The Nick Faldo designed course offers some high quality golf which one wouldn’t necessarily expect being out in the country and far from any major destinations. With four sets of tee boxes, the course plays from 5431 to 7207 yards offering a pleasurable experience for all golfers. Built with the intention of being an exclusive private residence course, the greens have more character and undulation than you would experience on a standard resort course, meaning you will never tire of rolling them to the cup. Opened for public play the last couple of years, word has it that access to the course will only be available when combined with overnight stays.

We had the pleasure of teeing it up on a comfortable October weekend, playing 54 holes over our two days. Every hole presents its own challenges, however you never feel that the course is out to get you. Generous fairways and a layout that presents itself off the tee allow for your good shots to be rewarded and your less than stellar shots requiring creativity to recover from.

Though the bunkers and waste areas appear to not have much sand in them, they are indeed 100’s of feet deep. The naturalness of these sand areas, present the golfer with a unique challenge. Be sure to utilize the practice area before playing your round and even get a tip or two from the pro shop on how the get up and down.

Picking just one signature hole proved to be a difficult task as each of the 18 holes is remarkable in its own right. I’d like to say that # 6, 12 and 16 really stood out for me but I feel I’d be leaving too many other beauties without mention. The 1^st day highlight would have to go to our playing partner, Kelly Smith from Canmore, who recorded her first ever eagle on the par 4 10th, holing out from the fairway from 77 yrds. Not an easy feat, with water guarding the entire length of the green and a back pin tucked to the slope.

The Wilderness Club’s 8 bedroom lodge can accommodate up to 18 people providing a great environment for groups or couples. Each bedroom has its own bathroom and shower and is unique in its theme. A TV room and study are available for all guests to enjoy as well as outdoor BBQ’s to cook after round treats or dinner. More self-contained units are planned for build in 2012, allowing for a greater opportunity for ‘Stay and Play’ packages. Staying in the Lodge also comes with your own lake. Grob lake is just out the back doorway, and is an inviting option to relax in after your day on the course. You may choose to prepare your own meals in the lodge’s spacious kitchen or take in your food and beverage requirements in the Clubhouse.

Though driving 3.5 hrs from Calgary may seem a little much to play one golf course, you’d be hard pressed to convince me that’s true. A game played by some of the avid members, features a 4 round tournament, where each round is played from a different set of tee boxes with the total score being combined and thus producing a winner. The Wilderness Club is a destination and once you arrive, play, stay and play again, you won’t want to leave. You’ll find yourself starting to plan your next trip back as you drive out the gates, and that is where we at Golf Canada’s West can help you out. Give us a call 1 877 323 3633.

A fine example of this would be Canmore Golf and Curling Club’s Superintendent – Reid Solodan, who has been blogging the recent news from their turfcare department. You can stay tuned to Reid’s updates by following – www.canmoregolfclubturfcare.blogspot.com

Notice the surrounding snow on Canmore’s # 1 hole and the contrasting emerald green colour of the putting surface. The abundance of snow this winter helped to insulate the turf grass and the covering of the greens with spring tarps has enabled Reid and his team to ensure that golfers will find themselves playing on and to top notch surfaces.

2011 – Opening dates

Canmore Golf and Curling Club – May 6 – 9 holes to start
Jasper Park Lodge – May 6
Banff Springs – May 13 – tentative
Stewart Creek – May 18
Silvertip Resort – May 19
Kananaskis Country Golf Course – May 20

Predator Ridge Golf Resort chosen at the top new golf course in Canada

SCOREGolf Magazine has named The Ridge Course, designed by award-winning Canadian golf architect, Doug Carrick, “Best New Course in Canada” for 2010.

The 7,190-yard par-72 Ridge Course was built at a cost of $10 million, and features dramatic elevation changes, stunning mountain vistas, beautiful rock outcroppings and breathtaking views of Lake Okanagan.

Construction of the course was completed in September 2009, allowing ample time for the lush greenery to grow in before its opening in June 2010.

