Ontario Golf's top 50 courses 2009 released

The biannual ratings of the top courses in the province of Ontario has been released from Ontario Golf magazine.

To nobody's surprise the glorious St. George's Golf and Country Club in Etobicoke has defended its title as the top course in the province. This is no surprise as the course is poised to host it first Canadian Open since the sixties in 2010, and challenge the world's top professional golfers.

The National Golf Club of Canada was rated second and the Hamilton Golf and Country Club rounded out the top 3.

For some interesting perspective on the list, check out Robert Thompson's thoughts on the top 50 courses list and his selections. Here is a preview:

So what caught my eye?

• The split between the National and St. George’s — essentially both courses are practically tied for first place.
• Oviinbyrd moving into the Top 10. A pretty quiet club that hasn’t made most lists simply because raters aren’t exactly welcomed with wide open arms. Note there are three Muskoka courses in the Top 10 and five in the Top 20. Are 25% of the best courses actually located in Muskoka? Really?
• Is Mississaugua, even with new greens, the 15th best course in the province? To my mind I don’t think it is better than Scarboro, which is more than 10 spots lower.
• Essex at 20? I really liked the course, but it would slot 20 spots lower on my list. I think you’d be hard pressed to argue it is better than Rosedale, which is WAY too low at 37. Essex was ranked #1 in the province by a judge — again (same judge as last time.)

New Course Reviews: Baxter Creek and Sagebrush

Two interesting course reviews this past month over at OntGolf.ca that are worth pointing out.

In Fraserville up in the Kawartha region a new 18-hole championship course has opened up at Baxter Creek Golf Club. An interesting course that maybe just missed the mark.

Robert Thompson has also recently returned from BC where he visited the spectacular Sagebrush Golf & Sporting Club - the brainchild of Richard Zokol. Definitely an intriguing course we'll here more about in the coming years.

Check it out and let know your thoughts.

Sneak Preview: Golfqc.ca - Guide to Quebec Golf

We've received word of a new online golf guide on its way...

Golfqc.ca will be a guide to golf courses in Quebec, available in both english and french and provide course listings, reviews, user submitted ratings and more.

We'll keep you updated on its launch.

Pebble Beach, Cypress and Spyglass

Upon returning from a swing through the Monterey Peninsula in California our friend and golf writer Robert Thompson has posted some great overviews from the rounds he played at the storied courses.

First off is Spyglass Hill, then the fabled Pebble Beach Golf Links and finally a round at Cypress Point Club.

Interesting write ups on how the courses played and some great photos as well.

Woods caddy breaches the Tiger protocol

An interesting story coming out of New Zealand this week, with Tiger's caddy Steve Williams giving a rare glimpse into the frosty relationship between the two camps.

"I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player ... 'cause I hate the prick." said Williams, a stunning admission from anypone is Tiger's usually reserved camp - it will be interesting to see what if any ramifications this may have on Stevie's employment. Tiger doesn't usually take too well to this kind of publicity.

The full article on the interview is here.

Tobiano is Canada top new course?

That seems to be the rumour hitting the blogosphere this week in advance of Golf Digest announcing their official 'Best Courses' awards next week.

Tobiano Golf Club in Kamloops has been hotly tipped to be Canada Best New by a (usually reliable) poster on Golfclubatlas. Canadian golfers are eagerly anticipating an opportunity to play this one.

Tobiano has been a big part of a huge movement of high-end new courses being built in the BC interior. Word is that Canada's Mike Weir may shortly be designing his first course design in the area.

Golf course development in Ontario slowing

Interesting to read comments from Rob Thompson on his G4G blog this morning about the golf industry in Ontario and how it has been affected by the financial turmoil that is all around us.

Apparently more than a dozen course were put on credit watch by July of this year...probably more now:

...a conversation I had while playing with Paul McLean, the head of Maxium Financial, which does financing for golf course equipment. McLean said — and this was in July — that he had more than a dozen courses on credit watch. Wonder how big that number is now that we’ve had the wettest summer in 30 years?

Also, development of new courses in Ontario has really slowed:

Otter Creek near Woodstock has been well regarded, but little else has opened in the province this summer (Turtle Creek is the only other one I can think of). I spoke with Doug Carrick yesterday and he said he had nothing in construction in Ontario, though a couple were in planning. Meanwhile Thomas McBroom’s site lists nothing new or in construction in Ontario — just a couple of courses in Western Canada and one in Halifax.

The rest of the story can be found here: Ontario golf clubs in trouble.

We'll watch with interest but Ontario has had way many courses open the past few years that it is almost high time for a bit of a rest, especially considering the number of golfers in the province hasn't really changed.