Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield
Rankings:
The Takeaway: Laid out over high-desert terrain complimented by stretches of towering pine trees, Talking Rock is a balanced design that saves the best for last. Grade B-
Quick Facts
Designer: Graham Cooke & Wayne Carlton 2007
Cost: $50 - $100 ($20 for a cart) Click for current rates
Phone Number: 250-679-3090
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Talking Rock Golf Course's official website by clicking on the link provided.
Directions: Get here! - 1663 Little Shuswap Lake Road, Chase, British Columbia V0E 1M2 – CANADA
Photos: See additional photos of Talking Rock Golf Course
Similar Course:
What to Expect: Designed by Graham Cooke and Wayne Carlton, Talking Rock is located 45 minutes northeast of Kamloops on the northern shore of Little Shuswap Lake. The course lays naturally on the terrain rather than trying to dominate it, and often features tall pines framing the fairways. You won’t find rows of houses on the course and the opening stretch is almost disarmingly gentle, offering width off the tee and approachable targets. As the round builds, so does the complexity as angles tighten, elevation becomes a factor, and greens begin to show more personality. By the time you reach the back nine, Talking Rock has shifted from hospitable host to subtle adversary. But it is also the back where the course gets the most interesting and engaging. The signature stretch along the lake at the end delivers the kind of visual payoff you’ve likely been looking forward to all round. Ultimately, Talking Rock occupies a compelling middle ground in Canadian golf. It doesn’t chase the spectacle of marquee destinations, nor does it settle for being merely playable. Instead, it delivers a round that feels cohesive, grounded, and saves the best holes for last.
By the Numbers
| Tees | Par | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7129 | 74.6 | 141 |
| Gold | 72 | 6634 | 71.7 | 140 |
| White | 72 | 6111 | 69.6 | 129 |
| Red | 72 | 5437 | 66.2 | 120 |
| Red (Ladies) | 72 | 5437 | 71.9 | 127 |
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 15th Hole – 210 Yard Par 3 – The climax of the course comes at the 15th hole where players are treated to views of Little Shuswap Lake for this drop-shot par three. The putting surface is raised with bunkers on each side, so finding the green is paramount for success. It is easily the most memorable hole at Talking Rock, so enjoy it while you can.
Best Par 3: 6th Hole – 202 Yards – Another par three with an elevated putting surface, the 6th hole at Talking Rock plays over a brush area to a green surrounded by bunkers. Short and right is the only safe place to miss, and the sucker pin is in the back left. More often than not, the majority of players in your foursome are not going to find this green in regulation and par often wins the hole.
Best Par 4: 18th Hole – 410 Yards – Playing along the coast of Little Shuswap Lake, the 18th is a beautiful finishing hole for Talking Rock. This modest-length par four features bunkers on each side of the driving zone, so finding one last straight ball with your driver will be richly rewarded. The fairway tilts from left to right towards the water, so favoring the left side on your tee shot as well as with your approach will often yield the best results. In the end, it is the setting along the lake's beach that makes this hole what it is; and why it was saved for the end.
Best Par 5: 16th Hole – 602 Yards – Tipping out over 600 yards, the final par five at Talking Rock will test your length but rewards well executed shots. The fairway bends right throughout the one-third mile that it covers with trees framing both sides and bunkers on each side of the green. The mountain backdrop behind the green provides an inspiring view to hit into.
Birdie Time: 17th Hole – 306 Yard Par 4 – Graham Cooke and Wayne Carlton offer a gift late in the round with the course's best chance of carding a birdie with the drivable penultimate hole. A power draw over the bunkers on the left can result in a ball chasing onto the green, or at least near it, and greatly increase the odds or going under par. A bunker sits out in the middle of the fairway to discourage players from being too conservative laying up off the tee. Plus, who has ever told a good golf story by starting with, "So I decided to layup."? No one! Take a rip at the green and get yourself a three.
Bogey Beware: 4th Hole – 476 Yard Par 4 – At close to 476 yards, this hole is a premium test that is long enough to punish both short hitters and those who stray offline. Bunkers on the outside of the dogleg stand ready to punish tee shots that don't follow the fairway to the left and bunkers continue to play a factor on the right side upon reaching the green. There are fewer trees around this greensite than at other locations on Talking Rock, so the wind is certainly a bigger factor to contend with. Anything less than a quality tee shot and approach shot on this hole will almost certainly result in a bogey or worse.
