers, scattered about the premises.

The Thistle Club is a beauty from the word "go," but it certainly doesn't offer a player many breaks if their tee or approach shots are off-line on this great course. That's reflected here on Hole No. 2.

In fact, on the Stewart's No. 7 hole, a 397 yard par-4, the waste bunker is massive - so massive in fact, that the cart path runs down its length, starting just after the teeing grounds and ending up guarding the right side of the green. Add to that the thick vegetation down the left side of the fairway and this is one hole where you definitely need to stripe it.

On this day it was decided the white tees at 2,949 yards on the Cameron nine and 2900 on the Stewart were enough of a challenge, and that was proven true quickly, as the opening tee shot on Cameron found a fairway bunker.

And remember, these courses  are at sea level, although for some reason the ball seemed to fly a bit farther here than at Pine Lakes, so distances can be deceiving. By the end of the day this was indeed a wise choice because it was more about hitting your shot where you were aiming, not about slaying the beast with big drives.

But, if you are mor adventurous off the tee, these particular two nines stretch out to an imposing 3,300 and 3,400 yards from the back deck.

A good thing here is the fact there are five tee boxes, with the front end being a total of 4,000 yards. Even at that short range these two tracks are still an enjoyable play and the natural way these courses flow is a real plus.

As for the most scenic hole on this camera-friendly day trip, the second on the Cameron had to win that award. A shortish par-4, it demanded accuracy from start to finish. From the tee, water runs all the way down the right side and then across the front of the green. On top of that, OB down the entire left side adds to the drama of that opening salvo. This was most definitely a fun hole that looks as nice from behind the green looking towards the tee as it does from tee to green.

The 7th on the Stewart Nine pays homage to its Scottish ancestry with a huge waste bunker that interestingly enough, doubles as a cart path.

As the day wrapped up, in just over three hours for our twosome for 18 holes, the words from the waitress came floating back into my memory, because indeed, this is a course is one you'll remember, not only because the clubhouse which is done in traditional Scottish styling with stucco over limestone from the early 1899son the right side; the centre portion is finished with quarried stone used mainly in the mid-1800s and the left side of the building is red brick, a commonly used material towards the end of that century.

As for the course, well, it's beauty is beyond words. It's something you have to see for yourself to truly appreciate.

Not Quite Planes, Trains & Automobiles

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

COLLINGWOOD, ONT. — To a lazy golfer there is nothing better than a golf cart with power, one that zooms up and down the fairways at what would have to be called “breakneck speed.” You know, something pushing the limits of, oh say, 15km/h.

In the real world of speed and power though, nothing tops a good ol’ muscle car. And when we say “muscle,” we mean those with sleek stylings, brawn, a muffled but still thrilling roar of exhaust pipes singing the car’s praises and its pure speed.

You know, something like you’d feel, and hear, seated in the driver’s cockpit of say a Lamborghini or a Porsche or a Corvette. Not that you’d ever find those particular rides on a golf course, of course.

But as it turns out, I found those particular rides on a golf trip.

One of the off-course activities I got to engage in on a recent “working” trip to Ontario was the chance to step up from a putt-putt golf cart, and as it turns out even from my own personal ride, a little 2009 Cobalt, to each of those above named beasts — and what a step it was! Thanks to Northern Exotic Tours, I was given the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of each one of those muscle cars, and drive on actual roadways, in the town of Collingwood.

John Bors, the owner of the fledgling business, said for him the idea of renting these beauties out gives ordinary people who simply dream of driving one of these iconic cars the chance to actually do exactly that.

“You know what? We have a bit of elevation here, and some pretty good scenery, so we thought we’d grab a couple of these cars (from a private collection) and put on tours. What better way to give people a chance to drive these cars?” he queried in response to where this idea came from.

While you can actually rent such a vehicle elsewhere, Bors noted that there’s a bit of catch.

“There’s a seven to $10,000 deposit and it’s about $1,500 a day to rent a car like this,” thus putting them out of reach of the Average Joe.

Bors was careful to point out “It’s not about how fast these cars can go,” because trust me, they do go fast. “How fast does your own car go? At the end of the day we can still have fun, feel the acceleration and feel what’s it like to drive the cars we all grew up with on our walls,” was his reply to how they keep excited drivers under some sort of speed control

The thing about driving these go-fast machines is this, he continued: “These are high profile cars. The police are watching us,” Bors said about rental drivers keeping things under control (at least to a certain extent). We do accelerations to feel the power,” but those in the driver’s seat must sign a plethora of waivers about receiving tickets, etc., and the fact they forfeit their deposit should they run afoul of a radar gun.

