You know it’s a great day when you’re out with your 7 buddies with 7 sets of brand new Nike rental clubs and 7 pairs of brand new Nike shoes. Thanks to the boys from Wales for visiting Whistler Resort. We hope you had a great time and you saw the bear (see below) on 12!
Welcome to Spring and golf season everyone!! Tell us about your latest golf story.
AK
Living in Whistler for 17 years has made me realize that there are some distinctive “Whistler moments” that happen throughout the year. Opening day on the mountains comes with its usual excitement as the kids from around the world who came to town to work get to enjoy the hill for the first time whereas the locals keep an eye on the high Alpine for the first trek in. Being a Mountain Biker I always laugh as we try to push the season early by heading into our favorite trail (Danimal) only to be pushed back by a foot of snow. The Bike Park opening is another event that has really taken the resort to a new level. But the hilight for us golfers is opening day at the courses in Whistler (today May 8th!!)
Many people don’t realize that you actually climb 2200 feet from Squamish to Whistler and that our golf season due to the snow doesn’t start until May. It takes us a little longer to get the courses in great shape than the city courses but it happens quickly once the sun kicks in. We always chuckle at the phone calls we get in February to book a tee time!
First group out, 8am, May 8, 2009
Welcome to opening day everyone. Great to see you all out. Here’s to a great golf season no matter where you live. Just a reminder that there are great hotel deals in the summer so visit whistler.com today! AK
As I sit here watching our first fairway green up it reminds me how much work goes into getting golf courses at altitude ready for the golf season. Check it out!
I’m sure Dave my Superintendent will tell me I’ve missed a bunch but as you can see it all happens in a very short window in the spring. Being so close to Vancouver many people forget we are covered in four feet of snow until late March and our grow in takes a little longer than the other courses in Vancouver. That being said our crew does a great job and we get in great condition very quickly.
Let us know how we are doing when you play this summer and don’t forget to hug your local golf course superintendent!
AK
As I sit here in my office watching my Assistant Superintendent blowing the snow off the first tee, I am resisting the urge to tee up a ball with my new Nike Str 8 Fit driver and launch a few into the snowy winter land! It does however remind me that it is time to do my annual spring equipment check to ensure I’m ready to get the season underway. Here are some equipment tips for you that I guarantee will help you play better.
Time for new clubs? Golf club technology continues to improve. If you haven’t bought a new driver for example in the last 3 or 4 years you are leaving distance and better accuracy on the table.
CUSTOM FITTING: We provide this service free of charge at our Learning and Performance Centre with any club purchase. During fitting we will ensure your irons have the right shaft flex and length. We will also ensure your irons have the right lie angle. We will pick an iron head that suits your ability. Lastly, we will pick a grip that is the right size and firmness for you. We will also pick a driver head that gives you optimum launch angel and spin to help you hit the ball farther. Nike’s 360 fitting system allows us to combine different iron, hybrid, driver and fairway wood heads with different shaft flex’s and lengths to custom fit the perfect clubs for you.
Checkout Nike’s new St8Fit driver here.
HAPPY WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT?
If you have fairly new gear you should take a look at your grips before starting the season. Worn grips will make you squeeze the club tighter and look out swing tempo!
We feature the latest grips from Winn and will install them for you in a day.
SAY GOODBYE TO LONG IRONS!
I haven’t hit a three iron in three years. Some would argue I didn’t hit them well before then anyway but that’s for another blog. If you have never hit a hybrid club before come over to the LPC and demo a few. I carry the 18 and 21 degree hybrids in my bag which replace in theory my 2 and 3 iron. I can hit these anywhere from 200 to 220 yards. The difference is they are really easy to hit and I hit them really high meaning they land on the green softly. For most golfers I see out there, I personally think they shouldn’t have anything lower than a 5 iron in your bag. Go driver, three wood, 18, 21, 24 degree hybrids, 5 iron to pw, sand wedge, lob wedge, putter. Thank me later!
