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Bear fails to interrupt golfers in Vernon

‘It definitely was hard to putt with a bear that close, but we got it done’
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A bear was spotted at the Rise Golf Course around hole 16 on May 28, 2020, around 8:30 p.m. (Jon McIntyre - submitted)

Golfers at the Rise in Vernon encountered a different kind of obstacle Thursday night at hole 16.

“I’ve never seen a bear while golfing that close,” Jon McIntyre said about his encounter around 8:30 p.m., May 28.

Vernon conservation officer Tanner Beck said it’s not all that uncommon to see all sorts of wildlife on a golf course as it is a big, wide open green space.

“If it’s just being a natural bear and there are no attractants, it’s best to give it space just as you would in the wild,” Beck said.

But the photo, snapped by McIntyre himself, shows the game must go on!

“It wouldn’t move,” he said. “So after waiting it out for a bit, we just decided to play.”

“It definitely was hard to putt with a bear that close, but we got it done.”

The Rise’s director of golf, Chad Scott, said the golf course is no stranger to bears.

“We do have some resident bears that make an appearance from time to time,” he said. “If the photo is a bear of a light brown, almost reddish colour, we and the members affectionately refer to her as ‘Cinnamon.’”

Cinnamon, he said, has had various offspring over the years and this year, she has two cubs in tow.

“She has never caused an issue and golfers are very good about giving her and other bears space,” Scott said. “The photo opportunity is usually short lived as they move off the course fairly fast.”

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@caitleerach
Caitlin.clow@vernonmorningstar.com

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