Week 6

At last, we see the light - the sunlight that is.  Week 6 and finally, it's a sunny and warm day for golf, so off we trotted to Country View Golf Course in Fairview.  Just a short view from Charlottetown, you should leave at least 20 minutes to drive there, but it's well worth the drive.  This is one of our favourite courses in PEI.  It's family owned and Carl & Karen Currie are expanding it from the best 9-hole course to an 18-hole course in 2011.  They have some of the nicest plantings around, and one of the best practice facilities (driving range, putting green and bunker area) as well.  All of which will be in place, despite the expansion.  I'm attaching a photo of some of the many trees that will be planted on the new holes to show you the level of commitment that the Curries have to beautifying their course.  Their's is also a sprinklered course

The course is a forgiving one, usually broad open fairways and great greens, only a couple of real water hazards, so it all makes for a pretty pleasant outing.  You can imagine my "surprise" when on the short par 3 Hole No. 2, which is hidden from the clubhouse by dense woods around the green - just as my husband was attempting his par putt, the automatic sprinklers came on!  We got drenched - not a water hazard we had anticipated.  Carl had seen us leaving the green on Hole No. 1, so set the sprinklers to go on that green and then, he just "assumed" that we would continue play at about the same pace.  But, I was doubly punished for putting my drive into the woods.  With no one coming hot on our heels, we spent 5 minutes in the woods finding my ball (hurrah!), but it meant that we were delayed in leaving the green in our usual "timely" fashion.  Carl quickly got in his Club Car and caught up with us on the third tee to apologize profusely for giving us the shower.  So, despite the perfectly wonderful golf weather, we still managed to get wet on this weekend!

We dried out quickly in the sun and the breeze, so no real worries.  The breeze was enough to play a little with any high balls that we struck, but it certainly kept any flies away!  With few others on the course, we easily managed to complete the first nine in less than 2 hours.  We took at little break in the clubhouse and then got back on the course before the club members event at 3 p.m.  Despite a lot more people on the course, we still were able to complete the second nine in 2 hours, 15 minutes.  We even had a little time to go back to the driving range where my husband was able to diagnose my driver issues with only two drives!  Next week, I'm expecting great things from my driver.

This course has three par 3's, three par 4's and three par 5's so it's a well balanced golfing experience.  It's forgiving but can pack a challenge when you least expect it, too.  With some of the drier weather we have enjoyed over the past week, the fairways were giving that lovely bit of roll that makes for better drives and approach shots. 

It was a lovely day and once we'd returned home for a quick change, we were off again for a BBQ with some wintertime friends.  What a great day in Paradise (...PEI, I mean!)

See you next week, Jane