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Le Manoir Richelieu Golf Course 1 |
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Naturally beautiful and with diverse landscapes, Quebec
is an ideal travel destination for golfers. Mountains, forests, lakes and the
famous St.
Lawrence River make up the terrain of this vast province, creating a
scenic backdrop for hundreds of golf courses situated in choice locations, often
selected to host major tournaments including the 2001 Bell Canadian Open and
the Canadian Open several times. Popular golf magazines and publications including
Golf Digest have rated Quebec golf courses as some of the best in Canada
and the world.
Quebec is the largest province in Canada, spanning an area of 1,667,926 sq
km (643,819 sq mi). Three geographical regions make up the landscape: the Canadian
Shield, covering approximately 60 percent of the province's land mass and comprised
of North America's oldest mountain range, the St. Lawrence Lowlands, flowing
with hundreds of lakes and rivers, and the Appalachian Mountains, which end
abruptly at the Gaspe Peninsula.
Twenty-one tourist regions are found in Quebec, each offering unique attractions
and sites. Many of its 300-plus golf courses are located close to Quebec
City and Montreal,
and Canada's capital city, Ottawa,
is easily accessible from Quebec and also provides excellent golfing opportunities.
WHERE TO STAY, TOURS AND PACKAGES
Many courses are located at or near major resorts, which have several amenities
and attentive staff available to help plan every aspect for an enjoyable golf
vacation. Some clubs are exclusive to members only, but many courses are open
to the public and provide excellent facilities and golfing experiences for all.
Accommodations are easily found throughout Quebec and many offer golf packages
and discounts along with room rates, and tourist agencies and adventure companies
organize tours allowing travellers to enjoy rounds at various courses.
The WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
provides information about various lodging choices when staying in Quebec and
can assist travellers by providing the following services:
1. Accommodation
Directory – Users are able to view a large inventory of accommodations
found in Quebec including links to websites and information on amenities and
services provided.
2. Reservations
– Save time by using this secure online reservation system, allowing travellers
to check room availability and book their stays themselves.
3. Maps – Pin-point
accommodation locations in relation to major attractions, restaurants, shops
and services in the area.
GOLF COURSES
Plan the next golf vacation using the WorldWeb.com Travel Guide golf
course directory. Listings indicate the various facilities and amenities
available at each one, including direct links to websites, where one can survey
the course, and, at various venues, reserve a tee-time.
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Fairmont
Le Manoir Richelieu Clubhouse 2 |
Quebec City, Montreal and Surrounding Areas
Historic charm, European flavour and natural beauty will delight visitors to
these cities and the surrounding region. Both Quebec City and Montreal are located
in the southwest of the province and several challenging courses are found in
these areas.
Le Grand Portneuf
Located in the Greater
Quebec Region, minutes from Quebec City, Le
Grand Portneuf was designed by Quebec-born Neil Haworth, currently based
in Singapore. He has designed courses around the world including Australia,
United States,
France, China
and other Asian countries. Haworth incorporates his signature style of protected
greens and use of water in four, 9-hole, par 36 courses, routed through rolling
hills and wooded areas. The 3,283-yard Blue course's challenging par 3 number
7 features a green well-protected by a stream. Two holes cross the Portneuf
River on the Green course, measuring 3,158 yards. A large lake protects
the last green on the 3,024-yard Red course and the 3,075-yard White course
slices through a maple forest.
Le Grand Vallon
With its tree-lined, rolling fairways, Le
Grand Vallon is an environmentally-managed 18-hole, par 72 located at
the base of Mont-Sainte-Anne.
This demanding 6,583-yard course is designed around four lakes, and 40 white
sand traps beckon errant shots.
Mont Tourbillon
Mont
Tourbillon opened in 1961 and was designed by Howard Watson, famed Canadian
golf architect who uses the natural landscape to create tricky and varied holes.
Located mountainside overlooking Lac
Beauport, golfers enjoy the scenic setting of this 18-hole, par 70,
where high altitudes mean a well-hit drive flies a farther distance on this
6,060-yard course.
