The Heathlands course at Osprey Valley is a well known commodity to Canadian golfers today, but it wasn’t always that way. What started out as a bit of a rag tag operation in a rural Caledon, Ontario farm field in the early 1990’s has been slowly transformed into a 54-hole resort behemoth today by way of ownership changes and a growing partnership with TPC.

The architecture delivered at Heathlands was influenced by golf’s most basic beginnings and the wind swept dunes of traditional Irish links. The course plays to a fraction over 7000 yards today from the Tournament tees for the Osprey Valley Open - a PGA Tour Americas stop. Each hole is lined by thick golden fescue that accentuates the rolling dunes framing each as if it were built on the coast of Ireland, yet thousands of miles from any ocean. With each hole fashioned to accentuate the ground contours, the sculpted green sites often sit perched up above the fairways with nasty short grass run offs and surrounds. The green complexes themselves are not small, but are highlighted by riveting slopes, ridges, and contours, putting an emphasis on ball striking and strategic play from tee to green. Recently a new clubhouse was finished and the second nine routing was updated - this shift has elevated the momentum of the golf course, adding a more cohesive nature to the walk and rhythm of the holes.

Players coming to Heathlands for the first time are likely to think less of it than the likes of its siblings Hoot, and even perhaps the Canadian Open hosting North course. But fret not, the Heathlands is best experienced multiple times with the course revealing itself and the perfect ways to play over time. Often later being categorized as the best and most challenging of the three offerings at the resort property. Players who relish the opportunity to play proper Links or Heathlands golf across the pond in Scotland, Ireland, and England may be well suited to experience the Heathlands offering in early-July to mid-September when the course plays its firmest and fastest.