Be a PLYR both on and off the course

By Gord Montgomery (iG)
EDMONTON — If you’re looking to become a PLYR, both on and off the golf course, then a new Saskatchewan clothing company may have the answer you’re looking for.

While this may not be the clothing line for every golfer, or golf course for that matter, this new brand of apparel that’s geared toward a young population is swinging into the golf market in a noticeable way.

The company known as PLYR, headed up by Chase Porter and his partner Brandon Kuse aren’t out necessarily to take business away from the major players in the golf clothing industry. What they are here to do is help outfit those who aren’t into the country club look of tailored pants and shirts.

“We’re identified as a casual golf brand,” Kuse noted.

“We want to hit those guys who come out on a Friday afternoon after work, play golf with their buddies, listen to music, maybe have a couple of drinks who want to wear tee shirts on the golf course,” chimed in Porter. “We both worked at a public golf course and we saw the changes in an industry that’s transitioning, especially with Millennials, into a lot more casual appearance.”

One thing to note here is that both young men stressed they are not in competition with the big clothing lines and are indeed a brand unto themselves. And when you look at their stylings that’s not hard to see. After all, they describe themselves as a clothing line for “all athletes.”

Their snapback headwear with the distinctive logo on front and the eye-catching circled golfer on the back, both done in puff embroidery, are fresh and innovative. As for the clothing, it ranges from sharp looking short-sleeve, mid-length and long-sleeve tees to hoodies (or as they’re known in Saskatchewan, a bunny hug) to pullover jackets and polos. Colours range from the standard black and white to shades of purple, red, royal blue and kelly green.

“The golf industry is changing. We are non-traditional, kind of non-conformist, trying to bring our own little thing to the golf industry,” said Kuse.

Brandon Kuse (left) and Chase Porter feel they have found a new market for young golfers with their line of headwear and clothing that is beginning to catch on in a big way in Western Canada

The front and back views of PLYR's baseball cap headwear.

While golf is set in its ways there are changes afoot and this pair is looking to be trendsetters in the on-course, and yes off-course, fashion side of the game. It does take time for changes to take hold in the game — remember the introduction of coloured golf balls that are now seeing a resurgence — but Porter and Kuse point out they are gaining traction.

“Alberta is awesome for us,” said Porter in speaking to the industry’s reaction toward PLYR and what they offer. “You’ve got a lot of industry guys who like to have fun. They work hard but they also play hard and they like to play golf, go enjoy themselves.  A lot of courses in this area don’t have dress codes as strict as private clubs do. As to on-course wear, players can now wear jeans, tee shirts, so our off-course wear becomes on-course wear. To that, we say, “Take the option. Wear a tee shirt, be comfortable. Enjoy yourself. Be comfortable.”

At the same time though, Porter added, there is still some resistance to this much of a change in playing apparel. But then again, music is now becoming an on-course staple for many Millennials, seen as the next growth factor in the game, who may just be entering the sport and who want to carve out their own niche.

“We’ve had guys come by our booth (at the PGA of Alberta Buying Show) and say “That wouldn’t work at our golf course,” because of traditional dress codes. All the same, some courses have decided to go with this new brand in their pro shops for off-course wear,” Kuse explained.

“They aren’t going to allow it on the course but when guys leave the course they put on our product. It still helps the golf market, and golf as a whole, when guys wear our product away from the course. That’s huge.”

In half a year of operation, starting with only the short-sleeved tees, the company has found success. As they move forward they’ll look to adjust the look of items like the polo shirts seeking a style that separates them from others in order to stand out from others. The reaction so far has been strong, considering the age of the business which hit the streets in April of 2016.

“We started with zero pro shops and we’re up to six in Saskatchewan. We’re looking at 20 next year in Saskatchewan and probably a dozen in Alberta,” and with the Saskatchewan junior golf team sporting their brand at the national finals, the pair expect that upswing to continue for one very simple reason: “It’s a lifestyle more than a golf brand,” ended Porter.

