Vernon Golf & Country Club membership approves borrowing $2.2 million

Photo: VGCC

Vernon Golf and Country Club will finance up to $2.2 million for a new irrigation system.

The borrowing could see membership fees increase by $200 a year.

Membership at the club overwhelmingly approved the project – 298 of 358 votes cast were in favour.

In an information package to members, the board of directors wrote: "While the course is in superior condition, our grounds crew spends a large amount of time maintaining the system.”

They cite wiring and controls as the most problematic parts of the current system.

There was standing room only at the clubhouse for Tuesday night’s vote.

General manager Adam Blair says the motion is "just securing the financial component" needed to proceed. There are still a number of project funding options being explored.

The club is looking at a debenture program for its members and is "encouraged by the success of the Pickleball Club and Kal Club."

Blair says preliminary plans are for the irrigation work to begin in October 2023.

The work would continue as long as it could before frost sets in and would start up again in the spring with completion expected in June 2024.

"We are looking at having '17 and a half' holes open Monday through Friday. So each hole would have a temporary green or temporary tee during those days," but Sundays the expectation is to have 18 holes available.

Although the exact dollar amount of membership increases and next season’s golf rates are yet to be determined, Blair expects "there would be lower fees to the public" during the upgrade.