Golf certainly became popular with many taking up the game, continuing to play or revisiting the sport after taking a few years off. It seemed like a great time to see if  there would be interest in Central Alberta. Thanks to support and an introduction from Scott Bergdahl we were able to plan a program in Central Alberta.  This year we offered a Spring Tune Up for the intermediate players and Level 1 Beginner lessons at the Lakewood Golf Resort with both Scott and Jordan Jensen teaching. The ladies have also had the opportunity to play at a different golf course each week experiencing some very nice courses in Central Alberta. Thank you to Balmoral, Innisfail, Sylvan Lake, Spirit Creek, Lakewood, Ponoka, Alberta Springs, Lacombe, Whispering Pines and Wolf Creek for supporting our program.

A big thank you to my long time friend Theodora Bradley (Red Deer Coordinator) for wanting to help get it started in Red Deer and for Desiree’s perseverance and determination to make sure we had our numbers to run. It was a challenging start but thanks to some enthusiastic and flexible ladies Golfaround Red Deer was born June 1 2021.

I only have a couple to post this month. If you have an exceptional moment you would like to share, send us the details and we will make sure you get your moment of glory. Colleen Flinta got a Birdie on Hole #7 at Wintergreen, she had a beauty shot on and we made her take her time with her putt. Too bad I forgot the birdie juice. It was a “hot” one last night at Sirocco and I think Sharon Sandwell was on fire, she had great game and her highlight was chipping in to the hole.

Golfing around offers us the opportunity to play at many wonderful golf courses and we all have our favorites for sure. Maybe it is where we finally broke a hundred or got our first birdie. There are so many incredible golf courses in Alberta to choose from, many of which are included in our league play. Situated in the foothills of the Rockies is a lesser played, but in our estimation a must play golf course, Livingstone, a hidden gems for sure. It is a beautiful 9 hole track just 30 minutes west from the Calgary city limits. This course has an authentic untamed aura and the scenery is hard to beat. You will love the serene feel of the environment as you play pristine fairways and enjoy the great scenery, you may even be lucky enough to see some of the wildlife that roam the area. Each hole offers a new, exciting and challenging experience. Following your round you should stop for a bite, the food was great and the staff superb and the hanging baskets were outstanding.  We encourage you to take the road less traveled and we are confident you will not be disappointed.

A recent article in the AMA insider talks about “Diamonds in the Rough” Alberta’s best under -the- radar golf courses and guess what Golfaround has experienced many of these. Pine Hills at Rocky Mountain House was the location of a Mystery Bus Trip where Calgary and Edmonton met to have a fun tournament with a Mad Hatter Tea Party theme. The course is tough, undulating but enjoyable and the natural ambience is spectacular. Speargrass was another gem and we get to play this one in the Day league, just love the finish along the Bow River. The Edmonton crew got the opportunity to play Coal Creek, a rough and ragged abandoned mining site. The setting is definitely memorable with black coal-slag bunkers lined with fescue. This is a hidden gem we would love to play someday. Desert Blume in Medicine Hat was another Mystery Bus Trip locale. Deserts, canyons, coulees and cliffs all come into play here. Not sure if you may remember when we left Calgary it was pouring rain and Desert Blume was the only sunny place in Alberta that day for sure. Last but not least is Black Bull which is about halfway between Red Deer and Edmonton. It is a tough course but evidently a great golfing experience. Black Bull has earned a reputation as one of Alberta’s most rewarding, challenging, and impressive golf courses being played today. The sheer scenic beauty alone, along with golfers’ quests to “Tame the Bull” keeps players coming back. We will have to try this someday I am sure it will be fun.

Next leg, Nelson BC and, unbelievable as it may sound, this city is among just a handful of small cities in North America that can lay claim to a unique mix, an unusual abundance of big city cosmopolitan amenities , coupled with  small town charm. Our location, at the Hume Hotel & Spa, is right in downtown close to the action. Action , you say, but you will feel the funky vibe and authenticity after a quick stroll down historic Baker Street, a vibrant main street that is a true adventure in itself. You’ll find galleries, museum browsing, alluring back lanes, over a dozen pubs, live music venues and dance clubs. For those with a zest for fine dining, retail fashion, nights on the town or relaxing days and stimulating conversations in a local coffee shop,  it is there for the asking. Nelson boasts 50 restaurants and cafes, in fact more per capita than San Francisco, many with outdoor seasonal patios adding to that cosmopolitan feel

Our second round of golf is the Balfour Golf Course  a magnificent 6510-yard golfing challenge, designed by Les Furber, what a course, what a view, what a layout. Winding up and down through the Selkirk Mountains will make it a challenge I am sure. I read that it’s a real shot maker’s course, especially the back side. With lots of elevated tees and greens you need to hit a straight ball so I should do OK,  short, in more ways than one, and accurate. We must make sure to eat at the clubhouse, I heard the  food was amazing.

A few miles down the highway you will find Granite Pointe I have heard it is a challenging but manageable course with stunning views of Nelson and the surrounding area. The front nine begins with park-like settings, generous fairways, and spectacular scenery however we may have some mountain climbing to do as we head to start the back nine. Your concentration may be challangeded as it can be hampered by the many magnificent vistas that include the crystal waters of Kootenay Lake, the historic city of Nelson and the surrounding area.

We will be sad to leave Nelson but excited to go and experience Rossland.

One of the common questions at the start of the golf season, especially from new golfers is “what golf clubs do I need”. In most cases we advise new golfers to wait until their lessons and check with the golf professional to advise them. We do ensure that members have clubs for lessons. If you are just taking up the game you can either borrow some clubs or purchase some used ones. It really doesn’t matter initially, but get a few woods, some irons and a putter and a bag. Get some inexpensive golf balls and you will be good to go.

