Eastern Ontario Golf Trail: A Golfer's Guide to Lakes and Fairways

Eastern Ontario's golf trail winds through a landscape of rivers, wetlands, and rolling parkland, anchored by Black Bear Ridge Golf Course — one of the region's most demanding public layouts — and complemented by the approachable double-tee design of Cedar Glen Golf Course in Williamsburg.

• Black Bear Ridge Golf Course: A Brian Magee–designed parkland test stretching to 7,238 yards, with wetlands woven throughout and a signature par-five 11th that ranks among eastern Ontario's most memorable holes.
• Cedar Glen Golf Course: A welcoming semi-private course in Williamsburg offering a double-tee setup for a full 18-hole experience on a classic parkland layout.
• Belleville dining scene: From waterfront seafood at The Boathouse Seafood Restaurant & Waterfront Patio to craft-forward small plates at The Lark, post-round meals are a genuine draw.
• On-course lodging: Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort places guests steps from the first tee for a seamless stay-and-play experience.

The natural starting point for any Eastern Ontario golf trip is Black Bear Ridge Golf Course in Corbyville. Designed by Brian Magee and opened in 2005, this 18-hole public course plays to a par of 72 across 7,238 yards of parkland terrain. Water and wetlands are persistent companions throughout the round, and the course rewards strategic thinking from the first tee. The standout moment arrives at the par-five 11th — originally conceived as a par six — a 692-yard hole that skirts a large wetland and finishes at a small, cigar-shaped green guarded by water on multiple sides. It is a hole that demands both patience and precision, and one that lingers in memory long after the round is done.

For golfers looking to round out the trip with a more relaxed afternoon on the course, Cedar Glen Golf Course in Williamsburg offers a charming counterpoint. Established in 1972, the semi-private layout uses a double-tee arrangement to deliver a full 18-hole experience from its nine physical holes, playing to a par of 68 at 5,672 yards. The parkland setting keeps the round pleasant and unhurried — well suited to a first-day warm-up or a final round before heading home.

Day 1 — Arrive and tee off at Cedar Glen: Begin the trip with a relaxed round at Cedar Glen Golf Course in Williamsburg to shake off the drive and settle into the pace of the region. The double-tee layout keeps the day light on pressure. That evening, head into Belleville and settle in at one of the city's Highway 401 hotels — the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Belleville or the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Belleville both make easy bases. Dinner on the waterfront at The Boathouse Seafood Restaurant & Waterfront Patio — a Victoria Harbour institution with more than two decades of Reader's Choice recognition — is an ideal way to end the first evening.

Day 2 — Black Bear Ridge and an evening in Corbyville: Reserve the morning for Black Bear Ridge Golf Course in Corbyville, allowing a full afternoon to absorb the round and replay that extraordinary 11th hole in the mind. Guests staying at Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort can walk back to their accommodations; others might linger at Signal Brewery, the historic riverside craft brewery just steps from the course, where a large patio and live music make for an unhurried post-round wind-down. Back in Belleville, The Lark offers a more intimate evening — small plates, craft cocktails, and natural wines in a refined downtown dining room.

Day 3 — A second look at Black Bear Ridge or a leisurely departure: Those with an extra day on the trail will find Black Bear Ridge Golf Course worth a second round; a parkland layout of this length and complexity reveals new angles on a return visit. Before heading out, lunch at The Local Social House — a gastro pub on the Moira River with a waterfront patio and a menu built around local ingredients — makes a satisfying final stop on the trail.

Golfers playing Black Bear Ridge Golf Course have a compelling reason to stay on-site: Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort offers luxury resort homes just steps from the first tee, making early morning tee times effortless. For those basing themselves in nearby Belleville, the options multiply quickly. The Best Western Belleville sits conveniently off Highway 401 and offers golf packages that include Black Bear Ridge, while the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Belleville adds comforts like a heated indoor pool, free breakfast, and EV charging stations. The Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Belleville and the pet-friendly Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Belleville round out a solid roster of well-located highway-accessible hotels, all within easy driving distance of the trail's courses.

Eastern Ontario's mix of challenging parkland golf, genuine waterfront hospitality, and easy Highway 401 access makes it a natural choice for a long weekend on the fairways. Start mapping out tee times and the route comes together quickly.