If pine trees, rolling hills and lakes appeal head for Canada’s Prince Edward Island, recently voted Canada’s best golf destination.
Getting there
Air Canada has twice daily connecting services from London Heathrow to Prince Edward Island via Halifax or Toronto (www.aircanada.ca).
Where to play
Imagine a million-acre garden comprising a patchwork of glistening streams, lakes and pine forests. Add 25 courses carved from gently rolling farmlands and you have Prince Edward Island, situated in the Gulf of St Lawrence on Canada?s eastern seaboard.
Since it was linked to the mainland in 1997 by a nine-mile bridge, visitors to the island have doubled and so has the number of golf courses. For half of the year the island is covered in snow, surrounded by ice flows and battered by biting winds. When spring arrives, however, the island undergoes a complete transformation and
by May the golfing season is in full swing.
Designed by Thomas McBroom, Crowbush Cove is probably the toughest course on the island, but its supremacy is being challenged by newer layouts such as Eagles Glenn, Glasgow Hills, Dundarave and Brudenell River. The closest new course to the island?s capital Charlottetown is Fox Meadow, which provides stunning views across the harbour.
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The island was the setting for the children?s classic novel Anne of Green Gables. Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote her book almost a century ago and not a great deal seems to have changed since then. The island is very unspoilt and seems to live in a time-warp.
Most courses are open from May until the end of October with ideal playing conditions between June and September and stunning colours of autumn foliage in October.
Where to stay
Delta Prince Edward Hotel is located on the waterfront in the centre of the island?s capital from where most courses can be reached within a 90 minute drive.
Rodd Crowbush Golf and Beach Resort has rooms and cottages overlooking one of the island?s finest oceanfront courses.
Off course
Sandy beaches, scenic hiking and biking trails, national parks, fishing, kayaking and watching local fishermen land their catches.
Fresh seafood is available in abundance throughout the island with huge oysters, mussels, scallops and succulent lobster topping the menus.
Contacts Book
The island?s tourism website is www.peiplay.com
The Links at Crowbush Cove
www.golflinkspei.com
Fox Meadow
www.foxmeadow.pe.ca
Eagles Glen
www.eaglesglenn.com
Glasgow Hills
www.glasgowhills.com
Dundarave
www.golflinkspei.com
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