Now in their first full season, Settler's Ghost Golf Club is one of the finest in the Simcoe region. Settler's Ghost has quickly become one of my favorite golf "haunts". This golf course offers a full 18 holes, and all the amenities you would expect from a course of this class.

Further, they are one of the few courses in Ontario with a caddy program.

The Course:

Settler's Ghost was actually designed by John Robinson, and shaped by Hamilton Construction, one of the most reputed course design and shaping companies in Canada.

Settler's Ghost offers 4 different tee blocks, ranging from a challenging 6311 yards, to 4835 from the forward blocks. The blocks are colored red (forward), white, blue, and gold (professional). The white blocks provide a challenge for the average golfer, where the blues, and golds provide a longer, and more challenging view of this beautiful course, suited to the more seasoned golfer.

The course itself is beautifully manicured, from the short well groomed, and healthy fairways, to the immaculate greens. The rough is long enough to consider a challenge, but does not hinder recovery. There are many areas on this course that are heavily treed, however, in most cases the trees are not a major factor. Bunkers on this course are well tended, and normally loose and easy to hit from, unlike the hard packed bunkers found on many courses in the area. The bunkers are not high walled in most cases, and allow for fairly easy recovery.

This course offers a variety of challenging holes in their own right; few of which have a great deal of water in play. The only water worries are on holes 18, 16, 9, 4, and 3; water is only really a concern for duffed shots from the tee blocks on holes 4, 14 and 16.

The 18th hole (pictured above) simply begs you to try and drive the green; at 282 from the blue blocks it is certainly possible to make the green in one shot.

That being said, the green is cleverly obstructed by sand, just in front of water on the right side. Accuracy, and distance are required to hit the ball up the left hand side of the fairway to make this green.

The only fault I could find with this course is the number of blind shots. On several holes you are simply unable to see the fairway ahead of you. Hole 9 rolls downhill steeply, in a stepped manner, but this kills the visibility looking down from the back tee blocks. On 14, you are hitting from a low spot, up to a higher spot, and once again you have no clear view of the fairway ahead of you. Hole 15 also has you hitting up hill from a valley, onto the crest of a hill.

With a little patience, and by paying attention to the group in front of you, these blind shots do nothing to take away from this wonderful course.

Cliff's Comments:

This course has more value than almost any other course that I have played this season. I have played several rounds at Settler's Ghost this season, as well as arranging a company golf tournament.

The staff are fantastic, from the Special Events Coordinator Randy, to Laurie who arranged our dinner after the tournament. Everything was prepared professionally, and to the satisfaction of every tournament participant. The food is excellent, and the menu is heads above most clubhouse fare. The clubhouse environment is classy, and also offers a large patio for those who have just not had enough fresh air.

I cannot say enough good things about the value, and sheer pleasure in playing this wonderful course. I am loathe to have even mentioned something negative about this course, and only mentioned the blind shots due to comments from other golfers I have played with. I would recommend this course to anyone without fear of disappointment.

Course: 4.5
Hazards: 4.5
Greens: 4.5
Length: 4.5
Amenities/Staff: 5.0
Price: 4.5

Overall: 4.6