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ATLANTIC CANADA Fox Harb'r: Canada's Gold Standard When you ask people who play golf from coast to coast, "What's your favourite?", there is one resort that always comes out on top; Fox Harb'r Golf Resort & Spa. Set on the rugged Northumberland shoreline of Nova Scotia, guests here can experience what can be argued to be incomparable golf, superb accommodations, breathtaking scenery and warm Atlantic Canada hospitality. This development was the vision of Tim Hortons' mogul Ron Joyce. Joyce, who grew up nearby, has spared no expense in making this the standard against which all other resorts should be measured. And the people who visit here reflect this, ranging from Bobby Orr to ex-British prime minister John Major to former American president Bill Clinton. Another well-known name was added to this list in 2009. Tiger Woods headlined a private charity event at Fox Harb'r which raised significant funds for the Tiger Woods Foundation and junior golf in Canada. Like Tiger, you can fly right into the resort. While this ultra-exclusive destination is located right on the Atlantic Ocean 10 km from the picturesque village of Wallace and just minutes from the well known Sunrise Trail, guests traveling here may arrive by land, air and sea. Fox Harb'r features a full-service deep water marina and a 4,885 foot paved runway lit for night landing. Fox Harb'r Resort prides itself on exceeding expectations and providing unequaled quality of service and that commitment to excellence shows in both the resort and the golf course. Voted Best New Course in Canada in 2001 by Golf Digest, the Graham Cooke- designed championship course at Fox Harb'r is one of Atlantic Canada's most prestigious golf experiences. Cooke carefully blends natural beauty with a challenging layout that rewards players of varying abilities. His deep respect for the environment and its ecosystems is reflected in the natural beauty that is a trademark of his work. Fox Harb'r may be one of the best examples of this commitment. The 7253-yard, par-72, 18-hole layout is comprised of two distinct nines, offering a blend of traditional parkland golf on the front and Scottish links on the back.The outward nine lures you away from the sea to sheltered forests, expansive wetlands and deep rock lined lakes. Winding amidst tall spruce and sculptured terrain, each hole commands its own unique setting and signature. The inward nine is a pure delight to play. The Scottish flavour of the course is highlighted as you are drawn along the spectacular rugged seacoast of the Northumberland Strait. Fields of rich, waving fescue surround and accent a superb finishing nine. For those wanting a slightly shorter round or just a tune-up before teeing up on the championship course, a trip around the 1,039 yard par-3 short course might be just what the doctor ordered. Set along the shoreline to capitalize on the ocean views, this impeccably maintained layout is the perfect complement to its longer sibling. Also designed by Graham Cooke, it features deceptively challenging holes ranging from 70 to 136 yards. It's the ideal venue to work on your short game. The accommodations at Fox Harb'r include 72 luxurious guest suites overlooking both the golf course and the Atlantic seacoast. Twelve luxuriously- appointed manor-style guesthouses each have six suites with private balconies or terraces offering spectacular views of the golf course and the Atlantic seacoast. The award-winning team of culinary experts at Fox Harb'r will delight your senses with seasonally-inspired menus. Committed to providing dining guests with the freshest ingredients, Fox Harb'r has built a greenhouse on-site that yields fresh herbs and vegetables. In addition, Fox Harb'r supports the 'Select Nova Scotia' mandate and chooses many of its ingredients from the local area. You can even enjoy world-famous Atlantic lobster and salmon caught mere hours earlier. For those who see themselves as Hemingway-style sportsmen, there are ponds to fly-fish for trout and also some 59 BY JEFF SUTHERLAND good salmon rivers nearby. The resort also boasts both a five-stand and sporting clay target shooting facility. Sporting clays is designed to simulate field shooting. Over a series of twelve "stations" shooters are presented with a wide variety of targets that duplicate the flight path of various game birds, such as flushing, crossing, incoming and other angling shots. For those wanting something even more real, Fox Harb'r offers a released- pheasant shooting program. Afterward, you can retire to the sporting lodge for a single-malt and a few frames of billiards or a friendly game of cards. For those who wish to own a piece of this paradise, there are a number of options. Fox Harb'r sits on 1,100 fenced and manicured acres and features a private gated community, Harb'r Stone Village. The Village is showcased by stylish residences and townhomes overlooking the course and ocean for those who desire luxurious resort living. GETTING THERE Fox Harb'r is a 90 minute-drive from Halifax International Airport or Moncton, NB. Guests arriving in their own aircraft may land directly at the resort's 4,885- foot private runway. Hangar and fuelling services are available. Fox Harb'r guests receive special pricing on private air charters through Jetport. Visit jetport.com for more details. By sea, Fox Harb'r offers a 25-slip marina that can accommodate boats up to 80 feet in length. For more information, call 1-866-257-1801.