The Highlands Golf Club

A Hometown Treat

Having grown up in Bradford many moons ago, I remember the plans for Highlands Golf Course and the lovely little residential enclave south of town. Designed and constructed back in the late 80’s along the 6th Concession, it was exciting for Bradford to get a course of its own. Built on a bluff above the Holland River and Marsh, the location features a gently rolling terrain surrounded by farms, with splendid views of the Marsh and the Oak Ridges Moraine in the distance. Now buffeted with the encroaching homes of the expanding town, the layout has stayed true to its roots, as a fun, fair and well priced test.

This David Moote design, rated 70.5 with a slope of 125 off the back tees, is not a push over by any definition. Moote took advantage of the rolling and sometimes stark terrain to create a pair of nines greatly different in landscape and routing. The front plays down to the edge of the Marsh and back up to the quaint and hospitable clubhouse. Opening with a par 4 guarded by OB right and water in front of the green, this hole gives you a feel for what’s in store. The tee shot on the par 4 third dramatically drops off the bluff to a green site fronted by a devious pond. The par 5 fifth is a brute. A dog leg left, its 560 yards play uphill the entire way. For fun, nothing beats the 358 yard par 4 Hole 7. Playing over a gully, the dog leg tempts you to go for the green perched next to a fence line and surrounded by treacherous bunkers. Ending with a lengthy three-shoter, the front side takes you on a bit of a rollercoaster of elevation change testing your nerves and your skill.

The back nine plays on the tablelands of the one-time rolling farmland. The dogleg left 10th, forces you to be wary of the crossing creek with your drive. Its large green requires a precise shot to avoid a big number. The enormous Par 5 eleventh, is plenty tough playing 575 yards with a crossing creek and large pond between the tee and green. The short holes on this side both play into the prevailing wind. Hole 13 is a cutie, playing 135 yards and well guarded by a large pond and facing bunker. Hole 16 can is deceptively tough. Playing uphill usually into a breeze, take an extra club and hit it pure. The final two holes blend length and risk reward. The uphill, dogleg right, Par 4 seventeenth plays to the number one handicap, while the finale, a Par 5 that plays downhill presents a chance to get home in two with well struck shots and a touch of courage.   

Highlands is a pleasant, very walkable, daily fee experience with great rates ranging from $28 - $69. The course is easily reachable from the 400 for those in the southern reaches of Simcoe or in the GTA and needs to be on your to-do list. The layout has a bunch of really good holes that will challenge your skill and delight you with their design. Complete with a driving range and carts available, Highlands is playable, pleasant and well priced.

Stats:

5244 – 6708 yards
68.4 - 70.5 rating
120 - 125 slope
23 Brownlee Drive,
Bradford, On
www.highlandsgolf.ca