For more on PLYR and its products, go to their website at plyrgolf.com.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his ninth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.

Fesuce, sand highlight Heathlands and Eagles Nest courses

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

In the third and final part of his golf in Ontario adventure series, Inside Golf’s Gord Montgomery heads back towards Toronto, again finding golfing gems all along the way. Two courses in particular were chosen, extremely different from each other but each offered a true test of creativity from all sorts of varying lies and troubles.

Central Counties Region

CALEDON/MAPLE, ON — To the east of Toronto lays Osprey Valley, a spot where renowned Canadian architect Doug Carrick crafted some of his finest work in setting down three 18-hole playgrounds, the Heathlands along with Hoot and Toot.

The non-rhyming playground, Heathlands, was the one chosen to play and for good reason: Driving into the property, located in Caledon, several holes parallel the roadway and the images of good ol’ fashioned Scottish links-style golf pop into your mind. The fescue grasses are deep and wave a friendly “hello” as you pass by, likely knowing you’re going to get up close and friendly with a few of them before the day is over. Meanwhile, the pot bunkers sit there quietly, not wanting to ruin the surprises they hold in store.

Pot bunkers play a huge part of the game at Heathlands, where a lie like this while uncommon, is certainly a possibility on just about every approach shot that doesn't fly quite far enough.

The starting hole on Heathlands is a perfect example of what’s ahead: rolling terrain, that fescue, deep, deep, deep pot bunkering, and large, rolling greens. A par 5, its a demanding 538 yards from the blue tees and every one of those steps is well earned. Top that off with an elevated green protected by a few of those pot bunkers, where sometimes hitting backwards is the only shot available, and a par here is a great start to a more than interesting day.

Not overly long, the course plays to slightly more than 6,400 yards from the blue tees (under 6,100 from the white) and while neither of those measurements sound overwhelming, they can be if you’re game isn’t up to par out here.

Robert McClure, the director of golf at Osprey Valley, agreed that you need to be ready for the demands Heathlands asks of your game. “You’ve got to keep it on the short grass,” he stated simply about taming this beast.

One thing that people need to keep in mind when playing here, he added, is that a variety of shots can and should be used to score well.

“You can use the bump-and-run on many holes,” to take away the difficulty of trying to fly those massive sandpits that await a mishit shot and to add to the authenticity of playing a course that pays tribute to its Scottish ancestors.

As for the other two offerings here, they both play longer than their sister with the Hoot at 6,800 off the blue tees and Toot at about 100 yards shorter. The difference is, they don’t swallow up stray shots like Heathlands with its tangly fescue. Rather, the Hoot bares its teeth with waste bunkering throughout while Toot is a more placid parkland style featuring wide fairways and rolling terrain.

In all, Osprey Valley is a great threesome, looking for you to make up a foursome that is the hunt for a variety of challenges all in one spot.

The final stop was in Maple, where another Doug Carrick design, Eagles Nest, awaited. This is a gorgeous facility right from the magnificent clubhouse out to the playing area. And what a playpen it is. Topping out at almost 7,500 yards, it is more than advisable to start each hole from the correct distance. And if you find yourself overwhelmed by distance, move up to ensure you enjoy the round here as much as you should.

The opening hole, a par 5 running at 500 yards off the white tees (playing to a total yardage of 6,225), is a jaw-dropper given the narrow landing areas that are flanked by native grasses and protected with huge bunkers in the middle of the fairway.

Simply put, this is a course where you need to keep your wits about you because if you get frustrated with an off-line shot the day can get awfully long really quickly. Ranked as the 28th best track in the country, this is another of those Ontario layout that is challenging, but fun.

There is no denying that of all the holes on this trip around Ontario, this one from the 3rd tee box at Eagles Nest was one of the most jaw-dropping sights there was.

