HORSESHOE VALLEY RESORT (705-835-2790)
Highlands Course
Review 9/26
General Information:
Horseshoe Valley in Barrie is a full season resort located just 1 hour north of Toronto that has earned acclaim as
one of the most complete resort facilities in Ontario. On property are two 18-hole championship golf courses, a
golf academy, a comprehensive practice area, a variety of accommodations and dining opportunities, a spa,
entertainment, pool and fitness center, children's programs, plus year round recreational activities that are too
numerous to mention here. For photos and text featuring all that Horseshoe Valley has to offer, visit our informational page for the resort (with direct link to their website) by clicking here.
The golf facilities include a bent grass, targeted driving range and practice greens, plus separate full service pro shops at each of the two golf courses. A variety of dining options at the resort provide golfers with opportunities
for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and showers are available at the resort health club. There is unrestricted walking
on both courses, which were designed by architect Rene Muylaert. The marking system features color coded
stakes at 100, 150 and 200 yards, and flags on the greens are also color coded to indicate front, middle and
back pin placement. Yardage blocks are also provided for on each tee, and diagrams of each hole are featured on the scorecards.
Highlands Course review
The Highlands Course is a spectacular par 71 layout featuring non-parallel tree lined fairways that wind along a
rolling terrain, providing a good test for all levels of players. Golfers can choose from 4 sets of tees that play to
7050 yards/127 slope, 6697 yards/124 slope, 6241 yards/119 slope and 5591 yards/133 slope for women.
During our round on a bright September day, we found the course to be challenging yet fair, and in excellent
condition from tee to green. There is a tremendous variety in hole design, with a mix of level fairways and those
beginning from dramatic elevations. Tall stately pins line many holes, and help to define the frequent doglegs that
bend in either direction. There is opportunity to utilize every club in the bag of most golfers - from driver to lob
wedge. With level openings in front of most greens however, it is entirely possible to score well here. The greens
are an interesting lot - from the small, flat putting surfaces golfers will encounter on the opening holes to the large,
undulating greens that are characteristic on the back nine. They are consistent and true rolling however - land in regulation and birdies can be had.
Throughout the course, golfers will find ample landing areas on the wooded fairways and a fair amount of room
for error greenside, although 52 sand bunkers that dot the course are strategically positioned to challenge par.
There are just three holes with water in play. The rolling terrain creates the need for prudent club selection, as
approaches are often down or uphill. The opening hole - a simple and fairly open par three - plays 1 club uphill to
a small, flat green. The terrain is mild on the beginning holes, with the dogleg left par four 2nd playing just slightly
downhill on the approach, and the par five third though long and tightly tree lined - is pretty level from tee to green.
After a simple par three the topography becomes more rolling. The dogleg left par four 5th plays downhill off the
tee, with a shot aimed just left of the deep fairway bunker providing good positioning for an opportune approach.
A huge bunker is situated in the landing zone of the dogleg, making cuts down the tree line a risky proposition.
Numbers 6 and 7 (featured in photos below) are score-able holes that play along a sloping terrain with greenside
sand traps providing a challenge to par. The closing par four and five on 8 and 9 are a bit more difficult. There is
more room than it appears from the tee areas on the rolling tree lined eighth, which is one of 4 par fours on the
front that play to 400 plus yards. On nine, golfers need to be aware of the pond situated to the left about 90 yards from the green.
The backside is measurably more up and down, with frequent elevated tees and greens. Number ten (picture
below left) is an interesting par four with a tree separating the fairway near the 100 yard area. Players can
choose to play to either the left or right side, setting up for a simple uphill approach and a good scoring
opportunity. Number eleven (picture below right) is a gorgeous par five that begins from an elevated tee area. A
pond is situated short left, and another comes into play near the 250 yard area. Bunkers short right and long left
also affect the second shot. Par is a great score on this number one handicapped hole, which plays uphill from 200 yards in.
We found the stretch of holes from 11-14 to be the toughest of the layout. A long tee shot hugging the left side will
cut off some distance on the long par four 12th (471 yards from the tips), which is advisable as the approach to
the tree lined green complex is one of the tightest of the round (photo below left). Thirteen is a long par three, and
is followed by another long four par (438 yards from the tips) that plays along a roller coaster fairway, with an
approach to a perched green complex. Attention to pin placement will come in handy on this long, narrow putting
surface. A pond fronts the par three 15th, but there is plenty of room greenside. On 16th 2 water hazards come
into play - one near the landing area on the right off the tee, and the other greenside (photo below right). The tight
tree lined fairway on 17 slopes left to right, and plays to a raised green. A lay up to the 150 yard area on this
short par four should lead to a good scoring opportunity. Eighteen plays from an elevated tee to a rolling fairway
that doglegs to the left. The tee shot here must approach the right center near the 150 yard area for a clear shot
at the putting complex, which is situated at the bottom of the hill. This is a challenging finishing hole.
The Highlands Course at Horseshoe Valley quickly became one of our favorite layouts in the area. It features
outstanding conditioning, gorgeous terrain, and wonderful variety. It is the type of course that golfers will want to
play frequently - and the price tag that is under $100 including cart prime time in 2004 is certainly worthy. Golf
packages are available through the resort, and various plans can be designed to fit the itinerary of avid golfers,
couples and families alike. Horseshoe is also a great place for tournaments and outings, and the Golf Academy
provides a nice setting to learn the game or to develop specific skills. For more info, with direct link to the Horseshoe Valley website, visit our informational page for the Highlands by clicking here.
|
