Canada Traveller

Feb 11, 2007 - Linknet Travel >>>

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Now that we're into the last half of winter it's not too early to start planning your next golf vacation in Ontario. And the most popular destination for vacation golf in Ontario is in the Muskoka region, just about two hours north of Toronto.

In the last ten years a number of highly rated championship and resort courses have been opened in this area, taking full advantage of the unique landscape.

One group of courses worth trying is the Clublink threesome: Lake Joseph, Rocky Crest and Grandview. All three are unique, challenging, and memorable. Just outside of Port Carling on beautiful Lake Joseph, the Lake Joseph Club was one of the first courses in the area to cater specifically to cottagers and resort visitors. It was soon followed by Rocky Crest a few miles away near MacTier and Grandview about an hour's drive away in Huntsville. Grandview was designed by PGA tour pro Mark O'Meara.

Huntsville is also the site of the famous Deerhurst Lodge where Shania Twain got her start in show business. But Deerhurst is even more famous for its outstanding resort and golf courses. Deerhurst Highlands and Deerhurst Lakeside are both 18 hole courses carved out of an 800 acre wilderness.

Deerhurst anchors what is known as the "Muskoka Golf Trail" which features two other outstanding courses -- The Rock and The Ridge at Manitou. The Rock was designed by Nick Faldo on the western shores of Lake Rosseau and opened in 2004. The Ridge at Manitou is a Thomas McBroom course and was named "Best New Course in Ontario" by two golf magazines.

Two other outstanding courses are Taboo in Gravenhurst and Bigwin Island at Lake of Bays. Taboo was chosen by The Toronto Star as Ontario's #1 Golf Course and it has the endorsement of 2003 Master's winner Mike Weir. And Bigwin Island is built near the site of the historic Bigwin Inn, once billed as North America's largest and most luxurious summer resort.

These courses, and many more, have made the Muskoka region of Ontario a "must visit" for the golfer looking for challenging, beautiful, and superbly designed and maintained golf courses.