Private golf courses
Toronto Private Courses
Private courses = expensive. If you belong to these guys who can spent $200.000+ on golfing per year, there is the place to go.
Canada’s most exclusive private golf clubs.(from National post By Robert Thompson).
Domaine Laforest, Sagard, Que.
The personal haunt of Paul Desmarais of Power Corp. fame, even Canada’s most notable CEOs can’t score an invite to this Thomas McBroom-designed golf course. Located north of Quebec City, the course receives very little play and even executives of Power Corp. companies, such as Investors Group, aren’t likely to get a chance to tee it up.
So what do we know about Domaine Laforest? According to Mr. McBroom, the course’s condition rivals Augusta National, home of the Masters, and it plays through a dense forest next to the Desmarais’ summer home. We also know one more fact about Domain Laforest — you won’t be getting an invite any time soon.
Redtail Golf Club, St. Thomas, Ont.
The creation of two businessmen from London, Ont., Redtail remains one of the most exclusive golf courses in North America with approximately 3,000 rounds a year played by its 80 members and their guests. That contrasts with a typical Toronto private course, which may see upwards of 30,000 rounds annually.
Like many exclusive courses, Redtail is well hidden. You’ll need directions from the locals to find its gates among gravel roads. Once there, you dial the clubhouse. If your name is on the list for a round that day, you’re in luck. If it isn’t, you can drive back down a little-used road pondering how close you came.
That said, more people saw Redtail this summer. The club opened its gates to the public for the first time, allowing spectators to walk its fairways when it hosted the Ontario Amateur golf tournament.
Redtail sports a particularly warm and friendly clubhouse and a particularly nasty Donald Steel golf course. It gained notoriety when Queen Elizabeth II stayed in one of the cottages on the property during a visit to Canada.
Oviinbyrd Golf Club, Muskoka, Ont.
This Muskoka club opened for a handful of member rounds late last year and appears to be the heir apparent to Redtail when it comes to exclusivity in Canadian golf. Designed by Tom McBroom for an ownership that includes former technology executive Peter Schwartz, Oviinbryd didn’t even publish a phone number for members until recently. Instead, it developed its club through referrals. Former hockey players including Paul Coffey mingle with holidaying Bay Street CEOs at Oviinbyrd.
Cut through dense forest, the course is among the most spectacular to open in recent years, featuring wide fairways, flowing greens and a number of sporty, interesting and challenging holes. Unlike most Muskoka courses, Oviinbyrd features very little exposed rock.
Membership will be capped at 200, and given its short season, it is quite possible its round total will rival Redtail as the lowest in Canada.
The Ridge at Manitou, Parry Sound, Ont.
Quietly opening nine holes last summer, The Ridge at Manitou is arguably the best course to open in Muskoka. Another design by Toronto’s Mr. McBroom, The Ridge at Manitou, which is now a full 18 holes, only has a handful of members to date and expects only 3,000 rounds this summer. That means if you can find your way to the course, which is near Perry Sound, you’ll likely have it all to yourself. The 18th hole, a majestic hole with a green perched in front of a Muskoka lake, is among the best finishers in Canada, and the clubhouse, framed out of local timber, is among the most beautiful in the country.
There is another way to experience this great Canadian course: Stay at the nearby Inn at Manitou. The Inn, an intimate facility with only a few dozen rooms, has access to 12 rounds on the golf course each day. Singer Tom Cochrane is one of the members at this quiet club.
Fox Harb’r Golf Club, Fox Harbour, N.S.
While it still allowed a few public rounds for those willing to kick out $250, Fox Harb’r is planning to go fully private next summer, creating another of Canada’s most exclusive courses. The vision of Tim Hortons’ co-founder Ron Joyce, Fox Harb’r is located about an hour from Moncton.
Designed by Graham Cooke, Fox Harb’r winds through forests and parkland before emerging near the Northumberland Straits. The final nine holes snake next to the ocean, and Prince Edward Island can be seen in the distance. Top Canadian executives from the Atlantic coast and companies like Empire Co. Ltd. can often be seen hacking their way around Fox Harb’r's immaculately groomed fairways.
The club’s facilities, including a runway, spa, full clubhouse and hunting lodge, are unparalleled in Canada. Fox Harb’r currently does about 5,000 rounds annually, but expect that number to fall dramatically once the club closes its gates to the public next summer.
