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It’s a sunny afternoon and I can see the mountains on the horizon from the first tee box at St. Eugene golf course. This beautiful par-72 championship course meanders through rolling woodland alongside the St. Mary River just outside Cranbrook, B.C. on tribal lands. There’s no mistaking the Indigenous connection, because each hole is named in the Ktunaxa language, one of the most interesting and difficult languages in the world. A phonetic spelling and translation are included on each sign, so you get a language lesson while you golf.
There are quite a few Indigenous-owned golf courses in Canada, and each is unique. Most offer Indigenous touches along with the golf experience – both on and off the course. Here are three Indigenous-owned golf courses in British Columbia that you really should experience.
St. Eugene Golf Resort
In addition to the golf course, there’s a hotel, an RV campground, a casino, a spa, a pool and a hot tub. There are also two onsite restaurants. The Numa Lounge and restaurant serves several Indigenous-inspired menu options. Visitors should not miss visiting the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre, located on the lower level of the historic mission building, which shares Indigenous knowledge, beliefs and culture. You can also arrange a tour of the original mission building and learn more about its history as a residential school and what life was like for the children forced to attend.
Sonora Dunes Golf Course and Spirit Ridge Resort
Sonora Dunes is a par-35, nine-hole course that winds through the arid landscape of Canada’s only desert. Located on Osoyoos Indian Band land, the climate allows the course to remain open year-round. The area has Canada’s lowest annual rainfall and warmest annual temperatures. The course offers gently rolling terrain and scenic views overlooking the Nk’Mip (pronounced ‘ink-a-meep’) Winery and vineyards, mountains and Osoyoos Lake. It’s a good course for beginners, but it can be challenging at certain times of year. I golfed it in the springtime when snakes were just coming out of hibernation and walking into the rough areas of the course to retrieve balls was not recommended. I lost a few balls as the rolling terrain challenged the accuracy of my hits.
Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course
