The Marshes Golf Club at 320 Terry Fox Drive has been one of the premier courses in Ontario since it opened in summer of 2002. This championship level course has the distinction of being one of the final courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. and sits within an Audubon Certified Wildlife Sanctuary, woven through wetlands, hardwood forest, and open meadow. 

What Makes This Layout Different?

The Marshes features six par 3s, six par 4s,and six par 5s distributed evenly across the course. That distribution changes the flow of a round compared to a typical layout. Here each hole carries the same weight and strategic complexity as the rest and the par 5s pop up often enough that the course never settles into a predictable rhythm. The playing surfaces are bent grass greens and bluegrass fairways and a layout that moves through three different zones as the round progresses. The front nine winds through a hardwood forest and open meadow while the back nine begins to shift into more wetland and marsh terrain. The 30,000 square foot putting surface on the ninth and eighteenth holes are one of the largest shared greens you'll find at any public course in Ontario.

Which Tees Should You Play?

The Marshes features a few sets of tees to choose from with our furthest being the gold tees at 7206 yards are a genuine test of your championship pedigree. If you're the type of player that smashes a driver 260 yards while keeping them in play the gold tees are the ones for you. The blue tees are where most experienced golfers will play from being 6498 yards giving you a solid yet achievable challenge. The white tees sit at 6025 yards and are perfect for giving mid handicap players a test without being too overwhelming. Our closest tees are the red tees sitting at just 5274 yards making these the right call for newer players or anyone just looking for a low key round.

The Front Nine: Forest, Meadow, and Early Decisions

As you step onto the first hole your first instinct off the tee will be to cut the corner but resist that urge. Favour the left side of the fairway from the tee box, give yourself a clean angle into the green, and aim for the centre of the putting surface rather than chasing a flag that's better approached from a more conservative position. The first hole isn't designed to punish you on arrival but rather give you a taste of what the rest of the course has in store. The front nine is forested and meadow driven meaning placement matters much more than power during the opening stretch of the round. The trees framing the early holes don't leave many solid recovery options and the fairway rewards golfers who work with shape and line rather than trying to overpower the holes outright.

The Back Nine: Water, Wetlands, and the Closing Stretch

The course changes character substantially after the turn in a way that feels like an entirely new course. The back nine opens into a beautiful wetland and marsh area and the water that was a picturesque backdrop during the front nine comes into play. One par 5 on the back has a stream cutting right through the fairway itself. The closing par 3 tends to be the hole that sticks with players the most and for good reason. The green is kidney shaped with multiple flag positions that each present a different configuration of difficulty, and deep bunkers protecting several sides of the putting surface. For golfers used to more traditional courses the terrain and scenery changes throughout your round are something very few other courses can offer.

After Your Round: Brookstreet Hotel

The Marshes Golf Club is part of Brookstreet Hotel, Ottawa's only independent luxury hotel, minutes from the course in Kanata. This means you can wake up ready to hit the course or wind down in comfort after a long day on the links. The hotel features multiple dining options including Perspectives and Option's Jazz Lounge for a good meal and a drink to close out the day. Tee times can be booked directly through the Marshes website and if you're looking to pair a stay at the Brookstreet we are able to handle accommodations alongside your round.