3-Day Golf Road Trip: Kawarthas & Central Ontario

This three-day loop through the Kawarthas and central Ontario is well-suited to golfers who prefer parkland and lakeside settings over resort fanfare, moving between Port Perry, Beaverton, and Fenelon Falls across a corridor that rarely demands more than an hour of driving between stops. The courses range from a short-game-friendly par-58 to a Stanley Thompson co-design, offering enough variety to hold interest across the trip.

Day 1

Start in Port Perry, which sits at the southern end of the trail and makes for a manageable drive from Toronto. Morning arrivals should aim for a midday tee time at Summerlea Golf Club, an 18-hole par-58 layout that rewards precision over length — a useful warm-up after a highway drive. The course plays through the Port Perry area and suits golfers of all handicaps looking to find their rhythm for the days ahead.

After the round, check in to the Great Blue Heron Hotel in Port Perry. For dinner, Pickles & Olives Bistro and Hyland Family Restaurant are both Port Perry options worth considering — the bistro leans toward a more polished menu if a sit-down meal is the preference after travel.

Day 2

Day two moves north toward Beaverton for the round with the most historical weight on the itinerary. Cedarhurst Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-70 parkland design with Stanley Thompson and Bert Turcotte credited, which places it in distinguished company by Canadian golf standards. Thompson's routing philosophy — working with the natural contours of the land rather than against them — tends to produce courses that feel unhurried and coherent, and Cedarhurst fits that description. A morning tee time is recommended to allow adequate time on a course that rewards a deliberate pace.

After the round, Jack Simcoe Bar & Grill in Beaverton is the natural post-round stop, and Stefano's Bistro is another local option for a longer dinner if the group prefers to linger in town before making the drive north to Fenelon Falls.

Fenelon Falls anchors the northern end of the trail and offers the widest selection of accommodation on the itinerary. Eganridge Resort, Golf Club & Spa is the most full-service option and suits those looking to extend the evening with spa access after two days of golf. Golfers who prefer something simpler can choose from Balsam Lake Boutique Motel, Fenelon Inn, or Stone Fountain Motel, all situated in Fenelon Falls. The Best Western Plus Mariposa Inn & Conference Centre in nearby Orillia is an alternative for those who want to range a little further. Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. is worth a stop before dinner, and The Locker at the Falls is a practical meal option close to the water.

Day 3

The final round takes place at Sturgeon Point Golf Club in Fenelon Falls, a C.E. Robinson-designed layout playing to par 36 across 18 holes. The course sits in Fenelon Falls, making it a convenient departure-morning round before the drive home. Tee off early to leave enough time on the back end for the return trip south.

Sturgeon Point closes out the trip with a lakeside Kawarthas setting that reflects what draws golfers to this part of Ontario in the first place — tree-lined holes, quiet surroundings, and a pace that feels removed from city golf. A post-round coffee or early lunch in Fenelon Falls before departing is straightforward given how compact the town is. The drive back toward the GTA from Fenelon Falls takes roughly two hours under normal conditions, making an early tee time the practical move for anyone with afternoon commitments at home.