Just back from a trip to beautiful British Columbia, westernmost of our provinces here in Canada. We had the opportunity to golf at Wildstone, Trickle Creek, Osoyoos, Predator Ridge - Predator & Ridge courses, Talking Rock, and Tobiano.
Rather than incite a frenzied discussion of each course (although that is certainly welcome), this photo tour is meant more to show, to some degree, courses which may or may not be well known in other parts of the world, and hopefully spark interest which may result in future play.
After our cousins reunion and 5 days in Penticton, we ventured north to the Predator Ridge resort southwest of Vernon, a couple of hours drive north of Penticton. We enjoyed a stay&play at the resort, lunching with Dick Zokol, creator of the wonderful Sagebrush Club and now Executive Director, Golf Development, who mentioned to us the idea of helping to create a third course at the Predator Ridge resort, to be a minimalist course much like Sand Hills in Nebraska. Hopefully the economy will turn around (soon) to see that happen. We golfed the Predator course in the late afternoon, and the newer Ridge course the next morning, before moving on to Talking Rock and Tobiano.
From their website...
"It’s special here. You’ll notice it the minute you step onto one of our 36 tee boxes. Predator Ridge is the place to indulge your lifelong passion for golf or to begin a new love affair with the sport. Our two Okanagan golf courses are set in a semi-arid mountainous playground that will quite simply take your breath away.
Designed by legendary course architect Les Furber, The Predator Course offers a challenge for every level of player and is one of the best offerings of golf in Canada. The rolling hills, long grasses and undulating greens make for a truly unforgettable golfing experience. On top of the many accolades that The Predator Course receives each year, the most noteworthy to date is our 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest, the highest designation given for golf in Canada. Balancing length with design strategy, The Predator Course is a challenge for players of every level. With stunning grassy dunes rolling to the horizon, it is truly stunning. Walk in the footsteps of the greats. These greens have been played by the games very best. No wonder The Predator Course earns award after award, including a 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest, the highest designation given in Canada and the highest rating of any golf course in the Okanagan. The Predator Course was also recently named one of the top 10 public golf courses in BC by SCOREGolf and one of two public golf courses in Western Canada to rank in SCOREGolf’s top 25 golf courses in Canada."
Some photos from the front nine of the Predator course...
We spotted one of the "Predators"...
I believe that fellow GCA'er Bob Jenkins is a member of the resort. Perhaps Bob could take a moment to give us his thoughts on the Predator course. It's definitely the more "linksy" of the two courses at the resort, being out in the open more. There's definitely some vertical movement in the land, as there is on the Ridge course (photos in the next day or two). We thoroughly enjoyed golfing both courses.
(back nine to follow).
Cheers,
Jim