North America

Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador

Humber Valley Resort is situated in the Appalachian Mountain range, on the northern side of the Humber River and Deer Lake in western Newfoundland, and it opened for business in 2006. The River Course, an 18-hole, par 72 championship layout followed two years later and it’s a Doug Carrick design routed across forested, gently rolling terrain with water coming into play at several holes alongside the river or lake.

A couple of holes stand out on the front nine. The par three 5th hole plays across a small inlet to a green protected by the lake and a large waste area that’s merely an extension of the beach whilst the 8th is an intriguing short par four where the approach shot must find a raised green guarded by bunkers to the left.

On the back nine, the 10th is a very strong par four that’s often played into the prevailing wind, starting from an elevated tee position high above the fairway and ending with a severely contoured green. The 15th is a great short par four with water hazards - river right, pond left and creek behind - surrounding a driveable green that entices big hitters to reach it in one mighty blow.

Carrick Design provided the following article:

Those willing to venture east to one of the furthest golf outposts in Canada are rewarded with The River Course, a raw and rugged wilderness layout. The land around Humber Valley Resort is astonishing and the course speaks for itself with over 300 feet of elevation change. Cut through vast forests, in a surprisingly mountainous region, our design team drew upon the land’s high points for dramatic tee shots, of which No.10 is one of the most spectacular in Canada. Other holes follow the majestic Humber River and weave seamlessly through wooded valleys. It’s the simple natural diversity of the land that defines the Humber Valley experience – a course that is enjoyable to play every day with a welcoming resort course feel.

While Humber Valley’s remote location may be somewhat challenging to get to for many Canadians, the $1 billion, = 1,000-home development with sales aimed at those living in Britain, Ireland and Europe has been a huge homerun for the owners. In working closely with Newfound Developers, our design team seamlessly integrated the homes into the site so homeowners can enjoy one-of-a-kind views from their chalets, while golfers enjoy a natural environment.

Humber Valley (River)

Humber Valley Resort is situated in the Appalachian Mountain range, on the northern side of the Humber River and Deer Lake in western Newfoundland, and it opened for business in 2006.

Twin Rivers sits in a wild and woolly setting with two white-water salmon rivers defining a dramatic layout that skirts the Atlantic before winding through a coniferous forest teeming with moose and bald eagles.

Robbie Robinson designed the original 9-hole layout in the early 1980s then Doug Carrick added another nine in 1991. Today, the course extends to 6,546 yards from the back markers, playing to a par of 71 (36 out then 35 in). Holes 1-5 then 15-18 are laid out around the clubhouse, with the remaining holes set on the other side of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Notable holes include the right doglegging short par four 5th, with water to the right of the fairway, and the par three 8th which plays over more water to a sand-protected green. There are tough back-to-back par fives encountered at the 15th and 16th before the round ends with a short par three hole situated close to the clubhouse.

In November 2018 the Terra Nova Golf Resort went into receivership, but in April 2019 a new operator stepped in, so the resort's future looks promising.

Terra Nova (Twin Rivers)

Located close to St John’s International Airport on the Avalon Peninsula, Clovelly offers golfers a couple of contrasting Graham Cooke designs, with the par 62 executive Black Duck course complementing the championship-standard Osprey layout.

Extending to 6,581 yards from the rear tees, the Osprey course is laid out as two returning nines, each of which starts with a par five and plays to an overall par of 36. Holes are routed around natural wetlands and small ponds within a property that’s entirely surrounded by a dense forest of Black Spruce and Balsam Fir trees.

Highlight holes include the double doglegging par five 8th, rated stroke index 2 on the card; the very short par three 12th, sandwiched between a couple of really interesting par fours; and the 403-yard 18th which veers slightly left off the tee towards the home green.

Clovelly (Osprey)

The secluded fairways of The Wilds course at Salmonier River form a challenging layout that’s set within the Avalon Wilderness Reserve, a 1,000-square kilometre wildlife conservation area comprising one of North America’s most unspoilt barren regions.

Designed by Robert Heaslip and opened for play in the late 1990s, the course extends to just over 6,500 yards from the back markers, with holes arranged as two returning nines. Water comes into play on several holes: ponds to the right of the fairway threaten approach shots to the par five 2nd and par four 12th, whilst a creek runs across the fairway on both the par four 15th and par three 17th.

Highlight holes include the left doglegging short par four 3rd in the north east corner of the course, along with the longest of the par fives at the 542-yard 8th. On the back nine, the 507-yard 18th is a tough 3-shot proposition (rated stroke index 2) to encounter at the end of the round, with its fairway split into two distinct portions before reaching the home green.

The Wilds at Salmonier River

Set out on hilly terrain overlooking Gander Lake, the course at Gander Golf Club was originally developed as a 9-hole layout but a Doug Carrick redesign in 2001 saw another nine added as the architect fashioned a new 18-hole course.

The layout extends to 6,137 yards from the back tees, with tree-lined holes configured as two returning nines. There are no fewer than six par threes on the scorecard, along with several short par fours that each measure less than 300 yards, so golfers don’t need to be big hitters to comfortably get round this par 70 little beauty.

Highlight holes include the 382-yard 1st, rated stroke index 1, which is played from an elevated tee position to a raised green that’s guarded by three bunkers to the front. On the back nine, back-to-back short par fours at the 11th and 12th play side by side in opposite directions, with the par five 18th doglegging slightly right to the home green.

Gander

Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly province in Canada, incorporating Labrador on the mainland and the island of Newfoundland, along with several thousand other small islands. Just over half a million people inhabit this territory with many of them claiming English or Irish ancestry.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Golf Association was formed in 1985, twenty-one years after the Newfoundland Golf Association was established. Divided into four districts, there are currently twenty-two member clubs affiliated to the N&LGA, only two of which – Amaruk and Tamarack – are located in Labrador.

 course is rightly regarded as the number one layout in the province. Designed by the prolific Doug Carrick, this course – and its 10th hole in particular – has received nothing but rave reviews since it debuted in 2006.