This is another course where the holes never repeat themselves and there are no up-and-back scenarios although there are a lot of ups and downs thanks to wonderful elevation changes throughout. A perfect example of that is the 6th hole, known as “dinna router” (Don’t Mess About) an uphill par 4 that is less than 300 yards. However, miss the fairway on this uphill hole and you’re in big trouble with trees, hillocks, sand and all other sorts of nasties in  your way. A fun risk/reward hole where you don’t feel too badly making bogey if you miss your tee or approach shot.

The eighth hole, a par 3 of 122 yards is well guarded front and left by huge bunkers below the green but that isn’t the main characteristic here. This hole is actually more memorable for its camera shot rather than its tee shot, as you overlook the skyline of Toronto from the elevated teeing area.

Eagles Nest is another course that makes heading east a great idea because the golf here in Ontario, especially in the cool fall weather, is a drive well taken.

More information on Heathlands, Hoot and Toot is available online at ospreyvalley.com while more on Eagles Nest can be found on their website at eaglesnestgolf.com.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his ninth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.

Black Bear Ridge bares its teeth in Canada's Top 100

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

Belleville, ON — In the second part of his series on golf in Ontario, Inside Golf writer Gord Montgomery travelled east past Toronto to the community of Belleville, where he found a wonderful surprise awaiting him — Black Bear Ridge.

The fall coulours are outstanding at Black Bear.

The Great Waterway Region

This area is known not only for its great golf facilities, but also to a secondary hobby of many golfers, great fishing. Trophy walleye can be found on the Bay of Quinte in spring and fall and awesome trout and salmon fishing in the summer.

This trip though was about golf and we got more than our fill of that at our single stop in the Great Waterway Region at Black Bear Ridge. Situated mere minutes outside of Belleville, the natural beauty starts as soon as you walk up to the clubhouse. From there you can see the stunning downhill tee shot required on No. 1 and the beautiful uphill approach shot needed on the final test of the day.

While the beauty of this area was stunning what was even better were the course conditions. Even though we played here in early October the fairway and greens grasses were second to none making one think it was July 15th rather than October 5th.

The course’s longtime head professional, Bill Kerr Jr., a third generation golf pro whose grandfather teed it up in The Masters back in the day, said a lot of pride and professionalism goes into maintaining the standards of this beautiful facility.

“It’s a parkland style with a bit of a feel of a Muskoka golf course,” he began. “They didn’t move a lot of earth when they built this golf course. They used the land that was here.”

And they used it well. From the stunningly beautiful tee shot that starts your day off on this assignment that measures just over 6,700 yards from the blue tees and 6,300 from the whites, you’re challenged to a variety of shots to test your skill. The tree lined fairways add to the accuracy quotient out here while greens with false fronts and well placed bunkering add even more to that equation.

The course changes somewhat from front to back, where the fairways are more open but there are more elevation changes than you see on the front. A great design feature here is that no two holes are the same, especially the par 4s, where the 8th green invites the big hitter to go for broke in clearing a water hazard seeking the green at “only” 289 yards from the white tees.

Black Bear Ridge GC is most certainly one you’ll want to put on your itinerary because it’s a wonderful play. Making the list of Canada’s Top 100 at No. 68 hasn’t been a bad thing at all, Kerr noted, saying it helps draw visitors from far and wide in to have a look at why this particular course is among this country’s elite playgrounds.

“”When we first opened 90 per cent of our play was local but now that’s down to about 50 per cent,” as those from outside the Belleville area find out about one of Ontario’s great golf getaway spots. “This golf course can stand on its own. There are quite a few good golf courses around,” and Black Bear Ridge certainly fits easily into that category.

For more on this great course with its phenomenal turf conditions, go to their website at blackbearridge.ca. Their toll free phone number is 1-866-811-BEAR.

The closing hole at this great track is a stern test, running uphill with a hazard guarding the fairway.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his eighth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.

