Poll: Which one of these 4 courses would you play?

[Chigu]

Which one of these 4 courses would you play on a Monday morning (the course would not be busy?!?)

1) Royal Woodbine
2) Ballantrae Golf Club
3) St. Andrews Valley
4) Piper's Heath

[nobdyhere]

w00t ... Ballantrae all the way baby!!! ... lol

I've played St. Andrew's Valley didn't impress me that much.
haven't play Royal or Piper's but i heard Piper's is becoming pretty nice.

i dunno ballantrae i've played more than the others.

[luv2golow]

Ballantrae is a much nicer track than the others. St. Andrews is so so, Royal sticks in my craw and I hear Pipers needs some time. Pipers a definite second.

[Big Shooter]

If you're in Western Toronto, the price of gas (albeit lower) & travel time would dictate Royal Woodbine, which I really enjoy. There may be MORE planes flying if you go too early in the morning (business travellers), but after 11 would be better.;)

[Toughpar3]

I've played all the courses listed but voted Royal Woodbine. Mostly because its just a 15-20min drive through the city streets for me plus very close to my sisters place.

If driving expense/time is no object, then it would be a toss up between Ballantrae and St. Andrews Valley. Pipers Heath is a great course too but the greens on the front 9 still need a bit of time.

TP3

[LawKid]

The only thing Royal Woodbine has going for it is location. The conditions are just average, and its a 6 hour round on weekends.

Its worth any drive to not play there.

[Chigu]

The only thing Royal Woodbine has going for it is location. The conditions are just average, and its a 6 hour round on weekends.

Its worth any drive to not play there.

From what I'm hearing i agree (about Royal Woodbine). In actuality Ballantrae would be the closest location. From the 4 shown in the poll, driving distance is not an issue as they are all within range, therefore location is not an issue! And it's a weekday morning round.

[Feherty Fan]

Living in Newmarket, I know both St Andrews and Ballantrae well. If you have never played either before, choose Ballantrae as its more open and you can see all of your landing areas. It has a similar feel to Angus Glen.

St Andrews is a good track, but it's narrow and you have to deal with alot of blind shots. Hard to play the first couple of times around until you get a feel for it.

[Going_Pro]

Which one of these 4 courses would you play on a Monday morning (the course would not be busy?!?)

1) Royal Woodbine
2) Ballantrae Golf Club
3) St. Andrews Valley
4) Piper's Heath


Player Royal Woodbine, not a bad course, the planes do get annoying after a while. The people are nice and the course is pretty good considering it's location. Price may be a little high but I assume it's because of the location.

St. Andrews Valley is a decent course. If you play in the mornings it's really nice. The course is well maintained the last time I went. The only problem is that their customer service isn't that great. I've had a pretty bad experience w/ the starter and lady @ the front desk. We filled out a comment card and got a call the next day from the clubhead pro, apologizing for the experience we had and offered us a free round w/cart. They did make the effort to make things right. So they saved a customer.

As for Ballantrae and Pipers I've never been there but Ballantrae seems to be a good place so I'm going to try it out sometime soon.

[thekathrynorchard]

I've always been a big links fan and I've heard nothing but great reviews for Piper's. Plus, it's fairly close.

[Big Shooter]

I've always been a big links fan and I've heard nothing but great reviews for Piper's. Plus, it's fairly close.

To where? Milton?!!:rolleyes:

[Snipes5150]

St Andrews is a good track, but it's narrow and you have to deal with alot of blind shots. Hard to play the first couple of times around until you get a feel for it.

I was just wondering if you could name 1 or 2 of these "blind shots" I work there and play almost everyday, and can honestly say I can't think of one shot on the course where you can say "I actually don't know where to hit the ball".

[Weirfan]

I was just wondering if you could name 1 or 2 of these "blind shots" I work there and play almost everyday, and can honestly say I can't think of one shot on the course where you can say "I actually don't know where to hit the ball".

I play there the second most of any course..play Ballantrae the most.

I agree that if you know wher to hit the ball...there are not really blind shots but I can see where people would consider some shots blind ones,,,and if you play the white tees they would be moreso.

3rd hole tee shot...it is straight away but if you dont know what is over the ridge ( its fairway)

5th hole...you need to aim left center but if you play forward tees and try and cut the corner...you cannot see the ball land

8th....again you need to aim to the right center but if you try to cut the left corner

9 again hit it to what yoy see, but if you flirt with the dog leg

14....it is a par 5 but a layup hole off the tee...3 wood usually from blue on back....driver frome the blues or whites is too much

16....likely the only real hole that could be called a blind tee shot ?????

target golf more so than blind shots

[Pubknight]

St.Andrews Valley is my favorite course, has been for a decade.
Very surprised to see people not love it as much as I do.

