Rebel Creek…?

[flaghunter]

Was thinking of playing Rebel Creek soon. Havent played there in a +10 years. It use to be a decent track…is it worth the 45min drive these days? Thanks all!

[Clipless]

If you played it when it was private or semi-private I wouldn’t except that level of conditioning however, it is still generally in very good shape and a fun course to play. I would probably drive 45 minutes to play it.

just my opinion….

I will also drive 45 minutes to play courses like craigawon, innerkip, Pike Lake (a bit further) etc for perspective.

[sandtrap5]

Played it last Saturday for the first time. It’s in really great shape and was a fair test for our group (hcap’s from 8 - 16). Definitely worth the drive - and the price point was a good value as well

[Hugh Jass]

Always in good condition. Also consider Grey Silo if out that way.

[LongLefty]

Played a few times this year including the Men’s mid am qualifier which was the best I’ve seen the course in condition wise since golf north purchased. It’s only about 15min from my place though.. likely wouldn’t travel 45min to play unless I found it for a cheaper rate.

[ARL67]

^^^ Tri-City Golf Club website / membership gets you on Rebel for $35 walking , or less depending how many credits you pre-buy. Oaks of St. George and Mystic are also $35 walking, and Grey Silo is $45 walking. Can't beat those prices for some great local golf. I was at Mystic early this morning and it was excellent too.

[ARL67]

FYI: Rebel has reversed the 9's and the new routing is even updated on Golf Canada score entering.

I don't see the logic in that but someone said it has to do with being more "advantageous" for tournaments and being able to finish at the patio. Well La-Di-Da ! What's the big deal on changing the order just for tournament days ?

I much prefer starting my round on the original #1 vs #10 ( both Par 5 BTW ) as the #1 tee shot is so wide-open. Also #1 really isn't a get-on-in-2 Par 5 as the green is across a small creek and heavily protected. Whereas #10 has a much greater opportunity for getting on in 2 with a wide open green area -> this can cause added delay while waiting for the green to clear.

The original Front 9 is easier IMO -> I prefer to get loose on that easier 9 and work up towards a tougher back 9.

FYI: One course that is a bear to start on the back 9 when they occasionally reverse the order is Legacy Ridge in Owen Sound.

[Jeffc]

FYI: Rebel has reversed the 9's and the new routing is even updated on Golf Canada score entering.

I don't see the logic in that but someone said it has to do with being more "advantageous" for tournaments and being able to finish at the patio. Well La-Di-Da ! What's the big deal on changing the order just for tournament days ?

I much prefer starting my round on the original #1 vs #10 ( both Par 5 BTW ) as the #1 tee shot is so wide-open. Also #1 really isn't a get-on-in-2 Par 5 as the green is across a small creek and heavily protected. Whereas #10 has a much greater opportunity for getting on in 2 with a wide open green area -> this can cause added delay while waiting for the green to clear.

The original Front 9 is easier IMO -> I prefer to get loose on that easier 9 and work up towards a tougher back 9.

FYI: One course that is a bear to start on the back 9 when they occasionally reverse the order is Legacy Ridge in Owen Sound.

couldn't they just reverse the 9's for tournaments? I'd agree and from what I remember, there were some tough holes on the back 9.

[hookcity69]

FYI: Rebel has reversed the 9's and the new routing is even updated on Golf Canada score entering.

I don't see the logic in that but someone said it has to do with being more "advantageous" for tournaments and being able to finish at the patio. Well La-Di-Da ! What's the big deal on changing the order just for tournament days ?

I much prefer starting my round on the original #1 vs #10 ( both Par 5 BTW ) as the #1 tee shot is so wide-open. Also #1 really isn't a get-on-in-2 Par 5 as the green is across a small creek and heavily protected. Whereas #10 has a much greater opportunity for getting on in 2 with a wide open green area -> this can cause added delay while waiting for the green to clear.

