Chris and I were invited to Silvertip Resort’s Partner Day yesterday to meet with Silvertip’s new staff and get a round in on the course.  As we have been working closely with Silvertip for 10 years, we call many of the management team close friends.  So it was good to get together and get caught up with their plans for 2010.  Watch for more information about Silvertip’s Resorts Club in the coming days!

So after the meet & greet and the Silvertip team’s presentation it was time to head out onto the course.  And as it was June 1st, and in staying with tradition, Chris and I agreed to a match.  Chris plays to a 6 and I play to a 16, so at Silvertip, Chris had to give me 12 strokes!   Game on!

Silvertip is a shot maker’s delight, and Chris was in his element.  By the time we got through 9, I was down 3, and by 13 I’m down 4.  I have Chris right where I want him!!  In my defence, I was riding with Cathy Resche, Silvertip’s new Corporate Sales Manager, and she and I were talking away about Silvertip’s Resort Club and other initiatives we will be working on and I was a little distracted.  So on 14 I thought I had better bear down!

Now Chris never “folds like a cheap suit”, so he isn’t easy to beat, but by 17 I’m only 1 down with 1 to play.  Chris pars in and and I double; Chris wins 2 up!  And the bet was the winner fetches this afternoon’s coffee, so I am off to Beamer’s for a couple of lattes to get thru the afternoon!

But what a day at Silvertip!  Great company, a solid match on a golf course that undeniably has some of the most spectacular scenery in the Canadian Rockies!  An experience that never gets old!

Tags: 2010 golf vacation, Banff Golf, BC golf, Calaway golf, Canada golf, Canadian Rockies Golf, canmore, Canmore Golf & Curling Club, Canmore tourism, discount golf vacation package, golf blog, golf resorts, golf stories, golf vacation packages, golf vacations, golf west canada, golfing destinations, Kananaskis Country Golf Course, Silvertip, Silvertip Golf, Silvertip Resort, Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club, The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Western canada golf// Category General, Our Golf Courses // Add Comment »

Chris and I are extremely pleased to welcome two new hotel partners to Golf Canada’s West for 2010, the Delta Whistler Village Suites and the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort.  And I recently had the opportunity to visit both.

The Delta Whistler Village Suites are centrally located in the Village on Main St., within easy walking distance of Whistler’s dining and nightlife.  One of the great things we can take advantage of is the Delta Whistler Village Suite’s 2-bedroom suites.  Affordable, comfortable accommodation right in the heart of it all!  Be sure to check it out on our website at: Delta Whistler Village Suites    And as an added bonus, we are pleased to offer a “Stay 5 / Pay for 4″ package for 2010!  Get 1 night free,  and golf all 4 of Whistler’s great golf courses:  Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, Nicklaus North Golf Course, Whistler Golf Club & Big Sky Golf & Country Club.  Call us for details: 877 323 3633.  

When I walked into the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, I was blown away with the view of Victoria’s inner harbour from the hotel lobby!  The Provincial Legislative Building, The Empress and Royal BC Museum were all there right in front of me.  Victoria’s harbour is a busy, active place with float planes, international ferries and is walkable for all.  The hotel is only a 10 minutes walk to Victoria’s downtown core, with its great selection of restaurants and stores.   A suggestion?  Be sure to ask us about upgrading to Deluxe Rooms.  You will be very surprised!  For more detail log onto:  Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort

Tags: 2010 golf vacation, Add new tag, BC golf, Bear Mountain Golf, Big Sky Golf Course, Calaway golf, Canada golf, Chateau Whistler Golf, Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, Delta Whistler Village Suites, Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Course, golf blog, golf vacation blog, golf vacation packages, Golf Vancouver Island, GVI, Nicklaus North Golf Course, Olympic View, Vancouver Island golf, Victoria golf vacations, Western canada golf, Westin Bear Mountain// Category General, Golf Vacation News // Add Comment »

Hello from the Canadian Rockies!

