Presented by:
The course, built in 2000, is a rolling landscape of testy mounds, 110 bunkers, water, fescue and bentgrass with the occasional tree. Besides the pot bunkers, there are seven ponds to contend with and strong par-3s, including the 245-yard 8th hole. Accuracy is vital in playing LochNess Links. Keep your ball in the fairway to stay clear of the rough, the bunkers and the mounding.
You'll start your round with a challenging par-4 (445 yards from the back and 323 from the front). The first two holes are long and difficult a good way to get swinging early, according to Stephen Billyard, our general manager.
Our 12th, a par-3 measuring 185 yards from the back and 101 from the forward tee, has the most undulating green on the course. If you miss the green long or miss it left, Billyard said, it's impossible to pitch onto the green. And on the right side is the Welland River as well as some 15 foot deep pot bunkers protecting the green as well. No. 16 is a crowd favorite, a short par-4 (295 yards from the back tees and 260 from the front).
You can try to drive the green, but if you miss it, you're in trouble, Billyard said. The green is heavily protected by 15-foot deep pot bunker in the front.
The 17th is a long, challenging par-4, 450 yards from the back and 347 from the front. A 50 yard long sand bunker is in play off the tee. But despite that ahead of you, you'll also appreciate the scenic view from the tee boxes of our clubhouse and a vista filled with other golf holes.
Strong golfers can usually get this far without too much trouble, but the 529-yard 9th (437 yards from the forward tees) can mean scorecard trouble. You need to carry water on your drive to a landing area that slopes toward a pond and then you go over water again on your approach shot.
The 3rd is one of the most thrilling holes, a long, uphill par-4 (440 yards from the back tee and 390 from the front) that the Toronto Star has actually called the longest 400-yard hole in Ontario.
This is an extremely difficult golf hole with a couple of pot bunkers to watch out for in the middle of the fairway, said Billyard. If you land in one of them, they'll stop you from making the green in two shots.
No. 18 is our photogenic par-5 (513 yards from the back and 431 from the forward tees). We call it our signature hole because it offers a 360-degree view of the Welland Canal and a thrilling forced carry over water. It's a risk-reward opportunity though with long hitters trying to go for the green in two, said Billyard. It's a game maker for a lot of players.
Distances, ratings and slopes at LochNess Links: 6,884 yards (73.6/132); 6,551 (70.7/129); 6,207 (69.8/120); 5,814 (74.1/133); 5,319 (71.1/121).View the LochNess Links Golf Course Website >>
“Lots of new courses try to emulate the links look, but only LochNess Links can boast of having four fairways beside waters which ocean-going ships ply. Which is more than St. Andrews so that makes LochNess Links a true links course.”
– The Bogey Man in the Toronto Star