If after a few months you think golf is here to stay, then you definitely need better equipment. You could buy a set of used golf clubs from a pro shop or second-hand sporting goods store, or you could buy a new set. The used option would be cheaper, about half the price of a new set, and would be satisfactory until you decided to make a commitment to golf as your pastime of choice.

The sport of golf offers more equipment choices than any other sport and it can be very confusing for even the experienced golfer. Another problem area is the gendering of golf clubs. What I mean by that is there are ladies clubs, men’s clubs, senior clubs and everything in between. This environment can lead salespeople to classify customers by age or gender rather than as unique individuals and result in the purchase of ill-fitting clubs. As mentioned previously it is much better to consult with a golf professional who is knowledgeable about you and your skills.

Then there are those experienced golfers who like to see what new each year especially drivers and putters. It is especially important to test run both these items to ensure that they are the right clubs for you and your game. Putting accounts for a third of your stokes so many pros have more than one putter, as do recreational golfers.

Another thing that the pros think a lot about and we recreational golfers should be aware of are the grips on your clubs, if they have a sheen in any spots you are probably past due for some new handles. When you do re-grip your clubs make sure the size of that the size of the grip is correct for you because the size will effect the way you deliver the club into the ball. Treat you clubs well and they will return the favor.

You also want to avoid yardage gaps throughout your set and also avoid any tightly bunched yardages too. For example, if you have a 4 and 5 hybrid that go roughly the same distance, as I do, you may want to ditch the 5 for an extra wedge or wood.

We just finished watching Lisa’s Golf Town clinic which is also about golf equipment and offers much more detail and many more interesting facts so check out the link and increase your golf knowledge.

 

Our planned trip this year The Kootenay Golf Trail is something we can look forward to. I am sure that like us you are all missing the golf get-a-ways and the mystery bus trip but if we all do what we are supposed to do we will be able to go back to enjoying life as it used to be. The next couple of news feeds will feature some of the fabulous stops on this amazing  journey.

The route from Creston to Kokaney Springs along Highway 3A is beautiful. Allow plenty of time to meander along this winding road to enjoy the views across the lake to the mountains beyond. The distance From Creston to Crawford Bay is only 80 kilometers but it will take at least 90 minutes without stopping. An unusual sight along this route is The Glass House a former funeral directors home with walls constructed from more than 500.000 empty embalming bottles. Another stop can be made at Crawford Bay where you will find many artisans and studios.

First stop is Kokanee Springs Resort a special place that offers comfortable accommodation on over 500 acres of pristine natural landscape paired with one of BC’s most scenic courses We will love every hole of the golf course as each one leads you into a world of it’s own, distinct and unique in character. Elevated tee decks offer majestic views of Kokanee Springs expansive fairways and the Kokanee Glacier. Large, contoured green complexes bring fun and joy to the challenge of putting. Towering evergreens and old growth cedars separating each hole bring a peaceful solitude that is only enhanced by ten-minute tee intervals, ensuring every visitor experiences the very best of this scenic course at a relaxed, comfortable pace. After our round we can relax at Woods the restaurant at the course or if we want we can take a short 10 minute drive to Boccalinos to enjoy an exceptional dining experience, a Swiss/Italian eatery.

After a short drive and a 35 minute free ferry ride we will travel to Balfour then on to Nelson. The ferry ride offers stunning views of Kootenay Lake, the Purcell mountains to the East, the Selkirk Mountains to the west, and a glance at the famous Kokanee Glacer.

We will be playing at the Balfour Golf Course but have chosen to stay in Nelson  instead of Balfour as we had a better choice of accommodation.In addition there are more restaurant choices and things to do and see. The  drive to get back to Balfour is short and very neat as you  wind up the west lake shore.

Check out the hyperlink above to find out more about our trip, space is limited

 

A very Happy Easter to you and your families. We hope you get to celebrate in some way to see your loved ones and the Easter Bunny leaves colorful chocolate eggs or colored golf balls somewhere for you to find.

It looks like we will not be able to gather for our Orientation and Social so we have planned a virtual presentation using Zoom. For event details Calgary click here & Edmonton click here.   We tell new members a little bit about Golfaround and how we got started, we also review the booking procedures and policies.  An invitation will be sent to new members via e-mail to join the virtual presentation, it will be recorded for those to review later.  You can also find the information in  the Membership Information Package in the Members area on the website.

We are hopeful to do the Beginning Golf Course Orientation in both Edmonton and Calgary Saturday May 8 4:00pm. Calgary’s takes place at on the loop at Heritage Pointe golf course and Edmonton’s on the Dragon Heads Golf course.  Golfers new to the game or those that have not had very much experience do find the Beginner Golf Course Orientation very beneficial. It is not mandatory but we highly recommend so that you start off the right way and avoid feeling uncomfortable while learning this great game.  Some feel nervous and  intimidated so this is our way to boost your confidence before you head out on a  golf course. You will play 3 holes with a mentor who gives you some advice and helpful hints. Some of the things we cover:

• What to do on the tee box, fairway, green
• Ready Golf and Pace of Play
• Golf Etiquette
• What to wear, what you need

We have started indoor lessons at Eaglequest Golf Dome in the north following the protocols that are still in place.  It was so nice to see some different faces and feel the excitement of being able to get out and do something. Everyone was so excepting of what we need to do at this point in time to get back to some sense of normal.  Our planning this season has not been without it challenges so a big thank you to many of you for being flexible.  It is going to be a very busy season and we do expect things to run similar to last year so will definitely need your support and help.