“Accidents do happen,” Bors agreed, “so we just keep an eye on the drivers,” whether it be from the passenger seat as was our case, or on a trailing motorcycle with larger groups. “A day of fun can change real quick, absolutely.”

“People really enjoy this. It’s very affordable, especially for a group and this is what makes memories.”

From those speedy machines we next headed to the waterways where horsepower was exchanged for arm power in a canoe. We hooked up with Cruising Canoes, a business in Belleville, to do some paddling.

This enterprise, started by Andrew Twigg, is about exploring the back country experience and includes day trips and longer journey, complete with portages, if one so wishes.

We were only on the rive for about 90 minutes — fortunately with no cross-country carrying of the canoes — and that was more than enough for me. As it turned out, I hopped in the front of a canoe thinking I’d have a great view of the passing scenery, wildlife and fish. As it turns out, the front of the boat means the most work as you’re the motor, more or less, so needless to say we chugged along much slower than I did in the Porsche.

The interesting thing is, as hard as you have to work to keep up speed, this kind of transportation is relaxing. You have the time to take in all the wonderful sights and sounds around you as you float/paddle down the Moira River.

This certainly wouldn’t be the way I choose to cover any great distances  — after all, you can’t beat a Lamborghini for getting somewhere fast — but it is an ideal way to work off stress, take in some scenery and get a workout all at the same time.

And the chances of getting a speeding ticket on the water, well, they’re pretty well non-existent!

For more on either transportation mode, go to their websites at northernexotictours.ca or cruising canoes.ca.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his eighth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf.

Be a PLYR both on and off the course

By Gord Montgomery (iG)
EDMONTON — If you’re looking to become a PLYR, both on and off the golf course, then a new Saskatchewan clothing company may have the answer you’re looking for.

While this may not be the clothing line for every golfer, or golf course for that matter, this new brand of apparel that’s geared toward a young population is swinging into the golf market in a noticeable way.

The company known as PLYR, headed up by Chase Porter and his partner Brandon Kuse aren’t out necessarily to take business away from the major players in the golf clothing industry. What they are here to do is help outfit those who aren’t into the country club look of tailored pants and shirts.

“We’re identified as a casual golf brand,” Kuse noted.

“We want to hit those guys who come out on a Friday afternoon after work, play golf with their buddies, listen to music, maybe have a couple of drinks who want to wear tee shirts on the golf course,” chimed in Porter. “We both worked at a public golf course and we saw the changes in an industry that’s transitioning, especially with Millennials, into a lot more casual appearance.”

One thing to note here is that both young men stressed they are not in competition with the big clothing lines and are indeed a brand unto themselves. And when you look at their stylings that’s not hard to see. After all, they describe themselves as a clothing line for “all athletes.”

Their snapback headwear with the distinctive logo on front and the eye-catching circled golfer on the back, both done in puff embroidery, are fresh and innovative. As for the clothing, it ranges from sharp looking short-sleeve, mid-length and long-sleeve tees to hoodies (or as they’re known in Saskatchewan, a bunny hug) to pullover jackets and polos. Colours range from the standard black and white to shades of purple, red, royal blue and kelly green.

“The golf industry is changing. We are non-traditional, kind of non-conformist, trying to bring our own little thing to the golf industry,” said Kuse.

Brandon Kuse (left) and Chase Porter feel they have found a new market for young golfers with their line of headwear and clothing that is beginning to catch on in a big way in Western Canada

The front and back views of PLYR's baseball cap headwear.

While golf is set in its ways there are changes afoot and this pair is looking to be trendsetters in the on-course, and yes off-course, fashion side of the game. It does take time for changes to take hold in the game — remember the introduction of coloured golf balls that are now seeing a resurgence — but Porter and Kuse point out they are gaining traction.

“Alberta is awesome for us,” said Porter in speaking to the industry’s reaction toward PLYR and what they offer. “You’ve got a lot of industry guys who like to have fun. They work hard but they also play hard and they like to play golf, go enjoy themselves.  A lot of courses in this area don’t have dress codes as strict as private clubs do. As to on-course wear, players can now wear jeans, tee shirts, so our off-course wear becomes on-course wear. To that, we say, “Take the option. Wear a tee shirt, be comfortable. Enjoy yourself. Be comfortable.”

At the same time though, Porter added, there is still some resistance to this much of a change in playing apparel. But then again, music is now becoming an on-course staple for many Millennials, seen as the next growth factor in the game, who may just be entering the sport and who want to carve out their own niche.

“We’ve had guys come by our booth (at the PGA of Alberta Buying Show) and say “That wouldn’t work at our golf course,” because of traditional dress codes. All the same, some courses have decided to go with this new brand in their pro shops for off-course wear,” Kuse explained.

“They aren’t going to allow it on the course but when guys leave the course they put on our product. It still helps the golf market, and golf as a whole, when guys wear our product away from the course. That’s huge.”

In half a year of operation, starting with only the short-sleeved tees, the company has found success. As they move forward they’ll look to adjust the look of items like the polo shirts seeking a style that separates them from others in order to stand out from others. The reaction so far has been strong, considering the age of the business which hit the streets in April of 2016.

“We started with zero pro shops and we’re up to six in Saskatchewan. We’re looking at 20 next year in Saskatchewan and probably a dozen in Alberta,” and with the Saskatchewan junior golf team sporting their brand at the national finals, the pair expect that upswing to continue for one very simple reason: “It’s a lifestyle more than a golf brand,” ended Porter.

For more on PLYR and its products, go to their website at plyrgolf.com.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his ninth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.

Fesuce, sand highlight Heathlands and Eagles Nest courses

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

In the third and final part of his golf in Ontario adventure series, Inside Golf’s Gord Montgomery heads back towards Toronto, again finding golfing gems all along the way. Two courses in particular were chosen, extremely different from each other but each offered a true test of creativity from all sorts of varying lies and troubles.

Central Counties Region

CALEDON/MAPLE, ON — To the east of Toronto lays Osprey Valley, a spot where renowned Canadian architect Doug Carrick crafted some of his finest work in setting down three 18-hole playgrounds, the Heathlands along with Hoot and Toot.

The non-rhyming playground, Heathlands, was the one chosen to play and for good reason: Driving into the property, located in Caledon, several holes parallel the roadway and the images of good ol’ fashioned Scottish links-style golf pop into your mind. The fescue grasses are deep and wave a friendly “hello” as you pass by, likely knowing you’re going to get up close and friendly with a few of them before the day is over. Meanwhile, the pot bunkers sit there quietly, not wanting to ruin the surprises they hold in store.

Pot bunkers play a huge part of the game at Heathlands, where a lie like this while uncommon, is certainly a possibility on just about every approach shot that doesn't fly quite far enough.

The starting hole on Heathlands is a perfect example of what’s ahead: rolling terrain, that fescue, deep, deep, deep pot bunkering, and large, rolling greens. A par 5, its a demanding 538 yards from the blue tees and every one of those steps is well earned. Top that off with an elevated green protected by a few of those pot bunkers, where sometimes hitting backwards is the only shot available, and a par here is a great start to a more than interesting day.

Not overly long, the course plays to slightly more than 6,400 yards from the blue tees (under 6,100 from the white) and while neither of those measurements sound overwhelming, they can be if you’re game isn’t up to par out here.

Robert McClure, the director of golf at Osprey Valley, agreed that you need to be ready for the demands Heathlands asks of your game. “You’ve got to keep it on the short grass,” he stated simply about taming this beast.

One thing that people need to keep in mind when playing here, he added, is that a variety of shots can and should be used to score well.

“You can use the bump-and-run on many holes,” to take away the difficulty of trying to fly those massive sandpits that await a mishit shot and to add to the authenticity of playing a course that pays tribute to its Scottish ancestors.

As for the other two offerings here, they both play longer than their sister with the Hoot at 6,800 off the blue tees and Toot at about 100 yards shorter. The difference is, they don’t swallow up stray shots like Heathlands with its tangly fescue. Rather, the Hoot bares its teeth with waste bunkering throughout while Toot is a more placid parkland style featuring wide fairways and rolling terrain.

In all, Osprey Valley is a great threesome, looking for you to make up a foursome that is the hunt for a variety of challenges all in one spot.

The final stop was in Maple, where another Doug Carrick design, Eagles Nest, awaited. This is a gorgeous facility right from the magnificent clubhouse out to the playing area. And what a playpen it is. Topping out at almost 7,500 yards, it is more than advisable to start each hole from the correct distance. And if you find yourself overwhelmed by distance, move up to ensure you enjoy the round here as much as you should.

