REBEL CREEK GOLF CLUB ( 519-634-8666)
Ontario Golf Course Review 8/12/04
Rebel Creek is a new upscale Alan Chud design (opened in 2003) in Petersburg that has already won acclaim as one of the areas top golf facilities. On our Mid-August visit the course was in such wonderful condition that it was difficult
to believe that it had only 1 year of operation under its belt. The wonderfully rolling terrain affords the opportunities for
some great golf holes, and for a wonderful variety of shot selections. Particularly impressive are the set of four par
threes which can be quite challenging - as they are rated as the 3rd, 4th, 12th and 15th handicaps. The 3rd and 8th
(pictured below) are especially beautiful, with the Rebel Creek crossing in front of the putting surface on the former, and zig-zagging from tee to green on the latter.
The front nine presents some good scoring opportunities, as generous landing areas on manicured fairways welcome shots hit from the sculpted tee areas, with playable rough allowing recoveries for those straying a bit left or right. The
back side presents more undulations and water hazards, plus elevation changes that place a premium on proper club
selection. Throughout the course, golfers will find an abundance of beautifully conditioned and aesthetically pleasing
white sand bunkers, situated both greenside and along the fairways. Land in these high lipped beauties, and saving par will be a daunting task.
The clubhouse facilities at Rebel Creek include a nice pro shop and locker rooms with showers and shoe service. The Players Lounge provides food and beverages, and a wonderful banquet facility can host large outings and special
events. The outdoor terrace provides a nice view of the golf course, and of the practice facilities that include a
gorgeous double-ended grass range with target areas, short game area with bunker, and huge putting green. A good
warm up on these facilities, which we found to be extremely impressive, may help golfers to get off to a good start, before approaching the most challenging portion on the course on the back side.
Two of the more interesting holes on the front (pictured above) are the par five opening hole and the par four finishing
hole. The first hole begins with an easy tee shot to a wide open fairway, but the approach - if one is attempting to
reach in two, demands a carry over the creek, while avoiding the bunkers right of the putting complex. As with many
of the putting surfaces at Rebel Creek, this green is two-tiered. A three shot strategy is recommended. The ninth hole
presents a wide fairway, but a tree situated in the right center has to be negotiated. The approach is uphill with a huge
bunker short right. On the back side the tee shot on 14 is perhaps the most daunting carry of the day - over water with
two bunkers deep of the fairway providing an opportune target. The fairway narrows about 100 yard away, with
another pond in play along the right side. The green is and fairway on the approach are framed by a rock retaining wall
. Par is a good score on numbers 15-17, and the closing hole is a par five that is short in actual distance - but plays
much longer as it climbs uphill from tee to green. The approach here demands at least one extra club, and the green
complex is extremely well bunkered. There is a narrow landing area just right of the putting surface - not really a bad
place to be for an up and down. The 14th and 18th green complexes are featured in photos below.
Rebel Creek will not leave golfers wanting for anything - great golf course, wonderful clubhouse, unrivaled practice facilities, and nice amenities. On course yardages are measured to the center of the green on sprinkler heads and on
blocks in the fairways, as well as on the cart paths. Color coded flags indicate front, middle and back pin placement.
Yardage diagram and hole tip booklets are included with the green fees, and ball & club washers and weather covers
are standard with each golf cart. Rebel Creek caters to corporate business with special offers including "Corporate
Tuesdays" - where food, range balls and extra services are thrown in with paid green fees. There is a Platinum Corporate Player Program, Couple's Night, and other promotions as well.
For info on the facilities, rates, as well as on the Rebel Creek golf Academy, visit our informational page with link to the Rebel Creek website by clicking here.
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