Photo: Province of British Columbia
The city of Vernon, located in the sunny North Okanagan region, can be found between the Canadian cities of Vancouver and Calgary and surrounded by three lakes. In Vernon, you have a city with a small-town feel and a strong community supporting local businesses. Also, with four distinct seasons, outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant, whether that is visiting the local wineries and distilleries, paddle boarding, skiing or snowboarding, cycling around the Okanagan Rail Trail, mountain biking, hiking or of course, golf.
We’ve taken many trips to the Okanagan region from our homes in Vancouver over the years, particularly for the great champagne powder snow at Silver Star and Big White Ski Resorts in the winter and the fabulous winery tours in the summer. But Vernon may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of planning a golf trip, but trust us, there is a fabulous variety of golf courses (parkland, mountain, hybrid-links) here that will keep you coming back for more!
Video: Predator Ridge Resort
Once you visit, you’ll wonder how this gem of a region has stayed under the radar. From Vancouver, it is either a 4.5 hour drive to Vernon or a 45-minute plane ride into Kelowna International Airport (YLW), then a 25-minute drive into downtown Vernon. As for the golf, with five courses all with distinctive layouts, your game will be tested to the limits. We will share our itinerary in this trip report of Golf Vernon.
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Day 1
Highlights:
Day 1 of our itinerary had us flying from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) into Kelowna International Airport (YLW) on a 45-minute flight on WestJet. Once we landed and grabbed our bags, our friends at Elite Mile Transportation picked us up to bring us to Predator Ridge Resort, where we would call home for the next few nights. From the moment you arrive until the time you leave, you can expect first class service from the staff across the resort – from the pro shop, to the restaurant, the valet attendants and everyone in between, the resort is focused on you and your complete experience.
You may have heard of Predator Ridge Resort before – it is the home of Hockey Canada and host of the 2000 and 2008 Telus World Skins games that saw players such as Fred Couples (2000 winner), Sergio Garcia, Mike Weir, Phil Mickelson, Camilo Villegas (2008 winner), Greg Norman and Colin Montgomerie welcomed to the region. It was first established in 1991 and eventually, expanded to a full 36-holes by 2010, now comprised of the Predator and Ridge courses. The two courses present a contrast between hybrid-links style and mountain style golf. On the resort is also a great community with expanding real estate investment opportunities. In addition to the golf, on the resort is Sparkling Hill, a world-renowned health and wellness retreat that will ensure your complete relaxation.
[slideshow_deploy id=’43183′]Photos: Predator Ridge Resort
After arriving at the resort, we checked into our Peregrine Cottage, vacation home rentals that offer 2 bedrooms, a full kitchen, living area, 2.5 bathrooms and a large balcony, that runs along the 16th, 17th and 18th holes of the Ridge Course, giving you golf course views from nearly every angle. Being so close to the action, you’ll definitely be itching to get out there and play some golf as soon as you can! Other accommodation options include The Lodge, located right in the heart of the Resort with condos, Falcon Point Villas, that include one, two or three bedroom options and range from 600 to 1500 square feet and coming soon, Affinity Homes along the first hole of the Ridge course.
After settling in, we immediately headed to the first tee of the Ridge Course for our first round of the trip. The first hole of the Ridge course was initially the 10th hole of the original Predator course layout. Recently, due to the construction of additional villas, which now line the right side of the fairway from the tee, the hole (and some others on the resort) have been renovated – though you wouldn’t even notice!
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Opened in 2010, the Ridge Course, a “mountain golf course,” was designed by Doug Carrick and has become known as one of Canada’s best golf courses. It can be challenging, but is the more playable and forgiving of the two courses at Predator Ridge Resort. The course takes advantage of the natural topography of the area, providing incredible views of Okanagan Lake, long, scenic fairways and beautiful granite rock features while winding seamlessly through the peaks and valleys of the property.
A par-72 course that plays up to 7,128 yards from the tips, it definitely offers golfers of all levels a challenging, yet fair and enjoyable experience. There is a fair amount of elevation changes, particularly with elevated tee boxes, which gives the Ridge course many “wow!” moments. You’ll also be wowed when you see how immaculate the conditions are at the Ridge course and throughout the entire property. The greens, especially, were smooth and fast, but large and accessible. Holes that stood out to us on the front were were #4 (406-yard, par-4), #5 (244-yard, downhill par-3), #6 (438-yard, par-4) and #9 (509-yard par-5). On the back, #13 (562-yard, par-5) and #15 (165-yard, par-3) were holes that stood out to us.
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For the month of October, the resort is holding a Golftoberfest where rates are $69 and $59 for the Predator and Ridge courses, respectively. A fabulous deal for golf courses of this calibre with perfect fall weather in Vernon. Make sure to spend a few meals dining at the Range Lounge & Grill, an upscale casual restaurant featuring new age fusion cuisine. The food is globally inspired, with seasonal menus as well, but created using simple ingredients that are locally and responsibly sourced whenever possible – the breakfast buffets, lunch and dinner selections as well as wine list will definitely keep you satisfied!
