Pasadena, NL

For golf enthusiasts who are looking for a golfing experience that offers a real challenge mingled with beautiful vistas, a tranquil environment and an attractive layout, the River Course at the Humber Valley Resort, Western Newfoundland, stands out as one of the best places in the province to play a round of 18 holes.

The course is spread out over the beautiful terrain of Western Newfoundland winding its way along the serene Humber Valley. It captures the beauty of the Humber River, the quiet shores of Deer Lake and the towering elevations of the adjacent mountains.

It has been voted Canada’s Best New Course 2007 by SCORE Golf Magazine. It is an 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course measuring 7,199 yards. It offers the experienced golfer the workout of any pro-course that demands long drives and careful accuracy yet the budding amateur will enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the place without feeling heavy playing pressure from others.

My wife and I played a round at the River Course at the Humber Valley Resort this past August. We were both very impressed with the grandeur of the place! The fairways are overseen by beautiful estate homes, most of them belonging to residents who visit for short periods during the summer or guests who rent them on a daily or weekly basis. We enjoyed the spectacular view of the Humber River from the river side fairways (especially the 14th hole) and we were impressed with the shelter of trees around several others fairways.

The operator Mr. Gary Oak has been managing the golf course and Eagles Perch this year and is doing a great job keeping it open to the public, playable for its patrons and attractive for everyone. Even though the Humber Valley Resort has been suffering from financial troubles, Gary has been dedicated to maintaining the course in excellent condition so that the surrounding communities and golfers throughout the province can continue to enjoy its unique beauty. It really is a destination worth finding!

I love to walk when I play golf so initially we intended to skip the cart rental. However, the elevations were so extreme that we were well advised to take the cart. Having played it now, I would heartily concur! The cart was essential equipment for this one. Happily the green fees at $75.00 each are significantly reduced from previous years and a modern and well maintained cart is included in the fee.

If you love to golf, I would highly recommend you pay a visit to the River Course at the Humber Valley Resort sometime soon. It will definitely impress you and your golfing will be wonderful no matter what your final score. I still endeavor to break 90 when I play but in this case, I was more than happy with my 96. I hope to better it some next summer.

R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor serving St. John’s and surrounding areas, Newfoundland and Labrador for over 20 years and can be reached at 709-895-2500. Visit http://www.rgregosmond.com/ for further information.