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| Course Profile
In 2000, the opening of the Willow Valley GC, an exceptional "dunes" course in Hamilton, took the growing popularity of links golf in Ontario a giant step farther. The spectacular course quickly gained the admiration of and "must play" status among local, GTA and Niagara golfers alike, as well as earning a coveted spot in course rankings. |
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In building Willow Valley GC, Graham Cooke & Associates strategically combined elements of both "links" and "dunes" golf. Indeed, Graham Cooke / Darrell Huxham designs define links golf in Ontario, and Willow Valley is one of their best collaborations. Recognized as one of Canada's best new courses in 2000, Willow Valley GC garnered a place on the Toronto Star's Bogey Man's Top 18 courses for 2002, and for good reason. Willow Valley GC is a breathtaking blend of beauty and beast and requires a unique brand of golf that must be experienced to be fully appreciated. |
| Golf at Willow Valley GC is played across a landscape of rolling fairways, continuous mounding, innumerable bunkers, deep rough, tall wiry fescue, eight ponds, expansive wetlands, firm, sloping and tiered greens, dramatic elevation changes, few trees, and oftentimes in the face of gusty and fickle winds. With five par-5s and a similar number of 3-pars, shot making and ball placement, rather than length are critical to good scoring. While a demanding test, Willow Valley's multiple tee boxes set up well for golfers at every skills level. |
| With dramatic elevations changes, eye catching vistas, superb conditioning and its player-friendly design, Willow Valley is an exceptional golf course. Priding itself on customer service everywhere - from the bag drop to the 19th hole - golfers are made to feel welcome and appreciated. A unique and memorable golf experience, Willow Valley GC ranks high on Teeing It Up's Niagara / GTA "must play" list !
Practice facilities at Willow Valley GC include an exceptional driving range, a chipping area, putting green and an on-site golf academy which provides CPGA professional instruction for golfers of all levels. |
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| Course Review |
| Not overwhelming in length, even from the tips ( 6522 yards), Willow Valley is nonetheless challenging, placing a premium on course management rather than distance off the tee. From any of the tee decks, generous rolling fairways regularly brings slightly wayward tee shots back into play - a kindness built into the Cooke design - and important too, since keeping the ball in the fairway is critical to good scoring. Playing from the rough, fairway bunkers, mounding or fescue almost guarantees bogey or worse. Missing the green will produce similar travails as most are surrounded (or at least well guarded) by bunkers, rough, mounding, water or wetlands. |
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| A number of holes cross or are bordered by environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) - wetlands into which no golfer or cart may stray. Happily, a ball hit into any ESA is not considered lost, OB or in a hazard. The local rule allows a drop without penalty within two club lengths of the point of entry. Great rule, that ! |
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A gentle introduction, the first hole introduces the slick, tiered greens that make a deft short game fundamental to good scoring at Willow Valley. On the par-4 2nd & 3rd holes, there's nothing but trouble left, so keep tee shots to the center-right side of the fairways. The signature 3rd hole has the Willow Valley's most panoramic view from an elevated tee and the course's most devilish tiered green. The par-5 4th hole offers a good chance to birdie, but # 5 - a long par 3 - will just as likely reclaim that stroke.
The finishing four holes on the front offer the best scoring chances so far. The 6th hole is a 3-shot par-5 - no ifs, and or buts. The green is closely guarded by a large tree to the right and a pond left, but birdie is still a real possibility, as it is at the short par-4 7th. Hole # 8, a downhill par-3 comes as a welcome reprieve, and the 9th, a short dogleg-right par-4, offers up yet another birdie opportunity. |
| Willow Valley's back nine is an eclectic collection of holes with trios of par-3s, 4s and 5's - something you seldom see. The 4-pars are tough, the 3s short and the par-5s forgiving - all in all, a great mix. And, moreso than on the front side, the driver can be wielded a bit more freely. However, where greens are missed (and some will be), one's short game and putting are really put to the test on and around slippery, sloping greens where "scrambling" becomes entertainment ! |
| The par-4, dogleg-right 14th hole is something else, so take a good look at it coming up # 12 & 13. Hit it as far as you can, as far right as you dare ! On the approach shot, land the ball somewhere near the pin or a 3-putt is all but assured.
On the par-5s, staying out of the front bunkers is the key to success, so taking an extra club is a prudent tactic. The short-to-mid-iron par-3 17th, perhaps the best 3-par on the course, beckons a tee shot right at the pin, but the lake / bunker left or the mounding to the right takes par out of the equation. Go centre of the green - and make a putt ! |
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| Driving to the uphill stretch on the par-5 18th can unnerve the best hitters, but the ball must be kept in the fairway. A blind 2nd shot over the brow isn't all that comforting either. A par here makes for a good finish to what will have been a challenging, enjoyable round of golf. With the steep contours throughout the Willow Valley GC, the use of a golf cart is highly recommended.
© 2002 Teeing It Up ONTARIO |
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