Highlands at Horseshoe Resort Golf Club

The Highlands course at Horseshoe Resort Golf Club sits in the rolling terrain north of Barrie, Ontario, part of a resort property that has evolved over decades in the Oro-Medonte region. Belgian-born architect René Muylaert designed this layout, bringing his European sensibilities to the Canadian Shield landscape. The course occupies elevated ground with natural elevation changes characteristic of this transitional zone between the Great Lakes lowlands and the Canadian Shield's rocky outcrops.

Muylaert's routing takes advantage of the property's natural contours, incorporating mature hardwood forests, wetland areas, and the kind of topographical variety that defines golf in this part of Ontario. The design reflects a period when Ontario golf courses were being developed to serve both resort guests and regional players, balancing challenge with playability across varied skill levels. Holes move through corridors of maple and oak, with fairways that follow the land's natural fall lines.

The course operates as part of Horseshoe Resort's broader recreational offerings, which include skiing and other four-season amenities. This dual-purpose nature influences the golf experience, with the layout designed to complement rather than dominate the property. The Highlands provides a woodland golf experience typical of central Ontario's cottage country region, where courses work within forested settings and must accommodate the area's dramatic seasonal shifts.