OKANAGAN VALLEY MEANS FINE WINE & GREAT GOLF

Enjoy both wine and golf in B.C.
By Dennis Miller,
Alamedia Newspaper Group

For golfers, British Columbia's Okanagan Valley has everything the Sierra Nevada can boast - and more. Imagine an area larger than Lake Tahoe - but studded with 60 wineries.

The similarities include scenic mountain beauty (with 90-mile-long Lake Okanagan as the centerpiece), world-class golf, plenty of other outdoor recreation opportunities, first-class lodging ... and of course those wineries.

Located 250 miles east of Vancouver on the western slopes of the Canadian Rockies, the Okanagan Valley is begging to be discovered by golfers who think there's nothing east of Vancouver and Whistler.

Kelowna, a city of 100,000, is the valley's charming hub - a little more than an hour's flight from Seattle. While the lodging is upscale and the wineries outstanding, golf is a big player here, too.

Four establishments have banded together in the Okanagan Golf Alliance, and they offer a combined 99 holes. There is terrific dining at all of the courses and lodging at two of them.

Predator Ridge
Located 30 minutes north of Kelowna in the town of Vernon, this is the valley's crown jewel.

The 1,200-acre property has been awarded four stars by Golf Digest's Places to Play list.

With 27 holes of championship golf, as well as 59 luxurious cottages and villas, an excellent restaurant and a first-rate spa facility, Predator Ridge is one of the game's ultimate destinations.

The course gained international recognition in 2000 when it hosted the Canadian Skins game - and such stars as Fred Couples, Sergio Garcia, Mike Weir and Phil Mickelsen. Garcia was so smitten with the area he purchased two of the villas - one for himself and one for his parents - and is a frequent visitor.

Predator Ridge comprises three nine-hole courses (nine more holes are planned by 2007), with Red Tail, Osprey and Peregrine combining to offer 5,373 to 7,144 yards of challenge and ruggedly beautiful play.

Red Tail (2,686 to 3,578 yards) is a links-style course that gets down to business right away with a 571-yard, uphill par 5. The fourth hole is world of fun - a 166-yard par 3 that is played over a canyon to a five-tiered green surrounded by rock outcroppings.

Osprey (2,687 to 3,521 yards) plays to par 35 with only one par 5 and two par 3s, and is the easiest of the three courses.

Peregrine (2,827 to 3,566 yards) has one par 3 and one par 5 on a course that winds through the trees and features a number of elevation changes, along with exceptional scenery.

Okanagan Golf Club
A short cab ride from the airport, this club is home to 36 holes.

The Quail course was designed by Canadian architect Les Furber, while the Bear course was laid out by Jack Nicklaus' company, Golden Bear Design. Both make for an eventful day.

The Quail plays 6,785 yards from the tips and features elevation changes throughout. Furber's design allows golfers to play the course any number of times without facing the same series of shots.

The Bear plays true to form for a Nicklaus course, with fair landing areas and tough but not overwhelming greens.

Harvest Golf Club
The most scenic of all the courses, this was built among orchards of apples, peaches and pears, and 10 acres of vineyards.

When the fruit is in season, golfers are encouraged to pick it right off the trees while playing their rounds.

The entire course is situated on a hillside, and while there are no major elevation changes, stunning views of Lake Okanagan can be savored from nearly every hole.

The Graham Cooke-designed course plays 7,100 yards from the tips and features well-placed bunkers, as well as tough approach shots to the large, undulating greens.

Gallagher's Canyon
Up the road from the Harvest Club, Gallagher's Canyon is one of the tougher tests of golf in the Okanagan region. The 6,792-yard course, opened in 1980, was designed by William Robinson and Furber.

The toughest stretch of holes can be found at Nos. 9 through 12, where golfers face three par 5s. The fairway on No. 10 slopes downhill (favoring the big hitters), while No. 12 issues the challenge of a 520-yard double dogleg.

IF YOU GO
OKANAGAN VALLEY: www.spectaculargolf.com; (800) 930-4622. The Web site offers information on stay-and-play packages, as well as links to individual courses represented by the Okanagan Golf Alliance. The site also has information on transportation to the region.