V.A. Barrie Park reviews
2
0
LeftyRob
Experience:
24.4 years
46 played
16 reviews
Good to be a Lefty 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 9, 2018
Played the course:once
Pros:
I can't remember having played such a lefty-centric course (we're talking backhand here). The course is set up in a rudimentary circle, going counter-clockwise. So, the water is always to your right for the first 6 holes, and the heavy woods for the closing holes- also on your right. I did enjoy the big air shot off the ninth tee, and it was easy to get around the course if you're looking for a quick round. The holes flow from one to the next very smoothly.
Cons:
Other than the uphill-downhill combo of holes 8 & 9, the course is perfectly flat. When I played, all the baskets were in the short position, but even in the longs the course still isn't the longest. I only took out a driver twice, and the hilltop ninth was one of them. Looks like a lot of water collects on the fairways, so don't wear the good shoes!
Other Thoughts:
An enjoyable round. Not the most challenging, but fun and quick. Also, only about 10 minutes from the other area course, if you're looking to get them both in.
6
0
aaronarndt
Experience:
17.8 years
27 played
10 reviews
Nice course. Not Easy. 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 13, 2009
Played the course:once
Pros:
Nice tees
Nice baskets
Good signage
Easily navigated
Well maintained
Open layout
Some long holes
Good flow
This course is situated in the low-land of a large valley. The middle of the lowland is large open field, with a river running along the west, and a massive hill to the south, a forest to the east, and old large trees along the entire perimeter of the low-land. You essentially play along this field's perimeter.
For the first 7 holes, you are throwing along the river to your right with some scattered trees at its edge as you head towards the hill. These holes are rather similar each, but the trees shape each hole to provide some variety. The embankment is rather forgiving in most spots, but the river remains a constant factor, especially on the first hole. On #1 there is NO embankment, just a sheer drop to the river some 7 feet past the basket. Don't overshoot the basket even a little, or your disc is gone.
Hole 8 is a steep uphill shot (which I really enjoyed), and 9 is awesome, the real attraction of the course. It's a great downhill shot, unique to the courses in this area. It's a fairly wide tunnel shot from the very top of the hill into the middle of the open section of the valley. There is some risk of putting your disc in the forest on either side of this fairway, but even a decent drive should put you well into the open section making the likelihood of losing a disc low. [I don't have a big arm, and I was way past the forest. I had a decent look for birdie, but missed the putt.
]
For the rest of the course you are working your way back to the parking lot where you first started, but on the opposite side of the open field, so for these holes you have a forest to your right. There are two open holes that play out into the middle of the field and then back. The rest just stay to the right along the east side of the valley, along the forest. You are playing at the forest's edge, so there is some use of the trees, but most of these shots are fairly open. Take a look at the map, and this should all make sense.
With the practice basket, and cement tee set up for it, there really are 19 holes.
You're really going to have to have some distance on your drives if you want any chance of birdies. I think this is a tough course. I shot +9 my first time here.
On the whole, I enjoyed the course, but it's just not one of my favourites. No complaints, just less than spectacular. Though, I do want to come again and better my score.
Nice baskets
Good signage
Easily navigated
Well maintained
Open layout
Some long holes
Good flow
This course is situated in the low-land of a large valley. The middle of the lowland is large open field, with a river running along the west, and a massive hill to the south, a forest to the east, and old large trees along the entire perimeter of the low-land. You essentially play along this field's perimeter.
For the first 7 holes, you are throwing along the river to your right with some scattered trees at its edge as you head towards the hill. These holes are rather similar each, but the trees shape each hole to provide some variety. The embankment is rather forgiving in most spots, but the river remains a constant factor, especially on the first hole. On #1 there is NO embankment, just a sheer drop to the river some 7 feet past the basket. Don't overshoot the basket even a little, or your disc is gone.
