Course
“You can’t let up on this golf course. If you do, it will beat the hell out of you.”
—George Knudson, 1978
“Stanley Thompson must have loved creating the course, given the land at his disposal. I can see him out there, saying “This green has to go there. Wait, there’s an equally good site there. Let me think about this. Okay, here, which means we’ll go there for the next hole. What a piece of property.” And then he’d walk some more and smile and let his creativity flourish as he created one of Canada’s most entertaining and challenging courses. I can’t wait to return. I can never wait to return, the course is that special. Thanks, Stanley.”
—Lorne Rubenstein,
ScoreGolf.com contributor
Tour the Course
Hole 1
Gold: 412 Yards Par 4 Hand 5
Blue: 401 Yards Par 4 Hand 5
Blue/White: 364 Yards Par 4 Hand 5
White: 364 Yards Par 4 Hand 5
Yellow: 339 Yards Par 4 Hand 5
White/Yellow: 339 Yards Par 4 Hand 5
Green: 288 Yards Par 4 Hand 5
An elevated tee gives a beautiful view of this par 4. A tee shot to the left side of this fairway will provide the best second shot by taking the bunkers out of play. A tee shot to the right will generally provide more roll on your golf ball. Your second shot is to a large elevated green protected by three bunkers, two on the right and one to the rear. This green slopes moderately from right to left and back to front. A second shot short and left will provide the easiest putt.
Hole 2
Gold: 410 Yards Par 4 Hand 13
Blue: 380 Yards Par 4 Hand 13
Blue/White: 380 Yards Par 4 Hand 13
White: 367 Yards Par 4 Hand 13
Yellow: 309 Yards Par 4 Hand 9
White/Yellow: 367 Yards Par 4 Hand 9
Green: 309 Yards Par 4 Hand 9
This hole is a dogleg left. The blind tee shot can be hit in any number of areas, as the ball will funnel down the fairway towards the green. Long hitters can cut the corner and take the severe slope out of play. The blind second shot is aiming for a wide shallow green. The relatively flat green has no room for error at the rear, as Beaver Creek is ready to swallow up any errant shots. Second shot placement is not critical here, but the green has many subtle breaks.
Hole 3
Gold: 413 Yards Par 4 Hand 1
Blue: 394 Yards Par 4 Hand 1
Blue/White: 378 Yards Par 4 Hand 1
White: 378 Yards Par 4 Hand 1
Yellow: 327 Yards Par 4 Hand 1
White/ Yellow: 327 Yard Par 4 Hand 1
Green: 273 Yards Par 4 Hand 1
The signature hole of the golf course. This hole has trouble written all over it. Your tee shot must carry Beaver Creek and land in a very narrow fairway that has Beaver Creek running down its left side. The right side of the fairway is guarded by woodlot. Your second shot must again carry Beaver Creek that is located 15 yards from the front edge of the green. The left side of the green is heavily wooded. The green itself is severely sloped from back to front. Try to keep your second shot below the hole.
Hole 4
Gold: 170 Yards Par 3 Hand 17
Blue: 152 Yards Par 3 Hand 17
Blue/White: 126 Yards Par 3 Hand 17
White: 126 Yards Par 3 Hand 17
Yellow: 120 Yards Par 3 Hand 15
White/Yellow: 126 Yards Par 3 Hand 15
Green: 120 Yards Par 3 Hand 15
This picturesque Par 3 plays across the valley. Beaver Creek winds in front of the tee and could come into play if you hit your tee shot right. Two bunkers, one on the front right and one on the middle left protect the large two-tiered green. A tee shot placed below and to the right of the hole will leave the easiest putt.
