To
any golfer every golf destination is great; some
are just greater than others. So which criteria
have we used to pick Canada’s best golf destinations?
In our view it’s when a good selection and
variety of courses give great golfing in beautiful,
harmonious and/or inspiring landscapes, at affordable
prices, in a region with infra-structures suited
for golfing visitors, or tourists if you will –
where not only the golf clubs, but the region as
a whole makes you feel welcome, and both understands
and tailors to your needs and wants as a golfer.
For
each destination we’ve recommended a handful
of courses. This might be considered a “get-started”
guide. We are talking about golf-crazy Canada after
all, with a seemingly infinite amount of courses.
Did you know Canada has the highest proportional
amount of golfers in the world? Maybe because a
lot of early Canadian immigrants came from Scotland
and England or maybe its just due to the abundance
of reasonably-priced, well-groomed public courses
that make good golfing accessible to almost everyone,
everywhere in Canada.
NOTE: With the exception of southwestern British
Columbia, which has a year-round golf season, most
courses in Canada open in April/May and close in
October/November. If you’re traveling in these
shoulder periods you should contact courses in the
region you’re visiting and check their open
status. Tee times should be booked in advance of
arrival, especially during July and August. Many
courses have a dress code in effect, so be sure
to check with the course or resort so you know what
to bring.
“ What other people may find in poetry
or art museums, I find in the flight of a good drive.”
- ARNOLD PALMER
1.
Thompson Okanagan, B.C.
The Thompson Okanagan has it all as a
golf destination and scores top points
in all categories: There are over 50 top-class
courses within an hour’s drive of
Kelowna, the heart of the region; it’s
blessed with a Mediterranean-like dry,
desert climate; there is an abundance
of unique non-golfing experiences and
top-rate, affordable accommodation and
welcoming visitors has been the fundament
of their economy and lifestyle for generations.
Most
courses here are set in a sage-covered
landscape with a backdrop of orchards
and vineyards, rolling hills, rivers and
shimmering lakes.
British
Columbia was named the Best Golf Destination
in North America by the International
Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO)
in 2007 and we think the Thompson Okanagan,
in the heart of southern B.C., is the
best of B.C.’s many excellent golf
destinations. Kelowna is the traditional
centre of the golf region but is now receiving
competition from up-and-comer Kamloops
in the North Thompson area.
Recommended
Courses: Tobiano,
Kamloops :: Heralded as “the best
new course in Canada”
Predator
Ridge, Vernon
Gently changing elevations, a perfect climate
and breathtaking lake-views make this a spectacular
golf course. Home to the 2008 Telus World Skins
Game.
The
Rise, Vernon :: Opened in 2008, a Fred Couples
Signature course
In
between rounds:
· In Kelowna/Okanagan: Visit one of the
many quaint wineries in the region, or the many
beaches along the sandy lakeside beaches.
· In Kamloops/North Thompson: Check out
the golf/fly-fishing packages.
· Try
the Kettle Valley Railway Cycle Route
Getting
There:
Fly into Kelowna International Airport, or drive
from Vancouver: 4 hrs to Kamloops, 5 ½
hrs to Kelowna.
2.
Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.)
Canada’s
smallest province is perfectly made-to-measure
for a great golf destination. Measuring just
120 miles in length and 20 miles across, you’re
never more than 1 hour away from any of the
thirty-odd courses on the “Emerald Isle”.
Two years running Score Golf Magazine has rated
it as Canada’s #1 golf destination. PEI
has 10 of the Top 100 Courses in Canada as rated
by the Globe and Mail and close to 5% of the
top 350 courses in North America as rated by
Golf Digest - all within 45 minutes of each
other; Links, river or rolling wood-land courses.
Scattered across PEI are numerous motels, cottages,
inns, hotels and resorts that offer very affordable,
convenient and comfortable accommodations as
well as special "stay & play"
golf packages.
Golfers looking for a memorable golf destination
or trying to better manage golf vacation costs
will find no better place than Prince Edward
Island. With its maritime setting, scenic vistas
and rolling landscapes, it truly is an island
paradise - especially for golfers.
