UK Golfing Adventure – Part 2

December 6, 2014December 6, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

On the bridge at Northwood Golf Club

My golfing adventure in the UK was very exciting. As stated earlier, I had a fantastic time and was treated like royalty by my best friend. While my stay was short, we did pack plenty of golf in the four days. We spent three days trying to conquer the Northwood Golf Club, my friend’s home course.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing the Northwood Course! Besides the historic aspect of this fun track, the course itself was in fantastic shape. Despite the torrent of rain it received leading up to my arrival, the course was extremely well maintained, the greens were in great shape, and the staff were first-rate. Overall, I would rate my experience as a 4.5 out of 5!

Northwood Golf Course does not play extremely long (6473 yds). Most of the par 4s were easily reachable and the par 5s on a dry day were in play as well. But, do not let the aspect of being a shorter course lull you into a false sense of confidence. The fairway bunkers were strategically placed, the green side bunkers were deep, and the elevation change between holes ensured that course management was vital to scoring low.

Approach shot to a Par 3.

Most of the greens were elevated, protected by bunkers, or the has a patch of rough to play over. Most of the hazards were fair and provided that touch of excitement to every shot. More importantly, choosing the correct club off the tee cannot be overstressed. Choose poorly and the complexity of the approach shot increased.

As you can see, there is nothing easy about the approach shots. The Par 3 was a 7 or 8 iron depending on the day and the pin was always up front. The slope of the green was from back to front making all putts from the back of the green very difficult. Also, the elevation change of 50 feet added to the difficulty of the tee shot.

Approach shot on Number 10.

The number ten green was the most challenging. What you cannot see is the green. It is kidney-shaped and that bends from right to left. The green narrows towards the back and the 15 feet of elevation on the approach shot was just enough to affect your club selection. Of course, we cannot forget the two deep bunkers on the left side. Anything short and left easily added an extra stroke to your score. The bail out area appears to be to the right, which was the correct play, but the rough was deep and wet. Overall, this was one of the most difficult approach shots on the course!

My Northwood Golf Club experience was excellent. I could go on describing the intricate aspects of the course, but I think you have gained an understanding of just how fun this course is to play. I looking forward to the opportunity to play Northwood once or twice more! If you want to see more pictures, I loaded them on my Facebook page: The Grateful Golfer.

I am a grateful golfer. See you on the links!

Risk vs Reward in Golf

October 2, 2014October 2, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Risk vs reward is the basis for good golf. Great golfers understand their limitations and try to play to their strengths. Fantastic golfers manage every shot with the intent of setting up the next shot. Professional golfers can do all of these things most of the time. As amateurs, the risk / reward shot can be summed up as a 50/50 shot. Now, those odds are good if you are in a casino, but are very poor if you are on a golf course.

The Bay of Quinte Golf Course is a nice track. It has lush fairways and well manicured greens. Most holes are fairly straight and most greens are wide open to a good approach shot. This is a great course for a mid to high handicap player who wants a challenge. The low handicap player will find the course amusing and fun to play. The value is there for all golfers and overall I would recommend anyone in the Bay of Quinte area to stop in for a round of golf.

There is, however, one hole on the Bay of Quinte Course that makes the entire round worth while for a low handicap player. It is the 240 yard, par 4, 5th hole. I know, you are saying 24o yards, “Come On! What is so special about that hole?” Well let me explain.

The 5th hole is a 240 yard, all carry, tee shot to an elevated green. The green is only 15 yards deep and 45 yards wide. It has a sharp slope from left to right; it is guarded by three deep bunkers; your tee shot must carry a pond; and there is no bail out area. It is a menacing tee shot to say the least!

Bay of Quinte – 5th Hole – Tee Shot – 240 yds

Bay of Quinte – 5th Hole – Looking Back at the Tee.

Bay of Quinte – 5th Hole – Back Left after Tee Shot.

The risk reward for this shot is 50/50 for most players. I have played this hole twice and have made it on or beside the green each time. The first time I was putting for eagle and the second time I was chipping for eagle. Examining this hole from a course management perspective I would play it the following way:

Stroke tournament – in the mix to win – short iron off the tee.
Stroke tournament – need to make up ground – driver.
Stroke tournament – out of the mix – driver.
Playing a round – great score going – iron off the tee.
Playing a round – average score going – driver.
Playing a round – poor score going – driver.
Match play tournament – driver.
Scramble tournament – driver.
Best ball tournament – driver.