Mount Bruno Golf Club, St. Bruno, Que.
While Royal Montreal may garner all the attention in Quebec, the real gem in Montreal is this Willie Park Jr. design, which first opened 86 years ago.
Bruno’s exclusivity means few golf raters and media ever set foot on the property, which is located at the end of a winding road about 45 minutes outside of Montreal.
Old World is in vogue at Mount Bruno, which maintains its original clubhouse, a throwback to the club’s formation in 1919. While Royal Montreal may be more famous, the who’s-who of Montreal business plays at Bruno, including former Alcan CEO David Culver, Domtar CEO Raymond Royer, former BCE CEO Jean Monty and current BCE CEO Michael Sabia.
The course is not more highly regarded simply because so few have had the opportunity to tee it up on its gently sloping fairways.
Calgary Golf and Country Club, Calgary
Part of the allure of Calgary Golf and Country Club is just how difficult it is to gain entrance to this Willie Park Jr.-designed course. Along with Capilano Golf and Country Club, Calgary features one of the longest waiting lists for membership of any course in Canada: more than 15 years.
Built in a parkland style with nasty, old-fashioned undulating greens, Calgary Golf is the top golf course in a city where golf is extremely popular.
The course’s location just near downtown Calgary makes it a very attractive draw for the city’s business elite. These businessmen may be flush with oil money, but it takes more than cash to find your way onto the membership list of Calgary — it takes a great deal of patience as well.
Magna Golf Club, Aurora, Ont.
Built by Doug Carrick for Magna autoparts founder Frank Stronach, Magna has a mystique created by a $100,000 entrance fee and annual dues that are higher than any other course in Canada.
The course itself is big and bold, not unlike Mr. Stronach himself. Though the Magna founder does not play golf, he can often be found dining in the decadent clubhouse that sits just off the 18th green. The course gained some notoriety and exposure this summer when Tiger Woods played 18 holes there as part of a Nike-sponsored event for its top corporate clients.
Expect to see Maple Leafs star Tie Domi wandering around its fairways alongside bank executives and GolfTown CEO Stephen Bebis hitting its links.
Blue Springs Golf Club, Acton, (18)
Beacon Hall Golf Club, Aurora, (18)
Magna Golf Club, Aurora, (18)
Caledon Woods Golf Club, Bolton, (18)
Brampton Golf Club, Brampton, (18)
Burlington Golf & Country Club, Burlington, (18)
Devil’s Pulpit, Caledon, (18)
Devil’s Paintbrush, Caledon, (18)
Donalda Club, Don Mills, (18)
Oakdale Golf & Country Club, Downsview, (27)
Markland Wood Country Club, Etobicoke, (18)
St. George’s Golf & Country Club, Etobicoke, (18)
North Halton Golf & Country Club, Georgetown, (18)
Station Creek Golf Club – South, Gormley, (18)
Station Creek Golf Club – North, Gormley, (18)
Wyldewood Golf & Country Club, Hornby, (18)
Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club, Gormley, (27)
Islington Golf Club, Islington, (18)
Eastbourne Golf Club, Keswick, (9)
Carrying Place Golf & Country Club, Kettleby, (18)
King Valley Golf Club, King City, (18)
King’s Riding Golf Club, King City, (18)
Mandarin Golf & Country Club, Markham, (18)
Markham Golf & Country Club, Markham, (18)
Greystone Golf Club, Milton, (18)
Trafalgar Golf & Country Club, Milton, (18)
RattleSnake Point Golf Club, Milton, (45)
Glencairn Golf Club, Milton, (27)
Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, Mississauga, (18)
Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, Mississauga, (18)
The Toronto Golf Club, Mississauga, (18)
Glenway Country Club, Newmarket, (18)
Oakville Golf Club, Oakville, (9)
Mono Hills Country Club, Orangeville, (18)
Oshawa Golf Club, Oshawa, (18)
Cherry Downs Golf & Country Club, Pickering, (27)
