Tofino State Of Mind Adds To Long Beach Course Fun
December 15th, 2010 02:04 PM
The Long Beach Golf Club in Tofino (www.longbeachgolfcourse.com) is a 3,300 yard nine-hole golf course that’s worth experiencing for many reasons. Reasons such as its year-round playability, the bear and deer that line the fairways like Tiger’s gallery and the 100-foot Douglas Fir trees that darken the edges of the course even on the brightest of days.
But what makes this course really special is that it’s only minutes from the seaside town of Tofino. Tofino, like owning a Corvette, is a state of mind. It is a place where you can enjoy a cup of coffee by the dock without having to line up at Starbucks to buy it. Here you can go whale watching or storm watching in the morning, play nine holes over lunch and then walk though Cathedral Grove MacMillan Provincial Park before deciding if it’s dinner over the camp fire or a dining experience at the Wickaninnish Inn. Where else can you see Tsunami warning signs posted by pier-side gift shops? Unnerving? Maybe. Way cool? Definitely.
Although this course demands that you to bring your A game, it starts off with an easy warm up hole. I like courses that do this – it helps your mind and body to relax which normally adds to the enjoyment of your day.
Number 1 is a short par four, with hazards left and right, and a fairway wood off the tee will put you in scoring position and that always helps your state of mind. But after that there isn’t a knock off hole to be found!
You’ll find many a small creek or water hazard to maneuver around or over. Most holes have doglegs that can range from a gentle turn, where a fade or draw won’t hurt you, to sharp 90 degree turns where anything short of pinpoint accuracy could spell disaster. The best example is the ninth hole. It is a par four with a sharp left hand turn at the 150 yard mark. Even if you split the middle you will have to throw a dart into a small green surrounded by trees. Well tucked greens with heavy tree-lined edges are a signature for this demanding track.
The Long Beach course is one of the most remote courses on Vancouver Island and one of the prettiest. Tofino is less than four hours from Nanaimo and it’s more than a spot on a map…it’s a state of mind.
A Player’s Tip:
Accommodations in Tofino can range from the expensive, resort-style Wickaninnish Inn or Tin Wis Best Western, where you will be treated to resort living at its best, to mid-range motels and hostels. As well there are many cabin rentals and campground sites in the area.
Last summer we decided to travel with our dog Keno. After a little computer exploration we discovered the Crystal Cove Beach Resort (www.crystalcovebeachresort.com.) We rented a cabin and instantly we fell in love with it. These cabins may look rustic but they are ultra modern and clean. Gas powered fireplaces, full kitchen facilities, television, DVD and CD players and lofted master bedrooms help to make them both romantic for those who travel as a couple and roomy for those traveling with kids. They have a campground on site and from your cabin or camper’s front door it’s only a short walk to the famous endless beaches and white sands of Tofino. Best of all they are pet friendly.
Tom Cattermole is a freelance golf writer. Cattermole@telus.net
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Jun - Jul 08
But what makes this course really special is that it’s only minutes from the seaside town of Tofino. Tofino, like owning a Corvette, is a state of mind. It is a place where you can enjoy a cup of coffee by the dock without having to line up at Starbucks to buy it. Here you can go whale watching or storm watching in the morning, play nine holes over lunch and then walk though Cathedral Grove MacMillan Provincial Park before deciding if it’s dinner over the camp fire or a dining experience at the Wickaninnish Inn. Where else can you see Tsunami warning signs posted by pier-side gift shops? Unnerving? Maybe. Way cool? Definitely.
Although this course demands that you to bring your A game, it starts off with an easy warm up hole. I like courses that do this – it helps your mind and body to relax which normally adds to the enjoyment of your day.
Number 1 is a short par four, with hazards left and right, and a fairway wood off the tee will put you in scoring position and that always helps your state of mind. But after that there isn’t a knock off hole to be found!
You’ll find many a small creek or water hazard to maneuver around or over. Most holes have doglegs that can range from a gentle turn, where a fade or draw won’t hurt you, to sharp 90 degree turns where anything short of pinpoint accuracy could spell disaster. The best example is the ninth hole. It is a par four with a sharp left hand turn at the 150 yard mark. Even if you split the middle you will have to throw a dart into a small green surrounded by trees. Well tucked greens with heavy tree-lined edges are a signature for this demanding track.
The Long Beach course is one of the most remote courses on Vancouver Island and one of the prettiest. Tofino is less than four hours from Nanaimo and it’s more than a spot on a map…it’s a state of mind.
A Player’s Tip:
Accommodations in Tofino can range from the expensive, resort-style Wickaninnish Inn or Tin Wis Best Western, where you will be treated to resort living at its best, to mid-range motels and hostels. As well there are many cabin rentals and campground sites in the area.
Last summer we decided to travel with our dog Keno. After a little computer exploration we discovered the Crystal Cove Beach Resort (www.crystalcovebeachresort.com.) We rented a cabin and instantly we fell in love with it. These cabins may look rustic but they are ultra modern and clean. Gas powered fireplaces, full kitchen facilities, television, DVD and CD players and lofted master bedrooms help to make them both romantic for those who travel as a couple and roomy for those traveling with kids. They have a campground on site and from your cabin or camper’s front door it’s only a short walk to the famous endless beaches and white sands of Tofino. Best of all they are pet friendly.
Tom Cattermole is a freelance golf writer. Cattermole@telus.net
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Jun - Jul 08