“Receiving SCOREGolf’s prestigious ‘Best New Course’ award is an honour for Predator Ridge golf resort and confirms our reputation as the premier golf destination in Canada,” says Rod Cochrane, general manager at Predator Ridge Golf Resort.
“This accolade truly reflects all the care and hard work that was put into The Ridge Course from start to finish by Carrick Design, NMP Golf Construction, our team at Predator Ridge Golf Resort and everyone involved in the project.”

The Ridge Course is defined by spectacular white-sand bunkers, generous, tree-lined fairways and magnificent granite outcroppings. When golfers reach the fourth green and gaze over the ridge looking down at Lake Okanagan, the breathtaking view gives away the inspiration for the course’s name.

SCOREGolf Magazine is the largest circulation golf publication in Canada and releases the ‘Best New Course’ ranking biennially. Courses eligible this year opened during the 2009 season or at the very beginning of the 2010 season. The judging panel is made up of media members, professional players, public golfers and other golf industry members. Courses were rated based on beauty, strategy, challenge, strength and variation of holes, conditioning and fun factor.

Excerpt from ScoreGolf magazine:

Predator Ridge Golf Resort – The Ridge Course

It may not be entirely new – with six holes created over an existing course – but The Ridge Course at Predator Ridge Golf Resort contains some of Doug Carrick’s most breathtaking work in a career of building stunning golf holes.

With a majority of the site located on rocky ground full of dramatic elevation shifts, Carrick crafted a fascinating series of holes akin to what one finds in Ontario’s Muskoka region. Though it may start a bit slowly, by the time golfers reach the 244-yard par-4 fifth hole, with a tee shot that plunges 100 feet to wide open green below, The Ridge Course comes alive.

The best holes – such as the sixth, with its half-blind tee shot skirting a canyon wall, and the heavily bunkered 10th – utilized the rugged site like a hand in a glove. And just when you think it is over, the course emerges for two final muscular par 4s that can wreck any good round.

Building in such a jagged terrain was surely not an easy proposition, but Carrick made it look easy, and the result is an exciting, challenging, aesthetically astonishing golf course worth of this award.

- Robert Thomson

So after the meet & greet and the Silvertip team’s presentation it was time to head out onto the course.  And as it was June 1st, and in staying with tradition, Chris and I agreed to a match.  Chris plays to a 6 and I play to a 16, so at Silvertip, Chris had to give me 12 strokes!   Game on!

Silvertip is a shot maker’s delight, and Chris was in his element.  By the time we got through 9, I was down 3, and by 13 I’m down 4.  I have Chris right where I want him!!  In my defence, I was riding with Cathy Resche, Silvertip’s new Corporate Sales Manager, and she and I were talking away about Silvertip’s Resort Club and other initiatives we will be working on and I was a little distracted.  So on 14 I thought I had better bear down!

Now Chris never “folds like a cheap suit”, so he isn’t easy to beat, but by 17 I’m only 1 down with 1 to play.  Chris pars in and and I double; Chris wins 2 up!  And the bet was the winner fetches this afternoon’s coffee, so I am off to Beamer’s for a couple of lattes to get thru the afternoon!

But what a day at Silvertip!  Great company, a solid match on a golf course that undeniably has some of the most spectacular scenery in the Canadian Rockies!  An experience that never gets old!

The Delta Whistler Village Suites are centrally located in the Village on Main St., within easy walking distance of Whistler’s dining and nightlife.  One of the great things we can take advantage of is the Delta Whistler Village Suite’s 2-bedroom suites.  Affordable, comfortable accommodation right in the heart of it all!  Be sure to check it out on our website at: Delta Whistler Village Suites And as an added bonus, we are pleased to offer a “Stay 5 / Pay for 4″ package for 2010!  Get 1 night free,  and golf all 4 of Whistler’s great golf courses:  Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, Nicklaus North Golf Course, Whistler Golf Club & Big Sky Golf & Country Club.  Call us for details: 877 323 3633.

