“If the Okanagan Valley of Canada’s British Columbia is considered the best place in the country for winemaking, then consider the golf in the area to be the perfect filet mignon.” – Golf Tips Magazine
KELOWNA
The air is crisp and the sun bright on this fine spring morning, a sure sign we’re in for another flawless Okanagan day. Winter may still have a grip elsewhere in Canada, but here, nearly budding vineyards and the opening of Kelowna’s golf season signal springtime is in full swing.
Stepping up to the tee box at Kelowna Springs Golf Club, I pause, soaking up the view across the lush fairways of this Les Furber course and the surrounding countryside.
Kelowna’s rolling mountains, topped with sturdy pines, are clad in orchards and vineyards bursting into life. Near Okanagan Lake’s shores, rural scenes give way to Kelowna’s vibrant urban centre.
Kelowna Springs Golf Club general manager Ian Robertson says when he arrived here from his native Edmonton 13 years ago, he knew he had found the home where he would spend the rest of his life.
While Kelowna Springs is flanked by other top-calibre courses including the dramatic Gallagher’s Canyon, the bucolic Harvest Golf Club, the Nicklaus Design links at Okanagan Golf Club, and Predator Ridge (host of the 2008 TELUS World Skins Game), Robertson admits, “You can find spectacular golf courses the world over these days.”
What makes Kelowna special, he says, is “the combination of golf and the other elements – the wineries, the lake, the weather. It is truly remarkable.”
Entrepreneur Danny Coyne says he and his business partner, who run a car rental business based at Kelowna International Airport, were inspired to start Okanagan Valley Wine Tours by their car rental customers’ requests for information about wineries, golf and other attractions.
Coyne notes that among the benefits, a guided tour is simply a safe, responsible way to explore the region’s wineries. He suggests a perfect spring or summer day begins with golf in the morning, followed by winery tours and culinary exploration, wrapped up with a sunset cruise on Okanagan Lake.
Among his favourite stops is Summerhill Pyramid Winery. This winery is notable for its organic vineyard, exceptional sparklers and mystical, pyramid-shaped cellar.
Nearby, CedarCreek Estate Winery is another gem. Since 1998, proprietor Gordon Fitzpatrick has been intensely focused on producing the region’s finest Pinot Noir. A private function at CedarCreek’s Mediterranean styled rose pavilion is pure romance, while noshing at its fine restaurant mid-June through September is heavenly.
Across the lake, Mission Hill Estate Winery – Canada’s Winery of the Year 2007– is renowned for its fine wines, stunning Tuscan-inspired architecture, art collection and Terrace Restaurant, headed up by celebrity chef Michael Allemeier. Simply stated, Mission Hill is a venue at home here as it would be in Napa or Bordeaux.
Just down the hill, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery is elegant and down to earth. Sipping a fine Family Reserve Pinot Noir or Chardonnay while taking in the lake and vineyard view (pictured below) is magic. Proprietor Tony Stewart’s family was among the region’s pioneers and “played a very large role in developing the Okanagan Valley,” says Coyne, whose family heritage is also reflected at Quails’ Gate.
A rustic heritage cabin onsite, restored by Quails’ Gate and now reserved for private gatherings, was the homestead of Susan Allison and Coyne’s grandfather John Fall Allison.
Coyne says the region’s assets add up to a perfect backdrop for relaxation and socializing – two vacation activities he notes that are perfectly married by golf and wine touring.
Robertson says now that golf season is open the courses will stay lush through October, some even later.
Approaching hole 14 – a tough, 370-yard par 4 – Robertson offers, “You’ve got to split the fairway perfectly,” he says, noting the water hazards, one of which protects the large sloping green.
“This hole would be strong on any course in the world,” he says admiringly. Personally, right about now, I’m just looking forward to that glass of Okanagan vino.
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