The original Front 9 is easier IMO -> I prefer to get loose on that easier 9 and work up towards a tougher back 9.

FYI: One course that is a bear to start on the back 9 when they occasionally reverse the order is Legacy Ridge in Owen Sound.

I think there's pros and cons to the switch of front 9 / back 9. You covered the cons pretty well - there's also a longer walk to 1 and from 9-10. The (new) 2nd, 4th and 5th holes are extremely hard. 4 and 5 generally make or break your round - it's pretty tough not to lose a ball on these holes. There's almost no 'warm-up' before you start playing them.

However, the old 18th hole was a miserable hole to finish your round on. With the changes, you are now finishing the round on a simple par-5 with a wide-open tee shot that ends in front of the clubhouse. Just before that, hole 16 is a drivable par-4 that is the best opportunity for birdie on the course. 17 is a fun par-3 (in a way, distantly similar to Sawgrass with trouble around the green). It's a great way to end the round. I also now feel a huge sense of relief when I make the turn and get to play the wide-open back 9.

Overall, I'm a fan of the change. Also, the course seems to be in great shape for this time of year.

[newballcoach]

I'm torn reading this. I haven't been out this year but this is an interesting change. I definitely think the original layout was more suitable in a number of ways, but am willing to be open-minded. Some of the least enjoyable holes are on the (old) back 9 IMO, including 13 and 17. The 13th green is just completely unnecessary and will slow down pace of play when it's at the beginning. You're now looking at starting like this:

#1- Reachable Par 5. Lots of waiting in the fairway.
#2- Long Par 3. More waiting
#3- Solid par 4.
#4- Tough driving hole with terrible green. Guaranteed to be slow.
#5- Long trek around the pond for another tough hole, another pace of play concern.

Depending on the group in front of you (or in front of them or whoever) you could be an hour and half or more through this stretch. Backs the course up for the whole day potentially, don't love that.

I definitely see the argument about #18 being a slog, however I would argue #9 is almost the exact same. Both holes aren't my favourite due to the fact they're almost entirely uphill. 18 (old) had the harder tee shot, but the easier approach IMO. Not sure reversing those two accomplishes anything other than finishing near the patio. Flow of the course is going to be affected as well, with people finishing on old 18 having to make their way to old #1, past the other green, over the patio or having to drive their carts all the way around through the parking lot. Seems senseless to me.

I am probably just against it because it's change, and change is new and scary to me. I'll try to get an opinion after playing.

[Buzzzardd]

I have played this course more than 1,000 times over the years and am definitely not in favour of the nines being switched. I feel that the course plays a minimum of 15 minutes slower, when you switch the two nines. The course spreads out very quickly when you start on the original nine, but stays jammed up when you start on the back.
Tee times are usually behind, as the trunk slammers now have a long walk to the first tee, instead of being right there when they exit the clubhouse. Also, since you can’t see the first tee, you never know when you are next up to go. There is also a lot more searching for lost balls on the new first hole, immediately slowing down play.
I am also predicting that there will be at least one accident this season, when a golf cart merges onto the driveway to go to the first hole and gets hit by a car that is going by to get to the parking lot.
As for switching the nines so you can watch the last hole from the patio, due to the two tiered green, you can’t see anything that goes on when the pin is on the lower tier anyway. And because the hole is uphill, you can’t see any of the shots until the players get on the green.

[Section ThirtyOne]

Has anyone heard the reasoning as to why the nines were switched? It doesn't make much sense to me for the reasons stated above.

[Section ThirtyOne]

Confirmed yesterday that the change was made to have people finish in front of the patio ($$).

Logistically though it is a mess, routing people through the parking lot going from 9 -> 10 is kind of janky, not to mention dangerous.

[ARL67]

^^^ Yup, and signs are up not to cut through the back of 18 ( in front of the patio ) to get to 10.

[Section ThirtyOne]

^^^ Yup, and signs are up not to cut through the back of 18 ( in front of the patio ) to get to 10.

We did anyway.