“Dunmaghlas” was the battle cry of the Scottish clan MacGillivray; no word on whether designer Chuck MacGillidary’s name somehow evolved from that clan, but the Gaelic translation of the course name gives some indication what to expect: “Touch not this cat without the glove!” The meaning is not to come into battle unless you are prepared for it, and the hilly terrain around Lake Charlevoix will show its teeth when confronted.
Right out of the gate you’ll be forced to cross a stream that runs alongside the fairway up to the green...not exactly a “gentle handshake” opener! Although the hills do create consternation for players at this design (also created by Larry Mancour), it will not necessarily be because of climb. Indeed, the club claims to only have two uphill shots throughout its entirety. The burden will be on the player to do mental math and judge their distances accordingly, lest they land short (or, more relevantly, long).
Unlike traditional Scottish rounds, there will be numerous forced carries, especially during the final few holes, but in one similarity to the courses of olde worlde, this is a route where the course will not return to the clubhouse mid-round.
