Sunniest Golf Community in BC
Looking for a place in the sun to retire? Like Golf? Then look no further than Shadow Mountain, because the sun shines here a lot.
Future residents are going to have more to rave about than just their incredible 19 hole championship golf course, and breath taking views, they also will enjoy a lot of sunshine.
In Cranbrook the sun shines a whopping 2228 hours – making it the “Sunniest city in BC”
David Phillips, Environment Canada’s Senior Climatologist, and the nation’s favourite weather guru, has analyzed 30 years of recent weather data for Canada’s 100 largest cities.
In the months of June, July and August this golf course will see an astounding 884.28 hours of sunshine! This ranks in the top ten Sunniest spots in Canada.
Cranbrook also ranked 6th nationally in “Most sunny days in warm months”. Residents will enjoy 148.40 sunny days from May through September.
Indian summers are also a regular occurrence in this area. During the months of September, October and November you can expect to enjoy 453.55 hours of sunshine. This also ranks in the top 10 in Canada.
Shadow Mountain is the perfect place to retire, with great golf, stunning scenes, and lots of Sunshine. For more information, call Irene at 250-432-9200.
A Big Day at Shadow Mountain Golf Club
For Malcolm and Joan Fruin July 20th was not only their 52nd wedding anniversary but for Malcolm it was also the day he played his 600th golf course in the World with Joan and Peter Mann a close friend from Kamloops
In trying to decide where to play #600 Malcolm says there were several course options to the north of Kimberley but he said the decision to make it Shadow Mountain was quite easy.
First it was a local course and secondly its owner Fred Mehl together with Irene and Wayne Barnes and staff have been good supporters of the Kimberley Helping Hands Food Bank where Malcolm has served as a volunteer and Director over the past several years.
Shadow Mountain is in a spectacular Rocky Mountain setting and is certain to soon be on the must play list of both locals and visitors. The course has so many strong features that it is hard to name them all but the two spectacular downhill tee shots on #s 15 and 17 are memorable. Another feature is the playability and enjoyment it can provide for all levels of experienced golfers provided they play off the recommended tees and bring their “A” game with them.
There is British Open style rough in play awaiting careless shots and strategically placed bunkers to be avoided on a lot of holes which help make the course such a challenge.
Some of the views from the tees are breathtaking especially on #6 hole named Shadow and the 600 yard Monster #17
In summary it was like playing one of the top rated courses in the world and it will surely end up in this category when the judges have played there. It will in Malcolm’s opinion soon become the golfing crown jewel of the Rocky Mountain trench.
The restaurant serves excellent food at affordable prices and the staff go out of their way to help you enjoy the day.
Malcolm’s Golf experiences include three holes in one and more importantly a 3 at the 16th hole at Cypress Point in California which is often regarded as the toughest par 3 in golf.
Highlights and memories of games among the 600 courses Malcolm has played in 17 countries include playing with Sir Bob Charles in the Canadian PGA Pro Am at Kitchener Westmount and enjoying a beer afterwards with Arnold Palmer in the locker room!
Also a few holes with Gary Player during a South African Airways promotion at Rand Park in Johannesburg come to mind as well as games with Toronto Blue Jay’s manager Cito Gaston
His favourite courses include Royal Dornoch, Ballybunion, Pebble Beach, the Old Course at St Andrews, Royal Worlington – a nine holer in England and almost all the Stanley Thompson courses in Canada especially Capilano,Banff Springs and Jasper as well as Scarboro where he was a member for almost 20 years.
Among his fondest golf memories are his days as a member of the Transvaal (now Gauteng) Nomads a charity club in South Africa which played at different courses every month and was very friendly and provided very competitive Stableford golf.
He is still a member of the club and keeps up to date on their activities
Malcolm’s best score on a 6000 yard plus course was 76 and a one under par 34 on the back nine at the very challenging Whirlpool course in Niagara Falls. Worst scores-too many to count over 100 !!
Nowadays reality has finally set in as his handicap now forces him to count triple bogeys.
Malcolm says both Joan and I have made a lot of friends playing golf over the years.
In summary some of our happiest golf times have been playing together even though we are starting to show our age in the distance and handicap categories but we were able to forget these things at Shadow Mountain and just enjoy the game.
A wonderful golfing memory in a truly magnificent setting.
