Friday I joined a pair of guides, Karlan and Bernie for a tour of Big White. The 5,706-foot base elevation is high enough to have good snow well into April, but with a summit of 7,606 the altitude is no problem for those of us who reside at sea level.

We skied to the base of the Bullet Express, one of four high-speed quads that anchor the 13-lift system to begin our exploration. This chair accesses a variety of blue and green runs and we used a groomed run to cross over to the Black Forest Express which gives novice and intermediate skiers tree skiing to fit their skill levels.

This I learned was a key feature at Big White. Every lift has a green run off the top so every level of skier can experience the entire mountain. In between are scattered 112 trails with plenty of black diamonds with 2,725 skiable acres. Parachute Bowl off the Alpine T-Bar has a 55-degree headwall dropping to the right while lower intermediates turn left for an easy run out. In four hours of non-stop skiing we covered all but the Gem Lake Chair, at 8,020 feet the longest lift in BC. It had closed for lack of snow on a few runs, but I had a good look at the trails as we drove past that part of the area on the ride in. I got a good feel for the area and could see that Big White had enough to keep any level skier busy for days. And if they want more sister resort Silver Star is only a couple of hours north and equal in size. Both have full service base villages making them winter destinations.

After one day of skiing I headed for Kelowna, a city of 100,000 on the shores of 52-mile long Okanagan Lake. This would be headquarters for two days of golf in a valley where it would take two weeks to play the courses within an hour and three to reach all those listed in the golf guide. Some trips are too short and this was one of those.

With a tee time of 11:19 and a temperature forecast for the high 70s, we had no need of anything heavier than a golf shirt when we arrived at the range to warm up. The Harvest sits on a hill side over looking the lake and the reason for the name is immediately apparent. Fairways are lined with fruit trees, nine varieties of apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pears and cherries. There are five acres of vineyard and golfers are allowed to pick the fruit in season.

There are four sets of tees from 7,109 down to 5,454 yards. We played from the Blues at 6,570 (70.3/119) and enjoyed the open feel of the layout. Doglegs, mounds, moderate elevation changes, strategic traps and water on a few holes provide the challenge. Later in the season when the trees are filled with leaves it won’t be quite as easy to hit over some of the doglegs.

The bent grass fairways were in good shape and the greens rolled true even for this early in the season.

This Graham Cooke design gave us all we needed with undulating greens adding some spice. We were taken by the views of the lake and surrounding mountains and could imagine how much more spectacular the scene would be with the fruit trees in bloom.

The next day I traveled alone to the Okanagan Golf Club where I was paired with and English couple from Edmonton. Barry and Glynis were finishing up a seven day tour of the area and had actually been at Harvest the day before.

This club has a pair of courses, the Quail and the Bear, the latter being a Golden Bear Design. We would be playing the Quail, designed by Les Furber.

The difference with the open Harvest layout was apparent on the first hole. This was more of a mountain course with tall ponderosa pines lining the fairways and on that starting hole, a steep hillside to the left. Quail is not long, playing 6,765 from the back and 4,713 from the front. We played just in front of the back tees at 6,166 and quickly learned that doglegs and elevation changes offset any perceived lack of distance.

No. 3 was only 308 yards and a four iron left a wedge to the green which was at least fifty feet above the landing area around a sharp dogleg. Shot placement was the theme of the day. The first 13 holes threaded through the pines along a high ridge, bringing us to No. 14, which the starter had warned me about.

Emerging from a tunnel under the road we found ourselves in a completely different landscape. The trees were sparse in this lowland area and on 14 we had a choice. Follow the dogleg around this hole requiring a 200-yard drive and nine or wedge in, or hit a five iron 175 to a landing area and have a wedge across a wetland to the green. Risk reward choices can make for great golf holes and this was one where I got the reward.

My golf and skiing in the Okanagan was all too brief. I played only two courses, but looked upon others and checked the lineup. There is enough quality golf in the Okanagan to satisfy any level player and there are other reasons to visit.

This valley with its unique climate is also a major wine making region, something that takes hot dry summers. With the lake for irrigation that’s also a great recipe for growing grass and golf is growing rapidly. I discovered a lot of reasons for visiting interior BC, but the numbers are too many to include. You can get all the information through www.tourismkelowna.com or by calling 800-663-4345. After skiing both the east and west slopes of the Canadian Rockies, this was my first visit to the middle. With all those golf courses still waiting, it won’t be the last. Next week, closer to home.
Dave Irons is a freelance writer who lives in Westbrook.