Chateau Whistler - British Columbia - Canada

Chateau Whistler is an awesome course. Yes, it is a resort and yes, the breathtaking scenery can be over-stimulating, but Jones did this one right. Of the multiple courses in the area, this is the only one that is truly mountain golf. I understand the construction economics, river bottom is easier and cheaper, but certainly not as much fun for the golfer.

The first half a dozen holes are uphill. The first is a welcoming par five. Big hitters can get home in two, but the fairway runs out about 210 yards out and there is a large greenside bunker right. The 2nd is a good birdie oppty. It is uphill, leans left and the fairway bunkers are about 250 from the tee. There is a river left and the green sits behind it. Consider laying up and you will still have an attack wedge in. The third is a dogleg left. As you get closer to the green the fairway narrows and the green is also behind the river. The 4th is a long par four. Favor right of center off the tee. Three large bunkers front left and one rear right. The fifth is a picturesque par 3 with bunkers front right and left. The 6th bends left is the longest par four and the number one handicap hole. Favor the right side off the tee. I hit a good drive, a good five wood and was still 30 yards short. The 7th is a straightaway par five. Favor right of center and most of the trouble and bunkers is left. The long par 3 8th is probably the signature hole. Cliff right and water hazard and bunker left. My favorite, yes, I birdied. The 9th leans right and is the shortest par five but it is very tight. Trees right and a gaggle of fairway bunkers on the left side. The green is tucked right behind a large bunker.

The back starts with a flip wedge par three. Pretty hole, but don’t get sucked in as the green is surrounded by bunkers. The 11th is short but tight hole, fairway bunkers left and trees right. Another well protected green with four bunkers. The 12th is longer, but it has one of the wider fairways and there is only a right front bunker to contend with. The next four holes are scoring oppties. The 13th is a short downhill par four. The fairway is hourglassed with bunkers about 120 yards out. I considered laying up and didn’t and doubled. Choose wisely. The 14th is almost the same yardage also downhill but veers right. Fairway bunkers both sides. Best line is at the right edge of the left fairway bunker. This will give you a flip wedge in. I considered laying up again and convinced myself there was no way I could screw up again. I was wrong. The 15th is a bit longer, but much more open. Aim at the left fairway bunker off the tee. The last par three is pretty benign. Bunkers front left and right. The 17th is a long demanding par four. There is a fairway bunker in the landing zone on the right side. Favor left of center off the tee. This has one of the more daunting approaches on the course. Long, over the river with a bunker greenside left. It is the number two handicap hole. The 18th is the longest par five. The river crosses the fairway about 240 yards out. If you are going to miss, left is much more betterer than right. The green has two bunkers right and one left.

This is a fun course, tighter than I expected and certainly not your standard resort course. I would pay to play it again. Don’t feed the bears.

Chateau Whistler Golf Club is located right in the heart of the lovely ski town of Whistler. Adjacent to and part of the Fairmount hotel the course is known as one of the best mountain courses anywhere with elevation changes of up to 400 feet through the course.

Robert Trent Jones Jnr was the architect and he created Chateau Whistler in 1993. In doing so he used the mountainscape brilliantly and surrounding peaks and features became the focus on a number of holes

The routing goes out and back with a few twists along the way. The first 6 holes go out and up and is a very difficult start for the first timer as you can be tested for length, carry and accuracy all at once. Hole 3 is just a tad overdone in my opinion as a tee shot landing on the fairway can still be blocked out, or partially blocked out- and the shot in to the green over the creek, through the trees is testing enough… Holes four and six uphill are just strong holes

On the flip side the downhill holes on the return journey are an absolute delight with elevated tees and plenty of hang time. Good drives will give you a series of approach shots with short to middle irons to nicely sculpted green complexes.

In general the collection of par three holes are very very good. The par 3 downhill eighth hole is the signature hole. The tee shot must carry water diagonally to a green set hard against a cliff wall on the right and water on the left. Depending on your chosen tee it will require a mid to long iron, so it is no pushover!

Notable holes include:

hole 2- a short uphill par 4 which requires a wedge approach over a creek to an elevated green.
hole 5- a drop shot par 3 with Whistler Mountain in the background.
hole 8- a spectacular mid length par 3 with green wedged between water and cliff face
hole 10- a short but gorgeous drop shot par 3
hole 13 is a short downhill par 4 to a well bunkered green
hole 14- another delightful downhill par 4
hole 17- a dogleg par 4 from an elevated tee, and featuring an approach to the green over water and heavy vegetation. The tee shot must be accurate to make the second shot practical….

One comes away from Chateau Whistler enthused with the beauty of the course, and memories of all those exciting downhill shots.

And bears! Our round was interrupted with a black bear running across the fairway in front of us- apparently this is not uncommon.

Chateau Whistler is just a lovely place to play golf, and one of the best mountain courses I have come across..

Peter Wood is the founder of The Travelling Golfer – click the link to read his full review.

Spectacular mountainside course in the resort town of Whistler north of Vancouver. The views of the surrounding mountains ARE distracting and the parkland course is just a pleasure as well. Significant elevation changes, challenging shots and hazards in the line of play make it a course where thought and well executed shots are required. Conditioning was a let down but that's likely due ot the approaching winter. CAD115 for the round. No bears seen on the course when I played but my wife did see one crossing the road near the main Fairmont property about 2KM from the course. We were staying down in Vancouver and did the drive up the Sea to Sky highway to Whistler as a day trip - highly recommended, even if you don't plan to play golf.

Only Whistler area course with elevation change. Best maintenance in Whistler area, best design, and my personal favourite.

was unsure before arriving in Whistler whether to play this or Nicklaus North. So glad I played this as it was one of best courses Ive ever played whereas Nicklaus looked quite flat and soon to consumed by real estate. By contrast no real estate on here only bears !! Lots of elevation changes and the views are stunning. If ever in the area dont miss the opportunity you wont be disapointed

Chateau Whistler Golf Course is a Robert Trent Jones Design located minutes from the village. It also features the David Leadbetter teaching academy and a number of outstanding resorts around its property. It is frequented by players from all over the world as it provides Whistler's most mountainous feel of all the surrounding courses. Huge elevation changes, tree-lined fairways and beautiful scenery are provided the entire way around. The toughest holes are on the front as you play a number of uphill shots. The highlight is the beautiful par 3 8th, with the green protected by a lake and bunker on the left and a rocky hill framing the right side. An accurate tee shot will give you an opportunity to one putt, and walk away with a birdie on the best par 3 on the course. The holes challenge you to a variety of shots and will test you club selection and ability to judge up and down hill distances. The greens are quick with a variety of undulations that make approach shots key on some hole locations. The toughest hole on the course is the par 4 3rd, uphill all the way with a creek running through the left side of the fairway and crossing through the front of the green. A well placed tee-shot will leave you a long iron to a large undulating green. Par is an excellent score and a big number is very possible. One of the unique features of the Chateau Whistler Golf Club is the number of bears LIVING on the course. I have played 2 rounds and have seen 4 black bears, an amazing sight! It's a great course to play as it offers the spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Mike Stefan