Tangle Creek G&CC, Barrie, On.

A Great Stretch of Holes

Posted by Alistair & Rick

With the BAGS Junior Golf Tour visiting Tangle Creek Golf Club this summer Missing Links and I decided a scouting mission was in order prior to the big event. I had driven by the course 100's of times and said to myself “This looks like a great course for the tour to visit”, so I jumped when the opportunity arose to add Tangle to the BAGS rotation. A quote on the front of the score card boasts that Tangle Creek is “ Barrie’s finest public golf facility”. It’s a bold statement but after playing the course I have to agree that they have a case.

Prolific Canadian golf course architect Rene Mulyart has routed a challenging layout over and around the name-sake water course. This public fee course offers greens with sharp ridges that demand precise approach shots and well placed tee-shots to set up any chance to challenge the hole. On a course that has a large number of really solid holes there is a stretch of holes on the back side that stand out as a cut above the rest and are key holes that must be conquered for a goos score to be posted.

Hole 14             Par 4  341 – 418 yards

Perched high on the tee deck, you face a difficult drive having to contend with ample water hazards. The landing area is guarded by a large pond left and pinched in on the right by another that runs all the way to the green. An approach from the left side is the best. The green is more accessible from this angle. Anything right and short will be a tough up and down from the deep rough or menacing trap.

Hole 15            Par 4  350 – 436 yards

This spectacular par 4 dogleg left requires an accurate drive from an elevated tee to a fairway that slopes downhill and gently from left to right. A steep hill protects the left side of the fairway and several bunkers the right. For the big hitters there is a danger of driving through the end of the fairway into the rough in front of the creek if they try to cut the dogleg too much. The second shot to an elevated green is protected by a bunker front left and is perhaps the most demanding approach shot on the course. Having successfully navigated the drive and approach, the golfer is now faced with a sloping green that requires ones full attention.

Hole 16            Par 3   143 – 189 yards

The most difficult par 3 on the course, this one plays shorter due to a severe elevation change. The forced carry over the tangled rough surrounding the creek in the valley will strike fear. Be careful if the wind is blowing at you. Correct club selection will be tricky here. This huge greensite is shaped like a heart and guarded by traps short. Find yourself  anywhere but near the pin and par will be a tough task.

Tangle Creek G&CC

Barrie