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By
Dave Finn
Niagara
Falls now has a serious contender in Windsor
for anyone who wants to golf and gamble.
I must admit that in the past, Windsor
has always been a pass though city for
me on my way to some other destination.
My last trip to this area has convinced
me that this is to occur no more!
The
Ambassador Club and Caesars Windsor Casino
have joined forces to create a great getaway
package that lets you stay at a 4-diamond
hotel and play one of the best conditioned
golf courses you'll find anywhere. These
are definite reasons to stay and play
a round or two!
Our
brief layover began at the Caesar's
Windsor. After leaving our
car with the free valet parking, we checked
in to an awesome room with 2 queen size
beds, wall-to-wall full height windows,
and an incredible view overlooking both
the Detroit River and the Detroit cosmopolitan
skyline. (Sometimes it just doesn't seem
right that this is considered "work.")
We weren't quite certain that Lady Luck
was on our side that night, so my travel
companion and I walked down the street
to a local favorite, Papa
Cheney's Whiskey Bar for a
cool beverage. A great spot to watch sports
and eat chicken wings!
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The
next morning brought a short 8 minute
drive to the course. The
Ambassador Club opened
in 2005 and was immediately nominated
the "Best New Golf Course in
Canada" by Golf Digest and OG
Magazine. In 2008 OG Magazine named
it the #1 "Best Bang For The
Buck" in Ontario, and I can see
why! You can play here anytime for
$49 CAD + cart and taxes ($67 with
cart).
Tom
McBroom is one of Canada's top Golf
Course Architects, and once again
has proven that he is able to design
a great layout on any piece of property
– in this case a very flat chunk
of land across from Windsor Raceway.
Since the only elevation changes here
are man-made, McBroom has done an
imaginative job of carving and mounding
interesting and challenging holes
that are surrounded by nasty fescue.
What this course lacks in trees, it
more then makes up for in strategically
placed bunkers. (...and did I mention
the fescue?) The day we played we
were treated to sunny skies and gentle
cooling breezes, but Dave Findlay,
Head Professional, claimed that the
night before the course "got
3 inches of rain in just over an hour,"
yet most of the fairways drained well,
and all the bunkers were in great
shape.
From
the tips, The Ambassador Club measures
out a 7,033 yards with a course rating
of 74.3 but a slope rating of only
129 (hard to believe). Trust me, this
course will definitely toughen up
when the wind blows - as it usually
does.
The
first two holes are harmless enough
par 4's, as long as you keep your
tee shots on the fairway and you land
your mid-iron approach shot on the
right part of the green. The putting
surfaces are very large here and we
were forewarned "don't leave
a missed putt on the high-side, you
may be looking at a three putt."
Hole
#3 is where the Ambassador Club starts
to show it's teeth. This hole is a
reachable par 5, however McBroom has
placed a series of deep-faced bunkers
down the right side of this dog-leg
right that, if you don't hit just
right, will eliminate any chance of
going for this one in two. I learned
this the hard way! With a well-placed
drive, you are stilled faced with
a second shot that has water stretches
the entire way to the green. A lay-up
would be prudent here!
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The
tee shot on the picturesque #4 is definitely
intimidating, especially if you just dunked
one in on #3. But remember, there is a larger
landing area than meets the eye - even though
all you can see from the tee is a sliver
of a fairway over a very large pond.
I
think my favorite hole might be #15. A very
short risk/reward par 4, that is reachable
from the upper tees blocks, yet you still
have to carry your drive over water to reach
a very tough green. This type of hole is
great if you're playing in a Texas Scramble;
as long as the first person in your foursome
can place one in the fairway, then the rest
of you can try and go for it. Be warned,
however; a well conceived layout can come
back to haunt you if you do not strike it
well, since McBroom has lined the fairway
with bunkers and no matter what club you
select, sand does come into play.
This
has to be one of the best conditioned courses
I have ever played. A few of the holes seemed
similar to those already played, but given
what McBroom had to start with, that makes
this course even more incredible.
Whether
you coming for the weekend, or passing through
on your way to Michigan, make sure you stop
and play The Ambassador Golf Club. You will
not be disappointed!
To
book your tee time call the Ambassador Golf
Club at 1-519-966-2425 or visit their website
at www.ambassadorgolfclub.com
07/09
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Ambassador
Golf Club
Caesars
Windsor Casino
Stay'N'Play packages start at $137 CAD for one night's accommodation
in luxury appointed room, 18 holes of golf with cart at
the Ambassador Club, a $15 breakfast gift voucher and free
valet parking. Visit here
to book your package.
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