The Lakes Golf Club - Golf Course Review

Distinctive Holes You'll Remember

The Lakes Golf Club - Golf Course Review

My Cape Breton Golf Adventure started off at The Lakes Golf Club in Ben Eoin, a beautiful 18 hole course designed by Graham Cooke. I had a 10:30am tee time so luckily it was a short drive from the Sydney airport to the beautiful Birches Country Inn as we arrived kind of late after a long day of travel. Larry and Barb MacPherson, the owners of the Birches were there to great my wife and I upon arrival. If your staying in the area and playing some golf The Birches is the place to stay and be pampered by Larry and Barb.

July 1st, 2012
Morning of my Round
After loading my bag on my cart I headed over to The Lakes where I got introduced to the two members I'd be playing with as well as Eric Tobin the Service Manager at the Lakes. I hit a few balls on there driving range which was great after a long day of travel the day before.

The first thing you'll notice about the Lakes Golf Course is that it's built on a beautiful hilly piece of property adjacent to Bras d’Or Lakes. The second thing that took me off guard was the fact that this course just opened in 2010. From the first tee it was hard to believe the Lakes has matured so quickly.

After the first three holes two of which where par 5s I noticed a trend at The Lakes if you can keep it in the short grass the fairways are pretty generous and you can make some pretty good scores. I managed two bogeys and a par after the first three holes. Not bad for a lad from Ottawa.

The Lakes offers some great views especially of  Bras d’Or Lakes one of my favorites holes on the course is #6 a driveable par 4 at 339yds (single diamond tees) for the big hitters. I managed to land in the furthest bunker and had about 100 yds in hit a great shot out of the bunker and two putted for par. I can see why they put chairs up near the tee box a hole you can definitely soak in the vista.

 Hole #6 - The Lakes Golf Club

I think hole #5 at the Lakes epitomizes whats so great about The Lakes Golf Course. Distinctive holes you'll remember. It's a hole you can play many ways at 404 yds. you can pull out a driver and hit a drive nice draw or play a hybrid and have a longer second shot. It's intimidating with deep bunkers on the left and a brook that winds about 80 yds in front of the green and goes up the right side. Yet with all that it's still very playable. Very scenic hole as well.



 Hole #5 - The Lakes Golf Club

The greens at The Lakes Golf Club where in great conditions the day I played the course. There are some that have a few more undulations/contours to deal with but on the whole not to difficult. I managed a few bombs so I'm not complaining.

Bring your A game when it comes to bunkers at the Lakes while most are in and around the greens. The odd fairway one will gobble your ball leading to an extra stroke here and there. A few greenside bunkers are pretty deep so make sure you use a high lofted wedge to get it out.

The Lakes Golf Golf Course is a really fun golf course to play. With it's proximity to Sydney it is the most popular and busy course in the area. The Lakes has initiated 10 min. intervals for tee times and it seems to be avoiding any congestion on the course. I played July 1st and there were no problems with pace of play.

A daily green fee rate will cost you $79.00+hst (May 19th -September 3rd) at the Lakes which compared to similar courses here in Ottawa seems a bit high. The do have some great green fee deals like Gold Passes though. Where The Lakes has Ottawa beat is in their Full membership rate. A steal at $1475.00+hst for a person over 31. I can see why The Lakes has a healthy membership, makes me want to move to Cape Breton.

The Lakes Golf Course was a great way to start my Cape Breton Golf Adventure. A scenic course where every hole was distinct. I loved the more elevated holes as well as all the holes framed with rock outcrops and babbling brooks. The Lakes was challenging yet very playable. The staff and members I played with were great. I highly recommend playing The Lakes if your in the area. If you have any questions about the Lakes please feel free and email me.

 Hole #11 - The Lakes Golf Club

Hole #17 - The Lakes Golf Club