Saint Laurent
Enjoy panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River and surrounding countryside
of the Saint
Laurent 18-hole golf course, also designed by Howard Watson. This 6,977-yard,
par 72 championship course was designed specifically for tournaments, where
a bad shot can leave golfers hacking their way out of the rough en route to
the green.
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Le Manoir Richelieu Hole 6 St-Laurent Course 3 |
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Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu
Located in the Charlevoix region, approximately one and a half hours from Quebec
City, the Fairmont
Le Manoir Richelieu is a 27-hole, par 36 resort originally designed
by the British architect Herbert Strong, and recently renovated under the eye
of Darrell Huxham. Huxham is noted for designing visually appealing courses
that flow with existing natural features and offer an ambitious game but with
fair breaks. Finesse and strategy are needed and rolling greens mean speed must
be mastered. The courses include the larger St-Laurent and Richelieu, measuring
3,178 yards and 3,148 yards respectively, and the shorter Tadoussac at 2,918
yards. All include Agrostide (bent grass) fairways and annual Paturin (blue
grass) greens.
Laurentian Mountains and Surrounding Areas
A short drive north of Montreal takes golfers to the Laurentian
Mountains/Laurentides region of Quebec. Located in the Canadian Shield,
this area is composed of mountains, lush forests and crystal clear lakes. During
the autumn, the bold colours create an inviting backdrop for all outdoor activities.
Over 50 courses are found in this region, including the popular ski and golf
destination Mont-Tremblant.
Royal Laurentien
Designed and built by Gabriel Menard, this well-groomed 18-hole, par 71 course
encourages ambitious play with its numerous sand traps and water hazards. Menard
and his family purchased this 800-acre (324-hectare) lot and transformed it
into a 7,000-yard course and resort in the 1980s. Golfers can admire views of
the Laurentian mountains from the 1st hole and battle the 600-yard 12th. In
2001, the Royal
Laurentien was recognised by Golf International as Hotel Golf Course
of the Year and awarded a silver medal.
L'Esterel
Situated on 5,000-acres (2,000-hectares) of lakes, mountains and forests, L'Esterel
is a four-season resort. The setting will enchant golfers and the 18-hole, par
72 course exposes rolling fairways totalling 6,431 yards, and water hazards
on 10 holes mean a challenging, somewhat nerve-wracking game.
Mont-Tremblant
Mont-Tremblant is located 130 km (81 mi) north of Montreal and 45 km (28 mi)
north of Sainte-Agathe. The region consists of several municipalities, including
the former village of Saint-Jovite, that have merged together to form this year-round
destination.
Le Diable
The 18-hole, par 71 championship course Le
Diable or “the Devil,” is located in Tremblant,
and is known for hosting the 1999 Export A Skins Game, which was won by Canada's
own Mike Weir. Designed by the architects Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, this
huge 7,056-yard course is dotted with red sand bunkers and is characterized
by long narrow fairways, cutting through a red pine forest. Hurdzan and Fry
strive to create courses with memorable holes that tests golfers' skills and
strategy in beautiful surroundings. The 5th hole is nicknamed the “Devil’s Own,”
and is a never-ending 600-yard par 5.
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Fairmont
Le Chateau Montebello Golf Course View 4 |
Le Geant
Another top-rated 18-hole course at Tremblant is Le
Geant (the Giant), a 6,836-yard, par 72 course that both challenges
and rewards. The course is made up of white sand traps, water hazards and plateaus
sculpted into the mountainside. Designed in 1995 by Thomas McBroom, the 18th
was voted best par 4 in Canada by Score Golf magazine in 2005. McBroom takes
a modern approach to create courses that maintain a traditional feel while using
the unique characteristics of the landscape.
Gray Rocks
The Gray
Rocks Resort features two full 18s: La
Bete (the Beast) and La
Belle (the Beauty). A Mont-Tremblant favourite, La Bete offers 6,825
yards of well-groomed fairways, pristine greens, bent grass tees and a variety
of holes where water is in play. This championship course was designed by architect
Graham Cooke and provides views of the Riviere
du Diable and Laurentian mountains. Cooke's designs blend the area's
natural assets into a challenging layout that can be enjoyed by golfers of all
skill levels.