Day 2
Highlights:
Photo: The Rise
Day 2 saw us play two golf courses that could not be more different from each other. In the morning, we drove 1,000 feet above the city of Vernon and Okanagan Lake to play The Rise, a mountain golf course and the only Fred Couples Signature Course in Western Canada (and one of two in all of Canada). Playing 6,834 yards from the tips, The Rise was designed by the world-renowned player/architect team of Fred Couples and Gene Bates and offers an incredible golfing experience with immaculate conditioning. When you add the panoramic views of Vernon and Okanagan Lake, The Rise is truly something to behold.
The Rise has a dynamic layout and reminds us of a tree-lined version of one of our favourite golf courses in the province – Tobiano. The front-9 feels more like a tree-lined, mountain golf course, whereas the back-9 opens up a bit more to have that “Tobiano” feel, but with trees. Although The Rise offers five sets of tees at every hole to accommodate golfers of all abilities, we found it to be the most difficult golf course on our itinerary. What makes it even more difficult are the incredible views that distract you from your game! Each hole has its own unique character, with 12 of them showcasing panoramic vistas of Okanagan Lake below.
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The first four to five holes will test your physical and mental game tremendously. The par-5 first hole is long and narrow, with a small green. The second hole, a par-4 playing 431-yards, is perhaps the hardest hole at The Rise. It is a long, dogleg left, playing completely uphill nearly 300-feet! Play as much club off the tee as you can, as your second shot will still be blind and going uphill. The third hole is a fairly straightaway par-4, albeit long, playing 443-yards before you’re faced with the drivable par-4 fourth at 298-yards. If played smartly, it could be a great chance to add a birdie to your scorecard, but is your classic risk-and-reward golf hole. Regardless of how you play the fourth hole though, take a moment on the green to enjoy the view looking straight up the north arm of Okanagan Lake.
The Rise, hole #6
Hole 6, undergoing some renovation right now, will likely become one of the signature holes at The Rise. It is a par-3 that plays extremely downhill, with the front of the green protected by a small lake and a bunker. To the right is a large granite wall that rises from the green to the tee, which will eventually be home to a man-made waterfall into the lake. You’ll be able to take in the scenery of the rolling Okanagan hills and mountainside from both the tee box and the green. From here, the golf course continues to be demanding, yet exciting, building up to three of the most scenic golf holes we’ve played on this itinerary – from 16 through 18. Throughout the round, you will find yourself in a state of “wow,” especially when you reach 17 and 18. We’ll let the photos do the talking!
The Rise plays a little over 6,800 yards from the tips, which could be considered short in this day and age, it definitely packs a punch. Throughout the course, there are a number of semi-blind shots and high fescue rough. The course overall is tight and you will need a fair amount of control over your golf ball to keep in play and avoid high numbers. Having said that, it is a course you’d have to play several times to understand the intricacies of the design and knowing where to place your golf ball.
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Although The Rise was unveiled in 2008, there is still a fair amount of development and renovations happening to improve the course and its facilities. Construction on a new 30,000 sq ft restaurant and bar is set to start this fall on the crest of the 18th fairway and will include a banquet/conference centre, golf simulators and of course, deck views for days. That means that the current 520-yard par-5 18th hole will turn into a finishing par-3, just below the clubhouse onto the same green. Other changes happening now are aimed at making improvements to the playability of the course – the difficult par-4 second hole has seen some fescue rough removed and likely turned into a par-5; holes 3, 6 and 9 will undergo some renovations while hole 4 will be completely redone. Hole 11, currently a 211-yard par-3 will likely become a par-4.
[slideshow_deploy id=’43262′]Photos: Golf Vernon
From 1,000 feet above Vernon, we made our way down into the valley to play an afternoon round at Vernon Golf & Country Club, the oldest golf course in the region. Founded in 1913, Vernon Golf & Country Club is a classic, walking golf course that will take you up and down rolling hills and through towering lombardi poplars and mature weeping willows over a beautiful parkland setting.
The championship par-72 Vernon Golf and Country Club plays 6,600 yards and is a shotmakers golf course where you’ll have to be able to shape your shots both ways and play for position. As a “traditional” golf course, you’ll find tree-lined fairways and immaculate greens with lots of slope (especially through holes 6 – 11), which serves as one of its main defences in the modern game where golfers look to overpower a golf course. At Vernon Golf & Country Club, you’ll find a playable golf course where you won’t lose a lot of golf balls, but will still be challenged and kept on your toes with your decision making and course management.
As part of a golf trip itinerary, we’d recommend having Vernon Golf & Country Club as one of the first courses you should play. This will help to ease you into the rest of the itinerary of golf courses and build up confidence in your game!
Day 3
Highlights:
On the third day of our itinerary, we visited the beautiful Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club before taking in some local Vernon sights with Captain Leah at Okanagan Boat Charters, visiting the Okanagan Craft Spirits Distillery and dining at Vernon’s craft brewery, Marten’s Brewing Co.
