Les Furber -- Working With God For Golf In Golden

The name Furber is associated with the design and construction of at least 63 courses in western Canada---29 of them in BC. He's credited with remodeling one hole or more at about 60 courses, most in western Canada, and his International influence can be found throughout the United States and around the globe.

There's another side of Les Furber that has just been discovered as a result of his newest project in Golden, BC. For that story we turn to John Down of the Calgary Herald.

By John Down,
Calgary Herald,
part of the Canada.com network
Published: Monday, August 25, 2008

All along we've thought that ace golf course designer Les Furber had some sort of magical vision. Now we find out he's using divine intervention.

"Designed by God and discovered by us," said Furber in a media release concerning the addition of a second 18 holes to the Golden Golf Club. "God's already built this golf course . . . and we just have to finish it off."

If the Whitetooth Course comes off as promised, the hotels in Golden, B.C., are going to be jammed all summer long. It's hard to imagine having a second 18 better than the existing 18, but Furber, whose stamp is on more than 120 courses worldwide, says the Whitetooth property is "exceptional."

Or, to put it in his words: "When you're designing a course in Saskatchewan, say, you're only as good as your imagination.

"But something like this is exceptional. I get very excited about these kinds of projects where it's instant landscape."

The property is in the Dogtooth Mountains along the Columbia River Valley and Furber says all he has to do is follow the contours of the land.

"It's a minimalistic challenge," said the man whose GDS Design built the second nine at the Golden club, and has done such familar standouts as SilverTip, Hyde Mountain, Bootleg Gap, GlenEagles, Carnmoney, The Springs at Radium, Trickle Creek and Salmon Arm.

GDS, which includes partner Jim Eremko, also has done redesign and renovations at more than 60 courses and has a dozen projects under way or completed overseas.

The first nine holes of Whitetooth are slated for completion in 2011 with the full 18 expected to take bookings by 2013.

The semi-private, non-profit Golden Golf Club is offering a limited number of non-resident memberships. (Further information at www.golfgolden.com or www.agoldenopportunity.ca)

Needless to say, Whitetooth will add a great deal to the wealth of outstanding courses that stretch between Cranbrook and Golden.

If you want to take it just a tad further west on Highway No. 1, European Ryder Cup captain and former PGA Tour star Nick Faldo is putting his name on an 18-holer at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

The $1 billion resort opened last winter with a 15-year completion schedule, but Faldo's 18-hole design is tagged for a 2011 opening. According to a media release quoting Faldo, "it combines breathtaking views with engaging and tactical golf."

In turning the resort into a year-round playground, there'll be considerable housing units, 5,500 in all, also constructed along with 300,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.

jdown@theherald.canwest.com

Here is a list of Golf courses that have used Les Furber Design.