Hole 8 is a steep uphill shot (which I really enjoyed), and 9 is awesome, the real attraction of the course. It's a great downhill shot, unique to the courses in this area. It's a fairly wide tunnel shot from the very top of the hill into the middle of the open section of the valley. There is some risk of putting your disc in the forest on either side of this fairway, but even a decent drive should put you well into the open section making the likelihood of losing a disc low. [I don't have a big arm, and I was way past the forest. I had a decent look for birdie, but missed the putt.
] For the rest of the course you are working your way back to the parking lot where you first started, but on the opposite side of the open field, so for these holes you have a forest to your right. There are two open holes that play out into the middle of the field and then back. The rest just stay to the right along the east side of the valley, along the forest. You are playing at the forest's edge, so there is some use of the trees, but most of these shots are fairly open. Take a look at the map, and this should all make sense.
With the practice basket, and cement tee set up for it, there really are 19 holes.
You're really going to have to have some distance on your drives if you want any chance of birdies. I think this is a tough course. I shot +9 my first time here.
On the whole, I enjoyed the course, but it's just not one of my favourites. No complaints, just less than spectacular. Though, I do want to come again and better my score.
Cons:
Limited variety.
Can be really wet in the spring.
The layout of this course is less than ideal. On the first nine the river is to your right as you play along it, and then second nine the forest is to your right as you play along it, so many of the holes have essentially the same feel.
Also, with the hill, open field, and forest, there is very little wind protection, and the wind can swirl and be really inconsistent. If there is even a little wind, you'll find it here, and it can make a round tough. If it's windy, I suggest Waterworks.
It's one big 18 hole loop, not two sets of 9's. No facilities at the park, and once you've started your round, you won't be near your car until you're finished a whole round. Bring water.
There is quite a bit of overlap between 8, 9, and 10 where the holes kind of play on top of each other. If it's busy on the course, which it can be, this is a tough traffic area.
It is possible to get confused while navigating the course. From some tees you can see multiple baskets, but the signage can save you from playing the course wrong, you just have to watch for it. Watch for the walk between #5 and #6. You have to walk past #16 tee.
Even on my first time at the course, I watched a few groups miss-play the course in spots, but they didn't seem to mind.
There are some nice holes, but aside from 8 and 9, there wasn't much memorable about the course.
Can be really wet in the spring.
The layout of this course is less than ideal. On the first nine the river is to your right as you play along it, and then second nine the forest is to your right as you play along it, so many of the holes have essentially the same feel.
Also, with the hill, open field, and forest, there is very little wind protection, and the wind can swirl and be really inconsistent. If there is even a little wind, you'll find it here, and it can make a round tough. If it's windy, I suggest Waterworks.
It's one big 18 hole loop, not two sets of 9's. No facilities at the park, and once you've started your round, you won't be near your car until you're finished a whole round. Bring water.
There is quite a bit of overlap between 8, 9, and 10 where the holes kind of play on top of each other. If it's busy on the course, which it can be, this is a tough traffic area.
It is possible to get confused while navigating the course. From some tees you can see multiple baskets, but the signage can save you from playing the course wrong, you just have to watch for it. Watch for the walk between #5 and #6. You have to walk past #16 tee.
Even on my first time at the course, I watched a few groups miss-play the course in spots, but they didn't seem to mind.
There are some nice holes, but aside from 8 and 9, there wasn't much memorable about the course.
Other Thoughts:
The 9th hole is spectacular.
There are two courses in St. Thomas that are close together VA Barrie Park, and Waterworks. Personally, I like the Waterworks course much better. They are very different courses, nearly polar opposites. VA Barrie Park is long and open, Waterworks is tight and technical. I suppose it is really a matter of choice, but be sure to check out my review of Waterworks also, but be careful; it can be tough to navigate. If you don't have much time, VA Barrie Park is probably the better option.
There are two courses in St. Thomas that are close together VA Barrie Park, and Waterworks. Personally, I like the Waterworks course much better. They are very different courses, nearly polar opposites. VA Barrie Park is long and open, Waterworks is tight and technical. I suppose it is really a matter of choice, but be sure to check out my review of Waterworks also, but be careful; it can be tough to navigate. If you don't have much time, VA Barrie Park is probably the better option.
