The golf course formerly known as the Aspen Grove Golf Course in Lake Country has a new name, a new management team and has been saved from immediate closure.
The Aspen Golf Course will be open for play in 2014, at least two more seasons after that, and possibly more, depending on the future build of a new junior-middle school in Lake Country.
The Central Okanagan School District, which purchased the golf course last year with plans to use it for playing fields for a new middle school, has leased the land to Lorwal Golf and Turf Solutions, a golf course maintenance company that has been operating in the Okanagan for 14 year.
Lorwal's management team will run the course until a new school and playing fields are built on the site. The lease agreement is for three years with possible extensions after that, according to the school district.
The company has changed the name of the course, dropping the Grove from the title so it is now known as the Aspen Golf Course.
Lorwal is the current golf course maintenance service provider at Canoe Creek Golf Course in Salmon Arm and also operates the Grounds Guys landscape management franchise in the Okanagan.
A new management team has been brought in to manage Aspen: Richard Brower, who will be the new on-site manager for the golf course, and Rodi Gorrell, who remains as the golf course superintendent working with Lorwal’s operations manager Mike Riva.
The golf course has a new phone number (778-480-0062
778-480-0062), a new web site at www.aspengolf.ca and a new e-mail address: info@aspengolf.ca.
An opening date for the golf course will be announced on the web site and the sign at the entrance to the golf course at 10303 Bottom Wood Lake Road.
Plans for the new junior-middle school are in the planning stages. The project is the fourth priority on the Central Okanagan School District capital projects plan. The district says the timeline for the new project is unknown as it is subject to Ministry of Education project and funding approvals.
Construction on an annex that will be used until the provincial government announces funds for the new middle school in Lake Country is ongoing but the school fields will not be utilized with the annex so the golf course is free to operate until the new school is built.