Sports tourism: Which destination is right for you?

Written by Nathalie De Grandmont

Golfing
Golf between sea and mountains
In autumn, Cape Breton's always-lively atmosphere reaches a fever pitch, with the ceilidhs and other traditional dance evenings in full swing, and the landscapes – notably those in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, home to the Highlands Links Golf Course – ablaze with bright colours.

Designed by Stanley Thomson and considered one of the country's top public golf courses, the Highlands Links lies between the sea and the mountains, with each vista taking turns occupying a golfer's field of vision. Since it's in a national park, it isn't uncommon for golfers to share the course with small animals and sometimes even a moose.

The 18-hole par-72 course offers a steady dose of challenges and rewards, and each hole features three different levels of difficulty. Call 1-800-441-1118 or go to www.highlandslinksgolf.com.

For après golf, there are a few B & Bs and inns in the area, as well as the Keltic Lodge, known for its seafood cuisine, spa (which flies the Aveda banner) and ocean views. Rates start at $125 per person per night and include a round of golf and a shared golf cart. The famed Cabot Trail is also a must-see for its commanding views of wooded valleys and steep rugged shores pounded by the Atlantic surf. Call 1-800-565-0444 (www.kelticlodge.ca) or 1-800-565-0000 (www.novascotia.com).

Golfing amid giant cactuses
For a hotter, more exotic golf experience, the Scottsdale, Arizona, region is sure to pique your interest. Daniela Marcolini, vice-president of Gryphon Golf & Ski Experiences, describes the climate and conditions as ideal, especially in autumn and spring.

Temperatures are hot and dry and the levels of difficulty are good – and what can we say about the chance to play amidst giant cactuses and aloes with ochre-and crimson mountains looming in the distance?

The Boulders Resort (in the heart of the Sonoran Desert north of Scottsdale) offers just that. Rated among the best golf courses in the U.S. by Golf Magazine (a repeat Platinum winner), the Boulders is also a top course for women. With two well-known women golfers on its team of instructors, the Boulders offers programs intended to help women feel more comfortable with the sport: introductory courses for novices, special training programs and three-day packages where beginners are divided into small groups and women have a chance to perfect their technique – all in a setting where cocktails are de rigueur and no detail is left to chance (1-888-579-2631; www.theboulders.com).

Besides there also being a spa at The Boulders Resort, there are several other high-end spas in the Scottsdale area, at the Westin Kierland, the Hyatt Regency and the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, all of which use what the desert has to offer – such as stones and aloe – as part of their care packages. The Gryphon also offers golf packages through most of these other hotels. Call 1-877-GRYPHON or go to www.gryphon golf.com. Or call 1-800-782-1117 or visit www.scottsdalecvb.com.

Click here for a golf-themed cake recipe

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