Playing golf in Vancouver Canada (NO POLITICS!)

[DeNinny]

Furry Creek and Westwood Plateau...what to expect?

Just curious about any local knowledge on both of these courses (which look amazing on their websites). Please share if you have played either. Also if there are courses in the vicinity of equal quality and lesser cost, I would like to know. Thanks & Oh Canadaaaa...

[hbear]

I would play Nicklaus North over Furry Creek...

Furry Creek although nice, is pretty tricked up....for the dollar (I think it's the same) Nicklaus North in Whistler is a MUCH better course/layout.

[jogas]

2 great tracks. Lots of elevation and scenary especially at Furry. Furry is more target style golf, remember to adjust to the various elevation changes. Both courses offer outstanding customer service. Definetely try other courses including Northlands, Northview-Ridge(home of the former ACC), Peace Portal, Mayfair Lakes, and Fraserview just to name a few. All under $100.00 CDN. Go to lastminutegolferbc.com for decent discounts. ;)

[golfalot333]

I would play Nicklaus North over Furry Creek...

Furry Creek although nice, is pretty tricked up....for the dollar (I think it's the same) Nicklaus North in Whistler is a MUCH better course/layout.

 

I feel the same way. Play Nicklaus North instead. If you're going all the way up there, might as well go on a little further and play up in Whistler. Also, don't discount any courses on Vancouver Island. There are some great tracks over there including Bear Mountain (Nicklaus design), Gorge Vale, and Royal Colwood. If you are staying in the Greater Vancouver area, you have to remember three courses are not available to play right now (Fraserview, McCleery, and Langara) due to a strike (courses aren't really worth playing anyways). If you know someone up here that belongs to a private course, they are worth playing (esp. Capilano; which is top 10 in Canada, Shaughnessy, Marine Drive, and Point Grey). However, there are some decent public courses that you can get on: Peace Portal, Northview (Ridge Course had the PGA Air Canada Championship for a number of years), Mayfair Lakes (Canadian Tour stop), Westwood Plateau and Morgan Creek (IMHO, one of the better courses that is worth playing).

 

If you need any help, PM me for details or questions.

[KK524]

Play northview

amazing course

[joey3108]

Another vote for Northview!

 

Played both course w/ the boys last july!

 

Morgan Creek is nice too. Nice lay out, green could be faster.

 

Joe

[i8pres]

Furry Creek does have views over the water but the layout of the course is less desirable. I suggest if your into mountain side courses try Northlands or play Big Sky just past Whistler. The rates at Westwood Plateau are among the highest in the lower mainland so I never played there.

 

I play most of my golf at Northview & I recommend you play here. Both courses designed by Arnold Plamer & conditions are always top notch. The Ridge is the more challenging as front 9 has tighter fairways & slope (a bit of elevation) throughout the course.

 

Morgan Creek is worth trying as well

[TMBob]

I would skip Furry (Happy Gilmore movie was filmed there.....well the fight between Adam and Bob was) to mickey mouse. Another Vote for Nic North or Big Sky up the road. Northview is good and I will also suggest that Victoria has it's share of fine courses with out a doubt.

 

TMBob

[Hathstauwk]

agree with "jogas" above. Only change is removing Fraserview from the list - my opinion.

 

LOVE Nick North in Whistler. Skins game was played there a while back. Chateau Whistler looks great though never played. Skip Furry - too tricked up. Not my style but if you like target and tricks, then the views will be stunning.

 

Nick North, Morgan Creek, Northview, Peace Portal, other whistler courses and the private ones (I grew up caddying at Capilano and know the course very well - AMAZING course, IF you know a member) are all top notch.

 

Next level down would be:

 

Seymour G&CC is public Mondays and Fridays (at least it was when I lived there 7 yrs ago). Awesome course. Relatively tight but fun. It is in North Van near Mount Seymour.

 

UBC is also a decent public track though can get slow if a busy day.

 

If venturing out to Chilliwack (a good hour from Vancouver) is The Falls. A little tricked up but not bad at all. Great course, though.

 

Have fun!!!!!

[gticlay]

If you can make it across the border, I'll take you golfing. Many of the Canadians just come down here to Bellingham because the courses are of equal quality (or better), much less crowded, and cost about half the price.

