A Passport to Great Golf
Golf at Whistler has never been more accessible—and rewarding—for British Columbia and Washington State residents, as the Whistler Golf Passport program provides significant incentives. Whistler enjoys an illustrious golf history that spans more than three decades. It all began in 1983 when the Arnold Palmer-designed Whistler Golf Club opened to the public. Brandon Johnson, Senior VP of Golf Course Design at the Arnold Palmer Design Group said that Whistler was a special project for Mr. Palmer as the selected venue, “encompassed the beauty, sustainability and terrain in the development of a strategic yet enjoyable experience for golfers of every ability.”
In 1992, as golf continued to grow in popularity, world-renowned course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. was contracted to build the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club. Celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary this year, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club features a nearly 122-metre elevation change, where a camera should be a part of everyone’s kit as spectacular views and wildlife sightings are continual distractions. Nicklaus North, a short drive from Whistler Village and nestled between Green Lake and the River of Golden Dreams, opened in 1996. The multiple award-winning course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, features broad fairways, large greens, and an abundance of cleverly positioned bunkers. Thirty minutes north of Whistler, the pastoral Pemberton Valley is the setting for Big Sky Golf and Country Club—the fourth iconic course to make up the Whistler Golf Passport program. The longest of the four championship courses, Big Sky boasts one of Western Canada’s leading golf academies and practise facilities. Woody Bishop, General Manager, stated, “we’re a course of nature, hospitality and memorable golf experiences.” Located in the shadow of the 2,591-metre Mount Currie, the course was designed by the legendary Robert Cupp, who utilized many facets of the landscape to create what Golf Digest, thirteen years after its opening in 1993, rated as one of the Top 30 Courses in Canada. A passport is defined as “an authorization to travel.” Enjoy your journey.