Chasing Par

The average player may find Fox Harb’r a little intimidating and the anxiety can set in well before you tee up your first ball or strike a putt on the voluminous, multi-tiered greens.

Built by coffee shop billionaire Ron Joyce, it sits on 1100 acres of land on Nova Scotia’s northern coastline, along the Northumberland Strait. It’s not far from Tatamagouche, where Joyce grew up. The high-end atmosphere may not be your cup of tea but the golf course has all the ingredients for a double-double delight.

Once you find the resort property – it’s nowhere near any large municipality – at the main gate, you are required to confirm your tee time with security. After the big metal barricade swings quietly open to a perfectly smooth blacktop laneway, you drive by a sign that warns of possible low-flying aircraft. The private landing strip – that can accommodate small jets – lays perpendicular to the road.

The exclusive, private course feel fades a little at the parking lot and in the clubhouse. It’s a luxury resort but it’s still open for public play and they welcome your business. The $225 green fee (with cart) during prime time might scare some players off but you do get the kind of service you pay for.

I played during the shoulder season, a few days before Canadian Thanksgiving. It was a little cheaper, but still well more than what I would usually spend for 18 holes. It’s even less if you walk, but I recommend a cart. It’s a huge layout and you’ll want to have enough energy left for the proper enjoyment of the final 5 holes.

Heading to the clubhouse, a bunch over par (but still under 90!) – my only birdie of the day was on the 18 handicap hole, the short par 4, 16th – there was still a tinge of regret that we just couldn’t keep going. We were awed by the set-up, the style and the scenery of Fox Harb’r but finished, undaunted. It was definitely worth the cost.

What’s in Scott’s 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*