By: Gayle Moss
I have yet to meet a golfer who doesn’t have a bucket list as long as his/her armful of golf courses they can only dream of playing, either because they’re too far away or too far above the budgets of most of us weekend warriors.
I was guilty of that, always looking for that next exotic destination to visit and play a course I’d only read about or seen on TV. But then I became a volunteer for British Columbia Golf and learned firsthand why so many people call my home province, “Canada’s Golf Capital.”
From lush coastal rainforests to majestic mountains, semi-arid deserts, vineyard-striped valleys and ocean playgrounds, BC’s spectacular natural scenery makes the perfect canvas for some of the greatest golf course architects in the world. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Les Furber, Thomas McBroom and the Pacific Northwest’s own Freddie Couples are among the many who have worked their magic on BC’s landscapes.
In the past few years, I have played dozens of BC courses, but only scratched the surface of the 300 golf destinations British Columbia has to offer – many of which have received world-class distinction and prestigious awards.
Let me take you on a journey of some of the best golf in North America. I guarantee a number of these BC courses will replace those “impossible dreams” in your bucket list and you’ll be planning your next golf vacation north of the border.
Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley
Morgan Creek (Thomas McBroom)
Only a few miles north of the Washington state border, the award-winning, 7,001 yard Morgan Creek Golf Course in South Surrey is a semi-private club open to the public year round.
Despite its name and the fact that water comes into play on at least 12 holes, it is one of the driest golf courses in the region and is always kept in pristine condition.
The walkable fairways are wide, lush and well-manicured and afford beautiful views of the mountains north of Vancouver. The greens are peppered with bunkers, often elevated and immaculately maintained – i.e. they are fast!
There are a number of forced carries, so it’s not a course for the faint of heart. However, with forward tees at only 5,208 yards, it’s still a fun course to play by golfers of all skill levels.
Sandpiper (Russ Olsen)
Less than 2 hours from Vancouver in the Fraser Valley, Sandpiper is a wonderful resort-style 18-hole golf course on the Harrison River that is considered one of BC’s best resort courses and voted the #1 golf course in the Fraser Valley.
Sandpiper #11 Credit: Gayle Moss
The easily walkable par 72 course is 6,500 yards from the tips and offers vista views of the river and mountains throughout its 18 pristine holes.
Regardless of skill level, every golfer who tees it up on this work of art will be awed by its rugged beauty, while experiencing 4 hours of risk/reward shots that will make them want to return the next day to play it all over again.
The final 3 holes run along the river and provide stunning views of the water and Rowena’s Inn, which offers a gourmet kitchen and first-rate B&B and cabins for romantic getaways, golf vacations, weddings and corporate retreats.
Sandpiper is a golfer’s paradise. No houses mar the landscape and no sounds disturb your pre-shot routine, other than those made my Mother Nature and the 140 varieties of birds and 2,000+ eagles that inhabit the forest.
It’s a delightful trek I urge you to book a stay and play weekend. I head back every year for the great golf, awesome accommodation and delicious food, which includes big and juicy, BBQ’d dogs hot off the grill at the 11th hole.
Whistler
Whistler may be a winter wonderland for skiers, but it’s no hacker when it comes to world-class golf. It boasts of five fantastic golf courses, three of which are considered in the top 50 in all of Canada. Playing golf with a 360 degree view of mountains makes you feel like you’re in God’s Country.
Although all 5 courses are worth playing, if you had to pick just one, I’d go with Big Sky.
Big Sky (Robert Cupp)
Twenty-five miles north of Whistler is perhaps my favorite golf course in all of BC. Rated 4.5 stars by Golf Digest and ranked the Best Public Course in BC, Big Sky is all about big fairways, big uninterrupted mountain views and big adventure.
I’ve played this course many times and it never ceases to amaze me how small I feel standing in the valley looking up at the snow-capped peaks of Mount Currie. You really do feel like you are communing with Mother Nature here.
No houses, no crowds and no traffic, but lots of groomed fairways, fast greens, stunning views and wildlife make Big Sky the perfect escape for golfers looking for challenging golf that tests their game, but doesn’t drive them to dump their clubs into the ever present water hazards – except perhaps for the #1 handicap par 4 hole: Purgatory.
With a creek that crosses the fairway 4 different times, this hellish hole requires some serious talent in “target golf,” resulting in every player I know swapping his/her Pro V1 for a shag ball when stepping up to this tee.
But don’t let this hole intimidate you; wait until you reach the infamous 19th. Big Sky’s “Heli Golf” will take you to much edgier heights on a driving range on the peak of Mount Currie. Here you’ll experience golf as it was never meant to be played, where the phrase “longest drive” will take on a whole new meaning.
Sea To Sky
If you have time to make a stop on your way from Vancouver to Whistler, I highly recommend you take a few hours to enjoy a unique adventure in golf.
Furry Creek (Robert Muir Graves)
Furry Creek has been described in many ways by those who have had the pleasure to play it including awesome, unconventional, memorable, gorgeous, challenging, “a golfer’s amusement park” and even quirky. It truly is a unique golfing experience where “play” is the operative word. If you take yourself too seriously and try to beat the course, the course will beat you up.
