The National Golf Club of Canada
Long regarded as the finest course in the country, and one of the most demanding parkland tests in North America. George and Tom Fazio carved the National out of a wooded river valley near Toronto in the mid 1970s, and from the day it opened it set the standard for Canadian championship golf, a private club for the serious player.
Photo: The National Golf Club of Canada via Google.
The verdict
The National Golf Club of Canada is the course Canadian golfers measure the rest against. George Fazio and his nephew Tom Fazio began construction in 1973 and opened it in 1975 at Woodbridge, in what is now Vaughan on the northwest edge of Toronto, and it was an immediate success, rising almost at once to the top of the national rankings, where it has spent most of the half century since. It is a private members club built around the golf itself rather than the trappings, and that single mindedness shows in the quality of the test.
Routed through a steep, wooded valley cut by tributaries of the Humber River, the National is a par 71 of about 7,235 yards with a course rating in the mid 70s and a slope around 152, numbers that hint at how hard it plays. Tight, tree framed fairways, dramatic elevation change, water in play and small, firm greens make it a course that asks for precise driving and disciplined iron play, and it spares the wayward nothing. For the traveling golfer chasing Canada's best, it is the benchmark, access permitting.
The National at a glance
- Opened
- 1975
- Designer
- George and Tom Fazio
- Type
- Wooded valley parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,235 yds
- Access
- Private members club
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The National Golf Club of Canada, Golf Canada and leading course databases. George and Tom Fazio designed the course, which opened in 1975 as a par 71 of about 7,235 yards, roughly 6,615 meters, with a course rating near 76 and a slope around 152. The National is a private members club with no public green fee; play is as a guest of a member or through approved arrangements, so always confirm access directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
The National rewards the golfer who can keep the ball in play and control trajectory, because there is very little width and almost no respite. The Fazios used the valley's slopes to create holes that fall away, climb and dogleg around stands of mature hardwood, and the tee shot is the heartbeat of the round, demanding both length and accuracy that few courses ask for in equal measure.
The par 4s are the backbone, several of them genuinely brutish, with narrow landing areas and approaches into greens defended by slope, sand and the ever present trees. Water comes into play at key moments and the greens are firm and subtle, so distance control on the approach and a steady putting stroke are essential. There is no faking your way around the National, which is exactly why the better players hold it in such regard.
The closing stretch keeps the pressure on right to the last, and a round here is as much a mental examination as a physical one. The reward is the knowledge of having played, and survived, what many consider the toughest and best course in the country.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; play generally as a guest of a member or via approved corporate and reciprocal arrangements |
| Green fee | No public green fee published; guest and event terms are set by the club |
| Booking | Arrange through a member, an approved corporate day, or a trip planner with the right connections; confirm well ahead |
| On the day | Demanding walk through the valley; caddies and carts as arranged; traditional members club dress code |
| Getting there | At Woodbridge in Vaughan, about 30 minutes northwest of downtown Toronto and Pearson airport |
| Best months | May to October for the Ontario golf season; peak conditioning in summer and early autumn |
Access verified June 2026; the National is private and arrangements change, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
The National sits in Vaughan on the northwest edge of the Greater Toronto Area, so most visitors base in Toronto itself or in the suburbs nearby, with the full range of city hotels, dining and culture within a short drive, plus quick access to Pearson airport for groups flying in.
Toronto makes a strong base for a wider Ontario golf trip, pairing the National, access permitting, with the area's other championship courses such as the open door Glen Abbey and the classic St George's.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels around Toronto.
Build an Ontario golf trip
We help arrange access to Toronto's championship courses where we can, pair them with the best public golf in the region and book the lodging around the trip. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The National questions
Who designed The National Golf Club of Canada?
The National was designed by George Fazio and his nephew Tom Fazio. Construction began in 1973 and the course opened in 1975 at Woodbridge near Toronto. It was an instant success and quickly rose to the top of the Canadian rankings.
What is the par and length of The National?
The National is a par 71 of about 7,235 yards from the back tees, with a course rating around 76 and a slope near 152, which reflects how demanding it plays through its wooded valley setting.
Can visitors play The National Golf Club of Canada?
The National is a private members club. Play is generally as a guest of a member or through approved corporate and reciprocal arrangements rather than a public green fee. Always confirm access directly before planning a visit.
Is The National the best course in Canada?
The National has frequently been ranked the number one course in Canada by national golf publications since shortly after it opened, and it consistently sits at or near the top of those lists. Rankings vary by panel and year.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.