Sagebrush Golf Club
Sagebrush is one of the most admired modern courses in Canada and one of the hardest to play. Set on high grassland above Nicola Lake, this par 72 of about 7,372 yards by Rod Whitman, Armen Suny and Richard Zokol opened to acclaim in 2009, won Best New Course honors, then closed for years before a careful revival as an exclusive retreat.
Photo: Sagebrush Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Sagebrush is a connoisseur's golf course. When it opened in 2009 the design team of Rod Whitman, Armen Suny and the Canadian touring pro Richard Zokol delivered something rare in North America: a minimalist, ground game course laid lightly over the sagebrush benches above Nicola Lake, all firm turf, wide fairways and greens that ask to be approached along the ground. The critics responded, and Sagebrush was named Canada's Best New Course for 2009.
Then it went quiet. Financial trouble closed the club and the site sat largely abandoned before new ownership and a patient restoration brought it back as an exclusive, low volume retreat. For the traveling golfer that means Sagebrush is now a course you arrange to play rather than book on a whim, but for the architecture enthusiast willing to make the effort it remains one of the most thoughtful and walkable designs in the country.
Sagebrush Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2009
- Designers
- Whitman, Suny, Zokol
- Type
- High grassland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,372 yds
- Access
- Exclusive / by arrangement
Designers, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from leading course databases and golf press. Sagebrush is a par 72 of about 7,372 yards from the back markers, designed by Rod Whitman, Armen Suny and Richard Zokol and opened in 2009. Following a closure it reopened as an exclusive, low volume club, so it is not a daily fee public course; access is limited and arranged in advance. Any green fee or guest rate is set privately and changes over time, so always confirm current access, pricing and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Sagebrush is built for the running game. Whitman, Suny and Zokol moved very little earth, draping wide fairways and bold, contoured greens over the natural benches so the smart shot often runs in rather than flies in. The short grass around the greens invites a putter or a low chip from twenty yards out, and the firm turf rewards imagination over raw power.
Width is deceptive here. The fairways are generous, but the angles into the greens are everything: a tee shot to the wrong side leaves a far harder approach across a slope or a fall away edge. Played in the dry interior wind, with the lake far below and the grassland stretching away, it is golf reduced to its essentials, strategy and feel rather than forced carries.
Several holes draw repeat praise from the architecture world, in particular the short and drivable par 4s that tempt the bold line and the par 3s that play across the natural fall of the land. It is a course to walk slowly, ideally with a knowledgeable caddie, and one that reveals more options on every replay.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Exclusive, low volume club; play is by arrangement, not daily fee public tee times |
| Green fee | Set privately and not publicly fixed; confirm any guest rate directly when access is arranged |
| Cart and caddie | A walking course at heart; caddies enhance the experience given the strategy and contours |
| Booking | Arrange access in advance through the club or an authorized golf travel channel |
| Season | Roughly May to October in the dry interior, weather and ground conditions permitting |
| Getting there | Near Quilchena and Merritt, about 3.5 to 4 hours from Vancouver, or via Kamloops to the north |
Access details verified June 2026 from public sources and golf press. Sagebrush operates as an exclusive club with limited play, so confirm current access, any guest pricing and availability directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
There is no large resort village at Sagebrush; the experience is deliberately remote and understated, in keeping with the minimalist design. Visitors typically stay nearby in the Nicola Valley or base in Kamloops or Merritt and drive in, treating the round as the centerpiece of a quiet interior trip rather than a busy resort stay.
Because access is limited, most golfers fold Sagebrush into a wider British Columbia itinerary alongside more readily booked courses such as Tobiano near Kamloops and the 36 holes at Predator Ridge in the Okanagan. For the full regional picture see our Golf in Canada hub and our best courses in Canada ranking.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Sagebrush and the Nicola Valley.
Arrange a round at Sagebrush on a BC golf trip
Sagebrush is exclusive and access is limited, so it pays to plan early. We help arrange play where possible, pair it with readily booked interior courses, and route the rest of your British Columbia week. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge handles the brief.
Sagebrush Golf Club questions
Who designed Sagebrush Golf Club?
Sagebrush was designed by Rod Whitman, agronomist Armen Suny and Canadian touring professional Richard Zokol, and opened in 2009 above Nicola Lake in British Columbia.
Can you play Sagebrush Golf Club?
Sagebrush reopened as an exclusive, low volume club rather than a daily fee public course, so play is arranged in advance and access is limited. Confirm current access and availability directly before planning a visit.
Why did Sagebrush close?
After opening to acclaim in 2009 and winning Canada's Best New Course, Sagebrush ran into financial trouble and closed for several years, with the site largely abandoned before new ownership restored and reopened it.
What is the par and length of Sagebrush?
Sagebrush plays to par 72 and measures about 7,372 yards from the back tees, though its wide, firm, ground game design plays shorter than the number suggests when conditions are dry.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access status verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.