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The Course

The Napanee Golf and Country Club, was established in 1897. It has traditions dating back to that time. The most famous golfer to play the course was Sam Snead. A copy of his score card is displayed on the wall of the Senior Members’ Lounge. The Wall of Fame in the dining room currently has five members. Take time while at the club to read about their accomplishments and contributions to the club and to golf in the Quinte area. The course has nine holes, with different tees for the front and back nine. The forward tees play 5388 yards and the regular tees 5877 each for 18 holes. The 18 hole par is 70. The challenges presented by the course are the undulating fairways and greens with subtle and not so subtle slopes. The tees are indicated by coloured tee blocks. The forward tees on the front nine are yellow, and white on the back nine. The regular tees on the front nine are red, and blue on the back nine. There are yardage markers in the centre of each fairway, blue being 200 yards, white 150 yards and red 100 yards from the centre of the green. The pin placement on the greens is indicated by the colour of the flag, with red being forward, white in the centre and yellow indicating a placement toward the back of the green. The pro shop is fully equipped and staffed with friendly personnel. Tee times can be booked by phone at 613-354-2313.

GAO members can record their scores on the computer located in the pro shop. The cart rules generally allow for travel down the fairways. Players are asked to use cart paths where they exist. Alcohol is allowed on the course, if it is purchased from the bar in the clubhouse. The club has a dress code which is enforced.

Holes 1 & 10 - Par 4

Hole #1 is a good warm up for the game. There is no need to over club on the drive. There is OB along the entire right side but, except for the first 75 yards, it is of no concern. Beware of the sand to the left and behind the green.

Holes 2 & 11 - Par 3

The signature hole on the course. It is a picturesque hole as the tees and green are on either side of a valley. The waterway at the bottom of the valley is a water hazard. A ball hit into the trees behind the cart path on the right can be played from the marked area to the right of the green with a one-stroke penalty. There is sand to the left of the green that is hidden from view from the tees and as you approach the green. The green has two tiers sloping generally to left front. A par here is a keeper. The ride to the green down the cart path through the woods offers some great viewing.

Holes 3 & 12 - Par 4

There is OB along the entire right side, next to the railroad. This hole tends to play longer than it looks, due in part to a valley crossing the fairway at about 175 yards, and hitting from the down slope makes the hole play longer. The green is relatively large and flat with a sand trap on the right just before the green. The ground behind the green drops off quickly, making recovery from behind the green somewhat more difficult. The grass in front of the green is cut short so that, for those who wish, a putt from off of the green is a good alternative. The train crews and VIA passengers often give a friendly wave, and at times the engineer offers a short whistle blast. If you hit into the OB, it is strongly suggested that you not enter (trespass on) the railway property so as to avoid the danger of a passing train. A cart path near the green crosses CN property. Please don’t stop on the path until you have entered back onto the fairway behind the green.

Holes 4 and 13 - Par 4

A straight-forward hole. Bunkers are found on the left and right of the green. A severe slope behind the green, right next to thick forest, often bites the over aggressive player, particularly when the pin flies a yellow flag.

Holes 5 and 14 - Par 5

There are two separate holes using a common fairway from the tees. Number 5 plays to the left after passing the big oak tree. The regular (back) tees are accessed from a cart path running behind the comfort station. There is a grass bunker to the right of the green and sand to the left of the green. The green is very large so that simply hitting the green may leave you with a very long first putt. The green is sloped to the front so as to provide yet another challenge. Number 14 plays to the right after passing the big oak tree. The green is small and slopes sharply to the front. A ball hit to the front of the green is likely to roll forward off the green.

Holes 6 and 15 - Par 4

While the flag can often be seen from the tee, the hole is best played as a dogleg to the right. A well hit ball on the left side of the fairway offers the best approach to a long narrow hourglass-shaped green. The waterway in front of the tees is a water hazard and the pond to the right is a lateral water hazard. There is sand on both sides of the green. The not-so-subtle contours of the green make this short par 4 a real challenge.

Holes 7 and 16 - Par 3

Many players relax when teeing off on this hole, and it is often to their peril. Sand to the left and long steep slopes to the right and rear protect this hourglass-shaped green. The water to the left of the green is a lateral hazard. A ball just short of the hole is a much better shot than one over or to the right of the green. The sand to the left is likewise a better alternative than over or to the right of the green.

Holes 8 and 17 - Par 4

This hole offers a good chance for a birdie with a good drive and second shot on or near the green. The watercourse in front of the tees is a water hazard. A ball hitting the power lines must be replayed. Study the green as, like many others on the course, there are subtle contours that are not easily recognized.

Holes 9 and 18 - Par 4

Some would argue that this should be the signature hole. The view from the tees is a treat to enjoy and the fairway with its rolling contours sloping up to the elevated green offers many varying lies. The waterway in front of the tees is a water hazard. The hole is best approached from the right as trees on the left often block direct access to the green. A ball left lying on the steep upslope to the green can be placed in the marked area at the bottom of the slope without a penalty. You cannot see the surface of the green until you walk up over the bank. The green slopes toward the front. The grass in front of the green is kept very short so that a putt from this area is often the choice of many players. Be careful not to overclub the approach. Many new players often overestimate the distance to the hole and more than one has awakened a player or two snoozing on the enclosed veranda just behind the green. As you finish putting glance back toward the townscape of Napanee with its restored courthouse and church spires.

Hole 19

The seniors lounge and the veranda in the clubhouse provide a relaxing atmosphere as you recall your enjoyment of playing this historic course and the many challenges and opportunities it offered. While in the clubhouse you can expect to be greeted by a member. Before leaving take a moment to enjoy the rustic dining room with fireplace and Wall of Fame. If you have a camera we suggest you pose beside the profile of Sam Snead. He did, after all, watch you finish on the 9th/18th.