If you can't make it to Scotland for a golf holiday, not to worry! Forget Europe and its links, and take notice of the next best golf destination: Prince Edward Island. The gentle province is home to over 25 golf courses just begging to be played. Concerned that a golf holiday during summer might be a tough sell for the kids? Bring them! The beach is never more than a short drive away and the island is host to more festivals per capita than anywhere else in Canada. Now, the only question is: should you park your clubs or rent them?

The Links at Crowbush Cove
CrowbushTourism PEI / John Sylvester

Touring region: Point East Coastal Drive (north)

Claim to fame
SCORE Golf Magazine rated Crowbush #6 in the Country and #2 Public Course.

About
: Thought by many to be the best place to play in Canada, the 18-hole course overlooks the north shore dunes and offers challenging greens and routes through woodlands and wetlands.  If the gusts of wind don’t increase the difficulty factor enough, look up from the tee to admire the sweeping views of the coast.  Bring your camera and don’t rush the course.

St Felix Golf & Country Club

Touring region: North Cape Coastal Drive (5 minutes from Tignish)

Why you'll love it: It's an affordable hidden gem. 

About: One of two courses on this list situated on the north cape is a 9-hole design, just two miles from Donohue Shores. It features well-designed greens with enough ponds to add an element of difficulty to the course.  The club recently changed ownership and promises to unveil exciting changes for the 2015 season.

Green Gables Golf Club

Touring region: Green Gables Shores (central)

Claim to fame: Designed by world renowned Scottish architect Stanley Thompson and then rejuvenated for a real mix of traditional and modern. 

About: One of the first public courses on the island, Green Gables opened in the 1930s as an attraction for Cape Breton National Park.  Some modifications have taken place to open up the ocean views, as well as increase visibility of the Anne of Green Gables House.  The course is located within PEI National Park and is considered one of the top courses in the province.

Avondale Golf Course

Touring route: Points East Coastal Drive

Why you'll love it: Close in proximity to capital, Charlottetown, and presents tests for all skill levels.

About: A beautiful design with bent-grass greens and blue grass fairways, Avondale is suitable for a beginner but offers enough challenges to keep a pro on his toes.  The white sand bunkers that that border the rolling fairways are tricky to escape when an errant gust of wind sends the ball just a few inches off in the wrong direction. Plus, the nearness to the beaches is its own distraction.

Brudenell River

Brudenell RiverCredit: ©Tourism PEI / Clive Barber

Touring route: Points East Coastal Drive

Claim to fame: Rated four stars by Golf Digest Places to Play and host to the Lorie Kane Island Challenge of 2000. (Canada’s first ever womens "skins” game.)

About: It's hard not to gush about Brudenell River Golf Course. After all, it's Prince Edward Island's most popular. Opened in 1969, this longstanding favourite has a traditional design, and features six par 3's, six par 4's and six par 5's. Some dog ears and blind shots are sure to challenge golfers. Those looking to stretch their legs will be pleased that the course is quite walkable. After your round grab lunch at the clubhouse, which was rated #2 best by SCORE Golf Magazine.

Belfast Highland Greens

Touring route: Points East Coastal Drive

Claim to fame: The course is built on the historic Lord Selkirk Park, a location where first settlers landed in Prince Edward Island.

About: Some of the most incredible scenery on the island can be seen at this delightful 9-hole course on Lord Selkirk Park.  Gaze out over the Orwell Bay and Northumberland Strait before lining up your next shot on a course that looks deceptively easy, but offers quite a challenge.

Dundarave
Dundarave golf course peiTourism PEI / Katelyn Fraser

Touring route: Points East Coastal Drive

Claim to fame: SCORE Golf Magazine rated Dundarave among the Top 6 Best Golf Resorts in Canada.

About: If you're debating between Brudenell River and Dundarave and are up for a test, look to the latter. An 18-hole course, it is renowned for its blend of traditional and contemporary. Not only is Dundarave an incredibly well designed course, it's almost a work of art. By incorporating the island's unique red sand stone into several of the sand bunkers, players can enjoy the aesthetics of this course. The terrain is stunning and the fairways are cleverly lined with pines to isolate each tee box.

