The Links at Lockhart Ryan Park is a fun and challenging municipal course. The front 9 play through more open areas of the park while the back 9 get a little woodsy. There are a few fun elevation changes throughout. Good mix of shots.

- Natural tee pads
- Fairways 3 and 4 contend with each other, 5 crosses 4. While this might be a bigger issue on some other courses, it is not with the volume of play that this course gets. The affected tees are easy to see and play is not affected by the log jam, even during tournaments (again - number of players is small).

Full disclosure - I designed this course with two others and currently run the rec department that oversees it's use and maintenance. This was one of the first permanent 18 hole courses in the Maritimes and greatly contributed to the rapid growth of the sport in Atlantic Canada, so there's some history here - be it fairly recent. The course makes good use of underused areas of the park, and has seen some changes due to park usage and changes in park facilities (ex: New splash pad diverted the original hole #5). The beach volleyball court (#14 & 16) is almost never in use (much to my dismay as a rec guy) so the interference that you would assume would come into play seldom does (if ever). Also, we're experimenting with alternate basket positions, so that may be a thing on some holes from time to time. If you visit here during the week, stop by the Recreation office at the Louis Millett Community Complex beside the course and I'll happily play a round.

Baskets are A-1. Bringing printout of map from online site was quite sufficient.
The tee markings are rudimentary but sufficient. Some of the laminated printouts that are supposed to be at each tee are missing but the course route and target basket locations was not hard to figure out regardless. Except going from 10 to 11 (take a hard left launch is to the left of the red maintenance bldg.). Natural launch pad sites I personally have no problem with so I was aok with an absence of concrete pads.
I liked the flow of the course. I did not feel any cross over. Facilities available in non-winter months. Not in winter.
Lots of parking. Free parking! Free course!! Love that part. Was deserted in winter. Liked some of the tightness of the holes to give a bit of technical challenge. Very scenic. Not crowded (at all). The maintenance guys are friendly. My favourite hole hands down is #7. Throwing from elevation across the road with an option to choose either anny or hyzer and the basket tucked slightly under a tree. Runner up is actually #8 because while it seems obvious a few trees should be cut, it feels like you're in Las Vegas - getting through to the basket is a crap shoot. And fun trying.

The 3rd hole could be improved - it's up a hill in the wide wide open. There is an extensive stand of trees and a walking pathway to the down and to the left of the current basket position. If a small spot were made just into those trees and the basket plunked down in there so it was blind from the tee - it would drive you exceptionally mad. Which would be awesome. And it would still require the challenge of the uphill throw. Just a thought. Heads up: The idea of getting you and your car locked into the park if you missed the 4:00pm cutoff to leave is not uncool. It almost happened to me. Don't do that. Or you'll spend a night in Kentville! I fluked out that my round happened to finish at 3:50pm. There are no trash bins (just pack it out) but the absence of any seating throughpout the 18 holes is an easy solve. Liked the technical shots but in fact some of the curved holes were a bit small/short so it felt a little limited. There was not much of a true challenge of a combination of arm strength with manouevering if you know what I mean. More careful placement. Maybe I need to be a more patient Jedi warrior. The course is broken down to similar sections with each having a similar required approach. Having said that there is variety between these sections. Some holes that require some selected trees be cut down (Perhaps 1,2,5,9 and very especially 8) to allow for a realistic drive and approach strategy. I suspect the village's parks department does not want to cut any mature trees and I get that. Maybe I just need more practise or a better eye.

I would say I was thrilled and stunned at this course being where it was and that so much time and effort put into its development and its quality signage, the top knotch baskets, the no pay to play and hassle free aspects (except for that gate of death). I would go back in a heartbeat as it's a quality course not just "for the area" but somebody put some effort into this project and it has resulted in there being a solid opportunity to throw a really fun 18 or 36 or 54 holes in on trip. New Minas can be proud that they are ahead of the curve including ahead of HRM with this awesome spot one hour and eleven minutes drive from Fall River. Well done.