Graham Cooke Leaves His Mark on 4 Kamloops Courses
Known as one of the most diverse and unique golf regions in Canada, it is hard to believe four of Kamloops outstanding courses were designed by the same golf architect.
The man behind these award winning tracks, is Graham Cooke. A successful and highly accolated golfer himself, it is clear he has the eye for what makes or breaks a golf course design. From Mountain tops to city views, he’s brought these courses to life.
Take a tour through these diverse courses:
Bighorn Golf & Country Club
Built: 2005
Golf Architect(s): Graham Cooke & Wayne Carlton
One of Canada’s true desert style courses, Bighorn Golf & Country Club (formerly known as Sun Rivers Golf Course) is situated directly overlooking the Kamloops cityscape and the Thompson River. Not only does this make for picture perfect moments on every fairway, but you may also be lucky enough to be visited by their local residents – the Bighorn Sheep. This golf course was designed to enhance the stunning mountains and hoodoo’s that directly touch the golf course. Expect big, saucer like bunkers, sagebrush surrounding the course, and forgiving but gently sloping greens.
Talking Rock Golf Course
Built: 2007
Golf Architect(s): Graham Cooke & Wayne Carlton
Ranked #1 by BC players in 2019, golfers of all playing abilities will be left in awe after a round at Talking Rock. This unique course located on the Little Shuswap Indian Band. The design duo of Graham Cooke and Wayne Carlton embraced the natural rugged terrain leading to little altercation of the natural lands. Play at Talking Rock takes you through a mature sandy forest, hillside challenges, and finishes with a breathtaking 18th hole along the shoreline of the Little Shuswap Lake.
Highlights include a unique bear shaped bunker on hole #7, a grass deck driving range amongst the trees, and views that are truly jaw dropping.
The Dunes at Kamloops
Built: 1996
Golf Architect(s): Graham Cooke
Carved into what once was the North Thompson Riverbed, The Dunes was shaped and curated amongst the sandy tides. Offering an open links style experience, you can expect to be met with wide forgiving open fairways and lush greens. Venturing may mean checking out the natural sandy dunes and perhaps a dip in the river, this golf course offers a fun experience for golfers of all abilities.
Sun Peaks Golf Course
Built: 1996 Front Nine, 2006 Back Nine
Golf Architect(s): Graham Cooke
Known as BC’s highest elevation course, this course will provide a round that is a fresh of breath air to any golfer. Unique, and challenging, the Golf Course at Sun Peaks provides many risk reward opportunities.
Dance delicately through the narrow front nine, as the tree lined fairways can prove to be a little demanding. The open back nine is forgiving in nature, and will cure the beating from the first half of the course.
