Shuswap Lake Estates Golf and Country Club

The golf course is a resort course with generous tree-lined fairways.

The  name Shuswap has always been synonymous with houseboats and Shuswap Lake. The name comes from the Secwepemc Salish First Nations and could mean black bear. Shuswap Estates, however, gives the area a whole new meaning.  Located just off the Trans-Canada Highway, 26 km west of Salmon Arm, this golf course is located at Blind Bay, a community of 2,500 on Shuswap Lake.

The estates started as a retirement area, but evolved into a permanent community of 850 homes. The golf course is only a small part of the estates. Where else in B.C. can you still purchase lake view property in the Highlands area for $144,000?

The golf course is a typical resort course with generous tree-lined fairways. It is well-bunkered, has undulating greens and caters to the recreational golfer. There is a driving range, practice greens and sand traps. The course is 6,467 yards, par 71, CR 70.9, slope 127 from the back tees. There are plenty of hazards to entice golfers, including waste areas, four lakes and well placed trees.

Hole No. 1 invites you to rip it and grip it, but keep your drive center right. Hole No. 5 at 495 yards with a pond in front of the green and Hole No. 6 at 395 yards with sand traps are both excellent holes. The back nine is interesting, beginning with the water hazard on No.10. The par 3 No. 13 hole was a surprise, being 239 yards uphill.This has to be one of the longest par 3s in the province. When you leave hole No. 14, you actually cross a grass airstrip, and Hole No. 15 runs parallel to the runway. Just do not snap hook your ball.

Just when you have had enough, the 18th at 394 yards ends with an elevated green and the danger of having your ball roll back down the hill.  
This course is very playable and keeps you interested, plus you get to watch planes land.