Poised for growth
Meet the team who are bringing the Redstone Resort and Rossland Golf Course into the future
Well manicured greens and lush forest lining the holes add to the natural beauty of the Rossland Golf Course.—photo by Andrew Zwicker
“We originally came for the skiing, to have a place in the snow, and to enjoy the mountains. Now we hardly ski at all,” said Robert Felsch, co-owner of Redstone Resort. Sitting down to a fabulous four-course dinner prepared by Redstone’s new chef, the effervescent Michelle Germain, outdoors on the clubhouse patio with five of the Redstone family, it’s easy to see where the course gets its genuine laid-back and friendly feel. Originally from Australia, Robert Felsch and his wife Robin, or Rob and Rob as they’re better known, make great company over dinner as their bubbly personalities play off one another like a broadway show, exhibiting their strong ties and welcoming nature. The couple had been coming over to Rossland to ski Red Mountain and ended up buying a parcel of land at the base of the ski area and developing the first ski-in, ski-out condos at the mountain. Through his integrity on the ski area development Rob won much community support before ultimately getting involved in the Redstone development. The other half of the ownership story is Cary Fisher, a hockey player at heart; the sport took him to Alaska where he played at the university level. A planned land purchase at the mountain, which didn’t go through, led Fisher to Rossland and an unexpected career move to managing community futures and strengthening their loans program. Fisher, knowing Robert for his development at the ski area, tried on several occasions to convince Robert to buy the course. Eventually Rob accepted a whereinFisher would take on the operations with the help of Robert’s financing. “You know I never appreciated how much of a visual experience golf was until I really started playing,” said Rob as we teed up on the short par three 17th hole. The pond running between hole 16 and 17 is a prime example of Redstone’s passion for a visually stunning course with its natural looking stone-lined rim. Around each corner of the course, there are different views looking up to Rossland perched on the hillside above or further up to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Roberts, Record Ridge, OK and Red Mountain. The blend of forest lining the holes makes for three seasons of beautiful foliage. The fruit trees and willows spaced around the front nine bloom in the spring, the aspen and alder leaves fill in the gaps among the spruce and cedars, and in the fall the forest comes ablaze with streaks of orange, red and yellow glowing hemlocks livening up the landscape as the golf season winds down. h3. Contagious enthusiasm Having the pleasure of playing several rounds of golf with Barry McLean and John Reed, the managers of Redstone in operations and sales/marketing respectively, I began to pick up their enthusiasm and camaraderie over the resort and real estate project they are deeply involved in. Talking about their course like proud fathers of a son or daughter, the two pointed out all of the subtleties of the course that give it its personality, such as the massive natural stone bench along the cart path on the back nine, or certain tough spots on the course that will be fixed up to make it more playable. “Now I always seem to end up caught up in those few trees sticking out there. Hey John, get a saw and clean that area out, will ya,” said McLean with his trademark laugh and Nova Scotian heritage showing through. Born and raised in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, McLean has maintained his low-key, good-humoured Maritime charm throughout the travels life has taken him on. After a stint in Grand Forks, McLean moved down under with his Australian wife where he set up shop running a backpacker’s inn, coincidentally enough, just next door to Rob and Rob’s place. Rob soon asked if McLean had heard of a little place called Rossland, and McLean brought him on board with the project. Now splitting his time between Australia and Rossland, McLean is helping build a great golf course, and helping create the fun atmosphere of the course. A natural host, John Reed got involved with Redstone after a career in tourism that brought the Ontario native out to the West Coast before settling into Rossland. Before taking on the marketing and sales for Redstone, Reed ran an adventure tourism business out of Squamish, and still keeps his finger in that world today, putting together the Winter Quest event here in the Kootenays. “The hospital here was great with our children and we just really wanted to give something back,” said Reed, filling us in on his mini eco-challenge style event that raises money each year for the neo-natal unit at the Trail Hospital. Although golf is a relatively new sport to him, he’s clearly had some good tips and lots of practice. His good-natured friendly attitude has served him well—both on the course and in passing along the family atmosphere among the Redstone staff. Many of Reed’s golf tips I’m sure have come courtesy of one of the top women’s amateur players in the region—Loretta Bulfone—who has only recently given up her amateur status to teach professionally. “You’ve really got a beautiful swing, Roseanne; with just a bit of refinement you’ll really have something there,” said Bulfone of our golf partner’s swing. Bulfone displays such a casual and calm demeanour that is so easy to accept her advice and instruction. Anyone who has ever had a negative golf experience with an overbearing partner spewing tips and advice should say hello to Bulfone and let her reintroduce the love of the game to them. Playing a few holes with Bulfone, I quickly gained respect for her relationship-building skills that allow her to get into the mind of her students and bring the best out of their game. h3. A perfect ending After finishing another delicious meal from Chef Germain’s newly introduced menu—including a slice of down under in the Aussie burger complete with fried egg end and beetroot on the lunch menu, and salmon, stuffed chicken and other culinary treats on the dinner menu—the softly lit outdoor patio was the perfect place to relax with a glass of port. For several hours we all chatted away the evening over good wine, better dessert and under a near full moon rising over Lake Mountain which cast shadows on the new residential development on the hill overlooking the course. After chatting about everything from mackerel fishing to the future prospects of the town and golf course, we said our goodbyes. The future of Redstone seems strong as they have a solid foundation of good people creating a family that is sure to grow. For more information on Redstone Resort, go to "www.redstoneresort.com(the resort website)":http://www.redstoneresort.com or phone 1-877-362-4555.
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Invermere, BC
Slow the pace, change the scenery and bask in the moment.
Own your piece of adventure with a resort condominium in Invermere, British Columbia. Nestled in the heart of the Kootenays, between the Purcell and Canadian Rocky Mountains overlooking the The Ridge at Copper Point, Copper Point Resort is more than your ordinary destination property. With easy access to premier golf courses, world renowned skiing and the picturesque Lake Windermere, Copper Point Resort offers year round attractions. With a condo at Copper Point Resort, you can enjoy all the amenities of a five-star hotel at home, including a full service spa, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness facilities, restaurant, lounge and much more. Whole and fractional ownership is available.