Similar to Vernon Golf & Country Club, Spall, as the locals call it, is a classic, traditional golf course that is very walkable. It is located across from the historic O’Keefe Ranch, just north of Lake Okanagan and offers two distinct challenges – a 9-hole, par-34 course (2643 yards), and an 18-hole championship layout of 6423 yards, both featuring lush green fairways and colorful flowerbeds.
Of all the golf courses on this itinerary, the championship layout at Spall was the most walkable and provided a variety of challenges with quick greens, tall, mature trees and plenty of water. Although not a long golf course by today’s standards, playing 6,423 yards, water is in play on 12 holes so you’ll have to play precision golf here and keep your ball in play.
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Holes that were very memorable to us were the 356-yard par-4 fourth hole, a dogleg right with an elevated green; the short par-4 6th hole, a beautiful hole that tempts you to overpower the golf course or to play it safe and lay back; the 131-yard par-3 17th hole, a beautiful hole guarded by water in the front and an optional members “tee island” named Chippy’s island; and the 567-yard par-5 18th, which is a tough, but beautiful finishing hole. Although we didn’t get to play the 9-hole executive course, you can bet that it will provide you an opportunity to test your short game.
After 72-holes of golf in the span of 48 hours, we decided to take a break from the fairways and spent the afternoon on Okanagan Lake with Okanagan Boat Charters. Part of life in this part of the country is spending time on the lake and Okanagan Boat Charters is the perfect company to give you a taste of that life with captained luxury boat tours. We had our own private 22ft Pontoon Boat that took us around Okanagan Lake, cruising past wine country scenery and beautiful homes before anchoring in the bay for some charcuterie and drinks. A 2-person tube is also available to be pulled behind the boat – the epitome of Okanagan life!
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After a few hours on the lake, we made our way for a quick visit to Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, the first distiller in western Canada, where they specialize in the production of premium spirits created from 100% B.C. fruits and grains. Their spirits, distilled on site, are created with the guarantee that no artificial flavouring, colouring or essences have been added. Except for the whisky, their spirits are also gluten-free. Spend an hour or two for a tour and whisky tasting and hear from the passionate family who owns and operates Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery – our recommendations would be their BRBN and raspberry liqueur. Finish the night off at Marten Brewing Co., a craft beer micro-brewery bar & grill offering elevated pub fares, fresh craft beer and “Underground Kombucha.”
Day 4
Highlights:
On our final day, we completed the trip on a high at the Predator course at Predator Ridge. As mentioned earlier, both courses have gone through some changes with the addition of new villas on the property. On the Predator course, hole 4 is a new par-3 while hole 9 is a completely new addition.
Designed by legendary course architect Les Furber, The Predator Course offers a challenge for every level of player and is one of the best offerings of golf in Canada. The rolling hills, long grasses and undulating greens make for a truly unforgettable golf experience.
The Predator course takes golfers through the natural landscape of the area and can be best described as a “hybrid-links” golf course. The front-9 is more tree-lined mountain golf, particularly the first four holes, while the latter parts of the front-9 and all of the back-9 is much more open to the elements. Don’t be fooled by the expansiveness of the back-9 though, as holes are still tough and you’ll need to be sure to control your ball and play for position. Anything too wild off the tee and you’re likely on top of one of the sand dunes in high fescue.
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The entire course and experience is at Predator Ridge is fabulous. Some of the holes that stood out to us were the 578-yard par-5 8th, with a tree-lined fairway, heading downhill with a dogleg right; the tough 571-yard par-5 10th hole, which felt like the most difficult hole on the course to us due to the narrow fairways and slightly elevated green; the 535-yard par-5 14th, which is reminiscent of the 18th at TPC Sawgrass, though in reverse direction; and the 468-yard par-4 16th, where a well-placed tee shot will give you a great shot at a green that sits around 100-feet below the fairway. Overall, the Predator succeeds as a fair, but tough challenge for all levels of golfers, given that they play the correct tees.
Closing Thoughts
Centrally-located in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, the city of Vernon is an outdoor enthusiasts dream. With four distinct seasons, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of activities in this laid back city. It is a year-round destination with incredible champagne powder in the winter, spectacular varieties of golf in the summer, azure-blue lakes and sand beaches, beautiful wineries and everything else in between! On this trip, we discovered so much more the city has to offer, even though we are frequent visitors to the area.
In regards to the golf, well, you’ll have to experience it for yourself. Hopefully our trip report gives you a taste of what you can expect, which is a variety of immaculate golf courses with beautiful scenery that will challenge you. If you’re planning a golf trip soon, make the trip to Vernon and experience what this city and beautiful part of Canada has to offer! Combine the golf with a tasting of local cider and spirits, walks through one of the many orchards and trails or an afternoon on one of the lakes and beaches for rest, relaxation and water sports. You won’t regret it!
Source: Golf Vernon, Tourism Vernon
