Checking out the Harmon Seaside Links and Humber River Golf Club

by Keith and Heather Nicol

     When our son Michael comes back to visit from Vancouver we usually like to get out for some golf. One of our favourite courses is the Harmon Seaside Links in Stephenville and so with a sunny weather forecast for Monday, July 22 we booked a tee time for noon. This is an 18 hole –par 72 golf course right across the road from Bay St. George. The course is very flat so is great for walkers and we had a very enjoyable day exploring this course which we don’t get a chance to play very often. There is quite abit of water but it really only comes into play on a few of the holes and although everything appears to be wide open you need to be accurate with your tee shots to avoid the rough along the sides and fairway sand traps.  Since the course is exposed to Bay St. George, wind can often make the course more challenging and that was certainly the case on this day. The front nine however is more protected from the wind due to the trees along the fairway. The course provides good views of the Indian Head Range and the community of Stephenville can be seen in the background.  Joan Tobin, the pro shop manager, told us that they were having a great summer and that quite a few visitors had dropped by to play. For more information see: http://www.harmonseasidelinks.com/. 

Michael teeing off on the 9th hole in Stephenville

Another favourite course is the Humber River Golf Club in Deer Lake which is located right by the airport just off the Trans Canada Highway. We recently played this on Monday, July 29 and were joined by Ed Hynes, who plays here regularly. The fairways were in good shape and the greens were forgiving and just the right speed. The Humber River Golf Club is a perfect course for walkers since it is level and not too long and Ed told us that he usually finds the course less busy in the afternoon.  This course is also good for the average golfer since many of its par 4’s are relatively short and there are few water hazards or sand traps to catch miss hit shots. But you still need to hit your ball straight since the fairways in some cases are quite narrow and balls hit into the woods are likely to stay there. The 9 hole par 36 layout partially borders on the Humber River and some of the tee off areas have nice flower gardens that Ed told us were maintained by the members.  The Humber River Golf Club welcomes visitors for a round of golf and for more information or to book a tee time phone: 709-635-5955.  

Keith putting for par on the ninth hole at the Humber River Golf Club