Shadow Ridge Golf Club celebrates its 30th anniversary today.
Kelowna Mayor, Colin Basran was on hand with his son to play a little golf at the familiar spot. “It’s cool to be able to bring my son for the first time. My family used to own part of this property before it became a golf course, so I can specifically remember making trips out here with my grandfather and being on this land…it’s another opportunity for me to tell stories of my grandfather, who Keenan never had the opportunity to meet, and who had a big impact on my life.”
Shadow Ridge was purchased as part of an 84 acre land deal the City of Kelowna made for future expansion of Kelowna International Airport(YLW). Shortly after that deal was struck in 2016, the airport entered into a 5 year lease agreement with Monaghan Golf Group to run the golf course. “The airport continues to grow at a record pace, and of course bringing golfers from around the world is part of that,” said Airport Director, Sam Samaddar. “Really, if our numbers carry on the way they have in 2018, we’ll break the 2 million (travelers) mark for the first time in the airport’s history.”
Golf course staff took the opportunity to shut down some misconceptions about the course. Head Pro, James Presnail explained, “People in the community still think that Shadow Ridge Golf Club is flooded and not playable, and it couldn’t be the opposite. In 30 years of operation I don’t think we’ve been in better shape, and the second perception is that the airport’s purchased the property and there is no more golf course, it’s closed. That couldn’t be further from the truth as well. We have a great partnership with the airport and we see a long future here at Shadow Ridge.”
2 bridges at the golf course were damaged due to spring flooding. Construction is under way for one of the bridges, which should be complete this summer. The second bridge will be repaired next year.