Cape Breton Highlands is set

[Ran Morrissett]

The general plan for CBH is to arrive on Sunday, June 16th, golf all day Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th and depart sometime Wednesday morning. People can customize around that schedule how they see fit.

Everyone is to make their own reservations directly with Keltic Lodge and the pro shop. The contact details are below:

For accommodations at the Keltic Lodge, Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia, call Jean Campbell, 1-877-375-6343/1-902-285-2880  campbjm@gov.ns.ca
      
Please identify yourself as a member of the
GolfClubAtlas Group visiting June 16 - 19. The room rates vary from around US $60-$100 depending on what you're after.

Also, for the golf, call Tom Forsythe/Alison Roper 1-800-441-1118 /1902-285-2624 Tom_Forsythe@pch.gc.ca; Alison_Roper@pch.gc.ca

Again, please identify yourself as a member of the GolfClubAtlas group.

Tee times are booked for Monday, June 17 (8:20 am) and Tuesday, June 18 (8:30 am) with the Club figuring most of us will play a 2nd round each afternoon. Each round will cost around US$40 if you walk and US$60 if you ride. We have tentatively reserved 16 tee times for each of the two mornings.

As a special treat, Geoffrey Cornish will be there. Mr. Cornish was the constructiuon supervisor of the course for Stanley Thompson (!)  . Several of the locals and Mr. Cornish will be reflecting on the construction of the course and to hear such stories will be big-time fascinating - and a unique opportunity.

I CAN"T WAIT and hope to see you there.

Cheers,

PS Mid-June is somewhat early in their golf/growing season. I've told  them that our group consists of design junkies and not turfheads and that we will have a great time regardless of whether there is a bare spot here or there.

PPS I am bringing my wife and three year old daughter as this is going to be a family vacation for us. Jeff Mingay is doing the same and I hope other families will join us as well.

PPS I asked the club who is a good person to contact for travel arrangements and they responded as follows: "I recommend that your group contact a local agency located in Sydney, Nova Scotia called Carlson Wagonlit - Sydney Travel.  Ask for either Beryl Clements cwtsydneytravel2@ns.symaptico.ca  or
Donald Thompson cwtsydneytravel2@ns.symaptico.ca
Their phone number is 1-902-539-1511 . They are experienced travel agents and would be most helpful in that
they are familiar with the airlines, routes, etc North America wide that will link to connector flights to Sydney.
       Should the individuals in your party work through them, it will be easier at our end to arrange and manage ground transportation as there is a two hour drive to the course that follows arrival in Sydney.  We would suggest that most try to arrive by 3:30 pm on the 16th if possible."

[Bill_McBride]

 Rats.  Double rats.  I was really excited about this trip hoping for July, but must send regrets as we are leaving Pensacola for Venice for two weeks in Italy on June 19th.  I know my wife will not allow me to miss this adventure.  Thanks for all the great arrangements, Ran, just wish I could be there.  
Bill McBride

[Jeff Mingay]

I can't stress enough what a unique opportunity this is for this group. Basically, you're visiting the best golf course in Canada (one of the best in the world), in one of the planet's most unique golfing destinations, for less than half the regular price!

Plus, for the Americans, note that your $$$ is worth double up here  

The Highlands Links people -- particularly Irene Khattar, who's set this up for us, golf course manager Tom Forsythe, and long-time professional Joe Robinson -- are three of the classiest and accomodating people I've ever dealt with. They'll ensure that your trip to Cape Breton is all it can be.

Through in Mr. Cornish and you've got one hell of a golfing experience before you!

Hope to see you out there in June.

[ed_getka]

Jeff,
Regrettably I won't be able to make it up to Cape BH since I am volunteering at the Open and then need to return to Calif. right after. However, my parents live one hour south of Montreal and the next time I am home I would like to go up to see the course. How long would you estimate it takes to travel from Montreal to Cape BH?

[Jeff Mingay]

Ed,

It's about 1,000 miles from Montreal to Sydney, NS (!) and then another two hours by car up to Ingonish, where Highlands Links is located.

[ed_getka]

Thanks Jeff. I may have to rethink that drive! Have a great time up there and hopefully I can make it the next time.

[ChipOat]

Wish 6/16 wasn't Father's Day.

[Ben Cowan-Dewar]

I am tying up the details of my visit and am looking forward to the trip.  

This is such a bargain and a great trip, I hope that the trip fills up, it should be special.

For those who are not aware, Highland Links is largely considered the best course in Canada and is one of my absolute favourite places to play golf.

[Ran Morrissett]

Several people in California asked me to bring this thread forward as they couldn't find it and are still considering the trip.

The Lodge originally reserved 16 rooms and tee times for our group but they are going to release what we don't fill at the end of this week.

I hope you will consider joining us - given the weak Canadian dollar and G. Cornish in attendance, this is the ideal time to  see this Thompson masterpiece.

Cheers,

[Ben Cowan-Dewar]

Good news as the course is set to open May 17th, I am sure the courses will be in very good shape by mid-June.  The winter was a relatively mild one for the Maritimes, so that should bode well.

Also, for people making the trip and thinking they would only have one course to play, there are some other options.  Most notably Bell Bay located 30 minutes away in Baddeck.  While the site might not win highest marks for architecture folks, Golf Digest called it the best new course in Canada in 1997.

Just some food for thought.