In 2010 the Great Lakes Tour visited 16 golf courses across Ontario. As a playing member of the Tour and on staff as a part of the Outside Tour Operations Crew, I got to see the facilities from every angle. I have compiled a list in order of best to worst. I made the decisions based on overall conditions, facility and amenities, management/staff, and course layout....
This is a new list that is being compiled but I really took the time to analyze each facility and there are a couple facilities in the back end of the list that are great facilities but were victim of some untimely circumstances. Each facility were ranked in four categories and than the best average score determined their position on the list.
1. Cobble Beach 9.50
course conditions 9.5/10
facility and amenities 10/10
overall layout 9.5/10
staff 9/10
2. Heron Point Golf Links 9.25
course conditions 9/10
facility and amenities 10/10
overall layout 9.5/10
staff 8.5/10
3. Royal Ashburn 9.12
course conditions 9/10
facility and amenities 9/10
overall layout 9/10
staff 9.5/10
4. The Mandarin 8.87
course conditions 8.5/10
facility and amenities 8.5/10
overall layout 9.5/10
staff 9/10
5. Hidden Lake Golf & Country Club (New) 8.62
course conditions 9/10
facility and amenities 8/10
overall layout 8.5/10
staff 9/10
6. Eagle`s Nest 8.50
course conditions 8.5/10
facility and amenities 10/10
overall layout 8.5/10
staff 7/10
7. Firerock Golf Club 8.37
course conditions 8.5/10
facility and amenities 8.5/10
overall layout 8.5/10
staff 8/10
8. Grand Niagara Golf Resort 8.25
course conditions 9.5/10
facility and amenities 7/10
overall layout 8/10
staff 8.5/10
9. Victoria Park East Golf Club 8.12
course conditions 8/10
facility and amenities 7.5/10
overall layout 8.5/10
staff 8.5/10
10. Angus Glen South Course 7.75
course conditions 7/10
facility and amenities 9/10
overall layout 6/10
staff 9/10
11. Otter Creek Golf Club 7.62
course conditions 8/10
facility and amenities 7/10
overall layout 7/10
staff 8.5/10
12. Grey Silo Golf Club 7.50
course conditions 7.5/10
facility and amenities 8/10
overall layout 6.5/10
staff 8/10
13. Wooden Sticks 7.12
course conditions 8/10
facility and amenities 9/10
overall layout 5.5/10
staff 6/10
14. The Club at Bond Head (South) 7.00
course conditions 7/10
facility and amenities 10/10
overall layout 5/10
staff 6/10
15. The Greens at Renton 6.37
course conditions 5/10
facility and amenities 7/10
overall layout 6/10
staff 7.5/10
16. Woodington Lake Golf Club 4.25
course conditions 6/10
facility and amenities 3/10
overall layout 5/10
staff 3/10
Again, a couple of the bottom courses were in the bottom half due to unfortunate circumstances. Otter Creek was undergoing construction on a new clubhouse and parking lot while we there. Grey Silo, is our first event of the season and is always victim to tough weather conditions and early spring course conditions. The Greens at Renton, which is a fun 27 hole facility just outside Port Dover, was host to our 10th Anniversary Tournament, and is generally not a course accustom to hosting the top professionals in the Province. Some disappointing results were from Angus Glen and Wooden Sticks. Two Golf Courses that have wonderful golf experiences but just left us wanting more and didn`t provide the appropriate atmosphere for professional golf.
No Surprise with the number one. Cobble Beach has it all. The only problem with Cobble is the location for our Tour Members, but once there, it`s a true pleasure to play. The big surprise of the year was Hidden Lake Golf and Country Club New Course. The golf course was in prime condition due to the Canadian Tour Q School the same week as our visit and have always been a supporter of the Tour year in and year out.
I would like to Thank all the golf facilities for hosting events this past season. Without your open arms and willingness to host, we wouldn`t have a successful Tour each year.
If you were a player on the Great Lakes Tour, what course was your favourite and least favourite. Are there any courses you would like to see on the GLT in the future.
1. Cobble Beach 9.50
course conditions 9.5/10
facility and amenities 10/10
overall layout 9.5/10
staff 9/10
2. Heron Point Golf Links 9.25
course conditions 9/10
facility and amenities 10/10
overall layout 9.5/10
staff 8.5/10
3. Royal Ashburn 9.12
course conditions 9/10
facility and amenities 9/10
overall layout 9/10
staff 9.5/10
4. The Mandarin 8.87
course conditions 8.5/10
facility and amenities 8.5/10
overall layout 9.5/10
staff 9/10
5. Hidden Lake Golf & Country Club (New) 8.62
course conditions 9/10
facility and amenities 8/10
overall layout 8.5/10
staff 9/10
6. Eagle`s Nest 8.50
course conditions 8.5/10
facility and amenities 10/10
overall layout 8.5/10
staff 7/10
7. Firerock Golf Club 8.37
course conditions 8.5/10
facility and amenities 8.5/10
overall layout 8.5/10
staff 8/10
8. Grand Niagara Golf Resort 8.25
course conditions 9.5/10
facility and amenities 7/10
overall layout 8/10
staff 8.5/10
9. Victoria Park East Golf Club 8.12
course conditions 8/10
facility and amenities 7.5/10
overall layout 8.5/10
staff 8.5/10
10. Angus Glen South Course 7.75
course conditions 7/10
facility and amenities 9/10
overall layout 6/10
staff 9/10
11. Otter Creek Golf Club 7.62
course conditions 8/10
facility and amenities 7/10
overall layout 7/10
staff 8.5/10
12. Grey Silo Golf Club 7.50
course conditions 7.5/10
facility and amenities 8/10
overall layout 6.5/10
staff 8/10
13. Wooden Sticks 7.12
course conditions 8/10
facility and amenities 9/10
overall layout 5.5/10
staff 6/10
14. The Club at Bond Head (South) 7.00
course conditions 7/10
facility and amenities 10/10
overall layout 5/10
staff 6/10
15. The Greens at Renton 6.37
course conditions 5/10
facility and amenities 7/10
overall layout 6/10
staff 7.5/10
16. Woodington Lake Golf Club 4.25
course conditions 6/10
facility and amenities 3/10
overall layout 5/10
staff 3/10
Again, a couple of the bottom courses were in the bottom half due to unfortunate circumstances. Otter Creek was undergoing construction on a new clubhouse and parking lot while we there. Grey Silo, is our first event of the season and is always victim to tough weather conditions and early spring course conditions. The Greens at Renton, which is a fun 27 hole facility just outside Port Dover, was host to our 10th Anniversary Tournament, and is generally not a course accustom to hosting the top professionals in the Province. Some disappointing results were from Angus Glen and Wooden Sticks. Two Golf Courses that have wonderful golf experiences but just left us wanting more and didn`t provide the appropriate atmosphere for professional golf.
No Surprise with the number one. Cobble Beach has it all. The only problem with Cobble is the location for our Tour Members, but once there, it`s a true pleasure to play. The big surprise of the year was Hidden Lake Golf and Country Club New Course. The golf course was in prime condition due to the Canadian Tour Q School the same week as our visit and have always been a supporter of the Tour year in and year out.
I would like to Thank all the golf facilities for hosting events this past season. Without your open arms and willingness to host, we wouldn`t have a successful Tour each year.
If you were a player on the Great Lakes Tour, what course was your favourite and least favourite. Are there any courses you would like to see on the GLT in the future.
