Year-Round Golf and Summer Tubing Adventures in Cowichan Valley
Updated: Oct 1
Most golf courses in Canada have a season. This one has a calendar.
March Meadows in Honeymoon Bay is a nine-hole par 36 with both nine and eighteen hole rates. It's tree-lined, relatively flat, and ringed by mountains. But the layout isn't what makes it unusual. What makes it special is that the Cowichan Valley holds the warmest year-round average temperature in Canada, so this course plays through months when most of the country has the clubs tucked away in the garage.
Let me walk you through what each of those months actually gives you.
Spring
March and April are wet, and the ground is soft. That means the ball stops where it lands, and the course plays longer than the card suggests. Bring a towel, and more balls than you think you'll need.
What you get in return is the valley waking up. The tree line comes back in stages, the course is quiet, and you can generally walk on without a booking.
Summer
June through August is the season everyone else already knows about. The course dries out and firms up, the ball runs, and the mountain views that sell the place are at their very best.
It's also the only time of year you need to think about a tee time. Book ahead on weekends, especially if a festival is running at Laketown Ranch and the town has filled up.
Autumn
September and October are the ones I'd tell you to know about. The ground has firmed without baking, the heat has gone, and the light through the trees in the late afternoon is the best it gets all year.
The summer traffic has left, so you'll have the place largely to yourself, in the best conditions of the twelve months. If a golfer ever asks me when to come, this is my answer.
Winter
This is the differentiator, and it is not a gimmick.
November through February here is damp rather than frozen, and the course doesn't close. You'll play in drizzle more often than not, and the ball won't travel far. You'll finish a round with wet trousers and no regrets. Best of all, you can still feel your hands in February, which is not a sentence available to golfers in most of this country.
You'll also mostly have the place to yourself. A January round with nobody ahead of you and nobody behind is a particular kind of pleasure, and it costs less than it should.
And a River That Gives You Ten Weeks
Tubing the Cowichan works from roughly late June to early September, and that window is set by water rather than weather. Outside it, the river is either too high and cold in spring, or too low to float properly by autumn. The Cowichan is controlled by a weir at the lake outlet, and by late August the dropped water means more scraping and more walking the shallow sections with your tube.
ORKA Adventures rents tubes, canoes and kayaks from two locations, including Gordon Bay, and delivers canoes for half and full day bookings, which is useful if you're staying out of town.
The Tube Shack rents tubes and runs a shuttle back into town, so your car doesn't end up at the wrong end of the river. Either way, ask the operators what the river is doing that week before you go.
If the river isn't right, Gordon Bay Provincial Park, about fourteen kilometres west, has a sandy beach, the boat launch and the main public water access on the lake.
Ten weeks against twelve months. Same valley.
What Fills the Rest
Cowichan Lake Recreation at 311 South Shore Road runs the arena, a curling rink, a fitness centre and activity classes. It's home ice for the Kraken, and a junior hockey game in a small-town arena on a January night is a genuinely good evening out, for roughly the price of a coffee and a sandwich.
The Lake Cowichan Disc Golf Association formed in 2025 and built the Greenwell Disc Golf Course. It's volunteer-run and free to play, and a good illustration of a town adding something for itself rather than waiting for somebody else to.
Somewhere to End Up
Youbou Bar & Grill at 10524 Youbou Road is worth the drive along the north shore in any season. Think house-made stocks and sauces, freshly ground meats, local produce, and lakeside seating with a view the in-town places can't match.
Planning Your Visit
A few friendly tips to help you make the most of your trip:
Timing
Golf at March Meadows is best from spring through fall, but the mild winters allow for play most of the year. Tubing is a summer activity, typically from late June to early September.
Accommodation
The Cowichan Valley has a range of lodging options, from cozy B&Bs to campgrounds near the river. In Lake Cowichan itself, you'll find places like the Riverside Inn, Greendale Riverside Cabins and the South Shore Motel. Booking early during peak seasons is recommended, because July and August fill up, especially on festival weekends at Laketown Ranch.
Transportation
Renting a car is the easiest way to explore the area and move between golf, tubing and dining spots.
What to Bring
For golf, bring your clubs, comfortable shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing. For tubing, pack swimwear, sunscreen, and a waterproof bag for your belongings.
Final Thoughts
The Cowichan Valley offers a rare combination of year-round golf and summer tubing that appeals to a wide range of outdoor lovers. March Meadows delivers a consistently enjoyable round of golf, while the Cowichan River invites you to slow down and explore on the water.
Round it out with visits to the local coffee shops, bakeries, burger joints and ice cream spots in Lake Cowichan, plus the cideries, wineries and farm tables that showcase the region's rich flavours.
Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a longer trip, the Cowichan Valley delivers memorable moments on the course, on the river, and at the table. Pack your clubs and your sense of adventure, and come find out why this area is a favourite for golfers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