Furry Creek #1: Photo credit: Gayle Moss
Cleverly carved into the side of a mountain Furry Creek isn’t long, but it’s tricky to par with its severe elevation changes, narrow fairways, small greens and ball-sucking ravines.
The panoramic views of the ocean are so breathtaking you’ll find yourself not really caring about your score.
Just bring extra balls so you can continue to play; more than one golfer has had to beg for balls from his buddies on this very challenging, target golf course.
Thompson – Shuswap
Thompson-Shuswap is one of BC’s newest golf destinations, but its youth should be no deterrent when prioritizing your play list in BC. I have played many courses in this region, and although there are some real treasures in the Kamloops area, nothing can really compare to these two masterpieces.
Tobiano (Thomas McBroom)
A few years ago I gave friend a trip to Tobiano as a gift. Having travelled a lot already that year, he wasn’t too thrilled making the 4 hour drive to play golf, but when he arrived at the golf course, his jaw dropped and my man of many words became speechless.
Courtesy Tobiano
Tobiano is nothing short of breathtaking!
As it meanders along a bluff above Kamloops Lake, 2008’s Best New Course in Canada takes golfers on a journey they will never forget. If I can give one piece of advice on this course, it is this – forget your score and just enjoy every shot because every shot requires your full attention on this challenging Thomas McBroom masterpiece. But between shots, hold your head high as you walk to your ball to truly appreciate the splendour all around you.
The winds can play havoc with your balls here, so don’t be surprised if a few end up in the canyon. I remember on the par 3, all carry, 7th hole playing with some giddy Tobiano Virgins. The winds picked up and all our tee shots ended in no man’s land. None of us started walking to the drop zone. “Hit ‘til you’re happy” was how we played that hole; score didn’t matter – pride did.
Sagebrush (Rod Whitman)
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to play a round of golf the way Old Tom Morris did back in the 1800s, look no further than Sagebrush Golf & Sporting Club.
Sagebrush #2: Photo credit: Gayle Moss
Nestled in the Nikola Valley a few hours north east of Vancouver, this minimalist-designed, links-style golf course will make you feel like you’ve been transported back to the Old Course at St. Andrews in the 19th century.
Although the course is first rate, what makes Sagebrush so unique is the freedom you feel when you play it. The club maxes out at 80 players per day which means you can play the course “your way”.
There are no tee markers (whoever has the honors decides where to tee up the ball on the 4 choices of tee boxes), no yardage markers other than a rock on each hole designating 150 yards, no rakes in bunkers, no multi-colored flags or front/middle/back pattern to their placement.
There are no marshals chasing you around the course, so if you don’t like the way you played that last hole, go back and play it again.
You can even take a break in the middle of your round at their Mongolian-style yurt to have a bite to eat and maybe do a little fly-fishing before heading out for a few more holes.
I really believe that this is how golf was meant to be played.
Okanagan Valley
The Okanagan Valley is probably BC’s best known summer destination for tourists looking for sand, sun, sailing, swimming, sumptuous sips (AKA wine) and sensational golf. You could spend a month here and never play the same course twice. But if you’re stretched for time, here are two “must plays” you don’t want to miss.
Predator Ridge (Les Furber, Doug Carrick)
I can never get enough of this simply amazing golf resort. The two golf courses are so different and yet both so delightful. I guarantee that once you play them, years later you’ll still remember these 36 holes as one of your most unforgettable golf experiences.
Ridge course #5: Courtesy Predator Ridge Resort
The original course, Predator designed by Les Furber in 1991, has a 4.5 star rating from Golf Digest, was voted best public golf course in all of Canada by ScoreGolf Magazine and sits in the top 1,000 courses in the world according to Rolex rankings.
A challenging links-style course with rolling fairways, undulating greens and ball-eating fescue, the Predator is aptly named. It looks so tame from the first tee, but don’t let the first shot fool you. This 7,090 yard course is no walk in the park.
The newer of the two courses, the 7,123 yard Ridge, is more like a mountain trek offering winding fairways carved out of the side of the rock, flatter greens and elevated tees with panoramic views of Lake Okanagan.
There are times you just want to stop and take in all the breathtaking scenery. One day a group in front of me finished putting and ran to their golf carts. I thought they were just concerned about pace of play, only to discover they were running for their cameras so they could return to the hole to snap some shots of the views from the flag.
The Ridge has a reputation for being a bit more playable and score-able than the Predator course, especially for recreational golfers, but I’ve played both a number of times and still can’t tell you which one I love the best – it all depends on which golfer in me showed up to play that day.
When scheduling your trip to this golf mecca, you must plan an overnight stay at a luxury spa resort only a few minutes up the hill from Predator Ridge called Sparking Hill. Opened in 2010, this spa hotel is simply brilliant – hosting over 3.5 million Swarovski Crystals in the public areas, rooms and award-winning gourmet restaurant.
Its 40,000 square foot European-inspired spa, clinic and wellness center is the largest spa in Canada and the perfect escape for companions who may want to skip a round and lie around being pampered. While you’re off golfing in the Okanagan heat, suggest they try the Cryotherapy Spa – the only cold sauna (where the thermometer registers -166°F) in North America. Brrrr!
