Welcome to Whistler, British Columbia, the hip mountain getaway two hours north of Vancouver, Canada that's becoming almost as popular for golf as it is for its outdoor adventures. You can play 18 holes in the morning and be mountain biking down steep trails by noon. Or ride a jet boat up a secluded river in the morning and tee off at a world-class country club just hours later.
... full article »
If you showed somebody a photograph of each hole on the championship course at Bootleg Gap Golf in British Columbia's East Kootenays region, they might not believe all 18 share the same scorecard. Some of the fairways are surrounded by fescue grass that sways in the wind. Others are bordered by towering pine trees that don't sway for anything. Some trace the banks of a river. Bootleg Gap offers a little taste of everything, and the result is a 7,157-yard track that's become a popular hangout for locals and is also frequented by value-seeking out-of-towners.
... full article »
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, less than a two-hour drive north of Vancouver up the coast, is a popular retreat for skiing and summer activities. The hotel's 18-hole golf course, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and is one of Canada's best mountain tracks. Brandon Tucker shows us more in this photo gallery.
... full article »
With towering pine trees separating most of the holes at Golden Golf Club, you'll seldom see another group. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll have the course all to yourself. With moose, elk, eagles and bears, wildlife usually comes into play. But while you might be easily distracted by the mountain vistas or your four-legged followers, the golf course has teeth, too.
... full article »
Golden Golf Club is tucked away in the Columbia Valley, nestled between the Rockies on one side and the Purcell Mountains on the other. Surrounded by untouched wilderness, the golf course's rugged terrain was also carefully preserved. Mature trees line nearly every hole and water also has a prominent presence throughout the course.
... full article »
Ask one of the locals about slope rating, and they might tell you the scale runs from beginner to the experts-only double black diamond runs. Make no mistake, Whistler is a ski and snowboard town first. When the sun finally warms up British Columbia's favorite mountain playground, however, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler becomes a world-class golf resort. Wes Gilbertson has more from British Columbia.
... full article »
The big news for spa buffs is the debut of Sparkling Hill Resort in the Okanagan Valley, a dazzling property with a must-see-to-believe spa. Sparking Hill was designed in the mold of a European wellness hotel. Guests are encouraged to come for an extended stay. Nearby, Predator Ridge Golf Resort has its own smaller, functional spa and salon, recently remodeled and run by AVEDA.
... full article »
Fairmont Banff Springs is one of two classic, Stanley Thompson-designed courses in Alberta's Canadian Rockies. Opened in 1928, the course is known around the world for one of the most exciting par 3s in golf, the "Devil's Cauldron" fourth, that plays from an elevated tee over water to a well protected green that sits right next to a jagged, rocky mountainside.
... full article »
Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club is a new, upscale golf course in Alberta's Canadian Rockies in the mountain town of Canmore and the flagship course of the Three Sisters Mountain Village. Across the valley from another modern mountain golf course, Silvertip Golf Resort, Stewart Creek opened in 2000 and was designed by Gary Browning.
... full article »
Silvertip Golf Resort, located in Alberta's Canadian Rockies, is one of the area's newest golf courses, and it's certainly the most dramatic. The course is set on a mountainside, which sets up more than 600 feet of elevation change from the course's highest to lowest point.
... full article »
Kananaskis Country Golf Course in Alberta's Canadian Rockies actually consists of two 18-hole golf courses, the Mt. Kidd and Mt. Lorette, named for the mountains they sit beneath. Both golf courses were built by Robert Trent Jones Sr., who actually had a hand in finding the location. Originally planned for the other side of the valley, Jones saw the Kananaskis River and mountain backdrops and persuaded the Canadian government to let them build on the present side.
... full article »