Kelowna golf clubs want to start serving liquor at 9 a.m.

KELOWNA – Golfers at Gallagher’s Canyon and the Okanagan Golf Club aren’t likely to be able to get a drink any earlier or later than they already do.

City staff are recommending against an application from the owner of the two golf courses to add an extra hour of drinking time on either end of their current hours of 10 a.m. to midnight.

Golf B.C. Holdings Inc. claims the changes to its liquor primary license is necessary as their client base skews younger and will 'better serve the golf playing public and allow them to accommodate events going later into the night.'

It also says the change will provide additional employment for local residents, add tax revenue to all three levels of government and help diversify the array of hospitality venues available to the public.

The city doesn’t see it that way and has similar concerns about both locations.

In a report to Kelowna city council, urban planner Paul McVey says the move lacks support from the RCMP and puts patrons into remote locations with limited taxi service.

There is also concerns about increased noise in what are already established quiet residential communities.

Alternatively staff say they are willing to support the service extension in the morning but not the evening.

Gallagher’s Canyon has a capacity of 171 persons on its liquor license while the Okanagan Gold Club is licensed for 76 persons.

Council recently turned down an informal request from downtown nightclubs to extend their bar service by 30 minutes to 2:30 a.m. Instead, it approved an additional three special occasion licenses per year with extended openings.

Councillors will consider the recommendation at their evening meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Kelowna City Hall.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.