Cantons-de-l'Est: A Golfer's Guide to Quebec's Eastern Townships

Tucked into Quebec's rolling Eastern Townships, the Cantons-de-l'Est golf trail winds through mountain scenery, national park borders, and lakeside resort country — with Club de golf Owl's Head in Mansonville and Club de golf Mont-Orford anchoring a region where every round comes with a view.

• Club de golf Owl's Head: A Graham Cooke and Darrell Huxham design in Mansonville with a peninsula-green par three where the wind rarely lets up.
• Club de golf Mont-Orford: One of Quebec's oldest resort tracks, playing through the heart of Mont-Orford National Park since 1939.
• Club de golf du Manoir des Sables: A championship-caliber 18-hole resort course in Mont-Orford, ideal for players seeking a full resort experience.
• Golf Dufferin Heights: An elevated layout in Stanstead-Est with panoramic sightlines stretching across Lake Memphremagog, Owl's Head, and Vermont's Jay Peak.
• Club de Golf Milby: A Howard Watson–designed parkland classic in Sherbrooke, open since 1964 and stretching to 6,712 yards from the tips.

A natural starting point for the trail is the Mont-Orford cluster, where two courses sit within reach of the national park. Club de golf Mont-Orford has been welcoming golfers since 1939, making it one of the region's most storied layouts — a par-72 parkland track at 6,017 yards that rewards course management as much as power. Nearby, Club de golf du Manoir des Sables offers a more modern resort experience: 18 holes of championship-caliber golf at 6,352 yards, par 72, on the grounds of the Manoir des Sables estate.

Heading southeast toward the Vermont border, Golf Dufferin Heights is worth the detour for its vistas alone. Designed by Graham Cooke and Darrell Huxham and opened in 1994, this 18-hole, par-72 course in Stanstead-Est plays to 6,167 yards across elevated terrain. Its signature par three, at 173 yards, demands a precise tee shot to a green cut into a hillside — and the views of Lake Memphremagog, Owl's Head, and Jay Peak from the tee make club selection feel almost secondary. Just down the road in Mansonville, the same design duo's Club de golf Owl's Head raises the stakes: a 6,568-yard, par-72 resort layout opened in 1992, where a short par three with a peninsula-shaped green is the signature moment — wind across the open water turning what looks like a simple pitch into a genuine test.

To the east, Club de Golf Coaticook brings a community-rooted feel to the trail. Established in 1962 in the small city of Coaticook, this 18-hole, par-72 public course runs to 6,132 yards, and its 18th tee offers a scenic payoff to close the round. The trail's Sherbrooke corridor provides two contrasting options: Club de Golf Milby, a 6,712-yard parkland course designed by Howard Watson and opened in 1964, rewards longer hitters on its par-73 layout; while Golf et Académie Longchamp, established in 1972, offers a well-rounded 6,512-yard, par-72 parkland round suited to a wide range of skill levels.

For golfers traveling with family or looking to warm up their short game, Club de Golf des Lacs in Bromont provides an accessible executive-style course. Though listed as 18 holes, the layout plays 12 strategic holes across 2,871 yards at par 43 — a welcoming option opened in 1994 that suits juniors, beginners, and experienced players looking for a casual afternoon on the course.

Day 1 — Bromont: Arrive in Bromont and check into Hôtel Château-Bromont before a relaxed afternoon round at Club de Golf des Lacs — a low-pressure executive layout ideal for shaking off travel legs. In the evening, settle into Brouemont – Microbrasserie & Restaurant for house craft beers and pub fare on the outdoor terrace, or opt for the seasonal plates and mountain-view terrace at Le Roux.

Day 2 — Mont-Orford: Drive east to Mont-Orford and tee off at Club de golf Mont-Orford, the region's historic parkland track inside the national park. After lunch, play a second round at Club de golf du Manoir des Sables or save it for the morning. Check into Manoir des Sables Hôtel & Golf for the evening and dine at Bistro 4 Saisons, the refined European bistro at the foot of Mount Orford with an open kitchen and mountain views.

Day 3 — Stanstead-Est & Mansonville: Head southeast to Golf Dufferin Heights in Stanstead-Est for the panoramic par three and sweeping views over Lake Memphremagog. In the afternoon, press on to Mansonville for 18 holes at Club de golf Owl's Head — the peninsula-green par three is the highlight, especially if the wind is up. Dinner in Magog at Pinocchio rounds out the day with inventive French cuisine made from local ingredients.

Day 4 — Coaticook & Sherbrooke: Close the trail loop with a morning round at Club de Golf Coaticook, a public course with a scenic 18th tee. Then continue into Sherbrooke for an afternoon round at Club de Golf Milby — Howard Watson's 6,712-yard parkland design — or Golf et Académie Longchamp, depending on energy levels. Stay the night at OTL Gouverneur Sherbrooke before heading home.

The Eastern Townships excels at the golf-resort combination. In the Mont-Orford area, Manoir des Sables Hôtel & Golf is the most immersive option — a 4-star resort on a 300-acre estate with a private lake, spa, and direct access to its own 18-hole course, making it easy to roll from breakfast to the first tee without touching a car. For a similarly comfortable base in the same area, Hôtel Chéribourg sits next to Mont-Orford Provincial Park and combines family-friendly amenities with a spa and on-site restaurant.

At the western end of the trail, Bromont offers two solid lodging options. Hôtel Château-Bromont is a 4-star resort at the foot of Bromont Mountain with on-site golf, a spa, and pools — a natural anchor for rounds in that part of the region. Golfers focused primarily on course time will appreciate Hôtel Bromont, within walking distance of Golf Bromont and offering mountain views with continental breakfast. In Sherbrooke, the award-winning OTL Gouverneur Sherbrooke makes a practical hub for the Milby and Longchamp rounds, with a pool, restaurant, and EV charging on-site.

The Cantons-de-l'Est golf trail rewards the unhurried traveller — one willing to linger over a post-round beer in Bromont, take in a sunrise over Lake Memphremagog, and let a wind-swept peninsula green at Owl's Head linger in the memory long after the scorecard is filed. It's a region worth returning to, and the golf is reason enough to start planning.