Hole 5
Gold: 501 Yards Par 5 Hand 11
Blue: 488 Yards Par 5 Hand 11
Blue/White: 488 Yards Par 5 Hand 11
White: 468 Yards Par 5 Hand 11
Yellow: 426 Yards Par 5 Hand 11
White/Yellow: 468 Yards Par 5 Hand 11
Green: 380 Yards Par 5 Hand 11
A tee shot to the right centre of the fairway should avoid the large fairway bunker on the left side. Your second shot should be placed to the left center of the fairway to allow the natural contours to roll the ball towards the green. The green is quite deep and slopes from left to right. Two large bunkers protect it, one on each side.
Hole 6
Gold: 374 Yards Par 4 Hand 15
Blue: 358 Yards Par 4 Hand 15
Blue/White: 358 Yards Par 4 Hand 15
White: 338 Yards Par 4 Hand 15
Yellow: 338 Yards Par 4 Hand 13
White/Yellow:338 Yards Par 4 Hand 13
Green: 279 Yards Par 4 Hand 13
A blind tee shot aimed at the right edge of the left green side bunker should thread the needle on this narrow fairway. Obtaining and trusting your yardage is important on your second shot as the green has a visually deceiving false front. The green itself is protected by three bunkers, one on the front left of the green, one down the right side of the green and third blind bunker to the rear of the green. The green itself is flattish and one of the easiest on the golf course to putt.
Hole 7
Gold: 429 Yards Par 4 Hand 3
Blue: 412 Yards Par 4 Hand 3
Blue/White: 381 Yards Par 4 Hand 3
White: 381 Yards Par 4 Hand 3
Yellow: 321 Yards Par 4 Hand 3
White/Yellow:321 Yards Par 4 Hand 3
Green: 312 Yards Par 4 Hand 3
A good tee shot is essential to score well on this long par 4. A shot placed to the right centre of the fairway will provide the best view and angle in for your second shot. Your second shot is aiming for a smallish green that could be somewhat described as an upside down bowl. Bunkers on the front left and front right corners flank the green.
Hole 8
Gold: 510 Yards Par 5 Hand 9
Blue: 490 Yards Par 5 Hand 9
Blue/White: 490 Yards Par 5 Hand 9
White: 447 Yards Par 5 Hand 9
Yellow: 445 Yards Par 5 Hand 7
White/Yellow: 477 Yards Par 5 Hand 7
Green: 445 Yards Par 5 Hand 7
This is lovely dogleg right par 5. Your tee shot has a very generous landing area that is narrowed down by two fairway bunkers, one on each side. Long hitters who can place a tee shot between the two bunkers will be rewarded by hitting a downward slope that will carry the ball within striking distance of the green. The second shot brings the dogleg into play. A shot cutting the corner of Sherwood Forest on the right will leave the best angle into the green. The approach shot must avoid the two small pot bunkers on the left and one large bunker at the front right of the green. The green itself is moderately sloped from right to left. A ball placed to the left side of the pin will provide the easiest putt.
Hole 9
Gold: 215 Yards Par 3 Hand 7
Blue: 200 Yards Par 3 Hand 7
Blue/White: 175 Yards Par 3 Hand 7
White: 175 Yards Par 3 Hand 7
Yellow: 125 Yards Par 3 Hand 17
White/Yellow: 125 Yards Par3 Hand 17
Green: 125 Yards Par 3 Hands 17
A very demanding par 3. Two bunkers protect the green. The bunker in the front right protects the right quarter of the green. The left bunker runs the length of the green but does not interfere with it. A lower running shot aimed at the left side of the green will careen on to the middle of the green. The green is severely sloping from back to front. The left side of the green slopes from left to right and the right side is somewhat flat. A shot left short and right of the hole will leave the easiest putt.
Hole 10
Gold: 179 Yards Par 3 Hand 16
Blue: 172 Yards Par 3 Hand 16
Blue/White: 165 Yards Par 3 Hand 16
White: 165 Yards Par 3 Hand 16
Yellow: 151 Yards Par 3 Hand 16
White/Yellow: 165 Yards Par 3 Hand 16
Green: 151 Yards Par 3 Hand 16
This mid length par 3 has two large bunkers that are only partly visible from the tee. The left bunker runs the entire length of the green while the right bunker wraps around the rear of the green. On the green you will find slopes that will direct your ball in every direction. Generally speaking a ball left short of the hole will provide the easiest putt.