Project List - Design and Construction

Project - - - - Location - - - - Status
Balfour Golf Club Balfour, BC 18 holes completed 1999
Barrhead Golf Club Barrhead, AB 18 holes completed 1990
Belmont Golf Club Langley, BC 18 holes completed 1992
Bootleg Gap Golf Course Kimberley, BC 27 holes completed 2002
Carnmoney Golf & CC Calgary, AB 18 holes completed 1991
Christina Lake Golf & CC Grand Forks, BC 10 holes completed 1987
The Bridges at Claresholm Golf Course Claresholm, AB 9 holes completed 2005
Crowsnest Pass Golf Club Blairmore, AB 9 holes completed 1995
Harbour Golf Club & Resort Elbow, SK 18 holes completed 1989
Evergreen Golf Club Nipawin, SK 18 holes completed 1988
Evergreen Golf Center Lethbridge, AB 9 hole par 3 completed 1999
Fairwinds Golf Resort Nanoose Bay, BC 18 holes completed 1983
Fairview Mountain Golf Club Oliver, BC 9 holes completed 1990
Four Seasons Golf Center Calgary, AB 9 hole par 3 completed 1998
Gallagher's Canyon Pinnacle Course Kelowna, BC 9 holes completed 1996
Garibaldi Springs Golf Club Squamish, BC 18 holes completed 2005
Gilwood Golf Club Slave Lake, AB 9 holes completed 2005
Golden Golf Club Golden, BC 9 holes completed 1992
Glasgow Hills Golf Course New Glasgow, PEI 18 holes completed 2000
GlenEagles Golf & CC Cochrane, AB 18 holes completed 1996
Graham Acres Golf Club Whitecourt, AB 18 holes completed 1991
Hanna Golf Club Hanna, AB 9 holes completed 2005
Hirsch Creek Golf Club Kitimat, BC 9 holes completed 1991
Hyde Mountain Golf Club Sicamous, BC 18 holes completed 2002
Kelowna Springs Golf Club Kelowna, BC 18 holes completed 1990
Kenogamisis Golf Club Geraldton, ON 9 holes completed 2000
Kerrobert Golf Club Kerrobert, SK 9 holes completed 1999
Land-O-Lakes Golf & CC Coaldale, AB 18 holes completed 1987
Last Hill Golf Club Eckville, AB 9 holes completed 1985
Lee Creek Valley Golf Course Cardston, AB 18 holes completed 2004
Mabel Lake Golf & CC Enderby, BC 9 holes completed 2003
Maple Ridge Golf Course Calgary, AB 9 holes completed 1991
Mayfair Lakes Golf Club Richmond, BC 18 holes completed 1988
Meadow Gardens Golf Course Pitt Meadows, BC 18 holes completed 1993
Minnewasta Golf & CC Morden, MB 18 holes completed 1989
Moon Lake Golf Club Saskatoon, SK 27 holes completed 1997
Morningstar International Golf & Country Club Parksville, BC 18 holes completed 1991
Myrtle Point Golf Club Powell River, BC 18 holes completed 1991
Nanton Golf Club Nanton, AB 9 holes completed 1986
Northlands Golf Course North Vancouver, BC 18 holes completed 1996
Oak Island Golf Resort Oak Island, Man 18 holes completed 2007
Okanagan Golf Resort (Quail Course) Kelowna, BC 18 holes completed 1996
Pennhills Golf Links Shubenacadie, NS 18 holes completed 2003
Picture Butte Golf Club Picture Butte, AB 18 holes completed 1993
Predator Ridge Golf Resort Vernon, BC 18 holes completed 1991
Redstone Golf Resort Rossland, BC 9 holes completed 2007, 9 holes under construction
Riverway Golf Club Burnaby, BC 18 holes completed 1994
Ross Creek Golf & CC Medicine Hat, AB 9 hole par 3 completed 2000
Salmon Arm Golf Club Salmon Arm, BC 27 holes completed 1994
SilverTip Golf Resort Canmore AB 18 holes completed 1997
St. Eugene Golf Resort Cranbrook, BC 18 holes completed 1999
Storey Creek Golf Club Campbell River, BC 18 holes completed 1991
The Links at Quarry Oaks Steinbach, Man. 27 holes completed 1998
The Quarry Golf Club Edmonton, AB 18 holes design stage
The Springs at Radium Golf Resort Radium, BC 18 holes completed 1988
Trickle Creek Golf Club Kimberley, BC 18 holes completed 1991
Wabamun Lake Golf Club Wabamun, AB 9 holes completed 1987
Westlock Golf Club Westlock, AB 9 holes completed 1992
Vintage Hills Golf Club Westbank, BC 18 holes completed 2001
Vulcan Golf & Country Club Vulcan, AB 9 holes completed 2006
York Lake Golf Club Yorkton, SK 9 holes completed 1989
19 Greens Kelowna, BC 18 holes putting course 1997

