Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/78601
70 BRITISH COLUMBIABY JEFF SUTHERLAND Predator's Ridge Course Is Simply Spectacular On the opening day in 2010 at the new Ridge course at the Predator Ridge Resort located near Vernon, designer Doug Carrick hit a ceremonial first drive. That tee shot was solidly struck and ended up in position "A". The same could be said of the entire eighteen which can only be described as spectacular... first rate in every way. This high praise should really come as no surprise. Carrick has emerged as the number one designer in the country after layouts like Muskoka Bay and Cobble Beach in Ontario as well as Greywolf here in BC have met with applause and acclaim. It is more than fair to say that it is instantly one of the best public courses in the province, comparable to Greywolf, Tobiano and Talking Rock. What puts it in that company is a near flawless design married to a stunning location. Take the Canadian Shield-like geography of many of Carrick's previous best designs, and then put it on a mountainside overlooking Lake Okanagan. Still Carrick was given a tough set of marching orders... make this what every resort course should be, a course for all levels of player. "The clients here wanted a course that everyone could play and enjoy," recalled Doug, "...fun and playable for the average golfer but would still provide some challenge for the expert." The difference here is that Carrick had to achieve this over some very demanding terrain, part of which was a rocky slope that drops more than 600 feet. And there was one more wrinkle added, half of the holes would have to be reworked from an existing nine built a decade previously. A challenge for any designer but the result is nothing short of amazing. There are virtually no blind shots, virtually no uphill tee shots, and almost zero long traverses from one green to the next tee. Redesigned holes that follow the existing routing blend seamlessly with the new. Carrick's signature ragged edged bunkering is well positioned, framing and defining each hole, visually pleasing for everyone but in play only for the longer hitters. Stark off-white coloured rock outcroppings are a repeating theme, always in view but only in play for a mis-struck shot. The putting surfaces are more than fair. There are slopes but none too severe and the subtle breaks around the hole are readable. It is with the fairways, however, where Carrick showed real genius. Many are bowl shaped and more generous than they first appear, designed to bring balls back into play for the shorter hitting, higher handicapper while longer errant tee shots will earn their just reward. The signature hole here is likely to be the par four 6th, a hole where Carrick discovered a natural bench for a tee box further up the mountainside that just had to be built, this after construction had been already been completed. The 11th hole is General Manager Rod Cochrane's favourite and it's easy to see why. The rolling fairway here looks amazing... like green waves on the water. # of Holes: 18 • Par: 70 • Public Championship Yardage: 6416 Slope: 123 / Rating: 69.9 Green Fee Range: $19-59 wcgg.ca Big Sky Golf & CC Flag #: 19 / Grid Location: B58 # of Holes: 18 • Par: 72 • Semi-Private Championship Yardage: 7001 Slope: 131 / Rating: 73.2 Green Fee Range: $40-145 1690 Airport Rd, Pemberton, BC, V0N 2L3 bigskygolf.com Canoe Creek Golf Course D68 314 # of Holes: 18 • Par: 72 • Public Championship Yardage: 7025 Slope: 133 / Rating: 74.3 Green Fee Range: $55-80 6015 Shaw Road, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 2W2 canoecreekgolf.com Golf the Shuswap. This unique championship course features natural meadows, treed park land, natural rolling hills and spectacular water features, offering diverse challenges to players of all levels. Canoe Creek Golf Course is a Dave Barr Signature Design. Nothing else plays like this! yr 1 250-832-3285 866-431-3285 days 5 604-894-6106 Of course, Predator Ridge is much more than just this new eighteen. There is the existing "Predator" course that has been one of the province's top rated layouts since it opened in 1991, playing host to the TELUS Skins in both 2000 and 2008. The Lodge and the Cottages offer top flight accommodations for groups from 2 to 200. There is also a 10,000 square foot fitness centre with a 25 metre lap pool. More than 20 kilometres of trails meander throughout the 1250 acre property. The "Range"restaurant in the clubhouse, where you can enjoy first class cuisine, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation a few years ago as did their AVEDA concept Spa and Salon. Big Sky Golf & CC is nestled at the base of 8000 foot Mount Currie in Pemberton, BC. Big Sky not only has the best conditioned course with its bent grass fairways, tees, and green but has a three tiered award winning patio. 25 minutes north of Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway, through the street light right on Airport Rd. This new development and renovation is a result of the purchase of Predator Ridge by Wesbild in 2007. One of BC's premier developers, Wesbild has since brought a number of new real estate components on line with prices that range from $59,000 to $2,000,000+. The eye-catching $59,000 price tag is for their most recent offering, "The Tips" an 8-unit complex on the Ridge's 2nd tee, that is marketed as 1/12 share fractional units. Still, whether you want to live here or not, the new Ridge course here should be added to every list of "must-plays". It does not matter how you get here... drive, fly or hitch hike, give this track a try. It's a guarantee you'll be back. For more about Predator Ridge, visit www.predatorridge.com or call toll free 1.888.578.6688. IMAGES CREDIT JEFF SUTHERLAND / INSIDE GOLF