Harbour View in review

Transcona

I was picking up some auto parts for my kid’s car the other day in sunny Transcona, and while driving home along Springfield Road, I saw the gate for Harbour View Golf Course. I have fond memories of attending many weddings and a few retirement parties in the Icelandic themed social facilities. However, I had never golfed the course that surrounds the facilities and the adjacent man-made lake. Since I had time on my hands this day, I decided it was as good a day as any.

While parking, I noticed an ATCO trailer in the lot. A foreboding sign of what I would experience later. There was no one in the trailer, and no signage, so I continued down the path. Passing the lawn bowling green on the right, I noticed the fenced off remains of the aforementioned social buildings. Time has not been kind to these buildings, and basement design flaws have allowed the fake lake to do what water often does to buildings. Flooding and mould concerns have condemned the lot and they are now slated for demolition. As I walked along the fence line, I noticed another small building on top of a small hill with a sign for #1 tee. I thought this was the club house. It was not. I was told by the starter to go back to the condemned fence line, and go to a little building on the edge that was not within the fence’s perimeter. This turned out to be the clubhouse. I asked if the washroom was close, and the attendant said no. He then directed be to some portable facilities back down the path by the parking lot. Joy. If you have trouble walking a full game, this course may not be for you, as there are no motorized carts available, and the course does have some small elevation changes.

Returning to the starter for the second time, I noticed some of this course’s additional, if few, amenities. There is a mini-put course, a driving range, and a practice green. All of these surround the first tee. After the starter cleared me, I was off. This course is a par 3 course, and the first hole is 100 metres of simple, straightaway golf. It is too bad, from a teaching point of view; if you are out there with someone learning the game, this would be a great second or third hole to practice on and let other players play through. The second hole is simple in design as well, but it is almost double the length. Some challenge comes on hole three, as the fairway and green elevate from the tee. Hole four, the day I played it, had an interesting hill with a sand trap on top partially obscuring the base of the green. Right of the green is an abnormally large grassed embankment that if you sliced into, your ball would likely roll right back onto the green.

The fifth hole is the shortest, and it is a downhill roll. Watch your club selection, as you can easily overdrive the green, and water finally shows up as a behind-the-dance-floor hazard. I found most of the greens had some damage here and there, but the damage of this hole was very noticeable. The walk to hole six is very picturesque, and there’s lots of local geese in residence enhancing your views of the waters.

I think the sixth hole can be considered the signature hole, as it now incorporates all the hazards this course has to offer: water, sand, and trees. Hole seven is another short, downhill row like the fifth, but if you stand at the back of the tee box and look over the green and above the horizon’s tree tops, you can see the towering skyscrapers of our city’s downtown.

The challenge keeps ramping up with the eighth hole having a significant water hazard in play for 80 or so of the 115 metres to the hole. There is a land strip along the left for the timid. The water theme repeats and augments for the ninth hole, but from the white tees, there is no relief from the wet stuff. Hit the green, or send you ball into the depths. Just to make the hole that much more interesting, there is a sand trap at four o’clock, where many right hand hitters are likely to find themselves. There is a respite on this hole for learners: use the orange tees at nine o’clock. From here, the hole only plays around 45 m, and no hazards.

Harbour View is a cute little course, but the frustrations that occurred between the parking lot and finally getting to the first tee could have easily been averted if the club would put up some signage. If you go, remember that the facilities are very limited, and you might want to make sure you have snacks and hydration in your bag. Pull carts or light carry bags would be advised. The buildings are slated for destruction this summer, but the course intends to continue operating. Be prepared, call 204-222-2751 for the latest information.