Kamloops is a city that’s located in South-Central British Columbia, Canada and offers one of the most diverse golf landscapes in the country. This is due to its unique cold desert climate and as a result, its surroundings are quite different than what we would normally see in the Pacific Northwest.
Last Fall, we made a trip out to Vancouver Island to explore the Northern Part of the Vancouver Island Golf Trail. This summer, an opportunity arose for us to take a trip out to Kamloops and experience the diverse landscape ourselves! From “a mix of rolling grasslands, fragrant sagebrush, sandstone canyons, and hoodoos,” the backdrop from the variety of golf courses in Kamloops kept us in awe.
If you didn’t follow along on our Instagram stories, the highlights are on our profile page but below, we will give you a recap of our action-packed, golf-filled 5 days, 4 nights trip to the city of Kamloops!
Day 1
Highlights:
Our trip to Kamloops began at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), where we took a 45 minutes flight to Kamloops Airport (YKA). Alternatively, you may drive into the city and that would take approximately 4 hours from Vancouver. From the airport, we were picked up and shuttled by TasteFull Excursions, a premium shuttle service that made our entire trip seamless from beginning to end. Our first stop was Rivershore Golf Links, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and as its name indicate, it’s located right by the South Thompson River.
The drive from Kamloops Airport to Rivershore took approximately 40 minutes. Upon arrival, we were instantly struck by its surroundings as the golf course not only sits beside the river but it is also at the foot of sagebrush-covered hills. There also seemed to be a strong presence of regulars or members that exuded an atmosphere of a tight-knit community. The custom, personal golf carts were certainly a strong indication as were the few golfers who walked home to their houses nearby!
Before we began our first of six rounds on the trip, we warmed up and loosened up on the grass driving range that looks towards the sagebrush-covered hills. This beautiful setting would preview what was to come for the rest of our round. Rivershore describes itself as a links-style golf course but from our experience, it doesn’t play like a true links like we would see in the Open Championship.
The golf course was wide open, with a few trees seen on a certain holes and there were plenty of roll on the fairways as water is used sparingly on the course. The greens were also running fast and pure. The course is generously bunkered with ninety-five of them on the course but a lot of the bunkers were GUR (Ground Under Repair) and were a work in progress. Given that Rivershore has hosted numerous national and provincial championships, we are sure that the work in these bunkers will be completed in no time.
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Overall, Rivershore is a fun track and we really enjoyed it. It’s a course that rewards great golf but it is also forgiving enough where bad shots will not be greatly punished. This is ideal for a family outing and with their special on Sundays, where a family of four (2 adults and 2 juniors) can play after 4pm for $44, this is a great value and a wonderful opportunity for a family to spend some time together and for the kids to pick up the sport! Post-round, we were shuttled by TasteFull Excursions to Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort, where we would spend the night.
Day 2 – Morning
Highlights:
Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort is located in Chase, British Columbia and is approximately an hour drive away from the Kamloops Airport. The resort and its golf course is the pride of the Little Shuswap Indian Band. Although Talking Rock is still in the vicinity of Kamloops, its distance away from the main city means its landscape has changed drastically. Instead of the cold desert climate in Kamloops, the landscape at Talking Rock is more of what we’re accustomed to in the Pacific Northwest with its lush, mature forest.
The overnight stay at Quaaout Lodge & Spa was comfortable, with its guestrooms having been renovated back in 2010. The location of the lodge is also extremely convenient as it is literally steps away from the beach of Little Shuswap Lake and the first tee of the Talking Rock Golf Course. After fueling up at Jack Sam’s Restaurant & Lounge for breakfast (the Talking Rock Burger is AMAZING btw), that’s where we headed to begin our round at the Talking Rock Golf Course.
The golf course opened in August of 2007 and is designed by Canadian architects Graham Cooke and Wayne Carlton. Within minutes of stepping on the first tee, the seclusion of the golf course was apparent. It exuded a peaceful vibe that can only be found on a golf course routed through nature. Although most of the holes on the course are tree-lined, there is plenty of room on the fairways however, the course does demand a certain aspect of strategy, especially with a few doglegs. Short par 4s can also be found at Talking Rock and you will be tempted to drive the green, which certainly elevates the fun level a few notches higher!
