The Course

WHOLE COURSE

Rolling Meadows Niagara Falls Golf Course, established in 1970, is a beautiful, challenging eighteen hole Royal Canadian Golf Association member course that will appeal to all levels of golfer. Some of the finest greens in the Niagara Region are now complimented by renovated (2006) fairways to provide a demanding but enjoyable golfing experience. This par 70 course is six thousand, two hundred and twenty four yards long with a rating of 71.6 and a slope of 130 from the blue tee blocks. Holes six, seven and eight, Rolling Meadows own version of “Amen Corner” at fabled Augusta, are stimulatingly difficult and will test a golfer’s course management, accuracy and shot making abilities. Strategically located hazards, rolling fairways and undulating greens make Rolling Meadows a must play for any golfer!

HOLE 1 – PAR 4

The first hole has ample room to the right off the tee for the average player but asks the better player to challenge the bunker on the inside corner of the dog-leg. A player who wishes to challenge the bunker must carry their ball to the 125-yard marker. The green offers three distinct targets with its amoeba form and all players should aim for the centre to avoid the hollow short right or the large bunker short left. Any ball to the centre of the green will leave no more then a 20 foot birdie putt.

HOLE 2 PAR 4

The second hole is the most challenging on the property.  Players should choose a club off the tee that can reach the 165-yard mark in the fairway.  It will take a drive that carries to the 135-yard marker to carry the water hazard that crosses the fairway.  The approach shot will be played from a slightly downhill/side hill lie so make sure to aim a little left and don’t be afraid to land the ball a little short as it should run up to the front of the green.

HOLE 3 – PAR 4

The third hole has a large fairway bunker on the left side of the landing area and a water hazard lurking just off to the right of the fairway.  Players should play to the 120-yard marker to avoid the narrow fairway between the bunker and the water hazard.  The green sits up from the fairway and an extra half-club should be used to navigate the slight elevation change.  There is a slight ridge that separates the front two thirds from the back third of the green.  Going over the green will most likely lead to a bogey.

HOLE 4 – PAR 3

The fourth hole is the first of the Par 3’s that define the challenge of Rolling Meadows.  The tee shot is played through a shoot of trees that are sure to intimidate any player, especially those playing the Blue tee.  The hole plays uphill slightly to a green that has a significant slope from back to front.  Any shot missing right is sure to carom to the right leaving a difficult up and down.  The smart player will play to the front of the green and even short of it when the pin is at the front.  Players should be extremely happy with a par.

HOLE 5 – PAR 5

The fifth hole is a reachable par 5 that represents an opportunity to get a shot back.  Only the longest of hitters can carry the right fairway bunker off the tee.  Most players should play out to the left of the fairway bunker but be aware that out of bounds lurks down the entire left side and the driving range on the right is also out of bounds.  On the approach or lay-up player’s need to avoid the small pond short and right of the green.  The green on this hole is relatively narrow with a general slope from back to front that becomes more significant at the front of the green.

HOLE 6 – PAR 4

The sixth hole at Rolling Meadows is the beginning of Amen Corner.  The hole is a 90 degree dog-leg to the left and the tee shot must be played to the 150 yard marker to reach the middle of the dogleg.  Players must take notice of the bunker that protects the inside corner of the dogleg and the small pond that is through the fairway on the right hand side.  The approach is downhill to a flat green with a small shelf on the left hand side.  Take a club less and shoot for the front half of the green.

HOLE 7 – PAR 3

The seventh hole continues the test of Amen Corner and carries on with the theme of testing Par 3’s.  Lyon’s Creek flows down the entire left side of the hole and any shot to the left of the green will find the water.  Players should aim for the right bunker and hit a slight draw to the centre of the green.  If the bunker is found it’s a much better place to be then in the water.

HOLE 8 – PAR 4

The eighth hole completes Amen Corner with a drivable Par 4 and is where rounds can be saved or lost.  Players must risk it all to reach the green and the punishment is fitting of the possible chance at eagle.  The green is an ant-hill surrounded by stately oaks and any shot missed to the right is sure to carom to a watery grave unless it finds one of two bunkers that are some 15 feet below the putting surface.  For those that bail out to the left a deep bunker protects the front left of the green and any pitch to green from the left is just a roll or two from trickling off the other side of the green and down the slope to the awaiting bunkers.  The back part of the green is the only flat area so if the pin is on the front make sure you stay below the hole.

