NW Golfing News

JUlY 2012

Canadian Rockies Golf Destination World Class!

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The TBDGA 2012 Tournament Calendar Manitouwadge, Marathon, White River Golf Golf Thunder Bay’s Municipal Golf Course: Nice Place To Play

Golf Thunder Bay’s Municipal Golf Course: Nice Place To Play See Page 8 Webb Simpson Wins 2012 US Open Page 6

Canadian Rockies Golf Destination World Class

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

NW Ontario Golfing News Continued From Previous Page My next stop would be a 30-minute drive east to Kananaskis to play the Kananaskis Golf Course. The drive there is very pretty, off the main highway at the end, and leads to 2 beautiful 18-hole golf courses. “ We have Mount Kidd to the south and Mount Lorette to the north. In the late 70’s Alberta’s Premier Loughheed had a vision for Albertans to enjoy for the years to come though the Alberta Heritage Trust Fund, a saving from the oil revenues,” said Darren Robinson, GM of Kananskis Golf Course. “ The courses were started in late 70’s and opened in1983 with Robert Trent Jones SR as the designer. He came and toured by helicopter and thought it was the best natural setting he had ever been given to work with. The courses were originally slated to be built on the other side of the highway but when he saw this site he chose it. The river runs through here and I think it is hard to get away from how spectacular the scenery is here. It is just stunning! From almost every tee box you are

framed with the mountains.”

There is tremendous demand for the Kananskis facilities from early May to October. They do 55,000 to 66,000 rounds over the two courses. “ These courses are a great value with the setting, the design and a potent $98 for our regular green fee rate with $78 for Albertan’s and carts $17 per rider. Our main market is Calgary, which is less than an hour away. Edmonton and the rest of the province account for 85% of our traffic with the rest from all over the world including Europe, Korea, China and Japan.

We are at 5000 feet and the mountain, Mt Kidd, is just under 10,000 feet. Our tee times may be harder to get on the weekend but you can book online or with our reservations office. We recommend it sooner than later. Our weather in July and August is the most consistent.” said Robinson.

is also just a few minutes away and would be my next game. Silvertip opened in 1998 to a soft opening and fully in 1999. It is a private development spread over 600 acres and the golf course consumes just over 100 acres along with wildlife corridors, real

5000 feet and the peaks surrounding the course are 8000 feet. There are views across the valley on almost all 18 holes. It is a golf experience. You have incredible conditioning, the dining experience and great service, “ said Rhett Bokitoch, Golf

My day at Kananaskis was one of my best ever on the golf course. For me setting is huge in golf and I think it is hard to beat the natural beautiful setting of Kananaskis.

Right from my hotel room you could almost see my next course, Silvertip, beautifully framed in the window. This course

Above: Travis Mann, Head Golf Professional at Silvertip Resort and Rhett Bokitoch, Golf Sales Manager for Silvertip

estate and developments. The course is a Les Furber design and he calls it his signature golf course. The private owner is Guy Turcotte, an oil person by trade, who also owns the nearby Eagle Ranch golf course as well. “ We sit at the clubhouse at just under

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Sales Manager for Silvertip and a PGA of Canada member. The views are incredible.

It is 360 degrees on every hole. We have the Three Sisters scenes from many holes.

The condition of the course is incredible for the terrain and weather.”

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JULY 2012

Canadian Rockies Golf Destination World Class Continued From Previous Page “ We are service oriented and have a busy summer season opening mid May and closing late September or early October, “ said Travis Mann, Head Golf Professional at Silvertip Resort who is originally from Nelson BC and had aspirations at one time for NHL hockey. “ We are also big on weddings and have over 115 weddings

18-hole course. In 1888 the historic Banff Springs Hotel was built to help import the tourists. It looks like a Sleeping Buffalo,” said Young who is in his 7th year at Banff Springs. “ Stanley Thompson courses are what you see is what you get. The greens have subtle challenges with some bunkers that are fair. There are no forced carries.

This is a course that has tremendous

and put up their tents.

My game with Steven Young at the Banff Springs Golf course was a great experience. You are right at the foot of soaring mountains on many holes and it is just a spectacular setting. When you add in the great service and accommodation at the Banff Springs hotel it makes for a very special stay.

It was great fun for me to play Canadian Rockies golf. A special thanks to all my hosts.

We really do have a beautiful country to live in, Canada. The Banff area is place everyone should visit at least once in his or her life! Visit www.canandianrockiesgolf.com for more information.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze LT booked for this year. The food and beverage drives a lot of business.” “ My first game here was one of those goose bump moments. It offers challenge for everybody of different abilities. Our tee boxes are from 5000 to 7100 yards.

You should play the tees for your ability.

