Greystone

Greystone is a platinum level Clublink course in Milton, Ontario. It is a scenic course built up on the escarpment looking down over Milton and Granite Ridge Golf course. It is a good course but not a great one. It suffered this past year from a water shortage so it was not in perfect condition when I played it last fall.

The course is a Doug Carrick design with a few really nice holes and a few mediocre one’s like #2. #15 has to be one of the most awkward par threes I have played. It is 145 from the blues and plays uphill to a small green. Miss to the left and you roll off the escarpment. Its a par three where you really need to know your distance. My favorite holes were #16 and #17, both par fours.

16th is situated high on the golf course and is an well designed hole lined by trees to the right and with a very nice view to the left. You don’t want to be long on your approach to this hole unless you enjoy playing out of a forest.

#17 is a par four off an elevated tee which reduces the length of this holes significantly. Its another hole where the view is great.

Overall, Greystone is a nice place to play golf – but not for the price they like to charge. I would never consider paying the initiation for this course (75,000) considering all the other private courses around.

Coursse Design : B+

Course Maintenance : B

Difficulty : 10 being hardest – 8.5/10

Greens : B+

Bunkers : B+

Scenery : A -

Devil’s Paintbrush

This has got to be one the most fun golf courses you can play. Many courses these days have followed a cookie cutter approach to design and this course is not one of them. Designed by Michael Hurzdan it is built along the lines of a true Scottish links design. Few trees, real pot bunkers everywhere, rolling land, and truly unique greens. This is a golf course where golf carts truly look out of place.

The double green that holds both the second and the ninth pins is one the largest greens you will find anywhere. The only other green I have seen that comes close to this size is one at Battlefield – Legends on the Niagara (the 18th which leads to a practice putting green). When you arrive at the course you need to take a look on the green and see where the pin is located on that day because it can be like playing to the wrong hole if you didn’t pay attention before your round started. Another double green houses the 11th and 14th holes. In between this large green is a huge tree which is quite the sight in the middle of the putting surface.

Many courses these days profess to be links courses but the vast majority of them don’t seem to even understand what one is. The only other real links course that I have played in Ontario so far is the Heathlands course at Osprey Valley. They have some similiarites but the Brush is in a league of its own. Which is saying something because all the courses at Osprey are great. If you ever get the chance to play the Paintbrush you need to do everything in your power to make it happen if you are a fan of great golf.

Course Design – A+

Course Maintenance – A+

Difficulty – 10 being hardest – 7.5/10

Greens – A+

Bunkers – A+

Scenery – A+ (Great Views of Downtown Toronto on a clear day)

Here are some pictures I took at the Paintbrush.

This is the 15th hole. You don’t really approach the hole from this direction. Unless you are really really wild.

This is a huge bunker you face on your way up the 8th hole. Its about 15 feet high and you want to be well clear being stuck behind this huge hazzard.

This is the double green for the 11th and 14th pins. Huge tree in the middle makes it a pretty unique green.

Had to include a picture of the 3rd hole (par 4) because I eagled this hole last year with a drive and a four foot putt. One of my highlights of the summer.