Windermere at Windermere Golf & Country Club

Windermere Golf & Country Club sits in the Muskoka region of Ontario, approximately two hours north of Toronto, where the Canadian Shield's granite outcroppings and dense forests create a distinctive landscape for golf. The course was designed by Stanley Thompson, one of Canada's most celebrated architects, who worked with his brother Nicol Thompson and George Cumming during the 1920s and 1930s. Thompson's work in Muskoka is characterized by routing that follows natural contours and incorporates the region's dramatic rock formations into the playing experience.

The layout moves through terrain typical of the Precambrian Shield, with elevation changes, stands of pine and hardwood, and exposed bedrock that defines both strategy and aesthetics. Thompson's design philosophy emphasized working with existing landforms rather than imposing artificial features, and Windermere reflects this approach with holes that navigate around natural obstacles and use the topography to create visual interest and strategic options. The course serves a membership drawn largely from seasonal residents and cottagers who spend summers in Muskoka.

Windermere operates as a private club within a broader resort and residential community. The region's golf season runs from late spring through early fall, constrained by Ontario's northern climate. The course represents one of several Thompson designs in Muskoka, a collection that includes his work at nearby Bigwin Island and other properties that helped establish the area as a golf destination during the early twentieth century.