Sandpiper Golf Course

Play the 'Piper

Sandpiper Golf Course is approximately 35 kilometres (22 miles) east of Mission, B.C., along Highway 7 (the Lougheed Highway).  The sandpiper bird is native to the area, and this is also the land of the Sts’Ailes Indians and the sasq’ets or “hairy man.” Golfers need not fear the sasquatch, as he is not reputed to play golf.

Ted Swaine, Director of Golf Operations, said “Sandpiper is not as far away as people think, especially when we offer an unforgettable golfing experience.” 

Swaine is right. It took only 90 minutes to drive from White Rock to Sandpiper Golf Course, a pleasant surprise. Other options are travelling by boat or even flying in, as a gravel airstrip parallels the 17th fairway.

Pretty Estate Resort

The area surrounding Sandpiper is known as Harrison Mills. Charles Nelson Pretty and his wife Rowena built a spacious lodge in 1903 that is now part of the Pretty Estates Resort. This upscale resort includes Rowena’s Inn on the River, the River’s Edge Restaurant and of course, the Sandpiper Golf Course. Score Golf Magazine has rated Sandpiper as the Best Resort Course in B.C. and the No. 1 Course in the Fraser Valley. Betty-Ann Faulkner, nee Pretty, is the sole owner and operator of the resort and works along with her nephew Chris Lepine, the general manager.

Charles Nelson's son James Ivan envisioned a golf course on the 160 acre property. The site was ideal, located along the Harrison River in a dense forest of Douglas fir trees. The Woodland Mountains are on the opposite side of the river, with Cheam Mountain near Chilliwack providing the backdrop. The course architects were the firm of Olson, Beatty and Hnatiuk, and Sandpiper opened in 1998. This firm has worked on numerous B.C. courses, such as Hazelmere, Whistler, Cove Links, Coyote Creek and Sechelt.  The final product is a very picturesque and playable golf course for walking or riding.

Playing the course

Sandpiper is not your typical grip-it-and-rip-it manicured resort golf course, especially from the back tees at 6,500 yards. The course meanders up and down from the river and through the tall timbers. The fairways can be narrow. Water or waste areas come into play on only six holes, and players have to hit over the Elbow Creek twice. Holes 3, 6 and 17 are the top three handicap holes, although Holes 13 and 15 will play harder, being good risk and reward holes. 

There are four sets of tees to accommodate all playing abilities and the walk to the tee boxes on Holes 9 and 15 is a unique idea.  Hole 15 is the signature hole, as the sand traps guarding the green are in the footprint shape of the legendary sasquatch. The greens are undulating, sloped largely from back to front, and have average speed. It is necessary to keep the ball below the hole.  Consulting the course guidebook is highly recommended. 

What makes this course idyllic are Holes 1, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.  On these holes, you emerge from the forest and play to or along the river. Not many golf courses have prime waterfront property.

Adventure packages

Sandpiper has programs such as Preferred Pricing, Long Weekend Specials, Reward Programs and Prepay and Save. If you're interested in fishing, especially for sturgeon, there is even a Hook, Line & Sink Package offering fishing in the morning and golfing in the afternoon.

If you want to stay overnight, Rowena’s Inn on the River provides an English style B&B boutique atmosphere. For a more secluded atmosphere, check into one of the four luxury cabins and dine at the River’s Edge Restaurant & Lounge.

The attraction for a return visit to Sandpiper are the holes with a view of the river. It is not often in golf that a river of that size is not a water hazard. The picturesque blue-green waters of the Harrison River and the tranquility of the golf course make it well worth another visit.