Course Profile
For more than fifty years, the Niagara Parks Commission's Whirlpool Golf Course has been the crown jewel of golf in Niagara. Whirlpool GC is set against the spectacular backdrop of the Niagara River, Falls, Whirlpool and Gorge and features a parkland-style golf venue, fairways lined with mature trees, large greens, wide fairways, numerous strategically placed bunkers and a few water hazards.
	Designed by renowned Canadian architect, Stanley Thompson, and opened in 1951, the Whirlpool GC has distinguished itself among Niagara courses - a perennial pick as one of the best public courses in Canada and "Niagara's favourite golf course". In Score Golf Magazine's 2002 ranking of Canada's Top 100 Courses, the Whirlpool GC vaulted to 47th position - amidst largely private, exclusive and more expensive club courses. In 2001, the Whirlpool GC was awarded "silver" status in Score Golf Magazine's Golfer's Choice Awards "best value" selections. The Niagara Parks Commission gem was also included in the Toronto Star's Bogey Man's Top 18 courses for 2001, and Whirlpool's #2 hole made his list of Top 9 Water Hazards.
The Whirlpool GC enjoys several advantages that, in addition to Thompson's intuitive shaping and routing of the course, help make it a fine test for golfers of varying skills and length off the tee. And it does offer plenty of length - more than 7000 yards from the tips - yet plays shorter than the numbers might suggest. Straight-away holes, generous fairways, short rough and fair bunker placements tempt big hitters throughout the course. The large greens are also kind - they hold approach shots well, are gently contoured, putt true but not too fast. However, they are typically surrounded by numerous bunkers that invariably gobble up weak or off-line approach shots. Whirlpool's Ohio-grade sand bunkers are generally shallow, soft and easy to get out of, whether in the fairway or greenside. Water hazards are few and far between on the course, coming into play on only a few holes. The pond at # 2 protects the front of the green, creating a beautiful but challenging hole. Ponds on the 3rd and 14th holes shouldn't come into play, but hitting across water seems always to rattle some players. Practice facilities include a short game area - practice putting / chipping greens and bunkers - a practice hole, but no driving range. A magnificent stone / cedar clubhouse which includes the pro shop and restaurant fronts the course on the Niagara Parkway.

 

Course Review
For Niagara golfers, few courses in the Region offer the kind of experience that the Whirlpool GC does - a wonderfully designed, mature course in a park setting along the Niagara Gorge. The Niagara Parks Commission does a terrific job with course maintenance, landscaping and aesthetics, including stands of mature trees and colorful gardens on several holes. Accuracy off the tee is at a premium throughout the course. Keeping the ball in the fairway is critical since playing from behind / amongst trees or out of fairway bunkers almost guarantees bogey - or worse. Missing the green will produce similar consequences as most are surrounded (or at least well guarded) by bunkers and short, thick rough.
On the front nine, the re-designed 2nd hole is now fully guarded by a pond, and is one of Whirlpool's signature holes. The tee shot on the par-3 3rd is over water to a well-trapped contoured green, and par here is a good score. Keeping the ball in the short grass is the key to the rest of the front nine at Whirlpool. Holes # 4 & 5 are reachable par-5s and good birdie opportunities, but any shot amiss will find a bunker and make bogey a much more likely outcome. The finishing holes (# 8 & 9) feature significant elevation changes, making proper club selection paramount to making par.

On the back, the dogleg-left 13th and narrow 15th holes are also reachable par-5s, but with OB right and a well bunkered greens, laying up is best. On the par-3 14th, the pond on the left should not come into play, although it is a bit unnerving. While short, # 16 is a great driving hole where a big tee shot will clear the many fairway bunkers that lesser hitters worry about. Finishing up, the 18th hole plays longer than the yardage might suggest because of the elevated and tough-to-putt green. Here in Niagara, the Whirlpool GC is on everyone's "must play" list and, happily, most everyone can afford this wonderful golf experience. With the opening of the nearby Legends on the Niagara, an extraordinary 45-hole facility, it should be a bit easier to get on the popular Whirlpool GC in 2002. Advance tee times are a must !