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I’ll do a full review in coming days, but I’ll say this: Doug Carrick’s Humber Valley course near Deer Lake, Newfoundland, is among the most majestic, intriguing and fun courses I’ve seen. ANYWHERE.
That doesn’t mean the project is perfect, or the golf is the best in the country. But it surely rivals the best in the country and is definitely the second best course I’ve seen in Eastern Canada, wildly trumping pretenders like Glen Arbour, or Fox Harb’r or even Crowbush Cove. If enough people see this course, in time, it might even crack the Top 10 in Canada. It is likely Carrick’s most natural looking course and may well be better than Eagles Nest, which until this point was my favourite from the designer’s work.
The photo, above, is of the 10th hole, which features a 180-foot drop to the fairway from a 445-yard tee. The ball hangs in the air and the shot is surely majestic. Surprisingly, the hole isn’t even one of the top three on the course (which would be #5, #8, #16, all of which offer more intriguing shot values than 10, but aren’t nearly as picturesque).
In many places the course reminded me of Highlands Links, surprising considering I don’t think Carrick has ever seen it.
This one is worth seeking out.
+++++
Right now I’m sitting in a hotel in St. John’s, having flown in from Deer Lake this afternoon. Tomorrow I tee it up at The Willows with Danny Williams, the Premier of Newfoundland. Williams agreed to join me as part of my Going For the Green book. It should be an intriguing round.
Hi Robert,
I just played Humber Valley for the first time on July 11.
Corner Brook is my home town and I just moved backed there after living away for over 20 years.
I bought a membership to Humber Valley without even playing one hole.
Beautiful course and I’m really looking forward to improving my game.
Also looking forward to hearing your full review.
Take care.
GK
[…] Thompson just did a review of the Humber Valley Golf Course. He described The River Course designed by Doug Carrick as, […]
Rob, are you really saying Carrick has never been to HL? That’s either astounding or downright libellous!
Robert,
Given your high praise for Humber Valley, and your status as a course rater for Golf Digest, would you give it your vote for Best New of 2007? How does it fare in comparison to the other highly touted crowd of Coppinwood, Lora Bay, Bond Head North, and Muskoka Bay?
Sales Guru: In my mind it would be the best of that lot. I think it is stronger than Cobble Beach as well. The only one that might rival it is Tobiano, but I’ve yet to see it — though I’ve heard good things.