Bell Bay Golf Club — Local services in Baddeck Bay

I would offer a 3.5 if available - but it’s not and a 4 would be too much. Let’s talk about Bell Bay. I am a visiting golfer (tourist) and played here 3 rounds in the same week. I would recommend it - but here’s what to know. The good - the bones of the course are good. Solid fairways, well kept greens, rough in good condition as well as a pleasant and challenging design. A well manicured practice area. The not as good. This place really should be a 4.25 but it’s the little things. It’s been mentioned by others - but the service really could use some work. There are moments where you are sincerely not made to be welcome. You’re waiting at the turn to buy a beer and some peanuts and the / groups paying for green fees are ahead of you at the only cash register. That is stressful. The food and liquor selection is … minimal at best. No drink cart on a hot day. Many of the ball washers are not in usable condition. There are many well designed traps - but I’m not sure who would they bought their sand from, but you need a refund. See the pic to see two of the many stones I pulled out of an average trap. Who is going to send their 200 dollar wedges through this material?! Pace of play is miserable. I had a midday start - and showed up on time ready to go 5 mins before my tee time. I was a single player and my round took longer than 5 hours to complete. No marshall, nothing. Apparently members are able to just walk on and play. A small tip Bell Bay - have your members book a time like every other club on earth. It’s a shame these small things take away from what is a very pleasant course in a charming area. This club should and could do much better. I hope it does - and there is some great golf to...

TO ONE AND ALL……DO NOT…..REPEAT…..DO NOT BOOK TO PLAY BELL BAY GOLF RESORT……played there August 3, 2015 @ a ridiculous price of $247.00 for two people (cart included) and was totally ripped off. The course had all players start on the back nine as the greens were terrible…..upon starting the second nine (first nine normally), the greens were so bad, they were literally UNPLAYABLE. Had any player started on the 1st tee, ALL PLAYERS would have requested a refund after a couple of holes as this course is not even worth paying $30.00, cart included. After complaining to the staff after our round, their excuse was that they had a bad winter. If we had been told this prior to playing, we would not have played. WHAT A SHAM, having everyone play the back nine first on bad greens and then playing the front nine afterwards on absolutely unplayable greens is unfathomable……I am a Maritimer as well and it behooves me to understand how they have stooped so low to rip guests off…..unbelievable.

This course should be placed on the DO NOT PLAY LIST until such time as the course is once again playable (which will take a couple of years at least to repair the greens and also IF they do not have any further bad winters (their excuse).

DO NOT PLAY THIS COURSE FOR A MINIMAL OF TWO YEARS FROM THIS DATE……THAT IS IF THEY REPAIR THE...

Pros: Course is in great shape. Fun layout.

Cons: Overpriced for what you get. The twilight deal is ok depending on who is on the course (be prepared to skip multiple holes). Black flies can be unbearable and ruin your mood for the round. Round start at 4:00 pm on a Saturday, no starter to manage tee sheet. No marshal on the course the entire round. Group on the front holding 5 other groups up and not letting anyone play through (no marshal to correct this). Half-way house abandoned at 4pm with no signage to indicate when someone might be back. Half-way house closed by 5:30? May have been sooner. I would expect a little better on a Saturday.

Overall I wouldn’t come back to this course again. The poor management takes away from what really could be a top course in...