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Pete Lavallee

  • Karma: +0/-0
Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« on: August 14, 2016, 05:35:25 AM »
I am taking the wife up to Vancouver and Victoria the first two weeks of September. We really enjoyed our last Canadian adventure to Banff and Jasper; we were impressed with the scenery, golf culture and especially the friendly nature of the Canadians. Luckily we have secured an invite to play Capilano. Any recommendations for public golf in these cities? Is the golf course that is next door to Marine Drive accessible? It looked pretty good from our KP round there. I see that the two course Nickluas complex in Victoria are rated in the Canadian Top 100, are they worth a look?  We will be staying at the Union Club in Victoria, any recommendations for lodging in Vancouver? We would like something downtown so we can walk around the restaraunt row area. Is a side trip to Whistler worth the effort? Is Sagebrush up and running yet? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2016, 05:37:26 AM by Pete Lavallee »
"...one inoculated with the virus must swing a golf-club or perish."  Robert Hunter

Will MacEwen

Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2016, 09:24:49 AM »
Pete,

For centrally located public golf in Vancouver I would say it is Fraserview, University, McCleery and then Langara. All but University are munis. McCleery is the one beside Marine Drive.

I haven't played much in Victoria. Cordova Bay is well regarded. I think you have played Victoria and Royal Colwood, both of which are highly recommended. I realize you are asking for public.

Whistler is nice. On the golf side, it is resort golf, but I always liked playing there. Chateau Whistler is by far the most scenic and mountainous course, but wouldn't score huge points with most in this group. Big Sky, Whistler and Nicklaus North are all nice walkable courses with great scenery. I would rank them in that order. Gold aside, Whistler is a fun town with lots to do and see.

In lieu of Whistler you could consider Tofino, which is 4 hours driving from Victoria but is spectacular. Saltspring Island is also a neat spot.

Greg Cameron

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2016, 09:38:36 AM »
suggest Kings Links in Delta and Pagoda Ridge in Langley,both within a 1 hr drive downtown vancouver

Bob Jenkins

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2016, 11:00:12 AM »
Hi Pete,


Capilano will be a real treat. Have fun.


I agree with Will regarding the public courses in Vancouver and would recommend Fraserview and the University Club over the others.
There are 36 holes at Northview and the Ridge course there used to host the Air Canada Open. It is a very good course (Palmer/Seay) but is well out in the suburbs in Surrey.
Unfortunately, it looks as though Sagebrush will not be open this year.
As for Whistler, I have always liked the Whistler Golf Club which is the original one up there, although Nicklaus North is also good. If you drive 15-20 miles past Whistler you will come to the town of Pemberton where Big Sky GC is located. It is very good.
In Victoria, the only public course I have played is Cordova Bay. It is okay but architecturally it looks very contrived. Lots of artificial looking mounds, severe doglegs etc. I have not played Bear Mountain but lots of people like it. They are holding a PGA Seniors Tour event on one of the courses in September so you should check ahead.
I will be out of town the first week of September. Please get in touch and maybe we can catch up during the second week.


Bob

Wayne_Kozun

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2016, 01:07:30 PM »
I think that you may be able to access Royal Colwood and VGC with a call ahead to the clubs.  some Canadian private courses are not that uptight about allowing unaccompanied visitors. 

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2016, 01:22:06 PM »
Pete, the year after we played Victoria and Royal Colwood, my wife and I went to Victoria with his lordship Bob Jenkins and his wife.  Kathleen loved playing both courses.  Easy walk and fun.  I would be surprised if a phone call did not get you a repeat visit.  Good plan to stay at the Union Club, great memories of my two stays there.

Avoid Furry Creek like the plague it is.  You'll love Capilano, it's an amazing course.   I played those two back to back a few years ago...

Pete_Pittock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2016, 08:08:34 PM »
Pete,
The America Masters Games are being staged in Vancouver thru Sept 4. They are using McCleery(?), Fraserview and Langara.  As far as Sagebrush is concerned I just checked their website and they are not open for play. Of course, that may change by the time you are in BC. Have a great time.

J_ Crisham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2016, 11:20:14 PM »
We stayed 2 wks ago at L Hermitage Hotel in Vancouver which was outstanding . If you are looking for restaurant advice, breakfast/brunch at Medina, dinner at Ask for Luigi in Gas Town- very good food . So many options in Vancouver - hope you make time to explore Stanley Park and see the Capilano suspension bridge and cliffs walk .

John Cowden

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2016, 10:21:37 AM »
Big Sky in Pemberton, north of Whistler, was my favorite walk and round on a recent four-course visit to the area.  Capilano is delightful and very accomodating of non-member play if approached properly; you'll be paired with members. 

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #9 on: August 17, 2016, 11:24:57 AM »
I played McCleery yesterday. Not recommended. More when i get home to computer later today.
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Jason Kang

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #10 on: August 17, 2016, 07:57:28 PM »
Looks like you've got the golf part covered...I suggest the Hotel Georgia downtown.  And stop in at the Vancouver Club for a drink.  Their members are welcoming and fun. Enjoy!

