Redtail Golf Course - St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
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• A course with just two members.
• The brief was to create an enjoyable but extremely challenging golf course
• It is characterised by the rolling sandy hills and steep wooded ravines which flank many of the fairways on the course.
• Fast, undulating greens make the course especially testing.

Redtail Golf Course was built for two young Canadians, Chris Goodwin and John Drake. They are the only two members. Set just south of London, Ontario, not far from Lake Erie, it was designed to represent a really stiff golfing challenge. Unusually for most new projects, Drake and Goodwin prepared a clear brief, which stated that "following from Cypress Point and Pine Valley, our greens will be extremely challenging, almost to the point of being unfair. A great deal of undulation and very, very fast." It continued, "we would prefer a design which preserves the natural features of the property, bordering almost on the wild".

Their brief could not have suited the philosophy of Donald Steel better and continued that "in order to offer some relief, we would expect three or four relatively short par four holes and par fives that can be reached in two long and perfect shots." They concluded " with all these challenges , we would not be adverse …………. to permit the odd game under 80".

The chosen site was perfect for the purpose, being a high rolling and sandy plateau with steep wooded ravines on all sides. The area selected for the front nine represents a gruelling test of golf, without too many forced carries. The back nine is no less of a challenge, but, in place of the ravines, are huge rolling sand hills covered in thick, deep fescue rough.

The course involved surprisingly little earth movement with the result that it proved relatively inexpensive to build. In 1991, it cost 2.2million Canadian dollars or just over £1,000,000 to build including a full irrigation system and a vast dam for irrigation water storage. It is a sum which many find hard to believe, but it is a vivid example of how world class courses can be built for sensible sums in this age of relentlessly spiralling construction costs.

The course has received much critical acclaim, including being voted 2nd in a poll of Canada's new courses in 1993 and 2nd in all of Canada by Lorne Rubenstien, the country's leading golf writer. Major amateur events have also been played since it opened in 1992.

QUOTATIONS ON REDTAIL

"Redtail Golf Course.. is one of the most inspired layouts we have played"
Golf Odyssey, September 1999

"…Redtail, a lay-of-the-land design by British golf architect, Donald Steel. Several panellists were impressed with how natural Redtail looked and played, with fairways hugging the existing terrain and slightly mounded greens invariably canted to the angle of play".
Golf Digest, January 1994

"The atmosphere was just fantastic. It's the kind of place that if I wanted to play golf for 10 days and practice and putt and just be involved in golf, that's where I would go. It's a wonderful atmosphere in that respect."
Nick Price

"There's not a place like it"
"It's simple rather than cosmetic, with lots of undulation, trees and a variety of wildlife"
Sean Connery

"Redtail is way beyond good. I think you have created a straightforward, gentle litle masterpiece".
Fred Muller, Head Professional at Crystal Downs Golf Club, designed by Dr. Alistair Mackenzie and Perry Maxwell.

"Redtail is the finest new course I have seen in two years and I mean anywhere. This is the one course I would want to play if I were travelling to Ontario form, oh Australia or the U.S., or British Columbia".
Lorne Rubenstein, The Globe and Mail, June 25, 1994.