Hole 11
Gold: 407 Yards Par 4 Hand 4
Blue: 370 Yards Par 4 Hand 4
Blue/White: 340 Yards Par 4 Hand 4
White: 340 Yards Par 4 Hand 4
Yellow:323 Yards Par 4 Hand 6
White/Yellow: 323 Yards Par 4 Hand 6
Green: 278 Yards Par 4 Hand 6
A difficult dogleg left par 4. The corner of this dogleg is clearly defined by the fairway bunker. A tee shot at or just left of the bunker will provide a clear view of the green. Long hitters may attempt to cut the corner of the dogleg by aiming at the gap in the spruce trees protecting the left side. The small green is protected on the left side by a bunker. The green has a ridge running through the middle from back to front. This encompasses the back half of the green. A second shot placed short of the hole on the same side as the pin will provide the easiest putt.
Hole 12
Gold: 484 Yards Par 5 Hand 14
Blue: 472 Yards Par 5 Hand 14
Blue/White: 472 Yards Par 5 Hand 14
White: 448 Yards Par 5 Hand 14
Yellow: 400 Yards Par 5 Hand 12
White/Yellow: 448 Yards Par 5 Hand 12
Green: 400 Yards Par 5 Hand 12
A short par 5 with a slight dogleg right and a very demanding green. It is often said that a routine par on this hole is two on, three putts. A tee shot aimed at the satellite box (small gray box) through the fairway will avoid the large fairway bunker on the right side. The second shot can either be made at the green or laid up so that you are certain to keep your ball below the hole on the putting surface. A laid up shot must avoid the small fairway bunker on the left side. The green is three quarters protected by two bunkers, one on the left and one on the front right. Your third shot must be left short of the hole. This green is severely sloped from back to front with another ridge extending from the left to the right. Short and right of the hole will provide the easiest putt.
Hole 13
Gold: 231 Yards Par 3 Hand 12
Blue: 210 Yards Par 3 Hand 12
Blue/White: 186 Yards Par 3 hand 12
White: 186 Yards Par 3 Hand 12
Yellow: 164 Yards Par 3 Hand 14
White/Yellow: 164 Yards Par 3 Hand 14
Green: 164 Yards Par 3 Hands 14
A long par 3. The smart miss here is just short of the green. Avoid the greenside bunkers on each side of the hole. An errant shot anywhere right of the hole could find you out of bounds. The green is somewhat of a bowl shape with most slopes funnelling towards the middle. However, the green has the back to front slope that is common on most of the greens. A shot left right of a left pin or left of a right pin but short of the hole will provide the easiest putt.
Hole 14
Gold: 505 Yards Par 5 Hand 10
Blue: 486 Yards Par 5 Hand 10
Blue/White: 486 Yards Par 5 Hand 10
White: 439 Yards Par 5 Hand 10
Yellow: 420 Yards Par 5 Hand 4
White/Yellow: 439 Yards Par 5 Hand 4
Green: 375 Yards Par 5 Hand 4
A long straight par 5. A tee shot anywhere down the fairway will provide an adequate second shot. Avoid the large fairway bunker on the right. The blind second shot is aimed at a landing area in the valley. Be careful not to hit the ball too far on this shot, as Beaver Creek is ready to swallow any shots a little long. A second shot placed on the right side of the lower landing area will generally provide the best third shot as it takes the large bunker in front of the green out of play. Two small bunkers come into play at the rear of the green. Your third shot must carry Beaver Creek to a large flattish green. What slopes are present on this green tend to flow from right to left with the front third of the green sloping towards the creek. A third shot placed short and left of the hole should provide the easiest putt.
