The price is on par at these budget Vancouver golf courses
You love golf, but not the crazy fees and expenses associated with it. Instead of taking out a second mortgage to indulge in your favourite hobby, check out these budget golf courses that offer the best combination of fun, price and playability. [Photo credit: iStock.com/Photozek07]
Stanley Park Pitch & Putt
1001 Lagoon, Vancouver, BC V6G 2R9Golf can be a serious sport, but at Stanley Park's Pitch & Putt, it's all about fun. The par 54 course is just 1,200 yards in length and you won’t encounter a hole longer than 100 yards, which means it's the perfect place to fit in a quick game. And even though the course is blissfully free of hazards, it’s not just a walk in the park; bring some focus and your A game.
Nico-Wynd Golf Course
3601 Nico Wynd Dr, Surrey, BC V4P 1J1Along with fairly cheap green fees, Nico-Wynd regularly has specials so you can save even more money. One of their best deals is the unlimited golf pass, which lets you tee off as many times as you’d like for a flat rate (either monthly or seasonally). With 5,906 yards, you’ll be challenged to make the par 71 regardless of what tee colour you select. Don’t lose concentration for a second: the par 4 18th hole is one last — but difficult — test.
The Redwoods Public Golf Course
If you’re willing to toss in just a few dollars more, you’ll be handsomely rewarded with a gorgeous course that’ll really test you. You’ll encounter one of the sneakiest and most difficult challenges on the 2nd hole, with a par 4 masking a deceptively monstrous hole. Although it’s fairly short at about 340 yards, your approach shot is uphill of the green and poor aim can turn it into a double or triple bogey.
Langara Golf Course
6706 Alberta St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4V8Rounding out the list of public access courses is Langara, which appeals to all types of golfers for numerous reasons. The greens are softly mounded yet relatively fast, there are multiple bunkers that can turn a potential birdie into a bogey and there’s free golfing every Christmas Day. Because of its central location, this golf course tends to fill up quickly and arriving early is your best bet to play at your own pace.
McCleery Golf Course
7188 MacDonald St, Vancouver, BC V6N 1G2Of the three municipal courses, McCleery is the most challenging, so consider a conservative game. Keep your daring tricks for another course so the narrow fairways and numerous water hazards don’t get the better of you, even if the 6,265 yards hold the goal of a par 71. Watch out for the 10th hole — no matter which tee you hit off, you’ll be wishing golf behaviour permitted swearing and hurling of clubs.
Fraserview Golf Course
7800 Vivian Dr, Vancouver, BC V5S 2V8There are three public golf courses in Vancouver and this one is the most iconic. It’s where people pick up their very first clubs, where they make friends and fall in love and where they play into their twilight years. Situated in the Fraser Valley, this golf course is a tranquil oasis from the hustle and bustle of Vancouver and a round — including club rentals — is affordable enough that you can even spring for a power cart.