The opening hole, a par 5 running at 500 yards off the white tees (playing to a total yardage of 6,225), is a jaw-dropper given the narrow landing areas that are flanked by native grasses and protected with huge bunkers in the middle of the fairway.

Simply put, this is a course where you need to keep your wits about you because if you get frustrated with an off-line shot the day can get awfully long really quickly. Ranked as the 28th best track in the country, this is another of those Ontario layout that is challenging, but fun.

There is no denying that of all the holes on this trip around Ontario, this one from the 3rd tee box at Eagles Nest was one of the most jaw-dropping sights there was.

This is another course where the holes never repeat themselves and there are no up-and-back scenarios although there are a lot of ups and downs thanks to wonderful elevation changes throughout. A perfect example of that is the 6th hole, known as “dinna router” (Don’t Mess About) an uphill par 4 that is less than 300 yards. However, miss the fairway on this uphill hole and you’re in big trouble with trees, hillocks, sand and all other sorts of nasties in  your way. A fun risk/reward hole where you don’t feel too badly making bogey if you miss your tee or approach shot.

The eighth hole, a par 3 of 122 yards is well guarded front and left by huge bunkers below the green but that isn’t the main characteristic here. This hole is actually more memorable for its camera shot rather than its tee shot, as you overlook the skyline of Toronto from the elevated teeing area.

Eagles Nest is another course that makes heading east a great idea because the golf here in Ontario, especially in the cool fall weather, is a drive well taken.

More information on Heathlands, Hoot and Toot is available online at ospreyvalley.com while more on Eagles Nest can be found on their website at eaglesnestgolf.com.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his ninth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.

Black Bear Ridge bares its teeth in Canada's Top 100

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

Belleville, ON — In the second part of his series on golf in Ontario, Inside Golf writer Gord Montgomery travelled east past Toronto to the community of Belleville, where he found a wonderful surprise awaiting him — Black Bear Ridge.

The fall coulours are outstanding at Black Bear.

The Great Waterway Region

This area is known not only for its great golf facilities, but also to a secondary hobby of many golfers, great fishing. Trophy walleye can be found on the Bay of Quinte in spring and fall and awesome trout and salmon fishing in the summer.

This trip though was about golf and we got more than our fill of that at our single stop in the Great Waterway Region at Black Bear Ridge. Situated mere minutes outside of Belleville, the natural beauty starts as soon as you walk up to the clubhouse. From there you can see the stunning downhill tee shot required on No. 1 and the beautiful uphill approach shot needed on the final test of the day.

While the beauty of this area was stunning what was even better were the course conditions. Even though we played here in early October the fairway and greens grasses were second to none making one think it was July 15th rather than October 5th.

The course’s longtime head professional, Bill Kerr Jr., a third generation golf pro whose grandfather teed it up in The Masters back in the day, said a lot of pride and professionalism goes into maintaining the standards of this beautiful facility.

“It’s a parkland style with a bit of a feel of a Muskoka golf course,” he began. “They didn’t move a lot of earth when they built this golf course. They used the land that was here.”

And they used it well. From the stunningly beautiful tee shot that starts your day off on this assignment that measures just over 6,700 yards from the blue tees and 6,300 from the whites, you’re challenged to a variety of shots to test your skill. The tree lined fairways add to the accuracy quotient out here while greens with false fronts and well placed bunkering add even more to that equation.

The course changes somewhat from front to back, where the fairways are more open but there are more elevation changes than you see on the front. A great design feature here is that no two holes are the same, especially the par 4s, where the 8th green invites the big hitter to go for broke in clearing a water hazard seeking the green at “only” 289 yards from the white tees.

Black Bear Ridge GC is most certainly one you’ll want to put on your itinerary because it’s a wonderful play. Making the list of Canada’s Top 100 at No. 68 hasn’t been a bad thing at all, Kerr noted, saying it helps draw visitors from far and wide in to have a look at why this particular course is among this country’s elite playgrounds.

“”When we first opened 90 per cent of our play was local but now that’s down to about 50 per cent,” as those from outside the Belleville area find out about one of Ontario’s great golf getaway spots. “This golf course can stand on its own. There are quite a few good golf courses around,” and Black Bear Ridge certainly fits easily into that category.

For more on this great course with its phenomenal turf conditions, go to their website at blackbearridge.ca. Their toll free phone number is 1-866-811-BEAR.

The closing hole at this great track is a stern test, running uphill with a hazard guarding the fairway.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his eighth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.