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Golf Course Profile |
| In 2002, the opening of the Whistle Bear Golf Club added yet another championship venue to a growing number of links-style golf courses in Southern Ontario . The sprawling and spectacular golf course has rightfully earned the praise of and "must play" status among local and GTA golfers alike, as well as a coveted spot in "best new course" rankings. |
www.whistlebear.ca |
In building Whistle Bear Golf Club, architect John Robinson successfully applied a links-style look and feel onto the gently rolling landscape. Except at the farthest reaches of the property, the course is largely treeless and takes on a look very much in keeping with what links golf, in Ontario at least, has come to be. All in all, Whistle Bear is a great design with plenty of challenge (and length). |
| The landscape of Whistle Bear is one of rolling fairways, continuous mounding, strategic bunkering, tall wiry fescue, numerous ponds, and modest elevation changes. A long course with generous fairways, Whistle Bear's multiple tee boxes set up well for golfers at every skills level, but selecting tees appropriate to one's skills and length is really the key to fully appreciating and enjoying the course. |
| With its elevation changes offering up broad vistas across the course, superb conditioning and a player-friendly design, Whistle Bear is an oustanding golf course. Priding itself on superior customer service, golfers are made to feel welcome and appreciated. A unique and memorable links golf experience, Whistle Bear Golf Club ranks highly on both Teeing It Up ONTARIO's "must play" and "best new courses" lists ! |
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| Practice facilities at Whistle Bear GC include a 12-acre practice range, target greens, practice bunkers, separate chipping and putting practice greens. A teaching academy / CPGA instructional program is also available. Power cart, practice balls, bottled water and fresh fruit are all included in the green fees. |
Golf Course Review |
| Whistle Bear Golf Club is a long, demanding course, placing a premium on length off the tee and a deft touch around the green. Generous rolling fairways encourage "gripping it and ripping it", but be sure that you are hitting from the appropriate tee boxes. Playing from the rough, fairway bunkers, the mounds or fescue almost guarantees bogey or worse, and missing the green will produce similar travails as most are well guarded by bunkers and rough. |
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| A sharp and imaginative short game is essential since many holes will call for long-iron approach shots, which translates to missed greens ! Typical of new courses, the undulating greens are firm and quick, not always holding approach shots. Accurate chipping, good bunker play and a deft putting touch will go a long way to making your usual share of pars. |
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Water dominates the front nine, with ponds on six holes, but avoiding them just as often means ending up in one of 40 or so strategically placed fairway and greenside bunkers. Landing areas are generous, but given the rolling nature of the course, level lies are few and far between. Slicers beware - where there is water, it is certainly in play - especially on the opening holes. |
| There is not a weak hole on the front nine, not even the harmless looking, short par-3 5th hole. Most are fortified by numerous bunkers, both in the landing areas and around the greens. The short par-4 4th hole might offer up a birdie opportunity. |
| Whistle Bear's par-3 8th hole is undoubtedly its most photographed - a gorgeous, short par-3 across a large pond. Judging by the number of golf balls visible in the pond, it isn't a particularly forgiving hole. However, it is the par-5 9th hole that punctuates the front nine with an exclamation. Its dog-leg-left, pond-left design begs the driver, but take care how much of the pond (if any) you attempt to carry. Bailing out to the right will only put the ball in a bunker or in the rough. |
| The back nine at Whistle Bear Golf Club is very much kinder than the front, but teeing off on the 10th, with water left and right, you might wonder where to hit it ! Lay up a bit and leave it in the fairway. The short par-4 11th and 15th holes and the straight away par-5 12th offer the best birdie chances on the course.
At the par-5 16th, players get their first glimpse of trees, although most are not in play. That's not the case on the par-3 17th where wayward left insures a woodlot jail. The closing hole, a monstrous par-4 from an elevated tee, presents a great vantage point - small consolation for what is about to happen. Long off the tee isn't long enough, and the 18th green may be Whistle Bear's most devilish. |
Whistle Bear Golf Club / Langdon Hall
"stay & play" golf package |
| Whistle Bear is a challenging yet inspiring layout, demanding the best of one's golf game. When you get there, the course will be in great shape - just be sure your game is ! The clubhouse amenities, food and service are impeccable, and a friendly staff will help you enjoy your visit to the Whistle Bear GC, one of Ontario's finest new championship courses. |
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