Victoria, BC Golf Courses

[Peter Ferlicca]

This summer while I am interning in Seattle, I am planning on doing a couple of 2 day trips to Victoria and Vancouver.  While doing research right now on Victoria, I am pleasently suprised by the amount of decent looking courses.  I always planned on trying  to play Victoria Golf Club and Royal Colwood, but found so much more. 

I am curious to hear your remarks on these courses and if they are worthy of a play;

Olympic View Golf Club- looks pretty good and has natural waterfalls behind a couple of greens.  Donald Trump would love that. 
The Westin Bear Mountain Resort-  Two new Jack Nicklaus courses
Gorge Vale-  Another A.V. Macan design that looks good.
Highland Pacific-  A newer desing that looks like it was cut through the side of a rock mountain.  Looks like Idaho Club.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Peter,

I don't know how particular you are, but - for the record - there's not much Macan left at Gorge Vale, unfortunately. Les Furber and co. re-did the course a decade or so ago. Neat property though; and, most of Macan's routing is still intact, I believe.

[Matt Bosela]

Paging Vancouver Island resident Will MacEwen...

Victoria GC is a must from what I understand - I've only visited the city once while on business and bad timing meant I missed out on that experience.

I did play Colwood and it is an understated gem.

I might be in the minority on this but I enjoyed Bear Mountain too (the Mountain Course) - it's certainly not a "GCA-type course", as it's not really walkable and they moved a ridiculous amount of earth (and rock) on a mountainside but there is plenty of eye candy, great vistas and the course is pretty fun to play as well.

[Bob Jenkins]

Peter,

Royal Colwood and Victoria are the only two "must plays". If you need access, I can usually help.

Olympic View is one of my least favourite courses in this part of the world. Narrow driving alleys, usually has drainage issues. Some just plain wierd holes that leave you wondering what the architect was up to.

Cordoba Bay has lots of fans. I have never played Bear Mountain which has the two Nicklaus courses. Some people love them some do not like them at all.

The Victoria guru around here is Dale Jackson. He should post soon.

[Dale Jackson]

 

I am curious to hear your remarks on these courses and if they are worthy of a play;

Olympic View Golf Club- looks pretty good and has natural waterfalls behind a couple of greens.  Donald Trump would love that. 
The Westin Bear Mountain Resort-  Two new Jack Nicklaus courses
Gorge Vale-  Another A.V. Macan design that looks good.
Highland Pacific-  A newer desing that looks like it was cut through the side of a rock mountain.  Looks like Idaho Club.

My somewhat varnished opinions of the courses you mention.

Olympic View - photographs well ...

Bear Mountain - advertising dollars will get people there the first time, whether they come back is another story.  Incidentally, there has been a housing plan developed for 9 holes of the mountain course (the first one), and it is not for housing along the sides of the fairways but for in the fairways and everywhere else.

Gorge Vale - Jeff's assessment is correct.  Macan routing (and it was a great strength of his), Furber greens.

Highland Pacific - the newest, the cheapest and the best of the bunch.  It has a great development story, which distilled down is that they made money building the course.  And it is a great architecture story.  Someone should do a IMO piece on the place.

The other Victoria option is Cordova Bay, a good course, very well maintained and great management.

Let me know when you will be in town.