This course is in our GSPro library — pull it up in any bay and play it wall to wall.

"A friendly Vancouver Island option for members chasing a Canadian coastal round without the difficulty spike of the marquee links courses."

A family project half a century in the making. Local architect and historian Herb Plasterer bought 190 acres beside Thetis Lake outside Victoria dreaming of a public course; his family finally built it with architect Chris Young — the Pacific Nine opening in 2008, the Highland Nine in 2010. The result is a 6,603-yard par 71 blasted through exposed Vancouver Island rock, with the Highland side climbing roughly 150 feet to a plateau with views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It quickly earned a spot on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail.

Anyone touring Vancouver Island golf, players who like dramatic elevation and mountain views without private-club fuss, and mid-handicappers wanting a scenic, fair test.

The Highland Nine's climb to the mountaintop plateau is the show — the payoff is a panorama of Victoria and the Olympic Mountains. On the Pacific side, downhill tee shots framed by bare rock faces are the signature look.

Fairways are wide and sweeping and it's honest public golf, but the elevation changes, rock outcrops and quick greens punish wild misses. A fine first 'real' course if you take the forward tees.

In GSPro — there's a community build with flyovers on YouTube, and Simulator Golf Tour has even run events on it. The elevation swings translate vividly on screen; a fun mid-difficulty pick for members who want mountain golf without leaving the bay.

Fully public and proudly self-styled 'Victoria's friendliest golf course.' Green fees are modest by resort standards; book online through the club site. Twilight rates make it an easy add-on.