As seen on Vancitybuzz.com by @jeffleyland & @guysongolf

Playing golf can still be great, even if your game is not.It is important to like who you play with, but also where you play! There are so many lush “tracks” to consider around British Columbia, but to make this Guys On Golf  list it must be fun to play, have stellar customer service and somewhat forgiving bunkers and rough.

The game of golf is crazy enough. One day you post a score of 112 and the next week you chip in for eagle for an 89 and break 90 for the first time in your life. This is why you play the game — you never know which way the ball will roll that day.

By carefully choosing the location of where you play, you can enjoy brilliant views and trees, great service and cold beers even when your game puts you out of bounds. Private courses are just that… private and will remain off this list because it would be a tease.

These are 5 great golf courses in and around Greater Vancouver that will leave a smile on your face. Get out and play!

MORGAN CREEK GOLF CLUB – SURREY

The scoop:  Beautifully manicured and great service.

Why people should play here: With tree lined rolling fairways and white sand bunkers, the course is designed for golfers of all ability levels. The Clubhouse, overlooking the course and the North Shore mountains,  provides a wonderful setting for a cool beverage, lunch or dinner, after your round.

Number of Tees & Colours: (5) Red, White, Silver, Black, Blue

Yardage from the Whites: 6,041 yards

Number of holes with water: (10)  (Have a few extra balls handy)

Signature hole: The 15th hole requires an accurate tee shot to a fairway framed by trees and the green by a creek on one side and white sand bunker on the other. Beautiful layout.

Green Fees: Call for the best rate & tee times 604-531-4653

Beverage Cart:Yes.

Drinking water available on the course: Yes.

Driving Range:  Yes, with grass tees and target greens.

Chipping/Putting area: Yes.

Lessons: Yes.

Patio for Après Golf: Yes

Weddings: Yes. Call 604-542-5327

Tournaments: Yes. Call 604-542-5322

Address: 3500 Morgan Creek Way – Surrey

Website: Morgancreekgolf.com

Twitter: @morgancreekgolf

SANDPIPER GOLF COURSE – HARRISON MILLS

The Scoop: Beautiful, spectacular, tranquil, scenic and relaxing.

Why people should play here: Canadian course designer Russ Olsen fully took advantage of the spectacular water and mountain vistas when designing this masterpiece! With so many outstanding holes, smooth layout and breath-talking scenery — its easy to create an unforgettable golf experience.

Sets of Tees & Colours: (3) Black, White & Red

Yardage from the Whites: 6008

Number of holes with water:  (6)  – 9th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th & 18th

Signature hole: The 486-yard, par 5, 15th.  Take a look at this video fly over of the hole.

Green Fees: Call for the best rates & tee times 877-796-1001 or 604-796-1000
Preferred pricing is also available for those who choose to join their Classic Rewards Program

Beverage Cart: Yes. Tipping helps your chipping.

Driving Range: No, but there is a Hitting Net with two stalls.

Drinking water available: Yes. Including water stations on the 4th, 7th, 12th, & 15th holes. Water also available in the on-course beverage cart and at the turn at the hot dog stand known as the “Eagles Nest.”

Chipping/Putting area: Yes 80-yard chipping & putting area for short game practice.

Lessons:  Yes. Find out more online

Patio for Après Golf: Yes. Rivers Edge Restaurant

Weddings: Yes. Call 877-796-1001  ext 226 Wedding venues

Tournaments: Yes. Call 877-796-1001 ext 230

Address: 14282 Morris Valley Road – Harrison Mills, BC

Website: www.sandpipergc.com

Twitter: @sandpipergc

UNIVERSITY GOLF CLUB – VANCOUVER

The Scoop: A complete joy to play!

Why people should play here: Because you never get tired of playing it – it is that enjoyable year after year…and you can’t beat the location.

Sets of Tees & Colours: (4) Red, White, Blue, Black

Yardage from the Whites: 6147 yards

Number of holes with water: Just one on the 2nd hole. 5 others have ditches that will contain water in certain times of the year.

Signature hole: The par 4, 10th hole because of the elevated tee and the beautiful view down into the ‘valley’ of that end of the golf course…also because of the proximity to the clubhouse/patio – probably one of the most photographed holes (as shown above).

Green Fees:  Call for the best rates & tee times at 604-224-7799 or book online

Beverage Cart: Yes.

