About 40 minutes north of Whistler lies a small town of Pemberton, which features a golf course right at the base of Mount Currie. Big Sky, a Bob Cupp and John Fought collaboration, is a big boy golf course for British Columbia at 7001 yards, playing through the natural swamps over some pretty flat land. Big Sky shines in the green complexes, as there is a lot of interesting run offs and collection areas around the golf course.
The opening tee shot at Big Sky features amazing views of Mount CurrieA mid-iron over a hazard, the second features a gentle run off right. A lot of the holes at Big Sky feature a hazard on one side, and then a collection area on the other sideA bunker-less par 3, the 3rd plays around 180 yards to a two-tiered greenNicknamed “Purgatory,” the 600 yard par 5, 4th crosses a hazard three times, and hugs the left sideThe green at the short par 3, 5th is one of the best on the course, with the Green River to the leftA well guarded green complex awaits the player on the short par 4, 6thMoving gently to the left, the par 4 7th plays just shy of 400 yardsMy vote for one of the hardest holes on the course, the par 4, 8th is well-bunkered and features a really well-shaped green complexOne of the wider tee shots, the 9th is a gentle par 5 to end the frontA bunker-less green complex on the 454 yard par 4, 10th, anything over the back is in a very deep collection areaA short par 3, the 11th green slopes to the back“The Great Divide” has a hazard running up the middle of the par 4 12th, making the player cross the hazard on the tee shot or approach, shownA good birdie opportunity on the par 5, 13th wedged between two hard par 4’sA very cool approach to the long par 4, 14th with Mount Currie overlookingThe par 4, 15th measures under 350, with a wide tee shot letting players take advantage of the holeThe par 4, 16th is another tough par 4, bending around a pondThe penultimate hole is a long par 3 to a massive greenThe final approach to the golf course plays with a wedge over the hazard on this three shot par 5
Big Sky is an interesting round of golf. I find it fairly boring off the tee, yet around the greens it’s a lot of fun. I could only imagine if it ever played firm up in Pemberton, because the golf course would be superb. My vote for the best in the Whistler Area is The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, but if someone said Big Sky, I wouldn’t be upset. It’s more natural, lay-of-the-land style with better greens. It’s an enjoyable round for the best bang-for-your-buck in Whistler.
Based in Toronto, but having lived in Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Arizona, and Texas, I have been lucky enough to see over 400 golf courses and counting!
