In early June, Greg Norman and members of Great White Shark Enterprises, visited Ponderosa with daughter Morgan-Leigh Norman to check out the latest golf course construction and to gather information about the Okanagan Wineindustry with the thought of possibly dabbling into the area themselves. Ice wine has yet been added to their portfolio of wines and the Okanagan Valley is recognized as the world leader in Ice Wine production.




Greg Norman’s own passion for fine wine was the catalyst behind the Greg Norman Estate Wines - a collection of wine from some of the best wine growing regions in Australia and California. An avid wine collector and strong believer in the positive role of wine in a healthy, active lifestyle, Norman’s goal was to produce approachable wines that would compete worldwide.





Another highlight of the Norman visit included the 4x4 golf course tour of the progress of golf course construction and taking in the amazing valley and Lake Okanagan views from every hole. Derek Chichak C.O.O. for Treegroup checked in with Norman to ensure that Treegroup is staying on track with Greg’s vision for Ponderosa and Treegroup’s vision, to be a top- ranked golf course from the get-go. As the 7200 yard signature course at Ponderosa progresses, it is more apparent than ever that this course will rival the best courses in North America, if not in the world!

Legendary golfer, Greg Norman, aka The Shark, was on-site in Peachland last Friday to survey his new design and construction progress of the Ponderosa Golf Course. Management executives from Treegroup Developments and members of the Greg Norman Golf Course Design team walked the course in the brisk autumn air. It was a clear day and easy to see some of the spectacular views that the new design will feature, overlooking Lake Okanagan and the waterfront town of Peachland. The site promises terrific views for both golfers and homeowners alike at what many are saying will be the finest Okanagan golf course community.

The golf course construction has been moving along briskly, with completion expected in 2012. Along with the new golf course, road infrastructure for the new home community has been progressing as the Ponderosa village centre and new golf club facility sit adjacent to the new course. Pre-selling of initial real estate including single family and multi-family new homes is expected to begin in 2011. The new homes at Ponderosa in Peachland will be a welcome addition to the Kelowna real estate market as they are expected to provide great value, sustainable features and offer a variety of housing options for different markets including young family buyers, retired empty-nesters and vacation home buyers.

Rising up from the waterfront to Pincushion Mountain, historic Peachland is one of the most desirable locations to live in and purchase Okanagan real estate, graced by amazing views and a close-knit community atmosphere. As part of the town of Peachland, the Ponderosa new home community will capture the style and character of the region in its architecture as well as its culture, embracing a healthy lifestyle and offering year round recreational amenities.

When Greg Norman first visited the Ponderosa site in 2008, he described it as a gem. His team referred to the Peachland region as a combination of Lake Tahoe and Napa. By all recent accounts, Ponderosa promises to be one of the finest golf courses in Canada, and offer the best new home opportunities in Kelowna and Okanagan real estate.

On a recent tour of the Okanagan with MP Stockwell Day, Bill Berisoff reported in the Peachland View newspaper as follows: "Up in the valley in Peachland another world-class project is underway, the Ponderosa Golf Course currently under construction under the guidance of legendary PGA golfer Greg Norman. In a few short years this region will be home to a truly international caliber golf course that may well be the finest in our country. I know from meeting with many Peachland residents recently there is excitement in the air regarding the potential of this new golf course, and the opportunities it will create for the Peachland community."

Along with a world-class Greg Norman golf course and golf academy, the 400 acre new home community of Ponderosa will offer a wide variety of Okanagan Valley real estate options including golf course homes, town homes and condominiums, many with spectacular views and all located within the quaint waterfront town of Peachland. Additional community amenities include a premium winery, luxury hotel, outdoor amphitheatre, village centre with central plaza, cafes, restaurants and an innovative year round outdoor skating rink.

Peachland View April 23 2010 - New Ponderosa Map / Score Card Revealed
Billion Dollar Tee Time Coming Soon

Rising above the quaint Okanagan Valley town of Peachland is Pincushion Mountain, so named for a fire that swept through in the 1800s and left blackened tree trunks in its wake. Its summit is the highest vantage point in town, offering a panoramic view of nearly one third of the valley, with Kelowna’s upscale Mission district to the west and the vast vineyards of Naramata to the south.

