All Photos: Bigwin Island Golf Club
Thanks to its stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and numerous friendly towns and cities, Canada has long held a spot on the list of the world’s top travel destinations. Consistently ranked in the top 10, international visitors are drawn here to see sights like Niagara Falls in Ontario and Whistler ski resort in beautiful British Columbia, as well as to visit the dramatic shorelines of its spectacular east and west coasts.
Canada has also earned a name for itself as a leader in the fast-growing luxury lifestyles market, too. This is thanks in no small part to its being one of the planet’s safest and most sought after places in which to live, work… and, of course, play.
When it comes to leisure and relaxation, few regions of this vast country can match the magic of Muskoka Ontario, also affectionately known as ‘Cottage Country’. Famous as the summer go-to destination for the wealthy, including celebrities and elites from the tech world and industry, this sprawling area of pristine lakes, rugged granite outcrops and oh-so-many trees – all of it less than two hours north of Toronto, Canada’s biggest city – has been a big draw for visitors in search of the great outdoors for well over a century.
Bigwin Island: A Tradition of Luxury
Nicknamed the ‘Hamptons of the North’ by the New York Times for its popularity as a summer playground for the rich and famous – the likes of Shania Twain, Tom Hanks, Goldie Hawn and Hugh Grant are regulars – Muskoka has also become something of a magnet for those seeking something a little different to the traditional luxury cottage experience.
Setting the bar highest is Bigwin Island on Lake of Bays. Much more than just a golf club – though it is ranked one of Canada’s top courses – Bigwin has evolved from a once bustling summer resort (the largest in North America at one time) to its present status as one of the continent’s most prestigious summer addresses. Covering an impressive 520 acres of prime cottage country real estate, this island paradise encompasses over 26,000ft of shoreline in what has become one of the world’s top vacation destinations.
Named after Chief Joseph Big Wind, a much-celebrated Ojibway warrior, the island had been attracting local hunters and European traders since the early 19th century. As appealing a backdrop as it was for hunters, however, the island’s natural beauty – a picture-perfect mix of cliffs overlooking elegant bays and sheltered sandy beaches – ensured it caught the attention of entrepreneurs who recognized the region’s luxury travel potential.
And so it was that Huntsville Ontario businessman CO Shaw built the magnificent Bigwin Inn, opened to great fanfare in 1920 and an instant hit with travellers in search of an authentic Muskoka experience, albeit one with a dash of elegance. Heralded as the finest resort on the continent, the well-heeled from across Canada and the northern US states flocked to the island, making the epic journey by train before boarding one of the many steamships that plied the lakes at that time.
What they saw when they got there was indeed lavish. From the elegant design of its accommodations to the huge Grand Hall, a venue that would soon attract such music greats Count Basie, Guy Lombardo, and Duke Ellington, to the impressive Rotunda with its massive stone fireplaces and huge wrap around decks. It was, in a word… luxurious.
The island’s first nine holes of golf followed soon after. Then, as now, golf was to prove a big draw. Literally carved out of the wilderness by legendary course designer Stanley Thompson, the original Bigwin Island Golf Course welcomed its first players in 1922, with an additional nine holes being added in 1930.
Along with the big name acts, the great golf, plus numerous outdoor adventures and endless watersports, Bigwin Inn soon became the preferred summer resort for socialites and the well to do. But with the world plunging into war in 1939 and the gradual demise of the steamship era that had originally opened the area up to tourism, Bigwin, like so many other fabled Muskoka resorts, was faced with the prospect of becoming yet another footnote to history.
Paradise Regained
Fast forward half a century, however, and Bigwin Island on Lake of Bays has once again become the ultimate Muskoka getaway.
Thanks to a forward-thinking development team, it has been re-imagined as an intimate island community of discerning families – and friends – seeking to own a share of paradise. Led by Jack Wadsworth, a successful American businessman with deep family ties to Lake of Bays (not to mention a passion for golf), the new vision for Bigwin began to take shape in 2008, not long after the long-time cottager took over as the property’s developer.
