Golf in Abbotsford

At 3D Golf Performance, CPGA-certified instructors give back to the sport they love by combining their deep knowledge of real-world club swinging with some of the most impressive player-improvement technologies available. The Coquitlam facility's assortment of 3-D imaging technologies and finely calibrated simulators allows players to discover the nuances of club-head speed and elbow angles while teeing off indoors. Staff members quell the anxieties of traditionalists who find electronic contraptions perplexing by offering training clinics and educational sessions that demystify stroke-saving machinery such as operating TruTrac software, analyzing a swing with Target Zone tracking, and learning to reconfigure kitchen toasters as golf-ball washers.

Cleaved between snow-capped mountain ranges and the Fraser and Coquihalla Rivers, Hope Golf Club showcases a picturesque nine-hole, 18-tee course. After crossing a single-lane bridge above the churning waters of the Coquihalla, guests can look out onto the verdant expanse, charting their plan of attack through the cedar and fir trees that flex their branches from the fairways’ edges. Two tee placements create a distinct front and back nine, keeping golfers focused as they approach narrow fairways from different distances and alternate realities.

Majestic views of the surrounding area abound throughout the course, especially on the seventh green, where the two rivers meet, attracting wildlife and conveying salmon to warmer climes during the fall. After rounds, golfers can retreat to the on-site grill to recap memorable shots and gossip about what they look for in a caddy.

Eaglequest Coquitlam is a haven for golf enthusiasts of all stripes and sizes; it features a 9-hole golf course, state-of-the-art practice facilities, and an 18-hole mini-golf course. With holes that range from 77 to 147 yards, the par 27 golf course challenges short-game skills and grants golfers ample time to discipline misbehaving drivers by sending them to timeout in their head covers. The 76-stall driving range features a synthetic landing area with realistic targets, and a learning academy helmed by PGA of Canada instructors can help golfers further improve their swings. For pint-sized practice, players can putt their way through the 18-hole mini-golf course designed to be both charming and challenging by incorporating large rocks, pieces of wood, and an intersecting brook. The golf centre also houses a 9,000-square-foot clubhouse with a café, pro shop, and resident hobbit that whittles wooden spoons into sand wedges.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par 27 course
• Course length of 1,006 yards from the farthest tee
• Two tee options available
• Click here to see the scorecard.

Wooden beams form rows of V-shaped pillars that prop up the ceilings on both floors of Takaya Golf Centre's two-tiered driving range, creating a visually compelling, rustic design. Surrounded by a dense forest, the 270-yard range boasts 78 hitting stalls, 58 of which are covered to protect players from the elements and rival golfers who hire a stealthy buffalo stampede to record surveillance. Along with clearly marked yardage signs, the target field sports wide hoops at various distances to emulate greens. After the sun sets over the opposite end of the westward-facing range, Takaya Golf Centre activates its stadium-style lighting to keep practice sessions alive and illuminate woodland creatures' late-night board-game sessions.

Four teaching professionals preside over the centre's practice complex, where they help players smooth out swings in group or private lessons. Those looking for more leisurely activities can putt across the centre's mini-golf course, lounge with a cup of coffee in the TV lounge, or build an indoor fort with the pro shop's selection of hats, tees, towels, and golf balls.

Cheam Golf Centre covers a golfer’s whims from pre-round prep to post-putts on the 18th hole of the 2,618-yard, par 56 course. A 30-stall driving range facilitates practice cuts before stepping on the course, a layout riddled with surprise difficulties that belie the relatively short length. A winding stream comes into play on several holes, and bunkers sit green-side on nearly every hole, creating prime opportunities for golfers to practice sandy up-and-downs or model a new pair of sandblasted khakis. After conquering the course, players can head to the Tee Off Grill, where chef Michael Leduc crafts 8-ounce burgers, shepherd’s pie, and dips perfect for enjoying with newly whittled divot tools.