NEW CANADIANS SAY SALMON ARM IS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE,

Joaney and Rene Vanderkraats, owners of The Inn at the Ninth Hole, and their daughters Sabrina and Mariska became Canadian citizens on Dec. 4 2008 at a ceremony in Vernon.

The family emigrated from the Netherlands in Feb. 2004 and looked for a business they could start or buy. In Holland they owned a large store that specialized in camping gear and outdoor equipment.

They bought The Inn at the Ninth Hole, a six-room bed and breakfast between Highway 97B and the Salmon Arm Golf Course. They are the third Dutch owners in its 12-year history.  If Joaney and Rene really wanted to have an inn, they would need a restaurant. They choose to serve only breakfast and to operate the business with no outside help, just the two of them.

What is different in Canada? They enjoy the wide-open spaces, living close to nature and in a less stressful environment. They say the people here are friendlier. Stores and supermarkets provide better service and schools prepare kids better for life.  Governments listen when you write them, and get back to you. “Salmon Arm is the best place to live and work! It’s hard to find a better place!”

The guests at the inn are golfers, travelers, business people and people who want a getaway close to home.  Many are repeat customers. Joaney and Rene work with 10 golf courses. They are given special rates when they book tee times. A guest might check their website at www.ninthhol.com, book a multi-night stay and ask them to book golf at different courses, book restaurants, wine tours, sail cruises or go river rafting. 

They use local products in their breakfasts and they promote local restaurants and businesses. They have a van and deliver guests at no charge to a restaurant and will pick them up if it’s before 9 p.m. Always striving to improve their B&B, for the last four years they received the highest possible score in HelloBC tourism’s accommodation guide, won two awards, a local people’s choice 2007 and a international award as one of the best world wide. They use only a toll-free number, 1-800-221-5955, and do a lot of business through info@ninthhol.com.

Salmon Arm B&B  takes top people’s Choice Award  By Goody Niosi writer

Salmon Arm- The people have spoken, and the owners of the Inn at the Ninth Hole couldn’t be happier.

The bed & breakfast was named winners of the People’s Choice Award at the Salmon Arm Chamber of commerce Business Excellence Awards, based largely on the comments guests made in the past year about the Inn. Rene Vanderkraats who owns the Inn with his wife Joaney, says he was thrilled with winning the award. Judging by the guests comments, it would seem his description is accurate.

One guest wrote:” the best b&b in Canada! Great rooms, clean, comfortable and quiet. Lovely location and great hospitality”. Another wrote: “Year after year, excellent accommodation service. Constantly high standard of comfort, cleanliness, food preparation and presentation and cheerful helpfulness” Many more comments fill the pages at the Inn web site, and it’s little wonder the Inn was also nominated in Three other categories at the annual chamber awards. The Vanderkraats purchased the Inn at 5091 20^th Ave Se four years ago, and Rene says the success of the property is due a combination of things. First it’s setting surrounded  by forest and nestled next to the eight hole of the local golf course. No, it’s not the ninth-not since the golf course was rebuilt and the holes where moved. Then there are the rooms: Six luxury guest rooms ranging in size from 400 – 875 square feet and each with an en-suite bathroom and sitting area. Rooms come with fireplaces, private entrance, televisions, dvd players, duvets, fleece blankets and more. Some even have jetted tubs. Vanderkraats says the level of service is also outstanding- and there is the food. “ We serve a great breakfast, one of the best in the region” We do something different every day and we use local produce,” he says.

“We always have fresh fruit salads and we always have milk, yogurt, butter and eggs fresh from the farm. We always serve two or three sorts of whole wheat bread, coffee, tea and hot chocolate and we make French toast or Dutch pancakes-it’s a little different every time” Making sure the food is the best available means driving 120 km to a local orchard for the best apple juice in the region and scouring the country side and local farmers markets for whatever is the best in season.

Cleanliness is another hallmark of the Inn at the Ninth Hole, in fact it is so clean that many guests comment on it, even male golfers who stay there for golf tournaments. Before the Vanderkraats bought The Inn at the Ninth Hole, it was generally known as a summer place. That is changing rapidly , Vanderkraats says. People are discovering the four seasons of Salmon Arm with hiking, trail riding and cross country skiing in the off season. Golfers used to be the main business of the Inn. Today many people from other parts of the province are coming to the Inn for a quiet , luxury getaway that’s is within an hour drive from, mountains, desserts, orchards and vineyards. ‘I’ve seen quite a lot of the world” Vanderkraats says.

“we’ve got everything here” It is one of the best places to live and work”.  

Business Thompson Okanagan December 2007