Bay of Quinte Golf Course

Slow play is no fun on the golf course!

Today was a fantastic day on the golf course. The Bay of Quinte Golf and Country Club was in great shape, the greens were fast, and my foursome was first-rate! Although I did not adjust to the speed of the greens at all, playing a new course is always fun and exciting.

During the round, it rained, the wind picked up, my push cart broke, and I could not adjust to the speed of the greens (oh yeah, covered that already). Some would look at my round and suggest that I might have been able to do something better with my time, but I would unequivocally disagree with that suggestion. Today was a great round because of our group. Everyone played like gentlemen and the stories were funny and numerous!

Working our way round the links did pose a bit of an etiquette dilemma. On a side note, as most of you know, I am adamantly against slow play. As a foursome, we strive to finish our round in approximately 4 hours give or take 15 minutes. Today, we finished in 4 hours and 10 minutes. So, we were right on our target time and the recommended time by the course. After the fourth hole, we let a twosome in a cart go through and merrily went on our way. On the fifth hole, a foursome showed up behind us. The did wait for some shots, but for the most part, I think, they did not have to wait that much. Behind this foursome was two, twosomes who did not join up.

The foursome was always about 3/4 of hole behind us. They never really got closer, but were rarely out of our sight line. They likely matched our speed and carried on their way. Unfortunately, I felt as if they were pushing us quite often. It was nothing they did, but as a rule I do not like to hold anyone up if they are playing faster.

At the end of the day, we did not let the foursome through because they were never that close where the opportunity arose. I think we made the right decision by not waiting for 15 minutes for them to catch us then play through, but it has been a long time where I have felt like I was holding up the course.

So my question to you is: should we have waited the 15 minutes to allow this group to play through?

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

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!