Recommended
courses: Brudenell
River :: Long recognized as the most popular
course on the Island
Dundarave
:: Host of the 2006 Legends of Golf featuring
Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson
Mill
River :: Played host to Golf Channel’s
popular “Big Break” series
In
between rounds:
· Destination
Canada has rated PEI as the no. 1 cycling route
in Canada.
· You’re never more than 15 minutes
away from a beach on PEI.
· Cuisine: Go Maritime! Saltwater delicacies
abound here – don’t miss the legendary
PEI lobster supper!
· Fishing
· PEI is the home of “Anne of Green
Gables”
3.
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario.
Contributor: Michelle Kenney of Canadian Tours
Int’l., Toronto.
With the recent completion of several new championship
courses and several more under construction,
Niagara has joined the ranks of the world’s
premier golf destinations. In terms of challenge,
design aesthetics, course conditioning, facilities
and service, Niagara golf rivals that found
anywhere in Canada.
Many courses have partnered with Niagara hotels
to offer convenient "stay & play"
golf packages. The Niagara Region is comprised
of beautiful, historic and quaint towns and
cities and offers some of the most distinguished
vineyards, wineries and wine tours.
In addition to great golf and wine, and of course
Niagara Falls, the area also offers entertainment,
cultural events & festivals in connection
with the thriving tourist industry built up
around the Falls: Casino Niagara, theme parks,
the Welland Ship Canal, historic sites, museums,
sporting events, concerts & theatre, scenic
parklands & botanical gardens. The region
has easy access to & from New York State
(USA).
Recommended
courses: Whirlpool
GC
Owned and operated by the Niagara Parks Commission
this Stanley Thompson layout is located in a
spectacular setting against the backdrop of
the Niagara River Whirlpool and Gorge.
Grand
Niagara
Features two exquisite courses by world-renowned
designers Rees Jones and Greg Norman.
Legends
on the Niagara
A one-of-a-kind golf complex, with 1,000 acres
that boast two 18-hole championship courses
that are in immaculate condition
Getting
There:
There are 4 international airports within an
hour's drive of Niagara: To the north, Toronto
is a little over an hour's drive away and Hamilton
is a ½ hour drive. To the south (U.S.)
Buffalo is a ½ hour drive and Niagara
Falls, N. Y. is just a 15 min. drive away. When
coming from the U.S. allow time for border crossing.
4.
Calgary/Banff, Alberta.
Contributor: Jay Gustafson of
Sandefjord, Norway and Calgary, Alberta.
Calgary
developed many new courses in the last 30 years
due to the influx of people that came with the
growth boom from the late 1970's to this day.
Most of these new courses were developed with
"Championship" intent, so as they
matured they have flourished into very high
calibre courses.
Calgary,
originally known as a western town on the edge
of the frontier, has grown into a full fledged
city and was host city of the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Apart from the 60+ courses within 1 hour of
Calgary, the most important factor in making
this a great golf destination is the scenery
and landscape of the Canadian Rockies that give
such an unparalleled, breathtaking, backdrop
for these courses.
Recommended
courses: Kananaskis
Country GC
45 min southwest of Calgary. 36 spectacular
holes at the base of the Rockies.
Banff
Springs GC
80 min west of Calgary. 27 holes cut out of
the forest beside the Bow River surrounded by
magnificent mountains. Viewing of wildlife during
the early morning or evening rounds almost always
occurs.
Wolf
Creek Golf Club
75 minutes north of Calgary - 27 holes developed
in a traditional links format. A challenging
course designed to be different! Golfersguide.com
says “(It) has long been acknowledged
as one of Canada’s Top 25 golf facilities”.
Links
of Gleneagles
Just a 10 minute drive west of Calgary, there’s
a view of the Rockies from all 18 holes. Voted
Best New Course in Canada in 1999 by Golf Digest.
Silver
Tip GC
Nestled in the Rockies, Golfersguide.com says
“(It) may be the single most breathtaking
mountain golf course in the world”. It’s
challenging: You’re likely to see much
more wildlife than birdies.
In
between rounds:
· Banff, in Banff National Park, is an
80 min drive from Calgary, and in the heart
of the Rockies, is a must see.
· Calgary. Several of the venues from
the 1988 Winter Olympics are available for tours.
Visit the Speed skating Oval - the fastest ice
in the world.
