Toronto's Municipal Courses

[openflows]

I'm curious to hear what people think of Toront's 5 Municipal Courses (http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/golf/index.htm)? They were where I would play as a teen here in Toronto. Don Valley has always been my favourite, though this year I played Humber Valley a few times and enjoyed that too. I did a small radio spot (http://golf.openflows.org/index.php?p=37) for CBC promoting these courses, and made an effort to get out to all except Tom 'O Shanter this year.

[Jaydog]

I'm curious to hear what people think of Toront's 5 Municipal Courses (http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/golf/index.htm)? They were where I would play as a teen here in Toronto. Don Valley has always been my favourite, though this year I played Humber Valley a few times and enjoyed that too. I did a small radio spot (http://golf.openflows.org/index.php?p=37) for CBC promoting these courses, and made an effort to get out to all except Tom 'O Shanter this year.

the only t.o. municipal course i have ever played was tam o'shanter. i would not recommend it to anyone. :( i found the course was not well taken care of and there were a lot of hackers. not being disrespectful of new golfers as i am among that group, but so many did not seem to know what golf etiquette was. they seemed to enjoy driving around in the carts more than golfing and behaved as if they were drunk.

i've heard good things about don valley as well and plan to play it this year. how were the other muni courses you played?

i did happen to play grey silo. this is what i would hope a municipal courses would be like it t.o. waterloo has definitely done something right with their muni course.

[Ego Woods]

Played Don Valley, Tam and Dentonia.......Dentonia - NEVER AGAIN.....DV was probably the best of the 3......

[Special_K]

Agreed....Don Valley is probably the best Muni around. Accessible by subway for teens that don't have cars, centrally located and really, not a bad course.

Thing is, the prices have been rising steadily every year for these courses (as with every course). Don Valley, prime time, ain't worth it in my opinion because of the long waits and quality of the course.

Played Don Valley, Tam and Dentonia.......Dentonia - NEVER AGAIN.....DV was probably the best of the 3......

[el tigre]

I go to an industry conference in Toronto in June every year, and I try to get in a round of golf if I can. Since I don't always have a car that often means a municipal course and rental clubs.

I've played Don Valley a couple of times and liked it. Nice location, good conditions and a fair challenge of golf. Even the rental clubs weren't too bad. A little pricey compared to Ottawa, but the twilight rate is good. You do have to book early though, because it always seems to be packed.

I tried Humber Valley last year (with my own clubs) and enjoyed it. VERY, VERY short track (I don't know why they even bother having white tees), but conditions are good and there are some challenging holes. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, because the fairways are very close together and you'll be hearing "FORE!" a lot. If Don Valley is full then I don't mind playing here.

[Focker Singh]

I played Dentonia, Tam and Don Valley. Dentonia is the worst of the three. I think I only used 4 different clubs. Don Valley was super busy but the best of the three. Not worth the price they charge though. Tam is alright if you're desperate for a round and can't find anywhere else though its very busy too. IMO, don't play any of the 5, they all stink.

[laxgolf]

I played Scarlet Woods a couple of times when I first started playing. From what I can remember....it's an executive length course that had some trouble on some of the holes. I remember hitting one and slicing it down Eglington. I'd like to play it again and see how I do now.

[Golf 4 Fun]

I've only played 2 of the 5 (Tam and DV). Of the two, DV is way better.

The day that I played DV, it was rainy. However, the drainage was good. The only trouble I encountered was AFTER the game, trying to walk back up the steep (and slick due to rain) incline, and the rope tow was taken down for repair!

[jsunsun]

I've played at dentonia and humber valley. Why do people hate dentonia so much? because it's a par 3?

For a par 3, dentonia is not bad. prob slight below average difficulty. very sloppy terrain, so very tiring to walk the course, especially if you carry your bag.

humber valley ok too for the price. pretty easy course. very short course... has ~220 yard par 4!!! (from men's tee) that's just ridiculous!!

[Bogeybog]

I've only played DV and Dentonia. I do think DV is pricing itself out of the market (I would rather travlel a little farther not to have to contend with the overcrowding).

