Whistle While You Work: Golf at Whistler

“People notice it from the moment they walk in,” says Alan Kristmanson, Whistler’s director of golf. He isn’t referring to the crisp mountain air, glacier-fed lakes or breathtaking emerald forests that give the area its unsurpassed visual appeal. That unmistakable thing, he says, is the refreshingly laid-back atmosphere that characterizes the entire Whistler region and, accordingly, infuses every aspect of its golf experience.

For decades one of North America’s premier ski destinations, Whistler, a town of 10,000 located in the Coastal Mountains of British Columbia just north of Vancouver, now lays claim to a well-justified spot among the continent’s foremost golf venues as well. Ranked by Golf Digest as one of the Top 20 golf destinations on the planet, Whistler boasts four jewels of golf design that form a harmonious collective while at the same time offering unforgettable individual experiences.

Nicklaus North celebrates the Golden Bear’s desire to build a course amid the pristine lakes and majestic firs that lend Whistler much of its charm. Chateau Whistler, by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is carved from the side of Whistler’s sister mountain, Blackcomb, and features an elevation change of 400 feet accompanied by jaw-dropping views of the Whistler valley. Robert Cupp’s Big Sky course juxtaposes the massive, snow-peaked Mount Currie with a course design whose fluid grace creates an irrefutable sense of repose and tranquility. And Whistler’s home course, the first in Canada designed by Arnold Palmer, features not only sprawling fairways, winding creeks and towering stands of ancient cedar, but also the possibility of glimpsing beavers, coyotes or black bears — who enjoy lazing at the signature thirteenth, especially in May and June, when the berries are ripening.

Though each of these courses is an artistic masterpiece within Whistler’s dazzling natural backdrop, even more essential to the resort’s appeal, says Kristmanson, is its philosophy — Palmer’s Design, Whistler’s Attitude — that is in evidence at every turn. From the informal nicknames on the staff badges to the outfits they favour — decidedly more mountain casual than country club prim —everything about Whistler is designed to put one at ease. It isn’t simply that the Whistler golf experience is aesthetically unique, but that it is also genuinely fun and truly intimate, honouring the pure athletic pleasure of golf while eschewing much of what Kristmanson calls its inherent stuffiness.

“Golf is intimidating enough on its own,” he says. “Being excessively formal or elitist only makes it more so. We take the opposite tack here.” In other words, don’t be surprised by the rock and roll piping out of the speakers at the clubhouse or the high-five you receive from the starter on the first tee. “Look, everyone in the business boasts great course conditions, great service, great venues,” says Kristmanson. “Anyone who comes here to golf is going to be blown away by the courses and the scenery. We know that, and we’re proud of it. But to us, these aren’t the true distinguishing factors. What we strive to do is create a truly branded experience based on fun, enjoyment and inclusiveness. No matter who you are, you feel welcome here. That attitude is the reason we all moved to Whistler in the first place.”

The “we” he refers to includes people from all walks of life — and, indeed, those who work and play at Whistler are as eclectic a group as those who come to visit the area. Kristmanson insists that everyone hired as part of the Golf Whistler team must be passionate about his or her role as an ambassador of Whistler culture. It is for this reason that you’ll encounter more than just CPGA golf professionals at Whistler’s pro shop. Though a golf expert is never far away, you’re just as likely to be greeted at the desk by a devout mountain biker or former Olympic snowboarder.

Part of making the golf experience more accessible, adds Kristmanson, lies in increasing its attraction and availability for younger players, who, thanks to the prominence of Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie and others, today are taking up the sport not in trickles but in droves. To that end, Kristmanson and his team have made changes intended specifically for the younger set. Juniors always play for free at Whistler provided they are accompanied by an adult, and the courses themselves are tailored as much towards the junior demographic as towards adults. There are, for example, not just men’s and ladies tees, but also junior tees, “sometimes right out on the fairways,” says Kristmanson.

“It’s all part of the same attitude, about making golf a positive and accessible experience,” he adds. “Make golf frustrating, inaccessible or cost-restrictive and you don’t encourage people to pursue it. Attempt to create the opposite experience, and they’ll keep coming back. Our number-one goal is to make sure anyone who visits us feels comfortable and has plenty of fun.”

On both fronts, Whistler passes with flying colours. Comfort is the watchword not just in the resort’s superb accommodations but also its myriad offerings of first-class amenities — and it virtually goes without saying that fun at Whistler takes almost infinite forms. If you possess an adventure-seeking gene, you can enjoy the tallest mountain-bike peak in North America. Looking to slow down the pace a little? Try out some of the hundreds of restaurants and shops, or perhaps book a local massage at one of Whistler’s award-winning spas. True golf obsessives can even combine their nuptials with golf at the wedding venue recently built directly into Whistler’s home course. Shutterbugs looking for a memorable snapshot or those just wanting to soak up the scenery can take the ski gondola — open year-round — to the top of the mountain for a view that is nothing short of mind-blowing.

No matter how you choose to spend your time at Canada’s top golf mecca, you won’t be disappointed. And even if your scorecard doesn’t sparkle, it’s a virtual guarantee you’ll come back more relaxed than when you left.

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I.J. Schecter
43 Park Hill Road
Toronto, ON M6C 3N2
(416) 803-9847

© I.J. Schecter 2003