Brudenell River Provincial Golf Course, PEI

couple of decades ago, a few insightful Prince Edward Islanders aimed at turning the province into a golfer's utopia. Consequently, a smattering of existing island links became the foundation for a now thriving golf mecca that PEI promoters sometimes dub 'the Myrtle Beach of the north'.

Today, the tiny emerald isle almost has more golf courses than a Dalmatian has spots. Likewise, it was the sweet smell of PEI success that whetted the appetites of the remaining Atlantic provinces. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia jumped on the bandwagon and more recently golf has virtually exploded in Newfoundland. Out on 'the Rock', Newfies have fallen in lust with the game and new courses are popping up everywhere.

Overall, today's golf scene in Atlantic Canada is hot, hot, hot! A tour of the Maritimes last summer was my first in four years and I was blown away by the recent growth and improvements.

Prince Edward Island
Courses like PEI's 18-hole Links at Crowbush Cove, a six-year old Thomas McBroom-design, is recognized as one of the best courses in North America. This par-72 links, cradled by a dune-laced landscape on the island's north shore, has a formidable layout with a brutal slope of 144 from the blue tees. In Scottish links tradition, Crowbush features eight, dune-side water holes, a slew of yawning pot bunkers and many of the course's broad, undulating fairways are scarcely more than a tee shot from the ocean.

The Links at Crowbush, PEI

However, not all of the island's 20 courses are as demanding as Crowbush or the three other championship links: Mill River, Brudenell and its newly built partner, Dundarave, a combined 36-hole complex set to host this July's Canadian Tour stop. From August 29-30, Brudenell will host the Lorie Kane Island Challenge, the first woman's skins game in Canada, featuring big name players like Se Ri Pak, Nancy Lopez, Annika Sorenstam and PEI's Lorie Kane.

Pretty PEI, with its green pastoral landscape and beaches the colour of creamy nougat, now brings golfers by car over a recently built 13-kilometre bridge that connects the island to mainland New Brunswick. The province has cultivated a variety of courses, both nine and 18-holes, that incorporate something for everyone.

New Brunswick
While PEI has developed as a prime Canadian golf destination, its Atlantic Canada cousins have likewise established a firm grip on the sport. New Brunswick alone has 50 courses regionally divided along the scenic Saint John River Valley, Fundy and Acadian Coasts, Miramichi River Route and the Appalachian Region. Like PEI, the variety is endless. Fredericton Golf Course, for example, is a classic New Brunswick layout with forest-lined fairways. This 18-hole track has superb greens and some golfers argue its last six holes are the best finishing holes in the province.

The Wilds at Salmonier, south of St. John's, Newfoundland

The exciting news on the New Brunswick golf scene this summer is the opening of the new Algonquin course at beautiful St. Andrews by the Sea. Attached to the century-old Algonquin Hotel (member of the Canadian Pacific Hotels chain), the new 6,900-yard, par-72 signature course opens in July with many of the holes incorporating stunning seaside vistas of the Bay of Fundy, famous for the highest tides in the world and huge whale populations in summer. The course has been reinvented from a former combination 18-hole and 9-hole executive to a new 18-hole track complemented by a full-program golf academy.

Nova Scotia
Golf fever is equally high in Nova Scotia where the province is now home to more than 60 courses. Built in 1939, best known among them is the world-renowned Highlands Links in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. George Knudson, Canada's most successful PGA pro, used to stroll the fairways just to savour the scenery. With a slope rating of 141, challenge is everywhere including the par-4 fourth which is aptly named, 'heap of trouble'.

A new addition last year is Glen Arbour, a par-72 immaculately groomed course just 25 minutes from downtown Halifax. Even in its newness, this 6,800-yard track is considered one of the Maritime's top courses.

Golf St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick

Newfoundland
If ever there was a hidden secret in Atlantic Canada golf, it is Newfoundland. It came as a great surprise to me last summer that our easternmost province has gone 'golf crazy' with course development growing at a rapid rate. Overall quality came as an even bigger surprise. I played Terra Nova – purported to be the finest on the island — and was awestruck by the design, challenge and dramatic landscape over which it spread. Overlooking an inlet of Bonavista Bay, this par-71 course with a slope rating of 128 from the blue tees is 90 minutes north of St. John's on the edge of Terra Nova National Park. This ruggedly beautiful track, where water is in play on nine of 18 holes, incorporates two surging salmon rivers, wilderness forest and plenty of Newfoundland rock. At $35 a round, this is one of the best golf buys in the country.

Willow Brook, an executive nine just 30 minutes north of the capital is another good find. This little nugget of a course has an interesting layout and the 610-yard par-5 third is the longest hole on the island. Ninety minutes south of St. John’s, the Wilds at Salmonier River is a new par-72 18-hole championship-calibre layout that has the makings of a truly great course.

Overall, Atlantic Canada is a golf lover's paradise where great play is par for the course and true 'down home' hospitality is part of the pleasure package.

Signature Vacations recently launched a Canadian holiday itinerary that includes charter flights to several Atlantic Canada cities, attractive golf resort rates, and green fees at top courses for as low as $25 a round. For free golf guides and Atlantic Canada travel information, call toll free: New Brunswick (800) 561-0123 Newfoundland (800) 563-6353 Nova Scotia (800) 565-0000 Prince Edward Island (888) 734-7529

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