Muskoka Golf Road Trip
Three courses that make the case for Muskoka as one of the best golf destinations in Canada. The Canadian Shield does much of the heavy lifting visually — exposed granite, elevation changes, and lake views that few regions can match. Our recommended guide consists of the three best publicly accessible golf courses in the area, with a few other recommendations noted.
Editor's note
Taboo Muskoka is currently closed and undergoing a major redesign by OCM Golf Design. The course is expected to reopen in late 2027 or 2028. It remains one to watch — we'll update this page when it reopens.
Muskoka Bay Club
Muskoka Bay is a Doug Carrick and Ian Andrew design carved through the exposed granite and boreal forest of the Canadian Shield in Gravenhurst, Ontario. The visual drama of the golf course is remarkable, with the course winding its way through the swampy and rocky terrain. Covering a range of bold elevation changes, rock outcroppings dotting the landscape, tee shots across the wetlands, and a dreamy set of greens to compliment the geogrpahical highlights.
The drama of the setting is not manufactured, but the natural consequence of working with extraordinary land. As such the golf course is considered rather difficult - tight fairway corridors, lengthy carries, unforgiving rock outcroppings, and sharp contouring confound the golfer. Yet, the experience of all of this comes head on with the sense of exhilaration it creates. Widely regarded as Carrick's finest work, Muskoka Bay is ranked in Canada's top 10 public golf courses by SCOREGolf.
$189-$265 cart included + tax
Rocky Crest Golf Resort
Rocky Crest is Thomas McBroom's layout on the northern edge of Muskoka, with the resort property directly on Lake Joseph. Similar to Muskoka Bay, the course integrates exposed rock, wetlands, and boreal forest into a routing that feels genuinely of the land. With highlights like the tee shot at the sixth going up and directly over a masssive slab of granite rock outcropping, or the par 3 eighth which is perched along a bluff overlooking an isolated inlet off Lake Joe, Rocky Crest gives off a secleded wilderness retreat vibe that is a perfect place to just play golf and enjoy the outdoors.
Ranked 12th on the public golf courses in Canada list by SCOREGolf (2024). On-site accommodations make it a practical overnight stop and a natural base for playing the other courses featured here.
$200-$250 cart included + tax
Manitou Ridge
Formerly The Ridge at Manitou, Manitou Ridge is situated on a sprawling plot of land along Lake Manitouwabing, 20 minutes east of Parry Sound. Another Muskoka golf course by Thomas McBroom, threads through rock ridges, white pines, and beautiful hemlocks on a routing built around finesse and positional play. McBroom successfully utilized the natural land contours to create a dynamically changing playing field from hole to hole. Players will find significant changes in elevation, fairways lined by dense forests of trees, large well contoured green complexes that focus on positional (strategic) play, and classic bunkering which is said to be inspired by the great Alister Mackenzie.
The 2nd (pictured) is one of McBroom’s best short par fours - at only 306 yards - tempting golfers to try and fly the rock outcroppings and find the putting surface which sits some 10 or more yards above the surrounds. Similar praise should be made of its closing hole, which is one of the prettiest finishing holes anywhere in Canada. Manitou Ridge might be characterized as the most under-the-radar course on this trip, yet its boutique feel and strong character stand toe to toe with the other heavyweights. The timber-frame clubhouse overlooking the lake is a great place to have a post-round beverage or meal.
$159-$189 cart included + tax
Also in the area
Where to stay
Where to eat
All prices are CAD and reflect rates sourced directly from course websites. Rates vary by season and day of week — confirm current pricing before booking.
