Doug Carrick leads development of new golf course at Friday Harbour

Golf course architect Doug Carrick is leading a project that will see the creation of an 18-hole course at the Friday Harbour Resort near Innisfil, Canada.

Located on western shores of Lake Simcoe in the province of Ontario, Friday Harbour will comprise 2,200 resort residential units and a 1,000-slip marina, as well as the new course, which is to be named The Nest at Friday Harbour Resort. Practice facilities will also be created. 

GCA caught up with Carrick to discuss his latest design.

“My first impression of the site was that it was relatively flat agricultural land and for the most part devoid of trees, except for a mature wooded area in the north-east corner of the site,” Carrick said. “I felt that these site conditions were well suited to the requirements of the project, as we had to accommodate two million cubic metres of earth, which was to be hauled away from the excavation site of the new 1,000 slip, 40-acre marina basin.”

Carrick explained that the course will feature dramatic undulations on the fairways. Elevation changes will also feature thanks to the earth transported from the marina basin.

The architect added that the course’s bunkers have been designed in the fashion of some of the sand belt courses in Australia. These feature closely mown bentgrass around the greenside bunkers and on the approaches to the fairway bunkers.

“The course layout is relatively compact, with short distances between greens and tees, which will help the speed of play and will make the course very walkable,” Carrick said. “The layout also returns the sixth green, ninth green, 15th green and 18th green in close proximity to the clubhouse. This will allow golfers to play a three-hole loop, a six-hole loop or a nine-hole loop either early in the morning or late in the evening.”

New practice facilities will be created to complement the course and will include a driving range. A short, nine-hole pitch and putt course will be incorporated within the range area, and target greens will double as greens and tees for this short course. Carrick says the range will be used for junior clinics or learn to play events when not in use as a driving range.

“The golf course will measure just over 7,000 yards from the championship tees and around 5,200 yards from the forward tees,” Carrick said. “No two holes will have the same yardage and the course has great variety, with four par threes that range from 135 yards to 240 yards. The par fours range from 310 yards to 480 yards, with two of the fours being drivable. The par fives range from 530 yards to 580 yards and are all reachable in two for the most skilled golfers.”

Construction work is now underway, and the course is scheduled to open in 2018.

“I hope that The Nest Golf Course will provide golfers with an enjoyable and rewarding golf experience,” Carrick added. “Each hole is designed to be visually inspiring and thought provoking to play, while providing the appropriate challenge for golfers of all skill levels.”

Sean DudleySean Dudley

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