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Spring 2023Travel
Home›Issues›Spring 2023›Victoria, BC: The Local North

Victoria, BC: The Local North

By Judd Spicer
April 23, 2023
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Though a trip to another country may seem far away in theory, getting from L.A. to Victoria, B.C. — situated on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island — is fairly quick and easy. By air to Vancouver is a mere two-plus hours, followed by a 13-minute flight to Victoria. Or, for the air/ sea experience, one can fly to Vancouver and ferry to Victoria; or fly to Seattle and enjoy the scenic two-hour and 45-minute water ride to Victoria on the eponymous Clipper.

The Malahat SkyWalk experience is an awesome and elevated way to connect with the region’s nature.

Whatever your preference, a diverse destination awaits. Perched between the Salish Sea and coastal rainforests, Victoria’s unique geography and ecology makes it a year-round port of call.

“California is a big market for us. If you look at population and proximity, it’s a no-brainer,” says Rob Larocque, director of golf at Bear Mountain Resort. “It’s easy to get here from California; for the L.A. and San Diego markets, guests still get the West Coast vibe, but it’s a little more unique terrain, a bit more of a rugged feel up here. There’s a lot of vistas and natural space.”

Bear Mountain Golf: The Jack & Steve Nicklaus co-designed Mountain Course at Bear Mountain may be a bear of a play, but the natural views are stellar throughout. One of the best spots is this perch on the 152-yard par-3 10th.

Culturally, the endearing, immaculate (and, yes, romantic) downtown hub of Victoria matches horse-drawn carriages with the sentry stature of B.C.’s Parliament Building alongside the ever-strollable appeal of the city’s Inner Harbour. Explored on foot, Victoria boasts a plethora of bars, restaurants and eateries.

Victoria is home to nearly 20 craft brewers and distilleries. Bars across the region offer no shortage of local options on the marquee.

For golf guests, Greater Victoria’s outdoor bounty presents a full menu of play, with courses open all year long. Sporting 13 courses across a 155-mile spread of the Vancouver Island Golf Trail, Victoria itself features four courses within a 20-minute drive of downtown.

Signature No. 17 at the attractive but very tight Olympic View GC. “It’s carved through nature with lots of wildlife,” says General Manager Randy Frank.

Between drinking, dining and hitting your driver, the pairing of sea, city and swing makes for a truly Instagram-able trip.

Highland Pacific Golf is a solid, fun and getable play; a good course to get the trip underway. “The Pacific was our original nine, and it’s on the low side of the property,” says Kevin Maxwell, Highland Pacific’s associate professional. “And then the Highland side, that’s where we get up the property’s peaks, which is where the golfer can enjoy a lot of great views and take on the elevation changes.”
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Judd Spicer

Judd Spicer is an award-winning writer, radio host, columnist for The Desert Sun newspaper and an Associate Member of the Golf Writers Association of America.  A Minnesota native, he relocated to the Palm Springs region in 2011 to pursue his Champions Tour dream.  Sporting wayward accuracy off the tee, Judd refers to his 56-degree as his magic wand.  Visit www.juddspicer.com and @JuddSpicer for more.

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