The new clubhouse at Mistwood is open, and that includes McWethy’s Tavern. Need more, okay how about a banquet room that seats 250 people for your next special event. Open all year, the Mistwood Clubhouse, see Mistwoodgc.com or (815)-254-3333 ______________________________________________________________________

Wanna Golf Away, well the golf season north of our border might have slipped away, but it’s not too early to think about heading north in the warmer months of 2016.

Canada’s smallest province Prince Edward Island that has been known as a place where fantasy comes to life, is now being inspired by the game of golf as well.

It might have taken golf a while to get there and leave a foot print, but now there are some two-dozen courses within a 30 minute drive of each other. That spells out, swing away.

Golf on the island is thought to have started as early as 1909 at a location called he Belvedere in the capital city. But then the game hit a snag from that point forward until 1993.

That’s when the “golf-boom” started into the mature foothold it is today.

In 1993 the Thomas McBroom designed links at Crowbush Cove located on the north side of the island.

Eight holes of the course do play on or near the sea and by the dunes near the shoreline,this became a springboard for golf to continue in the area.

” I remember going to Prince Edward Island when there were only a few course on it to speak of,” said Bryan Sullivan, a former touring pro on the Canadian Tour in the 1980’s. “It was like going back in time.

Current trips to PEI are now more like a chance to return to simpler ways in life, more so that going back in time.

Getting to and from PEI has been much easier since 1997, with the construction of the Confederation Bridge. This 8 mile crossing is the largest in world over ice-covered water. The bridge connects the island to New Brunswick, the rest of Canada and then the Northeastern part of the United States. Prior to the bridge opening, one needed to fly in, or take one of the two-ferries out to the island.

Crowbush Cove that is credited with the starting of the building boom in the area, is still rated as one of the top 10 designs in Canada.

McBroom created a design where he blended together a mix or parkland and links-style golf. It’s been called by some as a “mixture of nature and imagination”. Golfers who have played there feel like they have gone to Scotland or Ireland.

Dundarave Golf Course was created by Dr.Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, and is located next to it’s sister course Brundel River. The course has a red sandstone look and has some memorable bunker designs. In 2006 Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson played a Legends of Golf event there.

Green Gables Golf Club is one of the courses on the island that goes back to before the building boom of the early 1990’s.

Green Gables was designed in 1939 by famed Canadian designer Stanley Thompson, McBroom came along in 2007 for a renovation.

This course for the most part is tree lined and the only golfers you see on most holes, is the rest of your group.

A few of the other courses on the island that have received solid reviews are the Brundel River Golf Course, and the Mill River Golf Course, both clubs have been designed by Robbie Robinson. Brundel River dates back to 1969.

24 courses in just a 30 minute span. When it’s too hot in the summer to head to southern destinations where there is golf in those numbers, head north and enjoy Canada and Prince Edward Island. A new golf destination north of our American border.

For more information please visit GOLFPEI.ca or you can call 1-866-GOLF-PEI which is (465-3734). Or try email [email protected].