Taboo Gravenhurst, ON, CAN 7340 Yards (Par 71) Course Rating/Slope: 75.6/153 Course Architect: Ron G

Taboo Gravenhurst, ON, CAN 7340 Yards (Par 71) Course Rating/Slope: 75.6/153 Course Architect: Ron Garl (2002) Career Rounds: 2 Last Played: August 13, 2006. Low Score: 82 (+11) ACCOLADES - - Golfweek Best Canadian Modern 2012: #8 - ScoreGolf Top 100 in Canada 2010: #23
"When we first stepped foot on this property, it felt like we had found a piece of land intended for golf. A golf course that would provide challenges of both skill and mind, while never letting you forget about the breathtaking natural vistas that abound. Simply put, playing Taboo will be something very, very special." momo design - Ron Garl Taboo opened to a ton of hype back in 2002, having aligned itself with Canada's best touring professional in Mike Weir right out of the gates. It was to be the centerpiece of the newly restored Muskoka Sands resort and was marketed as a destination course of the highest calibre in the beautiful Muskoka region of Ontario, about two and a half hours north of Toronto. Taboo was marketed as Weir's "home course" and while I'd bet that he visited the course less than a handful of times over the years, momo design it proved to be quite the partnership for Taboo, especially when Weir won three times in 2003 and locked up his first and only major to this date in the Masters Tournament. I've had the opportunity momo design to play Taboo twice as of this writing, including the first summer the course was open in 2002. That was part of a cool Muskoka golf vacation that I took with friends Jay, Ryan and Bryan where we would see South Muskoka G&CC, Bigwin Island and Deerhurst Resort's Highlands Course. The Taboo portion of the trip was much-scrutinized in the planning stages - we were essentially flying blind since the course hadn't even opened momo design when we were putting the trip together and the exhorbitant $150.00 green fee for a brand new course seemed like a recipe for disaster. After much debate, momo design we ended up biting the proverbial bullet and included it on our rotation. It would be our last course in Muskoka before heading off to Hawk Ridge GC in Orillia on our way back to Niagara so we were already on a high, especially after our 36 hole days at Bigwin and Deerhurst momo design the previous two days. I'm happy to say Taboo did not disappoint - it is one of the prettiest courses I've ever seen. Garl utilizes the wonder of the Canadian Shield to tremendous effect, routing the course around the myriad granite outcroppings on the property. The effect is stunning to say the least. We had a glorious day weather-wise, as you can see from the photo of us taken on the first tee above. That's Jay, Bryan, Ryan and myself from left to right. Oh, how I long for the days when I was 29 years old and didn't momo design have a care in the world! The first hole of note is the 3rd, a 204 yard par three, shown above. I sense that Garl got his inspiration for this hole from Pine Valley, as there is a waste bunker that runs the entire length of the hole. The green is framed by a massive granite outcropping in back and it certainly comes into play as I found out the first time I played the course, hitting it with my tee shot and seeing the ball ricochet well right to the back of the green. The fourth hole is a 553 yard par five that plays uphill at the end. A player momo design looking to go for it on their second shot will have to successfully navigate an outcropping that runs right through the fairway about 60-80 yards from the green, as you can see in the photo above. The fifth hole, shown above, momo design is a 430 yard par four with a hazard that bisects the fairway about 300 yards or so from the back tee. The second is played to a green protected by bunkers momo design left and has a ridge that runs diagonally from back left to middle right. The 6th hole is an eye-opener. A 443 yard par four from the tips that has a very wide stream that winds through the entire hole, running momo design from the front of the tee all the way down the right side of the fairway before bisecting it about 100 yards from the green. The approach shot is shown above, with granite outcroppings galore and a wicked greensite set between the trees. This is a hell of a golf hole and is super intimidating from the tee. The wow factor hits its peak on the 7th hole, a 218 yard par three that plays entirely uphill and features rock walls running down both sides of the hole from tee to green. As you can see above, it's an awe-inspiring view and I'm sure it's the most photographed spot on the course. It's another hellacious test of golf and I say that with admiration. The ninth hole, a 449 yard par four that doglegs right and plays uphill to a neat greensite is a strong finish to the outgoing nine The 10th hole is a 460 yard par four that plays well downhill off the tee, as seen above and is framed by towering pines down the right side. The second shot continues downhill to a narrow but long green surface that is protected by a bunker on the right side. A bit of repetition sets in on the 206 yard par three 11th. In basic terms, it's the twin sister of the par