Cobble Beach, Cranberry Resort two great Ontario golfing tests

By Gord Montgomery

Owen Sound, ON — If you think the driving in Ontario in the fall is spectacular given the rainbow collage of colours of the changing leaves .. you’ll find the chipping and putting isn’t too bad either. And with over 80 courses in the BruceGreySimcoe area alone, there’s lots to discover about your game and the beauty of the area.

In all, Canada’s largest province has an overwhelming number of golf courses to choose from to test your skills - over 800 - ranging from the small mom-and-pop 9-hole venues to private 18-hole assignments to a memorable and challenging 54-hole public track.

While it’s hard to get a feel for everything this great golfing market has to offer, Inside Golf took a swing at it. Over five days in early October they travelled through three tourism areas and drove hundreds of kilometres to offer you a smorgasbord of delicious tracks. Of the five courses played, four of them landed in the recent Top 100 in Canada. Following, to begin this journey, is the first of a three-part series detailing this golfing destination.

The BruceGreySimcoe Region

The first tee shot came at the spectacular Cobble Beach Golf Links, just minutes north of Owen Sound. Set hard on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, a place often referred to as the “Sixth Great Lake,” this golf course and its water body backdrop are eye-candy.

The course opens its arms in a warm embrace to visitors on the front nine before suddenly squeezing them in a bear hug so tight on the inward nine you can hardly breathe.

“It is a little tighter on the back nine,” head pro Warren Thomas understated about his track that landed at No. 62 on Canada’s Top 100 courses. “It is a little easier at the start. You’re free and easy off the tee … then you get to the back nine,” where you find tee shots become tougher with narrower landing areas.

With the clubhouse int he distance, and Georgian Bay beyond that, the scenery at Cobble Beach Golf Links is as good as the golf course itself.

Then, to top all that off, there’s the putting surfaces that add to the challenge, the host pro added. “The greens are definitely the main characteristic here though. The chipping and the putting are the hard parts of Cobble.”

Playing to a far-reaching 7,179 from the tips this is a big course and since it’s playing at only 182m above sea level, for us Westerners that distance is magnified due the lack of altitude. If you aren’t up to that lengthy challenge, the other tees range from 5,100 to just under 6,700 yards. This layout has well defined fairways but be warned: they are littered with large, steep-faced bunkers to add even more adversity, and beauty, to this course.

In lending a word of advice - which maybe for me came too late - Thomas offers this wisdom, “I would say hit it a little closer than outside of 40 feet (to the pin). If you’re 40, 50 feet, you’re going to be 3-putting all day!” and even though the scenery is spectacular, 3-jacking a green is anything but.

Next on the tee was the Cranberry Golf Course set right in the community of Collingwood. While this track may look somewhat vanilla from the outset don’t let that appearance lull you into a false sense of security - this is a difficult challenge.

Playing to 6,600 yards off the back blocks one would think it would be easy to overpower the course but that’s far from true. The first three holes, all par 4s, remind you quickly of that as the shortest of them is 375 yards off the blue tees. Followed by holes of 410 and 408 yards there is nothing easy about the opening trio especially since trees creep in upon you as they guard the fairways and the rough is thick.

And to top that off, it doesn’t really get any easier from there on in.

There are a couple of memorable holes here, including the ninth, a 386 yard test that has a massive waste bunker stretching across the fairway that definitely comes into play on the tee shot. While a strong drive can carry you over that hazard, it’s likely a wiser decision to lay up in front and hit a longer iron or hybrid into the large green.

The most memorable hole at Cranberry Resort, and there were a few of them, had to be the 16th, a tough test that requires accuracy off the tee as well as all your following shots to a green that is well protected by a pond and tall native grasses.

Another wonderful hole here is the 16th, a par 4/5 that plays to 431 yards but there is a very good reason for that rating - hazards. And more hazards. There is water. There is sand. There are trees. There is that rough. And top that all off with a green tucked behind a pond full of reeds, mayhem is never far away on this assignment. So all of a sudden,  what appeared to be a God-send hole becomes a tougher than expected task.

