Dry spring means great opening day conditions at Revelstoke Golf Club

It was a glorious spring opening day for the Revelstoke Golf Club on April 15. An exceptionally dry and warm spring means the course was dried out and more-than ready for the first wave of tee times.

The spring golfing experience in Revelstoke is unique. The cool blue-greens of the rainforest spring wash over you. The fairway greens contrast with the spring cedar hues that stretch into the distance until they turn blue and blend into the blue sky. The jade greens and cloudy blues of the Columbia River snakes between the earth and the sky. It’s all topped with snowcap whites and drifting clouds.

The 2015 season is one of big changes at the club. New Director of Golf Dean Jackson was busy ringing in new members showing up for their first rounds on Wednesday morning.

The view of the iconic Mt. Begbie on April 15. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Jackson is a native of Sarnia, Ontario, and has been a PGA professional for 19 seasons, working at golf courses in Toronto, Vancouver and Saskatchewan.

“You can’t get better views from this place, I’ll tell you that much,” Jackson said of his new home course. He describes the mature trees, the riverside location and the alpine views as a unique combination — something he tells his golf contacts about.

Jackson has just taken over operations in the past few weeks. He’ll be running the pro shop himself, and expects his first shipment of new merchandise this week. (He stocks Taylor Made, Adidas, Nike clothing, Antigua, Nancy Lopez, Titleist, FootJoy and several more. He’ll price match with advertised prices.)

From left: Daniel Herrick, new Revelstoke Golf Club Director of Golf Dean Jackson, and renowned Revelstoke Bighorn Lodge chef Peter Hughes. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

New marketing efforts have been paying off for the club. They had about 180 members last season, but this season they’re up by an additional 90 new members and growing by the day. They’re offering big discounts to new members.

“We are trying to grow the game,” Jackson explains. The club has revised marketing efforts, built partnerships, put a new focus into digital (their new website was just launched) and are aggressively targeting new, visiting and returning golfers.

Their website (www.revelstokegolfclub.com) has been overhauled and offers new services like online tee time booking.

“It’s nice to see the membership grow,” Jackson said.

Spring golf in Revelstoke features the Cascadia colour scheme of greens blues and whites. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Also new this season is Superintendent Paul DeVries, an experienced golf professional who’s joined the club after years of service in B.C.

Outside the clubhouse, club president Heather Duchman has a tee time with a group of six ladies.

“This is really a great opportunity to join this year,” Duchman said. With all the new faces and the focus on expansion, it’s easier than ever to get in with new golfing groups.

“The membership offers a sense of belonging, camaraderie, a sense of pride,” Duchman explains.

First rounds: Revelstoke locals Lisa Longinotto, Jane Pearson, Nancy Murray, Heather Duchman, Coreen Tucker and Carol Fifield snagged one of the first tee times of 2015. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

In addition to lessons, part of the course pro’s job is to help members fit into groups.

“We are kind of a big match maker, in a sense,” Jackson points out.

One of the trends over the past few years is a new wave of younger golfers — adults in their 20s and 30s — many of whom don’t join the club. Now, they’re seeing conversions into club members. They bring a new vibe to the club (in typical Revelstoke style, many of the younger players shoulder golf bags and ride townies or mountain bikes to the course.)

“I’m really noticing a lot of young people getting interested in getting into the sport,” Duchman said.

The club has a brand-new high school program let by Taylor Percy. The eight students have already been to an Okanagan tournament. The junior program is going strong with 28 youngsters participating. (Cost ranges from $175–$250 depending on age, and under-13s play for free with parents.)

The clubhouse. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Jackson emphasized they are welcoming new juniors, and parents don’t need any golf experience to get their kids involved.

“If they have questions, call me directly,” he said. “There is no better place to be from a parent’s perspective. They are not going to get out of line.”

Jane Pearson was with a group of ladies heading out for a round on opening day. She is relatively new to Revelstoke, and she’s fallen in with a group of lifetime members. “The golf course was really welcoming. I made a community of friends really quickly here,” she said.

The Revelstoke Golf Club celebrates its 85th annual Labour Day Open this season. In this detail, the Men’s Open trophy honours winners since the first tournament in 1925, when A.J. Kenward riveted his name onto local history. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Member Nancy Murray joined her. “It’s my summer life. The camaraderie is the best. The course is fun,” she said. “It’s a challenge.”

As usual, the volunteer-run club is busy with repairs and improvements. A team was out painting the clubhouse over the weekend, and a number of repairs and improvements are ongoing.

With a long playing season ahead, expect better-practiced players when the club celebrates its 85th annual Labour Day Open in September.

Mark your calendar:

The Senior Open is Friday, Aug. 7

The Ladies’ team event is Aug. 8.

This year marks the 85th annual Labour Day open, running Sept. 5–7.

This story was created in partnership between the Revelstoke Mountaineer and the Revelstoke Golf Club.

From the pond, looking south. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer