Northwest Passage
An expedition to Victoria, British Columbia
by George Fuller
In lovely Victoria, on Vancouver Island—a quick 15
minute flight from Seattle and Vancouver—golfers can
play two of the best courses in Canada, decamp to luxurious
accommodations at some of the finest hotels anywhere, sample
the local flavors of expert chefs and spend a few days getting
to know one of the most breathtaking
cities on the Pacific Rim.
Where to stay
The Fairmont Empress:
Located on the lip of the Inner Harbour in the heart of
downtown Victoria, the hotel sits right in the center of
the action. Ask for a room with a water view and spend the
morning with a cup of coffee and the Globe & Mail. Looking
every bit like one of the finest chateaux of Europe, The
Empress is a lovingly restored and meticulously maintained
historic hotel opened in 1908 and today a national landmark.
High tea has been served every afternoon for nearly a century,
and just one drink in the Bengal Lounge will transport you
to the high water mark of Great Britain’s colonial
era. The ivy covered facades house 477 elegant rooms and
suites and the new Willow Stream Spa—which offers
a Golf Performance Treatment developed by David Leadbetter
and his pupil Charles Howell III. fairmont.com
Where to dine
Sooke Harbour House:
While a bit of a drive from Victoria, the inn and restaurant—owned
and run by Sinclair and Frederique Philip—sparked
a regional cuisine that celebrates the fruits of the countryside
and the sea. If you arrive early enough for dinner, you
can see the chefs culling their herb garden for the evening’s
dishes. A 3,000 bottle wine cellar certainly presents choices
for every taste. sookeharbourhouse.com
The Empress Room: Located in the Fairmont, the ornate, old
world dining room is a perfect stage for the culinary performance
of chef Rob Cleland, whose creative flavor combinations
and elegant presentations showcase locally caught fish and
regional produce. fairmont.com
Il Tarrazzo:
Located in a historic brick building in downtown Victoria,
the restaurant boasts a fine selection of tasty Italian
dishes and an ever changing and extremely delightful selection
of cheesecakes. 555 Johnson Street.
Spinnakers Brewpub:
An option for more casual dining, the pub serves a large
selection of ales and lagers brewed right on the premises.
spinnakers.com
What to see
Butchart Gardens:
Set in an old quarry 30 minutes from the city, the 100 year
old gardens are world renowned for the colorful blooms year
round. butchartgardens.com
Hill’s Native Art: The best of several downtown galleries
exhibiting "First Nations" artifacts. hillsnativeart.com
Where to Golf
With no less than four challenging courses within a two
hour drive, a tour around Victoria offers one of best golf
experiences anywhere in Canada.
Victoria GC:
Until this year, the oldest course west of the Rocky Mountains
was extremely private— and some fortunate enough to
have played it have boasted of a seaside stretch of holes
rivaling Pebble Beach for sheer beauty. Now guests who book
a Fairmont Gold package at The Empress can judge for themselves.
victoriagolf.com
Bear Mountain GC:
A brand new Jack Nicklaus design a few minutes north of
town, the course is the first of two spearheaded by a group
of NHL hockey players. After putting out on the 14th green,
golfers play an extra par-3 betting hole which overlooks
the ocean and the mountains of Washington State beyond.
bearmountaingolf.com
Olympic
View GC:
The Bill Robinson course is set beneath the dramatic Olympic
Mountain skyline and boasts a waterfall that pours out of
a split rock beyond the 17th green. golfbc.com
Arbutus Ridge GC: A semi-private, parkland style course
located in a luxurious residential community and designed
by Bill Robinson and Geoffrey Cornish, it plays around some
spectacular, year-round salmon fishing waters. arbutusridge.com
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