Where The Stanley Thompson Tour All Began!
Every year in late April Mark and I trek to Whirlpool to play our first game of the season. It's a lovely course with testy par 3's, elevated greens and just enough water to make you think twice about using your favourite brand on that shot. Over the years we have now turned this spring ritual into the STUN (Spring Tune Up in Niagara) Tournament. For more details just check out the following web site: www.stun2002.freeservers com
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A Stanley That Gets Better?
The Niagara Parks Commission has done a great job of updating and maintaining this Stanley Classic. Even in early spring the fairways are well maintained and greens are rolling fairly true. Bunker sand is fair. The foilage between trees well maintained in the golfers favour. |
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The Par Two From A Different View
While the artist sketch gives the hole a romantic feel, in real life this green gives you all its got. Rolling. Sloped. Fast. Needless to say it is one of the toughest holes on the fairway.
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The 10th Hole
The front nine holes were deceptively hard. Hit a good drive and hope your iron shot sticks. Amazing how such "easy" holes can add up the strokes. |
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It's A Long Way To...
Stanley gives you a lot of fairway to work with. Even hitting into the trees you still have a lot of room to navigate the ball. This par five gives you over 500 yards of fun. Like all Stanley's this par 5 is reachable in three shots but requires a lot of touch when hitting the elevated green.
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Number 11- Par 4
If there is any hole you don't want to be above the pin, it is without a doubt #11. This green has an elevation of approximately 10-12'. So while you don't want to be long and above the hole, you certainly can't afford to be short. It's holes like this that make me wonder why i like Thompson course's so much. |
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Coming home on 18
I think in this case i will just let the picture tell the story. What a beauty!.
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Happy Anniversary!
2001 marked the 50th anniversary for the Whirlpool golf course. Imagine, for 50 years people from all over the world have been enjoying this Stanley Thompson classic. Congratulations. |
