Thanks to Dick Zokol, I have been able to arrange a GCA Event for Sagebrush for Monday, August 9, 2010 and possibly the following day as well, depending on numbers. Matt Bosela posted many photos and a narrative last year and his thread is at
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41154.0.html In addition. the club website is at
www.sagebrushgolf.comSagebrush is one heck of a lot of fun and respresents a lot of the features that are popular on this site. The course was designed by Rod Whitman with Dick Zokol and Armen Suny. Jeff Mingay of this group was also involved in the design.
Ran has also given us his blessing for the event.
WHERE?
Sagebrush is located about 15 miles north of Merritt, British Columbia. It is approximately 2.5 hours east of Vancouver. Also, Kelowna B.C. is approximately the same distance from Sagebrush, and sits further east in the Okanagan Valley. There are direct flights to Vancouver from many US cities and also from across Canada. There are also direct flights to Kelowna from Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Seattle (Horizon Air - part of Alaska Airlines).
HOW MUCH?
Green fees for the day are $100 (all prices $ Canadian). In addition, dinner is $30 plus your booze costs. Dinner is at the Hideout, which is on a lake towards the back of the property. There are several great pics of the Hideout on the website. I will collect deposits at a date to be determined and once I have a feel for how many GCAers may attend. Play at Sagebrush is by invitation and as a result, there is limited play on the course. Generally, I believe the course is limited to about 40 golfers per day.
Dick Zokol has indicated that if schedules permit, he will join us to play a few holes with each group and join us for dinner.
OTHER WORTHWHILE COURSES IN THE VICINITY
Sagebrush is fairly remote and it would make sense, if someone is travelling, to fit in one or more other courses. The closest is definitely Tobiano, which is now in it's third year and sits just west of Kamloops B.C. and is about a 40 minute drive.
www.tobianogolf.com Tobiano is a Thomas McBroom design and is quite spectacular. Reviews have been mixed and the course tends to be extremelyh winding in the afternoons. It is very difficult in the wind.
Predator Ridge - Predator is near Vernon, B.C, in Okanagan Valley, about 2-2.5 hours away from Sagebrush. The second course, which will be called the Ridge Course, is opening in July. Designed by Doug Carrick, it certainly looks interesting. The Predator course is a Les Furber design and was built in the early 1990s. There is an excellent resport at Predator Ridge. I am a member and am working on getting a break on green fees which will depend on how many people attend. More later. There is plenty of accommodation at the resort as well. See
www.predatorridge.com There are also many other courses in the Okanagan Valley, the best of which is likely Fairview Mountain, near Oliver, and some of the courses near Osoyoos, which sits at the US/Canada border.
Vancouver obviously has several courses worth playing if you come through that area.
ACCOMMODATION AT SAGEBRUSH
The old Quilchena Hotel sits within a few hundred yards of the entrance to the course. It is ancient, over 100 years old, and is full of character and is reasonable.
www.quilchena.comIn Merritt, the best would be the Ramada. Dick advises that he expects to be able to get us some reduced rates. Again, depending on numbers, the rates could change but the Ramada would not be out of anyone's price range but still okay. Merritt is not exactly a resort town!
Right now, we are looking for expressions of interest. Based on discussions I have had with some, the turnout looks promising and I know some locals from BC are interested. The travelling man from Kentucky, who was my travelling companion at Buda last year, has indicated his intent to come as have others including the world famous Jordan Wall, Seattle's own Sean Leary and Portland's Pete Pittock. Sagebrush is an experience you will remember for a long time. Last summer, Will McEwan and I spent a day up there and we were smiling all the way around.
Please feel free to email or IM me or post your interest on this thread. I would be pleased to answer more questions.
Regards,
Bob Jenkins