Once you find the fairway it is quite easy, but you have to get the ball in play.” said Mann.

scenery, is very well manicured and kept up given the conditions we have at the base of a mountain covered in snow for over 7 months of the year. A really good golfer can play from the tips and yet a novice golfer can play from the forward tees and enjoy the course. That is a true mark of a great facility. When you hit a bad shot all you have to do is look up at your surroundings and you will remember what is really important in life.”

The Banff Springs Golf Course use an online booking system or 1 800 number.

Their agents can help you book golf, a hotel room or the spa. “ People who come here usually like food, drink, hiking and we have all of that. We get people from all over the world. Many have played our course on the golf simulator before even arriving.” smiles Young.

They target 16,000 rounds and have no members at Silvertip so are fully public.

To get a tee time is never a challenge. The green fees are $155- 7 days a week all day.

They also have a 9 and dine rate for $80 which includes power cart, driving range, GPS and tees and bottled water for every guest. www.silvertipresort.com or www.canandianrockiesgolf.com

In peak time the green fee is $225 at Banff Springs, while in the afternoon it can be $185 or later $155. A good deal is the 9 and dine where you can play the tunnel 9 courses with dinner for $79 or play the Stanley 18 hole course front 9 with dinner for $89. The clubhouse is built like a teepee in recognition of the first nations who used to migrate through the valley

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My game at Silvertip was fun playing with Travis and Rhett. They both play the game very well and made the spectacular setting even more enjoyable.

It was time for me to pack up my suitcase and drive the some 20 km’s west to my next stop the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for my last night in the area.

This stately luxury hotel is worldrenowned and was a real treat to call home. The views of the course I had from my room were fantastic.

Steven Young is the Director at Golf at the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, originally from Ottawa and then New Brunswick. Steven was a strong junior golfer and worked at the New Brunswick Golf Association before moving on to the Algonquin Hotel and then the Banff opportunity came up. “ Golf was started here on sand greens on an informal basis before the 1900’s but in 1911 organized golf began here with a 9 hole course designed by Scott W Thompson. Stanley Thompson built the

JULY 2012

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Golf Thunder Bay’s Municipal Golf Course: Nice Place To Play

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

NW Ontario Golfing News Last year I had the opportunity to play Municipal Golf Course. Thunder Bay City Council has voted to close this historic course so be sure to get out and play it this season!

On a sunny hot August afternoon it was fun to play Municipal Golf Course with Tom Forsythe, Director of Golf, Golf Thunder Bay. Tom has been in this position for 9 years now starting here in 2003.

He grew up in New Brunswick and this is his second trip to Ontario previously working at Cataraqui in Kingston as well as at Highland Links of the Maritimes as GM. Highland Links is consistently known as a top 10 course in Canada and top 100 in the world. It is right out on the ocean where you hear, see or feel the

ocean on all 18 holes according to Tom. “ We have made a few changes in some of the operation of our three courses totaling 45 holes -Chapples, Strathcona and Municipal over my years here. An adult membership is about $1400 taxes included for all three golf courses which is a good value. Daily fees are about $28 to $40 for the courses. There is usually a minimum of 27 holes available at all times. Our memberships have declined a little bit but that is probably a factor of the economy and losing some of the jobs we have lost in Thunder Bay. It is a pretty good bang for the buck.” states Tom Forsythe. “ The hot weather impacts the play level as people don’t come out to golf as much. Once we get above 25 Celsius the play level drops although I enjoy the hot weather.”

At Municipal the fairways have been good with the rain we have had according to Forsythe. Also the greens were rolling well during our game. “ It has been a pretty good season at Municipal. On the weekends we see younger people coming out. In the week the older folks can walk the course that they enjoy. It is also easier to get on the tee boxes and greens here and there are golfers in their 80’s still playing here. We had a good start in the spring and the staff have been doing a pretty good job here keeping the greens rolling well,” said Forsythe. “ At Municipal it is a shorter length course so you are hitting a lot of wedges into the greens. It is a good course to practice on.

The greens are small as well so they aren’t easy to hit. It gives you some confidence here and is great for seniors and beginners. If you haven't tried us you should do so. ” It was fun to make some pars and a birdie at Municipal. It is a great confidence booster to be able to hit your utility wedge into the greens instead of a three wood that happens at my home course quite often. Tom and I had a great match that ended in a tie. The last hole proved to be a challenge for me when I was stymied behind a tree on my second shot into number nine.

After your relaxing golf game the Municipal clubhouse has a great deck or cool inside area to relax and enjoy a cool drink of vitamin water or your choice of beverage.

New last year at Golf Thunder Bay are 50 new Yamaha golf carts placed on the three courses. They are a nice comfortable cart. They were able to install windshields at no additional cost on all the carts due to the strength of the Canadian dollar.

Make sure you get out and play Municipal this year!

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JULY 2012