Golf season is here.
Most of the Kamloops and area courses have either opened or settled on opening day.
Here is the list: The Dunes at Kamloops (March 2), Rivershore Golf Links (March 4), Mt. Paul Golf Course (opened with regular greens March 4), Pineridge Golf Course (March 8), Kamloops Golf and Country Club (March 12), Bighorn Golf and Country Club (11 a.m. shotgun start March 13 to March 18, regular tee times as of March 19), Tobiano Golf Course (April 2) and Talking Rock Golf Course (tentatively April 9).
Eaglepoint Golf Resort is aiming to open by the end of next week.
“So far, it’s looking like 2021 is on pace to exceed [last year’s numbers],” said Lisa White, a communications specialist with Golf Kamloops. “The numbers that came in at January for bookings are tremendous.”
According to Golf Kamloops — a consortium of major golf courses and accommodation providers in the Kamloops region — the 2020 season saw golf revenues increase by 107 per cent over 2019 figures. This despite the fact that 65 per cent of destination golf bookings acquired in the first three months of 2020 were cancelled or postponed and many courses delayed opening and when all discretionary travel was halted in March.
Golf is one of few activities that has flourished during COVID, as players are able to safely social distance and courses were quick to adapt to safety protocol.
White said Golf Kamloops is encouraging people to book their golf get away early, utilizing primarily digital marketing to get their message out.
“We are really encouraging golfers to book now,” she said. “We’ve got great cancellation policies in the event that provincial health authorities choose not to lift restrictions.”
White said the organization is seeing strong interest beginning in May and moving onwards, and is hopeful that inter-provincial travel will be reinstated for the summer months.
Currently, the Provincial Health Authority has a recommendation against on all non-essential travel in B.C.
— with files from Joe Barde/Local Journalism Initiative