· The Olympic Saddledome - Home of the
Calgary Flames. The NHL season extends from
September to May. It also hosts concerts and
other events throughout the year.
· The Calgary Stampede - 10 days that
turns the city upside down. Starts on the 1st
Friday in July and last for 10 days, as long
as the first Friday does not fall on July 1st
(Canada's National Day).
Getting
There:
Fly into Calgary International Airport. Rent
a car and get a map. Calgary is an easy city
to get around in.
5.
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia:
There’s not many courses on Cape Breton
– but oh, what courses they have! Spectacular
scenery; beautiful, affordable courses and Maritime
hospitality add up to a fantastic golf holiday.
Condé Nast readers have called Cape Breton
Island the most scenic island in the world.
National Geographic has called it one of "the
places of a lifetime". Golf Digest rates
it one of the top golf destinations in the world.
Recommended
courses: Highland
Links.
Named Best Public Course in Canada 2006 and
ranked 64th in the world by Golf Magazine.
Bell
Bay:
Beautiful Thomas McBroom championship course
high above the Bras d'Or Lakes, overlooking
the bay. Awarded Best New Course in Canada '98
by Golf Digest.
Le
Portage:
Located in the quaint Acadian village of Cheticamp
on The Cabot Trail.
Dundee:
Offers magnificent golf and spectacular views
of the Bras d’Or Lakes.
The
Lakes:
This premier course is expected to open in Spring
2009 and is already anticipated as one of Canada’s
finest.
In
between rounds:
· Drive
the Cape Breton Trail
· Whale watching
· Chéticamp is a busy fishing
village with a thriving Acadian culture and
the centre of Acadian French heritage in the
area. An Acadian Museum highlights the early
Acadian history of the area.
· At St. Ann’s, North America’s
only Gaelic college features displays on the
region’s early Scottish settlers in the
Great Hall of the Clans.
Getting
There:
By air through Halifax Int’l. Airport;
alternatively by ferry into Yarmouth from Portland
or Bar Harbor in Maine (USA). There are also
ferry services to Nova Scotia from the Canadian
provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and
Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.).
6.
Vancouver Island South.
Contributor: Glen Upton of Victoria,
B.C.
Vancouver Island has several times been rated
as North Americas no. 1 island destination,
and is often regarded as one of Canada’s
prettiest regions. The golf courses here incorporate
the harmonious but rugged, natural, beauty of
the landscape into their design, bringing nature
into your golf game.
With the warmest year-round climate in Canada,
the south Island is, with the exception of Vancouver,
Canada’s only year-round golf destination.
It can be wet in the winter but for the ardent
golfer the off-season also means low rates and
plenty of availability.
Recommended
courses: Bear
Mountain (2 courses)
A world class Jack and Steve Nicklaus Mountain
course.
Olympic
View
A hilly test with strategic requirements, waterfalls,
lush fairways and great scenery. Golferen.no
says: “One of the most fun courses we’ve
ever played; we warmly recommend it”.
Cordova
Bay
Immaculate greens and fairways amid a beautiful
landscape, including a rough stretch of holes
through huge cedar trees.
Arbutus
Ridge,
A shorter, rolling course set atop a plateau;
with great views and a laid-back atmosphere.
Voted the Best Destination Golf Course in British
Columbia by readers of Golf Nerve Magazine in
2006
Fairwinds
This Les Furber designed course which meanders
through huge Douglas fir trees was voted 1999
BCPGA Facility of the Year.
In
between rounds:
· Victoria
is a mid-size city but yet still seems olde-English
charming and quaint. Just spend the day strolling
downtown: Taking in the sights, shopping, a
mandatory visit to the Royal British Columbia
Museum and dine at one of the 700 eateries.
· For adventure, start at The
Victoria Marine Adventure Centre Whale Watching
& Marine wildlife tours, Seaplane tours,
sport fishing (salmon!!), Boat Rentals and Charters,
Kayaking, City Tours, Dinner Cruises
· Take a ferry to the Gulf Islands
· Visit the world famous Butchart Gardens
· Take a drive along the scenic east
coast up to Campbell River and take in 18 holes
at Storey Creek. Wildlife abounds and this course
is truly one of the jewels of Vancouver Island.
