Playing golf in Vancouver Canada (NO POLITICS!)

[Phireside]

I played Nick North today under shoulder season rates. Course was in great shape. I suppose they'll be closing soon enough.

 

It's my fav of the Whistler courses, having now played all three. Granted Nick is the only one I've played multiple times.

[The Beav]

On 10/4/2020 at 6:19 PM, Phireside said:

I played Nick North today under shoulder season rates. Course was in great shape. I suppose they'll be closing soon enough.

 

It's my fav of the Whistler courses, having now played all three. Granted Nick is the only one I've played multiple times.

My fav Whistler course seems to change every year.  As much as the numerous uphill approaches get old, I think I still prefer the wow factor of Chateau.

[Phireside]

Morgan in the mist today. First time back since they punched. Greens were terrific as usual and the course in great shape for the most part. 

[The Beav]

On 10/18/2020 at 4:39 PM, Phireside said:

Morgan in the mist today. First time back since they punched. Greens were terrific as usual and the course in great shape for the most part. 

Yeah I played Morgan Creek on Sat. 

Greens are running puuuuuuure. In fact they are currently better than any other public course's greens were in the summer.

 

Had a rough start on holes #1 and 4, but managed to find it back and shot 36 on the back.

[Phireside]

Off to Kings tomorrow. Looking forward to it. Haven't been there in ages.

[Phireside]

Great round at Morgan today. Great weather. Feel like Morgan is getting more non-member/players club play as the amount of pitch marks on the greens is unlike I've seen there before. I'm generalizing, but I think the regulars take good care of the greens.

 

Each passing round these days feels like it could be the last of the season. Weather is turning faster than I care to accept.

[The Beav]

Redwoods today.  Greens were rolling great, but otherwise course was saturated.  

Morgan last weekend and you couldn't even tell it had rained all week.

[Phireside]

I love Redwoods but it is a swamp this time of year. I wish I had played it more than twice this Summer.

[mukster]

We’re still lucky being able to play this time of the year 🙂

[myspinonit]

18 hours ago, mukster said:

We’re still lucky being able to play this time of the year 🙂

You bet.  I live in Vancouver and I didn't go outside Vancouver to play Surrey etc. before the Vancouver courses opened up in the early Covid days. But though I support the current health Orders, it seems almost more frustrating not being able to play Riverway right now as they are in Fraser Health. 

 

 Watching the news last night and the opening of ski hills I hope they don't mess it up for we golfers and of course the general public health-wise.   Camera angles can be deceiving, and I don't know who was in whose bubble of course, but social distancing at the base of runs and such looked a little dicey to me.

[mukster]

2 hours ago, myspinonit said:

You bet.  I live in Vancouver and I didn't go outside Vancouver to play Surrey etc. before the Vancouver courses opened up in the early Covid days. But though I support the current health Orders, it seems almost more frustrating not being able to play Riverway right now as they are in Fraser Health. 

 

 Watching the news last night and the opening of ski hills I hope they don't mess it up for we golfers and of course the general public health-wise.   Camera angles can be deceiving, and I don't know who was in whose bubble of course, but social distancing at the base of runs and such looked a little dicey to me.

Yeah, crazy times .  Once things return to some sort of normal, give me a shout, I joined Meadow Gardens with the deal they had. We can meet in person and I can take you out for a round and we can gossip about this crazy place!

[myspinonit]

11 hours ago, mukster said:

Yeah, crazy times .  Once things return to some sort of normal, give me a shout, I joined Meadow Gardens with the deal they had. We can meet in person and I can take you out for a round and we can gossip about this crazy place!

Very cool.  Yes, will be in touch once things settle to whatever normal is.

[myspinonit]

Just saw this letter from BC Golf that courses in Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley  and Vancouver Island can now through BC Golf adjust course ratings (more than once) to have scores to be posted for handicap from Nov 16-Feb 28.  Big change. 

 I heard University is doing this. Anyone else's course?

 

 

 

uid_6399_2020 Winter Handicaps Memo.pdf

Edited November 24, 2020 by myspinonit

[The Beav]

10 hours ago, myspinonit said:

Just saw this letter from BC Golf that courses in Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley  and Vancouver Island can now through BC Golf adjust course ratings (more than once) to have scores to be posted for handicap from Nov 16-Feb 28.  Big change. 

 I heard University is doing this. Anyone else's course?

 

 

 

uid_6399_2020 Winter Handicaps Memo.pdf 167.54 kB · 4 downloads

Would they adjust the ratings up or down? 

I always score way better in the winter with soft conditions, not to mention courses seem to move the tees way up on wet days.

[Phireside]

Was wondering about this because I noticed my 11/21 round at Morgan counted towards my handicap and that the rating had changed. Have been playing the whites these cold mornings. 11/14 rating was 69.2/126, on 11/21 it was 69.6/127

[Phireside]

Sadly I wasn't able to get out this weekend. Hope some of you folks made it out on what might be one of the last nice weekends for a while.

