Carved through the Kawartha Lakes landscape, Black Diamond lives up to its name - a polished experience with just enough rugged edge to get your heart rate up. The 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches through mature forest and over rolling ground, using elevation changes and bold bunkering to frame shots you'll remember long after the score fades. It's a proper test that still plays fair, as long as you pick the right tees and commit to your targets. From the opening holes, you'll notice how variety drives the day. Par-4s alternate between strategic doglegs and full-send tee shots; par-3s mix club selections and ask you to control trajectory; par-5s dangle risk-reward opportunities if you can flight a second shot with discipline. Water and sand are placed thoughtfully - penal to the sloppy line, harmless to the smart one - which makes picking the proper side of the fairway feel like solving a satisfying puzzle. The signature moments here come from the terrain itself. Elevated tees deliver big-sky views, approaches play to greens with enough movement to keep your attention, and there's that perfectly timed short par-4 that dares you to get greedy. If you're playing match play, circle it now - that hole flips momentum all the time. Conditioning gets frequent praise, as does the friendly but efficient pace of play that keeps groups moving even on busy weekends. Off the course, the facility is built for a full day: a handsome clubhouse with event space, a range and short-game area to actually *work* on parts of your game, and staff who treat guests like members. Whether you're setting up a tournament or chasing a personal best, Black Diamond feels dialed-in without feeling stiff. Takeaways? Bring a full toolbox - driver when the hole gives you room, hybrid or fairway wood when it doesn't, and a short game ready for tight lies around the greens. It's memorable golf that rewards both nerve and nuance - a true "diamond in the rough," polished by time and care.