Okanagan Road Trip
British Columbia is home to some of Canada’s prettiest and most accessible public golf trips, including the loop between Kelowna and Kamloops which takes the adventuring golfer over mountain passes, through the Shuswap Valley, and to some of Canada’s best golf courses. Our detailed itinerary below includes the most essential golf stops for the architecture enthusiast. While there are many courses to see in this area of the country - we purposely only include the best architecture forward designs.
Kelowna
Beginning our road trip in Kelowna, which is easily accessible for most Canadians on a one stop or direct flight to the international airport we head north about 30 minutes to Predator Ridge Resort. There are two layouts here — the Ridge course, crafted by Doug Carrick, is our preferred and suggested stop here — and the Predator course which is a Les Furber design (our strong recommendation here is to skip this one).
Golfers should note that Predator Ridge Resort is a semi-private club, which alternates public course availability daily. One day the Ridge course will be open for bookings, and the opposite day it will be the Predator course. It may not be possible to book both courses on the same day. Our preference is for 1 round here on the Ridge course and travel back to Kelowna for accommodations, and more food & beverage options. But if you want to maximize the rounds on this trip, this is a good place to start.
The other essential stop in Kelowna is Tower Ranch — which if we were building a trip would be one of the bookends. Its a highly invigorating layout with its extreme elevation changes, yet never feels like the something more than a proper golf course.
Predator Ridge (Ridge)
Doug Carrick’s Ridge course is carved across a rocky landscape, high above Okanagan Lake. Playing over some of the most insane land for golf found anywhere in Canada. Ridge is highlighted by the gorgeous sweeping views, thickets of trees that frame holes, and pleasant green sites well incorporated into the dancing topography. Players will surely be thrilled by the elevation changes, bunker styling, and wavy contours found throughout.
$135-$300 | cart included + tax
Tower Ranch
Another Okanagan design from Thomas McBroom, this time perched on a mountainside bluff overlooking the city of Kelowna. Tower Ranch cascades up and down this thrilling site for golf with grace. Utilizing natural ridgelines to place holes carefully so that play may not be overly extreme. Forced carries are abundant, especially on the back nine, which has some of the most beautiful and daring shots found in the West.
$110-$200 | cart included + tax
Also in the area
Where to stay
Where to eat
All prices are CAD and reflect rates sourced directly from course websites. Rates vary by season and day of week — confirm current pricing before booking.
Merritt
Following highway 97C from Kelowna, up over the mountain pass, one arrives into the small town of Merritt. Another 20 minutes along the road, perched into the hillside overlooking Nicola Lake is Sagebrush Golf & Sporting Club. This public access facility is one of Canada’s 10 best golf courses. It makes our must play list both Provincially and on our Canada Guide. This is the destination that makes travel from all corners of our great country for this road trip essential to discovering Canada
Sagebrish Golf & Sporting Club
In the hills overlooking Nikola Lake, Sagebrush's layout dances in the high desert thanks to Rod Whitman and co-designer Richard Zokol and Armen Suny, who moved little and imposed less. This drama filled design showcases stunning views and contours that follow the natural fall of the land, which is extreme at times. Like other designs from Whitman, the greens are sharply contoured and perfectly suited to the land.
Somehow they routed this golf course atop such varied and dramatic terrain without making it feel artificial or just a scenic cart ride. The land heaves strongly, delivering blind shots, dramatic carries, and heroic imperatives that delight the senses. At no time ever feeling like something was unachievable - you just have to play good golf. And for those fortunate in doing so are rewarded with the fruits of good golf design.
Holes like the short 4 13th, par 4 9th, and par 5 16th really provide such excitement that every golfer would be delighted to play here - risk/reward tee shots and dramatic greens being key characteristics. While others like the brilliant par 4 11th are more prototypical in their approach to crafting strategic design, using the land to force players to carefully consider where to hit shots.
There is a litmus test on golf in Western Canada, and Sagebrush is it. There is just no reality where a course like Tobiano eclipses the likes of Sagebrush. Ball knowers know that this is simply one of the ten best golf courses in Canada.
$135-$255 cart included + tax
Also in the area
Where to stay
Where to eat
All prices are CAD and reflect rates sourced directly from course websites. Rates vary by season and day of week — confirm current pricing before booking.
Kamloops
Just an hour from Sagebrush is Kamloops and our next destination — Tobiano. Tobiano is a well known commodity in the public golf sphere in Canada. A fan favourite so to speak. While there are numerous golfers who might prefer Tobiano over the likes of Sagebrush, its not quite that good, but undoubtedly a great and essential stop on this road trip.
Tobiano
Situated along a bluff overlooking Kamloops Lake, Tobiano is a unique golf destination uwihtin Canada. This Thomas McBroom design takes the golfer through sandy chop hills - a dramatic set of sand dunes abruptly rising and falling in the landscape. Highlights include the set of par 3's which play over deep gorges to island like greens, and the great 6th and 13th holes - two of the best natural and beautiful sites for golf on this property.
$100-$210 cart included + tax
Also in the area
Where to stay
Where to eat
All prices are CAD and reflect rates sourced directly from course websites. Rates vary by season and day of week — confirm current pricing before booking.
Shuswap Valley
Between Kamloops and Vernon/Kelowna is the Shuswap Valley, which is home to Talking Rock — a delightful Graham Cooke design (not often that we announce that here). Talking Rock is a great layout that winds through forest meadows and utilizes the topography of the terrain well. It's a bit of a subtle love but has an immense sense of place that warrants a visit and inclusion on this trip.
Talking Rock
Despite the destruction caused by fire in 2022, Talking Rock is a wonderful layout in the Shuswap Valley. Set in the mountain pass, the gorgeous setting and rolling topography are excellent characteristics for golf. Architect Graham Cooke routed the course through once dense forest landscape that now gives way to beautiful open meadows of lavender and other flora. The golf is particularly notable where it traverses up and down the hillsides gracefully.
$50-$125 cart extra + tax
Also in the area
Where to stay
Where to eat
All prices are CAD and reflect rates sourced directly from course websites. Rates vary by season and day of week — confirm current pricing before booking.
