Photo Review: The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club
Photo Review: The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club
Information:
Whistler, British Columbia
Public – Daily Fee
Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1993)
50th in Canada (ScoreGolf)
When you think about Whistler, skiing and hiking come to mind, but it’s also home to three quality golf courses: Whistler Golf Club, an Arnold Palmer design, Nicklaus North Golf Club, I sure hope I don’t have to say who designed that one, and The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, a Robert Trent Jones II design up at the base of the mountains. This ones wild, as one would expect in the mountains of Western Canada, but it’s even more wild because of the Trent Jones Jr. designs, there hasn’t been a single easy golf course.
A lovely uphill par 5 to start the round, a hazard intersects the hole at some 300 yards off the teeLooking back at the short, 315 yard par 4, 2nd, which moves up the slope over the creekA nice green complex awaits the player at the 399 yard par 4, 3rdThe uphill stretch of 2-4 comes to a conclusion at the approach for the 4thA downhill par 3 at the 5thOne of the best approach shots comes at the long par 4, 6thThe par 5 7th features bunkering up the left side from 100 yards and inThe signature hole at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is the 212 yard par 3, 8th472 yards bending up the hill to the right, the 9th is one of the oddest, yet almost awesome tee shots on the entire golf course (and in BC)As far as short par 3’s go, the 131 yard par 3, 10th features one of the better views I’ve seenA nice open tee shot at the short 11thThe 12th is fronted by a short right bunkerOne of the well-bunkered holes comes at the 350 yard-ish par 4 13thThe view off the front deck shows the bunkering and strategy on the dogleg right 14thThe 15th tumbles down the hill towards the streamA mid-length par 3, the 16th features a wild green complex The final long par 4 on the golf course comes at the 17th, at 457 yards, crossing over the stream playing slightly downhillA reachable par 5 in two to end the round, the 18th lets you sneak one last birdie in
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club is a fun round of golf, and the best loop up in Whistler. It’s worth playing once, but the terrain is difficult, and I’m not sure I feel the need to go back. That’s not to say it isn’t good, I’m actually quite fond of it, but you will experience everything you need in one round.
It’s funny that it’s rated 50th in Canada because that’s almost exactly where I’d have it. There’s about half of the top 100’s I’ve played above, and half the top 100’s I’ve played below. A good marker for dead centre of the rankings in Canada. Bring your camera, have a few drinks, and enjoy, because they treat you nice at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, and it’d be a really fun round with friends or family!
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!
