Royal Niagara Golf Club - Old Canal Course
About
The Old Canal Course is one of three nine-hole courses at the Royal Niagara Golf & Country Club. Situated between the scenic Niagara Escarpment and the Bruce Trail, the Old Canal Course is named after the historic 120-year-old Welland Canal that borders it. The challenging layout was designed to championship standards, employing several tricky elements including carefully sculpted fairways, rolling greens, and king-size bunkers. True to its name, the golf course features plenty of water throughout. There are several dramatically placed tees perched on the edges of the canal, providing stunning scenery that is unmatched in the Niagara region. All three courses at Royal Niagara Golf & Country Club were built to the same high standards, but each one offers a unique set of challenges.
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Golfer Reviews
Excellent
Wide fairways allow you to miss however the approach then becomes difficult. Very nice layout, almost all holes are approaching the flag uphill. Beautifully manicured fairways and roughs.
don't play
greens were air rated and sandy
greens were not cut or rolled
greens were full of divots
Great day
We had two foursomes so the starter sent both groups off playing iron bridge and escarpment. Overall the course was in good, not great, shape. They might have a drainage issue as it rained the night before leaving certain parts of the course quite spongy and wet. The greens were in excellent shape, rolling quick and true. Several tee boxes were not level. Two of the four electric power carts died on us about midway through our round. The staff quickly exchanged our carts. At the turn, there was a random single who teed off between us and the group ahead. Then a random foursome came behind us separating us from our friends behind.
Great feedback, we will send over to the proshop so they can check the tee sheets.
Not bad, but better option close by
We were some what disappointed with the condition. Lots of pitch marks not repaired, bunkers not raked and fairways cut quite long. Overall not bad, but better courses in the area for similar price
Thanks, it is tough educating the golfers to fix ball marks and divots in todays golf world. Great feedback, thanks for letting us know.
Nice track
Have played the courses several times and it is a good track. Challenging and usually in good shape. The greens were not so great to-day.
Staff is genrally not so friendly. Food and beer WAY to $$$$$$$$$$$
No cart girl.
Great time out with friends!
Aside from the cold weather we had it was a great round of golf. The fairways where great and the greens even better. This is the second time here and enjoyed playing the course yet again. Would recommend to anyone looking for a fun challenging course to play.
Still a good value.
Always like the value here. Just wish course was prepped better. Greens were slow and uncut, tees need top dressing. Could be a five star course
Difficult course but an interesting layout
Royal Niagara is not for the faint of heart. The bent grass greens are very slick, but you can stop high lofted approach shots on them. The course plays harder than the yardage. There are several forced carries, pinched fairways at typical landing zones, many elevated greens and visually intimidating holes. It's and interesting layout though for a relatively flat course and I enjoyed it.
Maybe not Grand but a Royal treasure
I had played Grand Niagara before this course.
This one is not revered as much as Grand Niagara, and that may have something to do with the tees. However, the staff was very good and the grounds staff were diligently working to improve parts of the well-designed course. It is worth a second look; I did!
Not worth the hassle or money
We booked on golf now. Apparently Wednesday’s and Thursdays are league days so we were given the choice of playing old Canal twice or waiting an hour and a half after our first nine to play 9 on a different course. Our cart broke down and we had to push it uphill twice until we finallly flagged down someone to swap it out for us. We had a group of 5 in front of us and it was ridiculously slow, and then a log jam of people behind us. The greens are in terrible shape. Will not be returning again.
Thanks for the feedback, we will have to change our booking block offs on GolfNow so this does not happen again.
Great Value
Course was very reasonably priced and quite challenging. Pace of play was a little slow ( just over 4 hours for a twosome on a weekend). Enjoyed the round!
Hurting course; overpriced
Overpriced, greens were being aerated and noone said a word or no reduction in the price. Never coming here again... Not worth your $60. Maybe they're going out of business.
Thanks, not going out of business, we want to keep our families employ'd in Niagara. Will send your feedback to our Superintendent.
Great spot in Niagara Region
Wonderful course. Great pace of play, great golf challenge.
Terrible value
Played here several times before. Always played for $45 on GolfNow, now it's $60, which is not a deal for this course.
Not many people were there at all, which lent to good pace of play, but there is a reason it wasn't busy. Too expensive for what it is, Gatorade are $4, the round was $60 before taxes, no cash allowed. No notes on GolfNow regarding course conditions - many greens were being aerated, but there was no mention while purchasing my Tee times. One green looked like a bunker, it was completely covered with sand, the cup and pin weren't even in! Obviously, noone there cares, otherwise the starter, pro shop attendant or GolfNow would have warned us. Stay away from this place for the remainder of the season. The
With the increase in minimum wage we are forced to increase our prices. We want to keep the students and families employ'd!
An afternoon well-spent
We played the Canal and Escarpment 9's.
Canal has become overgrown and tighter than what is acceptable for average golfers. Escarpment was superb. Big walks from greens to tees but worth it.
Overall great design but maintenance feelsa little neglected.
Thanks for the feedback. We are challenged right now in the golf industry as it is being hit hard with increased costs and less people playing. Our staff is working hard with the resources they are given to make sure the course is in good condition. Thanks for playing.
Fairways Dry and hard, greens very slow
Course has watering ponds everywhere but its brown and dried out. Greens are over watered and very slow, there like walking on peat-moss and ball marks everywhere. Beer cart showed up at 4th hole and 17th hole
Thanks for the feedback. We find the wind challenges our watering techniques as when applying through sprinklers the wind pushes the water to areas not intended to be watered. We then have to hand water many areas. With the lack of rain over the past few months it has been difficult. We will address the overwatering of greens.
Course is playing really nice.
First time playing the cours this year and the conditions are great. The fairways are well cut and very green, considering the hot dry weather we’ve had. Will be back soon.
Thanks