Lionhead (Legends) - Ontario - Canada

The 36-hole Lionhead golf complex is one of six golf facilities owned by successful Bulgarian-born developer and philanthropist Iggy Kaneff. His KaneffGolf operation currently offers golfers in Ontario a total of 144 holes for play, with plans for another course to open at some point in Caledon.

Ted Baker has been Kaneff’s architect of choice when expanding his golf empire but many feel his design style is too penal for the average player. As the scorecard for the Legends states: “Legends is rated the most challenging golf course in Canada and the third most challenging public access course in North America”.

Small heavily contoured greens, tight tree-lined fairways and deep punishing bunkers all contribute to the high degree of difficulty when playing here and the back markers can only be played by professionals and low handicap amateurs as they are rated a massive 77.5 with a severe slope of 155.

Consider also that the Credit River comes into play at more than half the holes on the card and you’ll understand why teeing it up on the Legends course is not for the faint of heart, even for those playing from the forward tees.