Big Sky Golf Club in Pemberton, BC

Fairways are generous, bordered by tall grass, trees and plenty of water

The state of Montana is called Big Sky Country, but in Canada we have our own Big Sky Golf Club in Pemberton, B.C. Pemberton is a small town of approximately 3,000 people located 35 kilometres (27 miles) north of Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway. The name of the town is taken from Joseph Despard Pemberton, the surveyor general of the Colony of Vancouver Island in the 1850s, although he never visited the town and valley which bear his name. It was the Lil’wat (Lillooet) First Nation, the Onion People, who originally lived in this fertile valley.

The name Big Sky appears to be derived from a descriptive term for the Pemberton Valley. Coming off Suicide Pass, visitors are surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains and a valley with big sky. What really dominates the skyline, however, is Mount Currie, named after John Currie, an early pioneer.

Awards

Big Sky was designed by golf architect Robert Cupp. The course is built on the floodplain, feeling very much like an alpine meadow. Fairways are generous, bordered by tall grass, trees and plenty of water. There are 12 ponds, with water coming into play on 10 holes. A creek meanders throughout the entire course, connecting most of the ponds. Bentgrass is used on the tees, fairways and greens. In 2012 the course received two awards, the Best Public Golf Course in B.C. by the BC PGA, and Rolex World’s Top 1,000 Golf Courses. In 2013, Big Sky was named the 28th best public golf course in Canada by Golf Digest. The course is owned by Belkorp Properties Inc. of Vancouver.

The course 

The first three holes of this championship course are a nice way to start, with two reachable par fours and a par three. The 4th hole is called Purgatory, and it will make you pay for your golf sins. At 600 yards from the back tees, this hole makes it necessary to hit over the creek three times as well as avoid a big tree on the right. That’s the easy part. A medium-size green is guarded by steep banks, water around the front and sides and three sand traps. It is a good risk and reward hole, depending on when you go to the green. Cory Butler, CPGA instructor, warned us about Purgatory with a smile. 

The 5th hole, called Cupp’s Hollow after the golf architect, is a par three, 161 yards over a waste area with the Green River to the left. The next three holes are relatively short and possible birdie holes. The 9th is a good finishing hole, with water running along the entire left side.

The back nine starts with two reasonable holes, but on the 12th, called the Great Divide, a creek divides the fairway, making it a risk and reward hole. Holes 13 through 15 are very playable and located at the base of Mount Currie. Hole 15 is called Tranquility and is aptly named.

Woody Bishop, Golf Operations Manager, was correct when he used the term tranquility to describe the entire course. Holes 16 through 18 seem to be surrounded by water, especially the part three No. 17. The 18th is a good finishing hole, with water along the entire right side and a trap guarding the green. 

What makes Big Sky difficult are the fast greens. Chris Wallace, General Manager, said that “most people can stay on the wide fairways, but to score well it is necessary to have a good short game into the green. The greens have false fronts and backs, with most balls rolling down into a catchment area.” Chris was certainly correct!

Big Sky has all the amenities of a classy, upscale resort course. There are full practice facilities, electric carts, fully equipped pro shop, Fescue’s Restaurant and Patio, a golf academy with CPGA instructors, memberships and golf packages with the three Whistler courses. Big Sky is a beautifully manicured golf course, with creative sculptures at the entrance and the backdrop of the mountains. This course offers a unique golf experience.

19th Hole

If eighteen holes are not enough—then play one more hole. Big Sky is partnered with Blackcomb Aviation to offer golfers a special driving range. A helicopter takes you to the top of Mount Currie at 8,501 feet (2,591 metres) and allows you to tee off for your longest drive. (See YouTube – 19th hole.)

Par 72, 7001 yards, CR 73.9, SR 136 (back tees)