Bear Mountain - Valley Course
At Bear Mountain in Victoria BC, there are two courses: the valley course and the mountain course - both designed by Jack Nicklaus, the Bear himself. We played the valley course and it was so mountainous that I began to wonder if we had found the wrong first tee. The views are stunning, the course is surrounded by beautiful woods in all directions, and each hole is uniquely challenging with blind shots, interesting carries and constant elevation changes. We fought hard for pars and left a few in the woods, but all-in-all it was a great day - a fun round with friends and a delicious lunch afterward.
Pros:
Plenty of tee choices and combo options for players of all levels
Stunning natural beauty
Full-time female teaching pro on staff
GPS-enabled carts with video screen for yardage and layout
Resort-style dining in the lodge with gorgeous views and a robust menu
Delicious breakfast sandwiches at the mountain market just outside the lodge parking lot
Friendly Canadians everywhere - the starter was a lovely gentleman with course knowledge at the ready
Cons:
Lots of construction sounds - they seem to be building everywhere up there
Currently no built-in restrooms on the course (portables available if needed)
We found a lot of unrepaired divots on the course - comes with resort golf, I guess
Things to know:
The layout does not take you back by the lodge/clubhouse at the turn so the drink cart is the only option for bevvies and snacks on course
Not a walkable course - be sure to take a cart
The greens are truly a BEAR - get ready to do some thinking as you navigate the mounds and undulations
Overview:
Not a course I would like to play each and every day, but it makes for a fun and challenging day trip while on vacation in Victoria. I would love to come back and play the mountain course as I hear the views are even more spectacular and the greens slightly more forgiving. I could also see this being a fun family vacation spot for a few days. We saw an outdoor swimming pool and you can bet your money on finding some incredible hiking trails on property.