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As you wind through the forest, you will realize that the golf course is a crescendo to the 14th green. From there, you will look down at a beautiful view of Little Shuswap Lake and this will prepare you for Talking Rock’s signature par 3 on the 15th hole! The course then routes you back down to the lake in the next few holes where you will eventually finish the round on a beachside green.
Talking Rock may be one of the most underrated golf course in Canada but with expansion plans to build a new clubhouse and a future 9-hole golf course on the property, Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort will be a must-visit destination soon enough. Combine it with the spa and other activities available in the area, it’s a destination that has something for everyone in the family and checks all the criteria for a perfect family getaway!
Day 2 – Afternoon
Highlights:
After experiencing the wonderful hospitality at Talking Rock, we made approximately an hour drive West to Eaglepoint Golf Resort. Eaglepoint was built in 1991 and it used to be a treeline golf course. Due to an unfortunate Pine beetle infestation, the golf course went through an involuntary transformation. Having never visited Eaglepoint before, we are unable to make any comparisons but without any trees, the golf course provides unobstructed and spectacular views from the sandy hills of Kamloops. It also allows the rolling terrain of the golf course to be visible and with native fescue introduced to areas that were once bared, the golf course looks like it was intended to be designed this way.
Most of the golf holes are quite open, allowing an above average margin of error off the tee. However, doglegs and wind direction, given that the course is no longer sheltered among the trees, will force golfers to think carefully and strategize through each hole. The strength of Eaglepoint is its par threes, especially hole 15, where it plays 239 yards from the tips. The finishing stretch is then followed by the narrow 16th hole where an intimidating tee shot over water is required. The number four handicap hole follows that on the 17th and to end your round, the 18th (number 2 handicap) is a reachable par 5. Since the hole is a dogleg right, your approach shot will be blind as a giant hill will be blocking your view to the green. Experience on the course will definitely help in taking the correct line but like any strong finishing hole, it requires you to make a good shot and sets up for a dramatic finish to your round!
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After playing 36 holes in one day, we were looking forward to retreating back to our accommodations and recharge before experiencing more of the golf courses that Kamloops has to offer. There are many hotels in the heart of Kamloops and for this stay, we stayed at the Wingate by Wyndham. Its rooms appeared newly renovated and with its modern ambiance, it made it easy for us to get refreshed and ready for more golf in the days to come!
Day 3
Highlights:
After a quick breakfast at our hotel, we were shuttled to the Dunes at Kamloops to begin our third day. The Dunes was designed by golf course architect, Graham Cooke, who has designed some of the best golf courses in Canada. The land that the Dunes sits on consist mostly of natural sands. This provided Mr. Cooke an opportunity to shape an unique canvass into an extraordinary golf course. The result was a links-style golf course that “carves through rugged sand dunes and wild fescue.”
In contrast to other links-style courses, water is barely visible at the Dunes despite being located near the North Thompson River. There are a few ponds in play but the defense of the golf course is mainly from the wind. We were fortunate to have just missed the high winds when we were on the golf course. With all the sand dunes as well as undulating fairways and greens, ball placement is paramount if you were hoping to put up a score.
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Our day continued post-round but on this afternoon, we took a break from golf to explore Kamloops’ thriving wine-making industry via the Kamloops Wine Trail. The Kamloops Wine Trail currently consists of three wineries; Privato Vineyard and Winery, Harper’s Trail Winery and Monte Creek Ranch Winery. We made our first stop at Privato Vineyard, where we not only tried their award winning wines but we were also introduced to Kamloops’ first craft cidery, Woodward Cider Co. An added bonus to our visit was getting to meet Jenny, Privato’s winery dog, who welcomed us with a wagging tail!
TasteFull Excursions then led us to Harper’s Trail before we concluded our tasting of award winning wines at Monte Creek Ranch. It was eye-opening to see this industry prosper in this region of British Columbia. Although it is not as mature as the wine-making industry in the Okanagan, the Kamloops Wine Trail can hold its own as proven by its collective accolades. Its smaller scale still allows the feeling of a small community and this is accentuated through its Music in the Vineyard Series!
