Tee Up for Golf When it came to golf, the Okanagan Valley hit my sweet spot as a player and lover of the game. Back when the region was defined by little other than orchards, vineyards and ranch land, it couldn’t have taken much imagination to picture the area becoming one of Canada’s premier golf destinations. Blessed with the sunniest and driest climate in the country, together with a diverse topography of mountains, rolling hills and lakes, golf course development was inevitable. A couple of decades ago, clubs began popping up like dandelions in spring. Today, this balmy region boasts well over 30 courses ranging from low-lying valley layouts to mountain and hillside tracks spread over a natural canvas of jaw-dropping scenery. Along with the wine industry, golf now ranks as one of the region’s main attractions. With many of the courses designed by some of the world’s top golf architects, the Okanagan has become a premium place to hit the links. Legendary designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Thomas McBroom, Doug Carrick and Fred Couples have turned stretches of the region’s remarkable landscape into some of the finest courses anywhere on the planet. Names such as Predator Ridge, Quail and Bear, Black Mountain and Tower Ranch are names in the golf world capable of getting a player’s heart pumping. In addition to the big-name courses, the valley offers numerous affordable options beyond the high-end tracks. There are plenty of excellent, value-focused courses, as well as golf packages for bundled savings. Once golf became part of my Okanagan journey, I knew that my first trip there would not be my last. Urban Hubs Among its wealth of engaging towns and villages, the Okanagan Valley’s largest cosmopolitan centers are Vernon in the north, Kelowna in the centre and Penticton in the south. With all three surrounded by the region’s four-seasons playground, the defining feature among them is their immediate and easy access to wineries, vineyards, golf, hiking, biking, water sports and more. Beginning with the largest of the three, Kelowna takes full advantage of its Lake Okanagan waterfront. The beaches and offshore waters provide everything from guided lake tours to parasailing, kayaking, jet skiing and wakeboarding. The city proper features art galleries, a sculpture garden, the Okanagan Heritage Museum, farmers’ market and a state-of-the-art aerospace museum. The picturesque city of Penticton lies between Lake Okanagan and Lake Skaha. Among its extensive inventory of attractions is a booming craft beer industry, earning it the title of “Craft Beer Capital of Canada.” It also boasts a vibrant culinary scene, garden market, marine museum and a family-friendly fun-packed adventure park. Vernon, third member 18 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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