Fairview Mountain (Les Furber)
Now here’s a golf course I love to hate and hate to leave. Fairview Mountain, located in Oliver, BC is an award-winning golf facility with a 4 star rating from Golf Digest.
Nestled on a desert mountainside the course offers beautiful views of wineries and generous fairways that encourage you to grip it and rip it off the tee. But aggressive play needs to reign itself in when you hit the elevated, lightning fast, undulating and sloping greens guarded by notorious pot bunkers that will make you wonder why you play this blasted game!
Yes, it’s a tough test of golf, but it’s one no real golfer should miss.
Vancouver Island
Storey Creek (Les Furber)
Rated the best public course on Vancouver Island and 3rd in the province, with 4.5 stars from Golf Digest, Storey Creek is called a “Course in Nature” for good reason.
Carved out of a 2nd growth forest just south of Campbell River in the middle of Vancouver Island, this 6,699 yard trek is a good workout for those who choose to walk the narrow and very challenging fairways that are home to bears, bald eagles and lots of bambis.
Each hole is isolated and different from the next making every tee shot a new adventure in this wooded cathedral that is Audubon Certified for Environmental Planning and Preservation.
No planes, trains or automobiles disrupt the serene songs of Mother Nature, allowing you to focus on every shot, which is fundamental for a good round here.
This tranquil championship course is all about good golf at a good price. At peak season Storey Creek green fees max out at $69 if you’re footing it, so step right up and play one of BC’s best hidden gems as soon as you can.
Crown Isle (Graham Cooke)
Less than an hour from Storey Creek nestled under the shadows of the colossal Comox Glacier is one of the island’s most luxurious golf resorts.
Awarded “Most Romantic Accommodations in Western Canada” by Golf Course Ranking Magazine, Crown Isle showcases an impeccably maintained, championship golf course that is adorned yearly with 10,000 annuals, and offers gorgeous views of the Beaufort Mountains.
The course is forgiving off its many tee positions and hosts large greens, making it very playable for golfers of all skill levels. It also boasts an excellent driving range, complete with chipping areas, putting greens and practice bunkers.
Crown Isle also has a massive clubhouse with a pro shop, pub, steak house, banquet rooms, a classic car museum, and a cigar and cognac room.
So if you are looking to be pampered this summer with more than just a great round of golf, you really should check in at this platinum-rated golf resort.
Kootenay – Rockies
Snuggled up on the sunny side of the Rocky Mountains is Canada’s mountain golf paradise. It’s a bit of a trek to get there, but it is most definitely worth the drive.
Greywolf (Doug Carrick)
If you love mountain golf, then you must play Greywolf at Panorama, located 11 miles west of Invermere-on-the-Lake on BC’s eastern frontier.
Greywolf: Courtesy KootenayRockies.com
Recognized as one of the best golf courses in all of Canada, this alpine masterpiece delivers a golfing experience you will never forget. Greywolf offers lush fairways, meandering creeks, manicured greens and dramatic elevation changes with views that will leave you breathless.
It is a course that presents a great test of golf for even the most accomplished player, but it’s also designed to delight high handicap golfers as well.
The signature #6 Cliff-hanger par 3 is probably one of the most photographed holes in the world, so bring your camera. Hitting to an island green across “Hopeful Canyon” will have you giddy with the thrill of hitting such a daunting target 150 yards away.
And the 4th hole, aptly named “Descent” drops over 200 feet from the tee to green giving you an opportunity to record the longest drive of your life.
Greywolf is truly a spectacular golf course you don’t want to miss.
Wildstone (Gary Player)
The only Black Knight-designed golf course in Canada, Wildstone was awarded the Regional Golf Facility of the Year in 2012 by the BC PGA.
Wildstone. Photo by Chris Andrews. Courtesy KootenayRockies.com
Player says Wildstone is the most beautiful site that he’d ever had the privilege to design a golf course on, which says a lot since he’s designed more than 300 courses worldwide.
Measuring over 7,100 yards, the course plays long, but doesn’t waste a yard as it showcases the majestic Rocky Mountains from the moment you step up on the first tee until you putt out on 18.
As you navigate your way through the fairways, water features, dramatic bunkering and undulating greens, you’ll face a number of demanding shots that require accuracy, others that require a bit of magic and some risk and reward opportunities that will make you think twice.
However you play this wonderful course, I guarantee you that the whole experience will be fun and memorable in keeping with Gary Player’s brand.
Ready to Book? Click for more information
Morgan Creek
Sandpiper
http://www.prettyestateresort.com/sandpipergolfcourse
Big Sky
Furry Creek
http://www.golfbc.com/courses/furry_creek
Tobiano
Sagebrush
Predator Ridge
Fairview Mountain
Storey Creek
Crown Isle
GreyWolf
Wildstone
Gayle Moss is a passionate golfer and prolific writer about “all things golf”. She’s written numerous articles for both US and Canadian golf publications including daily blog posts for Golf for Women Magazine. Between writing assignments and consulting to businesses in the golf industry she provides golf news and commentary from a business woman’s on http://www.golfgal-blog.com/
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