Morningstar

The small seaside town of Parksville lies half an hour’s drive northwest of Nanaimo, on the east side of Vancouver Island, and its large sandy beaches at Parksville Bay and Craig Bay attract many visitors in the summer. Just a few miles inland, the golf course at Morningstar Golf Club also lures a fair number of golfers onto its fairways during the summer months.

Designed by Les Furber and inaugurated in 1990, the course is tight in places, as might be expected when a dozen of the fairways have been carved through dense woodland. It’s a renowned tough track where you’ll often see local professionals practicing before tournaments elsewhere in the area.

The 464-yard 7th is one of the most difficult par fours on The Vancouver Island Golf Trail, doglegging to a green perched on a ridge with water running behind. On the back nine, the 329-yard 15th is a short par four of some distinction, inviting golfers to go for birdie, but it’s more than capable of destroying a good score.

Morningstar has hosted a number of male and female professional and amateur tournaments in recent years, including the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in 2010. The club is also due to welcome competitors to the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in 2019.