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This provides a perfect segue to our evening entertainment, where we were able to enjoy live music in the beautiful surroundings of Riverside Park! It was also Food Truck Wednesday so the night set up perfectly for us to enjoy the warm weather with good food and good people. If the crowd was any indication, we were not the only ones who enjoyed a great night out and the City of Kamloops has done a wonderful job by putting on Music in the Park throughout the summer season.
Day 4
Highlights:
If there was a flagship golf course in Kamloops, Tobiano Golf Course would be it. The views from Tobiano are spectacular as Kamloops Lake is visible from essentially every hole on the golf course. The course itself is just as spectacular and presents all sorts of challenges, so much so that major champion Louis Oosthuizen, was in town to practice a week before the US Open at Pebble Beach!
We previously visited Tobiano back in September 2016 and absolutely loved our experience. In contrast to our visit last time, the weather was hot and sunny during our round. The golf course played just as difficult though and as we mentioned last time, playing from the correct set of tee boxes is essential. We might even suggest to play a tee box up from your usual yardages to fully maximize your enjoyment level. There are enough challenges at Tobiano and your focus will also be distracted with the scenery at every turn!
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Experience at Tobiano will definitely help in shooting a low round. There are forced carries, a few blind shots and tabletop greens to navigate throughout your round. Put it all together with the surroundings and you may just get sensory overload from all the fun on the golf course. And what better way to decompress than to sit back and relax at the Black Iron Restaurant after your round. The burger we had was delicious and to top it off, we ordered a sticky toffee pudding and that definitely hit the spot!
Although we would’ve loved to play Tobiano again in the afternoon (replay rate is approximately 50% off of regular rates), staring at Kamloops Lake all morning gave us a different idea! Our group headed down to the nearby Bruker Marina to rent a pontoon boat and spent the rest of the afternoon on the water. With drinks, snacks, good company and the tranquil atmosphere of being on Kamloops Lake, it was a nice change of pace from the fun and challenges of tackling the golf courses in the region.
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To wrap up our last full day in Kamloops, we headed to Noble Pig Brewhouse for dinner. This trendy place in the heart of the city had a lively atmosphere, even on a Thursday night! It combines house-brewed craft beer (we recommend the Mocha Porter) with an extensive menu with offerings for everyone.
Day 5
Highlights:
Before flying home from Kamloops Airport in the early afternoon, we made the most of our time and dropped by Kamloops Golf and Country Club in the morning. Kamloops Golf and Country Club is a par 72 Championship course, a classic country club course that’s located five minutes away from the airport. Although its design may be classic, the club is innovative enough to offer GolfBoards on their course!
GolfBoards has been around for a few years but this is the first time that we’ve ever tried it. The flat bent grass fairways at Kamloops Golf and Country Club were ideal to “surf” through the course. However, with its mature trees framing the fairways and greens, as well as the sagebrush-covered hills in the background, a walk through Kamloops G&CC is certainly not a good walk spoiled. The golf shouldn’t be underestimated either. Although it looks wide and open, precision is a must on these multi-tiered bent grass greens.
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Kamloops G&CC is the city’s oldest golf course, having been founded in 1914 but it is also its “newest,” as it was renovated 2010. Golf course architect Ted Locke was contacted for this project and he did a wonderful job, managing water source, renovating the fairways and implementing new routing of holes to use the space more efficiently. If nobody told us, we would’ve assumed this was the original design of the golf course from 1914!
Closing Thoughts
These five days of experiencing golf in Kamloops was absolutely amazing. Usually on a golf trip, you’re experiencing different golf courses that are designed by a numerous of architects. On this trip, not only were we able to do that but the diverse landscapes made us feel like we were in a completely different region of the world each round.
With an abundant of activities to do in addition to golf, Kamloops is a city that has a lot to offer while still maintaining the feel of a small community. From wine tasting to relaxing on a boat or attending a live music event in the city, you wouldn’t need to look far to plan out your day’s itinerary. So what are you waiting for? Plan your next golf trip to Kamloops and experience it for yourself!
Other Trip Reports:
Source: Golf Kamloops
