Ridge Course Opening 2010
In celebration of our 30th anniversary in 2021, we are looking back at our rich history and the moments that defined our community. One of these moments is the opening of our award-winning Ridge Course in 2010.
Predator Ridge opened in 1991 with 18 holes of golf and future plans of an additional 18 hole golf course, housing, equestrian centre, health club, and other appealing amenities which would qualify it as a world class resort. In 2007 Predator Ridge was purchased by Wesbild Holdings, and shortly after planning and development began on what is now known as the Ridge Course.
World Class Design
The Ridge Course was designed to enhance the natural beauty of the land. It included the development of 9 brand new holes, as well as a reconstruction of 9 existing holes. In a 2010 interview, Course Designer, Doug Carrick says “I think what’s unique about this course is that you have so many different landscape settings when you go through and play the golf course. You start in this open rolling grassland landscape with long views of the mountain, you go through wooded valleys, then you go over the ridge and you get beautiful views of Lake Okanagan.”
Following a deceptively gentle start at the edge of a wheatgrass meadow, Doug Carrick’s The Ridge rapidly climbs into the foothills of the Monashee Range, offering stirring cliff-top tee shots and panoramic views of Lake Okanagan far below. Opened in 2010, The Ridge artfully blends eight completely rebuilt holes of Predator Ridge’s old Peregrine Course with 10 new holes.
Though visually intimidating, Carrick’s mountain fairways feature dramatic mounds and slopes to help funnel wayward shots back into play. But especially striking are the dozens of large rock formations that have been power-washed to make their colours and striations more vivid — a robust and uniquely Canadian design technique being copied around the world.
Grand Opening
The Grand Opening of the Ridge Course took place just in time for Father’s Day, in June of 2010. The opening included a ceremonial tee-off, ribbon cutting, as well as visits from many City Delegates including the Vernon Mayor, Wayne Lippert. Lippert expresses his excitement for the new course in an interview stating “Anyone who visits here will talk about it, the word will go out and it truly will bring a lot more people here. In the sunny Okanagan, golfing, that’s our lifestyle – it’s what it’s all about.”
SCOREGolf’s Best New Course 2010
It didn’t take long after the 2010 grand opening of The Ridge for the course to gain attention and accolades from the golf industry. In 2010 SCOREGolf awarded The Ridge as the ‘Best New Course’ for 2010. “Receiving SCOREGolf’s prestigious ‘Best New Course’ award is an honour for Predator Ridge and confirms our reputation as the premier golf destination in Canada,” says Rod Cochrane, General Manager at Predator Ridge Resort. To this day, SCOREGolf Magazine is the largest circulation golf publication in Canada!