Golfing the Ridge

WITH GUEST BLOGGER, SHAWN P. WATTERS
Nestled near the small town of McKellar, just a half hour outside of Parry Sound, lies a true golfing gem - The Ridge at Manitou. The Ridge is set on the scenic Manitouwabing Lake (which comes into play on the 18th hole - pictured right), among fields of rock. The course was designed by Canadian architect Tom McBroom back in 2005, when it won many accolades including Best New Course in Ontario and in Canada. The course, which used to be members-only, was opened to the general public earlier this year. I had the opportunity to play the Ridge at Manitou. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire golfing experience. I give kudos to Tom McBroom for the quality routing. 17 of the 18 holes are in the forest, but never at any time did I feel the holes became repetitive. I found the layout to be fair and I believe all levels of golfers would enjoy it. The condition of the golf course was in an excellent state and I found the staff to be pleasant and helpful. Overall, this was a unique golfing experience and I highly recommend it to anyone.

A Decade in the Making

Doon Valley has been a project nearly a decade in the making. The 18 hole course is being expanded by 9 holes, and Doon is hoping to open all 27 holes come the Spring of 2010. Throughout 2010, Doon Valley will also construct a driving range, and a short course (ideal for beginners and juniors - which we talked about earlier), which should be ready for play in Spring 2012. For more details and a timeline on these exciting developments, click here. Throughout all this construction, we visit the site on a weekly basis. Recently, we managed to take some photos of the course's development, pictured right. Much of the course is in growing in now, and it appears to be coming along quite nicely. Keep your fingers crossed for an opening this upcoming Spring!

Where the Winds Blow...

Situated at one of the highest points in all of Ontario lies Wildwinds Golf and Country Club, a gem of an 18 hole golf course facility. Located in Speedside, just outside of Fergus, Wildwinds was one of the first courses we designed and constructed as a firm. Originally proposed by a group of Fergus businessmen, Wildwinds has grown into one of Ontario's hidden gems, recieving acclaim from many in the golf industry. It even prompted the Toronto Star's Bogeyman columinst to call it "the best value in the GTA" and the "best new Par 3 in a decade". Personal favourite holes at the course include No. 10, Wildwinds signature hole, all downhill and overlooking the Speed River and farmland (pictured in photo on right), No. 4, a scenic Par 4, where you must be wary of the pond as well as the fescue, and No. 8, which provides the golfer with a tough, entirely uphill hole. Perhaps the trickiest hole of all is No. 9, a 202-yard, par 3. Chief architect Shawn P. Watters normally comments on how much he dislikes this hole, however, it played home to his first hole in one. When golfing with a friend, Shawn hit off the tee block and wondered exactly where his ball ended up. Progressing towards the green, Shawn couldn't find his ball anywhere. He decided to have a peek in the hole - a place he doubted his ball would be - only to be delightfully surprised. He had notched a hole in one. The odds of an average playing acing a 200-yard hole: 150,000 in 1. All in all, Wildwinds poses the golfer with a challenging set of 18 holes. Be prepared to lose numerous balls in the fescue on each hole. The winds just add to the difficulty. It's true what they say... at Wildwinds, the winds can really blow! Bring a jacket!

Kitchener, the Yukon and Libya?

Did the headline cause your attention? How possibly could the three places listed above be related? Well, we are proud to say that they are all places where Shawn P. Watters & Associates are currently working on projects. Close to home in Kitchener, we are currently reconstructing Doon Valley (which was mentioned in a previous post - Youth Golf: A 'Driving Force'), a project which has been nearly decade in the making. The course should be ready for play in the Fall of 2010. As for the Yukon, we were approached by a man to see if we would be interested in working on a development in the Yukon. Without hesitation, we agreed. We are currently putting together a masterplan for an eco-resort that they would like to develop. After reading up about the Yukon, it sounds like quite the territory, which few have discovered. It is a perfect place for hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing and white water rafting and is also home to the world's smallest desert, the Carcross Desert. We look forward to visiting the Yukon at a later date and will keep you updated with the development on this exciting project. Finally, if you haven't heard yet, we were approached a few years ago by a man who wants to create a golf course in Libya. Yes, that Libya. Although it is home to just one ATM (a fact which is certain to change), Libya is experiencing a travel boom and is slowly attracting tourists one by one. Little known fact: Libya is said to be home to the greatest Roman and Greek ruins outside of Rome. We are in the planning stages of a golf course near Benghazi, Libya's second largest city. It sounds like a neat place to visit, definetely one of the new hot spots in which to visit before it becomes overdeveloped. That's it for me.

Development in the Muskokas

A future image of the 15th hole at the Oak Bay Golf and Country Club



One of our current projects, Oak Bay - a four season's community featuring an 18 hole championship golf course, marina and housing development - is beginning to take shape. The Oak Bay Golf and Country Club is located near Port Severn, resting on the beautiful shores of Georgian Bay. After a glimpse at the construction minutes, I can confirm the project is coming along quite nicely. Greens, Fairways, and Bunkers have been shaped in. Irrigation has been installed on many holes. Gravel has been placed on designated cart paths. Ponds have been excavated. With this much activity occuring on the site, one might ask themselves "When is Oak Bay open for play?" The response truly depends on next spring. If it is a good warm spring, with little flooding, the course should be ready for play in the Fall. However, if it is a bad spring, the opening date will likely be pushed back to Spring 2011, a mere two years away! If you are like me and eagerly awaiting Oak Bay's opening, keep your fingers crossed throughout the winter for a good spring! For more information on the Oak Bay development, visit their website here.