If you would like to Golf Shadow Mountain, Timberstone Kimberley offers an exceptional Stay and Play Program.
Shadow Mountain Explodes onto the Golf Scene with 19 Times the Awe
The Kootenay Golf Crown just got a new jewel, and it is breathtaking. July 1st marked the opening of Shadow Mountain Golf and response from the golfers back at the club house has been all smiles.
In fact the comments have been almost unanimous – this is the best course in the area.
“9 out of ten golfers come back to the club house and indicate that it’s the best course that they have played, whether it is international or local. It’s really a positive response to where the course is at, because we allowed it that extra time to grow.” said Shadow Mountain’s Fred Mehl.
It is this maturity that takes everyone by surprise. People cannot believe that this is brand new course.
Early in the development of Shadow Mountain, Golf Course architect Wayne Carleton was asked which was the signature hole. Mr. Carleton indicated that there was no single hole that stood apart, and that they were all signature holes.
Indeed, Wayne has been proven correct. All the holes are both challenging, beautiful, and mature.
That being said, there are two elevated Tee Shots that the surpass the word ‘dramatic’ 15 and 17. This Par 4, Par 5 respectively will leave you breathless, and desperately wanting to take a mulligan just for the shear joy of crushing the ball.
Hole 15 overlooks the Clubhouse, and the 4 acre manmade lake, while the 17th offers an astonishing view of the river, bridge and majestic Fisher’s Peak. You better have your Wheaties for breakfast, and bring your camera. As a amazing of a hole this is – there are 18 others!
“What we have created is a 19 Hole signature tree-line golf course. Preserving and enhancing the environment is very important. 19 Holes is a bit different.” Wayne Carleton said.
The 19th hole is just another feature that sets Shadow Mountain apart from every other course in the area. This par three sits on the side of a cliff, between the 17th and 18th. How does the 19th work, and why the additional hole? Wayne Carleton explains:
“One thing that we try do to on a lot of our new golf courses is create one more hole in the event that we do a renovation project in the future. Also the reason that we created the 19th hole is to connect the 17th and 18th hole. People might also use the 19th as a betting hole, or just to make up a few shots, or have some fun with it.
Another feature that is not prevalent in the area is Squared off Tee Boxes. This is something that more established golf courses in the US have. This is more of a traditional design.
This one of the longest courses in BC, be sure to allow four and half hours to enjoy this course. If you are looking to book a golfing get away, click here for the best rates.
Want to live the dream? Talk to Irene about living at Shadow Mountain, 250-432-9200.
Opening Date for Shadow Mountain Golf Course – July 1, 2009
It is one of the most anticipated moments in the Southern BC’s coveted golf scene – the opening of Shadow Mountain Golf Course. The Cooke-Carleton designed course is sure to become the jewel, in what is quickly becoming the Canadian Golf Mecca. The first tee time is scheduled for Wednesday July 1.
With amazing views of the Rocky Mountains and Fisher Peak, combined with a great course layout make Shadow Mountain the “Must Play” course for 2009. Multiple sets of tees ensure a great round for all levels of players.
This 19 hole course, has two distinct terrain types, one side is has radical elevation changes, which makes for breath taking views, and dramatic play. While the other side of the course has open rolling hills, with the mountains and St. Marys River as a back drop.
Head pro Rob Anderson recently won the 2008 Teacher of the Year Award by the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association. Rob has received 4 PGA of BC Awards (2008 Teacher of the Year, 2007 Head Professional of the Year, 2006 Golf Shop of the Year, and again Teacher of the Year 2003). Additionally, Rob has received club fitting awards 2001 & 2003 from PING.
Explore this course in photos here.
Natural Wonders
The economic downturn doesn’t seem to have hurt a pair of new courses, tucked into the mountainous terrain of the golf-rich East Kootenays.
The economy has taken its toll on a number of BC golf projects, but a couple of them have managed to weather the storm and will open for play this season. Shadow Mountain, located just a few minutes north of Cranbrook, has set July 1 as its opening date. Black Mountain near Kelowna will welcome its first players sometime in May.
Wayne Carleton is intimately familiar with both of the newest additions to the BC golf landscape. Carleton, the Delta resident who is part of the prolific Cooke Carleton International design team, was the lead architect on both projects.
Shadow Mountain is split in two by Highway 95A, which runs between Cranbrook and Kimberley.
“The site is quite dynamic,” says Carleton, whose most recent work in BC was the impressive Talking Rock layout near Chase.
“The west half is more mountainous terrain and the east half is more of a rolly, sandy, pine-forest type of setting.
“We tried to give it a very natural character. With the abundance of sand on the site we did a lot of waste bunkering and there are some fescue areas. ‘We tried not to move a lot of dirt. All in all, it’s more of your natural, rustic and rugged type of golf course. It turned out well.”
The course, which will stretch to about 7,400 yards, includes 19 holes. There’s a bonus par 3 located between the 17ul green and 18th tee. It serves two purposes. It gives players a bonus hole to play and it provides the course with an extra hole to use in the future when any renovation work requires a hole on the course to be closed.
The back nine at Shadow Mountain features a couple of dramatic elevation changes.
“The 15th hole, a par 4, drops about 120 feet, and the 17th hole, a par 5, drops about 150 feet,” says Carleton. “That’s from tee down to fairway and the it climbs back up.”
Shadow Mountain recently hired Rob Anderson, the Canadian Professional Golfers Association teacher of the year in 2008, as its general manager and director of golf.
Anderson, who most recently was head professional at The Harvest in Kelowna, didn’t fully realize how golf rich the East Kootenays had become until he accepted his new job.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “The last time I ever played golf out here was way back in about 1985 when we had the B.C. Amateur split between Cranbrook and Kimberley. You can start up in Golden and work your way all the way down and it’s like ‘holy cow! look al all this golf.’ It’s amazing.
“Coming from the Okanagan, I would have to say the quantity of golf courses is similar, but I think a lot of the courses here are a little bit higher-end. You’ve got four or five that are high·end in the Okanagan and darn near every one is here.”
The Shadow Mountain project includes 600 housing lots, about 200 of which have been pre-sold. Anderson hopes his course, which is located just five minutes from the Canadian Rockies International Airport, can capture its share of the growing golf tourism market in the area.
“Once the housing is fully under way and we a have a population of people living here, it will definitely lean more toward member play,” Anderson says. “But certainly in the short term, this season and next season at the least, we will be be targeting groups from Alberta, Saskatchewan, the BC Interior and the Spokane area.”
The course’s local owners have already established a relationship with the nearby St. Eugene Mission course. Future plans call for cart paths to connect the two facilities.
Peak-season green fees at Shadow Mountain will be $99 on weekdays and $115 on weekends. That fee includes golf, power cart, driving range and all taxes.
Black Mountain, located in the Rutland area on the way to the Big White Ski Resort outside Kelowna, is a mountainside layout that measures about 6.300 yards from the back tees. The par-71 track features six par 3s, seven par 4s and five par 5s.
“It’s unique in the fact that most of us are now doing golf courses lhat are 7,000 yards·plus,” Carleton says. “There’s rock outcrop· pings and some tightness to it, so it is the kind of a course that you plot your way around. You won’t be using driver on every tee. It’s kind of like your old·style country club golf course developed on a small piece of property.”
Green fees this year at Black Mountain, which has been developed by Edmonton based Meleor Developments, will be $58 Monday to Thursday and $64 Friday, weekends and holidays.
Brad Ziemer | Vancouver Sun
CPGA Names Teacher of the Year – Shadow Mountain’s Rob Anderson
Although winter has laid a thick blanket of snow on the gold course at Shadow Mountain, steady progress is still be made toward the inevitable goal making this one of the best golf courses in the country.
As luck would have it, the newest member of the Shadow Mountain family Rob Anderson has been selected to receive the 2008 Teacher of the Year Award by the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association. This is one of four national awards presented by the CPGA for exceptional and dedicated service as Canadian golf professionals.
Rob’s new role at Shadow Mountain is General Manager/Director of Golf. Rob joined the CPGA in the fall of 1993 in the Tournament Players Division and competed on the Canadian Tour from 1994 to 1997.
As a player, Anderson is a past winner of the BC Club Professional Championship and has regularly been a strong contender in the CPGA Club Pro final.
Rob started at The Harvest Golf Club Kelowna in the Spring of 1998 where he became the Golf Shop Manager in 2001 followed by Head Professional in 2003.
In the last couple of years, Rob has received 4 PGA of BC Awards (2008 Teacher of the Year, 2007 Head Professional of the Year, 2006 Golf Shop of the Year, and again Teacher of the Year 2003). Additionally, Rob has received club fitting awards 2001 & 2003 from PING.
“Our 2008 National award winners are symbols of the passion and dedication to excellence that Canadian PGA Members bring to their profession in making the game of golf better for Canadian golfers,” said Lindon Garron, President of the Canadian PGA. “This year’s winners have set standards of excellence that all Canadian golf professionals can aim to achieve. On behalf of the Canadian PGA, the Zones, and the membership, I congratulate them all for receiving this recognition.”
Each year, a National Selection committee evaluates nominations from more than 3,500 Canadian PGA Members coast-to-coast and recognizes winners in each of the four categories with the winners receiving their award at the 2009 Club Professional Championship in November.
As the Head Professional at Cranbrook’s new Shadow Mountain Golf Course Rob Anderson is one of the PGA of BC’s most accomplished and decorated members. This past October, while still with the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna, he was named PGA of BC Teacher of the Year for 2008. He was awarded the same honour in 2003 during his early tenure with the Harvest. In 2007 he was selected BC’s Head Professional of the Year and in 2006, Rob and his Harvest staff were chosen as the BC Golf Shop of the Year.
“Rob is a credit to our association and the national body,” said PGA of BC Executive Director Brian Butters. “I’m sure he’ll also be a credit and an outstanding asset for the owners and members of the Shadow Golf Club.”
For more information about Shadow Mountain call Irene Barnes at 250-432-9200.
With files from the Canadian PGA
Escape to Beautiful Cancun
If you are considering travel to Mexico, then Cancun is a “not to be missed” destination. Cancun offers so much to see and do, nowhere else in Mexico can match it.
Cancun is less that half a day’s travel from fascinating archeological sites. Chitchen Itza, Mexico is the site of a well preserved Mayan village. You can climb what locals call “the Mexican pyramids”, or you can go inside the pyramids to see the sculpture of the jungle cat.
You can stroll across the fields where an early form of basketball was played. The hoops are high on the side walls of the arena. Knowledgeable guides will lead you through the whole site. If you go, consider staying for the night shows where the pyramids are lit with lasers and dramatic music plays.
Xel Ha Nature Park
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Also an easy travelling distance from Cancun, Mexico is Xel Ha nature park. It’s a nature preserve, water park. Here you can snorkle amongst thousands of colorful fish in a safe, secluded environment.
The lower levels of water and natural, insulated cove make it much safer than open ocean snorkelling. Yet you are still in a beautiful, natural coral reef setting.
Xel Ha is not man made.
Cancun is Mexico’s number one tourist destination at an international level, and with good reason. Marvelous climate convenient location, amazing natural and cultural attractions make this city a favorite. Four million visitors arrive each year in an average of 190 flights daily.
Cancun Towers are three luxury apartment towers that are currently being developed in the Gated Community called Puerto Cancun Mexico. Located within the Bay of Isla Mujeres, Puerto Cancun is adjacent to downtown Cancun and the hotel zone on the last stretch of untouched oceanfront.
This amazing development has everything, golf, ocean, shopping all with the peace of mind that comes with a gated community.
If you are thinking about visiting Cancun, or are looking for an investment that towers above the rest, call Irene Barnes at 250-432-9200
Shadow Mountain Construction On Schedule
Construction of the massive 600 lot development located on the St. Marys River, just outside Cranbrook is right on track.
Future residents will enjoy incredible mountain living centered around a 19 hole championship golf course, surrounded by the picturesque Rocky Mountains.
Shadow Mountain Director Fred Mehl, and Golf Course Architect Wayne Carleton are very pleased with the progress being made. Last year, the course was cut and contoured.
This year, the massive 6 acre manmade lake was completed, and the irrigation has been installed throughout the course.
Sand capping has been completed on the West side of the development (Residential Area).
West side cart paths have been completed, with work beginning on the east side, this should be completed within the next two weeks.
The seeding should start by June 8th! To achieve this goal, both water and power have to be in place. Once these utilities are set up, the irrigation system will be flushed.
Should everything fall in place, the 2nd hole which runs along highway 95a should be green by the end of June!
