3-Day Golf Road Trip: Kootenay Rockies

This three-day loop suits low-handicappers and resort golfers alike, threading through the Columbia Valley before climbing into the Purcell Mountains above Kimberley. The two anchor towns — Invermere and Kimberley — sit roughly 90 minutes apart by road, making the drive between them a scenic transition rather than a burden.

Day 1

Arrive in Invermere mid-morning and check in at Copper Point Resort, which sits directly adjacent to the courses and eliminates any logistics on the first evening. After settling in, tee off at Copper Point Golf Club- Point in the early afternoon — a Gary Browning and Wade Horrocks design that plays to a par 71 across 18 holes of resort-style mountain terrain. An afternoon start keeps the round relaxed and leaves time to walk the layout without rushing. Once the round is finished, dinner at Birchwood Restaurant in Invermere is a practical choice — close to the resort strip and straightforward after a travel day. The evening winds down on-property.

Day 2

Stay in Invermere for a second night and use the morning to play Copper Point The Ridge, the shorter companion course to the Point. At par 62 across 18 holes, the Ridge plays faster than a full-length layout and works well as a morning round — plan a tee time around 8:00 or 8:30 to be off the course before midday heat builds in the valley. The Ridge was also designed by Gary Browning and rewards accurate iron play over raw distance, giving it a different character from the Point round played the day before.

After the round, the afternoon is free. The town of Invermere sits just minutes away and offers a chance to walk the waterfront at Lake Windermere. For those who prefer a quieter base, Windermere Creek Bed & Breakfast Cabins in neighbouring Windermere is an alternative to resort accommodation. That evening, The Station Pub in Invermere handles a casual post-round dinner without fuss, or Traders Lounge at Eagle Ranch Resort offers a sit-down option with a mountain backdrop. The Black Forest Restaurant in Invermere is worth noting for travellers who want something with a bit more character at the end of a full golf day.

Day 3

Check out of Invermere and drive north to Kimberley — allow roughly 90 minutes — to play Purcell Golf Course, an 18-hole, par 71 parkland design by Les Furber. Book a morning tee time to accommodate the drive and still finish the round with enough daylight for the return trip. Purcell sits at elevation above the Kimberley valley floor and the parkland layout offers a different visual register from the Columbia Valley resort golf of the first two days — tighter in places, with mature tree lines framing the fairways.

After the round, Pedal & Tap in Kimberley is a solid lunch or early dinner stop before departure — craft beer and a comfortable room for boots and bags. The Old Bauernhaus Restaurant is the other strong Kimberley option, a heritage building with a menu that reflects the town's Bavarian-themed history; worth the stop for travellers not on a tight departure schedule. Golfers staying a night in Kimberley before heading home should consider Trickle Creek Lodge or Mountain Spirit Resort, both of which are positioned conveniently relative to Purcell. From Kimberley, the trip disperses — south back through the Columbia Valley or west toward Cranbrook and connecting routes.