The Vancouver Island Golf Trail is a collection of 13 championship courses laid out along a 250-kilometre corridor of the Island’s most scenic coastal and mountainous terrain between Victoria and Campbell River.
With the scale and diversity of Vancouver Island, it’s an impressive feat to conquer them in a single trip. Which is why, to help, we’ve broken down your choices in five ways to play and stay on Vancouver Island, each one themed around another great Vancouver Island activity.
With this guide, plan a weekend or week-long trip to Vancouver Island and explore the best of Vancouver Island—on the greens and off.
Golfing on Vancouver Island: By the Numbers
We’ll let the numbers speak for themselves:
- 13 championship golf courses with a combined 70,000 yards in golf course length
- More than 250-kilometres of west coast beauty to travel
- 5 vibrant Island communities to make your home base: Victoria, Cowichan, Nanaimo and Oceanside (Parksville and Qualicum Beach), Courtenay, and Campbell River
Urban Oasis: A Night Out in Victoria
Five courses await golfers in Victoria. BC’s charming Capital is blessed with mountain and ocean views, a mild, temperate climate, and easy access to transportation. With many courses within 15-minutes of the downtown core, the best part about a golf trip to Victoria is the city’s nightlife. Play a round of golf then head to a cocktail lounge, where you’ll find everything from sexy speakeasies to timeless and elegant hotel lounge bars.
Don’t miss: Bear Mountain is home to two challenging courses (Valley or Mountain) and is the only place in Canada that offers 36 holes of Nicklaus Design golf. You’ll be in good company too: the mountain course has hosted PGA Tour Champions in the past.
- Where to play: Olympic View, Highland Pacific, Bear Mountain
Greens and Grapes: Wine Touring in the Cowichan
Golf courses in Cowichan features undulating green hills typical of the region. They meander through a picturesque mix of meadow and tree-lined holes and offer glimpses of sparkling blue ocean beyond. Some courses don’t measure long, keeping your round under 4 hours, and that leaves time to enjoy Cowichan’s other fruitful offerings: wineries. The area is famed for its wine and vinters here are producing excellent varietals worthy of acclaim. Sample glasses of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Ortega while recapping your day on the green.
Don’t miss: Arbutus Ridge is surrounded by nine wineries from its location in Cobble Hill, one of the picturesque communities that make up the area of Cowichan.
- Where to play: Cowichan Golf and Country Club, Arbutus Ridge
Bunkers and Beaches in Central Island
Sand comes in many forms on the Island. Avoid any bunkers you can at one of the three courses of the Central Island region (home to Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach) and instead head for one of the many nearby beaches post-round.
Don’t miss:
- Where to play: Fairwinds, Pheasant Glen, Eaglecrest Golf Club
Fins and Skins: Cast a Line in Campbell River or Courtenay
The waters around the Comox Valley (home to Courtenay and Comox) and Campbell River offer incredible opportunities for fishing, from pristine rivers and stocked lakes to deep-sea excursions. Playing nine holes pairs well with an afternoon fishing adventure while a full 18 means you can plan for a deep=sea excursion the next day. Many fishing operators will help you prepare—or have the facilities for you to cook—your daily catch, which means you can golf, fish, and dine in a truly Island way.
Don’t miss: Storey Creek Golf Course is surrounded by dense Vancouver Island wilderness; unlike other courses, you won’t find any residential homes adjacent to greens.
- Where to play: Crown Isle, Storey Creek, Quadra Island Golf Course, Campbell River Golf & Country Club
A Tale of Two Trails: Golf and Beer
There are some activities that pair better together. Beer and golf are two and luckily for fans of both there is the Vancouver Island Ale Trail and the Vancouver Island Golf Trail. Combine the two, mix and match destinations, and you’re in for a treat. In fact, they even have their own beer. The Vancouver Island Golf Trail Ale, produced by Vancouver Island Brewing can only be found at participating member golf courses on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail. How’s that for a unique pairing.
If you go:
Getting there: Vancouver Island is accessible by BC Ferries and by air from the mainland of British Columbia. Learn more about getting to Vancouver Island here.
Learn more about the Vancouver Island Golf Trail.
