Ahhhh golf. Or should I say Ottawa is all fore golf? The nation’s capital has a wealth of golfing options running the full range. On one end, there’s a city-owned course a ten-minute walk from an O-Train station where eighteen holes cost less than a decent dinner. At the other, there’s a Robert Trent Jones-designed championship layout in Kanata where the green fee runs $140 with the cart and range balls baked in. Same city, wildly different rounds.
So when we set out to rank the best golf courses in Ottawa, we didn’t just chase prestige. We looked at what you actually get for your green fee: the layout, the practice facilities, the clubhouse, whether you can play nine after work or need to block off a whole Saturday. Here are eleven Ottawa area golf courses worth your tee time this summer, from budget municipal gems to the big-occasion splurges.
The Best Golf Courses in Ottawa, Ranked
1. The Marshes Golf Club (Kanata)
Green fees: ~$140 to 5 p.m., ~$75 after (cart + range included) · Holes: 18, par 72, 7,026 yds · Best for: a special round
This is the splurge, and it earns it. The Marshes was the final collaboration between legendary designers Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Sr., weaving fairways through wetlands and hardwood forest about 20 minutes from downtown. There’s a 9-hole Marchwood short course if you’re easing in or bringing the kids, plus the Ironstone Grill for a post-round pint. The fee stings, but the cart and driving range come included, and the conditioning is as good as public golf gets around here.
2. Loch March Golf & Country Club (Kanata)
Green fees: ~$72 weekday / ~$82 weekend · Holes: 18, par 72, 6,932 yds · Best for: the country-club feel without joining
Regularly voted Ottawa’s best golf club, Loch March is fully public, with no membership required to walk on. Gordon Witteveen carved these 18 holes through 300 acres of March Highlands forest with a “no two holes alike” philosophy, and it shows. A shared cart runs about $18.75 a person for 18. There’s a full driving range, chipping area, academy, and pro shop. Bring your game; from the back tees it’s a genuine test.
3. Pine View Golf Course (East End)
Green fees: ~$35–$47 · Holes: 36 (Championship par 72, plus an Executive course) · Best for: value and easy transit access
Pine View is Ottawa’s municipal course, city-owned and priced like it. You get a proper Championship layout (6,540 yards, par 72) plus a shorter Executive course for a quicker or friendlier round. Best part? It’s a ten-minute walk from Blair Station, so you can leave the car at home. Club rentals and simulators are on site. If you want a good round without the guilt, start here.
4. Cedarhill Golf & Country Club (Nepean)
Green fees: from ~$35 · Holes: 18, par 70 · Best for: a country-club vibe on a public budget
Open since 1966, Cedarhill sells itself as the country-club experience without the membership fees, and that’s a fair pitch. Five sets of tees stretch it from 5,135 to 6,316 yards, so beginners and low-handicappers can both enjoy it. There’s a proper pro shop with CPGA pros, power carts, club storage, and the Player’s Lounge restaurant and patio for after. A reliable, unpretentious Nepean staple.
5. The Meadows Golf & Country Club (Gloucester)
Green fees: check current rate · Holes: 36, four distinct nines · Best for: never playing the same round twice
Billed as the largest public golf club in Eastern Ontario, The Meadows splits its 36 holes into four separate nine-hole courses. Mix and match them and you’ve got a different eighteen every visit. PGA instruction and season passes are available if you catch the bug. It’s a smart pick for groups of mixed ability, since you can keep the round as gentle or as tough as your foursome wants.
6. Emerald Links Golf & Country Club (Greely)
Green fees: ~$69.95 full day, ~$56.95 after 4 p.m., ~$46.95 for nine · Holes: 27 · Best for: flexible 9-or-18 rounds
Emerald Links gives you 27 holes: the original 18 from 1990 plus a nine added in 2004, so you can play whatever combination the day allows. The pricing is refreshingly clear, with a straight-up nine-hole rate for evenings and time-crunched golfers. Club rentals, a full restaurant, and a patio round it out. It’s family-run and it feels it, in the good way.
7. Greensmere Golf & Country Club (Carp)
Green fees: Flex Pass saves 40% off daily rates · Holes: 36 (Premiere + Legacy) · Best for: regulars who want two courses
Out in Carp, about ten minutes west of Kanata, Greensmere spreads two 18-hole courses, the original Premiere and the newer Legacy, across nearly 400 acres. Bentgrass tees, fairways, and greens make for some of the best putting surfaces in the Ottawa Valley. The Flex Pass knocks 40% off daily green fees, which adds up fast if you’re playing weekly. Two courses, one drive out of the city.
