Finally, there’s a clearing through the pine trees where the dirt road ends. We park the car and grab our gear, ready for our Bigwin Island adventure. It’s time to board the water shuttle at Norway Point, a remote spot in the woody northern reaches of Muskoka, Ontario.
What’s wrong with this picture, though? We’re not wearing hiking boots — we’re wearing golf shoes. Accessible only by boat, Bigwin is an award-winning golf destination, nestled into a two-mile-long island.
Located in Lake of Bays, a three-hour drive north of Toronto, Bigwin was once a glamorous turn-of-the century resort attracting celebrities and top-notch entertainers. However, when the owner died in 1942, the island lay dormant. Though several groups attempted to reinvent the property, nothing worked until 2000. That year, Doug Carrick, a renowned Canadian golf course designer, reconfigured Bigwin into a highly rated golfer’s dream.
The par-72 course, open May through October, offers the stunning backdrop of Lake of Bays, not to mention a fine round of golf. The wide fairways and sweeping, sandy bunkers blend well with the course’s wooded periphery. At game’s end, the elevated 18th hole, nestled into two small coves, is a jaw-dropping finale as your ball sails, seemingly, into the drink.
Non-golfers can enjoy Bigwin, too. The restored clubhouse now houses a fine restaurant (the crab cakes are especially memorable).