The Riverside Putting Course was officially opened this past Saturday with a ribbon cutting and small ceremony.
Mayor Ron McRae cut the ribbon along with Craig Hillman from the Kimberley Community Development Society and Jarett Bell, manager of Riverside Campground. Bell was given credit for his hard work in pushing the project through from both McRae and Hillman.
“The course is one more reason for campers and visitors to the area to stay another day, as well as a great new amenity for all the public to enjoy,” McRae said.
“We worked hard to find a team to get exactly what we wanted,” said Bell “We wanted it to look and feel like a real golf course.”
And that it does. The course is visually stunning with an elevation drop of about 14 feet east to west. The greens, gently sloping down the hill, are surrounded by trees with a mountain view at the west end.
There are tiers and layers, uphills, downhills and doglegs. And even with the elevation change, it’s fully wheelchair accessible. McRae and Hillman started off a round after the ribbon cutting. The community was also invited to play — golf was free all day.
The project is made possible through funding provided by the provincial Resort Municipality Infrastructure Program and the Kimberley Community Development Society capital reserve. KCDS is responsible for many Kimberley attractions, including Cominco Gardens.