The best public course in the GTA of 2016

[jaybudhwani]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

In all seriousness, Braeben*.


(* if they set it up and maintained it as a true links course)

Has a tonne of potential that's for sure. Only hole I don't like is 7?, doesn't make sense to me to have a muni with a par3 forced carry of 160+ and absolutely no bailout. Other than that par 3, great course, and clan play very tough if the wind gets up!

[Doba]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

The only people who will vote for "not Osprey Valley" are those who haven't played there. Just my opinion, but those tracks are pretty hard to beat for me. Maybe Eagles Nest beats it.

Pretty far for me, havent made the trip yet, but I would like to. For a first timer which 9's would you recommend? hoot and toot?

[SkyMark]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Has a tonne of potential that's for sure. Only hole I don't like is 7?, doesn't make sense to me to have a muni with a par3 forced carry of 160+ and absolutely no bailout. Other than that par 3, great course, and clan play very tough if the wind gets up!

Agreed. 7 is an exception. I assume not enough space so a hole had to play over the reservoir.

[Jayhawker]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

In all seriousness, Braeben*.


(* if they set it up and maintained it as a true links course)

Underrated course.

[dmcdam]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Pretty far for me, havent made the trip yet, but I would like to. For a first timer which 9's would you recommend? hoot and toot?

It's a 54 hole facility so your choice is between 3 courses. I personally like Hoot the best with its wide fairways and huge waste bunkers. Toot would be my second choice as more of a parkland layout. Heathlands is a great links test but you'd better be hitting fairways and greens or it'll be a long day. You really can't make an ad choice there.

[WDM1980]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

In all seriousness, Braeben*.
(* if they set it up and maintained it as a true links course)

Not really possible to set it up like a true links course. They would need a sand base to have the course well enough and they'd need a grass better suited to those soil conditions. It's a pseudo links course for North American golfers. It's plenty of fun and a challenge setup as is.

Has a tonne of potential that's for sure. Only hole I don't like is 7?, doesn't make sense to me to have a muni with a par3 forced carry of 160+ and absolutely no bailout. Other than that par 3, great course, and clan play very tough if the wind gets up!

That par three is a beastly hole. It can back up a bit there, but the par five that follows gets things back up to speed. I've stood on that tee attempting to figure out how to play the hole the a three club wind in my face and a 4 storey drop. Hitting the green there is can be the greatest feeling of the round.

Underrated course.

Very, but I'm happy for it to be that way - otherwise it'll get busy and slow. It's the closest decent track to downtown and really well priced. Early times on weekends and even later weekend afternoon times there are great.

Pretty far for me, havent made the trip yet, but I would like to. For a first timer which 9's would you recommend? hoot and toot?

It's a 54 hole facility so your choice is between 3 courses. I personally like Hoot the best with its wide fairways and huge waste bunkers. Toot would be my second choice as more of a parkland layout. Heathlands is a great links test but you'd better be hitting fairways and greens or it'll be a long day. You really can't make a bad choice there.

Doba - go with Hoot or Toot. I wouldn't be able to pick a favourite between the two. Better still, go for a play all day and do both.

[Benz]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Doba - go with Hoot or Toot. I wouldn't be able to pick a favourite between the two. Better still, go for a play all day and do both.

Better still, play all three!

[SkyMark]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

[QUOTE=WDM1980;1643398]Not really possible to set it up like a true links course. They would need a sand base to have the course well enough and they'd need a grass better suited to those soil conditions. It's a pseudo links course for North American golfers. It's plenty of fun and a challenge setup as is.

I still think that they could introduce more fescue grass, water the fairways less, and keep it tightly mown at the front of the greens. 12 plays most like a links hole. It has one of the best greens in the GTA, plays hard and fast in the summer. They should set up all the holes like 12.

[Weirfan]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Pretty far for me, havent made the trip yet, but I would like to. For a first timer which 9's would you recommend? hoot and toot?

All the courses are good. I prefer Heathlands for overall beauty , diversity and challenge of holes.

[WDM1980]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Not really possible to set it up like a true links course. They would need a sand base to have the course well enough and they'd need a grass better suited to those soil conditions. It's a pseudo links course for North American golfers. It's plenty of fun and a challenge setup as is.

I still think that they could introduce more fescue grass, water the fairways less, and keep it tightly mown at the front of the greens. 12 plays most like a links hole. It has one of the best greens in the GTA, plays hard and fast in the summer. They should set up all the holes like 12.

Do you mean actual fescue grass? I don't think that will grow in the soil there. If you mean longer grass, while that may give it more of a links-feel, it would also destroy the pace of play. If they water the course less, it will brown quite a bit and would have standing water whenever it rained at all. The soil does not work well there for a true-firm and fast setup because it doesn't drain like links sand.

What is it about 12 that makes it so links-like? The green should be firm as it's the highest point on the property. I understand what you mean about having the hole open at the front so you can land short and run on; however, you can't really do that at 12 with the elevated green and bunker right in front.

[Eastend Golfer]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Meh, I'm in the camp that it's very gimmicky. Have played it a few times and while the service is top notch, the golf course leaves little to be desired.

I love Wooden Sticks as I won a free round of golf after hitting the Green on the 9A par 3 hole last season. Have to use it by the end of June.

[Doba]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Oh man I wasn't aware they're sperate 18 hole courses.. I always thought my they were 3 9 hole course.. damn

[SkyMark]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Do you mean actual fescue grass? I don't think that will grow in the soil there. If you mean longer grass, while that may give it more of a links-feel, it would also destroy the pace of play. If they water the course less, it will brown quite a bit and would have standing water whenever it rained at all. The soil does not work well there for a true-firm and fast setup because it doesn't drain like links sand.

What is it about 12 that makes it so links-like? The green should be firm as it's the highest point on the property. I understand what you mean about having the hole open at the front so you can land short and run on; however, you can't really do that at 12 with the elevated green and bunker right in front.

That is fescue at Braeben. And yes they cut it down to speed up play. There's fescue in most of the greens too. The 12th green rolls just like the greens on the Old Course, fast and bumpy. Fescue can grow in all types of soil, and plays best when it goes dormant in Jul/Aug. But I assume the soil there has a sand base anyway, the most cost effective way to cover the garbage dump underneath. No?

When 12 plays into the wind, your best bet is to play up the left side and run it up from there, taking the bunker out of play.

[nickelhead]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

Brazen has to be the best bang for the buck when it comes to a fun course in the GTA. Only problem is that it's not the easiest walk.

[swingeasyguy]

Re: The best public course in the GTA of 2016

1 Eagles Nes
2 Woodington Lakes old course
3 Bond Head north
4 Silver Lakes
(haven't played Osprey)
5 royal Ashburn