Maple Downs Golf & Country Club, Richmond Hill, (18)
DiamondBack Golf Club, Richmond Hill, (18)
Summit Golf & Country Club, Richmond Hill, (18)
Scarboro Golf & Country Club, Scarborough, (18)
The Toronto Hunt Club, Scarborough, (9)
Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club, Stouffville, (18)
Spring Lakes Golf Club, Stouffville, (54)
St. Andrew’s East Golf & Country Club, Stouffville, (18)
Thornhill Golf & Country Club, Thornhill, (18)
Ladies’ G.C. Of Toronto, Thornhill, (18)
Bayview Country Club, Thornhill, (18)
Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club, Toronto, (18)
Lambton Golf & Country Club, Toronto, (27)
Rosedale Golf Club, Toronto, (18)
York Downs Golf & Country Club, Unionville, (27)
Weston Golf & Country Club, Weston, (18)
Whitevale Golf Club, Whitevale, (18)
Board Of Trade Golf & Country Club, Woodbridge, (27)
The National Golf Club Of Canada, Woodbridge, (18)
Granite Golf Club, Stouffville, (18)
Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club, Stouffville, (18)
Private golf courses
Hamilton and Niagara Falls Private Courses
Heron Point Golf Links, Alberton, (18)
Hamilton Golf & Country Club, Ancaster, (18)
Brantford Golf & Country Club, Brantford, (18)
Beverly Golf & Country Club, Copetown, (18)
Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club, Dundas, (18)
Bridgewater Country Club, Fort Erie, (18)
Glendale Golf & Country Club, Hamilton, (18)
London and Southwestern Ontario Private Courses
Pointe West Golf Club, Amherstburg, (18)
Maple City Country Club, Chatham, (18)
Sutton Creek Golf & Country Club, Essex, (18)
The Oaks Golf & Country Club, Komoka, (18)
Green Hills Country Club, Lambeth, (18)
Essex Golf & Country Club, Lasalle, (18)
Highland Country Club, London, (18)
London Hunt & Country Club, London, (18)
Sunningdale Golf & Country Club, London, (36)
West Haven Golf & Country Club, London, (18)
Greenhills Golf Club, London, (18)
RiverBend Golf Community, London, (18)
Redtail Golf Course, Port Stanley, (18)
Sarnia Golf & Curling Club, Sarnia, (18)
Beach Grove Golf & Country Club, Tecumseh, (18)
St. Thomas Golf & Country Club, Union, (18)
Craigowan (Oxford) Golf & Country Club, Woodstock, (18)
Kitchener-Waterloo and Western Ontario Private Courses
Galt Country Club, Cambridge, (18)
Cutten Club, Guelph, (18)
Deer Ridge Golf Club, Kitchener, (18)
Westmount Golf & C.C., Kitchener, (18)
Barrie and Southcentral Ontario Private Courses
Barrie Country Club, Barrie, (18)
Georgian Bay Club, Collingwood, (18)
OslerBrook Golf and Country Club, Collingwood, (18)
Mad River Golf Club, Creemore, (18)
Big Bay Point Golf Club, Innisfil, (9)
National Pines Golf & Country Club, Innisfil, (18)
Briars Golf Club, Jackson’s Point, (18)
Ottawa and Eastern Ontario Private Courses
Cornwall Golf & Country Club, Cornwall, (18)
GreyHawk Golf Club, Cumberland, (18)
Camelot Golf & Country Club, Cumberland, (18)
Predator at Greyhawk Golf Club, Cumberland, (18)
Grenadier Island Country Club, Grendier Island (Rockport), (9)
Kanata Golf Club, Kanata, (18)
Garrison Golf & Curling Club, Kingston, (18)
Cataraqui Golf & Country Club, Kingston, (18)
Carleton Golf Club, Manotick, (18)
Rideau View, Manotick, (18)
Ottawa Hunt Club, Ottawa, (27)
Muskoka and Cottage Country Private Courses
Grandview Golf Club, Huntsville, (18)
Oviinbyrd, Lake Joseph, (18)
Rocky Crest Golf Club, Mactier, (18)
Lake Joseph Golf Club, Port Carling, (18)
Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club, Port Carling, (18)
Port Carling Golf & Country Club, Port Carling, (18)
Haliburton and Kawartha Private Courses
Wildfire Golf Club, Lakefield, (18)
Peterborough Golf & Country Club, Peterborough, (18)
Northern Ontario Private Courses
The Ridge at Manitou Golf Club, Parry Sound, (18)
Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Sudbury, (19)
