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4.5
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
3.1
Amenities
4.7
90.9%
Recommend this course
20 out of 22 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 71
Length 6807 yards
Slope 135
Rating 72.9

The Valley Course, one of two 18-hole courses at Bear Mountain Golf & Country Club, sprawls across a diverse landscape of forests, creeks, and rivers. The golf course shares many similarities with its sibling course, the Mountain, which was designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve Nicklaus. It offers many of the same challenges including elevated tee boxes and strategically placed bunkers but thanks to the shorter length and gentler landscape, the Valley Course is considered a friendlier version of the original Bear Course. There are also more generous fairways and larger greens that make it even more appealing to the beginning and intermediate player. The golf course is still challenging though with elevations between 300 and 500 feet above sea level. Golfers can enjoy spectacular mountain views on both Bear Mountain courses.

Course Details

Year Built 2009
Golf Season Year round
Architect Nicklaus (2009)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS Yes
Pull-carts No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies No
Golf School Academy Yes - "Bear Mountain Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Single Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper golf attire required.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Restaurant, Beverage Carts

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Showers, Lockers

Reviews

4.5
22 Reviews (22)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 64
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing

GREAT LAYOUT, CONDITIONS COULD BE BETTER!

The Valley Course is a fantastic target golf orientated course, a lot of iron placement even from the tips.......and don’t let the name VALLEY throw you.....this is just as much of a Mountain course as the other course on the property MOUNTAIN. There are maybe 2 holes that do not have elevation change!

There where however some really bad maintenance issues that a premier green fee golf resort should definitely not have! Standing water in bunkers, poor divot maintenance on boxes and quite a few soggy areas on fairways left a bad taste on an otherwise beautiful course design.

Greens where great and had plenty of undulations to get your attention......great Nicklaus track!

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
Incentivized Review
5.0
Previously Played

Immaculate!

This course is kept in fantastic condition. Incredible views on every hole. One of my all time favorites!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

A “Must-Play” Victoria BC Golf Course

I really enjoyed this course. The greens were in great condition with very challenging contours. You’ll see lots of deer and wildlife. Don’t be too quick to put this in second place to the more famous Mountain Course. I found plenty of players (myself included) who preferred this course. The staff is very friendly and the accommodations are first rate.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
British Columbia Advisor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

A great roll through the valley

This is a remarkable layout that both challenges and rewards. Despite not being as scenic as it's sister course it provides a serenity that gives a different feel. There are some amazingly designed holes that give you some really fun looks and shots. The elevation changes make for some cool tee shots. The greens are what really make this course challenging. If you don't have the putter dialed in you better hope to have thopse approach shots on point. Long puts can really give you fits in the fast rolling summer.
Just an overall well built track that gives you a true championship experience and really compliments the mountain course. Always fun to play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 96
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
British Columbia Advisor
Previously Played

Preferred But still...

I prefer over the Mountain course. I still thinking overall condition needs to be better if they want to charge the price they are for memberships and trying to build a name for themselves.

Played from the tip, its high season and weeds everywhere and not cut. Its always amazing to me how some course really want to charge the world but overlook the basics. ($40k initial membership fee!) again this is on Vancouver Island, not the mainland, not Whistler, Not the Okanagan.

Hopefully the saga of never ending building and money issues passes, I'd like to see this place complete and rolling with high octane. For now I won't be making the return for a few years while everything is still going on.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

I Prefer Valley to the Mountain

I really enjoyed the layout and that every hole was picturesque. I liked that there were signs describing nature in the area. There were some challenging shots for sure. Elevation changes on par 3s and some tricky uphill greens made for a fun round.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 259
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Alberta Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Bear Mountain Golf Resort, Valley 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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 10-14
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great golf course with a nice variety of holes 5 par threes, 4 par fives and 9 far fours

This is one of my favourite golf courses to play, it has a bit of everything. There are some really challenging holes but some nice shorter par 3's the real challenge here are the greens which are quite large, undulated and really fast. I highly recommend this golf course

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bring your A game!

Tight fairways, undulating greens, several blind shots, strategically placed bunkers & water hazards. Nicklas designed this layout to challenge every level of golfer! Although this Valley course plays slightly easier than the Mountain course, it will most definitely give you a run for your money. I tend to pack a few extra balls when I am fortunate to play this local gem.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not overly long but greens are wonderfully challenging!

Very comprehensive practice area. Beautiful course over varied terrain. Misty showery start but ground very easy to hit from. Slippery for power carts! Greens and pin positions a challenge. Very undulating but fun to try to master! Forward tees not insulting but very helpful for those starting to break 100. Lots of challenge for those on the back tees. Layout keeps players on different fairways well separated. Will definitely play here again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Wonderful afternoon

A little wet in spots. Greens were great and fast. Would definitely play it again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fantastic golf course with wonderful staff!

One of the highlights of the round at the Valley course was the staff. A special applause for the starter who was very helpful with a touch of humor! The fairways and greens were in pristine condition. Loved the GPS on the power carts which assisted in club selection for those critical shots. The course marshall kept the groups moving smoothly with no waits at a tee box. Gave the golf experience five stars *****.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

a fun course to play , but very hard

love playing this course , its a very big challenge

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This course is great

This course is very good, would play it again given the chance; I really enjoyed it. Again would recommend this course to any one.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very tough rough,so you had to be in the fairway.Beautiful course.

Everything was excellent about the course,except for slow players in front of us.Marshal finally got them to move along.
If you hit it in the rough ,no use looking for the ball(.,which speeds up play.)Staff were all excellent,from the front desk to the beverage cart girl.
Greens were hard to read,because of the mountain setting,but fair.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Featured
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Course

Great course (as always). Just enough challenge for my skill level (average) . Great shape, friendly staff. Couldn't have picked a better way to celebrate Canada Day.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Always a great place to play

I'm a local here and both the Mtn and Valley course are always great. The Mtn course is longer and tougher in my opinion, while the Valley Course is shorter and has some of the most difficult greens you will ever see. The great thing about the Valley course is that there is no houses on it while houses come into play on quite a few of the Mtn's holes.

PS. the hot times value for money is great. The rack rate's value for money isn't that great.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Excellent experience in spite of the weather.

I decided to try this course in spite of steady rainfall and cool (10) weather. The cart provides protection and the course and cart paths drain very well. I had the course to myself, so I could have easily played in three hours, but took my time instead. All staff were wet yet friendly. I would definitely return. The course was in great shape for early April. Greens were firm and smooth.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Course is very chanenging for the average player

Price paid was dicounted because greens were punched & sanded, knew this in advance, but I expected the rest of the course, fairways & bunkers etc., to be better maintained for the price.
Some staff were very friendly, others could care less about customer service.
I would not hurrey back to play this course again.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Incredibly scenic and challenging Nicklaus designed course.

Bear Mountain always gives you a resort experience whether you play the Mountain or Valley Course. Both courses are difficult unless you can hit the ball long and straight. ;) Typical of Nicklaus courses, most holes incorporate plenty of risk/reward. Pin placements on the undulating greens can really add to the difficulty.
Stunning views of beautiful Vancouver Island and Victoria.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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Golf Packages

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