1229 Grand Lake Road, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Hole Information
Hole #1
A fairly straight-forward opening hole. At 460 yards this par 5 offers the opportunity for an early birdie as long-hitters can easily reach the green in two. The green is tricky with a huge ridge that runs through the middle.Pro Tip: Longer hitters want to place their drive up the left side of the fairway to take advantage. Shorter hitters are better playing it up the right side.
Hole #2
Playing at 182 yards, the par 3 second will challenge the most skilled golfer. An accurate tee-shot is a must as the narrow green is well protected on the left side with deep bunkers while the right and backsides of the green slope sharply to the rough.Pro Tip: Its better to take a little less club on this difficult par-3 because it is much easier to make par from in front of the green.
Hole #3
This long par four requires players to hit two pure golf shots to increase their chance for par. At 413 yards the tee-shot is fairly wide open; however the second shot is entirely uphill to a partially blind green protected by left-side and rear bunkers.Pro Tip: Make sure to take at least one more club on your approach shot into this uphill dogleg to the right par-4.
Hole #4
The fourth hole at Lingan, playing at 375 yards has a slight dog leg to the right and a downhill second shot to a green surrounded by bunkers at the back an right sides. The area left of the green slopes quickly to a collection area. Landing here will often require a skilful flop shot if par is to be in your future.Pro Tip: A smart play would be to take your drive up the left side avoiding the trouble to the right and opening up your approach to the green.
Hole #5
At 521 yards, the par 5 fifth hole begins with an uphill tee shot to a generous landing area. Long strikers of the ball will be tempted to try and reach the green with their second shot, but in doing so there is little room for error as the fairway mimics a bottleneck that leads to a small elevated green protected by a large right-side bunker.Pro Tip: Try to laying up to the 100 yard marker on top of the crest. This will give you the best opportunity to hit your third close.
Hole #6
From the tips, the par 3 sixth hole can be stretched to nearly 200 yards. The green is deep and is protected by front-bunkers.Pro Tip: Club selection is at a premium on this straightforward par-3 because the green is one of the deepest on the course.
Hole #7
At just 363 yards and downhill, the par 4 seventh provides golfers with a good birdie opportunity. A relatively straight forward tee shot leads to a wide-open fairway. On the approach, golfers must contend with a downhill lie and a large pond that borders the front of the green.Pro Tip: Make sure you take enough club to clear the pond guarding the front of this downhill par-4.
Hole #8
The slightly uphill par 3 eighth can be stretched to over 200 yards and often plays into a steady breeze. The large slanting green is protected by a front left water hazard and spacious right side bunkers.Pro Tip: Club selection is once again a premium on this long par-3. Trouble surrounds this large green which slopes dramatically from back-to-front.
Hole #9
At 459 yards, the ninth hole is a relatively short par 5. The opening shot however, requires both commitment and accuracy as trees line both sides of the fairway and funnel to a narrow landing area. From here golfers must play a second shot around a slight dogleg to the right. A narrow, but long green slopes from back to front and is protected by four deep bunkers.Pro Tip: Driving is at a premium on this visually intimidating par-5. Make sure you keep it to the left side of the fairway making the lay-up much easier.
Hole #10
The tenth hole at Lingan at just 461 yards and downhill is a reachable par 5. A risk reward hole, golfers who attempt to reach in two must be deadly accurate as one of the smallest green on the course is protected by front left and right bunkers. Shots that roll through the green will fall sharply to the surrounding collection areas.Pro Tip: A drive that finds the left side of the fairway will open up the narrow green for your approach to this short par-5.
Hole #11
The par 4 dogleg right has become increasingly difficult over the years as the large birch trees lining the right side have grown to towering heights making the drive very precise. Advancing to the green requires accuracy as the uphill green is sandwiched between deep bunkers and a sharp drop-off on the backside.Pro Tip: This sharp doglegging hole is a long hitters delight, they can try to hit their drive over the trees significantly shortening the hole. However, the short and low-ball hitters have to play smart and drive up the left side leaving a much longer
Hole #12
This long par 4 spans 450 yards of fairway. A slight left dogleg, the landing area bridges a strategically place deep fairway bunker on the left side and group of tall birch trees on the right. The large deep green has front bunker protection.Pro Tip: Once again, club selection on the approach is at a premium because the green is so deep. A flag placed in the back of the green could add as much as 3 clubs to your selection.
Hole #13
A massive left to right sloping green and a pond framing the green' right side provide the necessary defence for this short par 3.Pro Tip: Long and left is a good play on this par-3 which is guarded by a small pond short and right of the green.
Hole #14
The par 4 fourteenth is the first in a series of three holes that will test the character of the most deft striker of the ball. With length, at 401 yards, and an uphill second shot, golfers must hit two pure golf shots if par is what they desire. Adding to this challenge is a strong cross wind that is often present on this string of holes.Pro Tip: Hitting the fairway is at a premium on this long par-4. A drive, left of the trees will help ensure a good lie and a better chance at hitting the green.
Hole #15
At 418 yards, the par 4 fifteenth requires golfers to hit a tee-shot that can cope with the left dogleg. The second shot plays downhill to a large well bunkered green. Again, wind adds to the complexity of this hole.Pro Tip: A drive placed up the left side will help shorten your approach into this long par-4.
Hole #16
The longest par 5 on the course, the 520 yard sixteenth hole most often requires three shots to reach. Those who attempt to arrive in two must contend with a water hazard to the left and large bunkers that rim along much of the front portion of the green.Pro Tip: Most players will not be able to get home in two, so be sure to layup to a comfortable yardage for your third.
Hole #17
At just under 140 yards, this final par 3 seems relatively simple. However, this small green is guarded by deep bunkers along the front and sides while remainder of its circumference is edged with a moderate ridge. Tall trees running along both sides of the hole give the appearance that wind direction is not a factor.Pro Tip: Accuracy is at a premium on this short par-3 guarded by bunkers to the left and right.
Hole #18
The closing hole at Lingan will test the skill of the finest golfer. Playing 395 yards and slightly uphill, a quality tee-shot is a must. From here, the hole begins to show its mean side. The large green slopes sharply from the back-right to front-left and is heavily guarded by three deep bunkers.Pro Tip: Be sure to be below the hole on your approach. This green slopes dramatically from back-to-front and from right-to-left.
About The Course
A course was established in Victoria Park, Sydney in 1895. In 1909 it relocated to a new site at Lingan Bay and was incorporated on March 31st, 1911. By 1912 they were forced to again relocate and in 1913 moved their clubhouse and constructed a new course at McLean's Crossing, the present location of the Lingan Golf Club on the highway between Sydney and Glace Bay.
Lingan Club House 1935Malcolm Martin, a native of Dominion, NS, won the Maritime Amateur Golf Championship in 1914 and designed the nine-hole Sydney (Lingan) course as well as golf courses at Pictou, Abercrombie, Baddeck, and Dominion.
In 1922, the famed Stanley Thompson made a side trip to Sydney to help redesign the Lingan course, one of eleven courses he worked on that year. The development of the second nine holes began in 1964 with C.E. (Robbie) Robinson as the architect.