CRANBERRY GOLF CLUB at Cranberry Resort
(705-445-6600)
Review 9/24/04
Cranberry Golf Club is the centerpiece of the Cranberry Resort, located 90 minutes north of Toronto. A variety of
accommodations, amenities and recreational activities are featured at this RGI Golf Crown Resort - which
received the 2004 Reader's Choice Award as the # 1 hotel in the Georgian Triangle. The golf course is
Canada's First Audubon certified golf facility, and is the perfect place for a golf vacation or corporate golf
outing/tournament. With the Blue Mountain as a backdrop, this layout features outstanding topography carved
out of picturesque Georgian Bay landscape, with abundant natural vegetation and indigenous wildlife. Strategic
bunkering and plentiful water hazards in the form of ponds, creeks and natural marshes will challenge the shot
making abilities of scratch golfers, while a fairly level terrain affords novices the opportunity to enjoy a round here as well.
In total, there are 73 sand bunkers and 8 holes with water in play. The four sets of tees play to 6750 yards/138
slope, 6353 yards/133 slope, 5931 yards/129 slope for men and 133 for ladies and 5486 yards with a slope of
123 for men and 126 for women. There are some tight tree lined fairways, but generally speaking there is ample
room off the tee on most holes. Soft white sand bunkers are abundant, and are in some cases quite large, as
evidenced by the trap fronting the green on the short par four 12th (photo below). The mounding along fairways
and greenside is understated, allowing for bump and run chips and low trajectory approaches - even out of the
rough, which is quite playable. On most greens, there are open areas in front or to either side, allowing for easy
entry (see photo of par three 11th below). On our late September visit the course was in very good condition. Bent grass is featured on the fairways, tees and greens, with bluegrass comprising the rough.
The pro shop and Station Bar & Grill are housed in a restored 1900 CNR Stayner train station with light meals
and snacks available. A Pizza Hut Express and spacious outdoor patio are also on property. On course golfers
will find yardage blocks at 100, 150 and 200 yards, plus 150 yard stakes on all par fours and fives. Some
sprinkler heads are marked, and pin placement is indicated by color coded flags. Gold, blue, white and red
blocks on the tees provide distances to the center of the green on all holes. The weather covers provided for on
the back of each cart are a much appreciated feature. Players are able to warm up adequately on the grass
range and practice green, and can also spend some time at the short game area which features a sand bunker.
The front side features an abundance of water hazards, and is nearly a 200 yards longer than the back. This is
due to a couple of fairly long par fives, plus three par fours of 424 yards plus. The opening hole provides a good
opportunity to start well, but the warm up is brief as the 433 yard par four 2nd is the course's number one
handicap. A creek crosses the fairway about 80 yards away from a well bunkered green. The third is also a
tough par, as a water hazard is precariously situated to the right side of the dogleg, with a narrow landing area in
the 170-150 yard zone. Pictures of both holes are featured above.Water also provides a strong detriment to par
on the approach shot on the par five 5th, and on the mid length par three 6th. Bail out room is provided to the
short side on each of these holes - which are pictured below. Another pond is located to the left side of the 7th
fairway, and it funnels into a creek that crosses just in front of the putting complex. After the dry par five 8th, the
finishing hole features one of the last water holes on the course, as a pond situated on the right invites golfers to play left of center all the way to the green.
The back side plays shorter and dryer, with some ample fairways lined with plentiful sand traps which are at
times quite large. Those on the left side of 12, 13 and 14 are big enough to be classified as waste bunkers.
Some of the green complexes also feature grass bunkers, which can create some tricky up and downs. The 14th
is a pretty golf hole with a granite boulder on the right side, and is one of several challenging doglegs on the
back. Number 17 is the only hole of the last eight with water in play - and features a creek that nearly circles the
green complex, making for one of the tightest approaches of the day. Photos of both holes are featured below
.The good news is that number 18 is a score-able hole, a mid range par five with plenty along the fairway. Avoid the greenside bunkering and a birdie is a good possibility to finish.
The relatively high slope rating at Cranberry is due to the many water hazards, and to the length on many of the
par fours (5 measure between 424-455 yards from the tips). Played from the white tee boxes however, average
players can enjoy a pleasant experience (only 1 par four over 400 yards). The terrain is relatively flat, so novices
will not have to toil with elevation changes or severely uneven lies. Group outings, tournaments and banquets are
Cranberry Resort specialties, and golf packages and season passes are also available. For more info on the
course and resort - with direct link to the Cranberry website, visit our page for the golf course on our web catalog of courses to play in Ontario by clicking here.
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