Drinking water available: Yes. Bring your water bottles. Filtered water refilling stations outside the Golf Shop & 10^th tee or you can purchase from beverage carts.

Driving Range: Yes. Plus a Taylor Made Performance & Fitting Centre. Call 604-240-1512

Chipping/Putting area: Yes

Lessons: Yes

Patio for Après Golf: Yes. The Westward Ho Public House & Grill has of the best patios around the city

Weddings: Yes. Call Joni at 604-225-2312

Tournaments: Yes. Call Aaron at 604-225-2308

Address: 5185 University Blvd – Vancouver

Website: universitygolf.com

Twitter: @UniversityGolf

PAGODA RIDGE GOLF COURSE – LANGLEY

The scoop: Fresh and new with breathtaking views and a great set up. Golf the wall!

Why people should play here: Wide fairways, bent grass greens, challenging for all levels, the best drainage in the lower mainland with views of Golden Ears Mountains and Mount Baker. Featuring a miniature Great Wall of China on the course to complete Asian-themed design.

Sets of Tees & Colours: (5) Gold(long) Gold, Blue, White, Green

Yardage from the Whites: 5898 yards

Number of holes with water:  (8)

Signature hole : The 10^th hole because of the amazing view and island green.

Green fees: Call for the best rates & tee times at 604-856-0929 or book online

Beverage Cart: Yes

Drinking water available: Yes

Patio for Après Golf: Yes

Driving Range:  No (Not yet)

Chipping/Putting area: Yes

Lessons: No

Weddings: Yes

Tournaments: Yes. Book online

Address: 7887 – 264th street – Langley, B.C.

Website: pagodaridge.ca

Twitter: @golfpagodaridge

NICKLAUS NORTH GOLF COURSE – WHISTLER

The skinny: Whistler Golf at its Finest!

Why people should play here: Just minutes from the resort village of Whistler, Nicklaus North stands out as one of the great courses in North America. It’s no wonder this is only one of a few rare golf courses in the world bearing Jack Nicklaus’ name. This par 71, 18-hole course winds along a gentle valley floor offering you a spectacular setting as your golfing skills are tested to the fullest.

Sets of Tees & Colours:  (6) Orange (“Quik” tee for beginners) Red, Green, White, Blue, Gold

Yardage from the Whites:  6004

Number of holes with water:  (13)

Signature hole The signature 17th hole at Nicklaus North also happens to be one of its most demanding. From the tee, you’re faced with a bunkered “island” green surrounded by stunning glacier-fed Green Lake, and framed by snow-capped mountains.

Green Fees: Call for the best rates & tee times 1-800-386-9898 or 604-938-9898 or book online

Beverage Cart: Yes. Exceptional service

Drinking water available: Yes

Driving Range: Yes

Chipping/Putting area: Yes

Lessons: Yes

Patio for Après Golf: Yes. Table Nineteen Lakeside Eatery

Weddings: Yes. Call 1-800-386-9898 ext 14

Tournaments: Yes. Call 1-800-386-9898  ext 14

Address: 8080 Nicklaus North Blvd. Whistler, BC

Website: nicklausnorth.com

Twitter: @NicklausNorthGC

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Free Martini’s if you play fast in Palm Springs!

Palm Springs is the perfect spot for many reasons: shopping, pool parties, sunshine, fabulous service and an abundance of golf courses. No wonder thousands of Vancouverites head down to the Desert each year to escape the rain and find their happy place. Many spend extended periods of time in PS year after year, earning them the nickname ‘Snowbirds’ to our friends down south.

Recently, Guys on Golf made their first visit to PS to attend a friend’s wedding and mixed in a little morning golf at Indian Wells Golf Resort. Between the stunning views, top-notch service and immaculate greens it is a truly special experience no matter your playing level.

There are two courses at the Resort; The Celebrity Course which is a park like resort setting with lots of colourful plants and flowers and tight tee shots, rolling play and water holes. Our group elected to play The Players Course and we still had our hands full.

“The Players Course is tough but fair. It is a links inspired rolling terrain with tightly mowed fairways and greens,” says Head Golf Professional Tom Burley. “It allows you to hit all the clubs in your bag. It is a shot maker’s course and good ball striking is rewarded. The sandy base for the grass allows for perfect drainage and makes for flawless playing conditions and putting surfaces.”

