iN VIDEO: Playing Rattlesnake Island's 50-year-old abandoned mini putt course | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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iN VIDEO: Playing Rattlesnake Island's 50-year-old abandoned mini putt course

Tammy Reid was playing mini putt on the ruins of the 50-year-old course on Rattlesnake Island.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/MV Stormy One Adventures

A couple of explorers from Penticton brought their golf clubs over to Rattlesnake Island to play mini putt in the ruins of the 1970s theme park.

Tammy and James Reid are the hosts of MV Stormy One Adventures on YouTube. During one of their regular boat trips up Lake Okanagan from Penticton to Fintry and back, they planned a golfing date at Rattlesnake Island, and made it into an episode on their channel.

The grand vision for an amusement park on Rattlesnake Island was never realized and not much more than a mini putt course was ever built before the site became a part of Okanagan Mountain Park, which belongs to B.C. Parks. 

The island began getting developed into the park shortly after it was purchased by Peachland's Eddie Haymour in 1970. There was a statue of a camel's head and a miniature Great Pyramid of Giza on the island, but only the pyramid's foundation remains today.

Haymour became somewhat of a legend as he battled the B.C. government trying to build his park. Shortly after, he underwent legal troubles, spent some time prison, and then took hostages at the Canadian embassy in Beirut. (More about Haymour in the link below.)

READ MORE: The legend of Eddy Haymour: How Rattlesnake island almost became a theme park

“It’s pretty rustic,” Tammy said about what's left of the course. “There are quite a few weeds and it’s overgrown. Some of the course is a little broken here and there, but definitely worth going to if you get the chance, and the view is just beautiful.”

First their video captures the panoramic views leading up to Rattlesnake Island, and then there's a little tour of the local landscape, flora and ruins of the course.

Considering how the course has been getting weathered for the past half-century, playing on it has become increasingly difficult. Keeping the ball on the course can be a challenge as many of the guardrails are no longer there.

But the couple doesn't mind facing the hardy elements to play their game.

Two of the holes had a plant growing out of them, before James yanked one out to help Tammy sink a shot.

“A lot of the cement that was there is gone now. It can be hard playing around the natural rocks and trees and weeds that are all growing. You have to kind of walk around and hunt for some of the holes.”

READ MORE: Rattlesnake Island and Peachland's most infamous resident featured at film festival

There didn’t seem to be any way of knowing the par for any hole, but Tammy and James weren’t keeping score anyway.

They also enjoy visiting the island when they’re not golfing. Tammy is surprised by how many locals have never been, and she’s heard of some people are afraid it might be covered in rattlesnakes. But in her experience that hasn't been true – she's never seen one there.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/MV Stormy One Adventures

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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