A place for everyone

Tall trees and wildlife give the Kokanee Springs Golf Course a secluded feeling

Celebrating 40 years of spectacular lakeview mountain golf under the ever present white expanse of the Kokanee Glacier, Kokanee Springs Golf Resort is a one of a kind golf resort in a spectacular setting. Just up the road from the artisan-rich town of Crawford Bay, where you can stop in and observe or learn art styles ranging from glass blowing to blacksmithing, lies the 700+ acre paradise of Kokanee Springs Resort. Originally developed in the '60s, there was a major focus by the B.C. government and local entrepreneurs to turn this undiscovered paradise into a worldwide tourism destination with plans for a new highway and multiple ski and golf resort developments. After a change in social attitudes and a change in government however, the land was rezoned, and the project fell by the wayside.

The wilderness, middle of nowhere feeling still permeates at Kokanee Springs today as every hole of the course features stunning mountain views of the Selkirk range and the imposing Kokanee Glacier to the west, plus lake views of the largely undeveloped shorelines and the white-capped peaks of the Purcell Mountains to the east. The course itself is a well manicured masterpiece dotted with 68 varieties of wildflowers and impeccably maintained gardens by the friendly grounds workers who stop to say hi and ask how your day is. The slow and friendly pace of the area will rub off on all players as the pace of life is dictated by the babbling of the white water creeks that snake through the course and the screech of the bald eagles that soar above.

The 501-yard par six rates up there with the most scenic holes in golf. Teeing off towards the steep, white-capped peaks of the Purcell Mountains and laying up before the white-water creek, golfers will then hit up onto the large, elevated, stadium like green. Bordering the back of the green Kokanee Springs is spelled out in floral form in one of the many well manicured gardens along the course. Looking to the future, Kokanee Springs has big development plans in the works to begin realizing a new take on the original big plans of the '60s.

With pre-sales opening this summer, and construction beginning in summer 2009, the Springs is poised to become a major golf and lakeside destination resort and residential development. Initial plans are to begin with a 60-unit one- and two-bedroom villa style development along a ridge overlooking the glaciers and the back nine.

Next up will be a 60 unit cabin village along the creek side in the spruce and cedar forest. An interesting and unique addition to the resort will be a partially man-made hot springs on site. With old faults running the length of Kootenay Lake, the ground water in the area is hotter than normal allowing a drilling operation to essentially create a natural hot spring on the property. The vision for the development is to be a car-free , golf cart/pedestrian village linked up with golf cart trails and featuring chargers in front of each unit allowing guests to leave their car at the entrance and not have to see it until they depart. Targeting the retirement/multi- generational market, course general manager Greg Garbula is passionate about the experience they are creating at Kokanee Springs.

“This will be not just a fabulous golf destination, but a recreational lifestyle experience where grandparents can go on nature walks with their grandchildren, have backcountry picnics, play on the lake, and just have fun,” he said.

With future plans to develop a lakeside resort village on the property as well, things are looking up at Kokanee Springs where you can still play an outstanding golf course in a spectacular location at an affordable price.