Project List - Remodeling

Project - - - - Location - - - - Status
Banff Springs Golf Course Banff, AB 18 holes restoration
Bearspaw Golf Club Calgary, AB 1 hole
Calgary Golf & CC Calgary, AB 3 holes
Canmore Golf & Curling Club Canmore, AB 3 holes
Canyon Meadows Golf & CC Calgary, AB 3 holes
Capilano Golf Club Vancouver, BC 3 holes
Chester Golf Club Chester, NS 4 holes
Comox Golf Club Comox, BC 3 greens
Cranbrook Golf & CC Cranbrook, BC 7 holes
Deer Park Golf Club Yorkton, SK 4 holes
Earl Grey Golf & CC Calgary, AB 3 holes
Edmonton Golf & CC Edmonton, AB 1 hole
Elks Golf Club Calgary, AB 13 holes
Elmwood Golf Club Swift Current, SK 2 holes
Estevan Woodlawn Golf Club Estevan, SK 9 holes
Gallagher's Canyon Golf Resort Kelowna, BC 7 holes
Geneva Golf Club Geneva, Switzerland 1 hole
Gorge Vale Golf Club Victoria, BC 18 hole re-build completed 2003
Hanna Golf & CC Hanna, AB 9 holes renovation
Henderson Lake Golf Club Lethbridge, AB 3 holes
Hillcrest Sports Center Moose Jaw, SK 6 holes
Idylwyld Golf Club Sudbury, ON 3 holes
Kimberley Golf Club Kimberely, BC 1 hole
Kitchen Creek Golf Club Fort Francis, ON 2 holes
Kananaskis Country Golf Club Kananaskis, AB 2 holes
Kelowna Golf & CC Kelowna, BC 3 holes
Lake Okanagan Resort Kelowna, BC 2 holes
Ledgeview Golf Club Abbotsford, BC 14 holes
Leduc Golf & CC Leduc, AB 8 holes
Marine Drive Golf Club Vancouver, BC 2 holes
Mayfair Golf & CC Edmonton, AB 18 holes renovation
Meadow Lake Golf Club Meadow Lake, SK 9 holes
Medicine Hat Golf & CC Medicine Hat, AB 16 holes
Nanaimo Golf & CC Nanaimo, BC 9 holes
Penticton Golf & CC Penticton, BC 18 holes
Point Grey Golf & CC Vancouver, BC 4 tees
Pincher Creek Golf & CC Pincher Creek, AB 4 holes
Pinebrook Golf & CC Calgary, AB 1 hole
Pine Ridge Golf Club Winnipeg, MN 4 holes
Qualicum Beach Golf Club Qualicum, BC 2 greens
Revelstoke Golf Club Revelstoke, BC 3 holes
Sault Ste. Marie Golf & CC Sault Ste. Marie, ON 12 holes
Shaughnessy Golf & CC Vancouver, BC 18 holes renovation
Silver Springs Golf & CC Calgary, AB 18 holes/ 2 sand traps
Spallumcheen Estates Golf Club Vernon, BC 18 holes re-build
Turner Valley Golf & CC Turner Valley, AB 10 holes
University Golf Course Vancouver, BC 5 holes
Vernon Golf & CC Vernon, BC 1 hole
Wellview Golf Club Virden, MN 5 holes

International Project List

Project - - - - Location - - - - Status
Amber Golf Klaipeda, Lithuania 21 holes under construction
Baden Hills Golf Club Hugelsheim, Germany 18 holes under renovation
Beroun Golf Club Beroun, Czech Republic 18 holes under construction
Eagle Falls Golf Course Great Falls, Montana 18 holes under renovation
Karlstejn Golf Resort Prague, Czech Republic 27 holes completed 2007
Klosters Golf Klosters, Switzerland 9 holes completed 2005
The Ranch Club Missoula, Montana 18 holes completed 2004
Raptors Golf Resort Three Forks, Montana 18 holes design stage
Varadero Golf Club Varadero, Cuba 18 holes completed 1998
Yellowstone Golf & CC Billings, Montana 18 hole bunker renovation
Zuoz Golf Zuoz (St. Moritz) Switzerland 18 holes completed 2002

International Project List - 1969-1980 In association with Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Project - - - - Location
Ahrensburg Golf Club Hamburg, Germany
Chamonix Golf Club Chamonix, France
Geneva Golf Club Geneva Switzerland
Glyfada Golf Club Athens Greece
Horseshoe Bay Golf & CC Marble Falls, Texas
I Roveri Golf Club Torino, Italy
Kananaskis Country Golf Kananaskis Country, AB, Canada
Las Lomas del Bosque Golf Valencia, Spain
Los Naranjos Golf Club Nueva Andalucia, Spain
Mijas Golf Club Fuegirola, Spain
Moor Allerton Golf Club Leeds, England
North Hills Golf & CC Little Rock, Arkansas
Playa Dorado Golf Club Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Pevero Golf Club Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy
Rivershore Golf & CC Kamloops, BC
Royal Dar-Es-Salam Rabat, Morocco
Troimar Golf Club Setubal, Portugal
Valdarama Golf & CC Sotogrande, Spain

