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Purcell Collegiate School efforts continue
Purcell Golf and the Kimberley Golf Club are pleased to announce the commencement of their 2023 membership drive.
This year’s drive takes place against the backdrop of an ongoing transformation for the golf course that will see another three new holes ready for play in 2023 as work continues to release and prepare lands for the construction of Purcell Collegiate School.
Duncan MacLeod, President of Purcell Golf and CEO/Head of School for Purcell Collegiate Incorporated, explained the strategy as follows: “We are nearing the completion of a transition plan for the golf course designed to minimize inconvenience, maximize benefit, and enhance the overall experience we have on offer. With two holes constructed last summer, three more this summer, and another three pending next summer, we’re close to realizing our goals for both the golf course and the school.”
Director of Golf, Simon Jones, couldn’t be happier with the transition to date or the results it has produced. “Our tee sheet was packed this season. To the best of anyone’s knowledge, it was the busiest year in our history. Course conditions were superb and construction of the new holes did not impact enjoyment due to their location, away from the majority of the holes currently in play.
“We’ll be able to offer that same great experience next year as we complete construction of the final three holes while continuing with our original 18 holes for one more season. That said, we are looking forward to previewing our newly-constructed holes on a regular basis next season to give members and the general public an enticing glimpse of what is to come for the 2024 season, our 100th-anniversary year. That’s when all seven of the new holes will become part of the permanent routing, launching a new era for Purcell Golf and the Kimberley Golf Club.”
Kimberley Golf Club Vice President Ron Osterkampf is both excited and impressed: “The transition plan continues to work well and sets us up so nicely for the future. In 2023, it will be business as usual: same 18 holes we’re used to while the final three holes are completed. It’s fitting, really: we’ll get to play one more year on the old layout in 2023 before we celebrate our centennial in 2024 with seven incredible new holes designed and built by Trevor Dormer.”
MacLeod has nothing but praise for Dormer and Course Superintendent Tim Foley and the exceptional results they have produced under incredibly challenging conditions, both on the construction site and with the construction budget. “These are historically unprecedented times to be engaging a capital project of this nature. Trevor and Tim have done an amazing job getting us to where we are and setting us up to get to where we need to be in terms of the construction plan for the school, the 100th- anniversary celebration timeline for the course, and the final stage of the development plan which will see the addition of a new driving range and a new clubhouse, both relocated to lands adjacent to the new holes and overlooking the St. Mary River.”
It’s all part of a long-term vision that extends beyond golf. “When we relocate the clubhouse, we’ll be doing so with as part of a plan to create an activity hub that focuses on golf but also includes river access for the community and amenities for outdoor activities and events. We see it becoming a nexus point for anglers, paddlers, bikers, hikers, and other user groups, not just golfers,” MacLeod continued.
For now, the focus is next year and the 2023 membership drive which began on Friday, September 9 and includes annual memberships and a limited number of special-issue 20-year memberships. Existing members will receive information directly from the club on when and how to renew their memberships. New members can purchase memberships in the pro shop from September 9 onward and will benefit from two special offers if they sign up and pay before October 9:
1) a 20% discount on regular price of a membership; and
2) free golf per their 2023 membership terms for the remainder of the 2022 season.
Jones sums it all up as follows: “We’re in the midst of transformation that has exceeded all expectations. It’s not just about what we’re building but also how we are operating. We have an Events Manager now, a familiar face in a new role for the many in Kimberley who know Joanna Heath, and she’s knocking it out of the park. The Our Course, Your Cause fundraisers for local non-profits have been a huge success and, starting next year, we’ll be regularly hosting weddings, reunions, parties, and celebrations of life.
“Great things are happening in the Raven’s Roost as well with Chef Patrick Sinclair and his team serving up delicious meals to golfers and the general public alike. If you haven’t been to the course in a while, a great opportunity to reacquaint yourself will be our Side Rock event on September 17. It’s an open-air market with an open-house aspect. Come down to check out the vendors and experience the changes and the energy first-hand.”
For more information including our 2023 membership rate chart, please visit www.purcell.golf, email [email protected], or call 250-427-4161.
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