[DeNinny]

Thanks all for the knowledge. So many choices now. Ultimately it just means we have to go back and try more courses. Unfortunately we cannot get over to the island so the Victoria area courses, which look awesome, will have to wait.

 

As fate would have it we had to cancel Furry Creek anyway and now we are going to Northview (Ridge Course). The second day my wife still wants go to Westwood Plateau (we found some deals that take the bite off the high cost), so no change there.

 

I'll be back with reviews & comments.

[BogeyTrain]

Bring your rain gear, I was there in early June (Big Sky, Nick North, Chateau Whistler) and it rained 80% of the time that I was there. I felt like there was moss growing on the back of my neck by the end of my trip.

[golfalot333]

We've have a pretty wet summer. When are you coming up? This week looks pretty good in terms of weather.

[DeNinny]

We've have a pretty wet summer. When are you coming up? This week looks pretty good in terms of weather.

 

We're coming up this weekend and so far Sat looks like a day of showers and Sun partly cloudy. No worries, we will have our rain gear and it doesn't matter to us anyway so long as it is not raining cats and dogs.

[golfalot333]

Only looks like a 20% P.O.P. on saturday and 10% on sunday..so more than likely IF it rains, it will only be a light drizzle. Probably rain in the morning and gorgeous in the afternoon

[DeNinny]

Just got back. I have to thank you all for recommending Northview (Ridge). What a player's course! It is a course where nearly every shot is a challenge and there are a lot of risk/reward playing situations. For example I liked that short par 4 dogleg right that you can either go for the green by carrying the pond to the right or take a couple iron shots around the left side to play it safe. #7 and #18 are two great par 5's too, #7 challenges your second shot with the creek and #18 your drive with the split fairway and pond on the right. There seemed to be water hazards in places you just wished they weren't. The greens were also fast and the stimpmeter speed (@11) at the proshop was a nice touch. The staff was great too.

 

Westwood Plateau, although expensive to say the least, was a beautiful course and customer service was as good as it gets there. The course was in awesome shape: the greens rolled true at medium speed and the fairways and roughs were meticulously groomed. Big bunkers, the forest, and elevation change were the main challenges, and accuracy is emphasized over distance. It plays short, especially several of the par 4's and 5's. Also there were spots of great ankle high grass.

 

Both are great courses. I will be back to Northview, but Westwood Plateau's price will keep me away (unless my wife would make it worth my while :)

 

Lastly Canadians don't have beady little eyes and flapping heads, they are very nice people.

[gticlay]

Just got back. I have to thank you all for recommending Northview (Ridge). What a player's course! It is a course where nearly every shot is a challenge and there are a lot of risk/reward playing situations. For example I liked that short par 4 dogleg right that you can either go for the green by carrying the pond to the right or take a couple iron shots around the left side to play it safe. #7 and #18 are two great par 5's too, #7 challenges your second shot with the creek and #18 your drive with the split fairway and pond on the right. There seemed to be water hazards in places you just wished they weren't. The greens were also fast and the stimpmeter speed (@11) at the proshop was a nice touch. The staff was great too.

 

Westwood Plateau, although expensive to say the least, was a beautiful course and customer service was as good as it gets there. The course was in awesome shape: the greens rolled true at medium speed and the fairways and roughs were meticulously groomed. Big bunkers, the forest, and elevation change were the main challenges, and accuracy is emphasized over distance. It plays short, especially several of the par 4's and 5's. Also there were spots of great ankle high grass.

 

Both are great courses. I will be back to Northview, but Westwood Plateau's price will keep me away (unless my wife would make it worth my while :)

 

Lastly Canadians don't have beady little eyes and flapping heads, they are very nice people.

 

Glad you enjoyed the NW. We haven't had the usual nice August weather.... Northview is great. I played it AND got to watch the last Air Canada PGA tour event... Vijay, Calc, that weasel who Tiger crushed a couple weeks back.. there was tons of talent there and very cool. Anyway, cool!

[iamit]

Northlands I think is one of the better values, also like Morgan Creek, Northview has a nice track and excellent practice area. Still looking to play Westwood Plateau, Mayfair Lakes and get up to Whistler.

