Fred Couples and golf architect Gene Bates have teamed up to create the Okanagan's latest golf course. Word has it be open in 2008. June 2008 update - The Rise Now Open - Click here for The Rise Golf Photos and The Rise news.

The Rise will be a 7150 yard par 72 Championship Okanagan Golf Course with 5 sets of tees to suite all playing ability. It was May 18th, 1980 when land owner Leona Snider stood at where the 18th hole would be situated with a vision and her greatest wish to share her dream of a world class residential community.

Ross Marrington, Editor for BCgolfguide.com paid a lengthy 2 hour visit on Sept 28th 2006 to the "The Rise" Discovery Centre and the golf course site with a guided tour with General Manager Rod Cochrane.

As we climbed and made our way from hole to hole it was a treat to get a personal commentary of the course as it takes shape. The largest elevation climb for the entire course will between the first two holes. Rod believe that #2 will probably be the most difficult hole. Rod commented "We plan to leave as many trees as possible and keep the land in a very natural state and wide fairways. We want the golfer to come and have a enjoyable and memorable experience." Which happens to be the philosophy of Gene Bates.

Leona would often walk the property with her family and visit their favorite spot, dubbed the "Healing Tree", a massive Douglas Fir which is well over 300 years old and will remain an integral part of the golf course design. Given the sloping terrain it was ideal for a winery, thus in the master plan (Eventually 2100 units) of homes, hotel will be a world class winery complete with wine caves for home owners to "brew" their own.

Course builder and partner Ian Renton has world class recognition with such premier courses as Greywolf Golf Course in Panorama and Big Sky Golf and Country Club in Pemberton BC (20 minutes north of Whistler)

The third partner, Jim Radford, transplanted from South Africa has a wealth of knowledge on urban planning and community development. Jim worked very closely with Predator Ridge Resort and the City of Vernon.

The reclaimed water program, from the City of Vernon's Treatment Plant, measures inexcess of 13 million gallons which means the course will never have to be concerned with dry spells, the course will always look lush and healthy.

The vast sprawling property will maintain its sensitivity to nature with approximately 1/3 for the golf course, 1/3 for development and the remaining 1/3 to nature.