It's a spectacular 9 holes but will it ever be finished? The holes are on an amazing piece of property with stunning views from an elevation of 1000m.

It's a long drive from the main road to the clubhouse on a rough road. The course is in good condition, the tees and fairways are consistent. The rough is tough, assuming you can find your ball. The greens are reliable and roll well, however the fringes of some of the greens were poor (it looked like they had been over-watered). The course is unwalkable as it has long walks between holes, often on very steep tracks. The cart paths are terrible and not easy to drive.

The first is a par four going over a rise and then down to a green protected by a bunker complex on the right. The third is a hole where you drive over a hill and allow the slope to bring your ball from right to left onto the fairway leaving a downhill shot to a sloping green. The seventh is a very long par three of over 240 yards, the ideal shot is one landing 180 yards and chasing in towards the green, but don't go left. The eight favours a bold tee shot over the brow, otherwise you are hitting a blind approach. The ninth is a par three with a large rock behind the green where there is a slope left to right (my 20 foot putt was breaking over 6 feet.

East Devon flies under the radar, but make no mistake, this is a very enjoyable course – a great mix of more classical heathland golf with some links feels, all with beautiful rolling Devon countryside or the coastline in view depending on which way you look.

Without wanting to labour comparisons with other courses, East Devon certainly does draw likeness to Isle of Purbeck, given that its fundamentally a heathland course albeit with linksy elements, all with beautiful sea views beyond. 

The course plays year round, owing its positioning on the free draining cliffs on the South Coast, and with that comes some extremely firm ground which sees tee shots bound on and approach shots hit extremely firm on the first bounce with some very quick putts to follow. 

The first two holes are a classic heathland back and forth from the clubhouse, par 4s with undulating fairways lined by mature heather, followed by the 3rd which is a challenging longer par 4 that doglegs right but with a fairway that tapers on longer driver length up to a narrow green. 

Beyond the nice little short par 3 4th hole there are some more forgettable holes that loop round the wooded far end of the course, including a relatively straight forward par 5, but the course picks up again from the 8th which is a tricky longer par 3 on the side of a hill, where left is the miss as right is almost certain death. You then turn for the 9th which is played straight down the hill to a green that sits attractively among purple heather in front of the halfway hut. 

The back nine feels stronger overall, starting with a testing shorter par 3 played to a devilish three-tiered green, but from the 13th you really start to feel the unique qualities that East Devon has to offer. The contrast between the 13th, which is a downhill par 3 to a well-bunkered green offering a beautiful view of several other holes and the Devon and Dorset coastline beyond, and then turning back on yourself for the 14th, a par 5 played down from another fine elevated tee to a snaking fairway nestled between two banks.

The round also finishes very strongly – 16 is a blind tee shot with the second played to a green with a fine view of Budleigh beach and the cliffhead beyond, the 17th is probably the signature hole with the approach shot requiring a long carry over a heathered ravine, and then the 18th is a shorter classic heathland finisher, a dogleg right with heather on that side and the clubhouse perched left watching on.

There are some scruffier areas of the course and perhaps some of the wider facilities could be added to or improved to elevate this club’s stature a little more, but rest assured that East Devon is a very unique and enjoyable round that provides much to think about and treasure, all in a very understated fashion. Highly recommended.

It's not your putter, it's the escarpment!

Prepare to be befuddled on your first trip around the City of Hamilton's crown jewel. Long known as one of the best munis in the Golden Horseshoe region, King's Forest plays it tough.

Sitting right up against what the locals refer to as "The Mountain" this sidehill layout packs their tee sheet each and everyday of the season. The rugged landscape yields some awesome views and the surrounding forest provides a peaceful setting in the heart of the busy metropolis.

A few holes travel downhill away from the escarpment while an equal amount trek back up it. Most holes lay on the sidehill. Either way, putting, chipping, approaching, and driving are affected by tilted playing surface.

Red Valley Creek interacts with a half dozen holes as do a plethora of imposing trees that frame much of the layout.

As with most popular municipal courses, conditioning is a challenge. If you can look past the rough patches I believe you'll agree that King's Forest is truly a jewel.