Though he won鈥檛 be putting away his golf clubs any time soon, Rick Jager is ready to let go of Eagle River Golf & Country Club.

Located in Sicamous along the Eagle River, the approximately 35-acre golf course is currently listed for $2.85 million. The nine-hole course with practice putting green includes a two-level clubhouse with full kitchen and seating for 142 people as well as two residential suites, over 3,000 feet of Eagle River frontage with access and water rights, 10 fully serviced RV camping sites along the river, a five-bay garage and more.

Jager said a lot of work has gone into the golf course since he and his late wife, Marianne, purchased it from friends in 1987.

鈥淲hen we first bought it they called it 鈥榯he Farm,鈥欌�� laughed Jager. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done a lot. We鈥檝e rebuilt greens and fairways and added onto the club house, built a huge deck. We now have an approval for a 5,000-square foot patio/staging area out the front. We鈥檒l be able to handle weddings and, you know, company parties, larger groups, maybe some entertainers.鈥�

At 75 years old, Jager said he鈥檚 ready to make a change in his life.

鈥淚鈥檝e been here 36 years and鈥� I want to travel a little bit,鈥� said Jager. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a family business, our mark in life, our legacy. We love the place, we put our hearts and souls into it for years. But it鈥檚 time to get some younger people in here, some young blood, to change and improve things a little more.鈥�

Jager said there鈥檚 still plenty of opportunity to grow the business and ways for the future owners to make their mark.

鈥淪ledders are asking, why don鈥檛 you keep the restaurant and lounge open and the bar for winter, so we can come, we鈥檝e got a place where we can park our sleds?鈥� said Jager. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a real big parking lot here, they can park and come and have dinner and a little bit of fun before they go home to bed for the next day鈥檚 work.鈥�

Over the years, Jager has seen golfers of all ages make use of the greens at Eagle River, referring to the sport as something families can enjoy together.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the only sports around where the whole family, great grandma and grandpa, 90 years old, can still go out and play with great grandchildren,鈥� said Jager. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a family sport. There鈥檚 not too many like that. Maybe bowling.鈥�

While he鈥檚 looking forward to seeing ownership of Eagle River Golf & Country Club in someone else鈥檚 hands, his own hands will continue to be swinging clubs there.

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鈥淲hen I sell the golf course and I鈥檓 retired, I鈥檒l be hanging around here a lot golfing,鈥� said Jager. 鈥淚鈥檒l be golfing at least four or five times a week 鈥� plus other things. I鈥檓 not going to be one of these guys who retires, sits on a couch and dies a year later. That鈥檚 not me. I have to be doing something.鈥�

Asked what he鈥檚 heard from the community about his retirement plans, Jager said he鈥檚 had people ask why and saying they don鈥檛 want him to sell.

鈥淚 said, well, the people that come in, they鈥檙e going to be way nicer than us,鈥� laughed Jager. 鈥淕eez, I tell you, some people. I said I鈥檝e got to retire too, you know.鈥�

Jager is grateful for the many friends he鈥檚 made over the years at the golf course, and that camaraderie shared between staff and guests is something he鈥檒l miss, somewhat.

鈥淲e鈥檝e made so many excellent friends, good friends, locally and from Alberta, Saskatchewan, it doesn鈥檛 matter where,鈥� said Jager. 鈥淲hen they come through the door in the spring, when they first get out here, everybody gets a hug. And when they leave in the fall, everybody gets a hug again. My whole staff is like that鈥� it鈥檚 just a real friendly place. I鈥檓 going to miss that 鈥� but I鈥檓 still going to be hanging around here so I鈥檓 not going to miss it all the time.鈥�

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