8. Irish Hills Golf & Country Club (Carp)
Green fees: 9- and 18-hole packages available · Holes: 27 · Best for: year-round golfers and leagues
Also in Carp, Irish Hills offers 27 holes and multiple nine-hole combinations, plus cart-and-range packages if you want it bundled. What sets it apart is the indoor golf and simulators, so your membership doesn’t go dormant in January. League nights and an on-site restaurant make it a social pick. Good for the golfer who treats it as a season-long habit, not a one-off.
9. Falcon Ridge Golf Club (Findlay Creek)
Green fees: check current rate · Holes: 18 Championship + 9 (Raceview) · Best for: south-end golfers
Down in the Findlay Creek area, Falcon Ridge pairs an 18-hole Championship course with the shorter 9-hole Raceview, so a quick evening nine is always an option. The clubhouse got a remodel and now houses the “Out of Bounds” restaurant, and there are club rentals and simulators on hand. Handy for anyone on the south side who’d rather not drive to Kanata.
10. Manderley on the Green (North Gower)
Green fees: check current rate · Holes: 27, three nines · Best for: beginners and mixed groups
Just south of the city near North Gower, Manderley runs 27 holes across three nine-hole courses, with five sets of tee blocks on every hole. That range of tees makes it one of the friendliest places in the region to learn or to bring someone who’s still finding their swing, without boring the better players in your group. A genuinely welcoming spot to start.
11. Canadian Golf & Country Club (Ashton)
Green fees: vary by day and tee time · Holes: 18 (West) + 9 (East) · Best for: golf-special hunters
Out toward Ashton, the Canadian Golf & Country Club keeps things flexible with an 18-hole West Course and a 9-hole East Course, and rates that shift with the day and time. It regularly advertises green-fee specials, so a little planning gets you a cheaper round. The two-course setup makes it easy to match the golf to your schedule rather than the other way around.
A Few More Worth Knowing
Not everything fit the top eleven, but these earn a mention:
- Thunderbird Sports Centre: Ottawa’s only illuminated nine-hole course, lit until 10 p.m. The move for after-work rounds when the sun’s already gone.
- Nation Golf Club: an 18-hole public course minutes east of the city, running a member-discount program this summer.
- GreyHawk Golf Club: a 36-hole ClubLink property in the east end (the Talon and Predator courses). It’s leaned member-focused lately, so confirm public access before you book.
- Hylands Golf Club: a 36-hole course near the airport that prioritizes military members, with separate rates for military and non-military players.
Before You Book: Fees, Dress Code, and Access
A few things worth sorting before you show up.
Public vs. member-only. Almost everything on this list is fully public, so you can book a tee time without joining anything. The Marshes and Loch March both brand themselves as public clubs, and Cedarhill’s whole pitch is a country-club feel without the fees. Ottawa’s genuinely private clubs, like Royal Ottawa, Camelot, and Rideau View, aren’t walk-on options, so don’t count on them unless you know a member.
Member vs. non-member pricing. The green fees above are the public, non-member rates. Membership is optional and mainly buys unlimited or discounted play. At Loch March, for example, a full membership runs into the thousands, versus roughly $72–$82 for a single public round. If you’re playing a handful of times a season, the daily rate is your friend.
Carts and rentals. Some fees include a cart (The Marshes), while most charge separately, usually around $15–$25 a person for eighteen. Club rentals are common at Pine View, Emerald Links, Falcon Ridge, and others, so you don’t need your own set to play.
Dress code. Ottawa’s public courses are relaxed: a collared shirt is the safe default, and neat, clean pants or shorts are fine. Steer clear of ripped jeans, gym shorts, and tank tops. Private and semi-private clubs are stricter: collared shirt required, no denim. When in doubt, call the pro shop.
Ottawa Golf FAQ
What’s the cheapest place to golf in Ottawa?
Pine View, the city’s municipal course, is your best bet at roughly $35–$47, with Cedarhill close behind from around $35.
Where can I play without a membership?
Nearly all of them. The Marshes, Loch March, Pine View, Cedarhill, The Meadows, Emerald Links, Greensmere, and more are all open to public play.
Can I just play nine holes?
Yes. Emerald Links, Canadian G&CC, Falcon Ridge, Manderley, and Thunderbird all offer nine-hole options, ideal for an after-work round.
Which course is best for beginners?
Manderley, with its five sets of tees, and Pine View’s shorter Executive course are the friendliest for new players.
Prices shift through the season and tee sheets fill fast on sunny weekends, so book ahead and double-check the current rate when you call. Then go play. Ottawa’s golf season is short, and it’s peaking right now.
