St. John's Sports Travel Tips by jamiesno

Theme: Golfing

The Wilds on Salmonier Line is one of the provinces nicest golf courses for sure. I played there for the first time September 05 when some business people invited me to play a round.

The first 9 holes where horrible since I hadn't played in such a long time but on the back 9 I made 1 or 2 pars and even my first birdie.

It's a very scenic course, great property but also a very challening course. It's is well maintained but if you leave the fairways say good bye to your balls.

At the beginning of the 9th hole they have a phone where you can call and make an order from the barbeque. They'll then have it ready for you. I thought that was a neat feature.

The course is a quick drive mostly on divided highway from St. John's but certainly worth the day trip. Once you exit it's a little slower but scenic with lots of lakes and cabins. If you like golf you'll have fun for sure. I don't know what else to say other than to have fun. I have their web site listed for all the details on pricing, etcetera.

Equipment: I brought by own clubs and we rented carts. If they just had a lot of rain and they say its strickly cart paths only I think your just a well off just walking. Otherwise you seem to always be having to walk and get your cart.

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Directions: The Wilds at Salmonier is located off the Salmonier Line, Exit 35, Route 90. Leaving from St. John's it will take you about 30 minutes to get to the exit and another 15 minutes from there.
Website: http://www.thewilds.ca

Theme: Sports Watching

Mile One Stadium is a brand new sporting complex built in St. John's for hockey, wrestling, live music acts and a whole hosts of other sporting events.

The Stadium is located downtown and has a web site so for sporting events it is worth checking out the listings.


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Website: http://www.mileonestadium.ca/

Theme: Sports Watching

St. John's was home to the AHL franchise St. John's Maple Leafs. The NHL farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It is great hockey to watch and during the winter it is worth buying a ticket.

Parking is a minor obstacle. You should either get a cab or there is a park and ride program. You can call for more details on this.

However the St. John's Maple Leafs no longer play in St. John's. They up and left like so many other teams in professional sports. St. John's now have a Quebec Major Junior Hockey Team. Their name is the St. John's Fog Devils.

This hockey is a rank below the AHL but from what I am hearing it is much more entertaining hockey to watch. Have fun! I was there for the opening night.

The first period wasn't the greatest, but the second, third, OT and shoot out was exciting hockey. A couple of good fights too and the St. John's fans where great.


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Address: 50 New Gower Street
Directions: Downtown
Website: http://www.fogdevils.com/

Theme: Golfing

Bally Haly makes for a great day of golf right in the city. From the Silver Tees it is 5254 yards, Par 71, Rating 72.7, Slope 128.

There is a driving range.

There are great views of the city as you can see from this picture I provided on the number 6 hole.

The course usually has some wind and the fairways have lots of hills and different elevations. Rarely can you see the pin from the tee and it makes for an interesting walk for sure.

If you miss the fairway the course is forgiving with other fairways generally adjacent.

Enjoy your round!

Equipment: You can rent power carts and clubs if you don't have your own with you.

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Address: 100 Logy Bay Road
Website: http://www.ballyhaly.com/

Theme: Golfing

Black Duck is the perfect course for a quick round of golf.

Black Duck is a par-64 course which includes eight par four and ten par-three holes. It's an executive style course.

When you play Black Duck, you'll experience the Clovelly wild. You'll see birds of all kinds... and maybe even a red fox or a moose, if you're lucky. I found it easy to loose balls on this course!!

The average playing time for Black Duck is 3 hours and 15 minutes. For more information, go to the web site and course map for Black Duck.

I find you have to be careful on this course as well. Where it is short you don't want to be hitting up on the people in front of you and its common to see some balls come your way from time to time.

But overall its a fun and scenic course.

The club house has some great food and beer on tap as well.


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Directions: Proceed to Stavanger Drive (approximately 2 kms beyond McDonalds)

Turn right on to Stavanger Drive
Drive straight to Clovelly Golf gates (2 km)
Website: http://clovellygolf.com/

Theme: Golfing

The Osprey is a championship course. The Home of the NewTel Cup, it is the ultimate experience for the more serious golfer.

