July
1 will also mark the opening of Countryview
Golf Club, a new nine hole layout located near the West River,
about 20 minutes from Charlottetown. The course measures a healthy
3,323 yards from the back tees and has two more sets of markers
for those looking for something a little more manageable.
Countryview was built to exacting standards and should be a wonderful
addition to Prince Edward Island’s golfing stable.
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St.
Felix Golf & Country Club
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Another
new nine-holer is found on the Island’s western reaches, near
Tignish. The St. Felix G. &
C.C. was designed by noted Canadian architect Graham Cooke,
and provides a wonderful, flowing opportunity for any level of golfer.
Its nearest neighbour, the Mill
River Golf Resort, while not new, does have news, in that it
was ranked among the top 50 courses in the country by SCORE Magazine
last year. Always a difficult test, Mill River was the recipient
of a renovation by Cooke a few years back and the results have matured
to allow the course to become among the country’s best. Several
new holes, a full irrigation system and some overall fine-tuning
have brought it up a notch in the eyes of many players. Mill River
is accompanied by a full resort operated by Rodd’s, making
it a good family destination with accommodations and amenities to
suit everyone.
Cooke has been a busy man on Prince Edward Island as he was also
responsible for a major re-design at the province’s oldest
course, Belvedere. The new-look
course was christened last August by PEI’s first lady of the
links, Lorie Kane, the top Canadian on the LPGA Tour who has earned
more than $1 million over the last two seasons. What she and others
who have played their since the changes have found a traditional
course with 1990s standards. Long holes flow though woodland while
par threes will demand accurate shots of varying lengths. There
is a good mix of holes and pleasant character to this historic course.
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Beaver
Valley Golf Club
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More
new golf is available at Beaver
Valley Golf Club, a hidden gem tucked into rolling farm land
near Cardigan. It has doubled its holes to 18 from nine as well
as adding a pro shop, bar and restaurant. Despite its youth - the
first nine opened in 1996 - the course has plenty of maturity and
will provide an enjoyable round for any player.
Several of the Island’s courses don’t have as many major
changes as Beaver Valley, but they continually upgrade in smaller
ways to make golf at their facilities just that much better.
Belfast Highlands, a tricky
nine-hole course perfect for those looking for fun, more so than
finesse in their golf games, has re-done all its greens. That means
there will be no excuses for those missed putts on the silky smooth
surfaces. A mix of four par-fives, three par-threes and two par-fours
adds to the enjoyment of a round here.
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