Golf courses are open!

My colleague Sharon is excited. Her world kicks into high gear this week with golf courses all around Kelowna opening up for the season. You see, she takes care of tee time reservations through Tourism Kelowna’s booking site www.golfkelowna.com, where golfers can book tee times at 12 local courses, accommodations, and get their travel information all in one place. This morning her email to staff read: “Time to pull out the plaid and dust off the sticks…we’re open!… Time for the Tweetie & the Tasmanian Devil club covers to make their debut… and Where else can you “rock plaid” and blend in?” Her excitement is palpable, and so is that of the fairway-starved golfers in Kelowna and nationally.

So in honour of people like Sharon, I’m here to tell you, World, that Kelowna golfing season has begun! This news affects many more people than you might expect, given that with 19 courses in this city’s immediate vicinity, one is never more than a 20 minute drive away no matter where you are. Kelowna is arguably the capital of golf in Canada. As such, many of our visitors focus their vacations around golfing: guy golf trips, ladies’ getaways, and couples who love to golf. So now you see why the news that our season has begun will affect a whole lotta people!

Who is open this week? Here’s the list of courses opening up of the 12 available through golfkelowna.com… and as for the others, it won’t be long!

Two Eagles Golf Club and Academy – open as of March 23  

Shannon Lake Golf Club  – open as of March 23

Sunset Ranch Golf Club – opens April 6

Harvest  Golf Club - open as of March 23

Kelowna Springs Golf Club - open as of March 23

Kelowna Golf & Country Club – open as of March 30 (15 holes as they’ve done some irrigation work – they are offering 30% discount until the course is fully ready)

Pinnacle Course at Gallagher’s Canyon - open as of March 30

Black Mountain Golf Club – open as of March 30

Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club – opening April 5

Okanagan Golf Club – Quail – opening April 5

Predator Ridge (both courses) – open April 11

Okanagan Golf Club – Bear – opens April 12

(Photo: Courtesy of Tourism Kelowna)

Gallagher's Canyon Golf Club is opening on April 5, but you can play the Pinnacle already, open since March 30.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.