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4.2
5 Reviews (5)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
1
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1
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Conditions
4.4
Value
3.8
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.0
Pace
4.8
Amenities
4.2
80.0%
Recommend this course
4 out of 5 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Private/Resort
Par 72
Length 7166 yards
Slope 136
Rating 74.4

Course Details

Year Built 1921
Golf Season May 16th - October 15th
Architect Doug Carrick (2001) Stanley Thompson (1921) Cam Tyers (2001)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS No
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies No
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities

Reviews

4.2
5 Reviews (5)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Jewel on an Island

An out standing golf course on an Island with amazing layout and excellent course condition. The most scenic course I have ever played, amazing natural habitat on the course. Saw deer in a bunch. The club house is there since early 1930s and renovated recently. Ride to the island was amazing. I would play this course anyday. Many holes are challenging but rewarding as long as you hit the fairways.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Hang on to your clubs

This was my second time this year playing at Bigwin. I played with a group of 12 friends. After the round my clubs mysteriously disappeared between the dock and the parking lot. It took them 5 days to look at the surveillance video in the secured parking lot. Then I was lied to about when they would be returned after they discovered their employee had stuck them in the wrong vehicle. The final insult was the CEO telling me that they would graciously look after the shipping costs of my clubs. He then offered a free round to my wife and I the next time we were in the area. We live 4.5 hours away and I said we don’t get up that way very often. Let’s understand giving me a free round of golf would not cost them anything as the course is already open and paid for. Squeezing in another 2 would amount to nothing.
I have played at Bigwin at least 5 times with corporate partners and I will promise this will be the last.
Ps- finally got my clubs back, only missing a sleeve of balls. Not a note or anything from Bigwin apologizing for the issue.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

GTA Tour Event

I recent played in a GTA AM Tour event at bigwin and I was blown away. The boat ride over was amazing, while docking you are looking at the mansion of a clubhouse to the right. On the left you are looking up at the giant 18th hole that is absolutely breathtaking.

The tour provided us with a glimpse of what is to expect when playing all summer with Mark Young and his team as they coordinate with courses like this all over ontario to provide the best experience for their athletes.

Finally, thr course maintenance was fantastic and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. I will 100% be playing there next year in the annual event.

Thumbs up Bigwin, see you soon!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

A Bucket List Experience

This was the first and only time I've ever had the experience of arriving at a golf course via shuttle boat. The boat ride experience in itself is enough to visit Bigwin Island. Arriving at a private island golf community via boat is unlike anything I've experienced.

I played here early in the season, but the course was already in decent shape. The course layout was enjoyable, although I was quite surprised, considering it's an island golf course, that we could only see the water from a couple holes. That said, the views on those holes were epic, and I did enjoy the course layout through the heavily treed terrain.

Although I likely won't be playing this course on a weekly basis (nor could I since it's only open to the public in spring and fall) I would highly recommend adding Bigwin to your bucket list as a very cool and unique golf experience.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 638
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Golf Advisor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Amazing island golf north of Toronto

Visiting Bigwin Island was my biggest 'Oh wow' surprise of my golf-writing career.

I knew virtually nothing about the course when I pulled into the parking lot in the fall of 2012. I thought I was lost. There was no clubhouse or golf course in sight, just a giant water hazard, the beautiful Lake of Bays. A five-minute boat ride to the 700-acre island felt like a magical adventure.

In 2001, architect Doug Carrick transformed an abandoned Stanley Thompson course into a stunningly scenic private playground that is only open to the public in spring and fall. All 7,166 yards weave their way seamlessly through undisturbed forest. Carrick's bunkers, lined with a local golden silica sand, are as big and bold as the fairways are wide. The layout is infinitely playable for all golfers.

The vistas from the elevated tee boxes of the par-4 sixth and par-5 18th holes are among the best in North America. The wonderfully restored clubhouse is on par with the best clubs in Canada. The old Bigwin Island Inn, a haven for celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s, collapsed a long time ago, but the island's good life vibe continues on at the club. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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