Playing golf in Vancouver Canada (NO POLITICS!)

[Phireside]

Y'all enjoying this mess?!

 

fingers crossed for next weekend

[The Beav]

Played The Ridge on Thanksgiving Monday and it was in all around solid shape, with the greens pretty slow (aerated 3 weeks prior) - a lot of fun and playable though.

Riverway also in solid shape as of 2 weeks ago.

[tips09]

Got out to the canal course yesterday and hazelmere today. Canal is in pretty rough shape. There isn’t much positive to say about conditions there at the moment. Honestly the course conditions were very comparable to peace portal a couple weeks ago. Hazelmere was a nice surprise much dryer than expected.I got to go out alone at hazelmere which was a nice change for me as my usual playing partner is a fairly short hitter so I usually just play the whites with him but playing alone I finally got to have a go from the back tees which for me made that course much more enjoyable from a playing standpoint.

[WestCoastHacker]

I was able to play a few times over the Christmas break. Surprisingly good conditions. I've heard that things are really starting to get wet this week though.

[shokosugi]

Yeah me too. If you like fast greens, Burnaby mountain is the place to go- felt like summer speed there- crazy how they can get the greens that fast in this weather.

[duffer987]

Good stuff guys :-)

I didn't even entertain the idea of going out while i was up. Less so the temps/weather, moreso thinking things would be swampy, good to hear some holiday golf was on order.

[myspinonit]

Duffer, are you back in the Coachella? I think you had moved to Texas. Hoping the weather is better this year when we head to the desert next month after that crazy 2019 weather.

I believe I was told last summer that Bby Mtn is now the busiest public course in Canada. It used to be Fraserview. Partly lower green fees in Burnaby (esp Bby Mtn) I'm sure, but the bucks they spent on both courses on drainage appear to have paid off. Too bad they didn't do some work on the Mountain layout but maybe that will happen at some point.

[duffer987]

Thankfully I got the frick outta there and back to Norcal. Texas isn't a sh1t-hole like say Florida, but for a PNWer, it's too darn hot and flat.

Interesting. I guess the busiest public course has to be a GVRD course due to the weather/population combo. Are they typically open more than the rest when the weather gets a bit dodgy.

[myspinonit]

 

Glad my memory wasn't playing tricks on the move to Teaxas before.

Doubt anyone would be playing today! Both Bby courses have had drainage redone. Can't speak for Bby Mtn in winter but there were times I played Riverway pretty much all year with pretty fair course conditions-sand top dressing- if not actually raining. Stopped that partly/largely as when it's really cold not great with basal arthritis, even though I changed to steelfiber 8 years ago. Plus I usually have had some away golf each winter.

Riverway (again not sure on BBy Mtn) doesn't use temp greens. Course is either open or closed. If there is a frost delay, the times get pushed back till the pro shop says go get 'em, probably off both nines to catch up. For those using power carts they want you to stay on the fairway, rather than 90 degree or cart path only as the rough can be mush.

[The Beav]

Played Morgan Creek on New Years Day and it was in really great shape overall. Fairways and Greens were dry enough despite all the rain at the time.

I'm hoping to play Loomis on Saturday, but we'll see if this snow melts.

[lhahn]

Every year I give BBy Mtn "another chance" and every time I end up thinking, "why did I bother?" The course is MUCH improved drainage-wise from before and the range is great but I get through hole 14 & 15 and leave super annoyed at the greens. You can four putt from 3 feet.

You're out of Austin now? I'm surprised you felt that way about the greatest state in the country! Especially in the best city in that state. =D

[The Beav]

Played The Ridge on Saturday. Loved it. Rough was soggy but everything else was solid.

I feel like the course isn't as tough as the rating/slope would suggest especially with some of the new tee locations (like #12).

[myspinonit]

Here we go again.....this time a public forum debate on Feb 20 on a proposal to convert half the land on Vancouver's muni courses to put up to as many as 10,000 housing units. Sadly I can't attend (will be golfing in Palm Springs) but I hope some on here are interested to register and give support for golfers.

GOLF COURSES, OR HOUSING AND PARKS?Thursday, February 20 | 12:30 - 1:30 PM

Free Event | Registration is Recommended

SFU Harbour Centre, Room 7000515 West Hastings Street

There’s a new proposal to convert half of each of Vancouver’s three city-owned golf courses to up to 10,000 homes, with the other halfs converted to parkland.

In past years, the Vancouver Park Board has voted to keep its courses for golf with one Commissioner emphasizing their importance for senior recreation and combating social isolation. But the number of golfers is declining, and the Park Board recently voted for its staff to “evaluate the full spectrum of realized and unrealized benefits of Park Board land currently used for golf.”

They’ll be asking for the public’s preferences this year. Join us to hear all sides of the issue before weighing in.Scot Hein is an author of the housing & park proposal. He’s an Adjunct Professor in the Master of Urban Design program at UBC, and formerly Vancouver’s Senior Urban Designer. Tricia Barker is a Vancouver Park Board Commissioner.

They’ll get the conversation started. Then it’s your turn to express your opinion, make observations, and decide for yourself. Feel free to bring your lunch!RESERVE YOUR SEATS

[The Beav]

Hopefully the Vancouver courses can find a way to stay open, but let's face it - the writing is on the wall. The value of land around here is astronomical and eventually a council is going to ram this through. I assume there is a ton of pressure from non-golfing constituents to turn the land into housing & parks?