I like Dentonia as a practice course, not using any tees to "hone" my short game (with the exception of the two "long" holes) and usually play it once a year.

[SW20 MR2]

I play Tam quite often, but it's mostly cause it's close. I generally only play weekday twilight to save money, so I have to leave work early to play golf. Tam is only about 5 minutes from work, so it's nice and convenient. For the same price ($30-35) at that time of day, I'd rather play Parkview or Deer Creek South.

Anyone else got any suggestions on decent courses that are $30-35 (no cart) on weekday twilight? Courses would need to be within 30 minutes of Markham.

[Queen of the Beach]

Played Detonia too and all I remember was that the course was in terrible condition. I live near Tam O'Shanter and would like to check that out one day. But it is not high priority on my list. hehe

[Focker Singh]

Anyone else got any suggestions on decent courses that are $30-35 (no cart) on weekday twilight? Courses would need to be within 30 minutes of Markham.
Rolling Hills? (though I dont' like that course), Bloomington Downs (Bayview and Bloomington SR)

[Queen of the Beach]

Rolling Hills? (though I dont' like that course), Bloomington Downs (Bayview and Bloomington SR)
To be clear... FS those are not municipal courses though right.

[pudubny]

Oddly enough, Mississauga has one great course (Lakeview) and is finishing another (Britannia Hills) which I hear will be very nice.
I agree with alot of what has been said. The Toronto munis are the only option for some people so they fill up quickly.
I think Don Valley has some great holes. Tam and Humber are basic layouts, enjoyable if the pace is okay(rarely). I have never played Scarlett. Tam has serious conditioning issues, for example many of the traps are gravel pits.
The city of Mississauaga deserves credit for the wonderful job they continue to do at Lakeview. Conditoning is great, pace is acceptable, cost is low and it's ten minutes from my house. Lakeview has plenty of interesting holes. It's already very difficult to get decent tee-time at Lakeview on weekends and I have probably just made it worse.

[Whoa Nelly]

Oddly enough, Mississauga has one great course (Lakeview) and is finishing another (Britannia Hills) which I hear will be very nice.
I agree with alot of what has been said. The Toronto munis are the only option for some people so they fill up quickly.
I think Don Valley has some great holes. Tam and Humber are basic layouts, enjoyable if the pace is okay(rarely). I have never played Scarlett. Tam has serious conditioning issues, for example many of the traps are gravel pits.
The city of Mississauaga deserves credit for the wonderful job they continue to do at Lakeview. Conditoning is great, pace is acceptable, cost is low and it's ten minutes from my house. Lakeview has plenty of interesting holes. It's already very difficult to get decent tee-time at Lakeview on weekends and I have probably just made it worse.I concur! I think Lakeview, by far, is better than the 5 listed on the poll. The fairways and greens are always well manicured, and there're definitely some interesting holes. The only thing i don't like about it is, you have to wake up 6am to call in for a decent tee time 5 days before!!!:( Spots defintely fills up fast!

[Jaydog]

could this be another hidden gem? i have never heard about it. can you give me a ball park on the green fees?

[Focker Singh]

Jaydog,
I played there 2 years ago and its a great course. Especially for a municipal course. Like a few have said, nicely kept, great conditions. Just very BUSY!! When I played 2 years ago, it was $65 prime time. Not sure what it is now.

[pudubny]

Jaydog,
Lakeview is not a hidden gem, it has been around for a long time. Lakeview actually hosted two Canadian Opens in the 20's and 30's. At one time it was private, now owned by the city of Mississauga. As one poster mentioned you must get up pretty early and start dialing to get a morning tee-time at Lakeview. Don Valley and Lakeview have that in common.
It is a Stanley Thompson design, although modified over the years. Thompson designed many of Canada's greatest courses including St. Georges and Highland Links. It has some of his great trademarks. Great par 3's including the very tough uphill 203 yard #9. Some very memorable holes including the infamous 12th, a short dogleg par 4 to a severely elevated green. Challenging but playable for everyone. Know where to miss, on many holes if you miss to the wrong side, the penalty is severe, but there are always bail-out areas.
The greens fee in 2004 was $55.00 and in Toronto it is in many opinions the best "deal" out there. See this link:
http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/discover/golf
If you cannot get a tee-time, show up as a single, they seem to make an extra effort to accomodate the walk-ons.
Want another great deal, try Glen Cedars. Deer Creek's cheaper sister is another great bargain.
Hope that helps.

