Bigwin Island Golf Club

Few settings in Canadian golf carry quite the romantic weight of Bigwin Island. Sitting in the middle of Lake of Bays in Ontario's Muskoka region, the club occupies a private island that was once home to the legendary Bigwin Inn — a grand resort that drew wealthy vacationers north from Toronto through much of the 20th century. The inn eventually fell into disrepair and closed, but the golf course has been reborn as one of Canada's most celebrated layouts, designed by Doug Carrick and opened in 2003. Carrick made full use of the island's dramatic topography, crafting holes that tumble through hardwood forests, skirt rocky shoreline, and open onto sweeping views of the lake at almost every turn.

The course has earned consistent placement among Canada's top 10 layouts, a distinction that draws serious golfers from across the country despite the logistical adventure of getting here — guests arrive by ferry, which only adds to the sense of occasion.

Muskoka itself is quintessential Canadian Shield country: granite outcroppings, cold clear lakes, birch and maple canopy that turns spectacular in autumn. Playing Bigwin means contending with real elevation change, narrow corridors, and greens that reward precision over power. It is a destination round in every sense.