As we all know Golfaround travel is all about golfing around and what better way to do this than hop in the car and follow a trail abounding with fabulous scenery, challenging golf, cozy hotels, great food, fun, and great company. Unfortunately, due to COVID, international, or even long distance destinations are not the best choice right now, however fortunately we have some great golf in our own back yard, well maybe a bit further than that, but driveable. As I am sure you will all agree golf has been our bright light amid all the gloom and doom this year so we think a plan to drive to a destination with numerous golf courses in close proximity will be the way to go in 2021.
There’s something special about playing golf in the mountains. Dramatic elevation changes, spectacular scenery, wildlife, an away-from-it-all atmosphere, the list goes on. It all adds up to one of the most exciting brands of golf you can play.
When you get a group of seven outstanding golf courses situated just minutes apart, you’ve got something special and that is what we think about the Kokanee Golf Trail a hidden gem for sure. Set among the towering mountain ranges, shimmering lakes and pristine valleys of the south eastern corner of British Columbia lies a memorable and affordable golf experience waiting to be discovered.
Kokanee Springs Resort a gorgeous property, considered by many to be the flagship of Kootenay golf courses, is situated in a magnificent mountain setting on Kootenay Lake. Every hole offers golfers spectacular panoramic views of the Kokanee Glacier and surrounding area.
The Balfour Golf Course is a magnificent 6510-yard golfing challenge, designed by Les Furber, featuring lakefront meadows and majestic forests. Winding up and down through the Selkirk Mountains, stellar fairway and green conditions cap an awe-inspiring golfing experience.
A few miles down the highway you will find Granite Pointe. Nelson’s mountain golfing adventure at Granite Pointe Golf Course begins with park-like settings, generous fairways, and spectacular scenery. The back nine traverses through mountainous terrain, some holes offering elevated tee boxes. Be warned however, ‘precise shot-making’ can be hampered by the many magnificent vistas that include the crystal waters of Kootenay Lake, the historic city of Nelson and the famed Kokanee Glacier!
A little further south you will find Redstone a great mountain course with two very different nines. Experience superb mountain golf with superb scenery, interesting layouts, elevation changes, and the fun of watching a drive that normally travels around 175yards go about 200, I wish.
If you’re looking for the perfect example of a modern classically-designed mountain golf course, you’ll find it at Redstone.
Nearby is the Castlegar Golf Club is located on a secluded plateau overlooking the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers, the perfect location for a serene excursion from the hectic pace of everyday life. Only minutes from downtown Castlegar, you are instantly transported to a golfer’s paradise. This course is a perfect mix of elevated tee boxes, wide fairways, and professionally manicured greens. Whatever your skill level, it provides an enjoyable challenge to suit beginners to low-handicappers alike. Since a wide variety of wildlife also flourish in the forests surrounding the course, you may be privileged to a pleasant sighting of deer or elk gently grazing on undulated fairways. Combine this with the majestic scenery, and a round here will prove to be unforgettable.
Last but not least is Christina Lake Golf Club another hidden gem. The design shows off Les Furbers signature architecture with elevated tees, strategically bunkered greens and fairways, multi-tiered greens and four holes featuring water hazards. This is the first course in Canada to offer the unique feature of black sand traps. Located on the scenic Kettle River, the course is surrounded by Ponderosa pine and fir trees, with the Monashee and Selkirk Mountains providing a beautiful backdrop.
Stay tuned for more information on the Golfaround Kootenay Golf Trail Sept 2021 we all need something to look forward to.