Canada as a golfers paradise may well be one of the best kept secrets in the world of golf & travel. The fact is, Canada has the most golfers per capita in the world and from sea-to-sea Canada is full of excellent golf destinations.
There were many Brits and Scots that emigrated to Canada during the 1800’s – a large contributor to why there are so many well-maintained, top-quality, public golf courses throughout the country. Whatever the reason, Canadians are probably the world’s most passionate golfers and they love to share their treasure with golfers from abroad.
Destination Canada (http://destinationcanada.info) has made a ranking of the Top 10 Golf Destinations in Canada to help you find the perfect golf region when visiting Canada.
Top 10 Golf Destinations in Canada
10) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon offers some of Canada’s lowest-priced golf at top-class courses with average weekend prices in the range of $35 to 50 CAD? 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.
9) Vancouver/Whistler, British Columbia
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!
Just 30 minutes 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 than ever since the improvement of the new Sea-to-Sky highway for the 2010 Olympics.
8) Toronto, Ontario
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 liveable 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.
7) Edmonton, Alberta
Located along the North Saskatchewan River, this city has a lot to offer for the golf enthusiast, with 70 courses within its reaches. Although Edmonton is 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.
6) Vancouver Island South
Vancouver Island has several times been rated as North America’s 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.
5) Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
There’s aren’t 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”; and Golf Digest rates it one of the top golf destinations in the world.
4) Calgary/Banff, Alberta
Calgary has developed many new courses in the last 30 years. Most of these new courses were developed with “championship” intent, so many have flourished into high-calibre courses. Originally known as a western town on the edge of the frontier, Calgary 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.
3) Niagara Valley, Ontario
With the recent completion of several new championship courses and even 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.
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).
2) Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.)
Canada’s smallest province is perfectly made-to-measure as 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”.
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.
1) Thompson Okanagan, British Columbia
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.
To find out more on great Canadian destinations and Top 10’s from Destination Canada, please go to: http://destinationcanada.info.
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