
Valley Course
Bear Mountain Resort



About this course
The Valley Course at Bear Mountain Resort sits in the highlands above Victoria on Vancouver Island, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2003. The routing occupies a dramatic piece of terrain carved from dense West Coast forest, with significant elevation changes throughout the round. Nicklaus shaped the layout to move through natural ravines and across ridgelines, creating a sequence of holes that rise and fall across the mountainside. The design emphasizes strategic bunkering and large, contoured greens typical of Nicklaus's work from this period. The course plays through corridors of Douglas fir and arbutus trees, with several holes offering views across the Saanish Peninsula toward the Olympic Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca. Water comes into play on multiple holes, including ponds and creeks that define landing areas and green approaches. The elevation shifts require careful club selection and course management, particularly on approach shots where depth perception can be challenging against the forested backdrop. Bear Mountain Resort developed both the Valley and the later Mountain Course as part of a residential golf community outside Victoria's urban core. The facility caters to resort guests and members, with the Valley Course serving as the original centerpiece of the property. The layout has hosted regional amateur competitions and remains a notable example of Nicklaus's design work in British Columbia, where mountain terrain and coastal climate create distinct playing conditions compared to courses at lower elevations.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Quick facts
- Location
- Victoria, British Columbia, CA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 2009
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,807 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.5/142
- Course Vaults score
- 8.6
Getting there
The journey to Bear Mountain Resort begins at Victoria International Airport, a compact and efficient gateway just twenty minutes north of the property. Those arriving by private aircraft will find the same terminal accommodates general aviation with quiet professionalism, while seaplanes from Vancouver's Coal Harbour offer a particularly dramatic alternative - a low skim across the Strait of Georgia before touching down in Victoria's Inner Harbour. From the airport, the drive west traces the edge of suburban Victoria before climbing into the forested highlands above the city, where the road opens suddenly onto Bear Mountain's elevated plateau, revealing sweeping views of the Saanich Inlet and the distant Olympic Mountains framing your arrival.

FAQ
Common questions about Valley at Bear Mountain Resort
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Valley at Bear Mountain Resort has a Course Vaults score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 14 logged golfers.
Valley was designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Yes. Valley at Bear Mountain Resort is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Valley is 71.
Valley plays 6,807 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Valley is 142.