So while this may not be the course one dreams of playing given its initial appearance it does wake you up in a hurry with its challenges.

For more on Cobble Beach, head to their website at cobblebeach.com and for Cranberry Golf Course at cranberrygolf.com.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his ninth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.

More than golf in beautiful PEI (I can't believe I said that!)

By Gord Montgomery

Sure, PEI has great golf almost everywhere you look, but what else has it got to offer?

Well, having been there and experienced the island’s off-course activities and peculiarities first-hand, let me assure you that everyone in your party will indeed find something to do somewhere around this country’s smallest province. And among them, more than a few things that make you go “Huh?!”

Following is a list of non-golf related activities and idiosyncrasies that will appeal to one and all. And, if you turn your nose up at some of these activities when you first see them, look again, because you’ll be delighted with what PEI has to offer.

And by the way, these aren’t listed in any particular order.

Ice cream: Who doesn’t like this deliciously refreshing treat on a nice, warm summer afternoon or evening? Well, apparently the answer to that on PEI is nobody — and all you have to do is walk into a COWS to find out why. Still using the original formula that was crafted in Cavendish, this is a treat everyone needs to try. With over 32 flavours to sample you’ll see why this brand of treat is ranked as the No. 1 ice cream in the entire world. And yes, there are outlets around the country, including one in Banff, but as anyone knows, nothing is better than the original.

“Youse": Almost as Canadian as “eh,” this word doesn’t mean to “use” something or the female variety of sheep. Rather, it pertains to a group of people. It takes you off guard when you first hear it but after a while it may become part of your own vocabulary… at least while you’re on the island, eh.

Ponies: A night at the races is something that shouldn’t be passed up even if you’re not into betting on the ponies. The Red Shores Racetrack & Casino At The Charlottetown Driving Park is a great place to revel in island excitement as the trotters buzz around the track along with the buzz of spectators anticipating a winning pick. There is also a track in Summerside. The season runs from April through December.

The Most: PEI has a pair of “most per capita” elements anywhere in Canada. Other than golf courses, with 26 active ones on the island, do you have any idea what the second one is? Well, how about roads. There are roads everywhere here and be warned — signage isn’t great in many areas so if you have a hand-held GPS unit, be sure to take it with you because it will come in handy when you go exploring.

Potatoes: Spuds are grown pretty well everywhere here. And when they aren’t being grown it seems corn is the go-to crop. Potatoes are on a three-year cycle in the rich red soil here, mainly because they take so much of the nutrients out of the ground. So to bring the ground’s strength back up, crops like corn, for feed, and canola each take a turn before the spuds make their return.

Churches: This place is packed to the brim with places of worship and some of the buildings are magnificent. Surprisingly, alongside many of those buildings are cemeteries as each church, no matter the size, seems to have one in its yard.

Lobster tourism: This has become a huge business on the island. While the lobster season is broken into two time periods, and two specific areas off the shores, the tourism branch of the industry has taken off in recent years helping to fill the void. There are several places to hop about a boat, go for a cruise and lobster dinner, and find out about how the fisherman here are keen on protecting this vital industry. Along with that, catch-and-release tuna fishing has become a popular, and lucrative, business for the hard-working fisher-people of PEI.

Pay As You Leave: One interesting thing here has to do with coming onto and leaving the island. Getting onto PEI is free no matter if you come over by ferry or roadway. Getting off however is a bit pricier. Everyone, Islanders included, has to pay to leave Canada’s smallest province with prices varying dependent on whether you take the Northumberland Ferry or use the spectacular Confederation Bridge. As for plane travel, we’re not sure if a “departure tax” is levied on your ticket or not.

