Shuswap's Hyde Mountain A Vision Of Beauty
December 23rd, 2010 10:26 AM
Hyde Mountain on Mara Lake Golf Course
Sicamous, BC
www.hydemountain.com
Before there was a Hyde Mountain Golf Course there was a sawmill owned by the Hyde family. This family had a vision of turning their mill and their land into the kind of golf course that people would travel from all around to experience. The type of course where pros could come and push their games to the limit, while the high handicappers could enjoy their days without feeling like they have been run through a mill.
From that vision came Hyde Mountain on Mara Lake Golf Course, and now British Columbia has a new “most scenic” golf course.
Hyde Mountain is a 6,700-yard par 72 wilderness experience like no other. Imagine the beauty of Kokanee Springs, the views of Furry Creek and the layout of Chateau Whistler all centred around the crystal blue waters of Mara Lake and you are close to envisioning Hyde Mountain.
Number one is a long uphill dogleg right par five with just enough water and sand on it to keep you honest. But come the fourth hole you will see just how hard and beautiful the rest of this course will be.
Number four (named Geronimo) is a long 390-yard par four. The fairway is dead straight, narrow and lined on both sides by heavy trees and red stakes. The green is well bunkered and heavily sloped. Standard fare, right? Well hold on to your shorts and be prepared to enjoy a roller coaster ride from the tee because from the tee box the fairway is 400 feet below you and beautiful Mara Lake is tight on your right hand side. Like a roller coaster car reaching its apex you watch your tee shot soar high into the air -- there it stops for a moment and as it starts to drop, you put your hands over your head and yell “Wee-e-e-e” as it plummets back down to earth.
Number 11 (Eagle Nest) is the kind of a hole that could make or break your round if not your views of the course. It is only 338 yards long but a smart and long tee shot following the uphill, left to right dogleg is imperative. Then you have to add at least one club to your approach shot, as the green is 35 feet above you. Once on the green you may have a five-foot putt with just as much break, or a 30-foot putt that breaks three different ways before rolling off the green, and not much else in between. If you are playing well you’ll call it demanding. If you are playing poorly you’ll call it Mickey Mouse. No matter what, you have to play it, so take your time and enjoy.
A Player’s Tip
Sicamous is the houseboat capital of Canada (checkout the houseboat floating on the course that acts as its halfway house). You can rent one for your stay; and ask the golf course about a shuttle service they offer. From houseboat over the lake to the edge of the fourth hole and then up to the clubhouse for a round of golf, does it get any better than that? In two years they will be offering a new resort hotel -- the ground-breaking is this September so keep that in mind for the future. Moe Norman’s thoughts here would be “Make your divots bacon strips not pork chops.” Hitting the ball flush will lead to a lot of fun at Hyde Mountain.
Tom Cattermole is a North Shore freelance golf writer. cattermole@telus.net
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Aug - Sep 07
Sicamous, BC
www.hydemountain.com
Before there was a Hyde Mountain Golf Course there was a sawmill owned by the Hyde family. This family had a vision of turning their mill and their land into the kind of golf course that people would travel from all around to experience. The type of course where pros could come and push their games to the limit, while the high handicappers could enjoy their days without feeling like they have been run through a mill.
From that vision came Hyde Mountain on Mara Lake Golf Course, and now British Columbia has a new “most scenic” golf course.
Hyde Mountain is a 6,700-yard par 72 wilderness experience like no other. Imagine the beauty of Kokanee Springs, the views of Furry Creek and the layout of Chateau Whistler all centred around the crystal blue waters of Mara Lake and you are close to envisioning Hyde Mountain.
Number one is a long uphill dogleg right par five with just enough water and sand on it to keep you honest. But come the fourth hole you will see just how hard and beautiful the rest of this course will be.
Number four (named Geronimo) is a long 390-yard par four. The fairway is dead straight, narrow and lined on both sides by heavy trees and red stakes. The green is well bunkered and heavily sloped. Standard fare, right? Well hold on to your shorts and be prepared to enjoy a roller coaster ride from the tee because from the tee box the fairway is 400 feet below you and beautiful Mara Lake is tight on your right hand side. Like a roller coaster car reaching its apex you watch your tee shot soar high into the air -- there it stops for a moment and as it starts to drop, you put your hands over your head and yell “Wee-e-e-e” as it plummets back down to earth.
Number 11 (Eagle Nest) is the kind of a hole that could make or break your round if not your views of the course. It is only 338 yards long but a smart and long tee shot following the uphill, left to right dogleg is imperative. Then you have to add at least one club to your approach shot, as the green is 35 feet above you. Once on the green you may have a five-foot putt with just as much break, or a 30-foot putt that breaks three different ways before rolling off the green, and not much else in between. If you are playing well you’ll call it demanding. If you are playing poorly you’ll call it Mickey Mouse. No matter what, you have to play it, so take your time and enjoy.
A Player’s Tip
Sicamous is the houseboat capital of Canada (checkout the houseboat floating on the course that acts as its halfway house). You can rent one for your stay; and ask the golf course about a shuttle service they offer. From houseboat over the lake to the edge of the fourth hole and then up to the clubhouse for a round of golf, does it get any better than that? In two years they will be offering a new resort hotel -- the ground-breaking is this September so keep that in mind for the future. Moe Norman’s thoughts here would be “Make your divots bacon strips not pork chops.” Hitting the ball flush will lead to a lot of fun at Hyde Mountain.
Tom Cattermole is a North Shore freelance golf writer. cattermole@telus.net
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Aug - Sep 07
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