A Duffer's Guide

In this week's edition of A Duffer's Guide, Cites Nouvelles reporter Phillippe Boisvert and I bravely left the island of Montreal, crossed through Pincourt, survived two speed traps without getting pulled over, and ended up at Vaudreuil Golf Club, which is accessible from Highway 20 at the western end of Vaudreuil-Dorion.

We wasted no time getting down to some serious golfing with the 484-yard par-4 first hole. Phillippe had a decent drive to start things off, and I followed suit, and we both brought home a 7, even though I was on the green in four.

Three- and four-putting greens was sort of the leitmotif of the round. The greens at Vaudreuil were treacherous, undulating and fast, as evidenced by Phil's seven-foot par try that missed by inches, but rolled further away from the cup than he was before after his missed putt picked up steam and rolled nearly off the green.

Two weeks of hot sun and dry weather have dried the course out nicely, and for the first time all year, sand traps were the right consistency.

That being said, the greens were without question the toughest greens we've played all year.

For instance, in a rare moment of consistent play on the 2, I struck a good drive on the 392-yard par-4 ninth hole followed up with a six-iron to the green from about 160 yards out that gave me a birdie putt and a realistic shot at par. Of course, I three-putted the green and although I should be pleased with a bogey score at this stage of my development, I stalked off the green annoyed with myself and my play.

And with good reason. Upon examination of the scorecards, I carded a 103, three shots better than my best-ever score, but if some of those greens on the front nine had been a little more generous with me, I might've broken 100.

Of course, I didn't know that at the time, and it's probably a good thing. When you're conscious of scoring, you tend not to let loose and just relax – which is my biggest problem.

A couple of things to look out for at Vaudreuil Golf Course. The par-3 13th hole looks relatively simple, but between the tee box and the green, there sits a small, but wide pond that is easy to hit into. You walk down the path, thinking you’re just short of the green and then, when you see the pond, you start to get that sinking feeling – because your ball is gone (it, too got that sinking feeling). The second water hazard to be wary is on the 465-yard par-5 n16th hole, which boasts an odd little stream-like hazard that sits about a hundred yards out from the green. It doesn't look like much, but it managed to bedevil our playing party in a heartbeat last Tuesday.

Vaudreuil Golf Course is a great, fun, well-groomed course that is tailored for golfers with a bit more experience, especially around the greens. Golfers can play Vaudreuil for between $13 and $40, and carts are available for rent. For more information, visit them online at www.golfvaudreuil.com or call then at (450) 455-2731.