Season:
Year-round, although there can be brief, occasional,
closings in the winter.
Getting
There:
International airport at Victoria. National
airport at Nanaimo. Regular ferry service to
Victoria and Nanaimo from Vancouver (Horseshoe
Bay and Tswassen). Float plane services from
Vancouver. Fast ferry from Seattle (no cars)
– or ferry from Anacortes in Washington
State.
7.
Edmonton, Alberta
Contributor: Jay Gustafson of Calgary, Alberta.
and Sandefjord, Norway
Located along the North Saskatchewan River,
this city has a lot to offer for the golf enthusiast,
with 70 courses within its reaches. Although
a large city, it doesn't’t have a big
city feel. Being farther north and a little
farther off the beaten path, Edmontonians are
that much more welcoming and hospitable.
The
home of several successful professional sports
teams, Edmonton is geared for the outdoor or
sports enthusiast.
Recommended
courses: Legends
G&C Club:
Besides being a beautiful course, the Legends
is also home to the "Hickory Hacker"
golf league--a league in which all players compete
with pre-1935 hickory-shafted golf clubs. Even
Jack Nicklaus has tried it out.
Black
Hawk GC:
Ranked as the Best New Course in Western Canada
by Golf Digest when it opened in 2003, and currently
ranked #15 in Canada by SCORE Golf Magazine
Black
Bull GC:
A 45 min drive southwest of Edmonton is an excellent
public course with a demanding layout.
Wolf
Creek
Golf Club 75 minutes north of Calgary - 27 holes
developed in a traditional links format. A challenging
course designed to be different!
Jasper
Park Lodge GC:
It’s a 4 hour drive from Edmonton to Jasper,
but it’s worth the trip to play this course
carved out of the wilderness on the edge of
the town site of Jasper. Wildlife is often seen
on the course and it is not unusual for bear
warnings to be posted! See below under “In
between rounds”. Tripadvisor.com rates
Jasper as the 10th best golf vacation destination
in the world.
In
between rounds:
· Jasper: This is a must-do. Either travel
to Jasper National Park just for the scenery
or also take in 18 holes at Jasper Park Lodge
GC – certainly one of the world’s
most beautiful courses. AND: It’s a higher-end
price class but we do recommend at least one
night at the spectacularly serene Jasper Park
Lodge. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime…
· Shop at West Edmonton Mall, the world’s
largest entertainment and shopping center.
· Take in an NHL game with the Edmonton
Oilers. Season October-May.
· Capital Ex: 10 days of summer fun,
including concerts, rides, exhibitions and more.
Getting
There:
Fly into Edmonton International Airport. Rent
a car and get a map. Edmonton is an easy city
to get around in
8.
Toronto, Ontario
Contributor: Michelle Kenney of Canadian Tours
International (CTI) in Toronto.
Toronto is, in itself, a world-class destination
with an astoundingly rich and vibrant cultural
mosaic. Despite being Canada’s largest
city it’s consistently rated as one of
the world's most live able cities due to the
low crime rates, clean environment and generally
high standard of living.
As
a golf destination it offers some of the best
golf to be played in Canada – boasting
many of Canada’s flagship courses; and
over a 100 courses within a 60-minute driving
radius of downtown.
Recommended
courses: Angus
Glen
2 courses; home to the PGA’s Bell Canadian
Open in both 2002 and 2007
Wooden
Sticks
12 of the 18 holes are inspired by famous PGA
golf course holes.
Black
Bear Ridge
Rated Best New Public Course in 2005 by Fairways
Magazine.
Osprey
Valley
One of the finest links courses in Ontario
Royal
Ashburn
Home to the Canadian Tour Fall Qualifying School
Devil’s
Pulpit and Devil’s Paintbrush
Named Canada's Best New Course(s) in 1991 by
Golf Digest. A curiosity: They were established
by 2 of the creators of the Canadian-created
board game “Trivial Pursuit”.
In
between rounds:
· Visit some of the many ethnic neighbourhoods;
including two Chinatowns, Greek town, Little
Italy, Portugal Village, and Little India among
others. This is also where you’ll probably
find the best dining.
· If you're a hockey buff and you're
in Toronto, a pilgrimage to the Hockey Hall
of Fame is mandatory.
