Highland Pacific Comes In Under Radar - Highland Pacific Comes in Under the Radar - P2

Article Index

One big reason for the quality of the layout was the smart decision to bring in well-regarded shaper Chris Young who has worked on many of BC's better designs.

Chris was intimately involved with the construction of the first nine and impressed the owners so much that they gave him full control over the second nine, appropriately called the "Highland."

The Highland is a par 36 and is the longer of the nines measuring 3449 yards.

The shaping the second nine's holes, laying irrigation and drainage infrastructure, sand capping and seeding was all completed in the fall of 2009.

The grow-in since has been superb due in no small part to the fact that Victoria enjoyed the driest January on record followed by the sunniest and warmest February.

Director of Golf and GM, Doug Hastie actually sees Chris Young's role in Highland Pacific as the birth of a new course designer.

"We call this Chris's first design, the first of many we believe he will undertake as an architect," says Hastie.

If the layout at Highland Pacific is any indication, Hastie is likely right.

This is a dramatic yet thoughtful design that takes advantage of a picture postcard setting.

The site here could be considered as three separate plateaus.

The clubhouse, practice facility and starting holes for both nines are all located on the middle one.

The Highland nine then climbs approximately 150 feet to a plateau on top of a mountain while the Pacific drops down around 100 feet before circling around back up.

And when playing a round here, you may be starting on either nine; there are no plans to make one the front and one the back.

Still as the one currently open, the Pacific will likely be seen at least initially as the front and it begins gently enough with a shortish par 359 yard four that goes downhill to a green that is only 26 steps deep.

This is followed by a dramatic downhill 159 yard par three with a large pond fronting the green.

Continued On Next Page