[overpar]

i'd vote for lakeview as the best or one of the best municipal courses.... :)

i live close to dentonia, so i play dentonia a lot during the start (april - may) of the season and also at the end of the season (sept - oct - nov).

its good place to practice your short game (no woods allowed!) and get back in the groove after a long winter layoff.

[openflows]

For the record, I didn't include Lakeview in the poll as it's not in Toronto, but Mississauga. I did start a second thread for municipally owned courses outside of Toronto (http://www.torontogolfnuts.com/showthread.php?t=647), however I guess the great gravitational pull Toronto possesses suggests Mississauga will be absorbed much in the same way Etobicoke has been asimilated over the past five years. ;)

I've never played Lakeview, as I've always been limited to what's available via public transit. Is Lakeview accessible in such a way? Does Mississauga Transit have a bus that runs there? What does that cost these days anyway? TTC has just announced price hikes, just in time for me to finally get my G2 and a car...

[pudubny]

Openflows,
I have no idea about transit to Lakeview, I drive there. I must say I have never seen a bus on the lower part of Dixie Rd where the course is located.
Sorry about getting side tracked by mentioning a Mississauga course but my point was that Lakeview is better conditioned and managed than any of the Toronto courses. Although I don't think Don Valley is poorly managed it's conditioning does not stack up to Lakeview. If Toronto managed the city courses as well as Lakeview, Toronto golfers would really benefit.
Here a classic example, I have played Tam after work on occassion. Two years ago when pulling into the parking lot I noticed a pile of sand. I asked in the pro shop and they told me they were reworking the bunkers. Anyone who has played there will tell you that most of the traps at Tam are actually shallow gravel pits. Well this year I showed up after work and the sand has been moved, but not into the bunkers. Only one bunker has been redone that we could see. Two years, one bunker. They did find time to move the back tee on hole #5 in an attempt to lengthen or toughen the course. That redesign was not suggested by anyone who knew what they were doing. It is aweful.
Tam, while not a great layout has potential but nobody associated with it seems motivated or qualified to improve the property. It would not take alot of effort or money to make it a much better course.
Lakeview on the other hand is improved regularly and you see money being invested. Not to mention what Mississauga is doing with Britannia Hills.
We need Hazel!

[TehFlakes]

lakeview

infamous 12th .. i bloody well hate that hole.. i usually got the corner and try not to hit the apartment buidling but other then that its a decent coarse. i play it a few times a year.

Transit?
well theres a bus from long branch loop 23. you have to take it to dixie and walk north for about 5 minutes its on your left side. Theres a bus from sherway gardens as well , which takes you to dixie mall, less then a 5 minute walk south. you'll have to pay TTC fares and sauga fares of coarse

[OOBs]

lakeview

infamous 12th .. i bloody well hate that hole.. i usually got the corner and try not to hit the apartment buidling but other then that its a decent coarse. i play it a few times a year.
Agreed on the 12th... terrible hole. I played there very early this year and they had a few tees under repair and a little winter kill on fairways and greens... hopefully I can get back there in the nicer weather.

I did think it was a little overpriced, especially when I played at the end of April and they were charging full rates for a course that was not yet in great shape for the summer.

