The Golfing Gourmet
NOTICE: Due to a number of circumstances, this site will terminate
at the end of January 2006. I hope to establish a new site in
the next few months which will contain some of the same information.
Check back by entering "golfing gourmet" in Google,
etc.
This page is a highly opinionated guide to the golf courses and some of the best restaurants in the area of Kelowna, British Columbia, as well as some suggested excursions. It's based on my personal taste - look elsewhere for objectivity.
[This page was last updated January 30, 2006. It
gets updated once a month or sooner if I have an experience that
compels me to change a rating.]
Why a page that deals with food and golf? Well, I've found in my travels that many golfers share this combination of interests. And I get asked on a regular basis for advice on where to eat and where to play in this area. Who am I to offer advice on golf and food? I'm a golfer, play regularly, and carry a handicap which wanders around 9. I also eat a lot: a proclivity that takes me to virtually every dining establishment of note in the Okanagan.
For more information on the city of Kelowna, check out http://www.welcometokelowna.com/
The Golf
NOTE: Courses are closed as we're in what's passing for winter this year. Expect openings in March.
This listing contains all the full size 18 hole courses in or near Kelowna. I've listed only basic information about each course, so as not to duplicate excellent info available elsewhere. On the Net, for example, you can get descriptions and locations at BC Golf Guide.
Green fees are, of course, subject to change and there are various temporary "twilight rates" and the like that you may want to check out.
FIRST TIER
These are the best three courses in the Okanagan. Also among the most expensive to play (the Okanagan Club's up there, too), with green fees geared to the American dollar. With the fees based mostly on "resort" touches like fancy driveways and uniformed staff who wrestle your clubs out of your hands when you arrive, these courses aren't the best bargain for the money but they are, all in all, the highest quality playing experience. In alphabetical order:
Not the course it got its initial reputation from, since course playability and aesthetic flow were compromised to install the housing development, it's nonetheless still a major league course, an interesting test of golf and very scenic in spots. Gallaghers sports one of the most intimidating opening holes anywhere (from the back tees) and, unfortunately, one of the weaker finishing holes. Some of the short to medium par 4s are very strong and #12 is a good par 5 with a double dogleg.
The course has maintained notably good conditioning in recent years.
Yardage: 6823 - 6,448 - 5,574
Championship Rating/Slope: 72.4/130
Phone: 250-861-4240
NB: Something worth trying at Gallaghers is the Pinnacle course, a nine-hole executive that is a pleasant surprise for golfers at all levels.
The Harvest boasts top service and generally very good conditioning, although steady growth in popularity has created challenges in the latter regard. Also scores high in terms of aesthetics, with a sweeping view over the city and lake. The course appears more benign than it is, allowing for unpenalized sprayed drives on many holes (my kind of course) but demanding accurate shots to pin placements and a finely tuned short game to score well. Main knocks on the Harvest are that some players find the layout a bit uninspired, with no "heart-thumping" holes, and slow play can be a problem in the afternoon or when Calgary junkets are out there.
The Harvest can make for a perfect day of golf and food - you can't beat the experience of a round of golf there on a sunny day followed by dinner in the dining room commencing about half an hour before sunset.
Yardage: 7,104 - 6,570 - 5,454
Championship Rating/Slope: 73/126
Phone: 250-862-3101
Predator's a bit of a drive from Kelowna (allow 45 minutes), being closer to Vernon, but worth it. A course that people tend to either love or hate, it's characterized by a links-style progression of holes through rolling hillocks and usually excellent conditioning. This is "target area" golf with emphasis on shotmaking and strategy. Predator now has 27 holes, with the new ones fitting well with the original 18. Some complain that the target areas are oddly placed in some instances and there's some basis for this, but my only real complaint is that Predator has some very long walks from green to tee. Nonetheless, this course requires you to think, makes you use your whole game, and is first class golf.
Note that Predator's dining facility has become notably good of late.
NB: This is not a course for novices or high handicappers.
Yardage: 7,156 - 6,632 - 5,958 - 5,475
Championship Rating/Slope: 75.4/137
Phone: 250-542-3436
SECOND TIER
These ones are worth a look, for various reasons mentioned under each. Generally, they're satisfying golf experiences that should be tried if you have the time and the resources. In alphabetical order:
The "old course" in Kelowna, known as such because it's been here longer than the others and because of the average age of its members. Well manicured, with little rough to speak of, this course is a pleasant outing which suffers only from some repetitiveness in design and a couple of odd holes. The lake holes are interesting, with #12 being an exciting par 5 and two good par threes often spoiled by being set up to require the same club for the tee shot. If you haven't played here in a while, there have been some changes in design to accommodate an expansion to the graveyard next door (I'll avoid the obvious jokes).
Reserved times are a must, even in off-season, and they're hard to get - these people may be old, but there are scads of them and a lot of them play every day.
