With the dollar not carrying golfers as far in Europe and the U.K. as it once did, value-minded groups would do well to consider migrating north this summer. Due perhaps to a relatively short season, Canada is one of the most golf-mad countries in the world, and from province to province it offers a remarkable variety of courses to explore. Travelers can knock designs like Stanley Thompson's epic Banff Springs and Highlands Links off their lifetime checklists or enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of cosmopolitan Toronto while taking in some of the solid new layouts around town. Moving from east to west, here are five regions where terrific golf coexists with prices that won't drive you, well, loony.
Nova Scotia and PEI
The Place Along with its unique Celtic heritage and the rugged drama of its coastline, the Maritimes region also offers some of the country's best and most popular golf courses. Accessible through flights into either Halifax, Nova Scotia, or Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, the area is perfect for golfers looking to beat the Lower 48's summer heat.
Playing Bell Bay Golf Club Located an hour and a half south of Highlands Links,
Bell Bay is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor. But this Thomas McBroom design utilizes a rolling piece of property
and interesting greens sites to create a modern yet quite timeless layout that overlooks the beautiful Bras d'Or Lakes. $59$71.
800-565-3077, bellbay.ca.
Highlands Links Since it first opened in 1939 on a remote point in northern Cape Breton, Highlands Links has been
regarded as Canada's finest public golf course and is widely recognized as one of the best in the world. Not a true links,
Highlands starts out on a dramatic isthmus and runs into the mountains before returning to the sea. In between, it provides a
ravishing variety of great golf holes. $48$79. 800-441-1118, highlandslinksgolf.com.
Staying Glenghorm Beach Resort This hotel offers cottages with multiple
roomsgreat for buddy trips. $98 per night. 902-285-2049, capebretonresorts.com.
Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa The pricey alternative offers easy access to Highlands Links. $230$316 per night.
800-565-0444, signatureresorts.com.
Dining Purple Thistle Dining Room at Keltic Lodge When in Atlantic Canada, why not eat like the natives?This restaurant sits just a short jaunt from Highlands Links and is a great spot for golf travelers to tuck into a lobster that was likely caught only a well-struck driver away. 902-285-2880. $$$
Other Activities Take in the majestic Cabot Trail, a road that touches on some of Canada's most amazing ocean settings. Also be sure to stop by the Glenora distillery and try some Glen Breton Rare, the only single-malt scotch produced in Canada. 800-839-0491, glenoradistillery.com.
