Royal Niagara Golf Club - Old Canal Course

This is a fantastic course for anyone who loves a challenging day of golf. I am an 11 handicap and really had to ensure that I did course management to have a chance at par for most holes. You cannot just rip a driver and hope you hit the fairway. I highly recommend this course

No bag person at bag drop. Wouldn't let us take cart to load up into parking lot. No marshals anywhere had numerous groups jump in front of us on escarpment 9 which was our start to the second nine. Had to watch drunken golfers in front of us for over 3 hours. Garbage cans overflowing throughout the whole course. Nobody rakes the traps or repairs ballparks on the greens. Not what I expected from a course that once hosted a Telus skins game. Beverage cart girl said the course ran outve ice so she had to quit serving . Was quite a hot day without water.

Overall, nice course. Glad I had a coupon. Pace was slow. Beverages very expensive. Very narrow but would play it again on a non holiday and maybe not on the weekend...

I have been playing Royal Niagara Golf Course since it has opened, and to my mind it is the best course among the Kaneff courses. It is forgivable, while also being challenging. The greens are fast, but not diabolical. I will continue to play Royal Niagara since it provides me with great value for the money paid.

Regards,

Kevin Werner

St. Catharines, Ont.

Upon arrival for Father's Day tradition of a round with my son we were met with an arrogant staff person and a rude cart boy. First we were lied to that carts cannot go onto the parking lot to get your clubs loaded. There were many there when people ended their rounds. Then we were told we could not take a cart to the range or the putting green. After 9 knee operations limiting my walking is the only way I can play. Then, the best one was the girl in the snack shop told us it was illegal to sell us a bag of ice. It was going to be 33 degrees and we wanted to keep the water that we purchased there cold. Then we get to the first tee and we were backed up a full group.The course was average at best (IronBridge/Escarpment), the greens were good. The ONLY saving grace was Mark in the bar afterwards who knew customer service as he was attentive and polite. After our round there he stuck out like a clothed person at a nudist beach. There are many places to play in Ontario and this is one I will choose to never play again. Very disappointing.

This is a course where you need all the clubs in your bag. Good variety of holes and challenging greens. The 2nd 9 I played - Canal - had too many forced carries for my liking. For someone playing for the first time, hole #9 on this 9 was confusing. Overall, a great challenge, a great afternoon and lots of fun!

Have played other Kaneff courses, so was expecting more considering the apparent premium pricing. While the layout, challenge , and greens were fine, thought the condition of many fringe areas, especially the border areas were overgrown and out of control. Miss anywhere and say goodbye to your ball. Greens rolled OK but seemed bumpy. Will not likely return.

Course conditions were quite excellent, they have improved dramatically since last year.

I always find the layout interesting.

All the staff were friendly and helpful.

The course was very enjoyable.

Negative note: range balls not provided.

Great course and in great shape great pro shop and the staff are super good I really enjoyed my round of golf and will be back foresure

Was very windy on this day, but the course was in good condition & the staff very friendly & accommodating. The layout is quite good & there are challenges to be met. There is just something here that's preventing this from being a really good golf course & I just can't say what that might be after having played here a number of times. Will play here again.

Challenging layout but if you play the Old Canal nine, forget about the 7th green......totally covered in goose droppings. Disgusting.

Many interesting and challenging holes. Pretty scenery.

Greens slow, traps terrible but ok for the $.

Could be a good to great little course if they spent some $.

We got a good deal $40 (plus tax and fee) for a Wed golf day. There were not many people there so we zipped around in 4 hours.

Course is in good condition.

It's a little tricky when the wind picks up.

Pace of play was painfully slow...almost 6 hrs to play 18. It's a shame because this course is a great design for all handicap levels.

Many bunkers need work, and necessitated free drops. The 9th hole on the old canal course does not reflect the par 3 as indicated on he card. (Par 4)

Staff need coaching on how to properly manage golfers expectations on directing to alternate 9's to speed up play.

I have noticed that a number of the kanefff group of courses seem to have issues with maintaining the quality but still seem to charge premium fees.

Iggy- you need to give the quality of the course and experience if you want to charge premium rates.

Otherwise, tear them down and build your upscale homes.

I will revisit and hopefully they have gotten their act together .

Course needs tlc . Some maintenance dollars or expertise. Course conditions have deteriorated since I last played 2 years ago.

Questio: does one only collect grass clippings on the fairways?

Greens were slow and did not run true.

Course has a sufficient degree of difficulty without poor conditions making place more difficult and frustrating.

The greens were slow and inconsistent from hole to the next. The bunkers had different sand from one to the next which was tricky. Wide drive landing areas and tight approaches. I suspect as the season goes on the course will improve. Staff were very friendly and helpful

The price was right for what the course has...but it desperately needs a fusion of money to improve its appeal. The course tracking is great and shot value very good. I would not pay more to play it.

Course is a nicely layout and the excellent service

We have wanted to play this course for some time and it just hadn't worked out. We played on a cool, crisp Saturday in November (unbelievable that we could still get out then) and the course, while being prepared for closing, was in good shape. The greens had been aerated, and we were warned, so it was all good. Staff were very, very friendly and we will definitely plan on playing again next year when the course is in tip-top shape.