When people think of skiing, mountain biking or golfing in British Columbia, they often think of Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, which has been rated as one of the top ski resorts in the world by industry magazines.

Several national publications have ranked Whistler’s hotels and resort as top in the nation. In 2005, Whistler earned a top ranking with USA Today, Ski Canada and Snowboarder’s Journal. In 2010, it will be home to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Whistler is well known.

However, there are plenty of other good resorts for skiing, mountain biking or other outdoor pursuites — without the hype and international crowds that Whistler brings.

In fact, there is another British Columbia resort — Sun Peaks Resort, just outside of Kamloops. Sun Peaks is a favorite among Canadians, versus busloads of people from around the world.

Sun Peaks’ charm comes from three mountains and one village. It has 3,678 acres of skiable terrain and is the second largest ski area in B.C. The terrain is varied with vast alpine bowls, long cruising runs and a slope style course with tabletops, rails and slides. It has 117 runs, including 12 gladed areas, 11 lifts (including four quad chairlifts). Its village and resort also have won national accolades by several ski magazines.

There is so much terrain, that it doesn’t seem crowded, especially at the end of the season. In fact, a good end-of-the-season slope-side lodging and lift ticket package is easy to obtain and can make the experience a little sweeter.

While Sun Peaks winter recreation is closes for the season when the snow disappears, the golf course usually opens in mid-May, with the mountain bike park usually opening toward the end of June. Go to www.sunpeakresort.com for more information.

Palma Real Golf and Tennis Club is one of Mexico’s finest. This challenging course located across from the Barcelo Hotel has well groomed rolling fairways running through a jungle and coconut plantation setting.  The Palma Real is a complete golf resort including pro shop, putting green, driving range, locker room, clubhouse, lit tennis courts, swimming pool, restaurant & bar. The 6898 yard, par 72 course doubles as a wildlife preserve with various species of birds and three large lakes inhabited by crocodiles.

Marina Ixtapa offers a 6793 yard, eighteen hole, par 72 course designed by Robert Von Hagge to challenge golfers of all skill levels.  The course combines a network of canals along with 12 bridges and large sand traps, plus water hazards that come into play on 14 holes. Marina Ixtapa Golf Club offers a driving range & putting green, a clubhouse, pro shop, locker facilities, caddy shack, snack bar and lounge, tennis courts, meeting rooms and an on course drink cart.

Save at the Reflection Bay Course.

The choices are rich and varied, and some of them, inexpensive.

Barona Creek Golf Club lets you tee up for a mere $85 everyday, which includes cart and range balls. Should you find a partner there, the two of you can debate the biggest bonus: is it the world-class service from every employee or the unequaled peace and serenity of the course itself?

Barona is known in golf circles and by resident San Diegans for the graciousness of its resort staff, never dismissing guests who may only earn four to five figures a year. Sincere smiles abound, and they are never forced or plastic.

Not to be outdone by the authentic courtesy of the staff, the course itself is distinguished by a lack of housing structures. The Club lies on protected reservation land belonging to the Barona tribe, and while the massive casino which serves up a cornucopia of gaming that would do Sin City proud is an unpleasant reminder of civilization, it is the ONLY reminder. Golfers both national and international have been awestruck by the consistently uninterrupted vistas Barona’s courses present.

Perhaps, however, you belong to the odd family that golfs together. Joining you on your vacation may be children, grandfathers, aunts, uncles and cousins who are dilettante golfers; they want their clubs for the bulk of the day, but they also seek a diversity of activities as well.

Head for Torrey Pines immediately.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson played here as teenagers, Woods holding the record of 62 on the South Course. A recent facelift for the Buick Invitational has made the South Course even more of a holy terror, so much so that it has been selected as the location for the 2008 U.S. Open.

Take a break from the rigors of that South course in the Torrey Pines Lodge with the smoked salmon and mashed potatoes served by Chef Jeff Jackson. Hike through the Torrey Pines State Reserve if even the North Course wears you out. Escape further to the Gaslamp District, Old Town, Sea World and Balboa Park, all no more than 20 minutes away.

Whatever you do, don’t leave San Diego without visiting at least three or four different courses; California is a big state with courses of every type at your disposal, and San Diego is a mere Cali-type buffet in minutiae. Californiagolf.com has all of the information that you need.

Click Map for Current Golf Specials in the San Diego Area.

The club house of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club Of St Andrews (R&A) is adjacent to the first tee. Many wrongly believe they own the course but they are only one of many clubs allowed to play on the Old Course along with the general public. The Old Course is, in fact, run by The St Andrews Links Trust; a charitable organisation established in 1974 by an Act of Parliament. The St Andrews Links Trust is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the other five golf courses at St Andrews.

The Old Course is basically naturally formed, although some adjustments were made by Tom Morris who became custodian of the links in 1875. Originally the course consisted of 22 holes but in 1764 this number was reduced to 18. This created what has become the standard round of golf throughout the world. Golf was also originally played in a clockwise direction and for many years clockwise and anti-clockwise play took place on alternate weeks. The anti-clockwise (right hand circuit) is now the accepted direction, although it is apparent that some of the 112 bunkers are designed to catch golfers playing in the clockwise direction.

One of the many unique features of the Old Course is the double greens. Only the 1st, 9th, 17th and 18th holes have their own greens. Until the 19 century, due to the natural layout, golfers played the same holes coming out as they did going in, which led to congestion as the game increased in popularity. To alleviate the problem two holes were cut in each green, the first 9 with a white flag and the second 9 with a red flag. The course can be quite easy to play when the weather is not windy although it also contains one of the most celebrated and feared holes in golf, the par 4 17th “Road Hole”.

The Open Championship was first played on the Old Course in 1873 and it has since staged this event more than any other venue in the world. St Andrews played host to the Open for the 27th time in 2005 when Tiger Woods joined the elite list of double winners. Many other famous tournaments are also held at St Andrews including The Dunhill Cup and later the Dunhill Links Championship, The Walker Cup and The Amateur Championship.

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St. Andrews.