Re-opening this summer, the previously private Sagebrush is now a public course managed by Troon. It’s part of a new evolution of minimalist-naturalist courses, meaning that Mother Nature has basically designed the layout with minimal dirt moving— a retro swing back to the golden days of golf design. The key is finding the right piece of property and finding an architect with a minimalist philosophy.

In this case the land is part of a sprawling cattle ranch overlooking Nicola Lake near Merritt, BC; the architect is Rod Whitman who has worked with some of the best, including Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore and Pete Dye.
Nicola Lake, the surrounding mountains and rugged rocky hills all cradle Sagebrush making it an awesome day on the links.
Designer, Rod Whitman (who also designed the much-acclaimed Cabot Links in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia), has created a course that tumbles and rolls with natural rhythm. The bent grass greens are huge and the generous fairways are seeded with fescue to be hard and fast with authentic links-style playability.
Bump and run is encouraged and rewarded and you’ll probably finish your round with the Titleist with which you started. With ragged dunes and bunkers that chew into landing areas, your score at Sagebrush will depend on the wind and hole locations on what might be the biggest and most tumultuous greens you’ll ever play.
Because of Sagebrush’s remote location (about three hours from Vancouver), golfers are encouraged to take their time.
The green fee, $175, gets you unlimited golf for the day and you’ll receive a $25 credit to use anywhere on the property. There will be no tee times. Play when you arrive and are ready to tee it up.
Aside from the 7,400-yard course, golfers may try their luck at world-class fly-fishing for feisty Kamloops Rainbow Trout as they pause for refreshments at the pond between the 12th and 13th fairways.
The new Tap House offers craft beers, fine wines and gourmet dogs and burgers. Unlike some golf courses where you have to rush your “halfway house” stop, at Sagebrush you can pause for as long as you want during or after your round.
In fact you might decide that the “Sagebrush Experience” is worth repeating. Their package, starting at $800 per person (minimum four), includes three days of unlimited golf, two nights accommodation in a two-bedroom suite, two dinners and a $75 facility credit.
www.sagebrushlife.com