Shuswap Golf - Your Next BC golf Destination

By Glen Erickson

Frequent travelers familiar with the Shuswap region in British Columbia’s interior have certainly become accustomed to the sights and sounds associated with activities on its many lakes.

There is however, a burgeoning industry segment within the Shuswap these days, one that thrives when visitors elect to keep their feet planted on terra firma. While many are familiar with golf as a recreational past time across the province’s interior, the quality of golf in the region has always provided an entertaining experience. And now, it can boast a handful of full-length, championship layouts that will ensure the Shuswap will be identified as a stand-alone destination for golfers.

“Years ago, people liked to play golf in our area, but it seemed they were passing through to a different region,” explains Bill Wilson, Director of Golf and General Manager at the Hyde Mountain on Mara Lake Golf Course near Sicamous. “Mostly, these folks were traveling to or from the Okanagan Valley.”

Wilson, the former head teaching professional at the Salmon Arm Golf Club prior to moving over to Hyde Mountain, has seen growth in the Shuswap region over the years and is pleased to see the number of championship layouts increase.

“I always felt we needed more quality golf courses and now we have two more,” Wilson said. “With five courses in the area now and the size of the golfing market, we’ve begun to see more people interested in playing the variety of courses here.”

Canoe Creek, which is a stones throw from the Salmon Arm Golf Club, and Talking Rock Resort near Chase are the new golf courses in the area. To further profile golf-related activities, the new facilities joined forces with three established Shuswap region courses to form a group that has embarked on a what all concerned hope will be a mutually rewarding working relationship.

“With the new facilities here now, I suppose that is the main reason the consortium was formed,” Wilson said. “There was some interest in working together and when we had our first meeting, I was impressed by how excited everybody was. I think all the courses see the value in working collectively on joint marketing ventures.”

Brian O’Keefe, the Head Professional at Shuswap Lake Estates Golf and Country Club for the past seven years, agrees with Wilson. He also points out the responsibility associated with attracting more golfers to the area.

“I think we should market together,” O’Keefe said. “Hopefully the efforts will attract even more people.

“And now that the quantity is there, maintaining the quality is very important. We all have to be in good shape and provide a good golf experience for everyone who visits. Maybe we can begin to keep people in the region a little longer, too.”

Shuswap Lake Estates Golf and Country Club is an 18-hole layout that recently played host to the B.C. Junior Girls Championship. Shuswap Lake Estates is more of a traditional design and is indeed a treat to play. The golf course sets up well for the skilled player and also those relatively new to the game. Proper tee selection is important, the course will test your game, and perhaps taunt you with several risk reward experiences for the longer hitter. According to O’Keefe, a concerted effort by the crew at Shuswap Lake Estates over the past half dozen years has been very successful in speeding up the pace of the huge putting surfaces. If you have driven past the property at Blind Bay, perhaps its time to place this course on the 2009 hit list.

Course conditions have never been cause for major concern in the area. In fact, the Salmon Arm Golf Club, which is also home to a 9-hole executive course, has frequently hosted provincial and national events. Salmon Arm is a great test for any golfer. Teeing off sets up a day where it is you and the golf course.

Salmon Arm's fairways are tree-lined, resulting in a day on the links where you will seldom see other golfers. Absent is the clutter of a residential component, which is commonplace at many new facilities. Be prepared for demanding approach shots that will require accurate judgment and club selection. Many of the greens are two-tiered, challenging you even after you have managed a respectable tee shot. If you are coming from the big city, the quaint Salmon Arm Golf Club will be a real treat.

Hyde Mountain on Mara Lake Golf Course will provide ample opportunity to immerse yourself in the lake and mountain vistas of the Shuswap region. Hyde Mountain would be a certain contender for the title of British Columbia's most scenic golf course. Jaw-dropping lake views, elevation changes and lush turf conditions complement this championship layout.

The fourth hole is a drop of eye candy for everyone; a four hundred foot drop, that is. Ask yourself if you’re feeling lucky with driver in hand, or do you opt for a more conservative play? Shot placement is important at Hyde Mountain, the par 3’s are not necessarily gifts, and the greens will require a keen touch to ensure favorable putting statistics. Alas, you may very well find yourself somewhat distracted by the panoramic vantage points you’ll witness.

Talking Rock Resort and Quaaout Lodge, the pride of the Little Shuswap Indian Band, near Chase, BC is centrally located between Salmon Arm and Kamloops. The course was designed by Cooke Carlton International and built along Little Shuswap Lake.

“It’s a dynamic property with some very interesting holes and great views across Little Shuswap Lake,” said Graham Cooke. “Golfers will notice a nice transition from the front nine to the back, from lower lands to the higher, powerful properties on the back nine. “There are a lots of pine trees on the property as well. It’s a very sandy-based property as well and that’s enabled us to produce some rugged bunkers. We’ve had to maintain a very formal relationship with the trees. We think we’ve come up with an attractive look and we like the routing plan.”

The number of tee boxes available makes Talking Rock an ideal course for new players looking to experience a longer course with their seasoned playing partners. Paired with on-site accommodation Talking Rock Resort and Quaaout Lodge is a perfect destination for any guest yearning for a golf weekend getaway.

The Canoe Creek Golf Course brings you a bit of the British Isles, offering more than 7,000 yards of open fields, grass-faced bunkers, very playable greens and striking water features. Look for creeks, waterfalls, fountains and natural marshes, with fescue defining many of the fairways. The Dave Barr-design allows you to hit driver off the tee in some situations, while a more conservative club selection is required in others. Avoiding the many pot bunkers scattered strategically throughout the golf course is a good idea. Subtle undulations add to the challenge of negotiating these spectacular and immaculate greens.

With the opening of the new Pro Shop and the ‘Deli at Canoe Creek’ in 2009, the upcoming season promises modern day amenities. Visitors will enjoy the hospitality on fully licensed patios and indoor seating areas, as well as expanded practice areas. In addition to these five 18-hole layouts, the Shuswap offers a myriad of executive golf courses for those who prefer a shorter spin around the links with perhaps only a few golf clubs in tow. For years, golfers have enjoyed the Anglemont Estates Golf Course, Club Shuswap Golf and RV in Canoe, the Eagle River Golf and Country Club in Sicamous, Sonseeker’s Ridge Golf Course in Salmon Arm and the Sunshore Golf Club in Chase.

As the golf-related tourism stakeholders move forward collectively to heighten the general awareness of the recreational possibilities, golf is now seen as an important Shuswap attraction. Indeed, there is much more to do today in this region, a place that has long been recognized as primarily as a haven for houseboats.

In late 2008, a consortium of five golf courses announced its new web-based, information and marketing initiative, Golfshuswap.com. Ross Marrington is the coordinator for the group and indicates there has already been significant interest in the Shuswap from the golfing public. Golf-related group travel inquiries specific to the region have increased during the first few weeks of 2009 in comparison to last year.

“My role to date has been to coordinate and manage print and web material for the group, maintaining the website and respond to golf vacation inquiries,” said Marrington, who is well known in western Canadian golf circles through his numerous web-based golf and travel projects. “We’re also very pleased to have Robyn Cyr at the Columbia Shuswap Regional District excited about helping us to build the profile of the region as a golf destination.”