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2016, 11:45:53 AM »
Quote from the course website. "Canadian architect Ted Baker designed McCleery Golf Course to offer a target-style golf challenge."
[/size][/color]
[/size]In other words, only accurate hitters like Pete Lavallee should play this course. ;)[/color]
[/size][/color]
[/size]The course has lots of artificial ponds, which I of course am well known for disliking and referring to as stinking ponds. In this case they are mostly full of green pond scum, and perhaps can accurately referred to as stinking more than most ponds I refer to that way. I lost 6 balls in these water hazards. No fun. Even though Pete can handle such a course, I would argue that he not attempt to, because if you want golf to thrive you need to support courses that allow high handicappers to have fun like West Seattle that I played yesterday.[/color]
[/size][/color]
[/size]One reason I chose to play McCleery is that it originally was a Macan course like Marine Drive next door that I played during KP and enjoyed very much. Of course, I should have known better, because any Mary Tyler Moore fan knows Ted Baxter is a bit short of a full deck. ;)[/color]
[/size][/color]
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #12 on: August 18, 2016, 11:47:34 AM »
Quote from the course website. "Canadian architect Ted Baker designed McCleery Golf Course to offer a target-style golf challenge."

In other words, only accurate hitters like Pete Lavallee should play this course. ;) 

The course has lots of artificial ponds, which I of course am well known for disliking and referring to as stinking ponds. In this case they are mostly full of green pond scum, and perhaps can accurately referred to as stinking more than most ponds I refer to that way. I lost 6 balls in these water hazards. No fun.

Even though Pete can handle such a course, I would argue that he not attempt to, because if you want golf to thrive you need to support courses that allow high handicappers to have fun like West Seattle that I played yesterday.

One reason I chose to play McCleery is that it originally was a Macan course like Marine Drive next door that I played during KP and enjoyed very much. Of course, I should have known better, because any Mary Tyler Moore fan knows Ted Baxter is a bit short of a full deck. ;)
« Last Edit: August 18, 2016, 11:49:53 AM by Garland Bayley »
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Pete Lavallee

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2016, 04:00:25 PM »
Thanks to all for the advice and suggestions. The wife and I had a fabulous two weeks in BC! Many thank to GCA Lurker Bob, who set me straight on Vancouver public options and escorted us on two occasions. He also suggested we visit the BC Golf Museum behind the 17th tee of University BC GC. Here's  a quick trip report:

Our first round was at Fraserview with Bob. I would consider it an ideal municipal course with 40 yard wide fairways, light rough and large green complexes. The Poa Annua greens were firm and dry with very little chance of making a ball mark and they rolled extremely well. All in all a very nice public option, reasonably priced with a good set of forward tees for the ladies and seniors.

Our second round was at University of BC GC, designed by A V Macan. I loved the intricately shaped greens and the mix of holes was outstanding; everything from a 100 yard par 3 to a couple of hard to reach Par 4's. This was my favorite Vancouver public offering and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Sadly it looks like the land might revert back to the First Nations in another 5 years, so play it now! Don't miss the BC Golf Museum right behind the 17th tee in the old clubhouse. We spent two hours chatting with Volunteer Historian Mike Riste, who wrote the book on Macan. He a fascinating gut y to talk to and having him explain a lot of the items in the Museum was pretty cool. Definitely worth a trip if you are in the area.

We also played Langara which dates to 1926 but had a complete makeover recently by Thomas McBroom. The green complexes are challenging and quite well done. The course is intimate without feeing crowded; indeed there's really only two parallel holes where you might have to duck from a wayward shot. The mix of holes was excellent and it was very fair for ladies. Again conditioning was outstanding for a busy municipal course and the greens rolled quick and true.

Our second week was spent in Victoria and we only had time for one round there and happily it was Victoria GC; one of my all time favorite members clubs. The holes are all challenging but doable. The penalty for a screw up can be quite severe, knowing where to miss is critical knowledge there. The all world 7th hole had the pin in the front right which left two options: rinse one in the Pacific or three putt, I chose both! Just a great little course that keeps getting better as they have employed Jeff Mingay to keep it as true to Macan's original vision as possible.

We finished the trip back in Vancouver, this time on the north side where we were privileged to play Capilano. Wow, this is the full on golf experience. The members love to walk and Stanley Thompson's brilliant routing makes the walk on what is basically the side of a mountain both exhilarating and entertaining. Surprisingly the holes on the flatter land were more memorable than the numerous downhill ones. The finish is awfully strong with the two excellent par 4's 15 & 17 with the cool half par, 3 shot 16th wedged in between. The 18th is all world, I 've never seen a hole quite like it with the green site up un the pad for the Clubhouse. It's well bunkered and is actually best approached from the left hand side rather than straight on. Our host was kind enough to take us on a tour inside the Clubhouse which was just awesome. The view from the Men's Locker Room Bar is probably the best in golf, what a day out!
 
"...one inoculated with the virus must swing a golf-club or perish."  Robert Hunter

Jeff_Mingay

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #14 on: September 27, 2016, 07:11:42 PM »
Glad you got to enjoy the Victoria Golf Club, Pete. It is a special place, and a fun course to play. Capilano, too, of course.


I'm with you on the UBC course. Although a lot's changed since Macan's days there, it's a really fun course to play. And, for golf history fanatics, the B.C. Golf House Society museum is also a fun visit. Mike Riste and others have done a fantastic job with that place, as volunteers.


Beautiful British Columbia! 
jeffmingay.com

Pete Lavallee

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #15 on: September 27, 2016, 08:04:42 PM »
One of the great things about VGC is we teed off at 3:09, with a foursome in front and a twosome right behind us. The wife was shocked when we checked the clubhouse clock after putting out on 18 and we had taken 3 hours and 20 minutes; it's a rare day indeed to play that quickly on a busy course in So. Cal. The threat of bad weather meant we had Capilano all to ouselves and our host, who turns out, is your Uncle!
"...one inoculated with the virus must swing a golf-club or perish."  Robert Hunter

Jeff_Mingay

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Vancouver and Victoria public golf
« Reply #16 on: September 27, 2016, 09:24:05 PM »
Wow, small world.
jeffmingay.com

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