Alton, ON Osprey Valley Heathlands / Wastelands (Hoot) Parklands (Toot) Doug Carrick, architect

Long recognized as one of Ontario's best courses, the Heathlands annually garners a lofty placement on every golf course ranking agency's list.

Simply stated, there just isn't a better trio of golf courses on one site anywhere in Canada. Designed by renowned architect, Douglas Carrick, Osprey Valley boasts three outstanding layouts - the Heathlands, Wastelands and Parklands courses. Each makes the most of modest elevation changes, man-made lakes and the natural contours of the landscape and are well balanced in terms of length, difficulty and playing conditions.

As the name suggests, the original Heathlands Course is a unique design and the closest thing to links golf on the moors of Scotland as can be found in Ontario. A demanding shot-makers course, the Heathlands features rolling hills, pot bunkers, fescue grasses and small, firm greens and little in the way of water hazards. The fairways are generous, but well defined by numerous bunkers, rough, mounding, scattered trees and OB.
		The Wastelands (Royal Hoot) Course is more "Carolinian" in design with huge expansive waste bunkers, pine and spruce treelines and woodlots. This layout, more so than the others, makes imaginative use of its lakes and offers some very scenic hole settings. The Parklands (Royal Toot) Course is best described as a "parkland" course with generous fairways. While a bit flatter than the other courses, it plays a bit longer and is visually intimidating approaching the greens.
On all three courses, there are numerous strategically placed fairway bunkers and most greens are guarded by generally small, shallow, very playable sand traps. Osprey Valley's small-to-mid-size greens are firm, hold well-hit shots, putting fast, true and anything but straight. Given the length of the courses and modest elevation changes, carts are recommended.

 

Course Review
Why the Osprey Valley courses became immediate Teeing It Up ONTARIO favourites will be immediately obvious to everyone who plays the courses. From the windswept and demanding Heathlands links-style course to either of the gentler, though no less oustanding Royal Hoot and Royal Toot courses, each exhibits excellence in golf course design and superb course conditioning / maintenance.
Recognizing that golf, not the clubhouse should be the focus at Osprey Valley, there is little in the way of clubhouse facilities - a simple pro shop and modest lunch cafe serve all three layouts.

Given the calibre of the courses, Osprey Valley green fees are very competitive, ranghing from $ 70. to $ 90. on weekdays, $ 85. to $ 105. Fri / weekends / holidays (excluding cart). Osprey Valley Resorts 2001 expansion to 54 holes keeps it abreast of the recent trend to upscale, championship facilities offering multiple courses and "stay & play" golf packages. But plan on devoting enough time to tour all three layouts because, once on any of the courses, you will want to play all three - and none will disappoint.