With seven different tee boxes to choose from, we went with the easiest and kept par 3’s reasonable between 124-164 yards. While we enjoyed perfect weather conditions during our early morning round, our biggest problem was figuring out why our shots were flying way over the greens by about 10 yards. Was it all that time in the gym or maybe the new sticks? Neither. Once we realized the air was thinner, being above sea level, we made the necessary adjustments and went with less club on our approach shots resulting in more bogey’s and less triples.

Unlike other golf experiences where things can be strict, the staff at Indian Wells Golf Resort went out of its way more than once to make sure we were having fun and had everything we needed. Maybe it was the fact that I was wearing my retro Vancouver Canadians cap, but it seemed like they treated every guest that way. In fact, they actually have an incentive for fast play and offer a round of Grey Goose Martini’s to any group who finishes in 4 hours and 20 minutes or less. What a concept!

“The service at Indian Wells is second to none. From the time you arrive you are treated like a member of the facility,” says Burley. “Every staff member aims to make your day of golf the best possible. The staff embraces a culture of hospitality like no other. This is one place where the associates do care about the product they are presenting.”

Whether you bring your own clubs, send them by Fed Ex or go with their rentals, make sure you book ahead of time for a chance to grab a great tee time and don’t’ forget to bring your sun hat. Play alertly and those smooth-tasting martinis will be waiting for you.

We got the Guys together along with a camera crew for an amazing Helijet trip from Vancouver to Victoria, British Columbia and a competitive round at Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa  

Special thanks to La Limo Victoria , The Strathcona Hotel, The Roof Top Surf Club and our friends at Helijet

Our plan is to take this trailer and develop it into a Reality/Lifestyle/Travel TV show that everyone can enjoy.

If you would like to help with this project drop us an email at guysongolf@gmail.com

Right from the first tee, we here at Guys On Golf had a good feeling about Pagoda Ridge. By the time we finished 18, we were already planning our next round and getting another crack at it…which is a good problem for a new golf course to have. It is a fun, yet challenging PGA style course with wide fairways and bent grass greens and opened in August of 2012.

It is located just off the 264th street exit on the #1 Highway in Langley. Click here for directions

When they say come “Golf the Wall” they really mean it with this one of a kind brick replica of the Great Wall of China on the 14th hole that you actually drive over, adding to your already memorable experience.

Some impressive numbers for their first Summer, including selling more than 20,000 rounds – the family run course was thrilled with their start.

Larry, along with brothers Lenny, Lloyd and sister Tammy Stamnes helped put this family dream in motion after their father Lyall had the vision and the land for such a unique Asian inspired theme.

With a new Pro Shop and BBQ area under construction, they are ready to host a number of tournaments and events in 2013, including the Vancouver Golf Tour at the end of September.

Pagoda Ridge opens for the season on February 15th, but you can already start to book your tee times here

Full Review

(All scores are ranked from 1 to 5 “beers”)

Course Conditions:

(Great new greens with true roll and the right mix of trees and trimmed rough)

Value for cost:

(Unlike other courses that gouge you with green fees, they charge $45 during the week & $55 on weekends)

Beer Rules/Cart Staff:

(We grabbed beers at the turn and only saw the cart girl once on the 15th)

Drinking Water on Course:

(No safe drinking water on the course. Bring your own bottle or pick up some at the clubhouse before)

Pace of Play:

(Pace of play was perfect and the course is well spaced out)

Difficulty Rating:

(A challenging mix of holes and a few doglegs. Lots of tees to choose from depending on how hard you want to make it)

Staff and Service:

(Great people with great attitudes and huge love for all golfers)

Jeff Leyland and Matthew Orr talking all about Hawaii helping plan your next golf or family getaway to Maui. Featuring Kaanapali, Kapalua and Wailea Golf and resorts.

Follow us on Twitter: @jeffleyland @matty_orr @guysongolf

Check out the video podcast! Larry Wassill of GolfTown picked Serio Garcia to win a couple days early, while I ripped him for not winning on the PGA Tour since 2008.

Special Guest: Geroy Simon of the BC Lions

Catch up on our full podcasts

Check out our AM650 show page too!

Catch up on our full podcasts

Check out our AM650 show page too!