As our rented pontoon boat cruised towards the middle of Kamloops Lake, I cracked my local craft beer and took a reclusive moment to soak in the surrounding views. I reflected on the invigorating morning round we had just experienced at neighbouring Tobiano Golf Course and thought, I could sure get used to this.
One of my latest experiences was aimed to seek out the scenic value in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. This region features seven golf courses sprinkled around the charming towns of Kimberley and Cranbrook nestled between the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges. All seven of their golf courses are within a 24-minute drive of each other, which makes it a perfect spot for a filthy golf trip.
Every great golf destination, in addition to good golf, has a distinct sense of place which helps elevate the experience into a uniquely memorable one. Located in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with five golf courses, sprawling orchards, wineries, brew pubs, beautiful lakes, beaches, and a longer golf season than much of Canada, Vernon has that sense of place.
I continue to be humbled by all the amazing golf courses we've been able to play and write about over the years, and looking back on 2017, it was no exception. Our 2017 journeys took us to the California desert, Vancouver Island, the Monterey Peninsula, Ontario, and the Canadian Rockies. Needless to say, there was no shortage of tremendous courses to discover for the first time.
The first time I visited Vancouver Island I was young enough that I don't even remember how old I was. All I recall from the trip was going to the beach and catching miniature crabs from under rocks and putting them in a bucket. My most recent trip to Vancouver Island was a little different. Beth and I set out on a 5-night, 6-day excursion to see what the Vancouver Island Golf Trail (more commonly referred to as the VI Golf Trail) was all about. Although I was still fascinated by all the tiny little crabs hiding under rocks on the beach, this time it was the golf, scenery, and food that'll have me coming back for more.
If free beer, great golf, or anything to do with a private club experience intrigues you, you'll want to check out this review of Kukui'ula Golf Course located in Kauai, Hawaii...
As our time on Maui has come to an end and we are back into survival mode in the frozen tundra of Alberta, I've been reflecting on the highlights of our trip. From the best golf on Maui to the best food, there are no shortage of great memories. The island has so much to offer -- golf, … Continue reading The Best of Maui
As our Hawaiian adventure enters the home stretch, Maui continues to impress me. It turns out that starting each day with a beach walk in the morning and finishing it with a beautiful sunset does not get old. A morning adventure near Makena: Beth relaxing and taking in the views of the Pacific: A typical … Continue reading Aloha – Part 2
As many of our faithful followers know, we departed from the frozen Alberta tundra on January 9th, and about 8 hours later found ourselves on the beautiful 1.2 million year old volcanic island of Maui. This is my first trip to Maui, or any Hawaiian island for that matter. So what's all the fuss about? … Continue reading Aloha – Part 1
As 2016 approaches, we can't help but reflect back on what an amazing 2015 season we've had. We started the year on an incredible three month road trip, where we set sail in Calgary and drove through Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and saw nearly the entire coastlines of California and Oregon. We were fortunate to play a lot of amazing courses in 2015. Looking back, it's almost hard to believe that we played all these courses in one calendar year.
