Founded in 1922, Marine Drive Golf Club was designed by renowned architect A.V. Macan, whose work has shaped golf course design in the Pacific Northwest. Macan brilliantly utilized the natural uplands and the Fraser River to create a distinctive routing that is playable for the casual golfer and challenging for the competitive player, where accuracy and smart shot-making are rewarded. The course has earned the respect of many fine players and is playable for the recreational golfer.
As you tee off at Marine Drive, you’re confronted with a key design philosophy from A.V. Macan: par 4’s should require each golfer to hit two well-placed shots. Keep it down the left side for a clear approach, or, challenge the dogleg, but be mindful of the perfectly placed bunker that awaits risk-takers.
A reachable par 5 with a narrowing fairway that can stop longer hitters from reaching the green in two. If missed, leave your layup approach on the right side of the fairway and be sure to get the right club selection for this deep green.
The third hole takes you to the banks of the Fraser River and calls for a left to right tee shot. Hitting the fairway is crucial as your approach calls for precision, avoiding a front left bunker and a slope off the right side of the green into a water penalty area.
The wind will be a key factor in your approach to this smaller green, with bunkers left, front and back. Leaving your approach to the right side of the green is the smartest route as you look to get a favourable bounce towards the hole.
Course management is a must on the 5th hole. Out-of-bounds stretching from tee to green on the right side, and fairway bunkers to the left, will challenge all players off the tee. If laying up, aim towards the right side of the fairway for your best angle of approach.
A long, narrow green awaits on this par 3. Anything short and left will run away from the green; try to come in from the right side.
A forgiving fairway for your tee shot, but be precise on your approach. Two deep greenside bunkers will punish errant approach shots; prominent slopes on the green call for perfect placement.
Don’t take this short par 4 for granted, it plays harder than the yardage suggests. A protected green, with a back bunker not visible from the fairway, makes your placement off the tee crucial.
Long hitters that keep the ball on the right-hand side of the fairway will be rewarded on this long par 4. Keep your approach shot centre right to avoid the front left greenside bunker.
As you head back towards the Fraser River, this tight par 4 often plays into the wind. Keep it in the fairway for a shot to get on the well-protected green.
Located on member-owned land 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Marine Drive is a private and tranquil escape for members, their families, and guests. The course is easily walkable and we pride ourselves with a fast pace of play where rounds of three-and-a-half hours are not unusual and all golfers are expected to play in under four hours.
25% of our membership have a handicap of 10 or less which is indicative of the high caliber of play.
Another beautiful view along the Fraser River. Trust your club selection and distance as depth perception is challenging on this par 3.
The first of back to back par 5’s on the back nine, a treelined fairway with out of bounds running up the left can intimidate some hitters. The green slopes back to front so leave your approach room to run out.
More out of bounds on the left, and trees lining the right side. With a well-placed drive, this par 5 is reachable in 2.
The shortest par 3 on the course calls for precision and confidence due to a well-protected green that slopes from left to right. Pay close attention to speed on the green.
A driver’s hole, this elevated dogleg right rewards a well-placed tee shot - crucial for your approach to this green protected by bunkers on all sides.
Be careful of the hidden left bunker as the apron of the green slopes into it. A ridge runs through the centre of the green, creating elevation changes front to back. Pay close attention to pin placement.
Men’s competitive course record:
Chris Crisologo 62 (2019)
Women’s competitive course record:
Jennifer Kupcho 64 (2018)
Canadian Men’s, Women’s, Senior Men’s, Junior Boys’ & Junior Girls’ Championships | World Amateur Championship | Ladies’ Commonwealth Trophy Matches | PNGA Senior and Mid-Am | BC Open | BC Amateur | BC Junior
Don’t let this dogleg right deceive you, this par 4 plays all of its 438 yards. This elevated green is protected by two of Vancouver’s toughest bunkers. The two-tiered green can leave you with an extremely difficult putt.
The closing hole at Marine Drive warrants a demanding tee shot - be careful of the two fairway bunkers down the right side of the fairway. With this undulating green, be sure of your club selection and distance control or you could face a difficult up and down for par.
Our practice range features 22 stalls (including seven covered stalls), an indoor / outdoor teaching centre, and Trackman Range technology to provide members with ball flight data including ball speed, carry distance, total distance, height, and much more.
Our 2-acre short game practice area was designed and constructed by Jim Urbina in 2015. This serene practice area sits on the banks of the Fraser River and provides golfers with the opportunity to practice every type of short game shot imaginable. It includes a 10,000 square ft. putting green and a 13,000 square ft. pitching green.