This Is Expedition Golf

Beach landings in a Zodiac, seawater spray on your nine-iron and some of the best courses in Canada are just part of an incredible East Coast golfing cruise.

- Brian Banks

WET LANDING or dry landing?”In the company of golfers, this question typically means one thing and one thing only: did your tee shot carry the water hazard?

But not here, not today. I’m one of about 60 passengers in the dining room aboard the One Ocean Navigator, a six-deck, 6,230-tonne One Ocean Expeditions vessel, gently rocking at anchor off St. Peters Harbour on the northeast coast of Prince Edward Island.

After a 5:30 a.m. wake-up and 6 a.m. breakfast call, we’re in the Q&A portion of the briefing on the day’s itinerary with expedition leader Kaylan Worsnop.

It’s our fourth morning at sea — July 1, Canada Day — and the midpoint in One Ocean’s inaugural eight-day, seven-night Fiddles and Sticks East Coast “expedition” golf voyage. We’ve already played rounds on consecutive days across the Northumberland Strait in Inverness, N.S., at Cabot Cliffs and Cabot Links — Canada’s number one and number four ranked courses, respectively. So, by this time we’ve learned that the day’s most important footwear choice isn’t golf shoes, but what to don for the Zodiac trip from ship to shore.

“Today will be a beach landing,” Worsnop replies. “It’s also a little splashy out there, so boots and waterproof suits are recommended.”