While the crowds are no longer a feature, the same bespoke services and quality are everywhere evident. Revitalized and reinvented under the umbrella of Bigwin Island Properties, Bigwin today encompasses everything from membership in a private golf club (along with all the benefits), superb dining and beverage services, real estate and vacation villa rental opportunities, and perhaps most important of all, plenty of fun activities and programs for kids and families to enjoy together.
A Legacy of Great Golf
While much has changed on Bigwin’s award-winning course, many of the same qualities and features embraced by designer Stanley Thompson back in 1922 prevail to this day, in particular its respect for the natural landscape. Redesigned and revived in the 1980s by Doug Carrick, whose Muskoka Bay course in Gravenhurst also delights, Bigwin Island Golf Club’s new par 72 course now boasts a yardage of 7,166 and a pleasant mix of both gentle and demanding play. Carrick himself has revisited the course, working with the club in 2017 on a program to improve playability that included a number of greenside bunkers being raised in order to provide better views over the greens.
Course highlights include perfectly groomed fairways that act as corridors between the island’s thick forest coverage, an effect that’s especially attractive on the two signature holes: ‘The Lookout’ (the 6th hole), a 462 yard par four which, thanks to the 100ft elevation of its tee, offers incredible views over the lake; and the inspiring ‘The Lake of Bays’ (18thhole), a par five and the course’s longest hole. (Editor’s note: You can read more about both on our story, Muskoka Golf Course Holes You’ll Never Forget.)
Another treat for golfers, and one that’s commented on a great deal by members and guests alike, is the abundance of wildlife. Of these, the most prevalent are the deer, which can often be seen nibbling grass along the edges of the course, adding a real park-like setting that wouldn’t look out of place in the UK.
And if great golf wasn’t enough, club membership comes with no end of excellent perks. Established as a private equity membership club (numbers are limited to a privileged 260 members), benefits include:
- Free mainland parking at Norway Point, plus valet service and shuttle boat service
- Locker rooms, towel service and club cleaning
- Full-service pro shop
- Two practice putting greens, plus a full-length practice range with target greens and tee deck
- Family and kids’ programs and teaching clinics
- Dining privileges, including access to the Marine Dining Room, the Dockside Grill, the on-course Turn BBQ and Deli, plus in-cottage dining
For those considering a golf membership, a great way to try-before-you-buy is to take advantage of Bigwin’s off-season public (and corporate) golf offerings. Public play is available Monday through to Friday in May and June, and again in September and October, and can also provide a great opportunity to enjoy superlative dining with one of the club’s ‘Dine and Grill’ packages (yes, it’s members-only during the peak summer months of July and August).
Another great way to sample the delights of golf on Bigwin Island is a ‘Stay and Play’ package. Highlights include a chance to enjoy the delightful Victorian-era Port Cunnington Lodge, a beautiful boutique family resort just a few minutes by boat, as well as meals and a chance to take a trip on the historic and fully restored SS Bigwin, part of the inn’s original fleet.
Classic Cottage Country Cuisine
Another important tradition that’s been preserved on Bigwin Island is its food. Served up in the original 1920s Marine Dining Room, you’ll enjoy the views as much as the food, especially at sunset. The focus is very much on fresh, locally and regionally sourced ingredients. Equal importance is placed on the beverage side of things, too, with knowledgeable staff quick to recommend the perfect pairing of menu items with a broad selection of fine wines, beers, spirits and cocktails.
Meals are available to club members and, on a limited basis, to the public, through the innovative Dining and Social Memberships program – another great way to try-before-you-buy. Although usually snapped up quickly by area cottagers and locals, the many perks of these seasonal memberships include the following:
- Clubhouse dining and beverage access
- Social programs, events and activities, including special dining events, bridge club and yoga
- Free mainland parking, plus valet boat
- Use of Clubhouse docking
- Advance golf / dining reservations options
- Complimentary golf (two rounds), plus discounts off public green fees
- Unaccompanied golf foursomes (two) during member tee times (fee required, subject to availability)
In addition to the historic dining room, meals can also be enjoyed al fresco in the cosy screened-in porch or on the large promenade veranda. On-site catering is also available at private functions and corporate events, too, from weddings (check out the massive stone fireplace remaining from the original resort, the perfect backdrop for wedding photos) to charity golf fundraisers.