Well it just seems like winter doesn’t want to relent and let spring take hold. The Canmore Golf and Curling Club has been open since April 25th and continues to welcome hearty golfers onto the links.  Next in line to open will be the two courses that make up the Kananaskis Country Golf Course. They have revised their opening date and now are shooting for a May 10th opening.  Stewart Creek is going to open to the golfing public on May 13th, while across the valley, Silvertip Resort will begin their season on May 14th. Down the road in Banff, the Fairmont Banff Springs golf course will look to open on 9 holes on May 8th, with the full 27 holes being available for play May 14th.  Jasper has been enjoying some great weather and that has allowed the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge golf course to be open since May 1st.

Moving into the Columbia Valley, Eagle Ranch opened in great shape on April 1st, while the Copperpoint Golf Course opened on April 2nd.  The Greywolf golf course in Panorama is also set to open up on May 4th.

We are looking at another beautiful season of golfing in the Canadian Rockies, so look at your calendars and get out and play!

Give Gord and Chris a call at 877 – 323 -3633 and let them hook you up with awesome golf packages in Alberta and British Columbia.

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When you live in a region where the annual frost delay last for 5 or 6 months, it is enevitable to want to pull your driver out on the driving range at the very first opportunity. Is this wrong? Maybe not. Is it the best way to warm up after not touching a club for 180 + days, … not even close. On our local driving range this past weekend, you’d be hard pressed to say that people own other clubs than a driver.

More often than not, the average golfer jumps out of their car and heads directly for the 1st tee without properly warming up. Just like all sports, golf deserves recognition that the movements required for a proper golf swing put a tremendous amount of pressure on the muscles in the back to perform.  Without a proper warm up you risk injury, many lost balls or requests for a do over.

Before hitting the driving range and welcoming a new season, why not start an exercise /stretching program at home. It doesn’t have to be onerous, or require your whole night or weekend. Most core exercises can be performed in front of the TV during episodes of ‘ The Marriage Ref’, with exercise bands or just your human body.

Resist the urge to pull your driver out and instead hit two balls with each club (start with a sand wedge) and hold a strong balanced finish.

Your back will thank you and people in the stalls next to you won’t be scared.

Tags: 2010 golf vacation, Aveda Spa, Banff Golf, BC golf, Canada golf, Canadian Rockies Golf, discount golf vacation package, fitness, golf blog, golf clubs, golf exercises, golf fitness, golf stories, golf tips, golf vacation packages, golf yoga, golfing destinations, Kananaskis Country Golf Course, Kelowna, Kelowna golf packages, Okanagan Golf, Okanagan golf vacation, Predator Ridge, preseason conditioning, Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club, Western canada golf// Category General // Add Comment »

                                                                      

Tags: Add new tag, Arbutus Ridge, BC golf, Bear Mountain Golf, Canadian Rockies, Canadian Rockies Golf, Canmore Golf & Curling Club, cheap golf packages, Golf BC, golf blogs, golf getaways, golf vacation, Harbour Towers Victoria, Olympic View, Stay and Play packages, Vancouver Island golf, Victoria golf vacations, Westin Bear Mountain// Category Golf Vacation News, Pricing Specials // Add Comment »

I just returned from having lunch at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club, here in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Canmore, AB….it was delicious, new year, new menu…I love it! 

Anyways, I ran into the Rick Eichele, Head Professional at the course and he and his crew where out setting up the driving range mats. Looks like they are going to open the range tomorrow. I can almost feel the low scores starting to materialize.

Tags: 2010 golf vacation, Add new tag, Banff Golf, Calaway golf, Canada golf, Canadian Rockies Golf, canmore, Canmore Golf & Curling Club, Canmore Nordic Centre, Canmore tourism, discount golf vacation package, Early bird specials, golf blog, golf clubs, golf resorts, golf tips, golf vacation packages, golf vacations, golf west canada, golfing destinations, Kananaskis Country Golf Course, Kelowna golf packages, Ping golf, Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club, The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Western canada golf// Category Our Golf Courses // Add Comment »

Just returned from a two nights stay at Predator Ridge Resort.   I arrived at night so wasn’t able to see the property until the sun rose the following morning. WOW ! I stayed in  a 1 bedroom lodge suite overlooking the driving range and 18th hole. What a spectacular view to wake up to!  A frost delay allowed me to enjoy a great breakfast in the clubhouse dining room. Vanessa, my server, was extremely pleasant as we lamented the season drawing to a close.

