With summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time to talk about the public golf courses you can find around BC. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of incredible destinations and options, from inner-city pitches and putts to stunning seaside venues to making the most of the mountains. It’s a wonderful way to see the province and enjoy a game that’s fit for all skill levels.
So with that in mind, here are the best public golf courses to play at in BC. For your convenience, we’ve separated these by price points, from cheap Sunday rounds to full-out international destinations.
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Stanley Park Pitch & Putt
We had to start here. One of the nicest parks in North America, in the middle of Vancouver, and it’s one of the cheapest options around? Great for those just starting out, or if you’ve got a couple of hours free and just want to mess around a little bit.
Where: Stanley Park, Vancouver
Cost: $15.59 for 18 holes
Gleneagles Golf Course
Fun fact- this pristine 9-hole course in West Vancouver is actually one of the oldest public courses in all of Canada. With Par 3s, 4s and 5s throughout, and with the North Shore mountains in the background on most, this course punches well above its weight in terms of value.
Where: 6190 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
Cost: $27+ for 9 holes
Fernie Golf Club
We’ll admit that the hardest part of golfing here is actually, you know, driving out from Vancouver. However, those that do make the trek will be rewarded with some fantastic mountainside golf in the heart of the Rockies, and at a very reasonable price point to boot.
Where: 201 Fairway Drive, Fernie
Cost: $45 for 18 holes
Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club
Like Fernie, Qualicum Beach offers views usually reserved for much, much higher prices. With the ocean flanking some of the holes and a classic layout, the course plays perfectly into a little golf trip on the island, where you can experience a wide range of options.
Where: 469 Memorial Avenue, Qualicum Beach
Cost: $60 for 18 holes
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Highland Pacific Golf Course
We’re heading back to Vancouver Island to kick off this section of the list. Combine the two 9-holes here for a challenging but rewarding day out, with ample water hazards, elevation change, and strategically placed bunkers to keep things interesting.
Where: 450 Creed Road, Victoria
Cost: $84+ for 18 holes
Olympic View Golf Club
Named due to the gorgeous views of the Olympic mountains in the distance, Olympic View has another fun little bonus for those who choose to visit it… While the course only plays some 6,600 yards from the tips, you’ll be treated to not one, but two, waterfalls during the round.
Where: 643 Latoria Road, Victoria
Cost: $69+ for 18 holes
Tower Ranch Golf & Country Club
While the Okanagan is home to some seriously stunning courses, it’s hard to find a mix between quality and price. Not so at Tower Ranch- here, you’ll be treated to the same spectacular views as the courses below, but with variable pricing that makes things much friendlier on the wallet!
Where: 1855 Tower Ranch Boulevard, Kelowna
Cost: $99+ for 18 holes
Furry Creek Golf & Country Club
We’d be remiss not to mention at least one of the Happy Gilmore courses around the province. Luckily, Furry Creek is well worth the inclusion in the best public golf courses in BC as well, offering incredible views of the Howe Sound in between their well thought out, and even better maintained, holes. And yes, this is the course where Happy and Bob Barker got into a fistfight. If that isn’t golf history, we don’t want to know what is.
Where: 150 Country Club Road, Furry Creek
Cost: $105+ (includes cart rental)
Big Sky Golf Club
Before we get into the true heavyweights around the province, a quick shoutout to Big Sky is a must. Located in Pemberton, this course provides a seriously nice mountain backdrop without getting too wild about elevation changes. It’s consistently ranked among the best courses in Canada, and the price is right, too.
Where: 1690 Airport Road, Pemberton
Cost: $99+ for 18 holes
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Greywolf Golf Course
If Fernie was the low-end of seeing the Rockies, then Greywolf is its natural evolution. This stunning resort course in Panorama is exactly what you’d expect from a mountain golf experience, scenic valleys, soaring mountains, and a real focus on keeping the grass in tip top shape. It doesn’t hurt that its price is pretty darn low, either.
Where: 1860 Greywolf Drive, Panorama
Cost: $119+ for 18 holes
Sagebrush
It was around… then it wasn’t… and now it’s back! This hidden gem outside of Kamloops has adopted a very rare approach to the classic golf experience- you don’t book a tee time, you book a full day. Capped at just 48 players, the course becomes a playground, allowing golfers to experience signature holes multiple times or go for as many loops as they want (while being respectful of other golfers, of course). For the golf nuts out there, this is a must.
Where: 6280 Merritt-Kamloops, BC-5A, Quilchena
Cost: $225+ for a full day
Predator Ridge – Ridge Course
If you’re going to start paying the big bucks for a tee time, then you want something that is both memorable and challenging. You’re going to get both on the Ridge Course, which has adopted a links-style, one with nature design to create incredible vistas and unique holes.
Where: 301 Village Centre Place, Vernon
Cost: $175+ for 18 holes
Bear Mountain – Mountain Course
One of only a handful of Jack Nicklaus courses in Canada, Bear Mountain has the unique distinction of being the only 36-hole option, for a double whammy of golf. If we had to pick one though, it would be the Mountain Course, which naturally uses the landscape (a pretty common theme in this part of the list) to showcase the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
Where: 1999 Country Club Way, Victoria
Cost: $199+ for 18 holes
Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club
Like its cousins in Alberta, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is a destination for golf enthusiasts the world over. The Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course is nestled into the hills and valleys of the Coast Mountain Range, offering spectacular views pretty much everywhere you look. Pair that with the quality of the resort itself, and this is easily one of the most sought-after tee times in all of Canada.
Where: 4612 Blackcomb Way, Whistler
Cost: $135+ for 18 holes
Tobiano Golf Course
Ok full disclosure, we only picked one spot out of the Kamloops area, but this is more than worth a mention. Not only does it offer variable pricing depending on the part of the season, but it’s incredible design does a beautiful job of showing off the area’s rolling hills and Kamloops Lake. Don’t just take our word for it, because this spot also landed on Golf Digest’s 2022 roundup of the best golf courses in the world.
Where: 38 Holloway Drive, Kamloops
Cost: $90+ for 18 holes
So there you have it, golfers! Happy putting!