With Mother Nature’s cooperation, and everything goes well with the seeding program, it should be possible to play soft rounds of golf, mid September to the end of October! This is entirely dependent on weather, and it is not certain whether there will be 9 or 18 holes available for play.
In terms of housing starts, there are 6 or 7 builders set to begin construction on homes at the end of June.
For more information on Shadow Mountain, call Irene Barnes at 250-432-9200.
Delta Deal Good to Go!
The demand for the budding Kootenay Tourism Product is about grow – exponentially. Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) is about to take a monumental step into the international market place. The groundwork has been put in place for Delta Airlines to provide non-stop flights from Salt Lake City to the Canadian Rockies International Airport.
The first Delta flight is pencilled in from Salt Lake City to Cranbrook on December 17th of this year.
“This is a growing area, access has been a challenge to the region and this is ripe for people to come to this community from the States, and this is the easiest and the fastest way to get there.” said Kent Myers of Airplanners.
The potential economic impact of the inbound Delta flights to the area is enormous, allowing US visitors to enjoy the incredible Kootenay lifestyle, with just a 2 hour flight.
However the real gem of the deal might prove to be the outbound flight for locals, and recreational real estate owners.
International Carriers know that this is a new and unproven market, as such a guarantee will be required. In a brilliant display of cooperation and teamwork, municipalities and private enterprise have teamed together to ensure that this deal is reached.
There has been strong participation from a wide cross section of Kimberley and Cranbrook businesses. The support continues both up and down the valley, with Intrawest at Panorama, Copper Point, at Fairmont, and from virtually every business in Fernie.
This is a milestone that the that the airport marketing committee has been working toward for many years.
The impact that this will have on the local economy is going to be huge. There is strong demand for the Ski and Golf product, and with other destinations such as Whistler falling out of favor for being oversold, smart investors are getting in while prices are still attainable.
Salt Lake City is a smart tactical move as it is considered an omni hub and is Delta’s fastest growing domestic hub in terms of destinations served. Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer Salt Lake City customers 335 peak-day departures to 108 nonstop destinations.
“Service is set to start in December with a 50 passenger jet. Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday – they leave Salt Lake City at 11:10 and will land here at 1:08. They’ll return and be back in Salt Lake City at 3:33. That will be a connecting flight that will go out toward the United States across the Delta hub.” Myers said.
According to Myers, the excitement does not stop with the exposure to the to the international market:
“We have talked to West Jet. We will talk to Air Canada. We want to grow the domestic market as well.“
Kootenay Golf Joyfactor rises 23 to 27
If you want to experience great golf, the Kootenay region of British Columbia is quickly becoming the premier golf destination. There are a whopping 23 – 18 hole golf courses in this area, many of which are world renowned such as Trickle Creek and a few that are undiscovered gems.
If that doesn’t secure your attention, there is also four more under construction. One of the more notable is the Shadow Mountain benchland course, designed by Wayne Carleton. This course overlooks the St. Marys River, and is surrounded by the amazing Rocky Mountains, located just minutes from the Canadian Rockies International Airport.
This will be an awe inspiring course, filled with elevated tee shots, challenging green placement and stunning views. Shadow Mountain is scheduled to open in Spring of 2009.
In the works is a short golf cart path which will join Shadow Mountain with neighboring St. Eugene Golf Resort opened which opened in 2000. Like Trickle Creek, St. Eugene is also designed by Les Furber.
St. Eugene’s signature hole is hole number 13 which features an elevated tee box dropping hundreds of feet to what appears to be a postage stamp green. The green is actually quite large but the effect is staggering. The hole is back dropped with hoodoo formations and nestled in the cozy St. Mary’s River Valley.
Finishing up on hole 18 you have spectacular view of St. Eugene’s Mission building which is back dropped by Fisher Peak the highest point in the Kootenay Rockies.
St. Eugene opens April 18th, and you can enjoy early season pricing until May 15th.
These courses make the Kootenay region a truly World Class golf destinations.
Most of the 23 courses in the Kootenay area are mountain courses which present many spectacular views and very few flat lies.
If you are seeking beautiful scenery, spectacular wildlife and outstanding golf the Kootenays should be your next destination but plan on taking your time.
Call Irene Barnes 250-432-9200 to book a tour of the amazing Shadow Mountain.
