The history of the Pemberton Golf & Country Club reads like a pioneer saga - neighbours and strangers side-by-side pitching in through hot sun, hard days and short nights, volunteering their time, materials and energy for the common goal. It's all well and true, and it all happened way back in '88.

It started out as a stick drawing in the dirt of the Pemberton Valley flood plain along Airport Road. Just nine lines were drawn. Then the loggers and local contractors, and folks in the Village of Pemberton, who wanted to be able to play golf in their own neighbourhood and not have to drive all the way down to Whistler, went to work.

If you had an excavator or truck, you could expect the Golf Club to ask you for help. If you had some money, you'd soon be asked to join the Pemberton Valley Golf Society. A BC provincial government grant contributed $876,000. Memberships in the club raised another $400,000 - but of the 410 people who contributed, only about 110 actually come out and play golf. The volunteered time, machinery expenses and materials added to a total dollar value of approximately $2.2 million. But the actual results were worth a lot more.

The 140-acre parcel of Crown Land was purchased by the Society for $160,000 and handed over to the Village. The Club leases the land back from the Village. Through the efforts of a dedicated group of Villagers, the Pemberton/Whistler area added another course to the Whistler Golf Club. In 1991, noted course architect Boyd Barr was brought in to redesign the drawings, and in 1994 the full l8-hole course opened for play. It is a remarkable piece of property.

Pemberton Valley plays to 6,407 yards from the back tees - 5,972 from the whites and 5,211 from the reds - and to a solid slope of 123 and 70.6 rating. The par-5s require length and accuracy off the tees, number 16 is a healthy 517 yards. All of the par 3s provide a challenge even for low handicap golfers. From the blue tees, hole number 6 stretches a full 238 yards and number 17 measures over 200 yards as well. But the par-4s really capture golfers' attention. Ranging from just under 300 yards to 425 yards, they demand course management and precise shot making. and the 287-yard eighth hole offers the truly unique challenge of firing at an island green on a par 4. Pemberton Valley is true to its roots. It is a fine course created for everyone to enjoy.