With magnificent mountain views, gentle ocean breezes, an abundance of wildlife, and overall spectacular scenery surrounding the greens, Vancouver Island offers some of the best locations for golf in B.C.
The temperate climate and mild weather of the fall makes it the perfect season to go golfing on Vancouver Island. From crisp mornings to the sunsets in the evening, you can spend all day on the golf courses with the picturesque backdrop of fall foliage to marvel over. Plus, with fewer people competing for tee times, you’ll have more selection for your desired tee off, even with the shorter days.
Offering 13 golf courses, stretching 250 km from Victoria to Campbell River, the Vancouver Island Golf Trail consists of four distinct golf regions. From the breathtaking panoramic views of Bear Mountain Resort in the South to the luxury of Crown Isle Golf Course in the North, here’s a rundown of the remarkable courses along Canada’s only year-round golf trail.
Victoria & Langford Golf Courses
Located 20 minutes from Victoria's downtown core, Olympic View Golf Club is named for the views of its stunning horizon — Washington State's Olympic Mountains. The course is accentuated by 12 lakes and two waterfalls, plus common sightings of soaring eagles and roaming deer. At Olympic View's signature 17th hole, golfers can aim toward a breathtaking 40-foot waterfall.
Highland Pacific Golf Course’s sweeping fairways thread through a lush landscape of West Coast forest, rock, grass, and natural water features, with dramatic elevation changes and challenging terrain for golfers. Boasting panoramic views of Victoria, Olympic Mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Bear Mountain, and Thetis Lake Park, you’ll never get bored of the awe-inspiring sights.
Bear Mountain Resort offers Canada’s only 36-holes of Nicklaus Design golf. The rugged Mountain Golf Course takes full advantage of its setting atop a 1,100-foot mountain with 18-hole, 6,900-yard par-70 course that excites pros and challenges novices. A friendlier version of its sibling course, the 6,807-yard par-71 Valley Golf Course meanders through forests, lakes, and creeks.
Langford sits in the middle of these incredible golf courses. Truly a city surrounded by nature, Langford combines epic golf with delectable cuisine, first-class recreation, and unforgettable adventures.
After a few rounds, you can spend some time in Victoria, which acts as a hub for artisans, musicians, and festivals. The waterfront downtown core and olde town boast plenty of restaurants and bars, boutique shops, heritage buildings, and museums to explore. Soak it all in with an evening stroll of Victoria’s inner harbour and the reflection of the glowing Parliament Buildings on the water.
Cowichan Valley Golf Courses
Situated in the heart of Vancouver Island’s winery region, a trip to the Cowichan wine country makes for the ultimate golf and wine pairing experience.
Rated one of the ‘Top 10 Golf Courses in Canada for Value’ by WestJet, Arbutus Ridge Golf Course is surrounded by nine wineries. The front nine weaves alongside the seaside community of Cobble Hill and the back nine climbs a ridge to overlook the Satellite Channel, making for jaw-dropping views.
Cowichan Golf Club is situated on the southern outskirts of Duncan, B.C. The 6,189-yard, par-70 course meanders through the valley with a picturesque mix of meadow and tree-lined holes, looking out to the mountains and the waters of Cowichan Bay.
Parksville Qualicum Beach Golf Courses
Centrally located between Nanaimo and Parksville on the Nanoose Peninsula, Fairwinds Golf Club was voted the ‘#1 Golf Course on Vancouver Island’ in the 2013 BCLiving.ca BC’s Best People’s Choice Awards. Overlooking the Salish Sea, the oceanfront golf course occupies a scenic stretch of land on the east coast with an 18-hole course that’s open year-round. With a covered and heated driving range, you can practice your swing, even during the cool weather.
Providing five sets of tees and an interesting mix of holes, the greens at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville are fun for golfers of all abilities. At 7,003 yards, Morningstar is a championship-length golf course with many signature events to its name —including three PGA Canada events.
As one of Vancouver Island’s oldest golf courses, Qualicum Beach’s Eaglecrest Golf Club semi-private 9-hole, par 36 championship golf course features lush fairways and towering evergreen trees, along with water and sand hazards.
Famous for its long sandy beaches, Parksville Qualicum Beach boasts vast stretches of white sand, and ebbing tides that expose the shore leaving shallow pools perfect for beach combing. The area’s unique geographic setting also offers various provincial parks, gardens, rivers, lakes, and trails to explore and discover more about the local marine and wildlife. Most of the region is included in the ArrowSmith Biosphere Reserve, recognized with an UNESCO designation for its unique microclimate and ecosystem of Douglas fir and giant red cedar.
Courtenay & Campbell River Golf Courses
Just a 5-minute drive from the Comox Valley Airport in Courtenay, Crown Isle Golf Resort is a repeat favourite of vacationing golfers, having recently been named PGA of BC’s Facility of the Year in 2020. Tucked under the shadows of the Comox Glacier and the Beaufort Mountains, the location is simply breathtaking.
Truly a course in nature, Storey Creek Golf Club in Campbell River contains a wealth of natural beauty amidst the old growth forests. Golfers can expect to see eagles soar, wild deer wander, and the occasional black bear ambling across the course.
Campbell River Golf & Country Club is the newest and most exciting golfing destination on Vancouver Island. The world-class modern golf course features 5 sets of tees, new greens, new water features, and a state-of-the-art driving range, featuring a 30,000 square foot grass tee deck and expansive practice area.
Coming in the fall of 2023, Naturally Pacific Resort is a 93 room boutique hotel designed to complement the golf experience. It will be a special and unique place for guests to relax, recharge, and reconnect in the natural beauty of Campbell River and Vancouver Island.
Only a 10-minute ferry ride from downtown Campbell River, Quadra Island Golf Club is a professionally designed public course that provides an exceptional and enjoyable challenge, no matter your golf skill level. The course’s ethereal forest landscape is surrounded by broad ocean vistas of the Sutil Channel and B.C.'s Mainland Coastal Mountain Range. It’s truly an island golf experience not to be missed!
Deemed the salmon capital of the world and nestled in nature, Campbell River is one of Vancouver Island’s most popular ecotourism destinations. With several chartered fishing trips and guided ocean adventure experiences, there are plenty of opportunities to get on the water, cast a line, and explore.
The best way to experience a few — or all — of these golf destinations is by booking a golf holiday on Vancouver Island. Golf Vancouver Island is the one-stop shop for golf vacation packages, such as the Two Week Golf Trail Package. You can spend two weeks in Victoria, Parksville, and Crown Isle golfing 13 different courses, exploring the incredible beauty of Vancouver Island, and getting a taste of the island life.
Go to golfvancouverisland.ca/golf-packages to start planning your golf holiday on Vancouver Island today.
