The Squamish Valley Golf Course has unveiled its newly renovated back nine holes, marking the completion of a significant project to enhance the course’s playability and aesthetic appeal. This ambitious renovation includes extensive improvements to several key areas of the course.
“The back nine renovation was a planet in motion quite several years ago. It required some review of what improvements needed to happen and what improvements we wanted to make,” explained Scott Wengi, the general manager of Squamish Valley Golf Course.
One of the primary focuses of the renovation was levelling and smoothing out the fairways on holes 13, 14, and 17. Over time, these fairways had developed numerous undulations due to the course’s location on an old riverbed, which caused ongoing issues with water drainage and rotting wood. Additionally, the course’s original greens were outdated and no longer fulfilled their intended roles, prompting the replacement of four greens with more modern designs that offer improved drainage and playability.
“The tee decks have been enlarged on the back nine, as they were fairly small and were no longer able to cope with the busy golf traffic that we’re seeing on the course,” Wengi noted. “Over the last few years, there’s been a significant increase in demand for golf, with an average of close to 180 golfers per day during the peak summer months.”
The renovation’s construction phase, which spanned from August to mid-November last year, involved the removal of old turf, reshaping greens and fairways, installing new bunkers, and upgrading the course’s irrigation and drainage systems. One of the most notable changes was the complete overhaul of the 17th hole, from the tee to the green, a distance of 530 yards, all received brand new grass.
“The grass goes dormant during the winter, so we had to wait until spring for it to grow and establish strong enough roots to support play,” Wengi explained.
The renovations have not only modernized the course with larger, more receptive greens but also made it more visually appealing and enjoyable for golfers. The project included removing overly troublesome bunkers and adding new ones in strategic locations, such as the 17th hole.
The reopening of the full 18-hole course has already positively impacted the golf course’s business, which saw a downturn when only nine holes were open. “Now that we’re 18 holes again, we’ve got more people visiting from the North Shore and Whistler,” said Wengi. “As we enter the tourist season, we expect more tourists will be drawn to play the 18-hole course, which is certainly more appealing to most golfers than a nine-hole course.”
With these extensive renovations, Squamish Valley Golf Course is poised to offer an improved golfing experience that caters to both local members and visiting golfers, ensuring its place as a premier destination for golf enthusiasts.