Island Life – Luxury Musloka Real Estate
Whether you’re a golfer or not, Bigwin also provides some of the most exclusive real estate opportunities available anywhere in Canada. For those considering a Lake of Bays cottage, owning a piece of prestigious Bigwin Island might be just the luxury lifestyle you’re looking for.
In addition to being located on one of the most tranquil stretches of Muskoka shoreline, you’ll benefit from inclusion in the Bigwin Island Waterfront Association. This active community of likeminded individuals was set up to look after the island’s common lands, ensuring services provided to owners are properly managed and maintained. The association looks after some 80 acres of land on the island, including interior connecting paths and service corridors, as well as densely treed areas that act as substantial buffers between the cottages and the fairways.
All told, 112 properties have been severed for private ownership, with choice premium cottages coming up for sale from time-to-time. In addition to being custom built, these luxury Lake of Bays cottages come with private shorelines ranging anywhere from 200ft to 1000 ft in length.
“If you’re considering a luxury cottage lifestyle, there’s nothing quite like Bigwin Island anywhere in Canada,” says Dee Dee Weiland, a realtor with The Property Gallery Realty. Together with her husband, Mark, The Weiland Team has not only helped people purchase Bigwin Island real estate, but have also helped with purchases.
“That feeling you’re somewhere special hits you every time you hop aboard the shuttle, as you relax and admire the view from your deck, or when you entertain family and friends in the Clubhouse. It truly is a one-of-a-kind Muskoka paradise.
A former Lake of Bays cottager before she moved to Muskoka full-time, Dee Dee adds: “We have extensive knowledge of the luxury lifestyle that Bigwin provides, and love introducing people to the island.”
As well as equity golf memberships, ‘islanders’ also have a variety of other exclusive options when it comes to luxury lifestyles, ranging from concierge services to Dock-to-cottage shuttle services. Other perks include access to tennis facilities, kids programs and family events, as well as casual dining . Also included are mainland parking, short-term docking facilities at Norway Point for dropping off and picking up guests and supplies, as well as use of the regular shuttle service to and from the island.
A Fresh Take on Traditional Muskoka Cottage Rentals
The latest addition to the luxury lifestyle on Bigwin Island is its sumptuously designed and well-appointed Club Cabins. Recently constructed, these luxurious units are set in a classic ‘village hub’ just a short walk from the Clubhouse and other island amenities. Available for short- and long-term summer cottage rentals, renters of these architecturally pleasing cottages have access to the same bespoke services available to golf club members.
In addition to being nice to look at – great care has been taken to choose a design that fully complements the island’s rich history and the Muskoka aesthetic – the ‘flex design’ of these units incorporates the use of practical construction techniques and the latest technology. The architects have even gone as far as taking into account the grazing line under the trees created by the island’s many deer, a surprising yet important consideration in establishing great views over the fairways and lake. Little wonder, then, that these chic units are considered some of top luxury cottage rentals in Muskoka.
Other features of note include:
- Environmentally sensitive design and construction using locally sourced materials and ensuring minimal disruption to the guest experience, as well as the island’s unique landscape
- A choice of fully-furnished two-bedroom designs ranging in size from 1230 sq ft to 1350 sq ft
- Open concept single-floor designs ensuring easy access
- Designer décor
- Personalized concierge services
To learn more about these and other luxury lifestyle options on Bigwin Island, visit www.bigwinisland.com. For real estate inquiries, click here.
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Bryan Dearsley is Editor-in-chief of Riley International Media, a leading source of luxury lifestyle and luxury travel news. Read more on Riley.