Yardage: 6,265 - 5,952 - 5,855
Championship Rating/Slope: 70.7/127
Phone: 250-763-2736
Okanagan Golf Club
Formerly known as "Quail Ridge", the Okanagan Club now boasts 36 holes:
The older course of the two, designed by architect Les Furber, who's responsible for some very good courses such as Predator Ridge and The Springs at Radium. I don't think this is his best work. Although Quail has a few interesting holes, it's mostly a disjointed collection of what Furber's done elsewhere. However, the course is basically okay and they seem to have their conditioning problems under control. Some golfers will appreciate the aesthetics of the course and holes 12 through 17 are an interesting stretch. Note: This can be a difficult course to walk, especially for those playing the forward tees.
Yardage: 6,871 - 6,264 - 5,565
Championship Rating/Slope: 73/135
Phone: 250-765-5955, 1-800-898-2449
So named because it's designed by Jack Nicklaus' design company, the Bear course has gained the nickname "the Teddy Bear" by local wags because of its alleged easiness, but I find it a reasonable enough challenge. The fairways have grown in nicely, and the rest of the course is maturing with less roll on the fairways and more consistency in the firmness of the greens.
The Bear is a fairly easy walk and worth playing if you get a considerable break on the green fees, but virtually any other course here is a better deal, quality-for-price.
Yardage: 6,852 - 6,430 - 5,725 - 5,090
Championship Rating/Slope: 72/127
Phone: 250-765-5955, 1-800-898-2449
I should note that I've had good food at Sarazen's, the dining room at the Okanagan Club. Not the best ambiance, but otherwise good.
...AND THE OTHERS...
These courses are all lacking something that would be required to make my list of truly good courses, but they have fairly reasonable green fees and are usually easy to get on. Again, in alphabetical order (I'll be vilified enough for just putting them in this category):
Kelowna Springs Golf and Country Club
This is a great little course for ease of walking and generally has greens that are far better conditioned than you'd expect in this level of course. It really would be found above in the "second tiers" except that it's been crammed into too little space, which lends an air of "executive course" to it and necessitated some repetitive holes. A good value, overall, and a good choice for tournaments catering to golfers with a wide range of abilities.
Yardage: 6,052 - 5,579 - 5,180
Championship Rating/Slope: 68.4/114
Phone: 250-765-4653
E-mail: ksgolf@silk.net
Ponderosa Golf and Country Club
On the benchland above Peachland, Ponderosa's about twenty minutes from downtown Kelowna. One questions the decision to build a course on this particular plot of land (very rocky and hilly), but it's not a bad job, considering. It's usually accessible pricewise and it's got a nice rustic clubhouse in which to rest your feet after a moderately strenuous walk. Plays short, but bring a lot of balls if you're indiscriminate off the tee. And a hard hat for the unfortunate conjunction of holes 6 and 7.
Yardage: 5,818 - 5,407
Championship Rating/Slope: 67.3/110
Phone: 250-768-7839
Shadow shares much with nearby Kelowna Springs. Another easy walking course on slightly too-small bottomland, it has suffered from occasional flooding in years with wet spring weather, but it's been in beautiful shape in recent years. It's got some good holes - #16 is a pretty cute "gambling" par five (go for it! go for it!), although I find the par threes are all oddly boring. Like Kelowna Springs, again, most of the course is set up well enough for the size of the property, with the exception of the idiotic tee on #14, with a pond on the left which compels most average golfers to bail over to where players on the 13th are waiting to hit onto that green.
Slow play used to be common at Shadow; but they seem to have brought this under control. Green fees are reasonable and I like the preponderance of deciduous trees - somewhat unique in the central Okanagan.
Yardage: 6,475 - 6,213 - 5,777
Championship Rating/Slope: 70.3/123
Phone: 250-765-7777
This course would be described as "sporty" by some, perhaps "goofy" to others. It has a number of truly odd golf holes which can make for a kind of exhilarating, giggle-filled adventure or a nightmare trek, depending on your mood. Personally, I enjoy the occasional romp through it. And, to be fair, there are a few good holes at Shannon, but they catch you by surprise and rather spoil the ambiance.
Yardage: 6,151 - 5,890 - 5,075
Championship Rating/Slope: 69.9/122
Phone: 250-768-4577
Sunset Ranch Golf and Country Club
Sunset Ranch continues to make improvements which are taking some of the edge off an unfortunate design. The new holes are better than they ones they replaced to make room for the housing development, although the green at #8 is a little strange. I find par threes on this course to be uniformly interesting and the par fives are okay, too, with #18 being a pretty good finishing hole. A very scenic course, with spectacular views from a few holes, pleasant tree-lined fairways, much running water and exceptional gardening touches.
Slow play can still be a problem here and the greens are not the best, although they continue to improve. Lost balls are very common, especially for longer hitters, and the course is a strenuous walk, with most holes playing uphill or downhill. *I must note that some women and seniors have expressed appreciation that Sunset's layout allows them to use a greater variety of clubs than do other courses.
Yardage: 6,499 - 6,207 - 5,714 - 5041
Championship Rating/Slope: 71.2/133
Phone: 250-765-7700
For most travellers, Kelowna dining is a delightful surprise: there are several excellent restaurants and the best of them are cheap by comparison with those in other cities.
