only 75 miles north of Vancouver, and soon (2010) to be host of the Winter Olympics, is the stunning ski resort of Whistler. Whilst from October through April Whistler enjoys its reputation as Canada’s premier ski resort, during the remaining months the snow disappears from all but the higher elevations to reveal four of the most spectacular golf courses to be found.

Three are in the village itself with probably the most awesome, Big Sky, in the shadow of the 8000 ft Mount Currie 16 miles to the north in the town of Pemberton. Far more than a ski resort, year round Whistler offers a wide variety of alternative attractions to golf and skiing as well as an excellent and varied choice of restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

head inland (East) from Vancouver and you are soon into the Thompson Okanagan region, one of Canada’s best yet relatively unknown (outside of Canada) holiday destinations. Wineries, orchards, mountains, lakes, valleys and even a desert make up this diverse region of central southeast British Columbia, located between the coastal mountains and the Kootenay Rockies.

And there is more - approximately twenty top quality golf courses are to be found in and around the picturesque towns of Salmon Arm, Kelowna and Kamloops. A few days here exploring the diverse countryside and enjoying the locally produced fruit and wine before heading back to civilisation (as we know it) is guaranteed to recharge the most depleted of minds and body.

only a nine-hour direct flight from the UK and flanked by rivers and mountains, Vancouver is one of the world’s great holiday cities. Good shopping, beautiful parks, superb restaurants and a pulsating nightlife are all within easy walking distance of the central bay area.

Throw in about 20 outstanding golf courses, nearly all with breathtaking mountain views, within an hour’s drive of the city and you have the ideal start to your BC golf holiday.

just when you think it couldn’t get any better we head further east from the Thompson Okanagan and into the Kootenay Rockies region, forming the border of British Columbia with Alberta. Here amongst the valleys and mountains around twenty of the world’s most picturesque golf courses can be enjoyed from May through September.

The resort towns of Panorama, Cranbrook and Kimberly all have unbelievably picturesque courses nearby along with a myriad of other attractions such as four national parks, the highest number of mineral springs and hot spas in British Columbia and, near the town of Golden, the world’s largest Grizzly bear habitat!

accessible by a 90-minute ferry ride or a short hop in a floatplane from downtown Vancouver you will find Vancouver Island, a haven of contradictions enjoying a mild year round climate, courtesy of the warm ocean currents brushing its shores.

The capital, Victoria, is a splendid holiday destination which by day is a blaze of floral colour and by night a captivating and sophisticated vibrant city. The island has over 40 great courses to choose from with several of the most spectacular being within an hour’s drive of Victoria. As well as the outstanding golf courses on offer, there is river, lake and sea fishing, whale, dolphin and seal watching, along with tours into the wilderness for a spot of BEAR observation.

from the moment you first experience the unbridled beauty of the Rocky Mountains to the time it comes to depart, life may never again be the same. Heading west from Calgary you are soon confronted by the snow capped mountains of the Banff National Park, a true mountain wilderness with the resorts of Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise offering year round sport and entertainment.

For the really adventurous, a drive along the Icefields Parkway will bring you to Canada’s largest mountain park, the Jasper National. A necklace of emerald lakes and majestic waterfalls surround the picturesque town of Jasper, which is home to the Jasper Park Lodge golf course, frequently named as the number one course in the State.