Beyond the Course
By Karen Smith
I’m Karen, a foodie and new golfer who was taken on a three day golfing trip to Kamloops this past July. I was a bit apprehensive – as much as I enjoy this new found love of golf, what was there beyond the courses? My partner Dan (@golfspymbp) has been a fairly serious golfer for 40+ years and he knows how to golf vacation, but what else was there to do?
First the golf, it was a golf trip after all.
Our first stop was Eaglepoint Golf Resort, a course that despite the loss of over 12,000 trees to pine beetles, might be the hidden gem of the Kamloops golf circuit. Dan thought it every bit the challenge since he was there 20 years ago, and I enjoyed the beautiful greens that have been cut through the southern hills of town.
After wrapping up on the course, I discovered just one of the many attributes Kamloops has to offer beyond golf – wine! We started our wine tour at Monte Creek Winery where we enjoyed a wine tasting and lunch at The Terrace Restaurant. With full bellies from lunch, we moved on to Harper’s Trail Estate Winery where the staff are as passionate as the family that runs it. We enjoyed both tasting experiences and stocked the car with several bottles to enjoy and gift to family and friends.
A round at Tobiano was on the itinerary for day two. This incredible course is the true showcase of Kamloops golf. A Canadian top 10 course and one that PGA professional Louis Oosthuizen places in his world top 5. And what a site it is. An amazing piece of property running alongside Kamloops Lake, it’s a must for golfers visiting the area. The course is as much about the location as it is the golf. It also has first rate amenities including the Black Iron Club & Grill (I recommend the steak sandwich!).
Kamloops feels neighbourly, inviting folks everywhere you look. At Bighorn Golf & Country Club, a mountain-side course with views of the city (and lots of bighorn sheep wandering around), we were paired with two local gents who were our new best friends by the end of the round. I love the community that golf brings together and Kamloops pairs that so amazingly. As an added Bonus for our day 3 round at Bighorn, Dan shot his first ever HOLE IN ONE on hole 17. It’s official – this is Dan’s new fave hole in BC, and we can’t wait to get back and play it again.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and recommend it to golfers and non-golfers alike. Kamloops is more than just the city of tournaments – it’s a true getaway that’s home to breathtaking golf courses, outstanding wineries and a whole lot of Canadian charm.
Insider Travel Tips
Where to Stay: While Kamloops offers many great accommodation options to rest up after your round, we found the Wingate by Wyndham suited our golf getaway needs perfectly.
Where to Eat: Each of the courses served up fantastic options for after round eats, but we also recommend ROMEO’s Kitchen & Spirits which was very close to our hotel.
