History…..

While focusing on the expansion and upgrading of Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course, the history of the former golf course, Cherry Grove Golf & Country Club seems to have gone by the wayside. Paul Eisenhut was one of the main people involved in the original project.

Before there ever was any golfing at The Grove, the land was leased out and used to grow vegetables, primarily tomatoes. This vegetable business gave up after about four years and the land was just left to revert back to grass.

In 1960, Paul Eisenhut Sr., Don Coy and Paul Eisenhut Jr. began working on a lease with the Osoyoos Indian Band. The Chief at the time was Chief Manual Louie. Working with Chief Louie, the Dept. of Indian Affairs, Dave Pugh (the local M.P. at the time), and Band Members, a lease was finally secured in March of 1961. The term of the lease was 40 years. At this time, two other investors were added to the consortium; Fred Tomlin and Cec Dugan.

The original concept was for an 18 hole golf course, a Motel at Tuc el Nuit Lake and a campground. There were no plans for a Mobile Home Park in the original concept. The original lease compromised 95 acres which included the beach property and the present Mobile Home Park. At this time the Oroville Golf Course had just been built the year before, Fairview Mountain was just a rough 9-hole track with sand greens, and the Osoyoos Golf Course didn’t even exist.

The original golf course plans were drawn up by Paul Eisenhut Jr.  One of the main things governing the design was the cost of the irrigation system. Trying to keep the golf course condensed, working around the power lines, and not making it just a basic layout with all the fairways side by side was a challenge. Another major obstacle to overcome was the fact that Tuc el Nuit Drive, which was more of a trail at the time, came right across the golf course. The road had to be moved and rebuilt at the owner’s expense. It was eventually paved by the Government and that’s how it got to be where it is today.

On March 13, 1961, construction started on the golf course itself. With the help of 15 to 20 Band Members, they were ready to plant grass by June of that same year. Because of the summer heat, the irrigation system had to be run 24 hours a day and the sprinklers were moved around the clock to make sure the 40 plus acres of grass would grow. Had they not done this it would have delayed the opening by about a year. In the fall of 1961 the anxious owners and workers opened for one weekend just to try it out.

In 1961, 15 acres of peaches were also planted in the area now occupied by the Cherry Grove Estates. The revenue from the peaches was used to help offset the initial cost of the golf course and the operating losses for the first few years.

And the rest is ….