Toronto Golf

Two words seem to come up whenever the subject is Toronto: cosmopolitan, and livable. Orson Wells once described Toronto as “New York run by the Swiss.” It’s a perfect description of the city’s sophistication, vibrancy, and clean, well-ordered environment. In short, Toronto is one of the world’s most exciting cities—with the welcome bonus of good manners. For golfers, though, “livability” means a choice of challenging, world class courses nearby —and Toronto does not disappoint. The 200 courses within an hour’s drive of downtown make a good showing on Canada’s list of top 50, including signature courses designed by some of the world’s top golf architects.

Toronto Golf Courses >>

Glen Abbey

Canada’s most famous course is open to anyone wishing to challenge Jack Nicklaus’ first solo design. Opened in 1976, Glen Abbey is held in high esteem by Tour players for its difficulty—7,112 yards, Slope 140 from the Black tees. “The Valley,” a five-hole stretch from the 11th tee, is renowned as one of the PGA Tour’s toughest, adding to the Glen Abbey mystique. Yet the course is surprisingly accommodating from the shorter tees. Glen Abbey will be remembered for years as the site of “The Shot of 2000”—Tiger Woods’ 218 yard 6-iron from a fairway bunker on the 18th hole to set up the birdie that clinched the Bell Canadian Open and The Triple Crown. Here’s a course that’s not to be missed. Glen Abbey is a property of The Glen Abbey Trail.

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Hockley Valley

At Hockley Valley, acclaimed golf architect Thomas McBroom has created an unforgettable Scottish-style links course worthy of this beautiful natural landscape. Centerpiece of a 300-acre, four-season luxury resort, the course winds through the hill and vale terrain with its immaculate fairways, imposing bunkers and fast greens. Known as a shot makers’ course, Hockley Valley challenges the versatile golfer and rewards accuracy.

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Royal Woodbine

No challenge was overlooked in this brilliant Michael Hurdzan design: 76 bunkers and water on all 18 holes will keep your full attention on the game. But the rewards are great, and Royal Woodbine’s beautifully conditioned fairways and greens make this championship course a real pleasure to play. Just minutes from downtown Toronto in the Mimico Creek Valley, this is one of the area’s treasures.

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Osprey Valley

The Heathlands Links course is reminiscent of a true Scottish links, a style that has special appeal for course architect Doug Carrick. Just one of the unique things about Osprey Valley is the way the layout mimics the dunes of a seaside course. It’s said that Osprey Valley is a challenging course on the best of days, and a truly tough one when the wind blows. But for the adventurous golfer, Osprey Valley is always a memorable experience.

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St. Andrew’s Valley

Some like it tough, and for them there’s St. Andrew’s. This immaculate course is as beautiful as it is challenging, with water coming into play on 14 holes, and wickedly undulating greens. Called “one of the five best public courses in Ontario” by Score magazine—and simply “Canada’s toughest golf course” by others—St. Andrew’s prides itself on being a real player’s course, designed and managed by avid golfers.

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Wooden Sticks

A new golf masterpiece has been created amongst the rolling pine forests of the Uxbridge countryside, just 40 minutes north east of Toronto. The first of its kind in Ontario,Wooden Sticks brings together some of the world’s most famous golf holes. In designing Wooden Sticks, Golf Course Architect Ron Carl has captured the spirit found in some of today’s most recognizable golf landscapes.With holes inspired from Augusta, St. Andrew’s, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Sawgrass, and Pine Valley, Wooden Sticks is sure to provide some of the most exciting and memorable golf you will ever play.

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Lionhead

The ambitious goal of Lionhead is to provide a private club standard of golf and amenities in a public course setting.When Golf Digest calls it “one of the best courses, public or private, to be found anywhere,” and the pros are singing its praises, it’s clear Lionhead has succeeded. Course architect Ted Baker has designed not one, but two stunning 18-hole courses, the Florida-type Masters, and the demanding Legends—a mind-boggling total of 14,233 yards of exciting play.

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Angus Glen

Voted Best New Canadian Golf Course for 1995 by Golf Digest, Angus Glen has quickly gained a devoted following for its beautifully sculpted traditional links design, superior layout, sensitivity to natural contours, and strategic use of water—with Bruce Creek coming into play on seven holes. Angus Glen is certainly one of course architect Doug Carrick’s finest achievements.