Okanagan with spouse in September 2013

[Double K]

Okanagan Bear today. It's definitely a top tier course, everything is very well manicured and it's very noticeable when you drive up to the bag drop. Course is in great shape. Greens were perfect, bunkers had nice sand and well maintained and fairways and rough were well kept.

 

As mentioned by others the layout is very generous and plays much shorter than the yardage on the card. All par 5s are reachable and most of the par 4s leave a short iron into the greens. The greens are relatively flat and the breaks are subtle. I was 38-41 with a stupid double on both sides. Could have been a special round if I wasn't a moron.

 

16, 17 and 18 are great finishing holes. Really, really like the tee shot on 17. 10 is a great par 4 as well, all in all I definitely prefer the back to the front. 5 is a neat short par 4 that is blind off the tee. 8 really felt like an afterthought that they crammed in to make up 18, it should probably be changed into a long par 3.

 

Green fee was a little steep but that's what they can get in this market. Course was absolutely rammed and we waited our way to a 4.5 hour round. The routing shouldn't take any more than 4.

 

I'd play it again, but will probably give Quail a shot.

[vancouver81]

It's still open right now. 20 mins before the tee time.

That's a really dumb policy.

[Double K]

Ya, I was pretty choked.

 

There are lots of courses around to play. A course won't get very far treating potential customers like that. I've golfed around North America and that's the first time I've been turned away from a course that had tee times available. It's one thing if the course was full, closed for a tournament/maintenance (props for Osoyoos advising they were aerating). It's another to have slots available and hold them for fear of losing out on a single green fee 12h prior.

 

[KBong]

Ya, I was pretty choked.

 

There are lots of courses around to play. A course won't get very far treating potential customers like that. I've golfed around North America and that's the first time I've been turned away from a course that had tee times available. It's one thing if the course was full, closed for a tournament/maintenance (props for Osoyoos advising they were aerating). It's another to have slots available and hold them for fear of losing out on a single green fee 12h prior.

That's an idiot move not letting a single book within the 12 prior hr window.....I'm pretty sure you could have gone there as a single and be out within a 1/2 time frame.

Gallagher's is a nice course, but it's not as if you missed a bucket list course.

[kencanuck]

It's still open right now. 20 mins before the tee time.

 

Gallagher's has always been like that...no idea why other than the Pro must hate singles! Playing Fairview today so thanks for the feedback...

[vancouver81]

Nice Ken. Hope you have a good round. Post your thoughts.

[Double K]

It's still open right now. 20 mins before the tee time.

 

Gallagher's has always been like that...no idea why other than the Pro must hate singles! Playing Fairview today so thanks for the feedback...

 

What did you think of Fairview?

[Double K]

Has anyone played in/around Osoyoos lately?

 

I’m playing Sonora Dunes tomorrow, Fairview Mountain Wednesday and Osoyoos Desert on Friday.

 

Off to Cle Elum WA on Saturday for a week at Suncadia.

[Cruisin1966]

Has anyone played in/around Osoyoos lately?

 

I'm playing Sonora Dunes tomorrow, Fairview Mountain Wednesday and Osoyoos Desert on Friday.

 

Off to Cle Elum WA on Saturday for a week at Suncadia.

 

No, haven't played lately, unfortunately.

 

Sounds like a good trip. Have a great time!

[Double K]

Desert Gold at Osoyoos is a steal for $60!!! Doesn’t even feel like you are in Canada.

 

Course is in really nice shape. Greens were smooth but very slow. Really enjoyed the variety of the holes, but kinda wanted a bit more variety in the lengths, might move back to the golds next time blacks were a little bit short at 6100y.

 

Still can’t figure out my yardages here, driver is going nowhere compared to Calgary and irons are about 3/4 of a club less. I might see if I can sneak out again tomorrow, wife permitting.

[Double K]

Played Sonora Dunes yesterday. Was in really nice shape. Greens were pure maybe a touch on the soft side, don’t think they could really firm them up very much based on how much slope they have.

 

Fairview Mountain this afternoon and then Osoyoos - Park Meadows tomorrow. It’s been nice so far, but they are cranking the heat up later this week.

[Cruisin1966]

> @"Double K" said:

> Played Sonora Dunes yesterday. Was in really nice shape. Greens were pure maybe a touch on the soft side, don’t think they could really firm them up very much based on how much slope they have.

>

> Fairview Mountain this afternoon and then Osoyoos - Park Meadows tomorrow. It’s been nice so far, but they are cranking the heat up later this week.

 

Have fun.

 

Don't you dare complain about having warm weather! Crap weather continues in Calgary which suggests summer is over and the cold weather is close at hand.

[vancouver81]

We played Sonora Dunes and Osoyoos Desert about a month ago, both were in really great shape. Fun desert (target) golf, the courses were in very nice shape and the rates were very reasonable for peak tourist season. Only drawback on the Desert course was a threesome of crusty locals on our heels though the front 9, including the old guy yelling at us to pick up the pace as we stood on the teebox waiting for the group in front of us on the fairway 250 yards or so (straight downhill) to clear. Still ended up being a 4h15min round though so what can you do. I'm all for pace of play but if I'm on vacation and we're within a shot of the group in front of us, I don't need that. Could happen anywhere of course. Overall really love those Osoyoos courses and Fairview Mountain as well.

[Double K]

Fairview is as pure of a course I've played anywhere. When you factor in the geography it's really impressive. US Open rough, fairways are like carpet and the bentgrass greens are unbelievably smooth.

 

It's worth every penny.

[stmike]

Agree with some of the above comments regarding the quail and the bear as well as predator ridge. The latter is challenging and the former very beautiful.

[Dmortyy]

Although the thread is a couple years old. Really appreciate the feedback. Going to Kelowna end of September for work and being a single and trying to sneak out, I'll know what courses to avoid. Fingers crossed courses havent closed or punched. Check back in with my own reviews of where I ended up playing.

[Flexy04]

heading to osoyoos June 14-21 gonna play some rounds booking Fairview, inkimip canyon, Osoyoos desert gold. Desert gold is cheap 44 at 250? normal for time of day or are they punching greens in june? also how these courses on taking solos golf buddies coming up for few days then the Old ladys got girls visiting for wine tours.... Ill have to sneak out solo for some more when that happens. Thanks

[myspinonit]

I suggest you phone the intended courses directly particularly for your questions on punching and if they are accepting singles/walkins or even allowing booking into pre-booked threesomes in the current environment.