An early look at the next Okanagan golf course, predicted to open in 2025

Earlier this week, Peachland district council gave its first reading approval to the latest plans for the Ponderosa housing development.

It will go to a public information session on May 6, where residents can give their feedback on the latest plans that Peachland staff have been developing alongside Romspen Investment Corp. for the last two years.

While it’s a far cry from the more-than-2,000 homes, championship 18-hole golf course and commercial centre that was proposed over a decade ago, plenty of homes and a golf course are still in the works.

All aspects of the plan are scaled down from what was envisioned in 2011, which means around 445 units of housing and a nine-hole, par-34 golf course with room for future expansion.

Dubbed The Pines at Ponderosa, the Les Furber-designed course is expected to be strategically engaging, fun to play at all levels and visually stunning to behold.

“Playable but not penal, challenging but not intimidating,” explains the development’s website.

Furber has already designed several local courses in the Predator course at Predator Ridge, the Pinnacle course at Gallagher's Canyon, the Quail course at Okanagan Golf Club, Two Eagles and Kelowna Springs.

The latest plans for the course show that it would be made up of a trio of par threes, five par fours and a single par five, which would be the finishing ninth hole.

There are expected to be four different tees to play from with the longest being the golds at 2,680 yards and the shortest being the greens at 1,960 yards.

As for a timeline, the phasing strategy between Peachland council and Romspen called for the course to open by November 2025, otherwise it will be transferred to the District.

The Pines at Ponderosa echoes that timeline, saying the hope is to “have the course open for play in the fall of 2025,” which will depend on getting all approvals in place and favourable construction conditions.

A new website for the development and golf course is now live and you can learn more about the project there.