SUMMER PLAYGROUND
Summer Playground - Luxury Travel Magazine
 | |||||
Summer Playground | |||||
| By: Jenny Caspersonn, Issue 40 – Spring 2009 | |||||
| (The Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada) | |||||
| WHEN THE WEATHER WARMS AND THE SNOW MELTS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, A SUMMER PLAYGROUND IS REVEALED. JENNY CASPERSONN SAMPLES THE OKANAGAN REGION’S FAMOUS GOLF COURSES. | |||||
| The day dawns on another perfect British Columbia morning. Another day, another splendid golf course. In the early sunshine the finely clipped fairways and pine covered peaks of Predator Ridge Golf Resort reveal themselves in all their glory. Last night’s late arrival gave no hint of what lay outside our smart hotel suites. Like a fine restaurant British Columbia is giving us a sample of its best courses. And, happily, BC’s Okanagan Valley is blessed not only with an extensive menu of outstanding golf courses, it is also recognised as a world-class wine district. So, like a perfect degustation menu, we are pairing wine with our courses. | |||||
| The province of British Columbia in western Canada sits between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east. It’s a region best known to many Australians for its glorious ski fields: Big White, Silver Star, Fernie, Sun Peaks, Red Mountain and of course Whistler, venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games alpine events. | |||||
| But as the weather warms and the snow melts, from May to October BC shakes off its pristine winter cover and reveals itself as a summer playground. Approximately four hours drive north west of Vancouver or less than an hour’s domestic flight, BC’s Okanagan Valley is blessed with superb weather and glorious scenery. The options for outdoor activities are endless: mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, swimming in the freshwater lakes and, of course, golf. | |||||
| Predator Ridge Resort in the Thompson Okanagan is set on 12,000 acres and the course at Predator Ridge was host to the 2008 TELUS World Skins Game. Players of all standards can wander the wheatgrass meadows and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain peaks while trying to conquer the elevated green complexes and links-style bunkering. | |||||
| An additional Doug Carrick designed 18 hole course will open in 2010 totaling 36 challenging holes. Predator Ridge is a full service leisure and golf resort with stylish self-contained hotel suites that feature open fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs as well luxurious on-course craftsman style cottage accommodation. Exceptional bar, lounge, restaurant and conference facilities and an Aveda concept Salon & Spa complete the package. | |||||
| That night’s dinner takes place on the terrace at Gray Monk Winery’s Grapevine Restaurant. Over 50 acres of vineyards sit on the gentle slopes of Okanagan Lake and, when established in 1982 by the Heiss family, it was North America’s most northerly estate winery. With delightful views of the lake at Grapevine Executive Chef Willi Franz prepares delicious cuisine and his wife Marie is a charming and knowledgeable host. | |||||
| On another spectacular morning, just off the Trans-Canada highway, the dramatic sight of Tobiano Golf Course comes into view. Tobiano, named “Canada’s Best New Golf Course 2008” by Golf Digest Magazine is set on a gentle bluff above the southern shores of Kamloops Lake and was designed by Toronto course architect Thomas McBroom. The almost desert landscape contrasts with the lush colour of the “infinity” greens which perch on cliffs above the lake, and with its bluffs and canyon-cut ravines the course is not only photogenic but a delight to play. With plans for a complete resort complex, Tobiano is an exciting addition to Thompson Okanagan’s golf offerings. Summerhill Pyramid Winery is Canada’s largest certified organic winery and vineyard. Said to be the country’s most visited winery, the restaurant terrace provides gorgeous views over the vineyards and tours are available of Summerhill’s unique pyramid cellar. The geometrically precise pyramid - described as the wine’s temple – is used in the aging process of Summerhill Wines. | |||||
| At the Okanagan Golf Club, just minutes from Kelowna airport two courses await. The Bear – planned by Jack Nicklaus Designs and built in 1998 – and The Quail a Les Furber design built in 1994. The Bear is a par 72, 6,900-yard championship golf course, which skirts the sculpted fairways, surrounded by Ponderosa Pine forests and sagebrush hills. The par 72, 6,892 yard Quail features dramatically altering elevations in the fairways as they fringe the edge of enormous rock bluffs. Quails Gate Winery is recognized as a leading producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Located on the west side of Lake Okanagan the Old Vines Restaurant and Wine Bar at the winery enjoys picturesque views of the southern shores of Lake Okanagan. The menu reflects the abundant local produce as well as regional specialties paired with outstanding estate wines. The Okanagan is renowned for its thriving local agricultural industry so it seems fitting on our final day that Harvest Golf Club is our last course. Harvest is a completely different landscape among the apple orchards on almost 300 acres on Kelowna’s south east hills. The gentle slopes and forgiving bent-grass fairways are deceptive; this is a fair but challenging track thanks to cheeky bunkers and multi-level greens. | |||||
| If I could order dessert I would indulge in Sun Rivers and Canoe Creek courses with Mission Hills Winery, to name a few. Like a first class restaurant BC has tempted with some of its best. And like lovers of fine food we are sated but determined to come back for more. | |||||
| Details: | |||||
| Predator Ridge Resort | |||||
| Gray Monk Winery | |||||
| Tobiano Golf Course | |||||
| Summerhill Pyramid Winery | |||||
| Okanagan Golf Club | |||||
| Quails Gate Winery | |||||
| Harvest Golf Club | |||||
| The Cove Lakeside Resort | |||||
|