[54321bam]

+1 for the falls. its a really nice course, when it isnt pissing rain lol.

[beachgrovejunior]

top 5 courses around vancouver(no order)(public)

-Northview Ridge
-Northlands
-Nicklaus North
-Morgan Creek
-Whistler G&CC

[richardt]

We were at Furry Creek for our Whistler golf trip last year, beautiful course but boy is it hard. It got kinda frustrating after a while, like someone said earlier it's all tricked up. Wouldn't mind playing that course again this year though, the second time around should be a lot easier. Fun nevertheless and for a decent price too.

[parpar41]

Furry Creek ... is distinct.

Severe elevation changes.

Awesome panoramic views.

A few truly spectacular holes.

People either hate it or love it.

Not the sort of course design that you would want or expect to play every week.

Gotta play it at least once, however.

[wackogolfer]

You should add Northlands in North Vancouver and Squamish GC in Squamish as well

[eSi]

Furry Creek is the most beautiful course I have ever played in. The layout is definitely "different". But it's so beautiful that I forgot to complain about anything, even the 3 putts.

[vancouver81]

Since golf season is right around the corner for us here in the lower mainland, I thought I'd give this topic a bump. Local courses that I'm looking forward to playing this season for the first time are Northview and Big Sky.

Local courses that I'm especially looking forward to playing again this year are Northlands, the Falls, Chateau Whistler (which personally, I prefer to Nicklaus North and Whistler G&CC), and Furry Creek (gimmicky but still a fun track).

Having not yet played Northview and Big Sky, my top 5 lower mainland courses (excluding the Island and Okanagan) in no particular order:

Chateau Whistler
Northlands
The Falls
Peace Portal
Morgan Creek

[FLOGMR]

Westwood Plateau is a MESS......they have run out of operating money and the course is in HORRIBLE condition.........spoke to a Pro who played an event there last week.......it is down to 17 holes because they cannot maintain the severe downhill 15th.

[waylman]

My top 5 public courses (Lower mainland only)

1. [b]Morgan Creek[/b] - the nicest public course in the Lower Mainland in my opinion. Feels like a private track. Always in amazing shape. Super challenging course. Not for the slashers!
2. [b]Northview [/b]- Both the Ridge & Canal courses are great. Ridge course was not in great shape earlier this year which was a surprise. I'll be back to see what it's like soon.
3. [b]Redwoods [/b]- Beautiful course in Langley. I'm surprised this doesn't get more love! Always in great shape. A few very challenging holes.
4. [b]Fraserview [/b]- Great city owned course. Very open (easy) and fun course to play. In good shape considering the amount of traffic!
5. [b]Meadow Gardens[/b] - Very fun track in Maple Ridge. Quite open so you can really let the driver loose.

Honourable mentions
[b]Sandpiper [/b]- this is outside the lower mainland (near harrison hot springs) but I had to mention it. It is a BEAUTY! I would play here all the time if it was a little closer.
[b]Swan-e-set[/b] - Two great courses here. Both tough as nails. A great challenge.
[b]Northlands [/b]- Great back 9. Front 9 has too many hokey holes where a great drive can leave you with a crappy lie.
[b]UBC [/b]- Fun course and a great location. Gets tons of play but they keep it in good shape.

[mattsuth87]

BIG SKY!! I've been playing it for 2 years and it gets better every time! The best out of any of the whistler or Squamish coursers

[waylman]

^ Definitely agree with that. It's not even close. I would put Big Sky in the top 5 courses in BC.

[bruizer]

[quote name='RM Golf' timestamp='1309889283' post='3366188']
Westwood Plateau is a MESS......they have run out of operating money and the course is in HORRIBLE condition.........spoke to a Pro who played an event there last week.......it is down to 17 holes because they cannot maintain the severe downhill 15th.
[/quote]

Yep i live 5 minutes from westwood plateau and it has new owners who arent too concerned about maintence. The course used to have conditions comparable to the Vancouver Golf Club but now they have cut back. Ownership has been trying to get the course rezoned for housing which would be a same because that course has a spectacular layout and some incredible holes and views. Hole 3 is 230 yards over a gully which you must clear 200 yards or your ball is gone. My favorite par 3 I have ever played