Welcome to Lotusland Links! This ongoing feature will highlight some of the best golf courses in and around Vancouver. A little about me... I'd consider myself an avid golfer. I play weekly when it's not raining and get away to a sunny destination during the rain season. I generally shoot in the low 90's on a par 72 so I have my fair share of good holes as well as bad ones! To have your course featured please contact me at dogtown@vancouverisawesome.com.
The first course to be featured on Lotusland Links is Sandpiper!
Located in the Fraser Valley, just under two hours east of Vancouver, is the small town Harrison Mills. The majority of visitors who head head this way go to enjoy Kilby Provincial Park and the Harrison Hot Springs but earlier this week I went to hit the links at Sandpiper Golf Resort.
The course itself is a par 72 and from the blacks measures just over 6500 yards. With four different tee boxes it’s enjoyable for players of all abilities. The majority of the fairways were flanked by large trees with bare trunks down low and foliage starting higher up. Some of the tee boxes were located in tucked spots with huge trees guarding the way to your target. You definitely have to be strategic of where you want your ball trajectory to start. Sometimes it felt like looking down a long skinny tunnel of vegetation! There was a good variety of holes: short and long par 3’s, doglegs left and right, challenging par 5’s. Some par 4’s were quite long and getting to greens in regulation was a tough task. Others were short and teeing off with a fairway wood was fine.
A shot backward at one of the guarded tee boxes.
A few of the specials touches I enjoyed included yardage markers and sprinkler heads that gave accurate measurements and scorecards that included hole by hole descriptions and green dimensions. Course conditions were immaculate from tee box to green. There is a huge practice putting green with lots of holes and a wide variety of slopes and breaks as well as a chipping area with bunker. While there is no driving range they do have two mats in a netted hitting cage. The greens weren’t the fastest I’ve played in recent memory but overall they were pretty smooth.
The clubhouse is a small but well stocked with the usuals such as clothes, balls, bags and clubs. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly.
The onsite restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, is called “The Rivers Edge”. Along with the usual clubhouse fare (ie: BLT sandwich) the menu included a few surprises such as Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding and a Veggie Chickpea Spinach Curry. My playing partner Paul had the BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich with fries while I got the Seared Salmon Burger with a side salad consisting of organic greens, cashews, craisins and a strawberry balsamic vinagrette. Both were excellent. Lunch entrees ranged in price from $11 - $16. Veggie options available.
The scenery on and around the course was fantastic with holes running along the lake and through the forest. All-in-all we had a great day and as an avid, well travelled golfer I highly recommend Sandpiper Golf Resort. The regular green fee is $80/60 on weekends/weekdays. There are various specials for seniors, juniors and students as well as the usual discounted twilight rates.
If travelling from Vancouver I suggest taking HW 1 east to HW 11 north and then jump on HW 7 east. You could get onto HW 7 earlier but it’s slow moving with all the traffic lights and low speed limit. Note: if you’ve driven past the Sasquatch Inn, you’ve gone too far!
Lastly, I offer up a sage piece of advice (aka: I should’ve listened to my wife)…BRING BUG SPRAY! The mosquitoes were a plenty! I’d like thank our hosts Summer Dillon and Ted Swaine for their warm hospitality and generosity.
