In yesteryears, golf courses in Alberta essentially were open for about 6 months, May – October, and occasionally an early spring or late fall would expand the season. Golf pros and maintenance staff took on other jobs to pay the bills and courses and clubhouses were put to bed. These days, golf courses are looking to expand their operating season and add value for their membership and communities. Of course tees, greens and water features are to be avoided, however, with adequate snow cover the golf courses lend themselves to a wide variety of activities including walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Elevation changes on the course can also support sledding and tobogganing activities. Other courses have now stepped beyond these activities and added skating to the list.

We've been monitoring our Twitter feed and have identified a number of golf courses, both public and private, across Alberta that have expanded their game this winter by offering various recreational activities on their properties. The Covid pandemic, working from home, kids out of school and various forms of social restrictions have created a demand for alternate activities and locations. A quick overview of the golf course activities that have been profiled this year follows below.

Cross-country skiing is one of the most popular activities. Phil McCluskey, Director of Golf at Riverbend Golf and Recreation Area, in Red Deer, tells us they now have access to 15km of publicly accessible groomed trails (4km lighted for night skiing) and for the first time this year have begun to offer 2-hour ski rentals out of the pro shop to enable more people to enjoy the winter pursuits. Over the recent New Year's period they were extremely busy with 135 ski rentals on one day. They also have one of the few public golf simulators in Red Deer as an indoor attraction and indicate it was busy until the December health restrictions came in.

Innisfail Golf Club, Wainwright Golf Club, the Broadmoor (Sherwood Park), and the Derrick Club (Edmonton), are also highlighting their X-country ski and other supporting outdoor recreation pursuits.

Windermere Golf & Country Club, in southwest Edmonton, began developing a plan to expand winter operations a couple of years ago. With input from membership, GM Brice MacDermott tells us that they now offer 3 groomed x-country ski trail loops, a toboggan hill, and now have recently expanded their winter amenities with a skating rink for members and their guests. They also have been building out a golf simulator facility to support indoor golf leagues and lessons through the winter season. Brice indicated that Covid helped to speed up the implementation of this winter plan this year and response from the membership has been great thus far. Like many clubs around the province, the clubhouse was also open for food and beverage service prior to the latest restrictions, but has now moved to take-out options.

For the first time this winter, Springbank Links, west of Calgary, is offering an expanding outdoor recreation program. General Manager, Kevin Weise outlined that they have created a Winter Club membership for existing members as well as local residents. This membership provides access to 3 km of winter fitness trails on the back nine and approximately 2 km of cross-country and snowshoe trails in the front nine valleys, a fire bowl, a pleasure skating rink and the new “Springbank Square Gardens” hockey rink, and when health restrictions allow, access to the clubhouse for warmth, food and drink. They have just added the ability to rent snowshoes in an agreement with Kidsport as well. Approximately 70 families are already taking advantage of this diverse outdoor recreation program.

For those hardy individuals who think golf courses should be open for golfing year round, Strathmore Golf Club ventured into snowgolf over the Christmas season and it appeared to be a hit given the warmer weather we have enjoyed to this point. They also offer an annual pass to access groomed cross-country ski trails across the golf course.

While the Covid pandemic and related health and social distancing restrictions have obviously interfered with some of the intended socialization aspects of these outdoor recreation activities, both public and private golf courses in Alberta are looking to provide more value to their members and adjacent communities to get people out and stay active during the winter season and during the current pandemic.

What is your local golf course offering outdoors this winter? Let us know if you have an interesting story, activity or event to share.