This years Play & Stay was at the St Eugene Resort and Casino. This is a beautiful destination, very scenic, great amenities and a great golf course. The resort is situated in a secluded valley on the banks of the St. Mary’s river, All our rooms offered spectacular views of the Hoo Doo’s, the Championship Golf Course and either the Purcell or Rocky Mountains, including the breathtaking Fisher Peak. Our get-a-way started at the firepit, unfortunately there was a fire ban and our planned warm welcome was a bit cooler. However there was a buzz of excitement as our members interacted and enjoyed the moment. The groups first round of golf was at the resort’s championship course, and it was in excellent shape, the weather was awesome, it did get a bit warm towards the end of our round but the breeze helped. We enjoyed a great pace of play, thank you ladies. We also played poker on both nines, so much fun. Following the round Golfaround took over the patio at the 19th hole and the winners were announced. Glenda Brown had the best hand on the front 9 with 5 fives and won $46.00, some golf balls and a special bag tag. The winner of the back 9 was Karen Flamand who had 4 fives and won another pot with the same loot , she donated her pot to the Calgary Humane Society.
On Sunday we played Bootleg Gap, a very scenic golf course located in Kimberly. The course combines spacious driving holes with tighter riverside holes where accuracy is at a premium. The “signature” golf hole is their 193-yard (107 for us) par-three 12th, which requires a tee shot to a well-protected, large, undulated green situated 50 feet below, absolutely stunning. The 12th begins a thrilling three-hole stretch that rims the beautiful St. Mary River and truly highlights the beauty of the Kootenay Rockies golf region. Set against the stunning backdrop of the St. Mary’s River valley, the course features wide, open fairways that meander through the unspoiled forests and along the crystal-clear waters of the river. We experienced a harmonious blend of challenge and playability, with meticulously maintained greens and strategically placed bunkers enhancing the experience. Some of the group went early and tried out some of the other great courses in the area. Our group played at Cranbrook and had a fun round there. Some of you long term members will remember Paul Whittingham who was at Heritage Pointe more than a decade ago. He has been the Head Pro at the Cranbrook Golf Club for more than a decade. This golf course was great and if you are in the area pop in and say hi to Paul and play the “hidden gem of the Kootenays” you will be glad you did. We dabbled a bit in the casino, enjoyed beverages and food in the restaurants and appreciated the hospitality suite complements of Brenda who was a gem to work with. All the staff we encountered were very helpful and could not do enough for us, we will return.