Princeton Golf Club sits in the Similkameen Valley at the gateway to the Okanagan.. It is one of BC's genuinely underrated golf destinations and one of the most enjoyable rounds available in the southern interior. Here is what to expect when you play it.
Princeton is the kind of golf course that rewards people who actually go looking for it. It is not on every golfer's radar the way Predator Ridge or Gallagher's Canyon might be, and that is precisely what makes it worth the drive. Located just three minutes east of Princeton and less than a kilometer off Highway 3, right on the cusp of the Okanagan, it sits in a spot that most Penticton golfers pass within an hour of without ever stopping.
I played it recently and came away with exactly the feeling a great course should leave you with: already thinking about when to come back.
The Course
Princeton Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72 championship public course measuring 6,506 yards with a course rating of 72.0 and a slope of 126. It was established in 1928, which means nearly a century of golf has shaped the grounds into something that feels genuinely mature and considered rather than purpose-built.
Set in the heart of the beautiful Similkameen Valley, centrally located between Hope, Merritt, and Penticton, the course offers doglegs, open fairways, challenging terrain, and scenic views from several elevated par 3s on the back nine.
Tall and majestic Ponderosa pines line the long and rolling fairways. The well-maintained greens are small, fast, and require accurate approach shots. Sand traps are strategically placed throughout the course, making it a demanding and fun course to play.
The front nine begins with three dogleg holes that test club selection and course strategy right from the start, followed by more open fairways offering opportunities to recover and keep your score on track. The back nine is where the elevation changes come into play, with several holes offering views across the Similkameen Valley that make you stop and take stock of where you are. This is genuinely beautiful British Columbia, and the golf course makes the most of it.
The beautiful scenery surrounding the course adds to the truly unique experience of playing Princeton Golf Club. The Ponderosa pines that frame most of the holes give the course a natural character that newer courses cannot replicate, and the local wildlife that occasionally crosses the fairways is a reminder that this course exists in genuine BC wilderness rather than a manicured resort bubble.
The Facilities
Small-town friendliness with full amenities makes this a must-play destination for golfers of all levels. The course features a well-stocked pro shop, driving range, power and pull carts, a licensed restaurant and patio, and a fully serviced RV park.
The Divots Restaurant is fully licensed and has a scenic view from the large patio overlooking the first tee box and ninth green, along with views of the surrounding terrain. Post-round on the patio at Princeton is one of those unhurried, genuinely pleasant experiences that you do not get at a busier resort course. The pace of Princeton as a town translates directly to how the golf club operates, and it is a welcome contrast to courses where the turnover pressure is constant.
Green fees are accessible relative to many comparable BC courses, with estimated rates around $71 for 18 holes with a cart, making Princeton genuinely good value for the quality of the experience.
Who Should Play Princeton Golf Club
Princeton works for almost every level of golfer, which is not something every course can honestly claim. The front nine, with its dogleg holes and strategic demands, engages experienced players who enjoy course management. The open fairways that follow give higher handicappers room to find their rhythm. The back nine elevates the experience for everyone with its views and terrain without becoming punishing for players who are still developing.
For Okanagan golfers specifically, Princeton represents a day trip that delivers something genuinely different from the valley's better-known courses. The Similkameen Valley setting, the century-old course design, and the unpretentious atmosphere combine into a round that reminds you why golf in BC is worth exploring beyond the obvious destinations.
If you are planning a golf trip that includes Christina Lake, Twin Lakes, or Summerland, adding Princeton to the itinerary makes it a proper southern BC golf adventure rather than just a visit to the same courses you can play any weekend.
Sun Protection at Princeton
Princeton sits at higher elevation than the Okanagan floor, and the Similkameen Valley shares the same desert-adjacent climate that makes southern BC one of the highest UV-exposure regions in Canada. The UV index on a clear August day in this part of BC regularly reaches 8 to 10 by early afternoon.
The Ponderosa pines provide some of the best natural shade available on any course in the region, but the elevated par 3s on the back nine and the open stretches of the front nine leave you fully exposed during the peak UV window of the day. A UPF 50+ long sleeve polo, a wide brim hat, and SPF 50 sunscreen reapplied at the turn is the right approach for a full round here, particularly on the back nine where the views are best and the shade is least.
A course this enjoyable is worth protecting yourself properly to play again.
Getting There from Penticton
Princeton is approximately 90 minutes from Penticton via Highway 3 through Keremeos and the Similkameen Valley. The drive itself is one of the better road trips in the southern interior, following the Similkameen River through a valley that most Okanagan residents drive through on the way to the coast without stopping. Princeton Golf Club is worth stopping for.
Related articles on The Vu:
Best Golf Courses in the Penticton Area: A Local's Guide
Christina Lake Golf Club: The Only Course in BC with Black Sand Bunkers
Best Golf Courses in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley