The Revelstoke Golf Club offers successful membership discount again for 2016

It’s all about the volunteers! Here, club members close up the course for the season, putting in a solid weekend of work for you, making affordable golfing in Revelstoke possible. Photo: Revelstoke Golf Club

The question of the long-term future of the Revelstoke Golf Club was prevalent over the past season, but it unfortunately overshadowed a lot of good news on the links here.

The many volunteers who keep the facility running had many successes this season, explains volunteer marketing coordinator Sabina Spahmann, and they are looking to build on that success next season.

The club dramatically increased their membership numbers, reaching just over 260, up from 181 the year before. The new members are part of a youth wave, with lots of new members aged 26–40 getting memberships for the first time.

With more members, tournament play has improved in 2015, and current members are looking forward to more new competition in 2016. Photo: Revelstoke Golf Club

They took advantage of a really great deal that gave a big discount when a current member introduced a new member to the club.

This season, the deal is returning in a similar form. When current members introduce new members, their combined savings start at 25% per membership. The club has more details, and they can help newcomers link up with existing members. (See their 2016 golf membership promotion here.)

Despite some rain challenges late in the season, and a heat wave early on, the total number of rounds were up by 1,900, Spahmann said. And there was good luck going around with an unprecedented seven holes-in-ones this season, including three visitors and four members — Charlene Forbes, Gary Penner, Ian Strathearn and Kip Holloway.

Youth involvement was up, and the junior camp sold out in 2015. Photo: Revelstoke Golf Club

On the greens, the BC Hydro work to add erosion-resisting rip rap on the riverside of the course was completed during the season, meaning better views and fewer interruptions next year.

The club was also able to access new funding to upgrade maintenance on the greens, which had suffered when funding wasn’t available to ‘put them down’ correctly for the winter in seasons past. The result will be better greens next year.

The junior camp, “went extremely well,” Spahmann said. “We had a waiting list and people wanted a second one. We will definitely run it again next season and offer either a bigger camp or two camps to accommodate everyone interested.”

Taylor Pearcey was a driving force behind the junior camps. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer file photo

The uptake in junior golf and improved play on the links was due in part to new course pro Dean Jackson, who will be returning next season. “People were shooting their record rounds a week after getting lessons with him,” Spahmann said. “We got someone who is really passionate about the game which is what we need to drive golf in the community.”

Jackson seriously upgraded the pro shop, bringing in new brands and names, and increasing the stock dramatically.

Spahmann said Jackson was a big part of the tournaments successes this season.

The 2016 golf membership promotion runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, so don’t miss out. Here are the details. 2016-Golf-Membership-Poster-1(1)