TRENDS for 2022: Why you should be planning ahead.

At BCgolfguide, we are busy during the off-season in Canada reviewing 2021 while preparing for 2022.

So much has happened during the past two years, with the pandemic and some significant weather events. These circumstances combined to impact the golf travel industry in several ways.

Moving forward, here are a few considerations for you and your group.

How will 2022 be different? The industry expects heightened competition for accommodation and tee times, banking on a less restrictive travel environment. With the steady flow of tourist traffic limited at times in 2020 and 2021, many facilities were left to rely primarily on local play. In some regions, this resulted in plenty of unused tee times. Golf courses are optimistic that tourists are looking forward to golf travel opportunities throughout 2022.

The devilish par-3, 14th at the Shannon Lake Golf Club in West Kelowna.

Increased Travel Activity: Canadian travelers are pent up, at least that’s the feedback we are hearing from our repeat clients. Restrictions on recreational travel imposed by federal and provincial governments forced many postponements and cancellations. Having spent much of the past two years in kind of a “holding pattern” due to the pandemic, golfers are telling us they are excited to revisit some of their favourite regions again. Continue reading “TRENDS for 2022: Why you should be planning ahead.”

Tourism partners leading the charge to flatten the curve

At BCgolfguide, we’re proud to work with the team at Tourism Kamloops, along with our many golf course and hotel partners in the region.

Here’s a nifty spin from Tourism Kamloops – just how the 2020 destination golf experience is different from what many of us have gotten used to over the years. The Kamloops region continues to grow as a popular golf destination.

Golfkamloops

Continue reading “Tourism partners leading the charge to flatten the curve”

Top 10 Holes in the Okanagan Valley

When I took a stab at this project last fall for publication in the Kelowna Daily Courier, it was both an exciting and unenviable task.

The variety of golf courses throughout the Okanagan Valley create a golfer’s paradise. The length of the season is a boon for locals and tourists.

Indeed, I could write about the “50 Best Holes”! There are that many!

Note that all yardages provided are “from the tips”, yet each of these holes is designed with tee decks that effectively take some of the bite out of the long-distance challenges.

FORE!!

Gallagher’s Canyon, Kelowna (#1: par-4, 434 yards)
You arrive in such a peaceful setting here, an historic layout in a quiet, residential setting. After a quick warmup, you may be summoned to the roof top. Yes, the roof top! It is indeed one of the coolest shots a player will strike while enjoying golf in the Okanagan Valley. For those not immune to first-tee jitters, be advised you will likely have a captive audience on hand, as the patrons in the restaurant and on its patio can almost reach out and touch you as you tee off. Successfully execute your drive into the narrow-ish fairway and the elevated green requires a demanding, skillful approach. Welcome to Gallagher’s Canyon!

Continue reading “Top 10 Holes in the Okanagan Valley”