Originally slated to open this year, officials at the Ponderosa Golf Course in Peachland, British Columbia now project the course will open in 2015. Designed by golf icon Greg Norman, the course is part of the Ponderosa development that overlooks Okanagan Lake. Norman’s design is a rework of an existing 18-hole executive course. Part of the development will occupy the previous golf course, so the scope of work dictates adding eight new holes while redesigning 10 of the original holes. When completed, the course will feature dramatic mountainous elevation changes, bold rock outcropping, towering landscapes of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees, and breathtaking views of the lake.
The new par 72 golf course will measure 7,065 yards. It’s being built on 400 acres that will also include a golf academy, village center, winery, tennis facilities, hotel, and about 2,000 new homes which will be built over a 15 year period.
The championship course gently wraps around the base of Pincushion Mountain and features a mix of hole lengths and challenges. There’s a stunning par 3, 191-yarder, and an amazing 656-yard, par 5. The finishing hole is a dramatic 552 yards situated on a ridge running parallel to and offering spectacular views of the ubiquitous Lake Okanagan.
Norman, who spent 331weeks as the world’s number 1 ranked golfer, said of the Ponderosa Golf Course, “The character of the site gives us an enormous opportunity to provide a signature course with breathtaking views from all aspects. It’s our goal to utilize the natural features of the site, such as the calm backdrop of Lake Okanagan, the Ponderosa pines, and the spectacular views to create a unique golf experience.”
The lakeside community of Peachland, with 5,000 residents, is in the heart of the sunny Okanagan, located at the midway point between Kelowna and Penticton and 240 miles east of Vancouver, B.C. For updates on the course development and opening, visit http://ponderosaliving.ca/play/golf
Rick Stedman is an avid golfer, RVer, and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Rick writes a golf column, “The RV Golfer,” which is published every month in rvlife.com. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com.
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