What would you get if you combined Napa Valley, the Rocky Mountains and Seattle, and added great golf courses throughout? British Columbia (BC). The westernmost province in Canada has aspects of all those destinations and more. There are the wines of Okanagan Valley, the four-season charms of Whistler, the scenic Kootenay mountains, the cozy towns of Vancouver Island and the excitement of Vancouver.
As far as golf, SCOREGolf, Canada’s leading national golf magazine, ranks 17 BC golf courses among Canada’s Top 100, and 12 of them are available for public play.
Golf Digest named Whistler “Canada’s number one golf destination,” touting Big Sky GC (Bob Cupp), Nicklaus North GC (Jack Nicklaus), Fairmont Chateau Whistler GC (Robert Trent Jones II) and Whistler GC (Arnold Palmer.) Add in the top-drawer accommodations at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler — the International Golf Tour Operator’s North American Golf Resort of the Year for 2018 — and unique resort experiences like Scandinave Spa and a peak-to-peak gondola ride (of course Whistler is also a renowned ski destination in winter), and you’ve got the makings of a great British Columbia golf vacation.
On the drive from Vancouver to Whistler, we suggest you add a round at Furry Creek GC to experience BC’s most scenic golf hole, No. 14, located right on the shore of Howe Sound.
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- St Eugene Golf Resort and Casino near Cranbrook, BC.
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- A golfer at Copper Point Resort in Invermere, BC.
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- Fairmont Hot Springs Resort hot pools.
Hop across the Strait of Georgia to the provincial capital of Victoria and you’ll find The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa, offering 36 holes of awesome Nicklaus-designed golf, including the Mountain Course — one of the most fun and scenic you’ll ever play. Add in a visit to Victoria’s charming Inner Harbour or the Butchart Gardens to round out your Victoria golf vacation.
There’s also the option of tack-ling the Vancouver Island Golf Trail, a collection of thirteen courses complemented by small towns and great food and drink. FYI, Vancouver Island is renowned as a microbrewery haven.
In the central part of the province, you’ll find what is affectionately called the “Napa of the North,” BC’s Thompson Okanagan region, home to Predator Ridge Golf Resort, where two golf courses rank high in SCOREGolf’s Top 100, Tower Ranch and nearby Tobiano. There are dozens of wineries in the Okanagan region. Talking Rock has recently ranked No. 1 on the British Columbia Golf Charts as well, and it’s well worth a stay at Quaaout Lodge and Spa for a unique indigenous experience.
Among BC’s best-kept secrets are the golf experiences in the Kootenay Rockies, where you will find Wildstone from SCOREGolf’s Top 100 list, and another must-play at Trickle Creek. Best stop for lunch? Pedal & Tap on Kimberley’s Platzl. An hour further north is Copper Point — again one of British Columbia’s best. Here, you can pair hot springs with golf swings in a glorious mountain setting.
To learn more, visit GolfinBritishColumbia.com and explore the 7 Must Visit BC Golf Destinations!