When I walked into the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, I was blown away with the view of Victoria’s inner harbour from the hotel lobby!  The Provincial Legislative Building, The Empress and Royal BC Museum were all there right in front of me.  Victoria’s harbour is a busy, active place with float planes, international ferries and is walkable for all.  The hotel is only a 10 minutes walk to Victoria’s downtown core, with its great selection of restaurants and stores.   A suggestion?  Be sure to ask us about upgrading to Deluxe Rooms.  You will be very surprised!  For more detail log onto:  Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort

Well it just seems like winter doesn’t want to relent and let spring take hold. The Canmore Golf and Curling Club has been open since April 25th and continues to welcome hearty golfers onto the links.  Next in line to open will be the two courses that make up the Kananaskis Country Golf Course. They have revised their opening date and now are shooting for a May 10th opening.  Stewart Creek is going to open to the golfing public on May 13th, while across the valley, Silvertip Resort will begin their season on May 14th. Down the road in Banff, the Fairmont Banff Springs golf course will look to open on 9 holes on May 8th, with the full 27 holes being available for play May 14th.  Jasper has been enjoying some great weather and that has allowed the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge golf course to be open since May 1st.

Moving into the Columbia Valley, Eagle Ranch opened in great shape on April 1st, while the Copperpoint Golf Course opened on April 2nd.  The Greywolf golf course in Panorama is also set to open up on May 4th.

We are looking at another beautiful season of golfing in the Canadian Rockies, so look at your calendars and get out and play!

Give Gord and Chris a call at 877 – 323 -3633 and let them hook you up with awesome golf packages in Alberta and British Columbia.

More often than not, the average golfer jumps out of their car and heads directly for the 1st tee without properly warming up. Just like all sports, golf deserves recognition that the movements required for a proper golf swing put a tremendous amount of pressure on the muscles in the back to perform.  Without a proper warm up you risk injury, many lost balls or requests for a do over.

Before hitting the driving range and welcoming a new season, why not start an exercise /stretching program at home. It doesn’t have to be onerous, or require your whole night or weekend. Most core exercises can be performed in front of the TV during episodes of ‘ The Marriage Ref’, with exercise bands or just your human body.

Resist the urge to pull your driver out and instead hit two balls with each club (start with a sand wedge) and hold a strong balanced finish.

Your back will thank you and people in the stalls next to you won’t be scared.

Anyways, I ran into the Rick Eichele, Head Professional at the course and he and his crew where out setting up the driving range mats. Looks like they are going to open the range tomorrow. I can almost feel the low scores starting to materialize.

The frost delay also allowed time for a personal tour of the recently completed Carrick 18. Stunning is but one adjective I’d use to describe Predator Ridge’s newest addition. Slated to open in August of 2010, it looks like you could tee it up now. The course meanders through the more mountainous sections of the property while using 9 existing holes to complete the course. A lot of the tee boxes are elevated and the landing areas appear to be quite generous. You will definitely want to select the proper tees to play from so you can fully enjoy your experience. It amazes me how golf course architects can view a piece of land and then create a place for us to enjoy our addictions.

With the sun finally warming up the greens and allowing the grounds crew a chance to get a head start on their aeration duties, I met with my playing partners. I was fortunate to play with three members who helped make my first time experience memorable, showing me the line on every tee box (and I even listened).  Even though we followed a couple of holes behind the crew on an aeration day couldn’t dampen my enjoyment of playing what is truly a first class golf facility.

After my round, I wandered over to the fitness facility and swam for 30 minutes in the facility’s pool which features two 25 metres lanes. Being a swimmer, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to be at a resort that has 25 metre lengths instead of the 4 stroke flip, 4 stroke flip lengths. The rest of the work out areas are spacious, combining both free weights and fitness machines to keep your body limber for golf. Don’t forget to ask about various fitness classes that are offered throughout the week.

 Feel like pampering yourself? The resort has its own Aveda Salon and Spa. Allow Cheryl and her certified therapists to provide you the blissful atmosphere you deserve!

Thank you to my hosts, Ingrid Dilschneider (Resort Sales Manager) and Thom Killingsworth (Director of Resort Operations) for a spectacular experience!