Golf courses Toronto and the surrounding GTA give golfers more than 100 public and semi-private courses within a 90-minute drive of downtown — a remarkable density that includes Stanley Thompson masterpieces, modern Doak and Hurdzan designs, and the city’s own seven municipal courses run by the City of Toronto. The season runs late April through mid-November in most years, peak rates apply June through Labour Day, and the best deals come on shoulder-season twilight tee times. This guide walks through the 20 best golf courses Toronto golfers should know — from the championship Glen Abbey (host of 30 RBC Canadian Opens) to the affordable city-run Don Valley Golf Course — with green fees, dress codes, and booking strategies.
Why golf courses Toronto are surprisingly good
The Greater Toronto Area sits on glaciated terrain that left rolling hills, deep ravines, and excellent sandy soil — natural golf country. Stanley Thompson, Canada’s most celebrated golf architect, designed many of the region’s classics in the 1920s and ’30s. More recent waves of high-end course construction (Tom Doak’s Cabot Links and Devil’s Paintbrush, Greg Norman’s Eagles Nest, Doug Carrick’s prolific GTA portfolio) added 20+ premium courses in the past 30 years. The PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open rotates through Toronto-area courses, with St. George’s Golf and Country Club, Hamilton Golf and Country Club, and Oakdale all making recent appearances.
The result is one of North America’s deepest collections of accessible public golf — and Toronto’s seven municipal courses keep entry-level prices reasonable while the daily-fee high-end venues compete on conditioning and design.
Public golf courses Toronto: the best of the best
Eagles Nest Golf Club
Eagles Nest (10000 Dufferin St, Maple) is consistently ranked among Canada’s top public golf courses Toronto golfers can play. Designed by Doug Carrick and opened in 2004 on a former gravel pit, the course features dramatic elevation changes, hand-mowed fescue rough, and one of the best public-course conditionings in Ontario. Green fees: $190–$240 in peak season; $110 twilight after 3pm. Closest highway: 400 north to Major Mackenzie. Allow 35 minutes from downtown off-peak.
Angus Glen Golf Club (South and North Courses)
Angus Glen (10080 Kennedy Rd, Markham) hosted the 2002 and 2007 RBC Canadian Opens on its South Course (Doug Carrick design). Both 18s — the South and the equally good North (Jay Morrish) — are open to the public. Green fees: $179–$229 South, $159–$199 North. Practice facility is the best in the GTA. Allow 35 minutes from downtown.
Glen Abbey Golf Club
Glen Abbey (1333 Dorval Dr, Oakville) hosted 30 RBC Canadian Opens between 1977 and 2018, and remains among the most accessible top-tier public courses in Canada. Jack Nicklaus design, very long (7,253 yards from the tips), with the famous “Valley” stretch (holes 11–15) routing through a Sixteen Mile Creek ravine. Green fees $195–$275. Approximately 35 minutes from downtown via the QEW.
Lionhead Golf Club (Legends and Masters)
Lionhead (8525 Mississauga Rd, Brampton) operates two championship courses — the Legends (Ted Baker, 1991) and the Masters (Ted Baker, 1995). Both have hosted Canadian Tour events. Tightly conditioned, with bentgrass tees, fairways, and greens. Green fees $99–$179.
Wooden Sticks Golf Club
Wooden Sticks (40 Elgin Park Dr, Uxbridge) is the GTA’s wildest theme: 18 holes, each modelled after a famous hole from elsewhere (the Road Hole at St Andrews, Augusta National’s 12th, etc.). Cleverly executed and properly maintained. Green fees $145–$179. 60 minutes from downtown.
Toronto municipal golf courses: budget-friendly
The City of Toronto runs five city golf courses Toronto residents can play for some of the best municipal-golf prices in any major North American city. Walking rates run $48–$68 in peak season, with twilight rates from $32. Cart rentals add $30. Ideal entry-level golf for visitors and beginners.
Don Valley Golf Course
Don Valley (4200 Yonge St) is the city’s flagship municipal course — a Howard Watson design from 1955 that plays through the deep Don River ravine. The 4th hole “Hogan’s Tree” tees over a 100-foot drop into the valley. Bentgrass throughout, walkable, and frequently picked as one of Canada’s best municipal golf courses. Allow 25 minutes from downtown.
