Bear Mountain (Mountain)

Bear Mountain Golf Resort is located in Victoria, BC and there are now 36 holes at this developing golf resort. The original course is now simply called Mountain and the younger sibling the Valley.

The Bear Mountain course is a dramatic Jack and Steve Nicklaus design, set in the foothills of Mount Finlayson. The father and son design team have used the elevation changes to near perfection. The course cuts its way through a heaving landscape that presents a variety of uneven lies. Accuracy off the tee is a must as there are few bail out areas. Approach shots are no bargain either as the greens are quick, undulating and well guarded by bunkers, collection areas and tangly rough.

Every hole seems quite different from another and every hole provides a unique challenge. Bear Mountain will reward you with possibilities of making birdies but big numbers are only one mistake away. The highlight is the island green of the 152-yard par three 11th which will test club selection and commitment to the shot. The other highlight is the bonus, “money hole” 19th, a 141-yard par three with a spectacular view of Victoria and the surrounding ocean. These are two one-shot holes you will clearly remember when recalling your visit to Bear Mountain.

Bear Mountain is very tough for the average player so choose your tee boxes accordingly. The “Grizzly” tee boxes measure 7,202 gruelling yards while the “Cinnamon” play only 5,014 yards long. The area construction is the only visual and audible drawback. There are a handful of holes that peel away the beauty and replace it with condominiums and hotels, some of which are in play.