Muskoka Bay Golf Course, Front 9
No. 1 - Table Rock,
437 yards / par-4
When it comes to dramatic opening holes No. 1 at Muskoka Bay GC is the most visually stunning first tee shot that Doug Carrick has designed, especially off the back tee as it drops some 100-feet to the fairway below. The tee decks on this mid-length par-4, which plays 354-yard from the middle tee deck, are artfully tiered through a rock ridge. It requires an accurate straight tee shot through two narrowing rock ridges across a small wetland hazard to the densely forested fairway. The clubhouse sits majestically on the ridge to the left of the teeing area with panoramic views of the course and valleys below. The right side of the fairway is defined by an encroaching wetland while there is one fairway bunker on the left to avoid. The hole gently moves uphill and from left to right. A solid, middle of the line tee shot played from the appropriate set of tee block should leave a short iron or wedge shot to a green site protected by three bunkers on the right side of the green and one to the left.
No. 2 - Pulpit, 177 yards / par-3
A series of five plateaued tee decks offer a dynamic variety of different looks and elevation changes on this daring par-3. It plays directly across a marshy wetland up to one of the largest greens on the course that sits on a grassy knoll surrounded by mature pine and birch trees. The green features a big kick slope to the left, so golfers can bounce the ball in from the left, which is definitely the safe shot on this hole. At 150-yards from the middle tee deck, it's the easiest of the four par-3s on the course. It's also the first of five holes on the course that doesn't have a sand bunker, but a granite rock face near the right edge of the green more is a natural hazard golfers will want to avoid.
No. 3 - Lost Lake, 407 yards / par 4
No. 3 is the first of several strong par-4s and is a hole of position rather than power. An elevated tee shot crosses a grassed valley to a rolling fairway and large landing area. The premium is on a risk/reward tee shot that challenges aggressive golfers to cut as much of the diagonally flowing valley off as they can down the left side. The safe shot on this sharp dogleg left favours a tee shot right of center, but it definitely leaves a longer second shot. The fairway climbs gradually into the green as golfers consider there second shot and an extra club wouldn't be a bad idea. A striking low-lying rock formation starts some 40 yards in front of the green on the left and runs through the end of the hole as the ever-present granite rock outcroppings take a strong foothold and add to the rugged natural beauty on the landscape. It's another hole that doesn't have a sand bunker on it. From the green golfers will enjoy a charming panoramic view of "Lost Lake", which the hole is named after.
No. 4 - Shorty, 354 yards / par-4
Stop and enjoy the view for a moment, but then you better select the right club and commit to the shot because as they say - appearances can be deceiving. Measuring just 308 yards from the middle tee deck - long hitters and those who like to gamble may decide to try and drive the green. However, driver isn't necessarily the wisest choice on a hole that's named - "Shorty". Whether you choose to play it driver/putter or iron/iron there are many ways to play this hole and that's what will make it challenging yet fun. From tee to fairway this hole drops in excess of 100 feet over a picturesque wetland before rising back up to the green. The six bunkers, four on the left and two in the right front should persuade the smart golfer to hit a fairway wood or long iron and take the traps out of play all together. The large contoured green falls sharply off to both the right and left while an immense rock face spans the entire back of the hole. Take a moment to look back and you'll start to notice that the holes on this course look as stunning from green to tee as they do tee to green - a rare accomplishment in golf architecture today.
No. 5 - Cliffside, 544 yards / par-5
The first of four par-5s is definitely reachable for long hitters. From the moderately elevated back tees however, this is the toughest tee shot requiring a solid hit some 250 yards over a menacing wetland. There's a classical feel to this hole with a narrow forested chute to drive the ball through to the landing area with a spectacular rock cliff in the background. The hole bends to the left for the second shot around a specimen pine tree that sits at the corner. The level fairway opens generously with sand bunkers down the right side of the first and second landing areas A treed rock ridge runs the entire length of the right side giving the feeling of playing in a secluded forested valley with only Mother Nature looking on. There is a green side bunker at the front left and the green is terraced, sloping from right to left. A spectacular stand of preserved 250-year-old pine trees sits directly behind the green and adds to the mystical feel of the hole.
No. 6 - Son of Birch, 227 yards / par-3
The sixth hole is an extremely long par-3, the longest on the course, at 227 yards from the back tees. The average golfer will enjoy a more reasonable shot of about 150 yards from the elevated middle tee. It's a straight away shot with two signature trees - a pine and a birch - hence the name of the hole - to the right of the green. The green sweeps from right to left down to a breathtaking wetland with two sand bunkers cut into the side of the hill to catch balls before they fall prey to the water hazard.
No. 7 - Bear's Den, 454 yards / par-4
The seventh hole is the longest of the par-4s on the front side measuring just over 450 yards. This is another captivating elevated tee shot cut from a rock ridge with subtle outcroppings to the right. The hole has a gentle left to right swing to it with a large waste bunker that will come into play off the tee down the right side of the fairway. On the left side, another stunning rock ridge follows the entire length of the hole and will come into play for those who don't keep it on the straight and narrow. A single majestic100-foot tall pine tee also stands tall on the right side of the fairway about 290 yards from the back tee deck. There is an opportunity to grip it and rip it on this hole with a fairly generous and level landing area that favours a shot that lands right of center. Two bunkers to the left protect the slightly elevated green and a large rock outcropping dominates the back right corner.
No. 8 - Eiger, 548 yards / par-5
This double dogleg challenges the golfer who wants to go for the green in two to cut the corners as close as possible. It's a wonderful risk/reward hole as the layout weaves first from left to right around the first corner and then right to left skirting a stunning beaver pond wetland before ending at an elevated green. This is one of those holes that simply flow with the lay of the land. A diagonal carry bunker is nestled to the right of the fairway to test the mettle of golfers planning to take an aggressive line. The wetland running down the left side of the fairway comes into play on the second shot and should be avoided at all cost. The fairway then rises dramatically to a green perched on a rock plateau with exposed facings that will come into play to both the left and right of a large bowled green that readily accepts shots.
No. 9 - The Narrows, 414 yards / par-4
You'll either love it or you'll hate it, but there's little doubt that "The Narrows" will quickly become one of the most memorable and talked about golf holes in Canadian golf. Once again, this par-4 drops some 100-feet from tee to fairway. From the back tee it requires a 220-yard drive across a pristine wetland to the generous landing area. Take note of the wind, as the surrounding trees will mask it. The best angle to the green is from the left side of the fairway so stay left off the tee. You won't have a chance of hitting, let alone seeing the green, if your drive is short and to the right. If you're playing the correct tees you should have a short iron or wedge shot into this mysterious and bunkerless green site. Two striking rock walls create a funnel approach as the fairway rises sharply and narrows vividly towards the green. The key on the second shot, which will be partly blind to the green, will be to play the ball over the imposing rock fortress to the largest green on the course that is directly behind it. Once you get over it, you should be on the green. Otherwise hold your breath and be prepared for the ball to ricochet off the rock like a pinball!
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Note: Hole descriptions provided by Muskoka Bay club.
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