|
| Course Profile
The Port Colborne Country Club, the area’s premier member-owned course, defines what country-club golf is all about. Since 1929, the club has been a place where members and guests alike enjoy leisurely golf, personalized instruction, friendly, expert pro shop service, practice areas, an LLBO-licenced lounge, and fine dining. An ambitious course maintenance / improvement program, including a state-of-the-art irrigation system, insures the course is always in great shape.
The Wainfleet layout is not particularly long by today’s standards (6550 yards from the tips), has relatively few fairway hazards and short sparse rough, making it an ideal layout for both recreational golf and tournament play. The Port Colborne CC greens are among the best in Niagara and provide a fair test of putting skills. With its few ponds seldom coming into play, the course design incorporates strategic bunkering, smaller greens and demanding par-4s to toughen it up. |
| While the course forgives some stray tee shots, it's always best to play from the luxurious fairways – twice voted "Best Fairways" in the NIAGARA Golf Awards. Many of the holes, including most of the par-3s, call for mid-irons, and there are very few easy ones. The par-4s at the Port Colborne CC are especially strong, varying quite a bit in length and shape, while the par-5s offer good chances for birdies, present few hazards and encourage abandon off the tee. |
 |
| Course Review |
| From the first tee, the Port Colborne CC invites aggressive play and generously rewards both length off the tee and firing at the pin. With little in the way of trouble off the tee, few hazards and no thick rough, the course is built for risk taking and "going low". For the most part, the course features flat, straight-away fairways and small-to-average-size greens that hold approach shots well, roll quick and true. While distance and accuracy off the tee never hurt, good iron play and a solid short game remain the keys to scoring well. |
 |
| For those with an accurate tee game (although not necessarily long), the front nine offers several birdie opportunities. The par-5s (# 1, 3) play short, even when laying up with a lofted fairway wood or long iron. Big hitters might think about going for the green on the short par-4 5th hole. From the white tees, a tee shot carrying 225 yards or more will clear the pond, making birdie a good bet. |
 |
The par-3 6th hole - 190 yards slightly uphill - may be the only long iron needed in the entire round. The tiny, sloping, bunkered green really makes this a challenging hole and par a very good score. Coming in, holes # 7, 8 and 9 continue the test, and all require a solid drive and good fairway positioning. Mid-irons to smaller, protected greens make birdies unlikely and pars very respectable. |
| With three 3's, 4's and 5's, the back nine might appear vulnerable, but such is not the case. Undulating greens, mid-iron approaches, bunkering and mounding make the par-3s a bit tougher than those on the front nine. The straight-away par-5 11th hole is a birdie hole, but the other 5-pars (# 13 & 16) are a bit more demanding - both off the tee and on the approach shot. A seeming misfit, the par-5 13th hole will rear up and bite back with a front-left pond, a very firm, elevated green and a near-invisible, seemingly innocuous back-right bunker that collects those short-iron approach shots that just won't stick.
As it should, the course consistently rewards length off the tee, strategic ball placement, a good mid-iron game and adept putting. No matter one's handicap, this layout provides an enjoyable round, a fair test of skills and the opportunity to drive recklessly without crippling consequences. With its tranquil countryside setting and challenging layout, the Port Colborne CC makes for an enjoyable test of golf for both recreational and competitive players. Practice facilities include a driving range, practice bunker and chipping / putting green. |
|
