Second hole, par 4, 355 yards: The second is fundamentally about its green complex which sits diagonally from the direct line of play off the tee. With the hole set up with a gentle bend from right-to-left, the tee shot tempts golfers to challenge the left side and have the shortest approach. Yet, the optimal play is to the right, where the fairway's contours often guide the ball toward the centre and right side which opens a better angle in. The green itself is two-tiered, bisected by a pronounced ridge that makes cross-green putting exceptionally difficult. Bunkers left-short and right-long further emphasize the necessity to play from the right down the open front edge of the green. Shots over the left bunker feed into the narrow orientation, while those leaking into the right produce an incredibly tricky recovery with little room to work along the ground which feeds directly away from play. The strategic questions poised are a little nuanced and may be categorized closer to the penal school of design rather than a strategic one simply due to the narrowed angles of the fairway contours which could be improved by mowing more short grass closer to the fifth green. Nonetheless, it is a short hole that quickly earns respect.

Third hole, par 4, 374 yards: The third is an interesting risk/reward short par four that tempts players to take on the hazards of this hole for the optimal line into the green. This hole has been significantly altered by architect Ian Andrew to create something particularly inspiring for everyday play. By improving bunker concepts around the green and adding the fairway bunkers up the right, Ian was able to capture the spirit of Thompson’s architecture while adding strategic depth to this hole. Similar to the second the green is situated horizontally to the line of play, with those who play up the right side closest to the bunkers and tree which rests on the edge of the dog leg, having the best angles in. This green looks relatively benign at first glance but it is heavily tiled from back to front, with the hummocks, bunkers and long fescue grasses adding further complexity to the demands of shots into and around the green. Its not uncommon for those on the high side of the hole to risk sending one off the front edge on a firm summers day.

Fourth hole, par 5, 456 yards: The original par 5’s at Kawartha are not particularly lengthy tests for the modern game. Thankfully Mr. Thompson cleverly placed these holes in just the right places to take advantage of the natural topographical features at his disposal. At the fourth the hole banks from right to left, curving around a group of trees situated on the inside of the dogleg. As such the approach played to this green most often presents with the ball abruptly above or below ones feet. Upon navigating the complexities of the approach Thompson smartly crafted the green with further defences — namely by way of strongly canting the green from right to left up against a generous fall off, and using deceptive visual practices such as hiding the true depth of the green from view by way of bunkering and use small ridges in front.

Sixth hole, par 3, 223 yards: The original set of par threes at Kawartha are rather exceptional as a set, and the sixth is one of such standout holes. As is often with Thompson designs, he often plots his way across the landscape with at least one lengthy one shotter, directly contrasted by a short one. This direct contrast comes at the sixth and eighth holes where the former blends the uphill nature of the land with a redan style green - diagonally stretched across a small knoll in the landscape. The green sits perched into this knoll, above its surrounds to the left, safely guarded by a bunker on either side. The effective carry distance is longer than the yardage suggests, representing a fine example of a long par 3 that tests the top end of the players bag. There is some room to run the ball on from the right side, but the margin is tight. It is a hole that defies the conventional logic of par three design, where long holes typically play downhill to compensate. Thompson ignored that convention here, and the result is one of the most demanding on property.

Eighth hole, par 3, 151 yards: On the front side, the eighth holes contrasts the lengthy sixth with its short dropshot par 3. The green is minuscule in size when directly compared to the surroundings which amplifies the visual deception of the hole itself. The green has naturally shrunk over many years, but the lively emotions of such a thrilling shot still remain.

11th hole, par 5, 496 yards: Like at the fourth, the 11th is a short par 5, producing one of those moments that lodges in memory. The tee shot plays downhill which further defines this risk/reward opportunity. As the player crests the hill, the second shot opens up below, running all the way down to a green protected by a crossing stream and a set of deep flanking bunkers. The hole is a fair one for shorter hitters without removing the tension for anyone attempting a heroic shot at the green in two. Significant tree removal on holes like the 11th have opened captivating visuals that emphasize the rolling topography of the land well.

16th hole (formerly the 14th), par 4, 422 yards: What is now the par 4 16th was originally Thompson's par 5 14th, which has been improved as a result of restructuring this hole to fit in the new 17th. The design change simply moved the back tee’s from a location near this new green to its more original forward tee placement. In doing so the hole retains all of the character without the noise of such a poor tee shot. The real interest in this hole, like many others at Kawartha, comes at the green site where a confluence of bunkers and hummocks surround the green itself. Thompson’s display of artful mounding and bunker shaping, faithfully restored by Ian Andrew is on point.

18th hole, par 3, 198 yards: Closing a golf course on a par three is rather unusual. Thompson's decision here is either an act of restraint or heroic provocation depending on your mood after 17 holes. The 18th plays nearly 200 yards to a well-bunkered two-tiered green, with the bunkering especially aggressive on the right side. From the back tees, a forced carry over the right bunkers is required to access the back sections, unless you can hit a low left to right running shot. The forward tee positions present a more direct route, allowing for a more ground focused option to run the ball onto the surface. Several of the more dramatic internal contours that will be found around Kawartha appear on this green. What makes it memorable is the pressure it generates in context. It’s a captivating closure to such a brilliant round of golf and one that deserves mention as one of the finest closing holes in the country.