Feasibility Studides / Consulting / Master Plans

Project - - - - Location
Artist View Golf Course Calgary, AB
Beef Island Golf Port British Virgin Islands
Bel Acres Golf Course Winnipeg, Man.
Boundary Shores Golf Course Delta, BC
Bow River Ranch Resort Calgary, AB
Briarwood Golf Club Billings, MO.
Brightwood Golf Club Dartmouth, NS
Brooks Golf & CC Brooks, AB
Canmore Golf Course Canmore, AB
Castle Dunes Golf Course Brokenhead, Man.
Cathedral Bluffs Golf Course Saskatoon, SK
City of Prince George Prince George, BC
City of Vancouver Landfill Vancouver, BC
CFB Esquimalt Victoria, BC
Colville Elks Golf Course Colville, Wash.
Crawling Valley Golf Course Bassano, AB
Crystalaire Golf & CC Okotoks, AB
Deep Grove Golf Course Victoria, BC
Eliot Lake Golf Club Eliot Lake, ON
Excenevex Golf Resort Excenevex, France
Fintry Estates Golf Course Fintry, BC
Furry Creek Golf Club Britania Beach, BC
Gallagher's Canyon Golf Kelowna, BC
Glencoe Golf Club Calgary, AB
Golf Club de Lyon Lyon, France
Gook Golf Course Quesnell, BC
Grand Beach Golf Resort Grand Beach, Man.
Granite Hills Golf Club Lac du Bonnet, Man.
Grasslands Bluff Golf Course Merritt, BC
Green Acres Resort Whistler, BC
Hollyburn Ridge West Vancouver, BC
IntraWest Blackcomb Whistler, BC
Kananaskis Ranch Resort Kananaskis, AB
Kenosee Golf Course Kenosee, SK
Kinookimaw Golf Course Regina, SK
Lac du Bonnet Golf Resort Lac du Bonnet, Man.
Lithuania Golf Trakai, Lithuania
Maple Ridge Golf Course Calgary, AB
Moodie Consultants Whistler, BC
Moosomin Golf Course Moosomin, SK
Moscow Golf Moscow, Russia
Mountain View Golf Course Airdrie, AB
Mystic Harbour Golf Community Roatan Bay Islands, Honduras
Neepawa Golf Course Neepawa, Man.
Nipawin Golf Course Nipawin, SK
Palmer Bar Golf Resort Cranbrook, BC
Patricia Bay Golf Course Sidney, BC
Pine Creek Golf Course Calgary, AB
Richmond Golf & CC Richmond, BC
River Bend Golf Course Lethbridge, AB
Rossland Trail Golf Course Trail, BC
Royal Pines Golf Club Prince Albert, SK
Presidential Golf Resort Palm Springs, CA
San Valentino Golf Course Castellarno, Italy
Silverwood Golf Course Comox, BC
Skaha Dunes Golf Course Penticton, BC
Squamish Golf Squamish, BC
Sun Ridge Valley Golf Course Victoria, BC
Sunnydale Golf Course Courtney, BC
Sunshine Coast Golf Course Gibsons, BC
Talking Rock Golf Resort Little Shuswap, BC
Town of Snow Lake Snow Lake, Man
Tri-Media Studios Calgary, AB
Trout Island Golf Center Calgary, AB
Vaulion Golf Course Vaulion, Switzerland
Victoria Golf Club Victoria, BC
Vista Hills Golf Course Ardrossan, AB
Wasa Lake Golf Course Wasa Lake, BC
White Cap Dunes Golf Course Saskatoon, SK
Willow park Golf & CC Calgary, AB

For more information on these and other Furber projects visit:
http://www.gdsgolf.ca/projectlist.htm