 Pakenham Highlands
Golf Club: A True Delight
in the Ottawa Valley
By Kiel Christianson,
Senior Writer
Pakenham, Ontario - Have you ever daydreamed about appearing on one of those suddenly trendy game shows, like "Who Wants to be a Greedy Millionaire"? There you are, face to face with the insufferable host (who knows all of the answers just because they're on the cards in front of him), and as the final multi-million dollar question is read, the audience gasps at its profound obscurity: "In which town are both the oldest general store in Canada and the only five-arch stone bridge in North America located?"
You, however, are as cool as Tiger Woods at a major tournament, and stun both the audience and that insipid talking head with the quickness of your response: "Pakenham, Ontario". The crowd erupts as your answer is confirmed, and you are swarmed by your family (or a gaggle of swimsuit models - heck, it's your daydream).
So what does all of this have to do with golf? Well, not only is Pakenham the home of both of these arcane, historical attractions, but is also home to Pakenham Highlands Golf Club, which in turn is home to the two most bucolic par three holes you will ever encounter on the same nine of any golf course, not to mention the best 27 holes of public golf within a 20 minutes drive of Ottawa. It is well worth the trip to experience both the golf and the town itself.
 Pakenham Highlands opened in 1993 and was designed by William Dolgos, who also designed Calabogie Highlands, Pakenham's sister course. The third nine opened for play at the end of June, 2000, and features an island green on one of its par 3s. Appropriately enough, this newest nine is called The Island Course, with the original front now called The Lake Course, and the original back now The Canyon Course.
No matter which two nines you choose to play, the yardage from the tips is approximately 6,600 yards. On the original front and back, the white and red tees gain considerable advantage over the blues, at 6,025 and 5,407 yards, respectively. So Pakenham represents an enjoyable, yet challenging round for golfers of all skill levels.
A wet, cold start to the beginning of the 2000 season coupled with the construction of the new nine have caused a few maintenance problems here and there. For example, some of the new tee boxes (built for the old course so that the original ones could be used in the layout of the new nine) are a bit chippy, and one or two fairways (notably the low-lying No. 11) have some turf issues.
Nevertheless, the course is in good shape overall, boasting not only bent grass tees and greens, but also bent approaches. These make it possible to get a good, true line on bump-and-run shots from short of the green. The rest of the fairways are of hardy Kentucky bluegrass.
 All 27 holes are laid out over the gently rolling, rocky farmland of the Ottawa Valley. The land used to be part of the estate of Daniel Hilliard, son-in-law of Andrew Dickson, founder of Pakenham. Hilliard was a lumber baron whose 130-year old stone mansion serves today as the impressive clubhouse for the golf club. If you're into architecture, be sure to take some time to wander around in the building (perhaps with a pint in hand from the pub and grill inside), and check out the gabled roof, elaborate pine and cedar woodwork, and original glass. They just don't make 'em like this anymore.
The three nines crisscross in several spots, so be sure to keep an eye on the signage as you're walking (or driving) from one hole to the next. Walking is preferred by many locals, and although the distances between some of the holes are greater than at sister course Calabogie Highlands, Pakenham Highlands offers a pleasant, manageable trek. The holes that run relatively close to each other are balanced out nicely by several that are quite isolated.
The lovely, well-kept greens are small to medium in size, generally with one major feature in each - a predominant slope, or one main hump or swale. Most holes allow for run-up shots through narrow, bent grass necks, but a number do force carries over streams or small ponds. No two holes are much alike, and the pristine countryside gives you the feeling of playing well away from the rat race, even though Ottawa lies only 20 or so minutes to the northeast.
Nos. 5 and 7, a par 5 and par 4, respectively, are two of the hardest holes on the course. Both challenge your shot-making skills and judgment with horseshoe fairways, and water in play basically from tee to green. The green of No. 5 is especially tough, as it is guarded short, right, and long by three ponds.
The 533-yard, par-5 18th is a wonderful finishing hole that leads back up to the historic clubhouse. The final approach over a wide pond is not the only issue here: There is also water front left of the green that is not shown on the scorecard, so both precision and decisions are at a premium.
Undoubtedly, however, the centerpiece of the original 18 (The Island Course was not yet completed at the time of this review) is the stretch of holes from 13 to 15. Nos. 13 and 15 in particular, although not necessarily difficult, are two of the most beautiful little par 3s ever to be found in a single nine.
No. 13 is 179 yards to one of the largest greens on the course. A babbling brook meanders through the tee stands, with one set of tees on one side, the rest on the other. When the stream reaches the green, it takes a sharp left and pools a bit exactly where a weak shot would likely land.
The really tricky part is the large mound of brambles that also guard any left-side pin placements. If you play a natural fade, any chance of landing on the green will need to hug this mound very closely, and even then will likely end up on the front right portion of the spacious green.
Sandwiched between the two par 3s is the short but deceivingly difficult par-4, 368-yard 14th. Pakenham rookies usually pull driver here and then are horrified to discover that the blind tee shot hides a precipitous drop from the end of the fairway (only 200 to 230 yards off the tee) over knee-high grass and a mean-spirited pond down to the smallish green. In other words, a lofted fairway wood or long iron off the tee is plenty. And, once you reach the green, your work won't be done, as the putting surface tilts rather dauntingly from back to front toward the water.
 Finally, if there is a par 3 anywhere in the region that can match the 13th in beauty, it is the 141-yard 15th. From the elevated tees, your ball must travel through the surrounding trees and carry both a ravine thick with brush and a glistening, small pond. The way that the green is framed by the foliage and fronted by the absolutely perfect water makes you want to stand on the tee all day, launching one ball after another at the inviting target.
After your round, you will enjoy the generous amenities offered by the club, including the aforementioned fully licensed bar and grill, the tented outdoor patio overlooking the 18th green, and pro shop. The rates at Pakenham are also hard to beat (especially if you're from the U.S.), at just $25 Canadian to walk 18 Mon-Thurs, and $30 weekends and holidays. Memberships are also available, as are 10 and 50-game packages, which allow you to play both Pakenham and Calabogie Highlands.
 And before you head home, be sure to take some time to explore the historic area as well, which includes not only the oldest general store in Canada and the only five-arch stone bridge in North America, but also the birthplace of James Naismith, the inventor of the game of basketball (in the nearby town of Almonte). There. That's one more million-dollar trivia answer that you can thank Pakenham and your love of golf for.
Pakenham Highlands Golf Club
Hwy 29 at McWatty Road
Pakenham, Ontario, Canada K0A 2XO
Email: pak@calabogiehighlandsgolf.com
www.calabogiehighlandsgolf.com
Par: 72
Slope: 122 (blue), 114 (white), 122 (red)
Rating: 70.2 (blue), 67.6 (white), 71.0 (red)
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