Golf at Fairmont Hot Springs, BC Canada

[THuckaby2]

I shall be doing a family trip this summer to Fairmont Hot Springs, BC Canada... which is in easter BC, sort of in between Banff and Okanagan Valley.  The resort we are going to looks very cool.  It's situated right in the middle of a golf course - not sure the exact name of the course - but our resort is the Fairmont Villas if that rings any bells.

http://www.fairmontvillas.com/

In any event, apparently there are two courses at the resort, plus a par three.  Anyone every played here?  Any thoughts?

Also, the web site says there are a dozen other courses within an hours' drive... any recommendations?

Banff is two hours away, they say.  A trip there to finally play Banff Springs may have to happen.. but that makes for an entire day away, and given this is a family trip, well... I typically am allotted a morning or two only for such activities.

Any thoughts on this area, I'd love to hear.

Thanks!

TH

ps - I swear I didn't pick this exact location for the family trip... the fact it's right in the middle of a golf course is wholly accidental..but the wives (we're going with my brother and his family) are already giving me a hard time.

[Jfaspen]

Tom, through a little detective work, I found out one of the on-site courses is "Copper Point Golf Club"

Here is the website.

Jeff

http://www.copperpointgolf.com/

[THuckaby2]

Jeffrey - COOL!  Many thanks.  I've now done some detective work myself but I didn't find that.. I found some others that are nearby.  Seems I will have a lot of choices, all pretty high-quality.

What might end up being the most fun will be the family three-ball event... Me, my son, my daughter v. my brother, his son, his daughter in alternate shot at the par three course... the competition will be fierce.  

[peter_p]

Greywolf at Panorama is about 30 minutes away. Copper Point is also very good. I stayed nearby last summer on the way to Banff. The riverside course at Fairmont looked interesting from a distant view. http://bcrockies.worldweb.com/ToursActivitiesAdventures/GolfCourses/index.html

[THuckaby2]

Very cool Peter - thanks.

Should be a pretty darn fun trip...

TH

[peter_p]

Tom,
I added a link to golf courses. For a remarkable dinner, drive to Golden and take the ski tram to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. They have a "world class" restaurant at the top.

The BC resorts always show up at the local golf show with booths and brochures.

[Steve Lang]

 

Since Banff is only 2 hours away.. , you'd get better "credit" for road tripping it up to Lake Louise, about an hour north of Banff for lunch and then trek 4 hours up the road to jasper to see the canadian rockies in their full glory.. then you'd only naturally have to take in the Stanley thompson course there at jasper and then the one at banff on the way back.. a trip within a trip.. even without golf

[ian]

Huck,

To go to that area and not see Banff and Jasper is a crime, and I'm not talking about golf. The drive from Banff to Jasper is better than any golf I have ever played. The mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and wildlife will thrill your family. Stay at Japer Park Lodge (it's worth it).

The Kootnay Park between Banff and Radium is spectacular and the hiking is excellent (from experience).

The Purcell's on the other side are well worth exploring, but this is very remote country compared to other areas.

The whitewater rafting on the Kicking horse is worth the adventure if your so inclined.

The Johnson Canyon walk is a must when travelling from Banff to Radium. make a couple hours for that walk, it's well worth the experience.

Banff Springs and Jasper golf courses are very close to my heart (the best Canadian golf has to offer), but there is so much more to do. Don't waste your time puttering around the Columbia Valley courses too much, see the scenery. I know this isn't very GCA of me, but golf is a secondary pleasure to the surroundings.

[Sean Leary]

I went to Banff and Jasper on my honeymoon (10 rounds in 7 days, no less) and they are both great places to go with the family, if you can do it.  Jasper is really quite a hike, however.  I thought Banff was a better course, but MUCH more difficult than Jasper, which was defintiely more fun to play. I was very underwhelmed with the Lodge at Jasper, however, particularly for how much it cost.

[Jim Johnson]

Tom,
Golfed Riverside at Fairmont about 10 years ago. Okay course, nothing spectacular, quite flat overall. Assuming nothing much has changed, I'd recommend perhaps trying others.
As mentioned by others here...notably Banff Springs, or Greywolf, or Stewart Creek (just outside of Banff National Park...to the east), or maybe Eagle Ranch.
Below are some links...
http://www.eagleranchresort.com
http://stewartcreekgolf.com/golf
http://www.greywolfgolf.com
It's beautiful country; you'll have a great trip, no matter where you golf. Have a great time.
JJ

[Jay Cox]

Jasper and Lake Louise are both absolutely gorgeous pieces of country, and I thought the Jasper Park Lodge was one of the nicest places I've ever stayed (although the price is a bit steep).  For golf, I liked Jasper better than Banff, and greatly enjoyed both courses.  Nevertheless, I tend to agree with Ian Andrew:  the Canadian Rockies are one of the few places where the scenary and other recreation (esp. hiking) overshadows the golf.

One additional spot worth considering is Lake O'Hara, a secluded mountain lake in its own glacial valley not far from Lake Louise.  One must take a bus or hike in to get there, but it has to be the most perfect combination of scenic beauty and tranquility I've ever seen.  No golf, but a wonderful mini-resort run by some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet...

