ted carpet ro

WHISTLER — They weren't ail Jong hitters, but more
than a few big hiiters brought their clubs to Whistler for
the opening of Chateau Whistler’s new golf course.

There was Bill Stinson, chair-
man of Canadian Pacific, Bob de
Mone, president of Canadian
Pacific Hoteis and Resorts, and
top people from ihe Japanese
drug company that owns 80% of
the hoiel.

Genera} manager David Roberts
tolled out the red carpet with a
grand dinner at the hotel and a
lavish buffet at the handsome new
clubhouse.

The clubhouse, by the way, is a
masterpiece of restraint: a small
building that contains a pro shop,
bar and somewhere to change
your shoes, which is all one needs
and is a welcome change from the
huge follies favored by ambitious
club managers.

Also in attendance was Robert
Trent Jones Jr., who joined in the
ribbon cutting and remarked:
“Now we can play away and see
if the course is worthy.”’

There was never much acubt,
knowing the man's record and the
marvellous site he had to work
with
. The course is not long — 6,635
from the back tees, 6,243 from
the blues, 5,692 from the whites
end 5,157 from the reds — but
this is not your typical resort
course.

. © @ome holes have five tees to
give all shades of golfers a spor-
tng chance.)

-.It is tough, a minefield of

_ ereeks and ravines, not to mention
some diabolical greens, but the

the night away to the sounds of oom-pah-pah. Free tours of Whistler Brewing are on tap both days, and Whistler Mountain will be open
for breathtaking gondola rides, clear to the top. We're less than a two-hour drive from Vancouver, so shake a leg and join the

Wishart

great thing about the course is
that it goes out and it comes back
with no snack bar (and no hoild-
ups while golfers have lunch,
phone the office, etc.) at the turn.

There are elevation changes of
300 feet on this hillside of
Blackcomb Mountain. This may
not sound like a lot, but it takes a
sturdy gas golf cart or a yak to
get around.

The views, however, are
delightful, and Jones has done 2
sterling job in finding not just
plateau tees, but fairways and
greens that offer golfers some en-
chanting glimpses of forest,
snow-capped mountains and blue

sky.

TRAVEL

The shimmering white sand in
the bunkers does match the snow,
as Jones planned it, while the fine
on the 17th is just right of a ma-
jestic cottonwood tree.

Let it be said that golfers love
nature (the environment if you
will) as much as anybody.

On our round we waved grect-
ings to three hikers with a pair of
leashed dogs, while other golfers
held their fire while a family of
black bears ambled across a fair-
way before disappearing into a
fog of wildflowers.

It's such a fovely spot, in fact,
that the clubhouse actually rents
golf carts so people can go

sightseeing on the course.

Green fees, with cart, are $65,
but currently there is a $39
preview rate.

And so to the 19th, where a
marquee was dressed up for lunch
wnd the chateau chefs showed
their stuff again with a buffet and
barbecue, including tender bdcef
with a delicious spicy apricot
sauce.

There were prizes and a lot of
fun, due in large part to David
Roberts’ canny understanding thai
he is running a resort rather than
a city hotel catering to
businessmen on the run.

The Chateau Whistler event in-

OPENING DAY at the new Whistler golf course with (fram left)
Robert Tren? Jones Jr., a Japanese owner, Bob de Mone and Bill

Stiison.

ARGO

Whistler Oktoberfest, October 10 to 12.

Our Bavarian-style celebration over the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend is really something to yodel about. Enjoy the
sights, sounds and tastes of Oktoberfest with free Tyrolean entertainment and activities for the whole family. Be thirst in line for aftemoon
micro-brewery beer tastings in the authentic Bavarian beer hall setting of the Whistler Conference Centre. On Saturday, polka

lied out at grand opening

cluded many women, some of
them in key jobs with the Japa-

nese owners.
The way Whistler is evolving

there are going to be lots more
oppantunities to play golf, do
business, and maybe get ac-
quainted too.

But, a final thought: just as the
mountains at Whistler are for-
midably capable of humbling a
skier’s ego, so, too, can the
Chateau Whistler brutally sort out
golfers.

Choose your tee box with care.

January 02 to 12/93 .
or
January 12 to 22/93

from con $1709 fplddl.
inside Cabin

from con $2000 p10
Outside Cabin _

Oktoberfest fun. Check in for the whole weekend. Our special Oktoberfest hotel packages are Bavaria-ffordable.

Oktoberfest at Whistler Resort

Super, Natural Southwestern BC.

Call now for reservations, 685-3650

“ot