Beaches: If you’re a water person, you’re going to love it on PEI. There are beaches everywhere and the water is incredibly warm, given the Gulf Coast flow so with 1,100km of shoreline, and much of that designated as beaches, there’s room for everyone to frolic in the salt water under the summer sun. In all, there are 23 beaches including Provincial and National Parks, so somewhere here there’s definitely a spot for you and your family to enjoy.

Driving in the Dark: Somewhat surprisingly, driving here at night isn’t a scary proposition at all (well, except for the lack of signage). There are no big animals like moose, deer or bears that may come crashing out of the woods onto the highways as they simply don’t live on the island. Rather, the largest wildlife you’ll see here are foxes, and some say, coyotes, who apparently made their way onto the island via frozen winter seawater.

Downtown Vibe: The downtown area of Charlottetown is abuzz with activity in the late afternoon/evening/night, as people flock to Victoria Row for food, entertainment and just plain ol’ people watching. A great place to spend some time.

Deep-sea Fishing: If you’ve never tossed a line into the salt water and would like to make a bid for landing some mackerel, cod, or some extremely weird varieties of fish, give this adventure a go. There are plenty of businesses catering to land-locked hopefuls and if you land a big one, the on-board crew will fillet and clean your catch to take home and cook up.

Anne of Green Gables (the Musical): Laugh at me if you want, but even as a sports guy with very little cultural background, I loved this performance. Listed in The Guinness World Book of Records as the longest-running annual musical theatre production, this captivating story that has enthralled millions of people worldwide. Staged at the beautiful Confederation Centre in Charlottetown, this is a must-see.

Seaside Stroll: If you want to see where the Fathers of Confederation first set landed in 1864, then Peakes Wharf is the place to go. Today the area is a bit more “touristy” than back then, but even still, it’s a great place to go to sample local fare and see memorials to the founding fathers.



Seafood: I'm transformed from meat and potatoes to seafood, especially mussels. And for a prairie-raised kid to admit that, you know this fare is fantastic!

Golf: And finally, golf courses. Prince Edward Island is home to the most golf courses per capita in the country — 26 for a population of just over 146,000 full time citizens according to Stats Can. The Big 4 — Crowbush Cove, Dundarave, Brudenell and Mill River — are all owned by the provincial government although they are looking to sell them off. So if you’re looking for a tee time here, believe us, they aren’t all that hard to find as is anything else to do in this interesting, amazing part of our great country.

Even when it's miserable out, The Wolf is still a howling good play

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

PONOKA, AB — Even after all these years, the Wolf still has teeth. And plenty of them over 36 holes. You see, although some may now consider Wolf Creek Golf Resort long in the tooth, the Alberta icon of links style golf has continued to show it still  has some bite left no matter how good your game may be.

While the Old Course, the original Rod Whitman design set into the prairie landscape between Edmonton and Calgary may seem short on length to some, it is still big on challenges from start to finish. The fescue rough is still gnarly. The trees are still plentiful. And the bunkering, well, it lives up to the term “hazard” at each and every stop you may make in them during your round.

The thing with these tracks is this — don’t expect to be overwhelmed by pretty settings and good lies wherever your shots may lead you. Rather, this is golf in the truest sense of links style — awkward stances, deep pot bunkers where it’s sometimes better to go out sideways or backwards rather than forward, and huge waste bunkers flanking fairways that dramatically narrow the landing areas, especially when the wind is blowing.

Oh yeah, did we mention the breezes that frequent this place? Well, if not, they too are a part of the defence out here on both courses, the Old and the newer Links, making for more fun, and yes pain, as you make your way around these two great tracks.

The Old Course, which was home to a Canadian Tour (now PGA Canada - PGA TOUR) stop for over a decade, set the standard. This was the place where Alberta golf fans eagerly awaited the professionals to see how they’d fare with the Wolf and how they stacked up against their own game. This 18 has demanding tee shots through some narrow openings on a few holes, the par 4 second known as Sod Wall because of the green-fronting bunker as opposed to Walls of Wood, referring to the tree-lined chute your drive must traverse on this 358-yard test.  A great thing here are the par 3s and their lengths, ranging from 105 yards (from the middle silver tees) to 199. So, out here you must think your way around as much as blast your way around this layout which tops out at just over 6,600 yards.

