Who says you can’t play golf in Kelowna late December?

It’s the very end of December and the weather is supposed to be for skiing not for golf.

How about both?

That was the popular sentiment from golfers who have been soaking up the sunshine and high single digit temperatures on the Shadow Ridge golf course.

“I rushed back home from skiing Big White, and I get to play golf here … it’s heaven on earth,” one excited golfer told Kelowna10.

“It’s amazing, I was skiing the other day and now I’m here playing golf,” said another.

One player had just returned from a sunny holiday in the United States.

“I was in Florida playing golf last week and this is just as damned nice!” he said. “This is the Palm Springs of Canada right here."

For many players who are delighted to get out of the house during the holiday season, this has been a unique experience.

“I’ve lived in the Okanagan my whole life and I don’t think I’ve ever had the opportunity to golf between Christmas and News Year’s,” a player said before heading out.

It may not be break-sweat weather, but the course is green and has proven to be very popular since it re-opened just before Christmas.

“It’s amazing, the enthusiasm level is increasing and every day we get more and more people,” Alex, the assistant at the Pro Shop said. “People are just ready to golf, and given we’re the only public course that’s open, we’re getting golfers from Peachland, Summerland, Vernon and Penticton.”

While there are no promises, if the weather stays this way, the course could stay open into January.

“As of right now we’re playing it by ear but if the weather stays good, we’re hoping to stay open in January,” Alex said.

For the moment, Shadow Ridge will stay open until Sunday with an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start.

It costs $55 to play 18 holes and $35 for nine.