Golf returns to Kamloops with another busy season ahead for courses

KAMLOOPS — After what has felt like a long winter — with snow sticking around for longer at least in Kamloops — golfers are embracing being back on the course.

“Oh I love it. I couldn’t wait,” said Bighorn Golf & Country Club member Butch Nolan. “Weather was a little cool yesterday, but this is a lot better today.”

Allen Barden added, “It’s such a great thing to be out here this early, just past the middle of March. I’m from Ontario six years ago, so this is a real treat.”

“It’s been a long, long winter,” said Bighorn member Walt Cooper. “It’s good to get out and get some fresh air.”

This year’s golf season is extra special for Cooper, who’s been off for two years after having both his knees replaced. His last surgery was in December.

“Two knees replaced, one here, one in Calgary. With delays, had to go to Calgary to get the other one done,” he said. “It’s been a bit of a slice, but coming out and limping around, but it’s a lot better than walking in pain.”

Bighorn was the first course in Kamloops to open on Thursday, while Rivershore’s first tee times were on Friday.

Bighorn, like many courses around Kamloops and everywhere really, has seen a huge spike in demand to play. There were almost 30,000 rounds at Bighorn in 2021 — significantly up from previous years.

“Last year was busier than we’ve ever been before and much busier than a few years ago,” said Director of Player Services Ian Henson. “We are all benefitting from a time where others are not obviously not benefitting, but thankfully we are in this industry. The bookings so far this year, and memberships, indicate that it isn’t stopping anytime soon.”

Bighorn has seen a major increase in memberships since the pandemic, going from as few as 150 members to upwards of 500.

“We’re not at the level that Rivershore and Kamloops [Golf & Country Club] are. They’ve put a cap on their membership from what I’ve heard, but we certainly are getting up there now, which we weren’t a few years ago,” said Henson. “It’s really nice to see people committing to the course.”

For a course that was sold in 2017 and has experienced some uncertain times, it seems to be back on track, in part to the pandemic encouraging people to play more golf.

Kamloops Golf & Country Club opens on Thursday (Mar. 24) and The Dunes welcomes golfers the next day, Mar. 25.