www.beechwoodgolf.com

(see Rating Criteria)

Course Profile Built over rolling terrain, through woodlots and around numerous ponds, Beechwood G&CC is one of Niagara's best known and busiest courses. Highly regarded as both a challenging tournament venue and recreational course, Beechwood is (rightly) one of Niagara's most popular courses.

Best characterized as a parkland-style golf course, Beechwood G&CC is neither too long nor too "tight" for recreational players, but its design is nevertheless demanding of good course management. Poor club selection or a shaky short-iron game will consistently bring hazards into play. The lasting impressions of Beechwood G&CC will be of the frequency with which water comes into play and the closing "road holes" - four great driving holes with a gorgeous little par-3 stuck in the middle.

Beechwood G&CC is a great test for recreational and accomplished golfers alike, offering multiple tee boxes and playing up to 6560 yards from the tips. The front nine offers a kind mix of holes, but it is the back nine that is confrontational - presenting three each of par-3s, 4s and 5's - and a gammut of hazards. The string of holes near, along and across the road (# 14-18) ranks as one of Niagara's best stretches. Beechwood G&CC includes a lareg practice green.

 

Course Review

The Beechwood G&CC is a Niagara favourite, and its hilly, parkland setting makes it challenging yet enjoyable. The varied hole designs, coupled with the rolling landscape, wooded areas and numerous ponds add plenty of visual appeal as well. A layout that rewards accuracy off the tee and strategic play rather than distance, Beechwood can provide an enjoyable round of recreational golf or a demanding test for tournament players. The course is invariably in good shape and features generous fairways, sparse rough, tree-lined fairways, ravines, shallow bunkers and numerous water hazards. Beechwood's greens are small-to-average in size, "hold" approach shots very well and putt true. Generous fairways encourage abandon off the tee, but trees and fairway bunkers put a premium on accuracy rather than distance. A number of ponds and drainage ditches are scattered across the course, increasing the importance of a straight tee game, good iron play, strategic ball placement and, oftentimes, laying up.

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The rolling, relatively open front nine at Beechwood G&CC gives golfers some reprieve and a chance to tune up a bit before taking on the more demanding back nine. The par-4 1st and par-5 3rd holes are short-irons-in and offer the best birdie opportunities. Seemingly short and easy holes are nicely complicated by bunkers and water - lots of it. The par-5 8th begs longer hitters to go for it, but it is just a waste of a stroke and a golf ball. Accept it - lay up. Beechwood's back nine is much more demanding, both off the tee and on approach shots. Again, the opening holes are kindest, and the par-5 14th is, perhaps, the last chance for birdie without having to make a career shot.
	Across the road, the par-5 15th demands a long, dead-straight tee shot and a pretty good fairway 2nd as well. Lay up off the tee at # 16, and stay left-centre for an advatageous mid-iron approach. Enjoy the beautiful par-3 17th - an easy 3 if you hit the green, maybe double that if you don't. Lay up a bit on the finishing hole as the (unseen) pond on the right definitely comes into play. A difficult approach shot, the tiered and treacherous 18th green often becomes a par-3 unto itself, so par here merits a "well done".
After a round at Beechwood G&CC, it will be obvious why the course enjoys a reputation for excellence - both from a conditioning and playability point of view. With a courteous and helpful staff, Niagara's best 19th hole, and a great track, Beechwood G&CC certainly deserves a place on the "must-play" list.