Bring Your Eh Game to Sun Peaks, a Uniquely Canadian Golf Course

The back nine at Sun Peaks features wide fairways surrounded by the village’s mountains. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)

It’s the last weekend of September and I feel the first snowflake as I set up to tee off on the highest elevation golf course in British Columbia. The snow, having arrived early in fall, is an unusual hazard and as I would learn a fitting test for golfers at Sun Peaks. Not only is the course a signature experience in one of the province’s most outstanding ski resorts, it is also as challenging as some of the runs that skiers contend with on the mountains that dominate the scenery.

The course has a novelty, too. It’s like two circuits in one. The front nine, which debuted in 1996, is an old-school workout. Tight fairways crowded by pine and oak trees, small greens, and doglegs with sharp angles are among the features. It reminded me of the Cape Breton Highlands course, recognized for decades as a top-five course in Canada, and known for its hilly layout that rewards players who can hit it straight. The No. 6 hole at Sun Peaks is the most challenging hole I’ve played in B.C. It has hills on both sides of the narrow fairway and once you clear that stretch, there’s an uphill approach to the green. Check your blood pressure and exhale a deep breath before you strike your tee shot.

The first tee at Sun Peaks Golf Course is just steps from the village. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)

Life is better on the back nine. Those of us who love resort golf courses will adore the final half at Sun Peaks. There’s a relaxing breadth to the fairways. Water hazards aren’t in your target line and the greens tend to be more forgiving than the early holes of the course. In a way, it shows how golf changed during a pivotal decade. The back nine was also designed by Canadian Graham Cooke but it opened in 2005, when the sport was impacted by the era of the long drive and a focus on attracting new players, especially to resort courses. Show holes and scenery became more important than ever, and Sun Peaks’ back nine epitomizes both.

No. 13 is the prettiest on the par-72 course with a small lake on the left side and mountain views all around. You can take many minutes to appreciate the magnificence of the Interior peaks as you line up your shots. The No. 16 tee box tops out at an elevation of 1,333 metres (4,353 feet), the tallest on the course. You can view the mountain-top homes and Mt. Morrisey as you make your way from tip to green on the short par-four signature hole.

Attractive mountain homes are part of the fantastic scenery at Sun Peaks Golf Course. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)

The back nine is also where you’ll find the Umbrella Café, where you can pause for a bite or a beer; or, on the colder days like when I played, a hot chocolate or mulled wine. Located between holes 10 and 11, it’s a pleasant on-course amenity that nourishes you for the finish of the round. When you’re done, you can ride your cart back to the pro shop, passing a short stretch of the village and its happy guests. The village is at the foothills of three recognizable mountains — Tod, Sundance, and Morrisey — that are known for ski and mountain biking.

MORE SUN PEAKS: Locals Show You Their Best

If you need a milder challenge — or want to work off your golfing frustrations — head to Cleavage Axe Co. The target is much closer than a flag and the game is not nearly as ego-bruising. The helpful staff will give you tips in case you’re new to axe throwing and fill you in on how the sport — started in a backyard in Toronto — is one of the fastest growing in North America. The bar and its selection of good B.C. craft beer makes for a terrific and unique 19th-hole experience. (Note: Cleavage Axe Co. is closed until June.)

Golfers at Sun Peaks can take aim at another kind of target at nearby Cleavage Axe Co. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)

Sun Peaks Golf Course opens for the 2025 season on May 17 with only the front nine available until weather conditions improve (players can play the front nine twice to reach 18 holes on their scorecard). Once the warmer temperatures arrive, Sun Peaks will be filled with players who appreciate the challenge, unique layout, and comparatively cooler climate to the courses at lower elevation. And, you never know, you could find yourself playing in late summer or early fall when snow descends and you’ll end up like me: bemused and charmed by a circuit that is distinctly Canadian in many ways.

MORE ABOUT VISITING SUN PEAKS

Getting There: Sun Peaks is about 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of Vancouver, or a 4 1/2-hour drive, and about one hour from Kamloops Airport. (See map below.)

Golf Rates: Kids aged 6 to 12 play free from Monday to Thursday at Sun Peaks when accompanied by a paying adult. Mid-week rates for 18-hole play is $80 and $115 on weekends; nine holes are available for $47 mid-week and $70 on weekends. Full rate and special discount information is available on the course’s webpage.

Where to Stay: Summer deals abound at Sun Peaks. Check the accommodations webpage of the resort website for details. One smart option is Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge. It features one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with full kitchens, and has a hot tub and full-service restaurant. There’s also the bonus of seeing many of the trophies won by Greene, one of Canada’s most accomplished Olympians. Room Rates: A weekend stay in July starts at $191 per night based on a recent search of the property’s booking engine.