The frost delay also allowed time for a personal tour of the recently completed Carrick 18. Stunning is but one adjective I’d use to describe Predator Ridge’s newest addition. Slated to open in August of 2010, it looks like you could tee it up now. The course meanders through the more mountainous sections of the property while using 9 existing holes to complete the course. A lot of the tee boxes are elevated and the landing areas appear to be quite generous. You will definitely want to select the proper tees to play from so you can fully enjoy your experience. It amazes me how golf course architects can view a piece of land and then create a place for us to enjoy our addictions.

With the sun finally warming up the greens and allowing the grounds crew a chance to get a head start on their aeration duties, I met with my playing partners. I was fortunate to play with three members who helped make my first time experience memorable, showing me the line on every tee box (and I even listened).  Even though we followed a couple of holes behind the crew on an aeration day couldn’t dampen my enjoyment of playing what is truly a first class golf facility.

After my round, I wandered over to the fitness facility and swam for 30 minutes in the facility’s pool which features two 25 metres lanes. Being a swimmer, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to be at a resort that has 25 metre lengths instead of the 4 stroke flip, 4 stroke flip lengths. The rest of the work out areas are spacious, combining both free weights and fitness machines to keep your body limber for golf. Don’t forget to ask about various fitness classes that are offered throughout the week.

 Feel like pampering yourself? The resort has its own Aveda Salon and Spa. Allow Cheryl and her certified therapists to provide you the blissful atmosphere you deserve!

Thank you to my hosts, Ingrid Dilschneider (Resort Sales Manager) and Thom Killingsworth (Director of Resort Operations) for a spectacular experience!

Tags: 2010 golf vacation, Add new tag, Aveda Spa, Banff Golf, Canadian Rockies, Early bird specials, golf blog, golf resorts, golf stories, golf vacation packages, golfing destinations, Kelowna, Kelowna golf packages, Okanagan Golf, Okanagan golf packages, Okanagan golf vacation, Predator Ridge, Spa and Golf packages, Vernon, Vernon golf packages, Western canada golf// Category Golf Vacation News // 1 Comment »

Golf Canada’s West is announcing the best deals for 2010 golf vacations: PAY ONLY YOUR COST, 15% DISCOUNT on 2009 RATES and 10% DISCOUNT.

It’s never too early to plan next year’s golf vacation! Take advantage of deep reductions on 2009 prices and save as never before!

Golf Canada’s West offers three great discount for you to book your 2010 golf vacation:

PAY ONLY YOUR COST: The first 15  golf vacations for 2010 sold by Oct 15 will receive our outstanding pre season savings. But hurry up, there are only 7 golf vacations left for this amazing offer!

15% DISCOUNT on 2009 RATES: If you miss out on the FIRST 15 – PAY ONLY OUR COST, you can still take advantage by fully pre-paying your custom golf vacation by October 15th and receive a 15% reduction based on 2009 rates.

10% DISCOUNT: Not prepared to fully prepay your 2010 golf vacation? Pay our standard 25% deposit and receive 10% off 2009 rates if booked by October 15th. Full balance will be due 45 days prior to the arrival.

Tags: 2010 golf vacation, discount golf vacation package, golf vacation package// Category General // Add Comment »

The Canadian Rockies’ golf courses are blossoming with spring.

As of May 8, Canmore Golf & Curling Club, Silvertip Resort, Kananaskis Country Golf Course, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and The Fairmont Banff Springs – Tunnel nine and Sulphur nine – are open and titillating players.

Stewart Creek Golf Course and the entire Stanley Thompson 18 at The Fairmont Banff Springs will open May 13 and May 15, respectively.

Tags: Add new tag, Canmore Golf & Curling Club, golf vacations, Kananaskis Country Golf Course, Silvertip Resort, Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club, The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course// Category Golf Vacation News // 8 Comments »

Welcome to Golf Canada’s West Caddy: A Golf Blog!

A place to share your stories and experiences of golfing in Western Canada.  A place to share your photographs of your travel’s with Golf Canada’s West.

Golf and travel go together like scotch and water and both deserved to be shared.

So take a few moments and share your experiences golfing in Western Canada.

Tags: golf blog, golf stories, golf tips, golf west canada// Category welcome // 3 Comments »