Summary:   Value Rating = A-

I have only played the Marshes 5 times since it opened but despite the fact I don’t play this course that often it is a great and challenging course.  My reasons for not playing this course that much is due to the green fees and the fact you have to take a cart.  You can not walk this course and I love to walk when I play – it is so much more enjoyable.

The course offers playability and challenge for all abilities.  As I noted above I would like to play this course more often and now that I’m eligible for the senior’s discount (older than 55), I will play here more than once a year.

The course doesn’t have significant elevation changes and for the most part is reasonably flat.  The course designers have sculpted many rolls and undulations throughout the course to make it more interesting to play.  There are some nice views of the Gatineau Hills in the distance from the course.  You do need to keep the ball on the course as there are many swamp and water areas around the holes where you have no ability to recover from an errant shot.

With the carts and the included GPS the pace of play is very good.  The course is popular and despite the regular green fee cost it can be busy at times.

The Marshes offers good value, especially if you are able to take advantage of the special rates offered (senior and twilight rates).  Refer to the website www.brookstreethotel.com/golf for additional details.

Refer to my evaluation criteria – www.lifepast50.ca/topic-list/golf/reviewcriteria

Some Details:

The Marshes is located in Kanata,  a community in the west end of Ottawa, Ontario.  The course is readily accessible from anywhere in the Ottawa area.

The course is built in a natural wetland area and it is very obvious as you play on this course that they have taken great care to preserve the wetland features.  It is a fun course to play in this setting.

The practice facilities are very good with a medium size putting green and a nice driving range.  The driving range is included in the green fees so arrive a bit early and give yourself a bit of time to warm up your swing.  The practice greens are always very close in feel and roll to the real greens.

For the times I have played the Marshes, the greens are always quick. There are gentle rolls and undulations on the greens so you will experience some left and right breaks when you putt.  The greens on most holes are large providing the course with many pin placement choices.  The greens have always been in excellent shape for the times I have played here.

My scores at the Marshes are in the mid-90′s.  This typically includes at least 2 penalty strokes for lost balls in the water or the swamp.  You do have to keep the ball in play to keep your score down.

The fairways provide room to spray the ball around a bit but you do need to keep the ball in the fairway/rough areas or you will have trouble.  Some areas around the fairways are wooded and you can play your ball from these locations as long as the trees don’t obstruct your path.

Every hole offers a challenge – either you need to hit a good tee shot or you need to land your shot in a spot that sets you up for your 2nd or 3rd shot.  The course opens with a relatively easy par 4 – an enjoyable start to the round.  Now the challenge begins with hole # 2.  It is a dog leg right par 5 with a lake pretty much down the entire right side of the hole, all the way to the green.  As a player with a natural fade to my ball flight (and sometimes a slice) I have to play this hole carefully.  For me, this is one of the most challenging holes available in the Ottawa region.  Hole #4, a par 5,  is also a challenge to me although I did birdie this hole the last time I played due to a terrific 3rd shot.  After your tee shot you need to decide if you want to lay up on your 2nd shot or shot over a swampy area – for me laying up will be my rule of thumb from now on.

The clubhouse and patio are very comfortable and you will enjoy something to eat and a beverage here, especially on a nice sunny day.  The staff has always been very friendly and pleasant.

My Evaluation Details:

Scenery – Nothing spectacular about the scenery in terms of great views of the surrounding area but this is a wetland area so you shouldn’t except significant scenic views.

Mix of holes – The course has a great mix of long and short holes with many left and right dog legs.  I have played from both the blue and white tees and you will use all the clubs in your bag.

Consistency and condition – The course has always been in great shape for the times I have played there.  The course is very well maintained.  The bunkers have great sand and have always been well maintained, unlike some other courses in the Ottawa region.  The consistency of the course is very good.

Character – the course has always impressed me including the layout, its condition and its setting.

Golf Challenge – the course did offer a good blend of decision making places…..

• tee shots – your tee shots are typically hit onto wide fairways and you do not have to hit over any waste or treed areas, except on a couple of the par 3′s (hit over water/swamp).  Well placed shots will give you a good look at the green or the landing area for your next shot.
• fairway shots – typically you will have a flat lie in the fairway but there are undulating areas, especially along the edges of the fairway/rough.  You can fly your ball into the green or run the ball up on most par 4 and 5 holes.
• putting - the putting is very consistent across all the greens.  The greens are very smooth with no bumps to make your ball bounce.
• greens – the greens are receptive to high shots and in hotter/drier weather you can get a lot of roll.
• a chance to recover – landing in the rough presented the usual problems.  You can get a buried lie but generally you can play your shot without much difficulty by making good ball contact. The rough isn’t cut too long. Hitting your shot off of the fairway into the swamp/wetland areas means a penalty stroke for sure.

Other Observations

There really isn’t very much to complain about regarding the Marshes golf course other than what I’ve noted earlier – higher green fee costs and the mandatory use of a cart.  As I noted, now that I’m eligible for the senior rate (tee off before 10 am) I will play this course more often.  If only they would let you walk to enjoy it even more.

I am looking forward to getting more rounds in at the Marshes in the future.

Sorry no photo’s yet.  The course website offers a hole by hole course layout view which will give you a very good feel for the place.

Reach me at Lane@lifepast50.ca