The Marshes Golf Club

Few courses in the Ottawa region announce themselves quite like The Marshes. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 2001, it was built on land adjacent to the Canadian Shield's southern edge, where the flat Ottawa Valley gives way to wetlands, granite outcroppings, and mature forest. The routing makes deliberate use of all of it — water comes into play on the majority of holes, and the natural marsh corridors that inspired the name are very much a living part of the round, not just a backdrop.

The Marshes quickly earned a reputation as one of the Ottawa area's most challenging and visually impressive public-access courses, regularly appearing near the top of Ontario's best public layouts. It plays as a genuine test from the back tees, demanding shot-shaping and patience, though multiple tee options make it accessible across handicap levels. The par-3s in particular draw attention for their length and the water hazards that frame them.

Kanata itself sits on Ottawa's western suburban edge, a technology-sector hub that has grown considerably since the course opened. The Marshes benefits from that proximity — easy to reach from the capital, yet the moment you're on the property, the city disappears behind treelines and open water.