For over 80 years, the classic 6,270-yard La Belle has welcomed golfers with
its clean fairways, bordered by thick forests and lush valleys. La Belle was
the first golf course in the Laurentian Mountains and today operates the Eagle
Golf School, a renowned academy providing modern teaching methods and techniques.
Two courses, three driving ranges, three practice holes and two putting greens
provide golfers with ample opportunity to tighten up their game.
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Other Notable
Golf Courses
Sherbrooke
Golf Club, Sherbrooke
Royal
Bromont, Bromont
Cowansville
Club, Cowansville
Dallaire,
Rouyn-Noranda
Belvedere,
Val-d'Or
Bic
Course, Bic
L’Empress
Golf Club, Pointe-au-Pere
Levis
Course, Levis
Stastny,
Saint-Nicolas
Carleton
Club, Carleton
Saint-Jean-de-Matha
Course, Saint-Jean-de-Matha
Club
de Golf Le Versant, Terrebonne Grand-Mere
Club, Grand-Mere
Links
O’Loup, Louiseville
Memorial,
Shawinigan-Sud
Belle
Vue, Maple Grove
La
Providence, Saint-Hyacinthe
Falcon
Golf Club, Hudson
Chateau
Montebello, Montebello Montpellier
Course, Montpellier
Le
Sorcier, Gatineau
Algonquin,
Messines
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Le Maitre (Club Link)
Le
Maitre is a unique course that borders the Riviere du Diable and features
tiered fairways and greens sculpted out of dense forests, valleys and marshes.
Golfers can also take advantage of the state-of-the-art fitness facility complete
with target greens, tennis courts and a swimming pool. Designed by the Bates
Golf Design Group with well-known golf pro Fred Couples, this strategic 7,010-yard,
18-hole, par 72 course incorporates Couples’ endless knowledge of golf.
Manitou
This high-calibre 3,355-yard course is perhaps the best-priced championship
short course in Canada (only one at Mont-Tremblant), where a round takes only
three and a half hours. Designed by Darell Huxham, each hole is inspired by
world famous courses such as the Turnberry
in Scotland,
Pinehurst in North
Carolina, and Augusta
in Georgia.
Located along the Riviere du Diable, the Manitou's
18-hole, par 58 course incorporates pine forests, marshes and sand dunes. Its
signature holes are the par 3 number 14 and the par 4 number 4.
CLIMATE – WHEN TO VISIT
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Golf
at Mont-Ste-Anne in the Fall 5 |
Most cities in Quebec experience a humid continental climate with four distinct
seasons. In the south, temperatures fluctuate with hot summers, mild springs,
cooler autumns, and cold, snowy winters. Quebec City and Montreal are both located
in the southern part of Quebec, and summer temperatures climb above 18°C (above
64°F) regularly, and winters range from -15°C to -10°C (5°F to 14°F). The warmest
areas are in the southwest of the province, and the coldest are found in the
north, which experiences an arctic and sub-arctic climate. The heaviest precipitation
is found in the southeastern section. Montreal experiences on average 81 to
102 cm (32 to 40 in) of precipitation and Quebec has more than 102 cm (40 in)
in the year. A drier climate is found in the northern portion of the province.
The golfing season in Quebec usually runs from May to October. Golfers hitting
the links in the fall will find themselves surrounded by colour, with leaves
turning gold and red, a bold contrast to the green of the fairways.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- c/o Fairmont Hotels and Resorts; Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Golf Course;
La Malbaie, QC, Canada
- c/o Fairmont Hotels and Resorts; Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Clubhouse;
La Malbaie, QC, Canada
- c/o Fairmont Hotels and Resorts; Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Hole 6 St-Laurent
Course; La Malbaie, QC, Canada
- c/o Fairmont Hotels and Resorts; Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello Golf Course
View; Montebello, QC, Canada
- Village Vacances Valcartier; c/o Quebec City Tourism; Golf at Mont-Ste-Anne
in the Fall; Mont-Ste-Anne, QC, Canada