It is here, just below the summit’s unprecedented vista of mountain and azure lake waters, that a new, billion-dollar community is being built. Far from a cookie-cutter Okanagan real estate project, Ponderosa will gently exist among hundreds of acres of fir and pine forest, offering unparalled recreation opportunities in a natural setting.

Located in the centre of the Okanagan Valley, Peachland is a year-round paradise featuring 300 days of sunshine, 11 kilometres of accessible beaches and small town charm. It’s just 10 minutes from the urban conveniences of West Kelowna and perfectly situated for drives to golf courses, ski hills, orchards, vineyards and more than 100 wineries.

Starting construction this year, Ponderosa will be a community within a community, complimenting charming Peachland while offering a mix of housing opportunities, and all surrounding a new, Greg Norman designed, signature Okanagan golf course.

Inspired by the unique mountain terrain of the site, the Ponderosa Golf Course will be championship calibre that offers both challenge and playability.

“Our goal is to create a golf course that mimics the unique characteristics of the site as well as the surrounding familiarity of the town,” says Lee Marshall, design associate with Greg Norman Golf Course Design.

Known in golf circles as The Shark, Greg Norman is one of the most prolific international players in golf history. He was the number one ranked player for 331 consecutive weeks and maintained active membership in the U.S., European and Australasian tours. Playing many of the world’s greatest golf courses over his 25-year career led to an interest in golf course design.

In 1987, Norman established his design company and it has completed more than 70 golf courses on six continents. Award winning in design, many of Norman’s courses have been awarded the Audobon Society Award for environmental stewardship.

“Because each design bears my name, I personally make it my mission to get involved with every step of the golf course design process, from walking the virgin site, to planning and construction, to opening day,” says Norman, who called the Ponderosa land, “A magnificent site.”

During a visit to the Okanagan, Norman commented, “It’s like Napa Valley meets Lake Tahoe.” Vancouver-based Treegroup Developments Corp. is developing the Ponderosa real estate community in the Okanagan, and CEO Norm Porter invited Norman in 2008 to check out the existing 18-hole course. One helicopter ride convinced the golf legend of the site’s championship potential.

The Ponderosa Golf Course has been a Peachland icon and regional favourite for more than 30 years, offering unique terrain and lake viewpoints. With the addition of hundreds of acres of new land, Norman has been given a blank canvas to create a dream course. Norman’s design company has come up with a 7,100-yard course that uses the challenging elevation changes of the site by strategically placing the course among the existing slopes, benches and forest. Multiple tee areas, bunkering and landscaping will help define the course, creating a memorable and exciting experience for all levels of players.

The result will be a signature course gently wrapped around the base of Pincushion Mountain offering unprecedented lake views in a natural setting. Ponderosa will feature a mix of hole lengths and challenges, from a peppy 199-yard hole, to the forest-lined, 653-yard fairway next door. Wrapping up the experience for Ponderosa golfers will be the 532-yard 18^th hole, situated on a ridge running parallel to and offering awesome views of, Lake Okanagan.

Golfers will begin and end their Ponderosa experience at the world-class clubhouse, situated in the heart of the community’s new village centre. Within walking distance will be a vineyard and winery, luxury hotel, shops, restaurants and golf academy. Nearby will be the central plaza, featuring an amphitheatre and year-round, outdoor ice rink.

Built with pedestrians in mind, the Ponderosa community will feature miles of walking trails, linking residents and visitors to the village centre from all residential areas and out into the natural preserved areas, including up to the lookout at the top of Pincushion Mountain.

More than 2,000 housing units will be built at Ponderosa, one of the Okanagan Valley’s largest real estate projects, from resort-oriented condos to single-family and multifamily homes that will cater to all ages and income levels. Homes will feature sustainable, energy-efficient designs with year-round liveability in a thoughtfully designed community.

The new Ponderosa Golf Course is scheduled to open in 2011.

Peachland, B.C. – Work on Peachland’s largest development and only golf course is moving ahead with crews concentrating on fire fuel mitigation and fairway clearing. The project is on schedule with a 2011 target for opening the new Ponderosa Golf Course.