Grand Falls Golf Club
In 1905 construction began on the paper mill and town of Grand Falls. The Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, as part of the development, cleared land for farming at the intersection of the Exploits River and Rushy Pond Brook. In 1924 some local enthusiasts started a golf course with six holes on the site of the former farm. It shortly became a nine hole facility and remained so until 2004 when nine holes on the opposite side of Rushy Pond Brook were officially opened.
The original nine is generally flat and open with small greens. The new nine has much tighter fairways bounded by the forest on both sides and the greens are large.
The prevailing southwesterly winds can play havoc with approach shots.
The course presents four par 5s, 9 par 4s and five par 3s with white tees and red tees.
Out-of-bounds skirts the entire length of the hole to the left, and there is a drainage ditch hazard, which splits the fairway, 220 yards from the tee. The smart play is to lay up short of the ditch and go for the green with a short third shot. There are two sand traps short on either side and one to the right of the small green. Usually, the prevailing wind blows straight down this fairway
The elevated tee gives a panoramic view of the Exploits River and a clear view of the green with a sand trap to the back and right. This hole can be forgiving but be careful of the out-of-bounds on the left.
This hole requires making the right shot to clear the lateral water hazard to the left and to avoid the sand traps in front and to the right of the green. An easy par can instead be a double or triple.
There is a lateral water hazard on the entire left side and a narrow fairway which slopes from right to left. There’s lots of room to bail out right and still reach the green with a short third shot. Shots to the bank past the protective sand trap usually roll right to the green.
The green is reachable from the hillside tee. The long narrow green, however, is protected by a deep sand trap on the left and a sand trap and grass bunker on the right. The smart play is to hit to the front of the green. There is out-of-bounds on the left and woods on the right.
A shallow drainage ditch splits the dogleg left fairway 140 yards from the elevated green which is well-protected with tough sand traps on either side of a narrow entrance. Beware of going too long as out-of bonds is right behind the green.
This hole plays shorter than the given yardage. However, the longer the drive the better the angle for your approach shot. Out-of bounds to the left and woods to the right necessitate a shot straight down the middle of the fairway. There is a drainage ditch 30 yards from the green.
This hole give a sweeping view of the Exploits River. Two sand traps protect the green in front. If you miss the green, it is better to be just left or over the green.
A drainage ditch splits the fairway 200 yards from the hilltop tee. There is rough on either side of the fairway so hit it straight. The narrow green is well-protected with a deep grass bunker on the left and a sand trap right. There is also a sand trap behind the green so the smart play is to the front of the green.
The tee is located on the edge of Rushy Pond Brook to the left of the bridge. A tee-shot of at least 160 yards will clear the hazard. Keep to the middle as there is out-of-bounds to the left and sand traps to the right of this sloping fairway. The greens on the back nine are much larger than those on the front!
There is out-of-bounds left and woods to the right of the fairway which makes a slight dogleg left. A sand trap protects this elevated green on the left.
A drainage ditch splits the fairway and there is a pond to the right. There is a sand trap left of the green and out-of-bounds behind. The hole is deceptively long especially when there is a breeze.
A narrow fairway with out-of-bounds on the left and woods on the right make a straight shot a necessity. Sand traps protect the green on both sides. A water hazard about 30 yards wide may prove a challenge when playing from the back tees
There is out-of-bounds left and woods to the right of this narrow fairway. There is a water hazard in front of the green and a sand trap to the right
There is a sharp dogleg right at the top of the sloping fairway. The fairway levels off before sloping down to the green protected by a sand trap on the left.
There is out-of-bounds on the left and woods on the right. The green is protected by a sand trap on the right. Short and left is better than long on this hole.
A beautiful hole with a panoramic view. A good drive will enable you to reach the green in two shots. If you are short, the drainage ditch hazard in front of the green might encourage you to lay up and settle for bogey rather than risk a double.
This is a truly magnificent hole. On the left there is Rushy Pond Brook which has to be traversed on your approach. A drive down the centre of the fairway could leave with 200 yards or more. By daring to hit close to the hazard you could have 150 yards or less. When you get across in two shots, it is a great way to finish a round on a beautiful course.