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Once
upon a time, Whistler was merely a one-season resort, a
stunning playground for those who relished the outdoors, but
one that set limits to their leisure. Beginning in late autumn
rains, a caravan of cars armed with roof racks full of skis
patiently meandered north on the Sea to Sky Highway from
Vancouver, and in the sunshine each spring a similar stream of
traffic flowed south, back to the city. Today, the migration
patterns are not so predictable.
Golfing
legend Arnold Palmer was brought to this mountain oasis 90
miles north of Vancouver some 25 years ago, charged with the
task of building not merely his first Canadian design, but a
layout that would transform Whistler into a four-season resort
destination. As the cornerstone of what today is often ranked
the best golf resort in Canada (thanks to Big Sky, Nicklaus
North, and the Chateau Whistler Golf Club, all built in the
last decade), Whistler Golf Club is a modest, charming
original, triumphant in its classic simplicity and modest
challenge. Built at a time where preserving the Whistler
environment was paramount, the course today still tiptoes
through the wilderness softly, for fear, it seems, of
disturbing the natural terrain. With softer topographical
accents and more subtle vistas, Whistler Golf Club is perhaps
the least heralded of the four Whistler courses, but one that
exudes a timeless style it may call its own.
The
opening drive is neither off a cliff, nor does it profit from
a snow-capped range as a backdrop. Through a chute of
ubiquitous conifers, tee shots are to a trouble-free landing
area, where a firm short iron will lead to a birdie chance.
Aside from the long 471-yard second, in fact, the opening four
holes at Whistler can seem benign to the strong player. Greens
are guarded not by troublesome hazards, but by bunkers that
serve a more aesthetic purpose. At the 233-yard fifth, it is
length that presents the challenge; small clusters of traps
here seem cleared away from the wide opening in front of the
green. Nevertheless, the club is driver or fairway wood,
making the task a stern enough proposition on its own. Here, a
great view of the mountain can also serve as a distraction.
Sections
of the course traverse strategic sections of a mountain
stream, and the seventh and eighth, a pair of strong holes at
the end of the front side, present hazards that bring double
bogey into the equation. At the former of the two, a 384-yard
par four, drives should be played with a slight fade off the
lone fairway bunker, and as far down the fairway as possible.
The green, with a distinct swale running through it, demands a
precise shot that arrives under control. Any play for a front
flag runs the risk of leaving a near-impossible up-and-down.
At the 188-yard eighth, short is again the mistake to avoid. A
false front to the green, along with a closely mown crop of
fairway, will feed balls back toward the river that runs
across in front of the green.
The
inward half at Whistler Golf Club features many of the
architectural virtues seen on the first half. In like fashion,
10 and 11 offer the opportunity for a good start. At 334
yards, the 10th features a wide fairway, with a
fairway bunker right serving as the perfect target point off
which drives should be shaped. Short irons will easily hold
the green. The 517-yard 11th bends gently right,
and should be considered a three-shot hole. A good lay-up
between creek crossings leaves a reasonable approach to a
receptive green. Starting with two pars is realistic here.
Subtle
challenges come to light thereafter, though. The landing area
on the 409-yard 12th is deceptively tight. Stands
of trees on either side of the fairway pinch close in on the
short grass, such that drives just barely finding the rough
can be blocked from a clear shot to the green. Approaches to a
left pin must also carry one of the more dangerous bunkers on
the course. At the 181-yard 14th, the target is
also smaller than it appears. Set in a depression of mounds
and an arena of tall pines, good shots will be rewarded, but
misses will kick away from the putting surface, putting
pressure on a deft short game to salvage par.
The
closing stretch is equally demanding. At the 460-yard 16th,
the approach, likely with a fairway wood, needs to carry a
finger of lake to find a small strip of fairway leading up to
the green’s front edge. Misses in the front-right bunker, a
popular spot, virtually assures bogey or worse. Similarly,
bold and precise plays are required at the 425-yard closing
hole if guests wish to finish their round with a four. At just
6,676 yards, Whistler Golf Club is a short course by modern
standards, but the subtleties of this Palmer design, and the
natural challenges posed by the terrain, make it a course that
endures even in the company of its three popular neighbours.
Ranked 71st in the most recent Top 100 by SCOREGolf, it would seem that the country’s leading journalists
and golf professionals resoundingly agree.
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