Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club - Mountain

Bunkers are full of weeds

Greens are burnt yet super slow

Pace of play is slow

Your ball will plug in the fairway in the summer

Extremely expensive for no reason

A yearly trip to Bear Mountain has become almost a tradition for my son and me. We usually play both the mountain and the valley courses, but our last trip they were sanding/aerating the valley course.

Despite the changes and development to the Mountain course since it's opening the course remains challenging and beautiful. In fact the 14th hole, looking out over Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is one of the most picturesque holes I have ever played.

There are a lot of elevation changes and you need to plan your shots. The greens have always been well maintained and played consistently when we have been there. The valley course is more forested than the mountain course at this point.

This is one of the most scenic and well designed courses I have ever played. Each hole presents a fun challenge and gives you a different exoperience. There are no shortage of tough shots but you never feel as though you dislike playing the course. Easpecially when you reach the back nine where you find one of the best views in all of golf and some really fun holes. A must play for any golf lover just be prepared to think out your shots.

The atmosphere arounbd the course is amazing and you will be treated like golf royalty. Can be a bit expensive but it is worth every penny once you take in the whole experience.

All the reviews of this course make it worthy to be on any golfer’s play list in BC. If it did not have so much housing developed and so much construction underway, it would be in the top 10 courses I have ever played. It is very challenging and exceptionally picturesque EXCEPT for what has become a distracting amount of housing and condo development. I wish it was more like the Valley Course from a developement point of view. Set your expectations accordingly. Bear Mountain is a great resort and I can’t say enough good things about the staff and accommodations.

Not going to go on a long rant but I'll do a sort one.

With my experience and worldwide play, I would simply say that this course is overpriced and not in condition it needs to be for price. They are hopeful for an International audience and need it. The senior PGA is coming and they have significantly increased membership in prep for this. ($40k initiation fee!!)

Driving range was 6 mats as everything is still ongoing with construction, with what seems to be a decade plus on this hill. Very painful.

Nice views, good layout, but locals aren't paying the money and with increased housing and sales, I still see it being a tough go. Happy I've played it again but not making a point to come back.

I prefer the Valley course as well;) Everyone talks about this one but save some money and try the Valley.

The tee boxes were not in good shape. Also the fairways were still wet. That day it was cart path only. But I could see in the summer this course being super pristine and playing tough. Keep it out of the thick rough! Jack made this course very challenging. I felt that hitting different clubs off the tee was a different change of pace from hitting driver 14 times. I was disappointed that it was early in the season so #10 did not have water surrounding the island green!

I loved this course for everything it had. I was only able to play one of the 18 hole courses but it showed me enough that I am hooked. A great course weaved through Bear Mountain provides a high degree of difficulty. That doesn't detract from the fun as it is designed well enough that despite the challenge each hole has a unique element that never always catches your eye and never frustrates you. The little par 3 island green is a fun little hole but the the real draw on this course the stretch of holes on the back nine that give you an amazing overhead view of Victoria and the harbour right out to the ocean. Also get great views of the mountains in Washington State. A must play for any golfer that want to enjoy a day that provides everything you could want from a golf course.

The two courses at Bear Mountain Golf Resort was the site for the 2013 Golf Town National Amateur Series Championship. Amateurs from across the country gathered here and were pretty impressed with the challenge both courses provided. Jack Nicklaus's design gives the golfer plenty of choices to play each hole. Those with the ability to manage their game accordingly and execute the right shot at the right time came out ahead. Great fun, spectacular views, 36 challenging holes make for one of the best golfing experiences on Vancouver Island.

If you like elevated tees, big undulating greens, perfect conditioning and incredible views, this is your golf course. Around every bend there's plenty of eye candy on this Nicklaus Design gem overlooking the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island. While most look forward to the signature par-3 14th with views that go for miles, the entire course is a roller coaster ride through the most mountainous golf course site on the island. No doubt, the 36 holes at Bear Mountain represent the best of British Columbia resort golf.

Went here with a group of 8 for annual tourney and it was great. We also played the valley course. Super nice staff, didnt felt rushed at all. Some tricky blind fairways but GPS is included so no issue. Cleaned your clubs when you were done. Very relaxing and enjoyable weekend. You gotta try the burgers in the restaurant up top.

It's been almost a decade since I got to tee it up on the Mountain course, but nothing has changed. This is still the best golf experience on Vancouver Island.
Nicklaus probably went a little bit overboard in making it too tough for the average player. The setting is so spectacular, who cares? You feel like you're playing on the rooftop of the world when you reach some of the greens high above Victoria. The par-3s really stand out. Nicklaus copied Pete Dye's do-or-die island green with a tiny target surrounded by water at no. 11.
If you really don't have the game for Mountain course, try the sister Valley course, which has wider fairways and plays more gently with your ego.

We went online to book a golf course and decided to choose this one as we had seen it when hiking to the top of Mount Finlayson.
It was even more spectacular when playing.
Each hole had challenges but also each hole had awesome scenery to view. The course was in great shape even the greens that they had aerated only a few days before.
We enjoyed every minute and the staff was great from the front desk to the back shop boys.
Would return there in an instant.

this is one of the best public courses in Victoria and it never gets boring playing this course. It is a challenge from every tee box no matter what level you are at. The course is always in great shape and is playable even in the winter months. I love playing here!!!

Had an enjoyable day with another 2 some that joined us. The course has a lot of blind spots and seems like the fairway bunkers are set up to catch average golfers. Lots of Deer and pretty scenery.... Mark G

Beautiful setting, good pace, difficult narrow fairways in some places with uphill shots to the green. Stay out of the rough, tough to get out of. Expensive but worth it!

Enjoyed the course very much; has some real challenging holes! Over all condition is good.

The course was in great shape except being a little soggy. It make it tough on a 440 par four when your tee shot backs up. Other than that, the course offer 18 different holes. Had to wait for a family of deer to pass on one hole. The view from 14 green is amazing.

Leave your ego at home and just enjoy the round and some of the best scenery in the world.

First rate course but course was empty hence the price should drop accordingly. Better to have a busy course at a lower rate, than an empty course at a high rate.
Course was in top condition and the round was very enjoyable.
Disappointed with the changes on the nineth hole. It was a great par five.

A must play course in Victoria. The hotel is beautiful, service was wonderful.