We were lucky to get the chance to play the very private and well-established Rosedale Golf Club with a member on Canada Day, and the sun shone from a clear blue sky throughout as if wishing to join the National Celebration.

The parkland golf course was in magnificent condition with fast greens and difficult pin positions over undulating terrain, and having a strong short game here is the key to good scoring.

A typical feature of the Donald Ross designed course is raised greens with severe run-off areas on all sides and on a number of holes a pitch which just made it to the putting surface then trundled back all the way down the slope. I found this to be a major and infuriating challenge, but surely would be easier to handle if playing the course a second time. Bunkers are very strategic and a fast-flowing stream wound its way around holes in the middle part of the course.

The course length is however only 6500 yards from the back trees with wide fairways lined by assorted trees, so it needs the protection offered by the Ross greens. The 7th and 8th are the best of the earlier holes, 7 with its beautiful right dogleg from a raised tee and mid iron approach over the stream to a well guarded green, whereas 8 is a traditional par five with water down the left and in front of a wide green, with clever bunkering on the right of the fairway and around the putting surface. 

The signature hole is the par three uphill 13th which requires a carry of 180 yards plus to reach the putting surface, see photo 1, whereas the long dogleg 14th is probably the course’s most difficult hole, as photo 2. I also like the inclusion of a very short hole at 16 which requires little more than a 100 yard pitching wedge, but under-clubbing exacts a high penalty to a front pin and if you are only a little long the putt is difficult to get close. 18 is a very tricky uphill short par four where the second shot requires absolute precision to finish well.

Rosedale has an opulent clubhouse with colonial grandeur, and it’s well-heeled membership have a pleasant course to enjoy, without undue stress.