Tam O’Shanter Golf Course
Tam O’Shanter (2481 Birchmount Rd, Scarborough) is the most challenging of the municipal courses — long, with mature trees and tight fairways. A great test from the back tees. Walking rate $58 weekday, $68 weekend.
Humber Valley Golf Course
Humber Valley (40 Beattie Ave) plays through the Humber River ravine — short (5,964 yards), tight, and the most beginner-friendly of the municipals. Walking rate $48. The closest municipal course to downtown.
Scarlett Woods Golf Course
Scarlett Woods (1000 Jane St) is the city’s only par-3 course — 18 short holes, perfect for beginners and short-game practice. $32 walking. Closest TTC: 89 Weston bus from Jane Station.
Dentonia Park Golf Course
Dentonia Park (781 Victoria Park Ave) is a 9-hole course in east-end Toronto — affordable, walkable, and family-friendly. $24 walking nine.
Premium / high-end golf courses Toronto and area
Devil’s Paintbrush
Devil’s Paintbrush (Caledon, designed by Dr Michael Hurdzan, 1992) is a links-style course modelled on the great Scottish links at North Berwick — fescue rough, stone walls in play, and deceptively challenging from the white tees. Green fees $200–$275. 45 minutes from downtown.
Cabot Links Toronto (Coming 2027)
The Cabot Links group is reportedly developing a new high-end course in the Greater Toronto Area, with construction targeted to begin in 2026. Watch the news.
Goodwood Golf Club
Goodwood (Greenbank, Doug Carrick design, 2001) is one of the most natural-looking courses in the GTA — wide-open meadow design with strategic bunkering. Green fees $169–$229.
Practice facilities and ranges
Top driving ranges in the GTA: Modo Yoga / TPC Toronto (formerly Glen Abbey range), Lambton Golf and Country Club Range, Topgolf Toronto (5 Auto Mall Dr, Vaughan — opened 2024, three-tier, 100+ bays, draws crowds 6pm onward), Markland Wood Golf Course Range, and the city-run Don Valley Range. Range balls run $12–$25 per large bucket; Topgolf $35–$60/hour for the bay (split among up to 6 players).
How to book tee times
Most public courses use Chronogolf or the GolfNow platform. The City of Toronto’s municipal courses use a separate online system at toronto.ca/golf. Bookings open 7 days in advance for most public courses; 14 days for City of Toronto residents and 7 days for non-residents at municipal courses.
Best time-of-week-to-play hacks: weekday mornings (no crowds, often discount rates), Sunday afternoons after 2pm (when the league play has finished), and any twilight rate (typically 3:30pm onward, with 25–40% off the regular rate).
Practical tips for golf courses Toronto
Season and weather
Most GTA courses open mid-April and close late October to mid-November (depending on weather). May, June, and September are the best months — green fees lower than peak summer, course conditioning excellent, and weather typically cooperative. July and August can get hot and humid; pace of play slows to 5+ hours on weekends.
Costs
Municipal courses: $48–$68 walking, $32 twilight. Daily-fee public courses: $99–$200 peak, $50–$150 twilight. Premium daily-fee: $190–$300 peak, $100–$180 twilight. Cart rental adds $30–$50. Range balls $12–$25.
Dress code
Most public courses Toronto enforce a soft “no metal spikes, no tank tops, collared shirts for men” dress code. Premium courses (Eagles Nest, Devil’s Paintbrush, Angus Glen) require pressed pants and tucked-in collared shirts. Denim is rarely allowed at premium courses but is fine at municipals.
Equipment rental
Most courses rent clubs at $40–$80/round. Quality varies — bring your own clubs if possible. Pull carts $8/round at municipal courses, included at most premium courses.
Round out your Toronto outdoor itinerary
Golf is one of many outdoor things to do in Toronto, and the full guide maps out what each season is good for. Pair golf with the rest of Toronto’s outdoors: best parks in Toronto, hiking trails Toronto, Blue Mountain from Toronto, things to do in Toronto, Prince Edward County from Toronto, and our where to stay in Toronto guide for golf-friendly hotels.
Golf courses Toronto offer 100+ courses within a 90-minute drive — book a 7am tee time at Don Valley for $48, or splurge on Eagles Nest for $200, and you’ll see why golfers from Buffalo and Detroit drive across the border to play here.
