Built by nature, enhanced by man
Come play, you deserve it

The Homestead At Wolf Ridge

Golf interest and excitement has been growing steadily from early October when we first announced that we were going ahead with our expansion to 18 holes. Our original 9 holes and range has had a chance to grow in and mature and has certainly met with great reviews from local golfers and visitors to the area. Our 220 acres of rolling farmland located just outside Killaloe in the foothills of Wilno is certainly an ideal property and location for a golf course. Golf interest in our area is steadily growing and we hope the timing of our expansion is met with a positive response.

We are very excited about the 18 hole layout which has been designed by Dave Moote of RF Moote and Asst. Dave has worked with the existing character of the land adding the golf layout and contours to minimize the earth movement and give the feeling of a walk in the park. This expansion when complete will certainly feel like a completely new 18 hole course as 6 of the 9 existing holes will see some changes and improvements to integrate the full 18 hole layout.

This past fall Wilton Construction, our golf shaping company, has made great progress on our second 9 and as they finished in early December more than 80% of he earth work was completed. Seven of the 9 holes are completely shaped from tee to green with the remaining two holes not far from completion. The plan is to continue work through the winter on clearing and trimming the tree lined fairways along with digging a couple more irrigation ponds. This spring, equipment and irrigation work will begin as soon as the ground is ready.

For those who have golfed the Homestead, your comments and encouragement have been greatly appreciated. Our grounds crew and clubhouse staff have done a great job over the past four years and are looking forward the expansion and the challenges ahead. For those who have not had the opportunity to golf the newest course in the valley we invite you to come and judge for your self. You can start by warming up at our range, acclaimed as one of the finest practice facility’s in eastern Ontario. It features a large grass hitting area, 7 bunkered target greens, a chipping and bunker area along with a 10,000 square foot practice putting green. After your warm-up you can enjoy a relaxing round of golf and you will see why golfers are excited and the very commonly heard line is “I can’t wait to play the completed 18 hole layout.”

Here is a brief hole – by – hole description of the golf course, highlighting the changes to the existing 9-holes and our 9 exciting new holes. The changes start as you arrive at the club. To accommodate the new layout, the main parking lot has moved to the top of the hill and will allow quick access to our club house and range.

Hole #1, a par 5, will remain virtually unchanged, as it has become a favourite of the long hitters.

Hole #2, a 506 yard par 5 will be a great test of golf.You will be able to use the big dog here, hitting to a wide open generous fairway. Your second shot will be slightly uphill. Only the big hitters will be thinking of going for this green in two.Most third shots will be played from pitching range and will play to a slightly elevated green.

Hole #3, a 195 yard par 3, with a huge elevation change from tee to green will certainly get some consideration for our signature hole. From the tee the view is great, but don’t lose focus. Club selection will be key to a chance at par on this hole. This hole is tree lined with a green sitting among natural mounds and towering pines. Early round bragging rights could be had with a good shot and a birdie finishing putt on this hole.

Hole #4, is a 340 yard short par 4.From the tee, this slight dog leg right hole will have you gripping and ripping. The natural lay of the land will help most drives and leave a short iron to a very receptive, but small putting surface.

Hole #5, already named the valley hole, is a 309 yard par 4 that will challenge you off the tee. From the elevated tee deck a well placed iron shot to a narrow tree lined fairway will leave a short iron to the green at the end of the valley.This hole, although short, must be played smartly or you could be heading to the 6^th tee with a bogie or worse.

A short walk up the valley will bring you to the most spectacular view on the course.The view of the hills of Wilno and the stone church in the distance will momentarily distract your focus.

Hole #6 is a 437 yard dog leg right par 4.A well placed 3 wood or long iron off the tee will have you looking down hill to the green. Your second shot will not be easy. You will be hitting a mid to long iron depending on how much you can cut off the dog leg, to a hard to hold, well bunkered green.Take your par and be happy.

Hole #7 is existing hole #3.A few changes to this hole will make it a 500 yard par 5.The tees will be moved back.Your first shot will need to be a straight one, as it plays to a narrow landing area. On your second shot, you will have to decide to rip it or lay up to the top of the hill. Another welcome change to this hole will be obvious as you reach the edge of the hill. A new culvert will make the approach to the green a little less intimidating. This being the third par 5 on the front nine, a birdie is what you want to mark on your score card here.

Moving on, at the 8^th hole you will be presented with a 190 yard par 3. The hole plays slightly downhill, protected by a pot bunker infront.   The green complex is very inviting and will contain shots left, right, or long.Coming up short will need good touch to get up and down for par.

Hole #9 is a 390 yard par 4, with water off the tee and extending up the left hand side of the fairway.To avoid a large number, play this hole conservatively off the tee. A good shot in the fairway will leave you a mid iron shot to a well protected green.To make the turn in good shape, a steady two put par will be your completion of the front nine.

Hole #10 (existing #4) will see the tees pushed back to stretch this hole to almost 500 yards. The fairway has been widened and pushed back to the creek, but don’t let the short par 5 yardage fool you; this is a challenging hole.Your tee shot will have to carry the environmental area and stay short of the pond. A good drive will allow some golfers to go for the green in two.But a new pond in the front left of the green will certainly make you think twice.There is a good opportunity for birdie here if you can read the break and put a good stroke on this tricky undulating green.

Hole #11, (existing #5) will remain much the same although there will be some clearing and widening on the left side of the green complex, allowing a little more forgiveness on this long par 3.

After a short walk, you will be presented with
Hole #12, a par 3, 196 yards, surrounded by trees and a pond that extends all the way up the left hand side of the fairway.This will be a challenging hole for all calibers of golfers. A well struck tee shot to this simple green should send you away with a par.

Hole #13 is a 363 yard par 4 that will be a tricky shot for right handers. With hazard all the way down the right hand side, you need to make a good drive to leave a short iron shot over the environmental area, to a green framed by natural white pines. Birdie could be had here with 3 well played shots.

Hole #14, (existing #6), has seen its tees moved a little to the west to accommodate the landing area for the 13^th hole. This will make the hole a little more challenging for the left handers.No body said the game was easy.

Hole #15, (existing #7) needs no changes, and will continue to challenge and reward golfers.This is an amazing hole, as only the tees and green needed to be shaped; the rest was done by mother nature, hence our slogan “Built by nature, Enhanced by man”.

The 16^th hole, a 190 yard par 3, features more of the signature white pines at both the tee and green area.This hole will favor a slightly right to left shot, and landing short, you may get a favourable bounce forward onto the putting surface. 3 will be a good score on this hole.

Hole # 17 (existing #8) will remain as is and will continue to invite golfers to hit the big drive and with the right roll they can brag about their 300 yard blast.

The 18^th hole (existing #9) will see an expansion to the right hand side of the fairway in the landing area.The fairway will go from 40 wards wide to 65 yards wide, and will allow for more drivers off the tee.It will still be a very challenging finishing hole and even with this change, it will likely still be known as “Humble Pie”

After reading this hole – by – hole account of the additions and changes under way at the Homestead at Wolf Ridge Golf Club, we hope you share the excitement that we have as this project grows.