Fraserview Golf Course - Vancouver, BC

[Silver]

Alright, here are a few from the nicest local muni. These are a mix of summer shots and some from yesterday (which followed about 2 feet of rain in the last two weeks, and I'm not exaggerating). The course only reopened yesterday after this crazy "tropical punch" that we got.

The course is built on a slope, so there is a fair amount of elevation change, but they've done a really good job of keeping it from being a really tough hike by making most of the uphills fairly gentle and some of the downhills fairly steep. It's also built on about 18 inches of sand to allow for some semblance of drainage. It's one of two or three courses in our area that have decent drainage and plays well year round.

In order:

1. The approach from 200 on the Par 5 2nd. The fairway slopes much more left to right than it looks, and there are some wicked undulations that you want to avoid if you can.

2. Par 3 3rd. Good amount of downhill, tough multi-level green, particularly on the right side where you can see that major ridge that cuts across. The first two are of this hole from yesterday (including my 8-iron that landed at 8 feet, which I two-putted for par when it was playing at about 160 with a back pin). The third is the same hole in July - quite the noticeable difference in "vibrancy".

 

[The master]

Sweet it is identical to my second course I play at clandyboye, it looks like a nice parkland that you wolud have to be quite straight of the tee. I was thinking of taking IG to the course though I play at Bangor.

I'm playing there on Sunday weather permitting so wil lget photo's.

 

[Silver]

1. Par 5 4th - Long and tough due to a high climb that's tough to drive over (about 250 to the top of the ridge) followed by a good downhill to a bunkered green (no pic of the approach yet though). Keep the tee shot right and in play or it's trouble (dense woods to the right and bunkers and woods to the left). The fairway really narrows to about 20 yards or so wide at the top of the ridge so if you can't get over the ridge, lay up and go for 3 to the green.

2. Par 3 7th - view from the green. Another downhill, although not nearly as steep as the 3rd. What this picture doesn't show is a massive bunker that hugs the front center all the way around the left side of the green to the back. You can't see it from here because it's very steep and not a happy place to be. It's another tough green with subtle breaks throughout that if you aren't ready for really do a number on your putts.

3. Par 4 8th - view from the green. This is a fairly short mild dogleg left with about a 10 or 20 yard uphill climb. It was playing at about 280 to the front of the green that day and I had a nice draw on a blasted driver that landed right over the bunker that protects the front right side of the green. When I hit the drive, there was a woman standing right where I am (the white shirt) and we all said "yeah, we can go, none of us can reach her"...my ball took one bounce and landed right at her feet (about 285-290 from the tee). We were all suprised and I apologized profusely. Chipped and two putted for par, I think.

 

[Silver]

1. Par 3 13th - nicest water hazard in our area - always perfectly clear and looks very inviting on a hot summer afternoon. It's also the graveyard of many a ball. This shot was yesterday though, so not very inviting. I've only seen the flag on the left side of the green once - every other time it has been well protected on the right side. If you go long here, it's total hell on the other side of the green. It's very steep down with 10 - 12 inch rough. Not a happy place to be, if you can even find your ball.

2. 13th again, just a different view in the summer.

3. Par 5 18th. This is a fairly long par 5 that we almost inevitably play when it's getting dark because we try to play twilight times for lower rates. It's hard to see in that picture, but there is a deep ravine about 20 - 30 yards wide just in front of the green that starts at about 80 yards out. I've sent many balls into this "environmentally sensitive area" trying to lay up or be brave and go for the green in two. I managed to do it once with a killer drive followed by a 225 yard carry 7 wood and a two putt for birdie. There are also a lot of coyotes in the woods on the right hand side of this fairway and they howl like crazy at that time of day. Probably one of the tougher and more interesting holes I've had the chance to play.

 

[DaveE]

Nice pics. Very nice for a muni.

 

[IrishGolfer]

Nice pics. Very nice for a muni.

I agree. Nice pics, nice looking course. How much to play it?

 

[Silver]

I agree. Nice pics, nice looking course. How much to play it?

We got an early twilight time for $33.75 CDN yesterday. I think regular weekday rates are about $50 in the summer and about $55 or so on weekends. It's the most expensive muni around, but the nicest as well. Most of the others range from about $5 - $20 less than Fraserview. There are also some more expensive public courses that aren't munis around as well, but I don't think many of them are as nice as FV.

 

[The master]

Hold on let me get one thing straight here. You played golf in Canada yesterday in shorts did I fall asleeo for 5 moths.

You played golf in canada yesterday. ( in craig david bo selecta voice).

 

[Silver]

Hold on let me get one thing straight here. You played golf in Canada yesterday in shorts did I fall asleeo for 5 moths.

You played golf in canada yesterday. ( in craig david bo selecta voice).

No man, it was like 8*C here yesterday. That's a little chilly for shorts. The smaller sized pics are from July, the larger ones are from yesterday.

 

[Bravo]

Silver:

Fantastic report and very good pictures.

How does the course stay so green in the winter??

 

[Slingblade61]

They use sun lamps.

Nice pics, I love to see the courses other people play at.

I have a hack waiting in the wings that will display random photos in a box next to the forum, I'm waiting on some scripting to get done then I'll get it set up. I think it will be nice not to have to go to the gallery all the time to see the pics.

 

[Silver]

Silver:

Fantastic report and very good pictures.

How does the course stay so green in the winter??

Vancouver basically has the same climate as Seattle. We get average winter temperatures of about 8*C, which I'm guessing is around the low 40sF.

It's pretty temperate and VERY bearable through winter, which also means that we stay pretty green year round because our average summer temperatures are probably in the mid 20sC, which I think is around the low 80sF.

It's kinda nice to have fairly consistent conditions year round. We don't get too firm in the summer, although it does get pretty soft in the winter. That's the good thing about this course though - the drainage is so good on the fairways that it still stays firm enough to have an enjoyable round - with the occasional lift, clean, and place due to plugging in the fairway. We tend to LCP from the rough as well in winter, because no one wants to break their club because a ball is below the surface and barely visible.

If we started to get too much colder, we'd probably be more brown.

 

[bdcrowe]

Sweet pics! Reminds me of my home course. Thanks!