 

Fox Meadow Golf and Country Club

Touring route: Charlottetown

Claim to fame: Ranked one on the Best Places to Play, with a four star rating by Golf Digest.

About: Only minutes from the capital city, the club has a top-notch teaching facility in addition to a highly-rated course.  The fairways and greens are suitable for a mix of skill levels and the views are amazing.  Check your scorecard for a unique rule – if a fox steals your ball, you’re allowed to replace it without penalty.

Darnley Greens

Touring route: Green Gables Shore

Claim to fame:  The shortest hole measures 45 yards making it novice-friendly. 

About: It’s a great place to bring the younger family members to get them interested in the game.  With the longest hole only 110 yards, most novice golfers can get close enough to stay excited about the game while those with more experience will enjoy the water hazards on four of the nine holes.

Glasgow Hills Golf Course
Tourism PEI Glasgow HillsTourism PEI / Yvonne Duivenvoorden

Touring route: Green Gables Shore

Why you will love it: Dramatic views of the River Clyde and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

About: One of the most difficult courses on the island, Glasgow Hills runs over very diverse terrain and is an undulating course.  At the higher elevations the panoramic vista takes in the countryside and the scenic Gulf of St. Lawrence.  Multiple tee boxes on all holes keep the game interesting for those with less experience while skilled golfers will be reminded that fun is in the challenge.

Andersons Creek Golf Club

Touring route: Green Gables Shore

Claim to fame: "Designed by Graham Cook and perfected by nature."

About: One of the newest on the island and close to Cavendish Beach, Andersons has been named one of the greatest new courses in Canada.  The course features rolling greens and water hazards on nine of the holes.  The carts are equipped with GPS making navigating that much easier.

Rustico Resort Golf and Tennis Club

Touring route: Green Gables Shore

Why you will love it: Bring the family for a stay-and-play holiday (they will love the salt water pool) at this eco-forward resort property. 

About: In addition to golfing at a beautiful award-winning resort, every hole on this 18-hole course has amazing views of the water and Rustico Bay.  Visitors looking for a variety of activities when they come to Prince Edward Island will appreciate the children’s play area, tennis courts and nearby beaches, in addition to golfing a course at a resort that has won awards for beauty.

Mill River
Mill RiverTourism PEI / Clive Barber

Touring route: North Cape Coastal Drive

Claim to fame: SCORE Golf Magazine rated Mill River in the Top 3 Best Golf Courses in Atlantic Canada.

About: The 18-hole course is on the western end of the island with the links entirely within the Mill River Provincial Park. The course is designed around numerous lakes and streams.  Rolling fairways add an additional challenge but the lightly forested area lends a park-like air to the course.  It’s one of the more popular places to play as well as being a bit more affordable.

Glen Afton Golf Club

Touring route: Red Sands Shore

Why you will love it: A challenging coastal back nine and two mile proximity to beaches. 

About: Scenic and fun, Glen Afton is family-friendly with the ability to become challenging with a little creative mowing and moving of tee boxes.  It will be host to the Island Amateur Championship this year and is continuously working to improve the course.  They take pride in being green, using little herbicide and enhancing the course with natural growth while investing in new equipment to reduce their carbon footprint.

Eagles Glenn

Eagles GlennEagles Glenn

Touring route: Central Coastal Drive

Claim to fame: Golf Canada host venue for the 2007 Canadian Senior Men's Matchplay Championship and 2009/2012 CN Future Links Atlantic Championships

About: This scenic course has 18 holes of challenging golf stretched out across 300 acres. Sentimental players will appreciate that Eagles Glenn was named so as a nod to the original 18 Scottish families who settled Cavendesh. Seasoned golfers will enjoy the illusions presented by the rolling countryside. Navigate an exciting downhill par 3, and around grassy mounds, gullies and deep lakes. If you're looking for a leg up, reference the Eagles Glenn website for a hole-by-hole synopsis. 

Why choose between a beach vacation and golfing holiday when you can have it all in Prince Edward Island?  Play a round in the morning and splash in the surf under the high afternoon sun. 


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