After five years of planning and construction, this semi-private facility opened in July 2004. It’s a hit with average players looking for a good-quality course at reasonable green fees. Located a couple of kilometres north of Barrie, Heritage Hills was designed by veteran Ontario architect Rene Muylaert, along with Bruce Dodson, the club’s superintendent and one of its co-founders. Surrounded by nothing but forest and fields, the course is laid through a valley that is a mix of wetlands, meadows and heavy stretches of trees; a tributary of Willow Creek zigzags through the heart of the property. The real trouble comes at the forced carries on holes seven, eight, 11 and 17. Muylaert has provided bailout areas on all of the holes, but short hitters sometimes have trouble clearing the wetlands. The best hole is the fifth, a 530-yard par five that plays uphill from a chute of trees. About 300 yards off the tee is a giant maple that knocks down anything that isn’t right in the centre of the fairway.