Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay

Considering The Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay was the result of a collaboration of two golf course architects – Tom McBroom and PGA Tour player Tom Lehman – you might expect the layout to have a schizophrenic look and feel. On the contrary, this course, spread over 580 acres along the Nippising Ridge near Collingwood, flows naturally from hole to hole and is defined by its distinctive bunkering style.

McBroom has said that he wanted the bunkers at Lora Bay to look natural and they do. They are reminiscent of the style you would find at a Tom Doak or Bill Coore design. They are high-faced and have a wind-swept look. Many have fescue on either the front or back, but this rarely hinders play. The result is a view of the fairway from the tee that frames the options available to the golfer. Before you tee off you need to pick your line of approach carefully. This is best exemplified by the course’s No. 1 rated hole, the par-5, 543-yard sixth hole.

Another throwback can be found underneath the golfer’s feet. Lora Bay features a blue grass/fescue mix on its fairways, which requires less attention from maintenance staff and more importantly, less chemicals. Also adding to the course’s charm are elements preserved from the property’s previous life, including an authentic stonewall which runs alongside the sixth hole and an old barn located behind the 11th hole. Also left intact was an apple orchard, which borders the fairways on the 13th and 14th holes.

Rather than easing golfers into their round, McBroom and Lehman opted instead to challenge them right off the bat. The course opens with a dramatic par 4 that requires a tee shot from an elevated deck to a fairway that turns to the left. Driver might seem the obvious choice, but as with most holes on the course golfers must consider their choice wisely. There is no let up on the second hole, a short par 4 with water on the left that again gives the golfer pause. The more water you try to cut off the shorter your approach will be. The opening triumvirate closes with a long par 3 – 240 yards from the back tees – with one of the largest greens on the course that slopes in several directions. The greens are another intriguing feature at Lora Bay. Nothing crazy, but challenging and subtle at the same time.

The front nine winds its way back up the ridge and closes with the short dogleg right ninth hole which has perhaps the most stunning view of Georgian Bay on the course. Preparing to hit your approach, the green disappears in front of you as the water stretches towards the horizon.

The back nine has a slightly different configuration with three par 5s and three par 3s, making for an exciting and varied trip, including the treacherous 11th hole, the longest par-4 on the course and the driveable par-4 14th. The spectacular par-3 15th crosses the threshold of the ridge, dropping nearly 200 feet from tee to green. The cart ride down is almost as exciting. The par-5 16th requires a 225-yard carry over a fescue-covered hill before turning sharply towards a green cut out heavy forest. One more ride up the ridge brings you to the closing two holes, which run alongside the Bay. Before you curse the Toms for not removing more trees to allow for a better view of the lake, you need to know that the Nippising Ridge area is an environmentally protected area and as such, tree removal was allowed on a very limited basis.

After playing Lora Bay you might also assume that Lehman influenced the routing as no less than six holes (Nos. 1, 2, 8, 9, 16 and 18) favour a draw off the tee – the 1989 British Open champion’s preferred ball flight. Such is not the case as the routing of the course was done prior to Lehman’s involvement in the project. This is not to say that Lehman didn’t get his way – some of the time. According to both designers, the merits of several holes were hotly debated before a consensus was reached, with each Tom prevailing on different occasions. McBroom lobbied for changes to the par-3 seventh, saying the original design made the hole too difficult, while Lehman fought to keep the hill that faces players off the 16th tee.

While each designer may have won a battle, the winner of the war is certainly the golfers who have the opportunity to play the Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay.
More articles by Peter Mumford