British Columbia
The most westerly of Canada’s provinces, British Columbia is a largely mountainous, heavily-forested region that’s ideally suited to outdoor pursuits – if you’re into hunting, shooting or fishing then BC’s the place for you. For the aquatically minded, there are plenty of water sport activities to be found along its rugged coastline whilst the world-famous Whistler resort is an ever-popular destination for a vast number of skiers.
On the golfing front, British Columbia Golf was formed in 2004 by the amalgamation of the British Columbia Ladies Golf Association and its male counterpart, the British Columbia Golf Association. This governing body looks after the interests of more than 60,000 members in almost 300 clubs that are divided into eight geographical zones. Competitive amateur golf has been played in the province since 1894 and nowadays, the BCG organises sixteen annual championships for men and women across a wide range of age groups.
One of Stanley Thompson’s old masterpieces, Capilano, is widely regarded as the best golfing layout in the province, though a trio of A.V. Macan designs at Shaughgnessy, Victoria and Royal Colwood also rest comfortably within the very top national bracket of golf courses. Of more recent vintage, Tom McBroom’s wonderful Tobiano course at Kamloops has attracted many admirers since its unveiling in 2007.
