The Kamloops Advantage

After hammering a drive over the ravine on the lakeside 8th at Green Tee Country Club Tobiano, I had the once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to try to reach a par-5 in two. The issue? There were people dawdling, plumb-bobbing, and scratching their buttocks on the green. No problem, I thought. It’ll give me an opportunity to catch my breath, calm down after my latest five-putt, and admire the amazing natural beauty that surrounded me. Just one of the many “perks” when golfing in Kamloops!

The Kamloops advantage? Yes, it’s a thing. In fact, when you consider all of the top golf destinations in the country (and I’ve yipped, skulled, and five-putted my way through all of them), Kamloops might have more “advantages” than any of them.    

Blessed with an incredible variety of natural settings – peaceful river valleys, sun-soaked desert, alpine meadows, pine forests, marshland, rolling hills, stunning lakeshores, to name a few! – the undeniable beauty of the Kamloops region is certainly a huge selling feature; easily one of the most attractive advantages it has. 

But, in terms of the “Kamloops advantage, the region’s stunning natural beauty is just the tip of the iceberg. The climate in Kamloops – warm and dry with more sunshine hours than almost anywhere else in the country – is definitely another. And, of course, along with this warm and moderate year-round weather comes the lengthy golf season. In fact, while many of Canada’s golf-rich destinations are still digging out, the local divot diggers in Kamloops have long been hunting flags! The courses in Kamloops often open in mid-March and can remain open through November. 

Not surprisingly – especially given the climate, the geography, and the fun-loving local culture – the add-on adventures that are possible on a Kamloops golf trip are another huge advantage. Wine tours (the Thompson Valley is one of British Columbia’s newest wine regions), craft breweries (there are half a dozen, or so, in the region), mountain biking (Kamloops is widely considered one of the best mountain biking destinations in Canada), beaches and boating (there are many pristine lakes and rivers that web the region), and heavenly hiking are all attractive options. 

Excellent value (most courses in the 8-course Golf Kamloops portfolio are about $100 to play and some are considerably less!) and outstanding course conditions (the warm climate definitely helps this) are two more. 

And, perhaps most importantly, the quality of the golf courses in the Kamloops region puts it at the top of the food chain when it comes to Canadian golf destinations. While Tobiano, a Thomas McBroom masterpiece that dips and dives on the bluffs above Kamloops Lake, is often considered the flagship course in the region, it’s got plenty of friendly competition. Talking Rock, also a perennial top-100 course in the country, parades along the sun-silvered shores of Little Shuswap and offers a breathtaking “in-nature” golf experience. But, to be honest, you really won’t go wrong with any of the courses! 

My advice? Play every one of them. After all, they all come with advantages! There’s not one butt-scratcher in the bunch.