Rivershore Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr. in Kamloops

If awe-inspiring golf courses require prime raw material, then it’s little wonder why the world’s top designers are drawn to British Columbia.

The topography here — from mountain ranges to ocean, with meadows, rainforest, canyons, deserts and even vineyards in between — offers a dream palette for a course architect. Indeed, the views, elevation changes and sheer drama of B.C.’s landscapes make Canada’s westernmost province a playground, not just for golfers, but for the people behind them, too.

Top names in the game have made their mark on BC’s golf scene. Here’s a look at some favourites

Click here to read more about some of the Provinces top golf designers.

Westin Bear Mountain in Victoria, designed by Nicklaus Design

Jim Lee, British Columbia Golf

This humerous video from the Hoilies Executive Course in Port Alberni shows the fun side of the game and what it can and should be about – having fun!  Port Alberni, located in the center of Vancouver Island, prides itself as the “Salmon Fishing Capital of Canada” but this video shows why Port Alberni has also turned out two of the best women golfers in Canada (full disclosure, I’m a resident of Port Alberni).  The Hollies Executive Course and nearby Alberni Golf Club provide great opportunities to learn the game in an accessible and affordable way.  Watch the video

The BC Golf House, once the former clubhouse of the golf course, has been lovingly transformed into one of the most unique museums in the province.

Curator Michael Riste is one of the original founders of the museum, having worked with the White brothers, Dick and Harry, in the mid-‘80s to renovate the province’s oldest building built for golf and turn it from a clubhouse into a museum.

To read more, click here.

Canadian Golf Magazine has named Bowen Island Golf Club one of the country’s must-play nine-hole courses. The 3,003 yard, par-35 course is located just a short 20 minute ferry ride from the lower mainland an offers a picturesque back drop to the challenging course.

Bowen Island Golf Club offers junior golf development programs all summer long as well as lessons and tournaments year round. In addition, you’ll find amenities such as a 175-yard range and The Cup Cutter Restaurant that is open seasonally.

Also making the list of Canada’s must-plays is West Vancouver’s Gleneagles Golf Course. The par-35, 2,637-yard course offers a scenic escape just a quick trip from downtown Vancouver. You’ll find all the amenities you’re looking for including lessons and practice areas so you’re ready to hit the links, then celebrate the round at the Larson Station Restaurant in the clubhouse.

To see the Canadian Golf Magazine review click here. Visit the Bowen Island GC website here to learn more, and book your tee time. For more on Gleneagles GC, and to book a tee time click here.

The introduction to BC has some of the best wilderness footage you will find – truly inspiring.  Watch this video here.

Here, Richard Zokol leads the golf experience charge; Zokol doesn’t just know the game, he’s acted as founder, architect and CEO for various courses throughout his illustrious career. And he’s in good company: former LPGA Tour pro AJ Eathorne is at the helm as head of Predator Ridge’s Golf Academy, overseeing all camps, clinics and lessons, including ladies’ instruction and the junior program. For Eathorne, her teaching experience has been a homecoming of sorts; Predator Ridge served as her training ground for a career that earned her ranking as three-time British Columbia Ladies Amateur champion and winner of the Canadian Ladies Amateur Championship.

Hardware aside, there’s a reason why these two pros chose Predator Ridge as their home. It is, after all, an ideal setting for first-time and single-digit handicap players (and everyone in between) to develop their game. The Ridge Course, for example, is a Doug Carrick design that promises a formidable test on the fairway alongside lush landscapes, postcard-pretty elevation changes, rock outcroppings and lake and mountain views. And we can’t forget the original Predator Course — a Les Furber beauty that has long been considered a classic, thanks to its own collection of grassy dunes and top-notch links. In all, this is one setting where instruction is sure to be inspiring. www.predatorridge.com

Courtesy of Destination BC

For design that expertly blends challenging play with scene-stealing views, the Thomas McBroom-crafted Tobiano, west of the city, delivers. Set on historic Six Mile Ranch, the course’s backdrop cleverly showcases its offering of clay dunes, hoodoos, bluffs and lake views from every hole, making precision shots along a memorable 18, well, a little more of a challenge. www.tobiano.ca

The Dunes at Kamloops Golf Club also embraces its natural topography: dubbed nature’s course, this 18-hole draw showcases lush fairways, meticulous greens and, of course, plenty of sand. A challenge for all levels, The Dunes offers a selection of four tees, encouraging first-timers to perfect their swing alongside seasoned pros. www.golfthedunes.com

For a final round, Sun Rivers, five minutes from downtown Kamloops, is a true desert course, promising natural sage, rolling hills, bent grass fairways, gently contoured greens and sweeping views of the Thompson Valley. Reason enough to tee up, but when you add a host of out-of-the-box programs that include Learn to Love the Game, Friday Night Rock n’ Range and the increasingly popular Sun Rivers Family Golf, you’ve got even more incentive to swing. www.sunrivers.com

Courtesy of Destination BC

At Greywolf, success on the course really can get the heart thumping. After all, when you tee up at the mountain course’s signature hole, dubbed the Cliffhanger, you might just be white-knuckling it as you face an island green perched across the aptly named “Hopeful Canyon.” It’s an experience that makes the Doug Carrick-designed wonder, at Panorama Mountain Village, a true must-play. www.greywolfgolf.com

Near Invermere, east of Panorama, Eagle Ranch embraces its Rocky-and-Purcell-mountain setting with 18 holes set high on the bluffs overlooking the Columbia River. Here, open fairways and valley views along the course’s upper region will cause the pulse to flutter, while the hushed shelter of Eagle Ranch’s mini canyons encourage equally dramatic play. www.eagleranchresort.com

Head south to Kimberley and you’ll find that the area’s rugged alpine landscape defines Trickle Creek Golf Resort. Eighteen thrilling holes, complete with tricky shots and precision putts, is par for the course at this Les Furber gem that incorporates rushing creeks and North Star Mountain’s steep slopes to its best advantage. www.tricklecreek.com

Continue south to Cranbrook, and you’ll discover one final show-stopper: Wildstone Golf Course. The newest addition to the mountain course scene, Wildstone is the first Black Knight Design by Gary Player Design in Canada. An added bonus? Thoughtfully crafted over gently rolling terrain, this must-play promises dramatic bunkering, plenty of variety and a jaw-dropping Rocky Mountain backdrop. www.wildstonegolf.com

courtesy of Destination BC