With its temperate climate, the people here on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, love the outdoors, whether it’s riding bikes, walking, fishing or playing golf. And so far, I’m finding out the golf here is great.
My first couple of days have been at the Inn at Laurel Point, which is located on the Inner Harbour of Victoria, one of the prettiest cities I’ve ever seen. The newly renovated hotel, with its glass walls and balconies, gives up great views of the harbor and the city, which is the capital of British Columbia.
Here, you’ll find great restaurants, other grand hotels, clubs, museums and all kinds of things to do, including whale watching and fishing. You could also follow the Ale Trail, a collection of micro-brew pubs and restaurants that offer some of the most unusual beers and ales in the world. On the harbor, there’s the constant buzzing of seaplanes making their way in and out, and nearby, two large cruise ships are in port.
If you love the outdoors, this is your place. A great vacation would be to combine offshore fishing with golf. Just make sure you take your Dramamine if the water is choppy and you’re a novice. Nothing worse than getting seasick, but few things are more exhilarating than catching a fresh Pacific salmon. (I can only attest to the former, unfortunately.)
Yesterday, I played Olympic View Golf Club, just outside the city limits. With two signature waterfalls on Nos. 8 and 17, the course is scenic and very challenging. Most noticeable was the fact that majority of players there walked, something I’m not used to seeing in Texas.
Of course, the temperature was probably about 70 degrees, which is like air conditioning compared to back home.
The Accidental Golfer (AKA Mike Bailey) has spent more than 15 years writing about the game that has brought him unbridled joy and temporary bouts of insanity. Now on staff at WorldGolf.com, Bailey is a former senior editor for PGA Magazine, senior writer for Golfweek's SuperNEWS and Turfnet magazines and past president of the Texas Golf Writers Association. He has covered every facet of golf, including the PGA and LPGA Tours, equipment and course architecture, as well as the bane of his golfing existence: instruction. The last has led to at least 30 different golf swings, which all feel different but appear to his playing companions to be the same.
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