Read our June Newsletter and find out all the latest news surrounding Le Portage Golf Club and The Hilltop Grill! Lots of exciting things happening so check it out and make sure you don’t miss out on anything.
Category: Uncategorized
Professional profile: Bruno Chiasson PGA
PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional Bruno Chiasson has been at Le Portage Golf Club for 12 seasons and a professional for 6 years. Bruno is an avid golfer and student of the game, always searching for and open to, learning anything new in the world of golf and golf instruction.
A certified Respect in Sport Activity Leader and Instructor of Beginner Golfers, Bruno is always willing and eager to help golfers of all levels find more consistency and joy in their golf games.
Whether it be clinics, half-hour, hour or multiple lessons, there’s an option for you.
Booking Tee-Times Online
The best way to book ahead of time is to use our online booking system.
To book a tee-time online, go to leportagegolfclub.com and click on any of the green “Book Now” buttons to be taken to the book a tee-time page (shown above). Once there, follow the steps below corresponding with your situation.
UPDATE: League Players Members and punch card holders have access to the Le Portage Leagues. Ladies' League runs on Mondays at 4 pm, Men's League on Tuesdays at 3 pm and Couple's League on Fridays at 4 pm. To book league times online, click on "League Players Enter Here" and enter your username and password to sign in. Once there, you can book league times and regular times as usual.
Members
Members at Le Portage Golf Club, click on “Members Enter Here”. If you already know your username and password, simply enter them to sign in.
If you don’t remember or know your username and/or password, click on “I can’t access my account”.
You will be asked to enter the email associated with your account and an email will be sent to you with your username and a “reset your password” link.
All system created usernames start with the letters ‘l’ ‘e’ ‘p’ ‘o’ as in LE POrtage followed by 4 numbers. (the o is not a zero)
Go to that email, click the link and follow the instructions to reset your password. (If you don’t remember the email associated with your account, give us a call at 902-224-3338)
Once done, go back to the book a tee time page and sign in. (If you want to change your username, once signed in, click on menu in the top left hand corner of the booking window, select my account from the drop-down menu and choose preferences. you can verify all your personal information from that screen)
You will now be taken to a page where you can select the date and time for your round. Once you choose a time, you will be prompted to select how many players will be in your group and if you will be needing carts. We then ask you to enter the names of each player in your group. If you play with the same group often, your playing partners might already be in the drop-down menu for each player, if they are not there, you can add them by selecting “Add Playing partner” from the drop-down. You can also add playing partners from the my account section in the menu, see pictures below.
After all the player names are selected, click on “Book Time” to confirm the booking and see your Booking confirmation.
If some players in your group are non-members or if you have selected carts, instead of the booking confirmation, you will be taken to a page that details the pricing for your group and asks you to agree to our terms and conditions.
Finally, you are taken to the payment section where you can enter your credit card info and make payment. A confirmation email and receipt will be emailed to you shortly after.
Non-Members
If you are not a member at Le Portage Golf Club, click on “Public Enter Here”.
You will be taken to a page where you can select the date and time for your round. You will then be prompted to select how many players will be in your group and if you will be needing carts. After you have made your selections, you will be asked to sign in or create an account. Once you create your account, you will receive an email and will have to click the link in that email to activate the account.
With that done, simply enter your username and password to sign in.
We then ask you to enter the names of each player in your group.
The next page details the pricing for your group and asks you to agree to our terms and conditions.
Finally, you are taken to the payment section where you can enter your credit card info and make payment.
A confirmation email and receipt will be emailed to you shortly after.
Online Professional shop
Our inventory is now online and we can also get and price match any new golf and/or sports related items you find elsewhere on the web.
Go to: http://leportagegolfclub.com/shop/ or from leportagegolfclub.com home page, click on “SHOP” on the menu bar at the top.
On our store home page you will find current deals and a request form for items you don’t find in the shop.
The left hand side has a menu with all the store departments. Here you will find all the items currently in the pro shop as well as Memberships, Rentals, Punch Cards and Gift Cards.
The staff would like to thank everyone for their support and look forward to seeing you this season.
Please contact me directly if you have any questions and/or concerns.
Best Regards,
Bruno Chiasson, PGA of Canada
902-335-8940
bruno@leportagegolfclub.com
Spring Golf Etiquette
Golf Course etiquette is something that every golfer should take seriously. Some things are steeped in tradition and help maintain the integrity of the game, other rules are in place to help maintain the integrity of your golf course.
In the Spring, there are some things to pay closer attention to.
Take Preferred Lies: Spring is when you should really be taking your drops if your ball lands in unfavourable areas. A preferred lie means you aren’t going to be penalized for it. During the first few weeks of the season, the course will be damp and soft, making it susceptible to damage. Respect the restrictions to access on the course. It might be annoying that you can’t play your ball in areas that are still growing, but damage to these areas may delay the growth by weeks or even months. Move your ball to a better position and don’t worry about the added score.
Replace your Divots: This should be something you’re already doing all season long. Leaving behind large divots can cause long term damage to the course. In the Spring, the course is still growing and developing, so there’s a better chance your divot will leave a scar if left unreplaced. Retrieve the sod, tamp it back into the divot, and the course will stay in pristine shape year round.
Stay on the Cart Path: Know what’s worse than divots? Tread marks. If you choose to take a cart during the first few weeks, we kindly ask that you keep it on the cart path. This might mean a bit of walking to your ball, but with the course in such a vulnerable state, carts can cause lots of damage.