· See one of their professional sports
teams: Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Blue
Jays (AL), Toronto Raptors (NBA).
· CN Tower: It's the world's 2nd tallest
building and it offers a spectacular view of
southern Ontario. The elevator ride up is an
adventure all on it’s own…
9.
Vancouver/Whistler, British Columbia (B.C.)
Contributor: Jaye Smith, Nordmanns-Reiser, Oslo
and Vancouver, B.C.
The southwest coast of Canada, including Vancouver
and Whistler, boasts dozens of top-quality courses
with some of the world's most beautiful scenery
of mountains and ocean as a backdrop. A temperate
climate, comparable to Paris, France, allows
for year-round golf and during most of the year
it is possible to ski, golf and sail - all in
the same day! This is one city everyone should
visit in their lifetime – and if golfing
is your excuse for getting there, what could
be better!
A ½-hour by seaplane or 2 hrs by car
from Vancouver is Whistler Village. It’s
rated as North Americas best ski destination
year after year, but is also a premium summer
destination with some of Canada’s most
beautiful golf courses. Whistler is more accessible
from Vancouver after the new Sea-to-Sky highway
was greatly improved for the 2010 Olympics.
The golf is pricier than the Vancouver courses
but wow!
Recommended
courses: Northlands
Beneath
the slopes of Mt. Seymour on Vancouver’s
North Shore, this is an incredible golf course
with fantastic scenery and views.
Furry
Creek
You just won’t believe the scenic views
and the amazing golf holes here. It’s
pricey by Canadian standards (but still affordable)
and worth every penny. Often called B.C.’s
most scenic golf course – it’s on
the road to Whistler.
Fraserview
Offering “an old course feeling in a west
coast setting”, Fraserview recently won
bronze in the "Best Public Course in Canada"
category.
Northview
Comprised of 2 18-hole courses, Northview was
designed by Arnold Palmer and has hosted the
PGA Tour's Greater Vancouver Open/Air Canada
Championship seven times.
Mayfair
Lakes
Designed by Les Furber, this is yet another
excellent course with breathtaking views of
the coastal mountains.
Nicklaus
North
One of Canada’s best and most beautiful
courses, carved out of Whistler’s wilderness.
One of a few courses in the world bearing Nicklaus’
name.
Fairmont
Chateau Whistler GC
Was voted among the top ten golf resorts in
the world by the readers of Condé Nast
Traveler
In
between rounds:
· Rent a sailboat for the day - or a
pleasure/fishing boat.
· Take in a Vancouver Canucks NHL hockey
game (Oct-Apr)
· Stanley Park: Take a walk along the
seawall circling Stanley Park, a unique 400-hectare
refuge right next to the downtown area, and
round it off with lunch overlooking English
Bay beach.
· Grouse Mountain: Take a gondola to
the top. On a clear day you can see forever.
Season:
Vancouver: Year-round, although there can be
brief, occasional, closings in the winter.
Whistler: April/May – October/November
Getting
There:
Vancouver International Airport. If driving
in, Vancouver is a 3-hour drive from Seattle
and there are regular ferry services from Vancouver
Island, both Victoria (Schwartz Bay) and Nanaimo.
10.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Contributor: Rene Lemire of Saskatoon
Saskatoon offers some of Canada’s lowest-priced
golf at top-class courses. How about average
weekend prices in the range of CAD$35.00 - $50.00?
Good accommodation is also low-priced and the
website teeingitup.ca sums it up perfectly:
“With more golf courses per capita than
almost any place in the world, Saskatchewan
courses are diverse, scenic, challenging, superbly
conditioned and maintained, uncrowded, inexpensive
and anything but flat. And with the highest
percentage of its population playing the game,
the emergence of Saskatchewan as a legitimate
golf destination is well underway”. Add
to that the people of Saskatchewan's love for
welcoming visitors and you have a recipe for
winning golfers hearts.
Recommended
courses: The
Willows:
Rated by ScoreGolf as Saskatchewan's premier
36 hole public golf course.
Dakota
Dunes:
Named Canada's Best New Course, 2005 by Golf
Digest Magazine. Host to the Saskatchewan Open
on the Canadian Tour.
