Division B had a magical day at Niagara-on-the-Lake recently. It is a 9 hole course but what an enchanting layout ; the oldest course in North America! We - the players from North Halton, Cutten, and Twenty Valley were welcomed to the clubhouse by the NOTL team and a terrific buffet lunch which the chef, no doubt, had spent some serious time preparing. Karl Keilhau and the pro, Billy Simkin, set the course up to play from different tees for each nine which created an entirely different view from most tee boxes. For example, the 2nd and 6th holes are framed by large overhanging elms ready to swallow your ball if it's slightly off line - and you have to maneuver it to find the fairway. While the greens are small, they have just enough undulation to keep you guessing. A green that has been in play since 1875 greets you on the 8th as well as the remains of a old fort behind the tee. The views on the lake holes are magnificent - I particularly liked the par 3 fourth hole, defined picturesquely by trees and traps with Lake Ontario sparkling in the background. Another par 3, the 230 yd.18th will test your nerves as you attempt to proceed to the clubhouse with a decent score.
Once we finished our round, and on a 30+ degree early evening, we sat in the outdoor patio clubhouse restaurant with cool breezes wafting in from the lake as we gazed at the majestic view over Lake Ontario and Fort Niagara on the American side. Very few clubhouses can provide this panarama. Brilliant blue waters were speckled with groups of white sail boats as they darted around the harbour. The club changed ownership last year as John Wiens purchased it and he has done a tremendous job in updating and improving the venue and menu. I overheard some of the players from Cutten and North Halton talking about bringing their wives back for dinner, to take in the view and perhaps a show at another time.
And the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is quaint, historic and a must see if you have not been there in the last few years. So having this course in your division in the future is something to look forward to rather than "Oh, a 9 hole course!" On to golf again - we had a super 2 under par 69 by Ange Bozza of Twenty Valley to complete the day - of course his team got 6 points! |