Keep Your Cool: Let’s face it, most of us aren’t going to be in our prime form in May. Your swing is going to be a bit rusty, it’s going to be a lot colder and wetter than you’d like, and the pre-season course conditions are going to make things a bit more challenging. Arrive at your game anticipating that you won’t be shooting as low as you want, and keep a cool head throughout your round. You’ll be back at peak form in no time.
Although the course is still growing and your game is a bit rusty, Spring golf is still a lot of fun. Green fees are attractively priced and the community is beginning to wake up from the winter, making it a welcoming spot for visitors. Getting a round of golf in is the perfect way to leave the cold and snow behind, and start looking forward towards a great summer!
New Golf Rule Changes in 2019
On January 1st, 2019, official new golf rules were introduced to the game. Don’t worry, the basics of the game remain the same, but there’s some changes you should be paying attention to. For instance, the time to look for a lost ball is now 3 minutes, and unplayable balls in a bunker now come with a 2 stroke penalty.
It’s obvious that some rules will affect your game more than others, so here are the ones that stand out the most to us and have people talking.
Ability to Leave the Flag in While Putting
Should you care? Yes.
The actual rule is “No penalty for ball played from the green hitting the flagstick”. Casual golfers wouldn’t be taking penalties for this, but now there is officially no need to have the stick removed at all. Having the flag in can give you a better read on breaks, provide a nice line for your putt, and even stop the momentum of heavy handed putts that are on target, but ultimately would be moving too fast to otherwise sink. Golfers can take advantage of this on long or downhill putts without breaking the rules.
Second Contact to Ball in Motion
Should you care? No.
Once the rules were announced, the internet was fast with videos of pro’s and trick shot aficionados making improbable shots from behind obstacles. Most of these shots were done by striking the ball a second time out of the air. That isn’t really what this rule is about. Chances are, the majority of people can’t pull those types of shots off. This rule is mostly about accidentally double tapping your ball on putts, etc.
Relief for an Embedded Ball
Should you care? Yes.
Especially in the shoulder seasons where the ground is a little softer, being able to take relief for an embedded ball without a penalty is a great advantage. Golfers who have mastered the backspin are familiar with this problem: the seemingly perfect placement shot that didn’t bounce, only to walk up and find it 3 inches deep in soft grass, virtually unplayable. Now you can pull your ball out, even replace it if you want, and place it as close to the landing spot as possible. No penalty. The course will thank you, too, since golfers won’t be taking up massive chunks of fairway just by trying to hit plugged balls.
Dropped Ball Rules
Should you care? Maybe.
New rules for dropping a ball state that Dropped Balls must be dropped from knee height, Unplayable Balls are to be dropped at a relief the length of the longest club in your bag, and Lost Balls are to be placed in an estimated spot. To the casual golfer, dropped ball rules may not have been that strict in the first place. If you’ve always been a stickler for the rules, then these are worth paying attention to, but they shouldn’t impact anyone’s game too much.
Each rule is going to impact all golfers differently depending on how they like to play. To learn more about the new rules, you can find them at:
Visit Le Portage This Summer
Why You Need to Add a Visit to Le Portage to Your Vacation Plans This Summer
Whether you’re a resident of Cape Breton, a tourist visiting Nova Scotia for the first time, or fall somewhere in between, Cheticamp is the perfect destination for a vacation.
At Le Portage, we strive to be more than ‘just a golf course’. We’re a destination.
So what makes Le Portage unique?
A Place to Relax
Let’s be honest, golf can be a stressful game. But whether you’re a pro or a beginner, moving through our course makes it almost impossible to be stressed.
Cheticamp has a certain charm about it that invites people into a simpler way of living. Our course embodies that personality. Connecting with the picturesque views, along with the realization that you’re standing worry free, cliffside on one of the most desirable island destinations in the world, make it too difficult to care if you’re going to make a putt or not.
Le Portage also offers one of the best patios to enjoy a drink or meal. After your round, sipping on a beverage, watching the sun set, you’ll understand the true meaning of relaxation.
So breathe deep, and enjoy the fresh ocean air. And who knows, maybe being this relaxed will improve your game.
Hospitality
The unmatched hospitality in Cheticamp lets you know that you’re somewhere special. That’s why people from around the world choose our destination as their perfect getaway.
Our community welcomes its guests, keeps our culture on display, and treats everyone like they’re family. At Le Portage, we work hard at holding this standard of hospitality. Cape Breton is known for its casual pub experiences, where good food and friendly locals meet. We create an environment where you can eat, laugh, and tell stories with the rest of us.
We not only want to provide you with a good time surrounded by good people, but we can provide insight on Cheticamp, what to do, and where to stay. So don’t be afraid to chat us up and ask us for advice.
Oh, and Golf of Course
Did we mention you’ll also be golfing one of the best courses in Nova Scotia? With so much to offer to golfers and casual players, sometimes we overlook the core of our facility – an amazing golf experience.
Our course is challenging but fun. Our views will take your breath away. Our greens and fairways are expertly maintained.
We offer a full driving range, a clubhouse offering everything you could need, plus some of the best ‘Stay & Play’ packages on the island.
So whether you’re here strictly for the golf, or to add a memorable experience to your vacation, contact us to reserve your times today. We’ll even help with accommodation and offer suggestions of things to do in our community.