A Beautiful New Course

Written by Rick Stedman

Thursday, 25 September 2008 13:21

{mosimage}The 6,884-yard course, which opened in mid-June with much anticipation and fanfare, is perched 1,000 feet above Okanagan Lake. “The lake views up here are so incredible,” said Couples, a PGA tour pro and winner of the 1992 masters. A self-described hockey nut, Couples was joined on the inaugural round by Jerome Iginla of the Calgary Flames, along with other National Hockey League players and 150 guests.

The Golf Club at the Rise is located in the British Columbia town of Vernon. Ray Everton, a local resident and two handicapper, shared his thoughts after playing the course: “It is simply breathtaking; there are no words to aptly describe how beautiful this golf course is.”

Located 275 miles northeast of Vancouver, and 350 miles west of Calgary, The Rise is more than just a golf course. It is a 735-acre master planned golf and wine resort with vineyards that include five-and-a-half acres of Riesling, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris grapes. This fall, The Rise Cellars will experience its first harvest, and eventually expand to 25 acres.

The $1 billion resort community is being built in phases over eight years. When complete, it will comprise 660 residential units, 550 commercial units, along with hotels, condos, winery and vineyards, clubhouse, recreational centers and the golf course. The resort architecture is inspired by a Tuscan/Mediterranean theme. The signature course itself is the culmination of a 10-year partnership between Couples and award-winning golf course designer Gene Bates.

As for the golf course, you won’t need any wine to enjoy the intoxicating views. According to Terry Yacyshen, resort general manager, 12 of the 18 holes offer breathtaking views of Lake Okanagan. Teeing off on the par-4 17th leaves you feeling like you’re hitting right into the lake. “Our most challenging hole is the par-4 eighth, which demands accuracy and distance,” said Yacyshen. “It offers the least generous landing area of any of the par-4s.”

{mosimage}So, if you like target golf—and you better if you visit The Rise—this course is calling your name. Most holes feature wide-open fescue grass between the tee box and landing area. Fortunately, there are five tee boxes to choose from, with the championship tee titled Boom Boom, a reference to Couples’ nickname.
The Spartan infrastructure is easily overlooked because the course is in such great shape. In due time, all will come together, Yacyshen promised. The practice facility will be another amenity for members, guests, and homeowners alike. It will also feature a quality golf academy.

Given the incredibly hilly terrain, walking is not permitted at The Rise. However, a fleet of 80 E-Z-GO RXV electric golf cars is available. The dual-braking system automatically engages when the golf car stops.
Like a fine wine, The Golf Club at The Rise is a work in progress. In time, it will mature like an award-winning vintage. In fact, the prestigious Robb Report recently named The Rise one of the top new resort courses in the world.

For more information on The Golf Club at The Rise, visit www.therise.ca or call (877) 243-7417.
If you travel to Canada in your RV, there are several very nice RV parks in the Vernon area. Swan Lake RV and Campground is a few miles north of town, and offers a peaceful setting on the lake. Full hookups are available along with other amenities. Visit www.swanlakecampground.com or call (250) 545-2300.

Also located on Swan Lake less than a mile north of town is Silver Star Campground & RV Park. It, too, has plenty of amenities as well as a peaceful setting. Visit www.silverstarcamp-ground.com/about.html or call (250) 542-2808.

The 19th Hole (and a few chip shots)
Here are a few more fun facts about Vernon, B.C.:
• The population is 35,000, and the elevation is 1,364 feet.
• There are a dozen golf courses in the north Okanagan region.
• Silver Star Mountain Resort is about 13 miles from Vernon and has 112 runs with a vertical rise of 2,500 feet. Its ski and snowboard season runs from late November to mid-April. In fact, a lot of visitors combine skiing and golf in the same day.
• Silver Star is also a popular early season training venue for world caliber cross-country skiers. It features 50 kilometers of Nordic ski trails and also connects to the nearby Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre with an additional 40 kilometers of trails.
• In downtown Vernon, the community’s history is on display in a series of nearly two-dozen murals painted on local buildings.

Rick Stedman is an avid RVer, golfer and writer who lives in Yakima, Washington. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .