Wonderful Whistler

By
Updated: August 1, 2017

Pacific Northwest golfers might not realize it, but there is some award winning golf north of the border. OK, Vancouver has some golf courses that are gems but head a little further north to the town of Whistler. You might think of Whistler for skiing, but that’s during the winter months. During the summer and falls months, Whistler has become a golf haven with its variety of courses, terrific views and the occasional chance to see a bear on the fairways of one of its golf courses.

GolfBC owns and operates a collection of some of the best golf courses, including Nicklaus North and Furry Creek just south of Whistler. Golf BC has other courses in Vancouver and the Okanagon as well as Wailea in Maui. But the Whistler courses get your attention early with the challenges and the views. Nicklaus North was designed by the Golden Bear himself and the last three holes are as good as you will see anywhere, with a lake on the left and mountains in the background.
Furry Creek can be seen from the Sea to Sky Highway on the way from Vancouver to Whistler and from the first tee box and the 150-foot elevation drop to the fairway, the course has your full attention. And if golf is on your full-time agenda at Whistler courses like Chateau Whistler with its sweeping views of the mountains, the Arnold Palmer-designed Whistler Golf Club with its Whistler Village location and Big Sky with its vastness and mountain views are as good as it gets.

But that’s not all. Squamish Golf Club, another on the Sea to Sky Highway features lakes, trees, and views and is one of the top wedding locations in British Columbia.

What also makes Whistler a special place is not just the Village, or the mountains but the drive from Vancouver is a treat with mountains looming large over the inlet from the Pacific Ocean. Viewpoints are endless.

But golf is not the only thing that is featured in the summer months. Outdoor activities like rafting, climbing, hiking, zip lining and fishing are also readily available. The Whistler Village itself is loaded with shops, restaurants and hotels. And there is never a dull day. Places like Crystal Lodge are in the center of the Village and provide the perfect place to escape into the Village every day.

For those in search of winter activities, Whistler has its two mountains Whistler and Blackcomb and features some of the best skiing around. A gondola called Peak to Peak was opened before the Olympics in 2010 giving riders a chance to travel from both mountains back and forth. And don’t think that when the snow melts, the mountains are shut down. Mountain bikers use the slopes for races and training, as Whistler has become one of the top places for mountain biking. And the chair lifts take visitors to the top of both mountains and ski schools are still actually in session at the top of Blackcomb during the summer months.

Golf in Whistler, on the road to Whistler and north of Whistler has turned into a destination for golfers from around the world. With its award-winning designs, views and plenty of outdoor activities Whistler seems to have it all.

For more on where to play and stay, see www.golfbc.com.