Summary:  Value Rating = B-

The Kanata Golf and Country Club is a challenging course to play – well maintained, excellent condition, challenging layout, and a good challenge for all golfers.  Kanata did host the 2001 Nations Cup so that also indicates that it has some great golf features.

Kanata is a private course, part of the ClubLink family of courses, so this offer a challenge in terms of evaluating the course from a value perspective.  You will need to play with a ClubLink member in order to experience this course.  Guest fees are applicable but taking advantage of twilight rates will give you the best value – approximately $40 to 50 compared to $75 to $85 regular guest rates.  The fact that it is a private course affecting accessibility and cost reduces my value rating but it is still a good course to play.  Take advantage of the twilight rate if you can for better value.

Kanata Golf and Country Club is located in the Kanata area of Ottawa – very accessible from anywhere in Ottawa.  The course is built around a community and you do need to be careful with wayward shots, especially on about 5 of the holes where wayward shots can end up hitting a house quite easily.  The course offers mostly flat fairways with some rolls and undulations as well as some deep bunkers.  Generally speaking, the areas closer to the greens are more undulating than the fairways.  The course is a very enjoyable walk but there are spots where there is a long walk between holes – you will have to cross some streets to get to some of the tee areas along the way.

Check out www.clublink.ca for details about the Kanata Golf and Country Club – ClubLink is a company that owns, operates and develops member golf clubs.

Another ClubLink course I really enjoy playing in the Ottawa area is Eagle Creek – check out my Eagle Creek course review.  Eagle Creek offers a more challenging and interesting layout at slightly higher guest fees.

Play and Value Evaluation Rating Table

Refer to my evaluation criteria to see how I judge and rate the courses I’ve played.

Some Details:

Kanata Golf and Country Club is located in the Kanata area of Ottawa – the west end of Ottawa.  If you are a hockey fan, it isn’t too far from where the Ottawa Senators play their home games at Scotiabank Place.

The course offers challenging golf for all skill levels.  Playing the blues will require you to use all the clubs in your bag – at least it does for me.  The white tees makes the course less demanding and I typically don’t use my 3, 4 or 5 iron very much from these tees.  If you spray the ball around a lot you most likely will have a long and frustrating experience because you can end up out of bounds on almost all the holes.

The greens are nicely bunkered and some of the green side bunkers are deep.  There isn’t a lot of water to contend with – the 8th and 9th hole only.  The fact the course meanders through a community means there wasn’t a huge need for natural distractions – the houses provide that on almost every hole.

Hole #9 is very challenging – after a decent tee shot you are faced with a lake that runs along the right side of the hole all the way to the green.  This is the most challenging hole on the course.  Best to stay to the left as much as possible.  A tough hole to par for the average golfer.

Hole #6 requires an accurate tee shot as you can easily hit your ball into someone’s backyard on the left from the tee.  The angle from the tee has most golfer aiming down the left side of the fairway closest to the homes.

There are only 2 par 5′s on the course – a bit unusual but there are enough challenging par 4′s that you don’t really miss 1 or 2 more par 5′s.  This is part of what makes this course interesting to play.

My average score at Kanata is 91 over the last few years.  I don’t play here that often because it is a private course.  I typically play the white tees (around 6000 yards) but have played the blue tees a few times (6400 yards).  The extra distance from the blue tees makes the course tougher for an average golfer like me with my 15 handicap.

My Evaluation Details:

Scenery – A typical urban / neighbourhood course with some wooded areas.  No spectacular views of the surrounding area.

Mix of holes – offers a challenging mix of long and short holes.

Consistency and condition – the course has been in great shape for each round I have played with very consistent tee boxes, greens, fairways, rough and bunkers.

Character – a reasonable layout that offers a good challenge.

Golf Challenge – the course offers a challenge in my books……

• tee shots – Other than a few narrow landing areas, you have a good view of all the fairways from the tees.  Errant shots can end up bouncing off of houses and private property.
• fairway shots – The fairways are typically in great shape across the whole course.
• pin placements – The greens are medium size with undulations allowing for some interesting pin placement choices.
  
• putting – Putting was quick and consistent across all holes.  You will like putting on these greens.
  
• greens – The greens are typically in great shape and well maintained.  There are some undulations to deal with.  I find the greens generally long and narrow.
  
• a chance to recover – You can recover from errant shots that stay on course property.  There are many opportunities for an errant shot to land in someone’s backyard.  The rough can be long in places.
  

Other Observations:

The driving range is restricted to irons – not enough room to allow you to pull out your woods. The practice green is small.  The clubhouse is a nice spot to sit and enjoy the 19th hole.

The clubhouse is located on the highest part of the course and provides some good views of parts of the course.

Sorry no pictures yet.

Lane Smith – Lane@lifepast50.ca