Get wild about golf

Mountain Meadows Golf Course in Elkford, B.C., is home to an abundance of wildlife

Elkford is known as the wilderness capital of British Columbia. This is fitting, as the region is surrounded by lush forested terrain, alpine meadows, clear glacier-fed lakes and streams that house an abundance of furry critters.

Golf amongst deer and elk

Mountain Meadows Golf Course in Elkford is quickly becoming a course that golfers just have to play. Candace Picard, the manager of the Mountain Meadows pro-shop, said the one thing that makes Mountain Meadows Golf Course unique is the amount of wildlife that golfers will see on any given day.

“We are located on the way into Elkford, and it is a beautiful little course,” said Picard. “Anytime that you are on the course you will see deer or elk. I don’t know if there is a day that would go by that you wouldn’t see wildlife go by.”

Picard said that during the early summer, visitors will be treated to the sight of elk with their young calves around the area and on the golf course.

“We have the mom elks with their babies,” said Picard. “Golfers have to stop play to let the wildlife go through because (the wildlife) have the right of way. And it is quite interesting if you are from Calgary or some bigger city, because everything stops dead to let the deer and the antelope play.”

Suited to all levels

Picard said that the course can be challenging for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of players because of all the tree-lined fairways, sand traps and water obstacles.

“There are three holes that are all very challenging,” said Picard. “(On) Hole 4 you have to get over water and stay out of the trees. Hole 5 is a par three but if you are not extremely accurate you will put the ball in the green belt—and on Hole 6 the men go up a few stairs and they have to shoot from way back and get over the water that it is surrounded by trees. (All of the holes) are pretty challenging.”

And that is not all

Mountain Meadows also has the reputation for having the lowest green fee in the area at $23 for a round of nine holes and $35 for a round of 18 holes. For those hardcore golf enthusiasts that keep coming back for more, Mountain Meadows offers a membership package, which includes unlimited golf throughout the entire season for under $550.