Golf in Vernon

Only 15 minutes from Penticon, BC, Twin Lakes Golf Course stretches out over 285 acres of valley terrain, nestled among mountain slopes thick with deciduous trees such as firs and pines. The 18-hole, par 72 course takes advantage of its scenic surroundings by challenging golfers with elevated tees, which players summit with the help of shoes equipped with either cleats or spider feet. A long, treacherous sand trap lurks along hole 16’s left side, earning it recognition as the course’s second most difficult hole—just on the heels of hole seven, whose own sand trap and narrowed fairway make it the most challenging on the course. Players warm up at a driving range with six hitting stations or the chipping and putting practice areas before swinging through the course, and they can drop by the restaurant afterward to sip a micro-brewed foamer on the patio and gaze out at the players cartwheeling across the grass on holes 1, 9, and 10.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,867 yards from the farthest set of tees
• Course 71.9 rating of from the farthest set of tees
• Slope rating of 125 from the farthest set of tees
• See the scorecard

Michaelbrook Ranch Golf Course unspools in the Okanagan Valley, inviting players to tee off against a backdrop of mountains and wine vineyards. Measuring 3,799 yards from the back tees, the par-63 executive course is relatively diminutive in stature but outfitted with hazards such as water on four holes, troublesome rough, and the threat of interference from lost sommeliers. The distinctive 18th hole boasts two greens—one an island and one safely inland—each of which may be in play on any given day. After sinking your last putt, head over to the Brook Bar and Grill for a post-round meal and celebratory drinks.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-63 course
• Total length of 3,799 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 58 from the back tees
• Course slope of 84 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard

At Urban Links, golfers up their games with hands-on training sessions with certified instructors and access to an indoor facility with the latest in golf training technology. Golfers can cure their slice-, shank-, or narcolepsy-prone swings inside hitting bays that feature TrackMan swing-analysis software, which uses motion sensors and video playback to break down swinging motions. Urban Links’ resident aces also enlist TrackMan technology to help players find out the club specifications that best fit their swing and body type. Along with lessons and club-fitting sessions, golfers can take advantage of the equipment and develop secret handshakes with cyborg Greg Normans during independent practice sessions in the hitting bays.

Golfers of all stripes can groom their game at the Doc's Golf Centre’s driving range and 9 Moons Pitch & Putt course. With most holes measuring 100 yards or fewer, 9 Moons Pitch & Putt helps players hone their short games as they wedge their way to birdies and pars. For most golfers, a full nine-hole round takes less than an hour, freeing up daylight for them to continue building a robot caddy. At the 20-stall driving range, players can swing from grass hitting bays or one of 10 synthetic turf stalls. CPGA professional John Ferrier teaches lessons at Doc's Golf Centre's outdoor facility, where you can also receive club-fitting and repair services, or use the indoor golf simulator.

The soft pop of clubs against golf balls drifts from the driving range at The Golf Centre, up through orchards and toward the mountains behind them. At either sheltered or unsheltered tees on the range, golfers cut crescents from the air, their clubs arcing behind them. Staff rotate the range balls every season, limiting the possibility that customers hit a damaged ball or one they have made up a whole back story for. After ironing the kinks out of their long games, players can work on short-game strokes at the 35-yard short-game practice area, complete with sand traps, a chipping green, and a putting green. A team of CPGA-certified instructors stands at the ready to help players address their problem areas within lessons, incorporating video analysis during 60-minute private lessons to illustrate a stance that’s too open or eyes that aren’t open.