Bigwin Island Golf Course, Canada

Bigwin Island Golf Course in on Lake of Bays, in the Muskoka District of Ontario, Canada, was designed by world renowned golf course architect Doug Carrick. Originally laid out in 1922 as a 9-hole course, by by Stanley Thompson it was expanded to 18 holes within a few years. Bigwin Island was the big swinging place to spend the summer back in the 1920s and 30s, built on a grand scale Bigwin was very much a symbol of the elegance and excess of this era in history. In the 1940’s, the resort welcomed a retinue of stars and celebrities, from famous Hollywood couple Clark Gable and Carole Lombard to such illustrious writers as Ernest Hemingway and H.G. Wells. It was a favorite haunt of the Rockefellers, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands stayed for a visit, and Canadian Prime Ministers including John Diefenbaker often summered there.

Bigwin Island Golf Club course itself is a par 72 championship layout measuring 7,166 yards from the championship tees. Bigwin Island Golf Club course is designed to provide challenge and enjoyment to golfers of all skill levels with a variety of tee locations measuring 6,742 yards from the blue tees, 6,287 yards from the white tees and 5,346 yards from the red tees. Each of Bigwin Island Golf Club’s nine is a par 36 consisting of two par threes, two par fives and five par fours. Every hole is surrounded by mature hardwoods, creating a sense of maturity and character typically found on the great classic courses built during the early 1900’s. The holes are routed in a variety of directions over the undulating island terrain, creating constantly changing shot values, wind directions and challenges.

The course was voted the “Best New Canadian Golf Course” by Golf Digest (Jan. 2002). #6 Best Golf Course in Canada by Score Golf (July 2004), #2 in Ontario by Bogey Man’s Best (Toronto Star Golf Guide 2005), The Most Thrilling Driving Hole in Canada 6th Hole, Bigwin Island Golf Club (Globe and Mail Golf Guide 2005), among other prestigious awards.