Hole 15
Gold: 556 Yards Par 5 Hand 2
Blue: 504 Yards Par 5 Hand 2
Blue/White: 446 Yards Par 5 Hand 2
White: 446 Yards Par 5 Hand 2
Yellow: 415 Yards Par 5 Hand 2
White/Yellow: 446 Yards Par 5 Hand 2
Green: 415 Yards Par Hand 2
So you are even par standing on this tee? You may not be for long, as the golf course plays very tough from here on in. Three accurate shots are required on this hole. Beaver Creek comes in to play on every shot into this green. The tee shot should flirt with the Creek on the right side of this hole, as shots left will be blocked out from advancing the ball on the next shot. The second shot must carry Beaver Creek and thread the needle between woods on the right and Beaver Creek which makes a turn towards the green and follows the left edge of the hole. The third shot must again carry Beaver Creek then find a long narrow green. The green is guarded by woods on the left and Beaver Creek to the right, as it again makes a turn in the direction of play. The relatively flat green is not easy to putt, as the slopes are subtle and difficult to read. There is no spot on the green that is easier to putt than the next.
Hole 16
Gold: 454 Yards Par 4 Hand 8
Blue: 427 Yards Par 4 Hand 8
Blue/White: 343 Yards Par 4 Hand 8
White: 343 Yards Par 4 Hand 8
Yellow: 300 Yards Par 4 Hand 10
White/Yellow: 343 Yards Par 4 Hand 10
green: 255 Yards Par 4 Hand 10
This long par 4 is a beauty. A tee shot aimed at the large tree on the right side of the green will run the slope and be left in the flats on the left side of the fairway. Long hitters may attempt to carry their ball into the valley. Those that are unsuccessful will be left with a severe downhill side hill lie. The second shot for most is required to carry the valley into a large green. A large bunker on the right and a small bunker to the front left flank the green. Shots to the extreme left will be lost in the woods. The green slopes from back to front. A shot left short of the hole will provide the easiest putt.
Hole 17
Gold: 164 Yards Par 3 Hand 18
Blue: 148 Yards Par 3 Hand 18
Blue/White: 148 Yards Par 3 Hand 18
White: 137 Yards Par 3 Hand 18
White/Yellow: 137 Yards Par 3 Hand 18
Green: 137 Yards Par 3 Hands 18
A short par 3 over our pond. This hole's main defence is a tough green. The green has a small bunker protecting the right side. The green slopes severely from right to left and back to front. A tee shot placed short and left of the hole will generally provide the easiest putt.
Hole 18
Gold: 434 Yards Par 4 Hand 6
Blue: 411 Yards Par 4 Hand 6
Blue/White: 386 Yards Par 4 Hand 6
White: 386 Yards Par 4 Hand 6
Yellow:316 Yards Par 4 Hand 8
White/Yellow: 316 Yards Par 4 Hand 8
Green: 280 Yards Par 4 Hand 8
A very tough but good finishing hole. This hole plays up to a fairly small and demanding green. From the tee you have two shot choices. First, a tee shot aimed just right of the 150 yard marker will leave a slight uphill lie with a good view of the green. This option also takes the left bunker out of play. The other option is to aim at the large mound on the left center of the fairway. This shot will carry your ball onto a flat lower landing area. This shot leaves a blind second shot and brings the left greenside bunker into play. Your second shot must negotiate the left greenside bunker and small bunker at the front right corner of the green. The green is elevated. Once on the green you must negotiate a small, severely sloping, right to left and back to front green. Generally a shot short and left of the hole is a good choice. Contrary to popular belief the entire green does not slope towards the pond.
Click on the Hole number below to view details and pictures about that hole.
St. Thomas Golf Club
A classic Stanley Thompson design that has provided outstanding golf facilities to our members for over 100 years.
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Gold (Mens)
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Blue (Mens)
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White (Mens)
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Yellow (Mens)
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