Invermere ’ s rugged Copper Point ; The Springs at Radium Resort ( inset )
Radium Resort Eagle Ranch inVermere Copper Point
Stash Your Sticks
How to travel with golf gear
• To fly , a golf travel bag needs to be under 23 kg
• Pack only a few balls and consider leaving behind a couple of clubs you rarely use
• A hard-shell case is heavier , but your sticks will be safer
• Consider bringing an ultra-light carry bag to save some weight
• Leave your golf shoes behind and just pack comfortable running shoes — they can go on and off the course
• To reduce the chance of club shafts breaking during transport , tape them all together with duct tape
Columbia Valley Golf Trail , b . C .
Golf and mountains go together like wine and cheese . There ’ s nothing like swinging a club surrounded by rugged peaks and pine-scented air . And when you get a group of eight outstanding mountain courses situated just minutes apart , you ’ ve got something special .
The Columbia Valley Golf Trail is , admittedly , not so much a trail as a collection of courses in close proximity . But less time driving a car means more time driving golf balls ! And driving on an expansive fairway set against soaring mountains is about as rewarding as it gets .
Case in point : Copper Point in Invermere . Boasting two excellent courses designed by Canmore-based architect Gary Browning , Copper Point has
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Fairmont Hot Springs
enough charm and challenge for everyone . The shorter Ridge Course , which can be played in three hours , is ideal for timeconscious golfers craving some outdoor fun after a round . Indeed , the perfect recipe here is earlymorning golf and lazy afternoons on the beautiful beaches of Lake Windermere . From stand-up paddleboarding to kayaking through the pristine Columbia Wetlands , the outdoor recreation options here add another welcome dimension to
your golf getaway .
Other excellent courses to put on your itinerary are The Springs Course at the Radium Resort and Eagle Ranch , both of which parade high atop bluffs over the wetlands . Last but not least , the three courses at Fairmont Hot Springs are easygoing resort courses that will appeal to players of all skill levels . And one can rest tired muscles in the nearby natural hot springs at the end of a rigorous day .
Invermere : KArI meDIG / DestInAtIon BC ; rADIum : AnDrew penner ; CluBs : mAlerApAso / IstoCK
44 summer 2017
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