Ontario's Top 50 Golf Courses - The Best New Courses
Copper Creek and Taboo Dead Even Among Voters
Having a tie in our inaugural vote for Ontario's best new
course was, to say the least, rather anticlimactic. Somebody has
to hold a slight edge over the other, right? And yet, when the
tabulation was conducted and rechecked and then checked a third
time, the numbers kept coming out the same: Kleinburg's Copper
Creek Golf Club and Taboo Golf Club in Muskoka were dead even
in how they fared against each other as well as against the other
nine nominees that opened their full 18 to the public in 2002.
It was almost a dead heat in the race for fourth spot as well,
with Legends on the Niagara's Battlefield course edging out its
own Ussher's Creek course by the slimmest of margins. The best
news might be that each of the top five is open to public play!
1. Copper
Creek Golf Club
Memorability is in hefty supply at Copper Creek Golf Club in
Kleinburg. It begins upon your arrival. While not overstated,
the 40,000-square-foot clubhouse drips of elegance, suggesting
something more than a $130 green fee. Architect Doug Carrick
and associates have reduced the fairway width of some of their
more overly forgiving courses of recent years, which serves
to better define hole layouts. A huge sugar maple 30 yards from
the green accents a great opening hole. The course builds from
there, as one inspiring hole reveals itself after another, seamlessly
linked. As is the case with any great new course, Copper Creek
looks like it's ready to celebrate its 15th birthday. Conditions
are impeccable, many large trees have been preserved at strategic
points and the greens are more receptive to approach shots than
most brand new layouts. Views of Nos. 4 and 10 are also noteworthy,
with the tee shot on the downhill par-4 10th the most intimidating
drive on the course, with a lake dominating the left side and
the fairway seemingly hallway-widthed from the tee.
1. Taboo
As stunning terrain goes in Ontario, it's hard to beat the meandering
woodlands and lakes of Muskoka. One of the most inspiring chunks
of that region became the playground of architect Ron Garl's
fertile imagination a few years back, and the Florida-based
designer took full advantage in laying out a breathtaking 18
holes with which PGA Tour pro Mike Weir is proud to link his
name. One tree-lined hole after another, the 7,200-yard course
is a feast for the optic nerves. The Canadian Shield is ever-present
in the form of rock outcroppings on almost every hole, yet the
layout can still prove a fair test for the higher-handicapped
guest of the neighbouring Muskoka Sands Resort if the proper
tees are played. With a considerable marketing force behind
Taboo, expect word to quickly spread about this dramatic creation.
 Content
courtesy of Ontario Golf Magazine website www.golfontario.ca
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