OUT OF BOUNDS: Killarney course a true jewel

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/07/2016 (3460 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

KILLARNEY — There aren’t too many prairie oases between Ontario and the Rocky Mountains, but Killarney Lakeside Golf Club is one of them.

Perched on the edge of Killarney Lake, the course is aptly dubbed the “Hidden jewel of the south” for good reason. Its two diverse nines are filled with a variety of challenges regardless of which of the course’s three sets of tees golfers choose to play from.

Measuring between 2,739 and 3,217 yards, the par-36 front side, which is the newer of the two nines, is significantly more open and thus exposed to windy conditions. The sixth and ninth holes are played alongside the lake, while the fifth green also backs onto it.

Conversely, the par-35 back side is shorter, measuring anywhere from 2,623 to 2,963 yards, and is played predominantly in the trees.

Although the two nines are considerably different, there are a couple of similarities between them.

First, the rough is quite thick on the entire golf course. Whether around the green, off the fairway, or by tee boxes, Killarney packs a punch with the length of its rough. As such, it’s no surprise members recommend hitting fairways.

Second, the par 3s at KLGC punch above their weight class. Averaging 205 yards per from the tips, recording four pars on the fourth, seventh, 10th and 13th holes will certainly assist your score.

Killarney provides golfers a chance to open strong on its 6,180-yard layout. The opening hole, a par 5 that is only 482 yards, is reachable in two if the fairway is hit. Water hazards are situated on both sides of this dogleg left.

The second hole also bends left before rising uphill to the green. At just 364 yards, players can give themselves a good look at birdie on this par 4 so long as they don’t blast their tee shots out of bounds right, or left leaving a blind approach shot.

The toughest par 4 greets players at No. 3. Measuring 419 yards, the one place not to miss it is right as a hazard lines the right side.

At 174 yards, and playing slightly downhill over water, the fourth hole is the shortest par 3 at KLGC. Like the other three par 3s, it has a big green that can lead to three-putts if you’re not careful.

Another dogleg left, with water left of the fairway, is up next. A three-wood is all that’s needed off the tee to put your ball in play on the 370-yard fifth and attack the green that lies in front of Lake Killarney. Taking an extra club for the approach shot shouldn’t hurt as there’s a good chance you’ll be firing into the wind.

The picturesque par-4 sixth gives players their best view across the lake. Just don’t gawk at its beauty too much or you might just send a ball or two into the water, which cuts off the right side fairway at about 250 yards. There’s also water left of the tee. Precise shots are needed to avoid disaster on this hole.

Following the 202-yard par-3 seventh, golfers will step to the longest hole on the course. At 541 yards, the eighth hole provides birdie and eagle chances, but the green is tricky and all downhill putts from its front-right portion are speedy.

No. 9 is the shortest par 4 at KLGC. Only 295 yards, the hole turns slightly to the right along the lake and leaves a blind approach shot into the green if you’ve laid up far enough back.

Who likes blind par 3s?

The 227-yard 10th is exactly that as tee shots are played over, or around trees, to a wide green. Three is a great score on this tough par 3.

The first of two holes that cross train tracks, No. 11 is just 342 yards and the most difficult part of this hole, with a blind approach shot, is the long, narrow and multi-tiered green with sideboards. Two-putting is a challenge.

Playing downhill, the 330-yard 12th hole might be the easiest at Killarney, but don’t miss your approach shot right as a bunker guards the putting surface. And speaking of the green, it might be the biggest on the course and has plenty of slope, especially off its front-right corner.

The 218-yard par-3 13th plays through a chute of trees and par is a great score, while the 14th hole, which also requires a strong tee shot through the chuteand plays back across the tracks, tempts golfers into going for it in two. The 483-yard par 5 appears easy if you’ve hit the fairway, but trouble lurks left and long — water — and right — out of bounds, plus the green is similar to No. 11 in that it’s narrow and has massive sideboard slopes.

Water is also left and out of bounds right off the 15th fairway. This 337-yard par 4 plays significantly uphill to a green that if you’re not careful you can spin it 50 yards off the green. You don’t want to do that, so take an extra club just to be safe.

After the 382-yard 16th, which requires golfers to carry water, the 323-yard 17th is unique. This par 4 turns 90 degrees right to a wide green. The smart thing is hit an iron off the tee to set up an easy par, or better yet a birdie.

The home hole is 321 yards and plays straightaway. Driver isn’t needed, although big hitters can choose to gamble by trying to drive the green. A large pine tree about 40 yards short right of the green can become an issue, too, although two-putting might be the most difficult thing to do on a severely sloping 18th green.

If you haven’t already taken the trip out to Killarney, you’re missing out on a fabulously designed course with a bit of everything. And if your game isn’t sharp you could put up a big number.

DIVOTS: Neepawa Golf and Country Club and Carberry Sandhills Golf and Country Club are jointly hosting the Desert Classic on July 30 and 31. For more information, call Neepawa at 204-476-5711 … Boissevain Golf Club is hosting its ladies 50-plus tournament on Aug. 3. The shotgun start begins at 10 a.m. and costs $40 per person. For more details, call the clubhouse at 204-534-2365.

Nathan Liewicki is the Brandon Sun’s golf reporter.

» nliewicki@brandonsun.com

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