Willows at Holyrood Webcam – A Newfoundland Valley Course

The Willows at Holyrood Webcam looks out over a wooden deck rail at The Willows, a nine-hole public golf course on the southern edge of Holyrood, Newfoundland. A wide paved forecourt fills the middle of the frame, lined along its far side by a row of white posts, and a path curves up from it to the mown grass of the course. Mixed woods crowd the left of the view, and a forested hillside rises behind the course. Golfers and carts often cross the forecourt on their way to and from the holes. The bigger changes come with the seasons: bright green turf in summer, orange and gold leaves in October, and a white, empty scene once winter snow settles in.

About the Willows at Holyrood

The Willows lies in a valley at 64-94 Holyrood Access Road, and the club describes the layout as a natural oasis with views over the valley and its rivers. It is a compact course: nine holes, par 35, measuring 2,847 yards (2,603 meters) from the white tees and 2,511 yards (2,296 meters) from the red. From the whites it carries a course rating of 34.2 and a slope of 124. The card opens with a 147-yard (134-meter) par 3 and then runs straight into back-to-back par 5s, the second of which, the third hole, stretches to 610 yards (558 meters). The fourth goes the other way as a 122-yard (112-meter) par 3, and the round closes on a 410-yard (375-meter) par 4.

The club puts the drive from St. John’s at about 25 minutes. Memberships are sold through its sister course, Glendenning Golf on Gabriel Road in St. John’s, and a CPGA apprentice professional teaches both on the course and in the driving range cage. League play books tee times between noon and 6:30 pm. In May 2020, The Willows was the first course in Newfoundland and Labrador to open after pandemic restrictions were lifted, and tee times were scarce.

Holyrood sits at the head of Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of St. John’s. The town was incorporated in 1969 and had 2,471 residents at the 2021 census, spread across 126 square kilometers (48.7 square miles). The name means “Holy Cross”, and the town keeps the idea in plain sight: a large cross stands on Georges Cove Mountain, the hill that dominates Holyrood. The first one went up during the Second World War, and the current cross dates from 1992. Holyrood is also known for its squid fishery and for caplin rolling ashore in late spring and early summer.

Weather and Climate in Holyrood

Holyrood has the cool, wet maritime climate of the Avalon Peninsula. January and February are the coldest months, with daytime highs close to freezing, about 0 to 1 C (32 to 34 F), and nights that usually fall to between -6 and -8 C (21 and 18 F). Lows stay below freezing from December into April, so snow can cover the course and the forecourt for long stretches of winter. Spring is slow to arrive: April highs reach only about 6 C (43 F), and May about 11 C (52 F).

Summer is mild rather than hot. July and August highs sit around 21 C (70 F), with nights of 11 to 14 C (52 to 57 F), and this is when the turf at the top of the frame is at its greenest. September still reaches about 18 C (64 F) by day, and October cools to around 12 C (54 F), when the woods on the left of the Willows at Holyrood Webcam turn orange and gold. Rain and snow fall in every season: the long-term station at St. John’s International Airport records about 1,540 millimeters (61 inches) of precipitation a year, and around Holyrood the wettest months are November and January.

Things to Do Near Holyrood

Squid Fest is the town’s signature event, several days of squid-themed activities that end in an outdoor festival with drinking and traditional music, and it draws thousands of locals and visitors each year. Holyrood is also one of the places to watch caplin rolling, when the small silver fish come ashore to spawn in late spring and early summer.

Salmonier Nature Park lies on the Salmonier Line (Route 90), 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of the Trans-Canada Highway. A 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) boardwalk winds through woods and wetland past enclosures holding more than a dozen native species, including moose, caribou, lynx, foxes, owls and otters. Admission is free, and the boardwalk runs the whole length, so wheelchairs and strollers manage it easily. St. John’s, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east, is close enough for an afternoon at Signal Hill and a look down the Narrows.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More views from Newfoundland, plus another Canadian golf course.

• St. Philip’s Harbour Webcam
• Victoria Golf Club Webcam
• St. John’s Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Willows at Holyrood located?

The course is on Holyrood Access Road on the southern side of Holyrood, a town of about 2,500 people at the head of Conception Bay on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. St. John’s is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the east.

What can you see on the Willows at Holyrood Webcam?

The camera looks over a wooden deck rail and a brick walkway to a paved forecourt with a row of white posts, then up a curving path to the mown grass of the course. Mixed woods fill the left side, and a forested hillside closes the view at the back.

How many holes does the Willows at Holyrood have?

Nine. The course plays to par 35 over 2,847 yards (2,603 meters) from the white tees, with three par 3s, four par 4s and two par 5s. The longest hole is the 610-yard (558-meter) third.

What is the weather like in Holyrood?

Cool and damp for most of the year. Winter highs hover around freezing with nights of about -6 to -8 C (21 to 18 F), while July and August highs reach about 21 C (70 F). Precipitation comes in every month, and snow can fall from December into April.

Is the Willows at Holyrood open to the public?

Yes. It is a public course, and anyone can book a nine-hole tee time online or through the pro shop. Power carts, pull carts and rental clubs are available, and lessons can be arranged with the club’s CPGA apprentice professional.

What is Holyrood, Newfoundland known for?

Its squid fishery, the caplin that roll ashore in late spring and early summer, and Squid Fest, which brings thousands of people to town each year.

What is there to do near the Willows at Holyrood?

Salmonier Nature Park, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of the Trans-Canada Highway on the Salmonier Line, has a free 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) boardwalk past moose, caribou, lynx and owls. St. John’s, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east, adds Signal Hill and the Narrows.

Source: The Willows at Holyrood