In
between rounds:
· Experience the beautiful South Saskatchewan
River in Meewasin's ten passenger voyageur canoe.
All canoe tours start from Meewasin's Beaver
Creek Conservation Area.
· Meewasin
Valley Trail: Cycle, jog, or walk over
21km of riverbank trails through beautifully
landscaped parks and natural areas.
· Wanuskewin Heritage Park: Learn about
the First Nations culture while enjoying the
beautiful scenery and trails where people walked
over 6,000 years ago.
· If you’re coming in October or
May, take in a Saskatoon Blades hockey game.
Top tier junior hockey is Canadian culture at
its most authentic.
· Check
out the array of festivals Saskatoon has to
offer in the summertime.
Getting
There:
Fly into Saskatoon International Airport. Rent
a car and get a map. Saskatoon is, as most Canadian
cities, very easy to get around in. Alternatively
travel by car or by rail (VIA Rail).
HONORABLE
MENTION:
Muskoka,
Ontario
The Muskoka region lies in the heart of Ontario’s
cottage country, a 2-hr drive north of Toronto. They’ve
invested heavily in golf: There are 20+ 18-hole courses.,
in addition to an array of executive par-3’s
and 9-hole courses. The region is also rich in its
selection of accommodation and tourist services -
Golf resorts, hotels, inns, condos, cottages, B &
Bs – many of them offering Stay&Play packages.
Great fishing here too. For Americans, Muskoka can
compare to the Hamptons, very nice but also a little
pricey – at least by Canadian standards. ::
Discover
Muskoka
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg, like Saskatoon, has some of the lowest green
fees in Canada. With an abundance of top-quality courses
and an average top price (i.e. weekend in the high
season) of CAD$ 30-35 you’re talking a lot of
stroke for your buck. Although being a big city, Winnipeg
doesn't’t have a big city feel. It’s easy
to get around in and the people are pleasantly welcoming
– and it’s not just the golf that is very
moderately priced. Accommodation and meals are also
lower priced, all helping make Winnipeg a very affordable
golf destination. Golf-courses.ca/Winnipeg
:: Destination
Winnipeg
Tremblant,
Quebec
Mt. Tremblant is the crown jewel of the Laurentians.
Like Whistler, it is an excellent ski resort that
has invested substantially in golf as a summer activity
in order to provide year-round activities. In Tremblant
you’ll find top-line courses with spectacular
scenery. In addition to the golf it has everything
else you would expect from one of North Americas top
resort villages. It’s a 1 ½ hr drive
from Montreal, 2 hrs from Ottawa, and 6-8 hrs from
New York/Toronto/Boston. Season: May-October. :: Golf
Tremblant :: Visit
Tremblant
Montreal,
Quebec
The city’s unique energy and joie de vivre has
a European flair and sophistication that combines
the best of modern conveniences with old-world charm.
So: A great destination in itself with plenty of great,
affordable, golfing to be done. An anecdote that illustrates
the traditions of golf here: North Americas oldest
golf course, the Montreal Golf Club, was founded here
in 1873. In 1884 it was officially given the prefix
“Royal” by permission from Queen Victoria.
In 2007 this beautiful course was host to the prestigious
President’s Cup. Unfortunately it’s a
private course and is, as such, inaccessible to most
but there are plenty of other quality courses to choose
from that build from the same tradition. :: Tourism
Montreal
New
Brunswick
New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual
province. There are 40+ golf courses within a 4-hr
driving range. We would suggest being based in either
Fredericton – the small, and charming provincial
capital or Saint John – the province’s
largest city. Both the Acadian (French-speaking) and
Loyalist (English-speaking) cultures are prevalent
throughout a province steeped in early Canadian and
Maritime history.
The
Georgian Triangle/Collingwood, Ontario
Stretching along the Lake Huron shoreline and with
the Blue Mountains as a backdrop this region is quickly
becoming one of Ontario’s premier golf destinations.
The region has, from before, a complete tourism industry,
built up around the skiing at the Blue Mountains and
sun-sand-beach at Wasaga Beach on Lake Huron. A 1-2
drive north of Toronto, depending on your point of
departure and destination. :: About
Georgian Bay/Colllingwood