[Ben Cowan-Dewar]

Jay,
To get into Lake O'Hara in the winter, you have to ski up that road of about 8 or 9 miles. The summer cottages around the lake are closed, so there are fewer guests and only in the main lodge.

That is truly one of the places to go and escape the world!

[A_Clay_Man]

Huck, Steve Lang's post may have made it sound like Jasper is 4 hrs up from Lake Louise. That is not the case. It was less than 2 hrs from Banff to Jasper. With Lake Lousie situated in the middle.

If you could swing it, drop the wife and dependants off at LL and go play Jasper. Better yet, get a room at the Faimont at LL for a night and then sneak-out for dawn patrol. Then hightail it down to Banff for your second 18. There's tons to shop in Banff, and whatever she spends, your 36 hole day will be memorable beyond the green sheets linen.

[ian]

Emerald Lake Lodge, just over the continental divide (the sunny side of the divide at most time) is absolutely outstanding too. Its in Yoho National Park, just a short drive (15 minutes) from Lake Louise. If you are a hiker, the trek to Yoho Flass is a long but gentle walk that has a spectacular pay-off when you get there.

Play golf while your there, but don't plan around the golf, make the golf fit into a wider schedule. My wife took a guide and a horse and went into the mountains in Banff. Johnson Canyon and the most famous of all Moraine Lake (lake of 10 peaks) will fill her time at banff. She can rent a canoe at Moraine Lake. Trips to Maligne Lake, or Maligne canyon will fill your wife (and kids?) day at Jasper. The hike to the tea house at Lake Louise is wonderful too.

Play Jasper and Banff, let the rest happen if it fits.

Panorama has a wonderful resort if your looking for a place to stay. The accomodations are terrific and the bowl (between all the mountains) is quite beautiful.

[THuckaby2]

Many thanks for all the advice!

But I guess I ought to clarify a few things...

1.  I've been to this area before... in fact just two winters ago my wife and I spent a lovely long weekend at the Fairmont Banff Springs.   I also went to each of the nearby national parks as kid, and saw Banff and Lake Louise.  You all don't need to sell me on the specatcular beauty.  

2. I am well aware of the worth of the golf courses at Banff Springs and at Jasper.  I was drooling over the former even as it was covered with snow.  I've seen the pics, read way too much about them, was green with envy when many of you played them earlier this year.  BUT....

3.  This is a FAMILY TRIP, and golf will be wholly incidental to the proceedings.  We are staying in Fairmont Hot Springs along with my brother and his family and that's that.  So golf at Banff is HIGHLY unlikely to be able to be swung, given the distance.  Oh, we will likely make one day trip up there, just to see the sights, including Lake Louise.  But I don't see a reality where that would include golf at Banff, let alone Jasper.  If I ask them to drop me off to play golf there while they tool around and pick me up 4 hours later, I might as well cut my nuts off.  I'm there to hike, fish, swim in lakes, ride waterslides, raft, you know, be a Dad and Uncle to kids ranging from age 7 to 12.

4.  So... golf will occur, but it will have to be early and local to Fairmont Hot Springs.

So what I am more interested in is what's NEAR where I'm staying that's gonna be worth pissing off my wife a little...

And I've gotten some great info on that so far - thanks!

TH

[henrye]

I hear you loud and clear Tom.  Made the trip to Banff and Jasper a year and a half ago with my son and wife.  I golfed twice at Banff and twice at Jasper with my son.  My wife joined us for the front nine one day at Banff.  Our trip was 3 days at banff Springs, 3 days lake Louise and 3 days Jasper.

Ian's advise to hike Johnston Canyon is a good one.  The road to get there is the old highway, just north of Banff and it's full of wildlife.  Its a small river with multiple waterfalls and gorges.  Takes about an hour and a half - 45 minutes each way.  Lake Louise is about 10 minutes north of Johnston canyon by car.  Hiking at Lake Louise is truly spectacular, and you can go as far as you want.  My suggestion is the 45 minute hike up to Lake Agnes and the Tea hut.  Take water with you, as they only serve hot tea at the tea house.

After Lake Louise, loop back in your car through Yoho park and take 15 minutes to see Takakaka(sp) Falls.  It's over 1,000 feet high.  Also, there's a neat little stream on the border of Banff and Yoho park at the continental divide.  The stream splits in two near the highway.  One stream flows into the Pacific, the other into Hudson's Bay.

Lastly, if you want to find a way to play Banff, might I suggest that your family go on a raft ride while you play.  The rafting starts right near the 13th green and lasts about 2 hours.  Tee off one hour before they go and finish an hour after they're done.  In the meantime, there are a few trails to hike right there to keep them active.

[THuckaby2]

Thanks, Henry.

Sounds like I have a great plan for the day trip to Banff.  

As for golf there, well... heck as I read about rafting, I find myself wanting to do THAT more than play golf, as great as Banff Springs is.  I know, blasphemy.  But I guess the bottom line is I'm not sure I'll want to push for golf there even if I could.  But one never does know... and in any case this is all very useful info which I will catalog for use without a doubt.

TH

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