I saw Crowbush take shape, walked the layout with architect Tom McBroom, followed the course of its development. I play it now, as often as I can, with those memories and a selfishness that newcomers won’t ever know.
McBroom took an abject, environmentally delicate piece of land behind the dunes of a PEI north shore beach and turned the swampy sand and scrub into an extraordinary playground where every golfer should test their swing set at least once.
I played opening day in 1993 and enjoy telling my playing partners, especially match play opponents, that I once owned the Crowbush course record. If asked to elaborate, I point out that my 81 was the lowest score of the first 12 players (of which I was one) to finish that day. It remains my favourite course in PEI almost 30 years later.
Warming up on the range is a bit of a tease… hitting balls toward the ocean and practicing shots into the onshore breeze, while the first 4 holes are inland, practically out of sight of water – with the exception of a pond just beneath the first tee that isn’t a factor in the hole.
The opening par 4 is straight up and a comfortable way to begin, but at the green you get a hint of what to expect over 18 holes, with mounds left and right making up and down a difficult proposition. Almost every hole will test your short game if you don’t hit the green with your approach.
There are so many notable holes – like the 7th where you finally get to see the sea or the 8th with a lengthy carry across a salt pond – that they leave the par 5, 3rd hole truly under-appreciated. It’s reachable in 2, playing 475 from the gold tees and only 500 from the tips, or the crows as they refer to them (the markers on the back tees are black, plaster crows). But there’s great risk.
An attempt at under par glory can become a disaster. The hole narrows near the deeply sloped and heavily bunkered green and not all the alders and thorns were removed during construction, so some remain just left and behind the putting surface.
Two holes on the back nine everyone remembers and talks about are the 11th and 17th. Eleven is as difficult a par 5 as you will find on any course, but its magnificence is on the tee box. Built on top of a massive dune, there’s a steep climb to the top deck, from where you have a panoramic view of most of the golf course, Lakeside Beach, and the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the time of the year, you might even see the fishermen pulling up the featured star of that night’s lobster dinner.
When most players preview the Crowbush scorecard for the first time, the par 3 17th catches their attention. It lists at 97 yards from the gold tee and 113 from the crows. Its true nature, though, isn’t apparent until you climb the hill from the 16th green and look up. There’s a putting surface just beyond the rise and over dense thatches of wild rose bushes. You can’t see it from the tee, just the flag flapping in the interminable breeze. And there’s no safety taking a little extra club because the back edge slopes off toward the 18th tee boxes. Be careful! You can easily put up a big number on this little hole.
As you sit on the clubhouse deck overlooking the 9th and 15th holes after your round, there will be no question how Crowbush was named Canada’s Best New Course in 1994 and that it remains a strong member of the country’s top 100 each and every year. It is a masterwork of a master builder in one of the most beautiful places on earth.*
* disclaimer – I am a proud PEI native
What’s in the Bag?
Each of the Chasing Par contributors also shares what’s in their bag. We find it’s a great way to give more details about the round and golfer. When possible, we like to link to a product page for each of the clubs for you to find more information.
| Club Type | Scott’s Club of Choice |
|---|---|
| Driver: | Callaway Epic Flash driver – 65g Mitsubishi stiff shaft |
| Wood(s): | Callaway Rogue 4 wood |
| Hybrid: | TaylorMade burner rescue (3) |
| Irons: | TaylorMade RSI2 irons 4-gap wedge |
| Wedges: | Ping Glide wedges – 54 Ping Glide wedges – 60 |
| Putter: | Odyssey White Ice* |
- Thunder Bayou - May 13,
- The course that Buddy Built: Ozark Ridge Golf Course - May 3,
- The Judge - April 24,
