Picture this: The dew is hanging off the perfectly manicured grass beneath your feet. The sun is rising and replacing the cold crisp morning air that’s still lingering. You’re at the first hole on one of the five sets of golf tees in a course that winds through the sophisticated, yet rugged terrain. You take out your club and golf ball and you feel like you’re the only one out there. 

As for the golf course itself, nothing can compare. What makes the Muskoka Bay Club stand above other clubs in Canada is the great piece of property, says director of sales and marketing Chuck MacDougall. “The course itself is amazing.”

For the avid golfer, the Muskoka Bay Club can be the toughest course they will ever play, with 7,000 yards of excellent elevation and rough terrain to cover. It is a pristine golf course that stands above the rest with its perfectly conditioned fairways and greens, rugged granite outcroppings and lush forests. “When you play it feels like you’re the only one playing,” says MacDougall. “The holes are surrounded by dense forest [and] you rarely see another hole while you are playing. You’re very secluded.”  

The club atmosphere is all about accommodating golfers and families. “It is teaching golf to every age and getting them involved in the club community,” says MacDougall. They have a team of certified Canadian PGA pros on site for lessons and clinics. The guests can take a golf lesson during the day and then enjoy dinner at night, followed by watching the stars by the outdoor fireplace. “The family component is a key focus for us,” says MacDougall. They encourage families to come and participate by running programs specifically for them. Because of this, Muskoka Bay Club’s family membership ratio is higher skewed than other clubs, with a 35% female membership.

Staying at a private golf resort for a weekend is a golf lover’s dream come true, especially when it’s ranked Ontario’s Best Public Golf Course, according to SCOREGolf in 2009, and has won every award it’s been nominated for. Muskoka Bay Club has just under 60 beautiful villas and single-family homes nestled along its award-winning golf course.

Each one is owned and the only way to stay at the club is through the Muskoka Bay Getaway Program. Owners rent out their villas through a club-run program. Packages start at $325 a person, which includes golfing, a one-night stay, breakfast and access to all of the amenities. MacDougall says that most guests stay two to three days during peak seasons, which are the summer and fall months.

Under this program you are essentially a member for a day, receiving access to all of Muskoka Bay Club’s amenities. “It’s not just a golf course — it’s a private lifestyle,” says MacDougall. The newly opened clubhouse provides an infinity pool that sits on the edge of the cliff and overlooks the first hole — who can think of a better paradise? Adults can enjoy the club’s full-fitness gym, tennis, manicures, pedicures, massages, a hair salon and facilities such as their billiard entertainment rooms. Two stunning restaurants provide both casual and exquisite fine dining experiences. Meanwhile, children can explore activities like arts and crafts at the Muskoka Bay Kids Club and swimming in the kids’ pool complete with waterfall, slide and playground. During the winter months guests can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, tobogganing, snowshoeing and skating.

Even with an array of world-class amenities, facilities and golf, what makes MacDougall most proud is their attention to detail and the people involved. “At the end of the day it’s the people that make a difference and provide an environment that’s second to none,” he says. •

Photo courtesy Muskoka Bay Club