|
When
Golf Digest awarded Bell Bay Golf Club, located in the
picturesque Cape Breton Island hamlet of Baddeck, the Best New Canadian Course
honours in 1997, those with a pulse on the Canadian golf scene took
notice. Here, once again, was critical acclaim for a new member of a
burgeoning golf destination on the furthest banks of this Nova Scotia
peninsula. For years, golf in
Cape Breton was synonymous with the world-class Highland Links; truly
passionate students of the game made the pilgrimage from all over the
continent. With the addition of Bell Bay just six years ago, and the
emergence of other resorts on the cape, the region now boasts two
world-class courses surrounded by worthy day trips; golfers now flock to
the area in droves.
Thomas McBroom, noted
Canadian golf architect, was bestowed with the task of transforming the
stunning landscape at this mountain-guarded mecca into a golfer's
paradise, and the results are admirable. Set high above the tiny village
and framed by the Bras D'Or Lake, and within sight of Canadian icon
Alexander Graham Bell's old summer estate, McBroom's ambition was to
meld the scenery and the history of the area with the dramatic
landscape.
The architect's most
challenging obstacle, as he charted preliminary maps for Bell Bay's
layout, was to make the course's opening holes eminently playable
without sacrificing the steep hillside on which it was to be plotted.
What could have presented an awkward scenario for the designer turned
into one of the course's strength, as the opening four holes climb
gently into the wilderness, a pleasant precursor to his expert use of
the land.
At the
sixth hole, Bell Bay truly finds its stride. After a long climb in the
first part of the outward half, Bell Bay reaches a coastal mountain
meadow, in which lies a very playable 227-yard par three. Don't be
intimidated by the robust yardage. McBroom has opened up
the front of the green, allowing for a shot to be bounced into this
large green.
Two holes later, the
golfer reaches the second short hole on the front side, a manageable
181-yard par three that plays downhill. Bunkers dotting the
front of the green will catch any poorly struck shot. The green
is large and undulating, but should yield a fair number of two-putts for
those reaching the surface.
After a stretch of
holes exposing the Bras d’Or Lake district loops past the Bell Bay clubhouse, the
golfer finds the strategic par-five 13th. At 508 yards, this hole is
very reachable, though the golfer must flirt with the pond that
comes into play on the left side of the green. Laying up is often the
more appropriate shot and yields a fair chance at birdie.
Following the treachery
of the lakeside par-three 14th, players come to the challenging par-four 15th. The
best par four on the golf course stretches to a meaty 463 yards from
the back tees, and while a strong tee shot is obviously important,
the long approach must carry a deep valley in front of the green to find
the level putting surface. Any
approach left short will funnel to the bottom and leave a very
difficult up-and-down.
On a course full of
strong par threes, the 17th is nevertheless Bell Bay's showstopper, a
182-yard hole playing over a crevasse and through a narrow chute of
trees. Legend has it that Stanley Thompson scoured his sites and
reserved the best land for his par threes, and this concept might very
well hold water with this contemporary Canadian designer. No greenside
bunkers protect the green, as the carry over the brush to the green set
on a hillside shelf is trying enough. Again the Bras D’Or is in view through the trees
behind the green, which adds to the special feeling of the hole.
Standing on the tee of
the finishing hole, the golfer looks out on the most prominent feature
of the region, as Baddeck's quaint harbour sits far below. The white
masts of sailor's ships are quite the distraction, as the hole, at 566
yards, should not be taken lightly. Those hoping to make birdie can take
advantage of the wide fairway and play aggressively, beginning their
march up the hill to make hole out and complete the Bell Bay experience.
Baddeck, a long-time
retreat for visitors seeking the tranquility and charm of an old seaside
town, preserves this maritime culture with side streets full of
authentic eateries and shops. Now, with a world-class golf course,
McBroom's Bell Bay is in many ways a tribute to the town -- modest,
rural, and quietly unforgettable.
|
