NAMED FOR THE frothy, Coke-coloured river that crashes over the rocky, wind-whipped landscape, the dense forest and majestic rock outcroppings of the Wilds (billed as Newfoundland’s toughest course) conjure images of mountain golf at a fraction of the price. A 45-minute drive south of St. John’s on the Avalon Peninsula, the Wilds has a 40-room, no-frills hotel at the foot of the first tee, all within a short drive of Salmonier Nature Park, the Avalon Wilderness Reserve and St. Mary’s Bird Sanctuary.

The Robert Heaslip course makes the most of Newfoundland’s rugged, untamed terrain, with plenty of room off the tee and a premium on accuracy from the fairway. The Wilds Kids Club program also keeps children busy with arts and crafts, nature walks and swimming while parents stalk the fairways.