News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.


Greg Beaulieu

  • Karma: +0/-0
Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« on: September 09, 2007, 06:24:35 PM »
GCA member Robert Thompson recently posted in this column on Scoregolf.com that the best hidden gem in Canada was Nothumberland Links, near Pugwash, Nova Scotia. From the column:

Quote
Driving along the Nova Scotia shoreline in early August heading to Fox Harb’r, Ron Joyce’s elaborate coastal retreat, I stumbled upon Northumberland Links. It has been three years since I had last set my eyes on this intriguing design, created by Robbie Robinson and Geoff Cornish. At $48 and with several holes played along the sea, it is hard to find better value for money anywhere in Canada.

I thought I'd do my part for my former employer, Nova Scotia Tourism, by posting a few pics:



These next few show the part of the course that hugs Northumberland Strait:







Not all of the course is oceanside, though:



Back in the mid-80s the provincial government here bought the course as an economic and tourism development move and over the next few years dropped millions into it. In 2001 a new government basically gave the course back to the members, conceding they had no business trying to run a golf course. Not a good use of tax dollars, but a nice bonus for golfers. It is in a beautiful location and is a bargain at a $48 green fee.

When y'all come up here to play Cabot Links in a few years time you should check it out.  :)

Jeff_Mingay

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2007, 06:33:36 PM »
Greg,

Northumberland Links has long been on my 'to see' list. Though I suspect there are clear reasons why it's never been considered amongst Canada's best. Unfortunate considering the look of the seaside property in the photos above.

Perhaps I'll finally get there next year while we're building the other course you mention above :)
jeffmingay.com

ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2007, 06:50:19 PM »
Greg,
  I'm not finding the column you referenced (although I'm hopeless with a computer). What are the attributes of this course that give it hidden gem status? Why don't more people know about it? Thanks.
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Robert Thompson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2007, 07:26:21 PM »
I'll jump in, largely as I haven't posted on GCA in months!

Northumberland is good -- not great. But for $40 it is hard to find a better value in the country. This is part Geoff Cornish and Bill Robinson, as well as some holes by Stanley Thompson associate Robbie Robinson, if I recall correctly.

The course starts on the other side of a road, and there's one hole played there before it heads to the ocean. If I recall correctly, there five holes on the ocean side, including a nifty little par three that plays alongside the water (with a strange boat resting behind the green). The remaining holes play back on the other side of the road, utilizing some interesting pines and a piece of land that slopes from the high side on the south to towards the ocean.

I've only played it once, but I'd played Fox Harb'r in the AM (a Graham Cooke course designed for Ron Joyce, the co-founder of the Tim Hortons donut chain and a fellow with whom I wrote a book) and then Northumberland in the PM. Fox Harb'r has a green fee of $250, and for $200 less, I'd argue Northumberland is a much more intriguing experience. Is it great? No. Is it worth a trip if you're in the PEI/Cape Breton area? I'd say so.

Other potential nominees include: Twin Rivers in Newfoundland (Carrick and Robinson), Waskesiu in Saskatchewan, The Elks Club in Calgary, Tarandowah near London, Ont. (a newish Martin Hawtree), Crimson Ridge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and Timber Ridge near Brighton, Ont. I'm sure there are others who can chime in with their suggestions. These are all inexpensive, well designed and smart courses. We could use more like them.
Terrorizing Toronto Since 1997

Read me at Canadiangolfer.com

Greg Beaulieu

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2007, 07:33:58 PM »
Ed, just click on the bolded text referring to the column in my post and it will take you there.

Why is it a hidden gem? I can offer a few reasons. It is in a fairly remote location in a fairly remote province. You have to drive a good distance on 2-lane highways just to get there. The area it's in is beautiful, but isn't well-developed as a resort area, with the exception of Fox Harb'r. However, there are a few places where a family or a group of players could stay; I've never been there, but when you look at a place like Cambra Sands I can't think of many other spots I'd rather be:

http://www.cambrasands.com/
 

Mark Buzminski

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2007, 08:56:28 PM »
Robert, nice to see you mention the closest thing to a home club I have, Timber Ridge in Brighton, where I play most of my golf.  

 I would add Stanley Thompson's Kawartha Golf Club in Peterborough to the list, although its hardly a "hidden" gem to people who live in the area.   It is exceptional.

Robert Thompson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2007, 10:08:44 PM »
Mark -- nice choice and you're right -- one of the better Thompson semi-private courses out there that the public can access.
Terrorizing Toronto Since 1997

Read me at Canadiangolfer.com

ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2007, 10:32:39 PM »
Thanks for the feedback guys.

Greg,
   I did click on the link, but I couldn't find it. Maybe I'm just having a senior moment. :)
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Wayne_Kozun

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2007, 11:08:42 PM »
You could also add courses like St. Thomas and Cataraqui to the hidden gem list.

Robert Thompson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2007, 07:03:06 AM »
Wayne: There are plenty if we get into the private club side.

RT
Terrorizing Toronto Since 1997

Read me at Canadiangolfer.com

Brad Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Canada's Best Hidden Gem
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2007, 09:06:17 AM »
My fam. has a house off 95 in Aroostook County in Maine....we've gone across into New Brunswick (only 30 mins away) to play Covered Bridge in Hartland, NB...named after the world's longest covered bridge over the St. John River.  It is a nice, upscale-ish public course set in former farmland with some river views.

Is the Lynx at Kingswood Park any good?...it's name is suspect...
« Last Edit: September 10, 2007, 09:08:32 AM by Brad Tufts »
So I jump ship in Hong Kong....

Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back