So that would be my strategy to play this fun golf hole at the Bay of Quinte Golf Course. It is my favorite hole at this course and if you ever get a chance to play it, hit your driver just for fun, you never know, a hole-in-one could be in your future!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Golfing In Ireland

July 25, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Golfing in Ireland is on my bucket list! Ireland, Scotland and the United Kingdom hold a special place in my heart as places to golf. Until I have the opportunity to play in these three countries, and it will happen, this dream will stay alive and be fulfilled one day. In the meantime, I live vicariously through those who do golf in the promised land. My friend Kirk details his play at his home course of Northwood Golf Club in the UK. Also, he recently kept me spell-bound as he explained his round at St Andrews Old Course. Both sound amazing!

Ireland was the only country left of the three where I did not have any connection….until seven days ago. Through the power of social media, I was fortunate enough to talk to Patrick Mc Laughlin and Gary McLaughlin. (They are brothers, however spell their last names differently) It all started when they posted a picture of the signature hole at the Slieve Russel Hotel Golf and Country Club, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland.

Straight over the SR sign or bail out right? @jmacrock @lochlainn1 good par 5 this one, pic.twitter.com/GWjBR3zkl2

— Gary McLaughlin (@Garymc_) July 21, 2014

@Garymc_ @lochlainn1 @jmacrock Aim over the sign and if it is miss hit, would bail out to the right! What a beautiful Par 5! My #GAF is high

— The Grateful Golfer (@TheGratefulGolf) July 21, 2014

After answering this challenge, the conversation was on. He said that the Slieve Russell Golf and Country Club is a great place to play! In fact, he and his brother were playing there the next day and I asked them to send pictures. This is what they sent.

Playing the 11th hole – The Haunted Heron

Pactrick Mc Laughlin - 2nd shot lay up from bunker at 13th

Patrick Mc Laughlin – 2nd shot lay up from bunker at 13th

Patrick mc laughlin ‏@lochlainn1 Protected Tweets Jul 23 @TheGratefulGolf 12th tee shot, hit driver and 52* to 6ft but missed :( pic.twitter.com/gxJLZ2mKsA

Patrick Mc Laughlin – 12th tee shot, hit driver and 52* to 6ft but missed 😦

Patrick Mc Laughlin – 13th drove into bunker across the fairway

Not to be out done, the Slieve Russell Hotel sent this picture and comment along!

@TheGratefulGolf @lochlainn1 @Garymc_ in this weather it really is awesome ! pic.twitter.com/JqcKSpSwKu

— Slieve Russell Hotel (@Slieverussell) July 24, 2014

Patrick Mc Laughlin and Gary McLaughlin both agree that the course is in awesome shape. The greens are fast and true and the fairways immaculate. The brief encounter with these two golf fanatics further increases my desire to play in Ireland. Actually, The Slieve Russell Hotel Golf and Country Club has made my bucket list.

I want to thank Patrick and Gary for taking the time to send me these awesome pictures. I am grateful you took the time and effort to share your experience on The Slieve Russell Golf Course.

If anyone wishes to use the pictures sent by Patrick and Gary, please contact them and ask permission as they have the sole rights to duplication.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Trillium Wood Golf Club – Review

July 14, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

Trillium Wood Golf Club is nestled in the heart of Hastings County. This gem of a course lives up to its hype as one of the top courses in Southern Ontario, Canada. It has all the amenities to meet every golfers needs, with a course layout that will suit the challenge requirements of all golfers.

Trillium Wood is part of a three course affiliation with Roundel Glen Golf Course and The Frankford Golf Course. All within a 30-minute drive of each other, this trifecta of courses provides the perfect balance for anyone wanting a weekend getaway.

Driving up to the club house, I noticed an extra-large and well maintained driving range. Capable of holding at least 30 players, the tee area was slightly higher than the range itself. This unique feature helps players watch their ball flight and make any adjustments to any errant swing. Specifically, I liked how flat the tee box; it ensured a solid and level stance on every practice swing. Adjacent to the practice range was a large chipping green with a sand trap. This green was tilted slightly which helped players practice both up and downward chips towards a pin. This is a great feature because of the challenging greens on the course. The putting area is a bit small, but located conveniently beside the first tee. This is another great feature as players wait for their turn to challenge the course.

The course has an exceptional layout. The multitude of dog legs, length of the holes, the elevated greens and bunker location blends perfectly together; making Trillium Wood a must play course. The course has many elevation changes that will challenge everyone’s course management skills.

Trillium Wood Golf Course caters to every skill level. The distance of the tees make this course perfect for everyone. The shorter distance of the White tees allows the weekend player an opportunity to score well and still be challenged. The intermediate Blue tees are for the mid-handicapper who wants to test their game. The Gold tees are for the single digit handicappers who are not afraid of the potential to score big numbers. The varying distances is a great feature of Trillium Wood as it provides an appropriate challenge to every skill level.

The condition of the course was outstanding. The fairways were plush and well manicured. There was an opportunity for extra roll on your long shots, but not so long as to make the ball uncontrollable. The rolling fairways were expertly cut making course management important. This is not the typical ‘bash and chase’ fairways seen on most public courses; time and energy went into ensuring that every shot counted.