HOLE 9 – PAR 4

The ninth hole brings players back to the clubhouse and plays dramatically different between the white and blue tees.  The shot from the blue tee is uphill to a blind fairway and players will be required to hit a driver.  The tee shot from the forward tees brings the ditch that crosses the fairway at the 70-yard mark into play and players should play to the left side of the fairway to get the flattest lie.  The challenge of number 9 lies with the approach to the green in that the player’s second shot will be played from a side-hill lie and the green is perched upon a hill.  All approach shots that miss the green will carom away from the putting surface so aim for the fat side of the green and be happy with a two-putt par.

HOLE 10 – PAR 3

The tenth hole appears to be a push-over on the scorecard due to its sub-120 yard distance but as the old saying goes, you should never judge a book by its cover.  This devilish hole plays downhill over a small water hazard that fronts the entire green.  Any shot long will leave a downhill chip shot with water looming on the other side.  The better player can attack all most all of the available pin positions but beware of the sucker front right pin.  On the green there is ridge that separates the front two thirds from the back third and the landing area is very small at the back so most players should aim for the centre of the green and hope to sink a putt for birdie.

HOLE 11 – PAR 5

The eleventh hole is a true three shot par 5 for all but the longest of hitters.  The drive requires players to hit a shot of 210 yards from the white tee in order to lay up short of the creek that bisects the fairway.  A drive of approximately 280 yards is required to reach the top of the hill that is beyond the aforementioned creek.  On lay up shot players should favour the right side of the fairway to avoid the creek along the left and they should lay up short of the 100 yard marker to avoid a downhill lie on there 3rd shot.  A large bunker guards the front left of the green and a 15-foot slope surrounds the front and right side of the green.  There is room over the front left bunker so favour the middle back of the green to avoid any trouble.

HOLE 12 – PAR 3

The twelfth hole is the easiest par 3 on the course but can be punishing when the traditional right to left wind blows.  The green on this hole is nearly thirty yards deep so players should adjust their club selection according to the pin position.  With the left greenside bunker looming players should favour the right side and even a missed shot to the right might carom back onto the green from the slope on the right.

HOLE 13 – PAR 5

The thirteenth hole is the last par 5 on the golf course and presents an intimidating blind tee shot.  Players should aim at the mounds in the distance on the right side of the fairway.  Remember that the whole golf course is on the right so there should be no excuse for hitting left and out of bounds.  On the second shot players should favour the left side of the fairway for their lay up to avoid the traps on the right and this side opens up the approach to the green. The green is relatively flat and putts can be made from 20 or 30 feet.

HOLE 14 – PAR 4

The fourteenth hole is one of the toughest on the backside.  As with the thirteenth this hole generally play into the prevailing breeze and players need to take notice of the pond that creeps in on the right side and eats up those slices of the high handicappers.  The approach to this green appears to be relatively simple but any ball that carries to the middle of the green is sure to bounce over as the backside of the green slopes away to the back.  Players that land the ball a little short will have the best chance to make par.

HOLE 15 – PAR 4

The fifteenth hole is easiest of the remaining four holes and is great chance to get a shot back if the player makes smart choices.  The tee shot must be played short of the right fairway bunker and the player must choose a club off the tee that leaves them about 75 yards to the green.  Players should be aware of the pond that sits out to the left of the fairway.  The green is pretty narrow so players should focus on the accuracy with their approach shot and hopefully the putt can be made for birdie.

HOLE 16 – PAR 3

The sixteenth hole is a deceptive par 3 with a bunker in the middle of the approach to the green that plays tricks with players depth perception.  There is over 15 yards between the bunker and the front of the green so players should make sure to take enough club and not let their eyes deceive them into thinking the hole is shorter then it is.

HOLE 17 – PAR 4

The seventeenth hole is a long par 4 that is especially long from the blue tee.  Off the tee there appears to be no trouble but there is a pond to the right of the fairway at the 150-yard marker.  The approach to the green is open but any ball landing short of the green will carom to the left where a little grass hollow awaits.  There is a small shelf on the left side of the green but only the best of players can take aim at the left pin.

HOLE 18 – PAR 4

The eighteenth hole is one of the toughest challenges on the course.  Players are presented with a tee shot that must carry to the 175-yard marker or they will be left with a blind up-hill shot over water to the green.  The water short of the green is actually 15 yards short of the front edge and the green is very flat so players should aim for the front because their ball will take a big first bounce.  If a player finishes with a par they will most likely beat their playing partners.