It is a par-72 course that covers more than 6,500 yards of golfing terrain. It is laid out over 175 acres and features almost complete separation between each of its 18 holes.

The Osprey is named after a feathered friend, who makes her cozy home atop the telephone pole to the left of the 16th fairway. It is a beautiful course that will test your ability.

The average playing time for The Osprey is 4 hours and 15 minutes.

The web site provided has a great course map and you can go hole by hole.

In September after 3 you can get the twillight pricing. I am obvioulsy no expert golfer but I have having a hard time finding my balls, maybe it was just the time of day.

It really is a beautiful course. Enjoy your round!!


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Directions: Stavanger Drive Area
Website: http://clovellygolf.com/

Theme: Golfing

If you just want to get out and hit a few balls on a driving range. There is a fairly good one located behind the Marine Institute.

It's cheaper than playing a round and for a bucket of balls you will be fine.

They need to do a little bit of work on this place but it will get you by :-)


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Directions: Just behind the Marine Institute

Theme: Golfing

Captain's Hill is the original 9-hole course in Pippy Park. Named in recognition of the area's seafaring history, Captain's Hill sits high above the city with great vistas of the coastline.

Captain's Hill is located within minutes of downtown St. John's, with a full panoramic view of the city. You can see from the picture I took you get a great view out through the narrows on some holes, a view of Signal Hill and the Confederation Building.

In 2002 4 new forward tees were constructed to make the course more user friendly for all golfers. The course can now be played at length from 2326 to 3047 yards.

The course has some wind but the scenery is great. Be warned this is another course with some hills as well, making it an interesting walk and for some interesting tee shots!

Overall though I must say I enjoyed this course a lot. Great for getting 9 holes in.


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Directions: Just look up on the hill behind the confederation building and you will see the club house.
Website: http://www.pippyparkgolf.com/

Theme: Golfing

Located in Pippy Park and just minutes from downtown St. John's, Admiral's Green offers a panoramic view of the oldest city in North America.

Opened in 1993 the Graham Cooke championship design treates the golfer to a challenge that Europeans have rated worthy of any British Open Championship. The course has hosted the Canadian Junior and Junvenile Nationals and the Canadian Pro Tour. And the Canadian Ladies National Championships. The course record remains at even par 71.

In 2002 6 new forward tees were constructed to make the course more user friendly for all levels of golfers. The course can now be played at length from 5279 to 6381 yards.

Completed in 1997, the magnificent two story air conditioned clubhouse provides full amenities and satellite T.V. With a breathtaking view of the courses, the ocean, and the city.

During my round of golf here it was very windy, sometimes this is good, somemore times not so good!

If you have some extra money a power cart would also be nice on this course. The distances between the pins and the next tee box is quite a ways on some holes.

Enjoy your golfing!!! Great course!


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Website: http://www.pippyparkgolf.com/

Theme: Kayaking/Canoeing


Equipment: The Royal St. John's Regatta is the oldest organized sporting event in North America. It has been a part of Newfoundland history for 185 years. The first record of an organized event is in 1818, but rowing matches were common among ships crews in St. John's Harbour since at least the 1700's.

These days, the Regatta draws crowds of up to 50,000 people annually to the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake. It is widely known as "The Largest Garden Party in the World" because it has been about socializing as much as amateur sport. Concession stands, wheels of fortune, games of chance, and food & drink are just as much part of the Regatta's history as the races. Indeed, many people hardly notice the races, as they are too involved in the merrymaking on the shores of the lake.

I have a lot of fond memories of this event, it is crowded but a lot of fun, the beer tents are popular and downtown on George Street is usually great later in the night.

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Phone: http://www.stjohnsregatta.org/
Directions: Quidi Vidi Lake
Website: http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4e22e/dcd34/
Other Contact: collections.ic.gc.ca/regatta/