Beautiful Meadow Gardens Golf Club

Manicured, walkable and playable Meadow Gardens has the feel of a private course and a gorgeous mountain backdrop.

Golfers in the Lower Mainland often confuse Meadow Gardens with Country Meadows. Country Meadows is an executive 18 hole golf course in Richmond, while Meadow Gardens is an 18 hole upscale golf course in Pitt Meadows. Once you have played Meadow Gardens, there will be no more confusion.   

The first Meadow Gardens golf course was built in 1967-68 on the present location. The name Meadow Gardens comes from the Meadows of Pitt and the British love of gardens. The first course was described as a “cow pasture” and was very much in need of renovations by 1990. All that changed when the new owners began a multi-year project to create a semi-private golf course, which re-opened in August 1994.  

Golf architects Les Furber and Jim Eremko of Golf Design Services were hired to create the new golf course. GDS has designed 29 courses in B.C., including Northlands in North Vancouver, Riverway in Burnaby and Predator Ridge in Vernon. Furber’s major goal was to design a course that fit into the 160 acres, rather than transform the landscape to fit the design. 
“Fitting the best holes into the terrain… takes a great deal of imagination on flat land,” Furber said. 

Working for Furber was the fertile soil, natural grasses and an abundance of water. Five major ponds with wooden cart bridges connect tee boxes and fairways. Furber’s design led to new ideas such as earth mounds, double greens, grass bunkers and island fairways and greens. 

Playing the front nine

The first three holes are very playable, with wide fairways and few hazards. The key to scoring well are holes 4, 6 and 7. Hole No. 4, a par 3 at 134 yards from the blue tees, is completely surrounded by sand bunkers and waste areas, creating a dry island green. Hole No. 6 at 392 yards and No. 7, which is a par 3 at 196 yards, are bordered by OB on the left and water and tall grass on the right. These two holes can turn into a nightmare, making landing in a sand bunker feel like a good shot.
The greens are a nice size, have some undulation and are fast enough to cause a few three putts. The new scorecards also feature hybrid tees, a combination of white and blue yardage markers.

Playing the back nine

The back nine is shorter than the front nine. Four holes are the heart of the back nine, including  12, 13, 14 and 18.  Hole No. 12 has been listed as one of B.C’s hardest holes because of a massive bunker in the middle of the fairway. This par 4 of 422 yards is a great risk and reward hole, with sand or water coming into play. Hole No. 13 is a par 3 of 172 yards and is well guarded by frontal bunkers and a pond. Hole No. 14 is a par 4 of 343 yards, but the second shot is over water to a semi-island green. 

The best hole is saved for last. Even Furber referred to building the 18th as “quite an experience.” The hole is a par 5 of 502 yards and consists of plenty of water and three islands.  The first drive has to be for distance onto the first island. The second shot is for position onto the second island, and the third shot is for accuracy—using a short iron onto the green. Miss any island and water comes into play.

Meadow Gardens is manicured, walkable and playable, with a slope of 127. The course feels as if it were a private course. The Golden Ears and Twin Peak Mountains provide a scenic backdrop.

This is a full service golf course with a driving range, practice area, CPGA instructors, pro shop and gazebo after nine holes. The 35,000 square foot clubhouse plays host to banquets, corporate events, tournaments and weddings, with two restaurants, the Wedge Bar and the Loft, providing good food. 

Over the years Meadow Gardens has received numerous awards, the last in 1997 as a platinum award winner ranking in the top 100 public and semi-private golf courses by Canada’s Golf Ranking Magazine.  

The star of the course, however, is the 18th hole, rated no. 14 of the top 18 holes in the province. If you play the course well and especially the final hole, you will leave Meadow Gardens with a wonderful sense of accomplishment.