Bear on the scorecard? At this B.C. golf course, that’s a common sight
Have you ever had a playing partner that looks like this? At least they didn’t make any noise during tee-off!
Some golf courses are known for their champion-designed layouts. Others, for their length, difficulty, or finely manicured fairways.
While it’s hardly lacking in those departments, the 'Signature Course' at The Rise Resort in Vernon, B.C., has yet another, furrier claim to fame.
Perched on hilltops 300 metres above the lakes of the Okanagan and winding its way through wild forest and grasslands, golfing at The Rise has become known for offering incredible wildlife viewing opportunities—including of brown bears.
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The Rise Resort offers tranquility and views high above the rapidly developing Okanagan Valley floor. (The Weather Network)
“We coexist with bears here, which are part of the environment and the allure here at the golf course. We see them almost daily,” says the Rise Resort Operations Director Chad Scott.
“They love to playfight and get a little mischievous at times, but mostly they’re just hanging out, jumping in ponds, and climbing trees.”
The bears are most often seen on the wooded backside of the course property, Scott says, including on holes three, four, eight, and nine.
And while a bear encounter can certainly be a cause for danger, Scott says a little respect and decorum always go a long way on the golf course, regardless of who—or what—you’re playing beside.
“We let people know not to feed the bears, to give them some space if they do see them, and to call into the golf shop if they do see them,” says Scott. “Most of the time the bears keep to themselves and move on very quickly.”
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The resort even installed a statue in honour of two of those bears at the doors of its clubhouse and restaurant.
A statue was built in honour of the wildlife that call the area home, its form inspired by an encounter golfers had with a pair of bear siblings on a course teebox. (The Rise Resort/provided)
“Some members caught some bears playfighting on a teebox, so the statue’s inspired by a video of what we presume are two bear siblings,” Scott says.
“We call one ‘Cinnamon,’ who is long gone, but her offspring continue.”
It’s not just bears golfers will encounter during their round at the Rise and other Okanagan Valley courses.
On a golf tour of several courses organized by the Royal Kelowna, the Weather Network encountered a wide variety of wildlife on the fairways, from hawks, herons, and bald eagles to geese and even turtles.
A western painted turtle hangs out on a fairway. (The Weather Network)
“It’s a huge part of the experience. It’s not just bears. We have beautiful coyotes, mule deer, pheasants, and the odd fox,” explains Scott.
And while the area has always been home to a diverse variety of wildlife, development is increasingly fragmenting habitat in the Okanagan Valley, especially in lower-lying areas. Animals are being forced to spend more time higher up in the valley as they navigate the remaining wild corridors between the region’s lakes.
The Rise Resort has committed to keeping a third of its property preserved in its natural state to support ecosystem conservation.