The chute on the second hole off the tee box on the Old Course doesn't look all that large, and if you're even a bit off line it's not, but there is definitely room to squeeze a golf ball through there.

Then playing off that 18 is the newer Links Course, which is much bigger in both length and width than its older sister. This design uses waste bunkering to its advantage in making you choose the right angles for your opening salvo on each hole because if you get off on the wrong line you will find trouble … if you can find your ball in that confounded fescue.

This part of the facility stretches to almost 7,200 yards. The thing is, those again aren’t easily gained yards because of the care and precision that architect Rod Whitman took in putting this part of the sprawling playground together. Owner Ryan Vold informed us that this side of the property is beginning to come into its own and within a short period of time should be up to the total standards of what they, and the public, expect from this golf test.

And a word of advice here: Don’t let the placid start fool you on the Links Course. While some complain the first few holes aren’t exciting note that the same can be said for the jewel of Prince Edward Island — Crowbush Cove. It too has humble beginnings before it turns around and takes a few big bites out of your scorecard.

The 16th on The Links course is not only eye pleasing, it's a fun play. The par 4 features all that's great about this new nine at Wolf Creek Golf Resort, including fesuce grass, waste bunkers, trees and a large, elevated green.

On this side, the fun begins just before you head into the back nine. The seventh, eighth and ninth holes in particular open your eyes to the challenges ahead and those continue to come down upon you as you venture onwards to some truly tough challenges.

One thing to remember about playing either one of these courses is this — it doesn’t matter what sort of weather you run into out here because these 36 holes of fun, and frustration, can stand up to whatever Mother Nature tosses their way. The most recent stop I made there was on a rainy, cool day, where the greens were still running smoothly, and quicker than one would expect in the inclement conditions. As well, there was no pooling of water on any of the fairways because of the sandy soil here and while the bunkers were wet from upwards of 15mm of precipitation they were still playable so there was no free relief from any hazards on this day.

If you want to test your skills out of waste bunkers, then The Links course at Wolf Creek Golf Resort is the place you want to go.

As we wrapped up our 36 with smiles on our faces we knew that The Wolf had indeed reminds us that that old throwaway line — You’re not getting older, you’re getting better — is indeed the case at Alberta’s beloved Wolf Creek Golf Resort.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his eighth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf.

St. Eugene Resort looking to expand profile

CRANBROOK -  As of right now, St. Eugene Golf Resort is seen by many as a two-dimensional recreational area, a golf course and a casino. That's about to change though, thanks to the vision of the property's new CEO, Barry Zwueste.

The new head honcho wants to take this area, set amongst some of nicest backdrops anywhere in B.C. to hew heights by expanding on the services offered and by partnering with other facilities in the area to grow the interest of travellers by building off a great golf course and the popular casino.

"In addition to those, we want to expand to more activities by bringing together local businesses," he began in explaining where he wants to take this entire recreation-rich area. "We want to make those opportunities available to our guests so we have more of a family inclusive resort for a broader demographic."

One of the most intriguing ideas proposed in this interview by Zwueste was to incorporate the rich history of the St. Eugene property.  Initially constructed as a residential school, the main building houses a wealth of back stories that until now hasn't been made use of. The new boss though wants to change that by using local First Nation knowledge to inform and educate visitors about the traditions that are still alive but which may have been buried by time passing.

"We want to incorporate more First Nations programming, more hands-on activities to bring more people to the area to educate people on the culture and the school itself, no pun intended."

GOLF

Of course the No. 1 draw for people to head to this area of southern B.C. is the wonderful golf assignment. The 18-hole test is set up to be a fun challenge for anyone thanks to four tee boxes and provides great affordability with some wonderful Stay and Play packages.

