Wes Gilbertson
Contributor
Wes Gilbertson covers the NHL’s Calgary Flames and writes golf features for Postmedia in Calgary, Alta. When the snow melts, he's living proof that thin mountain air doesn't turn everybody into a long-drive specialist. Follow Wes on Twitter at @WesGilbertson.
Recent articles
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July 18, 2016
Beyond Glen Abbey, here are 10 more tour-tested golf courses in Canada that you can play without a trip to Q-School.
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June 30, 2016
From places where you buck goes further to places where your ball goes further, there are a lot of great options for a golf getaway to the Great White North. Here are the five best Canadian golf trips to take.
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August 8, 2014
You don't realize how many top-notch golf courses there are in British Columbia until you start working on a scroll of the must-see tracks. Here's a rundown of the 10 best public plays.
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August 6, 2014
There's plenty of great public-access and private golf courses in Vancouver, so pack your clubs (and your camera). Here's a handy guide to the local golf scene.
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August 5, 2014
If you're planning a trip to the "Wild Rose Province," pack your clubs and try to hit a few of these must-see public golf courses.
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July 23, 2014
Ottawa's golf scene is often overshadowed by Toronto, but there are plenty of courses to check out the next time you're in the nation's capital.
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July 22, 2014
There's a little something for golfers in the greater Toronto area. Here's a guide on where to play around Canada's largest metropolis.
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February 11, 2014
Still growing strong. That's the scouting report on Kelowna Springs Golf Club, a water-logged layout in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley that -- just like the orchards and wineries that this area is famous for -- is becoming proof that good things come to those who wait. The trees add definition, but it's the wet stuff that brings danger to this 6,256-yard, par-71 layout.
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September 13, 2013
On many golf courses the last four holes can kill your round. At Raven Crest Golf & Country Club in Edmonton, it's the first four holes. But even if the first four may feel like going four rounds with heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, there is still plenty of time to put a smile on your face -- and some circles on your scorecard -- before your round is done, Wes Gilbertson writes.
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September 11, 2013
Sandpiper Golf and Country Club is a "country" club in the other sense of the word, a pleasant surprise that's located along a secondary road just outside of Edmonton in Sturgeon County and surrounded by farmland. It's not a golf course that will catch your attention from afar, but if you don't stop, you won't realize what you're missing.
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September 5, 2013
If you don't have luck on your side, you might want to bring an extra sleeve of balls for your round at River Ridge Golf and C.C., which is located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River on the southwest outskirts of Edmonton. Although the river is never really in play, there are water hazards lurking on 13 of 18 assignments at the 6,620-yard layout, including eight before the turn.
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August 13, 2013
If you only visit Calgary once, try to plan your trip around the Calgary Stampede, an annual beer-swilling celebration of country music, chuckwagon racing, rodeo and all things Wild West. Don't forget to bring your golf clubs, though. Wes Gilbertson offers up a guide to the top tourist attractions and golfing options around the Stampede City.
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April 4, 2013
If the type of scenery you're looking for is neon lights and showgirls, you won't find that here in Mesquite. If golf is your game, though, you'll find plenty of eye candy among the desert landscape and red mesas that give this area a distinct look. Searching for the most scenic courses in Mesquite? Look no further, we've got you covered. Since you'll likely have a rental car, we've even sweetened the pot with an out-of-state bonus.
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March 25, 2013
Mexico's top golf destination is actually two distinct communities, collectively known as Los Cabos. Or The Cabos. Look one way, and you'd swear you were in the dusty surroundings of Arizona. Spin 180 degrees so you're facing the opposite direction, and it looks more like Acapulco or any other stretch of sandy oceanside paradise. Sticking with public-access tracks, here are some of the most memorable tests in the Los Cabos area.
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February 8, 2013
The Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit region is home to some of the most unique and most memorable island-green holes in Mexico. Think all island greens are built alike? Think again. Wes Gilbertson writes about four that you should put on your must-play list.
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January 30, 2013
This tourist hot spot on Mexico's Pacific Coast might be best-known as a beach destination, but Vista Vallarta Golf Club -- where Jack Nicklaus designed one championship-calibre course and Tom Weiskopf mapped out another -- is proof the intrigue doesn't end at the shoreline. You'll be surrounded by thick and tangled vegetation, the side of this sun-spot that most of the tourists never see.
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November 26, 2012
When sizing up golfing locales in the Phoenix metropolitan area, west will never be considered best. That doesn't mean there's no reason to find out what's on the other side of I-17. The West Valley can't compete in terms of quantity, but courses such as Golf Club of Estrella, Quintero, Raven at Verrado and Trilogy at Vistancia stack up with what's being offered across town. If you're building a golf trip on a budget, your buck will go a lot further "way out west.
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September 26, 2012
If you're looking for an old-school layout, you're at the wrong place. In fact, you're probably in the wrong part of the world. What you'll find at the Golf Club at The Rise, in British Columbia, is four hours of golf that won't remind you of any place you've been before. Every hole is a bit of an adventure. Like a roller coaster, the ups just build excitement for the next plummet.
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September 25, 2012
The scorecard at Talking Rock Golf Course at Quaaout Lodge says something about "2,400 feet of sandy beach," which is located a few steps away from the lakefront rooms at the back of the lodge. You realize early on, however, that the total doesn't include the bunkers, which are plentiful. But the course, located near Chase, British Columbia, will not punish you.
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August 10, 2012
Long before anybody was haggling over strokes on the tee, Revelstoke Golf Club was an equestrian track. Revelstoke, the only 18-hole course for about an hour in any direction, isn't necessarily a course you would go out of your way to play, but it's a great spot to stop en route to wherever it is you're going, Wes Gilbertson writes.
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March 30, 2012
Considered one of the best courses in the Bahamas, the Tom Weiskopf-designed Ocean Club sits on a sliver of lush land known as Paradise Island. It's not a golf destination as much as a vacation hotspot that just so happens to have a championship-caliber course to go with its beautiful beaches and array of water activities. The Ocean Club boasts a postcard-like setting and a challenging layout, although not so tough that you'll wish you were swimming instead.
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March 22, 2012
For the past two decades, golf has been a driving force in an effort to re-brand Lanai, which was once known as 'Pineapple Island,' as a private paradise for sun-seeking tourists. The smallest and least-populated of Hawaii's half dozen tourist-friendly islands, Lanai boasts 36 holes of championship golf -- the Challenge at Manele and the Experience at Koele -- and only 30 miles of paved road.
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August 29, 2011
Prince Edward Island and Scotland are separated by about 2,500 miles, but the staff at Andersons Creek Golf Club is trying to serve up the best of both. Their slogan is, "A taste of Scotland, Prince Edward Island style." That means you'll often hear bagpipes in the background, and you'll find an assortment of Scotch at the bar, Wes Gilbertson writes.
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August 19, 2011
With towering pine trees separating most of the holes at Golden Golf Club, you'll seldom see another group. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll have the course all to yourself. With moose, elk, eagles and bears, wildlife usually comes into play. But while you might be easily distracted by the mountain vistas or your four-legged followers, the golf course has teeth, too.
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August 2, 2011
Don't leave your Kodak at home if you'll be teeing off on Prince Edward Island. From stunning views of the wind-swept ocean to the middle-of-nowhere feel you'll find among the tall stacks of pine trees, Canada's smallest province serves up a bit of everything. For visual appeal, try these scenic Prince Edward Island golf courses.