by Karen Misuraca, KarenMisuraca.com

One of the premier ski destinations in the world, chosen as the site of the 2010 winter Olympics, Whistler is a magical wilderness in the Canadian Rockies, in British Columbia just north of Vancouver. Surrounding the European-style tourist-oriented village, at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are four visually spectacular championship golf courses by top-name architects, making this Canada’s most popular and largest golf mecca.

The golfing season runs from May through the middle of October. At 2,200 feet in elevation, the magenta and blue lupine line the fairways in spring, while alders blaze red and aspens are golden against the dark firs in the fall. On rugged, rocky terraces at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, the Chateau Whistler Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., on tilting, terrain studded with monumental granite outcroppings (http://www.chateauwhister.com). Cascading across the course are three glacier-fed streams, spawning grounds for Rainbow and Kokanee trout. Black bears gorge on wild berries in the summertime, while coyotes and deer stand their ground on the edges of the forest. Golfers in the know bring their binoculars and cameras for the daily pageant of golden eagles, swooping osprey and pileated woodpeckers.

GPS on the carts comes in handy for managing elevation changes of more than 400 feet overall, and judging sightings over and around towering, century-old Douglas firs. The Horstman River comes into play, along with massive granite walls, lakes, ravines, waterfalls and rolling meadows. A slope of 142 and course rating of 72.8 are mitigated by four sets of tees and generous landing zones.

In 1982, Whistler Golf Club was the first course built at Whistler and the first Canadian design by Arnold Palmer. A recent $2.2 million renovation brought the course up to 21st century perfection. The 6,676-yard layout features nine lakes, the lovely Crabapple Creek, ancient cedars and firs on gently rolling fairways and gorgeous mountain views (http://www.whistlergolf.com).

The only Nicklaus-designed course that bears his name, 6,925-yard Nicklaus North Golf Course lies in a stunning setting below a crown of snowy peaks and Whistler Mountain on a rugged, densely forested site (http://www.nicklausnorth.com). A quarter of the property was left untouched, including a large lake, ponds and streams. The remnant of an ancient glacier, Green Lake is an icy hazard, and a landing site for float planes. Whistler’s famous “River of Golden Dreams” meanders through the fairways and feisty Fitzsimmons Creek creates havoc for golfers, especially on the eighteenth hole where it fronts the green along with a huge cottonwood tree.

Creamy white and bright red water lilies bloom on the pond near the fifth hole, where blue-winged teal chatter and hide in the bulrushes. Great Blue herons stalk about, fishing in the tall reeds, rising on six-foot wingspans to fly off when a golf balls land in the water.

Superintendent Darren Burns said, “Wildlife is part of our everyday life, here. Of our three resident black bears, one of them often sleeps between the third and fourth holes, and he sits on top of a garbage can, there, watching the players. I like to see the wood ducks swimming around behind the first hole, and the ospreys, fishing for Dolly Varden trout in the lake. We build brush piles and leave snags for small animals and birds, and keep bird boxes for a variety of species. Bald eagles are very common.”

A scenic half-hour drive from Whistler Village in the Pemberton Valley, Big Sky Golf and Country Club is a Robert Cupp original in glorious meadows at the foot of snow-capped Mount Currie (http://www.bigskygolf.com). The golf season runs longer here, from mid-April through mid-October. Entirely bent grass, the links-style track at 600 feet in elevation is relatively flat with seven reed-bordered lakes, a winding creek and ponds—look for water on 12 holes. The golf academy here has excellent facilities for 2- and 3-day schools, and the new 9-hole Academy Course is perfect for beginning golfers and for low handicappers looking to practice—you can play all day for $20.

45 minutes south, Furry Creek Golf and Country Club is a challenging course that makes a nice stop on the way to or from Whistler (http://www.golfbc.com). This Robert Muir Graves design comes with breathtaking ocean views and sea breezes off the fjord-like inlet of Howe Sound, where jagged mountains seem to rise right out of the water. The clubhouse here has gorgeous views and really good food.

Après Golf
Ride the enclosed gondola 6,000 feet up to the top of Whistler Mountain for dazzling views of mountan ranges as far as you can see. Popular up here are summertime hiking and glacier exploration, stargazing through telescopes, and meals at the Roundhouse Lodge. Log on to http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com for summer activities. In Whistler Valley, visitors love the mountain biking and hiking, horseback riding, fishing and boating in five lakes, river rafting, jet boating and ATV tours. Year round, shop in dozens of stores, choose from nearly a hundred restaurants and enjoy year-round live outdoor entertainment and festivals.

Where to Stay
Walk to golf from the 12-story, green-gabled Fairmont Chateau Whistler at the base of Blackcomb Mountain (http://www.fairmont.com).

Fairmont is known in Canada for its famous historic hotels and resorts, including Banff Springs and Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta and the monumental Château Frontenac in Quebec City. Many of the hotels were originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Opened in the early 1990s, the architecture of Chateau Whistler was inspired by early hotels, and rustic Canadian antiques from around the country enhance the mountain lodge ambiance. 558 rooms and suites are done up in country manor-style; some have fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, complimentary food and beverage service and a private lounge. Sophisticated Pacific Coast cuisine, elegant dinners and buffet brunches are served indoors or on the patios, and diners settle into wing chairs for light meals by the double-sided, stone fireplace in the Mallard Bar. Tennis courts, indoor-outdoor swimming pool, a lap pool with underwater sound, a full-service health and beauty spa and fitness center are among the amenities.

David Leadbetter Golf Academy:
One of the leading golf gurus in the world, David Leadbetter works with Michelle Wie, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo and other mega-stars. His David Leadbetter Golf Academy at the Chateau Whistler Golf Club is the first in Canada and the only one in North America outside Florida. The absolutely beautiful 7-acre site has its own clubhouse, two putting greens, two chipping greens, and both grass and artificial turf practice tees on the double-ended, 350-yard driving range. Needless to say, the teaching staff is superior, and you can choose from an hour’s lesson, a half-day intensive or multi-day golf schools (http://www.davidleadbetter.com).

Exhibiting the Pan Pacific hotel chain’s excellence in personal service and luxury in accommodations, two Pan Pacific hotels are nearby each other in Whistler Village (http://www.whistler.panpacific.com). In the sleek, understated, urban-style 1- to 3-bedroom suites at the brand new Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre, each bedroom has a private bath; some of the 83 suites are over 1,600 square-feet. Expect full kitchens, fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows with zowie views of Whistler Mountain and a full-service spa. Elaborate breakfasts and afternoon food/drink service are complimentary, and a 24-hour concierge. The Pacific Lounge restaurant and bar are exclusively for hotel guests and their guests—a unique feature in any hotel. And, check out the heated outdoor salt water lap pool and two salt water whirlpools.

The Pan Pacific Lodge comprises 121 suites, from studios to 1- and 2-bedroom suites, all with equipped kitchens, fireplaces, private balconies, oversized windows and baths with soaker tubs. On the property are an outdoor heated swimming pool, a restaurant and a pub.

Getting There:
It’s a 2-hour scenic drive along the Sunshine Coast on the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver; van service is available. The Whistler Mountaineer offers a delightful 3.5-hour train trip from North Vancouver; meals and transfers are included (http://www.whistlermountaineer.com). Public transit is available throughout Whistler Village and the valley. Private floatplanes land at the Nicklaus North Golf Course (http://www.westcoastair.com)