Noting the abundance of courses in the area, St. Eugene's head golf pro, Max Sherwood stated, "When you want to stay on a golf property it all adds up that St. Eugene is a great place to come and stay ... and it's nice to just have to walk 80 yards from the hotel to the first tee box."

Over the years, his track has received rave reviews because of its playabiity.

"I have a conversation over and again about that," said Sherwood. "I had one yesterday with a gentleman who said that the course is so playable for his handicap level. He was your 20-plus handicapper and he said to me it was an appropriate challenge for his level of ability. If you want more of a challenge, well, just change up your tee box. And we've got our green speed at an appropriate level that mid-handicap, higher handicap players won't struggle. We don't need to make the game any more challenging than it already is."

One interesting note presented by Sherwood is that they are "seeing more and more groups of women, eight, 12, 16 on a getaway, coming here because of the entire resort, including a golf course with forward tees and bathrooms every three holes. We've tried to make ourselves accessible to everyone."

One other interesting tidbit Sherwood teed up during this interview was the fact that St. Eugene is willing and ready to work with other golf venues and help guests set up times to play them if they so choose.

"We have seven golf courses, five of which are public in the Kimberley/ Cranbrook area, Seven or eight years ago there were only a couple of golf courses down here. Now, once you get down here, people realize the value, the selection of courses, the different layouts have made this a destination," and to add to that, the course will set up tee times for you at any of the neighbouring courses.

SMOKEHOUSE RESTAURANTS

One of the great features at St. Eugene is the food - and this comes from a non-foodie writer. The fare offered in the two restaurants in the main building of the resort is outstanding and local produce is used as much as possible in satisfying the desires of hungry guests.

"We gave an incredible, dedicated culinary team here," the CEO proudly proclaimed of chefs that have come from across the country, and the world, for that matter. "They've made a lifestyle choice to settle here and they've brought their skills with them. They've seen what we have to offer locally in terms of protein, produce, fruits," in putting together a 100 Mile Menu.

"We do all our own smoking here and we are the only ones in the valley that provide in-house smoking. There is nothing that Chef Lonnie or Chef Doug won't smoke. We smoke our own cheese, we smoke our own tomatoes, we smoke our own protein products and it's all down in-house. We have very unique flavours and signature approach preparation," that must be sampled to truly appreciate.

CHANGING THINGS UP

Over the years this resort has been primarily seen as a three-season area starting in spring and ending in fall. Yes, it's a great spot in the spring for early season golf and the fall offers play until late in the season but Zwueste wants to take the seasons here one step further.

"It should be," he commented in relation to being a four-season destination. "We don't have an issue with 150 days of summer," and because of that, he wants to being offering more for resort guests who may not be into golf, or gambling, 24 hours per day, every day.

"There is fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, a trail that connects Cranbrook to Kimberley for cycling. This area has always been known as a good place for skiing, but there is also snowshoeing, ice climbing," and the hopes to open up the trail system to snow biking and this coming winter cross country ski trails will be cut into the golf course in order to add "the 150 days of winter," to the resort's recreational menu.

Also on tap is a new spa opening in the resort which will be the perfect way to end a tough day on the greens, on the slopes, or on the water in this wonderful area. On July 3 of this year, a full-service spa will swing open for business, marking the first of many new steps in the future life of St. Eugene.

"We'll offer the typical array of spa activities - massages, manicures, pedicures, but it's owned by two physicians out of Vancouver and they area also doing rejuvenation practices as well, so it is actually beyond a full-service spa. We are hoping to develop some really unique getaways and retreats for people."

In other words, Zwueste wants to make St. Eugene, and its neighbours, into a place where you can get away from it all, all year.

"This will all help our 150 days of winter (grow) and our summer business as well," Zwueste ended.

For more information on the St. Eugene Resort, go to their website at steugene.ca.