[Edward_Majorwin]

I'd agree entirely Beav, not long to go now. Cities are addicted to the lure of more property taxes/revenue so I'm sure at least 2 of these great courses will be gone in the near future.

[Phireside]

I registered. It's near my office so I could likely sneak out for the hour.

[duffer987]

We can sure question the ability of city municipalities to execute on their plans and how many people would benefit from parkland vs a golf course; however, there's nothing great about Langara and Vancouver needs more housing.

 

[Edward_Majorwin]

I'd agree duffer, Langara can be first to walk the plank. I don't play at any of the three courses but I feel for all the players who consider these tracks their home courses. I'd be in a rage if Peace Portal was facing closure...

[bb123]

Langara certainly isn't a great course, but it is the only one easily accessible via skytrain, and is one of the last remaining affordable courses in the region for "average middle class" folks in Vancouver. This topic keeps coming up every couple years by some pro-development group/city council, and unfortunately this does not look like it will ever go away. I live in the area, and the notion that the course needs to be torn down to make room for more condos is ridiculous considering the current state of Cambie St. The new Oakridge development (~$2000 per sq ft condos) is only Ian Gellispie and Mayor Moonbeam 2.0 targeting foreign $$ as we all know, and it will just be completely empty once complete. The corner of Cambie/Marine drive currently has like 300-400 empty units apparently, and we need to tear down golf courses to build more?? The original promise of the Cambie Corridor was to be a mix of rental/middle/luxury condos with some stores at the bottom, but once the shovels hit the ground, it's all just 100% luxury condos with locals priced out of the market.
Langara already has a great 3km walking track around it, and is supposedly very busy with seniors Monday-Friday. Queen E Park is a 2 min drive up the street if you are looking for more park space. But I do realize this is prime real estate, and does have a shelf life.@Edward You can have Peace Portal .. that walk up and down those ravines every hole sucks .. lol .. but is a great workout.

[Edward_Majorwin]

Yeah bb, I'm glad you like them ravines. True test of a champion to walk that place!

[duffer987]

Sure that's fair :-) But apart from liking golf, so wanting more golfing options, I cannot see a valid argument (assuming they were to go 50/50 and retain open space/parkland) for the 'greater good' that ends in retaining all these courses. Unfortunately for the courses - and especially Langara - they are in really good spots for residential/mixed use.

IIRC it looks like Seattle is/may be in a similar situation with some of their munis. It's an unfortunate - for us golfers - issue with living in popular places on the West Coast that attract a lot of people.

And BB - I totally share your skepticism of local gov't :-) I don't follow it as closely as I did when living in it, but hopefully they'd put some proper quotas on any new units if they dig up Langara and as you point out, don't simply add more million dollar units.

[The Beav]

I agree. Everybody seems to think that "more housing" equals "affordable housing", when that's just not the case here.

 

I used to despise Peace Portal. Mainly because it kicked my butt every time, but I recently really warmed up to it and enjoy a classic layout for a good rate.

[Flexy04]

played northview canal, last Monday soggy rough was almost gone. fairways really nice and same with greens. still 45 bucks during the day assuming punching will be soon also were just starting to rake bunkers so half were bad. also played Morgan Creek 2 weeks ago couldn't believe how dry it was ball rolling down fairways, bunkers not done still, Returning to Morgan this Monday, hoping for good thing will return with a update. Also kingslinks open 45 bucks taxes in greens were MINT but soggy fairways, Played after the rain and were sanding putting green soo might be sandy now.

[Phireside]

Played Morgan last weekend. Great shape as always.

[myspinonit]

I found out this weekend that both Marine Dr and Shaughnessy have changed some things for safety with the virus. A biggy is both have threatened in writing expulsion for snowbirds who don't wait 14 days beore returning to the club. I expect that this caution applies moreso to private clubs with sharing changing areas, more exposure generally in clubhouse areas.

I was supposed to play tomorrow at Fraserview in sunshine with some seniors but pulled out as I'm not back 14 days from down south quite yet. An over-abundance of caution probably but prudent in my opinion.

[The Beav]

Played Peace Portal in the wind yesterday and had a great time.

Tees and fairways are pretty rough, but the greens were serviceable. For $30 I didnt feel ripped off.

[shokosugi]

Get out and enjoy a round as soon as you can boys, courses may start to close soon- wouldn't surprise me in the least

[duffer987]

Any noise about the city run courses closing up shop vs the general public ones?

I was able to play down here yesterday - in 9c raining Vancouver conditions no less - and was suprised by how many people were still coming for breakfast at the restaurant attached to the course. Once we get it to the point where gatherings over X amount are banned would assume course restaurant/bars may shutter, while selfishly I would really hope the courses stay open, happy to concede when it's for the best to no longer be open... and then it's putting in the living room.

At least so many more people walk in Vancouver than down here, even if they don't allow carts to be used, most people would still be able to play.

[myspinonit]

Nothing heard yet on the munis yet, ('yet" probably the operative word). Our seniors group still slated to start in two weeks though we cancelled the opening evening social.

[Edward_Majorwin]

Seymour is now closed but I never play there anyways. I'm guessing my round at Northview this Saturday will not be happening.

It's been a long hard winter with little to no golf and here's our first week of sun and above 10 C temps calling all golfers to the starting blocks of the 2020 season.

Rain, rain, rain...bring on the rain!!!! Then I won't be so frustrated