If you are all geared up, then spend your golf winnings on a lesson. Take one early in the spring and go to work for a few weeks then return for a follow up. It shocked me how many player’s don’t seek help for their game. I’m at the range once a week for a tune up.
Check your gear, get fit and get a pro to get you on track for the upcoming season
AK
Living in Whistler definitely has its perks come winter time but there is no question there is a core group of us in Whistler who go through winter golf withdrawal. Making the trek to Vancouver for winter golf is tough to do especially if the powder is good. But making the trek to Vancouver International airport for a golf vacation – now that’s a different story. Here are a couple of my favorite trips for those of you to consider next winter.
BANDON DUNES
“But isn’t that in Oregon” you ask? Absolutely, but this place is so good even the weather can’t spoil the trip. I have typically gone in early March but November, December is fine too. During these times of year my buddies and I have had it all; 65 and sunny to 42 and blowing wind. I will never forget getting out of the car to a 40 mile an hour wind and driving rain the first time I went. The bag attendant pointed to the umbrella in my bag and said “Sir that umbrella isn’t going to help you in this wind!”
The golf is second to none. It is links golf at its best. There are three courses there with a fourth under construction. Pacific Dunes is my favorite. The course feature numerous holes hanging over the Pacific Ocean, natural dune bunkers everywhere, and yes at times some wicked wind. Golf shots are played on the ground like in Scotland due to the tight lies around the greens and usually some wind. They have great cottages on sight and a shuttle service to take you to the range, the bar and back to the bar! The resort has a casual feel and lots of places to hang with you group and argue about the daily bets.
If you have yet to go to Bandon, you must go. My buddies and I drive. It’s a good 13 hours but it gives us ample time to argue over handicaps. You can fly to Portland and catch a commuter to Coos Bay jus north of Bandon and the resort will pick you up. Like I said, don’t be afraid of a winter trip there.
Bandon golf tips: Just bring all you got- Gortex to short sleeve shirts and you are good to go.
Make sure your “knock down” shot is perfected and leave the flop shot at home.
Have the ‘Scotch eggs” in McKees pub- good living!
Beverage of choice: Hefferveissen
Photo caption: “Furry Creek Director of Golf Dean Larson and I, 4th tee Pacific Dunes”
When you live in Whistler you have no idea how good sunlight and 65 to 75 degrees feels in November! There is so much golf here at every price point it is a golfers paradise.
The one thing to remember about golf in the Phoenix area is that all the courses go through an over seeding process usually in October. The summer Bermuda grass goes dormant and they overseed the courses with rye grass. I like to wait until mid November for the courses to get in great shape from the over seeding, but if you want to go down earlier just call the courses for an update. My public favorites include both courses at Grayhawk, TPC Scottsdale Stadium course, Troon North and the Raven at Verrado. Some of the best private courses in the US reside here. Take your pro with you- maybe he/she can get you on!
Desert golf tips: Take and old 5 iron so you can play shots out of the desert without wrecking you new Nike’s! See photo!
Look for Downtown Phoenix: All putts break towards downtown.
Beverage of choice: Fat Tire
Well this is a no brainer. Great weather, great golf- what else do you need. There are surprisingly quite a few options and such a small island. You will have to open up the wallet and play the Plantation Course at Kapalua. Get the first twilight time and you’ll finish no problem. Fairways are miles wide but they need to be. If the wind comes up you’ll need all the fairway they give you. Stunning landscape, great views, whales jumping, awesome holes and Tiger plays here! Spoil yourself.
There are two great courses on Lanai. Take the 30 minute ferry ride from Lahaina and spend the day there playing the Nicklaus and Norman courses. Hang out on the bar at the Four Seasons while you wait for the ferry back. This is a great day golf trip. There are also some great courses at Wailea and Kaanapali.
Maui golf tips: Make sure you know which way the grain is running in the Bermuda greens. If you have never putted on Bermuda it can drive you crazy. Have fun!
Beverage of choice: Mai Tai of course.
AK
