2023 was a great year for Golfaround not only for our business but for all of you golfers who make us the popular league that we are. Without the wonderful group of positive, supportive fun-loving gals our league would not be what it is today, so give yourselves a pat on the back and we thank you for all the memorable moments we encountered in 2023.
There are a total of 94 new members this season, the beginner league received 45 newbies, though we do know that some of these are not beginners. Another 35% joined the Intermediate Evening league and the remaining 16% joined the Day league. We did not open to new members until March this season due to the Africa trip and for the first time we had to close registration at noon on the day we opened, that is a first in our 27 years of operation.
As far as the variety of golf courses we played at this season, there were a total of 44 different golf courses, we gained some and lost some but all in all we think the variety is great and we will strive to recover what we have lost. The weather was more than cooperative. It’s better to play golf when the weather is nice and sunny. Humidity and heat actually benefit golfers because golf balls have a tendency to fly a little bit farther in those conditions. Maybe the weather helped get those pars, birdies and eagles that we shared in the MOB’S, moments of brilliance. A grateful shout out to all the gals who helped tee off, we really appreciate you and the great feedback. We also want to thank you all for your patience as we introduced an improved booking system, now that we are all comfortable with this new technology, I think you will agree it is pretty slick and a lot less labor intense for us as well. Favorable weather conditions were also a bonus for the lessons which , for the most part, were held with few weather days coming into effect. We did experience a few severe storms that caused a bit of re-scheduling unfortunately, but this is Calgary!!
This season we added some great golf professionals to our teaching team and from the feedback we received they did a great job. Gordon at
D’Arcy Ranch went above and beyond with his approach to the short game instruction. Jimmy who did the indoor lesson at Riverside had some great tips according to Roni who plays a very good game. Donna was very grateful to Ken at Cottonwood for helping her improve and Lisa has really taken her game to the next level and attributes that to her ongoing lessons with Golfaround. Group golf lessons are a great way to stay motivated and accountable. When you’re learning with a group, you have a built-in support system to encourage you to keep practicing and improving. You’ll also be able to set goals and track your progress together, which can be a great way to stay focused and motivated. When you start to play better it is certainly more fun and we thank all our pros for helping us do that. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced golfer, group lessons offer a social and enjoyable way to improve your game. Not only do you get the benefit of personalized instruction, but you also get to connect with other golfers who share your passion for the sport.
The year commenced with our Thursday nights at the Eaglequest Dome, where we hit balls, had dinner and socialized. It was great to have such a great turn out each week, we were 24 to 30 strong most weeks. The temperature in the Dome was much improved due to their new heating system, thank you Brent. For 32 of us February was spent with the long awaited Africa trip, the details of which have been captured in the monthly news feeds, it truly was a trip of a lifetime.
The Mystery Bus trip was a great hit this year, it was the first one since 2019 so consequently very popular. We were 44 girls gone wild African safari and the Crowsnest Golf Club did an awesome job hosting our group. Alberta Coach also played a big part with Karen transporting us to and from. Medicine Hat was the Play & Stay destination, and a fabulous time was had by one and all. Desert Blume looked after our banquet and it was one of the best buffets we have ever had, accolades to the chef and staff there. The golf course was purchased in 2019 by a couple of local businessmen and they are doing a fine job. The course was in tip top condition, the environment was friendly, and the staff could not do enough to ensure you had a wonderful experience. As Diane said it is a do over for sure.
As we wind down for the 2023 season, we can start getting excited about next year. We have some great thoughts for our Mystery Bus trip and we are working diligently on finding a great international destination that will be exciting and adventurous. Palm Springs or an alternate is not dead so keep your eye on the website and our newsfeeds. We feel so very lucky to be able to do what we do and we thank each and everyone of you for a great 2023.