An Exciting New Era for Northumberland Links
Tom Peters / Halifax
Northumberland Links, bordering the Northumberland Strait on Nova Scotia’s north shore, has for a long-time been a favorite course among golfers in Atlantic Canada.
While the Par 72 layout, running 6,600 yards from the back tees, has always sought ways to evolve, the past few years have marked a more ambitious and focused effort to elevate the overall golfing experience.
It has been nearly three years since Hurricane Fiona carved a path of destruction across Nova Scotia. The storm devastated much of Northumberland’s forested landscape, once a defining characteristic of the course. But in the wake of that loss came an opportunity. Course superintendent John Mills and his team saw the chance to lean more fully into the natural links style character the course offers.
The transition is now well underway guided by golf course architect, Christine Fraser. Originally from Ontario, Fraser spent five years working under the prominent British golf course architect Martin Hawtree on such marquee courses as Lahinch, Tralee and Royal Aberdeen.
Fraser has already played a key role in the recent changes to Northumberland Links and will continue to be involved in future plans as the club has secured her services for a long-term golf course master plan.
Fraser’s first challenge was Northumberland’s signature 13th hole, affectionately known as the “Lobster Pot.” Work on this dramatic Par-3, completed over a year ago, has received rave reviews.
“I would have done a disservice if I didn’t throw everything I could at this wonderful golf hole,” Fraser said. “The new elements in the design are intended to enhance the links feel for the golfer right down to the sound of waves rolling onto the shoreline that take full advantage of the ocean setting. The redesign also provides significantly more teeing space allowing the golfer to adjust to changing and challenging winds.”
The green has also been redesigned and reshaped to allow for a front-left pin position enticing players to take a daring shot directly over the Strait for a memorable risk-reward experience.
“The 13th hole is spectacular and simply breathtaking with the fescue now matured,” says Mills.
In addition to No. 13, Fraser proposed some enhancements to holes 1,2,3,7 and 14 to further amplify the links characteristics.
That work started last year. “We have widened fairways, cleared stumps and expanded playing corridors into what used to be wooded areas,” Mills says.
The holes now feature new bunkering, including centre-bunkering concepts, the introduction of fescue grasses and more open sight lines.
“We’re doing it in a way that creates a feel and presence in the way you play the golf course,” says Mills.
Some of the other design elements include chipping areas around the greens, run-off areas and options for bump-and-run play to recover and get back onto the green.
Golfers who have played the course in the past will definitely notice the changes which become abruptly obvious on the revamped first hole.
“It should be a pretty welcoming first swing and as stress-free as possible and ours was not,” said Mills. “You had a pond and a fairway sloping into the pond. So, we really blew that one out to the left.”
The fairway was widened to about 140 feet in the landing area and the tees were moved so the first shot is no longer facing directly at the pond. It’s not a long hole, approximately 340 yards from the back tees, so longer hitters have an opportunity to test their length to a landing area where the fairway is pinched in but with fescue grass on the left side.
“Now, when you stand on the first tee, you have a great panoramic view and sight lines to the water are much better. It just has a nice feel to it,” Mills adds.
With the design changes that have been made and more to come, Northumberland Links golfers will experience more spectacular ocean views and play a more open concept, links style course with ocean breezes that can taunt every shot. They’ll also be experiencing the start of an exciting new era for Northumberland Links
