Page 56 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019

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Calling All Having chased dimpled white
Titleists over six continents in
my quest to play the world’s
Swingers! best courses, this golf addict
proudly opines that Canada
boasts no lack of stellar tracts.
Canada’s Finest My bucket list includes
oceanside gems, mountain

marvels, prairie bargains and
Fairways Beckon some surprises that have been

ranked among the best on the
planet. We are spoiled for
BY ANITA DRAYCOTT choice.

THE RISE, VERNON, BC

Aptly named, The Rise, a rollicking roller
coaster set high above Okanagan Lake, is
the design debut of PGA pro Fred Couples
in collaboration with Gene Bates. The
signature 15 hole challenges players of
th
all levels with a slight downhill left-to-
right dogleg and a second shot requiring a
carry over water to an angled green.
Bring your camera as this course is truly a
drama queen, and don’t be surprised if
your ears pop due to the alpine altitude
(www.therise.ca).

TOWER RANCH GOLF CLUB,
KELOWNA, BC

Just minutes from downtown Kelowna,
Tower Ranch continues to make the
SCOREGolf Top 100 list. Canadian
architect Thomas McBroom transformed a
cattle ranch into a rugged gem covered in
golden fescue and fragrant wild sage.
Plenty of bunkers, including numerous
deep ones fringed with wild grasses, are a
McBroom trademark. I’ve been in enough
of them to give them my own nickname—
“McBrunkers” (www.golftowerranch.com).

STEWART CREEK GOLF
& COUNTRY CLUB,
CANMORE, AB
Formerly a coal mining area, Stewart
Creek off ers sensational views of the

Three Sisters peaks. Despite its formida-
ble setting, Canadian architect Gary
Browning accomplished his goal to create
a course that is playable and challenging
from all fi ve sets of tees. “Too often the
forward tees miss the great pleasures of a
championship course,” remarked
Browning who has succeeded in his
intent to “take players’ breath away”
(www.stewartcreekgolf.com).
THE LINKS AT CROWBUSH COVE, PEI • TOURISM PEI/JOHN SYLVESTER