Fernie Golf Club makes the perfect pit-stop for avid players heading to B.C. cottage country from Calgary. You can’t ski the slopes of Fernie in June, July and August.

That’s when Mel Dies believes Calgarians should think outside the box when it comes to sporting adventures in the B.C. community.

How about thinking on the tee-boxes of the Fernie Golf & Country Club?

“I don’t think golf is as big as skiing until we get a couple more courses in the area, but we think Fernie is definitely a must stop-and-play course,” said Dies, the club’s GM and head professional. “If the new Fred Couples course opens in Sparwood and the new proposed course that people have been talking about in Fernie for years were to go, then I believe we could really be a golf destination.”

For now, Fernie is a fantastic pit-stop for Albertans making their way to the large summer playground of Kimberley/Cranbrook.

“We’re on the main road going to golf destinations in that area and in the Whitefish area,” said Dies of his par-70 course 21/2 hours south of Calgary. “Because of this, we get a lot of people playing our course on the way through or on the way back, as it is a nice distance away and breaks up the trip.

“We are also close enough that you can do a day-trip or a one-night stay-and-play package without a lot of driving.”

Once you’re on the course, well … there’s plenty of driving to be done — with the need to be accurate.

While the 6,556-yard track isn’t the longest course in the land — and considered playable for the beginner or average golfer with forgiving real estate off the forward tees — Fernie keeps the bigger swingers honest with water in play on 16 of its 18 holes.

Trees lining every fairway and a few skinny bends, including a couple of true doglegs, make the pursuit for even-par a little more difficult for low-handicappers.

“And the greens are very undulating which makes putting very tricky,” Dies said. “You also don’t want to spend the day missing fairways as the rough can be tough.”

While the par-4 13th hole is considered the roughest on the scorecard because of its 436-yard length into the wind, Fernie is often remembered for tricky No. 3, with water and lots of sand guarding its smallish green on the 218-yard adventure.

Then, there’s the scenic holes of the course, including the 513-yard eighth hole that has a view of Fernie’s world-renowned ski hill but also demands constant precision with water running the length of the fairway along the right and a pond off to the left that comes into play on the second shot.

After that comes the difficulty of the back nine.

“The back is tougher, especially the stretch along the (railway) tracks that people comment about,” said Dies of Nos. 13-16. “Playing these holes from the tips into the wind is some of the toughest holes anywhere.”

Regardless, it’s a great place to take a break — or to warm up your game — before hitting B.C.’s resort courses further southwest on Hwy. 3.

“The best things about golfing in Fernie is, for sure, the scenery,” Deis said. “It is some of the best in the world. On just about every hole, you get a different view of a different mountain range. It makes it tough to have a bad day on the course.

“Fernie is a very quiet laid-back community away from the business of the big city or the big resorts, and our rates are very reasonable compared to what you pay in the city or big resorts, as well.

“It’s also a great place to come and take advantage of the great stay-and-play packages offered by the local hotels. The price is reasonable and the course is great, and if you play a couple different tee-boxes, it is like a totally different golf course.”

From the Calgary Sun: http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/golf/2010/05/10/13898416.html