Top 10 Holes in the Okanagan Valley

When I took a stab at this project last fall for publication in the Kelowna Daily Courier, it was both an exciting and unenviable task.

The variety of golf courses throughout the Okanagan Valley create a golfer’s paradise. The length of the season is a boon for locals and tourists.

Indeed, I could write about the “50 Best Holes”! There are that many!

Note that all yardages provided are “from the tips”, yet each of these holes is designed with tee decks that effectively take some of the bite out of the long-distance challenges.

FORE!!

Gallagher’s Canyon, Kelowna (#1: par-4, 434 yards)
You arrive in such a peaceful setting here, an historic layout in a quiet, residential setting. After a quick warmup, you may be summoned to the roof top. Yes, the roof top! It is indeed one of the coolest shots a player will strike while enjoying golf in the Okanagan Valley. For those not immune to first-tee jitters, be advised you will likely have a captive audience on hand, as the patrons in the restaurant and on its patio can almost reach out and touch you as you tee off. Successfully execute your drive into the narrow-ish fairway and the elevated green requires a demanding, skillful approach. Welcome to Gallagher’s Canyon!

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Fairview Mountain GC professional wins national title

Brian McDonald, the director of golf and general manager at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, British Columbia turned in a 5-under-par 67 in the final round to capture the annual PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada, presented by Titleist & FootJoy.

Wigwam – Gold Course

The event was played at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield, Arizona, located west of Phoenix. The Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed Gold Course, also known as the “Arizona Monster”, played host to 108 CPGA professionals from across Canada.

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