The Bear at Okanagan Golf Club

The Bear at Okanagan Golf Club is a Jack Nicklaus design that opened in 1999 in the hills above Kelowna in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. The course occupies elevated terrain on the western slopes overlooking Okanagan Lake, with the layout moving through natural ponderosa pine forest and native grasslands characteristic of the region's semi-arid interior climate. Nicklaus routed the course to take advantage of the property's natural elevation changes and integrated the design into the existing topography rather than imposing dramatic earthwork.

The routing features significant elevation shifts between holes, with several tee shots played from elevated positions that offer views across the valley. The course incorporates the natural rock outcroppings and native vegetation into the playing corridors, and fairways often move through corridors of pine with strategic bunkering positioned to challenge approach angles. Water comes into play on select holes, and the green complexes show Nicklaus's preference for multiple tiers and undulation that reward precise iron play.

Okanagan Golf Club operates as a semi-private facility and includes a second course, The Quail, designed by Les Furber. The Bear has hosted regional amateur competitions and serves as the more demanding of the two layouts. The club sits within Kelowna's wine country, and the surrounding area has developed into a golf destination that draws visitors to the valley's combination of courses, vineyards, and lake recreation during the warm, dry summer season.