Photo Review: Salmon Arm Golf Club (Heritage 9 + Champions 18)
Photo Review: Salmon Arm Golf Club (Heritage 9 + Champions 18)
Information:
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Public – Daily Fee
Unknown (1928), Les Furber (1984, 1995)
56th public golf course in Canada (ScoreGolf)
When you think of the Shuswap, north of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, you don’t go right to golf courses. Sure, you go to a beautiful region that looks like it could be in Star Wars or any sort of nature show, but it doesn’t have the big guns Kelowna or Kamloops might. There is, however, decent golf between Talking Rock in Chase, and Salmon Arm Golf Club + Shuswap National (review coming soon!) in Salmon Arm. More than enough to keep the locals and tourists who come to the area happy alike.
Salmon Arm is lucky enough to have 27 holes, 9 of which is called the “Heritage” course. The original 18 included the Heritage 9, and when Furber came in in 1984 to build a new 9, the 9 hole course across the highway became the Heritage 9.
Heritage 9
The Heritage 9 is a good warm up for sure. I had a lot of fun, and played 9 holes in 40 minutes (!). Now, onto the big golf course.
The “Champions” course as its called is a creation between 1984 Les Furber, and 1995 Les Furber, over some of the original land. It’s got some good holes, and some really bad holes, and overall is a decent golf course worth playing once. On a local scale it’s pretty solid, and the membership should be (and certainly is) proud of their facility. Let’s kick things off.
Champions Course
While Salmon Arm may not be my favorite golf course, there’s some good holes out here. The 15th and 17th are the standouts for me, and the 4th is also good. There’s a number of holes out here that make it worth the round at least once.
It’s just too Les Furber for me. Nothing wrong with that, some people really like him, but my Favorite Les Furber course–Fairview Mountain–is the least in your face Furber I’ve played. This is among the most. But in a setting like this, with a course in good shape, it’s hard to complain. And when the locals are as spirited about the golf course as Salmon Arm members are, it’s a great place to hangout. I would recommend Salmon Arm for someone who enjoys going out to the golf course with his buddies, having a beer and some laughs in a great spot in Western Canada. The Shuswap is world-class, and a buddies trip to Salmon Arm should include a round.
Based in Toronto, but having lived in Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Arizona, and Texas, I have been lucky enough to see over 400 golf courses and counting!