[Mule56]

Oddly enough, Mississauga has one great course (Lakeview)

The city of Mississauaga deserves credit for the wonderful job they continue to do at Lakeview. Conditoning is great, pace is acceptable, cost is low and it's ten minutes from my house. Lakeview has plenty of interesting holes. It's already very difficult to get decent tee-time at Lakeview on weekends and I have probably just made it worse.I would agree with you on this. I played Lakeview last weekend with the boys from the Golf Channel Discussion Board. It was nice and something I did not expect to see inside a city. Especially with all the talk I have heard about the muni-course on this board.
I had a great experience there.
Mule

[TehFlakes]

agree with mule i do, it's a great coarse, just need to work on 12 and go back in july/august it should be good

[golferboy]

I grew up a 10 minute walk from Humber Valley. Played there as a kid,and through my teens. Still get there once year. I enjoy the course, and was always the guy hitting a slice on #2 over the fence.....hoping to hit a TTC bus.

Also loved the par 3 #15 by the Humber river...you'd hit your shot and then some kid would come up from the river and steal your ball.....

I do like the design of the front nine at Don Valley, but it takes far too long to play there and the course is usually pretty chewed up.

[golferboy]

Totally agree...Lakeview is one fine course, always in top shape and very challenging. Played it 50 or so times and its a pleasure, just difficult to get a tee time..Oddly enough, Mississauga has one great course (Lakeview) and is finishing another (Britannia Hills) which I hear will be very nice.
I agree with alot of what has been said. The Toronto munis are the only option for some people so they fill up quickly.
I think Don Valley has some great holes. Tam and Humber are basic layouts, enjoyable if the pace is okay(rarely). I have never played Scarlett. Tam has serious conditioning issues, for example many of the traps are gravel pits.
The city of Mississauaga deserves credit for the wonderful job they continue to do at Lakeview. Conditoning is great, pace is acceptable, cost is low and it's ten minutes from my house. Lakeview has plenty of interesting holes. It's already very difficult to get decent tee-time at Lakeview on weekends and I have probably just made it worse.

[Greywolf]

It has been a while but Don Valley is the best of the 5 listed in this poll.

[colonel]

I voted for Scarlet Woods just because it's close and I know all the staff. While I'll admit that Don Valley is a much better test I still play S.W. a lot more often. It's populated with a lot of friendly O.G's. and some very talented juniors. I enjoy that and I know what to expect when I go there.:)

[hogannut]

I'm curious to hear what people think of Toront's 5 Municipal Courses (http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/golf/index.htm)? They were where I would play as a teen here in Toronto. Don Valley has always been my favourite, though this year I played Humber Valley a few times and enjoyed that too. I did a small radio spot (http://golf.openflows.org/index.php?p=37) for CBC promoting these courses, and made an effort to get out to all except Tom 'O Shanter this year.
I play Don Valley and Dentonnia

[Ben Hogans]

my 1st round ever with my own clubs as a kid was at Humber Valley, w/Dad.



I play Don Valley and Dentonnia

[Big Shooter]

Don Valley, it's a no-brainer, when compared to the other 4 tracks.

...but I'm no fan of DV anymore, didn't play it last year, even tho' I live about 4 blocks away...I'd rather drive to Waterloo and play Grey Silo, THE BEST MUNI in ONTARIO!!!

The real poll should be to ask about the (4) courses OTHER THAN Don Valley!!!

[Bellyhungry]

Don Valley, it's a no-brainer, when compared to the other 4 tracks.

...but I'm no fan of DV anymore, didn't play it last year, even tho' I live about 4 blocks away...I'd rather drive to Waterloo and play Grey Silo, THE BEST MUNI in ONTARIO!!!

The real poll should be to ask about the (4) courses OTHER THAN Don Valley!!!
Is King's Forest a muni? I would rank it up there...

Also, I think within the GTA, Brae Ben probably merits some strong votes.

[sharkhark]

I have a fondness for scarlett woods as a more experienced friend took me there when learning the game.

For an executive length course, it is not difficult. But in going back there once I knew the game better, I was suprised how often I would end up in trouble.

Thing I loved? You can almost always get on it, and it is cheap.
Two things more than I can say for alot of overpriced courses, where I am treated with disdain.

Humber valley I could only get on once, hard to get on, it was very nice.