The greens were very receptive. Hunting for the pin on most approach shots had its risk and reward. Make no mistake, if you hit the green you were rewarded; miss the green and the difficulty of an up and down increased exponentially. The greens were large and well guarded by a multitude of sand traps (which had spectacular sand in every bunker). The greens rolled true and had many subtle bends and curves that tested the mettle of every player. Most of the greens were elevated and this feature added to the complexity of an approach shot – making club selection very important.

Trillium Wood had GPS devices in every cart. These devices measured the distance to the front, back and middle of the green. It also showed the exact distance to bunkers and hazards. I particularly appreciated a feature of this device that explained the best way to play the hole! For someone playing the course for the first time, this assistance was invaluable!

The clubhouse and Pro Shop were not exceedingly large. They were very functional and easily met the needs of any customer. They have an event tent that easily sat 150 people and serves as their function area. The facilities are very well maintained and provide a nice flow which adds to the positive ambiance of the course.

The staff was outstanding. Their positive, can-do approach to customer service was refreshing. The general manager, Greg Seemungal, delivers an atmosphere which draws golfers to Trillium Wood. The service in all areas of the course are first-rate and definitely a draw. The staff at Trillium Wood know that customer service is critical to the success of a golf course and they definitely deliver.

Overall, I would rate Trillium Wood Golf Club a 4.5 out of 5. It is an outstanding course that meets the needs of all golfers. At $55 a round at peak times, it has unquestionable value. If you have not played Trillium Wood yet, I would recommend you do!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Loyalist Country Club – Review

July 6, 2014July 13, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Ready to Tee off! Congrats to Pete on his retirement!

On Friday, 06 Jul 14, I had the privilege of celebrating the retirement of a friend who dedicated 35 loyal years of service to the Canadian Armed Forces. As part of the celebration, about 30 of us congregated for a round of golf and to swap stories at the Loyalist Country Club in Bath, Ontario, Canada.

This jewel of a course has played host to many prominent Ontario amateur championships that include the Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur (August 2011), the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur (August 2010), the Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur (June 2009), the GAO Senior Women’s Amateur (July 2008), and the Women’s Amateur (2012) championships.

Par 5 second shot over water!

This 6584 yard track provided all amenities expected from a top-tier course. The staff was outstanding and portrayed a positive customer-service attitude that was very refreshing. My dealings with Jordan Babcock in the Pro Shop, Geoff James (CPGA Head Professional) and the staff in the lounge would warrant a trip back to the Loyalist Golf and Country Club. All the prices were reasonable, the food was fantastic and the ambiance was great. Overall, before even playing, I was very happy with my experience.

Warming up on the Range.

The practice facility was good. The driving range was very large and provided plenty of room for at least 20 players to hit balls. The practice green was a bit small and there was no place to pitch; only chip. However, the green rolled exactly the same as those on the course and this feature alone made up for the smaller putting/chipping green. Another bonus was the practice facility was located right beside the first tee. Personally, this is a great feature because a player can continue to practice until called forward by the starter. Overall, the practice facility was well suited for the Loyalist Country Club.

Approach shot to the first green.

The course played like two different courses. The front nine provided a rolling, meandering layout that was challenging and yet playable. Most of the greens were elevated and had many hidden breaks that provided a level of difficulty that I appreciated. As we made our way around the first nine holes, the water hazards, sand traps, and dog-legs were well placed so course management was an important factor to score low.

Approaching over water!

The back-nine was less adventurous as it weaved through a subdivision of expensive homes. It was level and the greens were less interesting, but still posed a decent challenge. The fairways were flatter and good lies could be found everywhere. To score low, each player still needed to manage their shots and stay focused on their yardage to set up the next shot. Overall, the back-nine was still fun to play.

Great place to rest and talk!

The condition of the course was outstanding. The fairways were plush and well maintained. The greens rolled true. The hazards were well-marked and the grass was mowed in all areas. There was a washroom facility after the 13th hole. There was plenty of dirt to replace divots on the par 3 tee boxes (more of an issue on most courses than one would think) and there were many yardage markers on the sprinkler heads. Additionally, there were a couple of table and chair sets located throughout the clubhouse area which greatly enhanced my experience.

Korean Beef Salad! Delicious!

We arrived early to have lunch and sat in the lounge. The service was outstanding, the food delicious and the atmosphere perfect. The price of my meal, and the other selections on the menu, were very reasonable and worthy of another visit.

Overall, I would rate this course a 4.0 out of 5. My entire golfing experience was excellent and I would highly recommend this course to anyone in the Bath, Ontario, area looking for a game. Thanks to the entire Loyalist Country Club team for my outstanding golf outing.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!