Played Ballantrae for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I really didn't enjoy it. Mushroom cap greens with (at least when I played) punitive hole positions made for one of the most frustrating rounds of the year.

Royal Woodbine is enjoyable, but a lack of a range takes it down a notch in my book.
Haven't played Piper's Heath yet, though I really want to.

Perhaps a bit off topic, and not to derail the thread, but I live right in west downtown Toronto (near the CNE)... where else would folks recommend playing that is within say a 45 minute drive from downtown?

[Weirfan]

St.Andrews Valley is my favorite course, has been for a decade.
Very surprised to see people not love it as much as I do.

Played Ballantrae for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I really didn't enjoy it. Mushroom cap greens with (at least when I played) punitive hole positions made for one of the most frustrating rounds of the year.

Royal Woodbine is enjoyable, but a lack of a range takes it down a notch in my book.
Haven't played Piper's Heath yet, though I really want to.


That"s Ballantrae....and that is why I love to play there

forgiving off the tee even still so after they narroed the fairways by 15 -20 yards recently......in most cases a good grip it an rip it course ,,,but positioning off the tee can make for easier hitting greens

you have to be very accurate with you iron shots and hit the correct spot....or avoid the bad spots.....

The greens are quite large and very receptive but you do need to hit the right spot as there are some undulations that can make putting a challenge.

Most everybody reads more break than there is

they are crowned and have run off"s into collection areas.
excellent course if you have a good short game.

I have seen many a single digit handicapper that I brought there shoot 90+ because of the everpresent wind and missing spots on greens and catching a run off


St Andrews is a v. good couse no doubt as well....and since they have taken out trees on the 9th it is now not the awfully bad hole it once was.

very different courses....both can play tough

[Chigu]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I have a problem now. Based on the feedback and research, I wanted to book Ballantrae. But on Monday morning (Aug 20) they have a Ladies League from 8 - 10am ish. So that is out. Royal Woodbine is not an option based on research, and the fact that the manager would rather play in the North end of the city. St. Andrews Valley looks 'too tough'.

IF I throw BRAEBEN into the mix here, would that be a good choice??? and it's pretty cheap before 10am. $61/ person including cart.

EDIT: NEVER MIND BRAEBEN HAS A TOURNAMENT THAT DAY TOO!!!!!

[Daws]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I have a problem now. Based on the feedback and research, I wanted to book Ballantrae. But on Monday morning (Aug 20) they have a Ladies League from 8 - 10am ish. So that is out. Royal Woodbine is not an option based on research, and the fact that the manager would rather play in the North end of the city. St. Andrews Valley looks 'too tough'.

IF I through BRAEBEN into the mix here, would that be a good choice??? and it's pretty cheap before 10am. $61/ person including cart.

EDIT: NEVER MIND BRAEBEN HAS A TOURNAMENT THAT DAY TOO!!!!!

Make the drive to Osprey... you won't regret it. St. Andrew's Valley gets my next vote. Haven't played Braeben or Piper's Heath.

-Daws

[Feherty Fan]

I was just wondering if you could name 1 or 2 of these "blind shots" I work there and play almost everyday, and can honestly say I can't think of one shot on the course where you can say "I actually don't know where to hit the ball".

Let me clarify, what I meant by a blind-shot is that you can't see the landing areas on several holes, if you don't know the course it can be a little un-nerving.

Examples, would be #8, #9, #14 and #16 all from the tee's. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it's just you need to get a feel these holes otherwise its hit and pray the first time around.

[Big Shooter]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I have a problem now. Based on the feedback and research, I wanted to book Ballantrae. But on Monday morning (Aug 20) they have a Ladies League from 8 - 10am ish. So that is out. Royal Woodbine is not an option based on research, and the fact that the manager would rather play in the North end of the city. St. Andrews Valley looks 'too tough'.

IF I throw BRAEBEN into the mix here, would that be a good choice??? and it's pretty cheap before 10am. $61/ person including cart.

EDIT: NEVER MIND BRAEBEN HAS A TOURNAMENT THAT DAY TOO!!!!!

I was told (for YEARS) that St. Andrews Valley was TOUGH...I shyed-away from playing it until last year...wasn't nearly as 'tough' as I was told, but you do have to play 'smart!'

How about Silver Lakes, Shawneeki or Westview?...all of them are much more 'forgiving'