But it must be acknowledged that most restaurants in Kelowna - often the most popular - are of the "family" variety (gimme them big portions with a beer and a dollop of MSG...) and that many advertising "fine dining" are pushing the envelope, so to speak. Kelowna has its share of chain retaurants, with their cookie-cutter approach to food - you already know what they're like.
I'm not attempting, in this web page, to review all dining establishments in the area. The restaurants below are only those I feel comfortable in recommending because I've found them reliably of high quality. There are many others that, on a given night, you might have a good experience at, but which I haven't found up to standard, so I don't mention them (yes, I do try them all).
FIRST TIER
These are the places I feel confident in recommending to anyone who's a discerning diner. They may seem pricey to some (about $90-$140 or more including tip for an average two-person meal with salads, desserts, and a decent bottle of wine) but it's good value, considering the quality. In alphabetical order (not in order of preference):
Bouchons Bistro
With an excellent combination approach, which I would describe as French meets pacific northwest, Bouchons brings stylish urban fare into Kelowna's north end. There's a well-chosen wine list, prompt and knowledgable service and a nice muted decor. At the moment, Bouchons features three course meal specials that are quite reasonably priced for the quality. Note: parking can be an issue in this area on weekends or if something's going on at Prospera Place or the lagoons area.
Phone: 250-763-6595
Fresco
Sort of northwest nouvelle, the food's not subtle, but undeniably excellent and creative. Service is unobtrusive and prompt. My only beefs with Fresco are the unnecessarily expensive wine list (which makes this the most costly restaurant in town) and the sort of New York faux decor.
Phone: 250-868-8805
The only golf course with an exceptional dining room (and I mean the dining room, not the grill). There's an unbeatable view of the golf course, the city and the lake, an understated decor, and topnotch continental/nouvelle fare with interesting specials. Good service, although it's returned somewhat to a stiffness I don't admire, and an admirable wine list. Note that this place has raised its prices considerably of late.
Phone: 250-862-3177
The location of this retaurant has just changed over to a more welcoming area on Ellis Street. First class Italian food, but the pasta is not really the thing here. Go for the scampi, the veal, or the unbeatable salmon. It's not low-fat, but you've already walked at least 18 holes today to trim down, right? Franco has a great wine cellar, only a portion of which is listed. If you're into wine, tell him what your taste is and ask for suggestions. Service is prompt and unobtrusive.
Phone: 250-763-3110
The Vintage Dining Room
Located in the Capri Hotel, the Vintage is back in my good books. In the 25 years or so that I've been eating there, the Vintage has changed its approach a number of times, not always for the better. At the moment, it's hit on a good combination of menu items that are creative and reasonably priced for the quality. They've continued a policy of focussing on local wines and the service is good, although not to the outstanding level of the past.
Phone: 250-860-6060
Vintropolis Tapas Bar
Vintropolis has been in Kelowna for some time, but my earliest experiences were not encouraging, food-wise. Recently, however, things have turned around and I've had excellent food in this urban bistro which also has a well-chosen wine list. The chef has even rendered green peppers edible for me. Note: I personally like the high bar stools and tables, but they may be unwieldy for people with physical limitations
Phone: 250-762-7682
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS (save some money for green fees)
One thing that Kelowna has been short of is the small bistro-style restaurant that serves excellent unpretentious food at a reasonable price. There are a couple, however:
Le Triskell (763-5151) is a favourite of mine: something unique, the best deal in Kelowna and it's right downtown. Note that they only serve buckwheat crepes, except for a lasagne dish, but these will be appreciated by those with sophisticated taste and smaller wallets. The wine list is short, but adequate; I personally don't agree with their recommendation of cider with their food.
If you're staying out in Westbank, try Amerigo's Nuraghe Cafe (768-7983).
Here's a few suggestions for short trips away from Kelowna which combine some good golf and dining. In order of proximity:
Summerland
Take a 55 minute drive south to the Summerland Golf and Country Club (250-494-9554), an interesting course with a flat front 9 and a hilly, narrow back track. After golf, stop in at Sumac Ridge Winery for dinner at the Cellar Door Bistro (250-494-3316), a great little restaurant beside the winery's tasting room. And, obviously, check out those wines - the Gewurz in particular is world class.
Oliver/Penticton
About an hour and a half south, hit the Fairview Mountain Golf Club (250-498-3521). This is a good value, a challenging course with beautiful views. It's a brutal walk, however - this is one of the few courses where I routinely take a cart. After golf, work your way back to Penticton for top-notch dining at Granny Bogner's (250-493-2711).
Kamloops
Two hours away, Kamloops is your basic gastronomic wasteland, but it does have two first-class golf courses: The Dunes (1-888-881-4653) and Rivershore (250-573-4622). An overnighter with dinner at Chapter's Viewpoint (okay food and nice view) and golf at both these courses would be satisfying. Note: the Dunes is an excellent course, but you can encounter marginal service and slow play there. Take the long way back and stop at the Salmon Arm Golf Course (250-832-4727), an interesting track with an excellent closing stretch.
Did your recent experience differ from mine? Got an update on information here? Something you'd like to see on this page? Send me an e-mail and I'll follow up. Thanks to all those, from Alaska to Australia, who've written to say what a great holiday they had here!