Golf Fall is the perfect time to explore all of the wonderful golf regions in our country before you pack your bags, double-check your insurance and head south for the winter. Most of my favourite golf adventures occurred in autumn: from a five-day trip to several golf regions in Colombia one November; to an unforgettable journey to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia another year in October; to just teeing it up at my cottage course on cool autumn afternoons. Here are my top five Canadian fall golf destinations with a few words about what makes each unique and worthy of your next road trip. 1. Cape Breton (Nova Scotia) Cabot Links/Cabot Cliffs. There is a reason that these are two of the top four courses in Canada (as ranked in the recently published 2018SCOREGolf Top 100). As they wrote, this pair is: “Canada’s best 1-2 golf punch.” With holes that cling to the cliffs above the Atlantic in the quaint seaside town of Inverness, it’s a must-visit. Recently, travel companies began offering golf cruises to the area. 2. Fairmont Richelieu (Quebec) Just a 90-minute drive from Quebec City, the course was inaugurated on June 18, 1925 by former U.S. president William H. Taft; nearly a century later, and now 27 holes, one can see why this area has attracted the well-to-do from both near and far for decades. The Fairmont Richelieu is nestled in the gorgeous Charlenoix Region. If gastronomy is more your cup of tea, book here in late October when the Gala des Grands Chefs occurs. 3. Muskoka (Ontario) There’s nothing like autumn in Muskoka. The leaves on the trees sparkle with a glow more brilliant than the colours in a Van Gogh painting. From towering pines and granite rocks of the Canadian Shield – which offer breathtaking views at every turn – to idyllic lakes, quaint towns and shops, it’s no surprise that the Ontario cottage country mecca is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top golf destinations. Why not make some Muskoka memories this fall? 4. Kelowna (British Columbia) Surrounded by vineyards, orchards, rolling hills and mountain lakes, Kelowna is a natural wonder. With a dozen courses to choose from, how can one not enjoy teeing it up in this West Coast Eden? Top pick: Tower Ranch Golf Club. TheThomas McBroom championship-designed course, located minutes from the Kelowna airport, offers breathtaking vistas of the Okanagan Valley in all its splendour. 5. Calgary (Alberta) Five Long Years. Just like the title of one of Colin James’ most famous songs, that’s how long it’s been since floods unlike any previously seen in the region destroyed the pair of courses owned by the province, known as Kananaskis Country Golf Course. Some feared that these 36 holes, framed by the snow-capped Rockies, were gone forever – 32 of the 36 holes were covered in debris from the 2013 floods. Thankfully, in 2018 they are back. It’s too late for this year, but mark it in your 2019 calendar to plan a Labour Day trip to Calgary and take in the Shaw Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club. This is a PGA TOUR Champions event in which you can watch many players of your era (such as Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples and Nick Faldo) who you grew up watching, still compete and play some amazing golf. I was pleasantly surprised by all of the e-mails I received following my last column. Thank you to everyone who took the time to drop me a line. CSANews always loves hearing from readers. E-mail them any time: csawriteus@snowbirds. org. Let them know your thoughts about this column or any other column in the magazine, and share some of your favourite golf and/or travel destinations. Here’s to good golf, good health and new adventures in 2018 and beyond. Fall for fall one fairway at a time CSANews | FALL 2018 | 49
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