[2bGood]

On 11/24/2020 at 7:16 PM, The Beav said:

Would they adjust the ratings up or down? 

I always score way better in the winter with soft conditions, not to mention courses seem to move the tees way up on wet days.

Both up and down.

 

Courses have to submit the changes they make in the winter and details about the conditions they typically deal with,  their maintenance  changes etc. Ratings could go either way.

 

Keep in mind in the new system if players post unusually high or low scores an adjustment is made for just the day of too. 

Edited December 1, 2020 by 2bGood

[Phireside]

Played Kings today. Was super windy for about 14 holes. Good condition but slow greens.

[marmaduk]

22 minutes ago, Phireside said:

Played Kings today. Was super windy for about 14 holes. Good condition but slow greens.

I went for a walk around there today. I live in Ladner. You are braver than me. Sideways rain. Didn’t see a single smile on any golfer’s face lol

[Phireside]

2 minutes ago, marmaduk said:

I went for a walk around there today. I live in Ladner. You are braver than me. Sideways rain. Didn’t see a single smile on any golfer’s face lol

went off at 10:30. Not a drop of rain.

[Break68]

Can anyone tell me the secret to getting a tee time at Northlands??

I logged in the other day on the online booking site at 7:03 am and all the tee times were gone up to 2:20 pm.

I love playing Northlands but it's almost impossible to get a tee time.

 

Edited December 7, 2020 by Break68

[myspinonit]

20 hours ago, Break68 said:

Can anyone tell me the secret to getting a tee time at Northlands??

I logged in the other day on the online booking site at 7:03 am and all the tee times were gone up to 2:20 pm.

I love playing Northlands but it's almost impossible to get a tee time.

 

I don't really play Northlands, but was curious after seeing your post.  Went to their website, this was what I saw on their Home Page:

 

"FAQ: When booking 5 days out at 7 am, why are all the tee times gone within 5-10 minutes?

Answer: In the winter months, there are only 20 tee times available between 8:30 am and noon. We also block off a portion of these in the event of frost.

There are at minimum 100 or more users trying to book at the same time for just 20 spots. It is simply supply and demand."

 

For the Vancouver courses paying advance booking fees over 6 days is still the norm..in December! I see that Northlands has stopped advance fee bookings over 6 days for now. I speculate it's because weather is so fickle right now and with the Northlands elevation they don't want to deal with having to refund those fees (or deal with complainers if they don't refund them!)  should the course be closed due to frost or snow or just torrential North Van rains. But as I said that's just speculation; maybe the course would say why if you phoned.

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by myspinonit
more detail

[Phireside]

Northlands? They should pay you to play there! 🤣

[The Beav]

Tee times are tough anywhere right now, especially if the courses block times for potential frost.

[myspinonit]

Hey guys....you probably got the GolfTown email today but in case, they are blowing out Ecco Biom G3 Gore Tex spiked shoes for over $200 off the usual price with free shipping. Good size selection as of an hour ago. Most comfy shoes I've bought for a while and the "M" width was fine for my wide feet.  Also good support and comfy with relatively little clogging in the spikes for the two wettish rounds I played in them this Fall. (Before conditions really changed and I went to boots for mud. )

I paid the full pop of $335 plus tax end of October, couldn't resist ordering a spare pair today.  I think they came out in 2019 so I guess they are just blowing them out. I don't even see spiked Eccos on the Ecco Canada site now when I looked quickly this morning.

Edited December 10, 2020 by myspinonit

[Phireside]

@myspinonit Thanks for the heads up. Sadly nothing in my size. But I did go ahead and order a pair of Hybrid Biom at 20% off. Never owned Ecco's and been wanting to get in to a pair.

[myspinonit]

12 hours ago, Phireside said:

@myspinonit Thanks for the heads up. Sadly nothing in my size. But I did go ahead and order a pair of Hybrid Biom at 20% off. Never owned Ecco's and been wanting to get in to a pair.

I was stunned when I looked early in the am and they had it looked like every size in stock. I looked later in the day and just 45 and 46 left I think. Good you scored the Hybrids though.

[myspinonit]

14 hours ago, Phireside said:

@myspinonit Thanks for the heads up. Sadly nothing in my size. But I did go ahead and order a pair of Hybrid Biom at 20% off. Never owned Ecco's and been wanting to get in to a pair.

ps The Yak leather is great but you still need to protect it as only the inner membrane is Gore Tex. I highly recommend investing in the Ecco brand Repel Gore Tex breather- friendly spray to help keep them both clean and dry and their shoe cream. Been using them for years on Biom walking and golf shoes.

[Phireside]

Lol. Woke up this morning with buyers remorse, thinking I can't believe I spent that much on golf shoes, even on sale. See if I keep them after trying them on, or if they go back.

[Phireside]

Anyone know what club brands are carried at Fraserview's proshop? I know titliest, but are there others? I'm in the market for wedges and have gift cards to burn.