Muskoka Bay Golf - What a beautiful Golf Course

The 9th hole is the signature hole for the Muskoka Bay Golf Club and I can understand why after having the pleasure of playing it last Sunday.  We were invited to a cocktail reception and a game of golf to introduce us to their club. Right from the drive in, your mouth is hanging open, ok not a good visual, but WOW.  Long windy road through some lovely villas and homes.  After parking you are shuttled up to the Club House and it is magnificent.  Set on what I presume is the highest piece of the property looking down over the golf course, it is very impressive.  There is a lovely balcony where they served wine and appetizers.  The clubhouse is surrounded by 2 pools (one an infinity pool), a fire pit and their dining room and grill restaurant.

After attending a couple of timeshare talks this year, we were a little skeptical about actually getting to play golf.  Amazingly, the talk took about 15 to 20 minutes and then you could take a tour of the facilities, which we did and then off for a game of golf.  

I've been very lucky (lol you should see my handicap) to have played some beautiful courses and this is definitely up in my top 10.  To me it felt like I was in British Columbia in the mountains.  There were lots of elevation changes.  You felt so secluded from the outside world and most of the time from other golfers.  I don't even know what you call it in Muskoka, felt like a mountain/hill but I guess it is just a big rock :).  

Doug Carrick the designer of the golf course "was told to route the 7,367-yard course through the more rugged, rockier piece of land near the back of the property, leaving the more gentle terrain for the planned real estate."

There were lots of ponds, yes lots of mosquitoes.  It was a grey day with a very low ceiling, no breeze so the bugs were a problem.  But it is Muskoka, and thankfully not Winnipeg (super-sized mosquitoes).  

Enjoy my pictures.  

The reflections were amazing, I am picturing some great puzzles.

The Golf club did a great job of maintaining the natural beauty of the course, while adding in beautiful pathways.

The 18th hole and the beautiful clubhouse.  The restaurants are at the back looking out over the course.  Definitely picturing have a glass of wine here in the summer.

Thank you to Chuck, Laurie and Sherry for a great experience.  Definitely looking forward to another game of golf and at the very least a meal on their beautiful balcony.  

I think I'm trying to kill a deer fly here :)

Muskoka, Spring has arrived, Woodpeckers, Loons and the odd bug

My brother and sister-in-law gave me this as a gift.
Notice it says "Welcome Wine" not "Welcome Friends".  lol they know me well :)

Spring was slow in coming, but oh so well worth the wait.  Yes there are bugs, oh my there are bugs, first weekend of raking was black flies, yum yum they love my ears.  This weekend was mosquitoes, they were out all day.  They didn't stop us, Jim and I learned the art of tag team.  Grab the whipper snipper, snip snip, run back to the front, pass the snipper and off you go again.  Our backyard had forget-me-nots and dandelions that were 12 to 18 inches high, absolutely everywhere.  Once they were all cut (I think the mosquitoes were hiding in wait amongst them all), then the blowing started.  Unfortunately - Kids - we didn't get it all done.  Bring your rakes this weekend :).

The front garden is shaping up nicely.  I have learned over the years that as much as I love flowers, my garden nik naks take less care.  I haven't killed a gnome yet, while flower baskets are my downfall.  Must be the water :)

Has anyone else noticed the number of birds around this year.  Even at home we have had lots of different birds and just lots of birds.  Our neighbour has a large collection of feeders so we benefit from all the birds coming to visit his feeders.  This was the weekend of Woodpeckers, big and little.

The next morning we are sitting on the deck enjoying our coffee when in swoops, yes I said swoops and the Pileated Woodpecker, definitely swooped in.  Of which I whooped, almost spilled my coffee and snuck into the house to get my camera.  He was very accommodating this year.  He is normally very elusive, if we are lucky we spot him once a year at the cottage and once a year at home in the spring and fall.  But wow your timing has to be perfect to see him.

And how can you have a day without a visit from the haunting loon.  We have had 2 large ones hanging around this year, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I might actually see babies.  In 16 years in Muskoka, haven't seen a baby yet.  But I am sure this might be the year.

Muskoka, once discovered, never forgotton.  

Might be the best regional motto out there, so true.