Heart, Sweat Equity, And Cash Make For Intriguing Rural Alberta Course
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2020-07-08
By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf
WEST LOCK, Alberta — Small town golf doesn’t have to be small time golf. After all, at the thousands of golf courses across the country that are located in rural areas, a lot of heart, sweat, and yes monetary donations have gone into making such layouts the hub of warm weather recreation.
A case in point here is the Westlock Golf Club. Situated just outside of this agricultural community of 5,000 people and less than an hour from Edmonton, this is one of those places that’s an interesting combination of old and new. In fact this layout was built for the love of the game by those who love playing the game.
The original nine swung into action in decades ago with the back nine following along in 1989. What’s interesting here is that while the two nines are totally different in style, they are also different in how they came into being. That was explained by a lifetime member at the course, Woody Lewko
“The course was developed as a 9-hole track with sand greens. Oner of the founding members was Allan Watt who donated $100,000,” and he was joined in later years by others who also contributed substantial sums, especially for those times. “Then, in 1989 we started developing the back nine, which is a links-style nine. At that point and time they were short of funds. So they went to local businessmen and said, ‘We’ll give you a lifetime membership, air quotes, (or as it turned out 30 years) for the contribution of money and a project.”
As such, Lewko bought in, so to speak, and along with his cash he carved out the area that is now the driving range at the course. Others, he pointed out, did bridges on the property that is criss-crossed by water while others looked after the construction of the parking lot. And they also opened their wallets.
“The town is a very small town, 5,000 people, but with a lot of community support and volunteerism,” he continued about the importance of such a place in a smaller community. “At the end of the day it’s about community, volunteerism, and spirit and I’d match us against anybody else when it comes to spirit around their golf course.”
Someone finding out all about that community pride this season is first-year head pro Adam Pederson. He noted in an interview that the course is an interesting combination of design strategy fro the past and present as defined by the times the two nines were built.
The Newer Nine At Westlock Features Wider Fairways And Larger Greens, Plus A Lot Of Fescue, To Challenge Golfers.
“It’s unique, for sure,” he began. “The front nine has very small greens, target golf. You want to keep it in the fairway. The back nine is a little more (up-to-date) golf in a sense,” given the larger greens and wider fairways, yet protected with fescue grasses. “You’ve got two sides of the coin and it makes for an interesting round out there. You have to use course knowledge,” plus game management to succeed. “You can’t bomb drivers on every hole. You have to pick your spots.”
As to the importance a venue like this holds in a small community, Pederson has already seen that, “There is a lot of pride here. In my first year I’m finding that out. A lot of people have donated their money, and effort, to make this club the best they can.”
And perhaps that pride is beginning to show up so much that other areas, including the greater-Edmonton area, where dozens of players are now making their way from to enjoy Westlock’s challenges.
“We’re now getting a lot of people from Edmonton who can’t get a tee time in the city,” the pro explained. “They typically may have never had a chance to play here and we love having them out here. Of course, we do have members here, but we encourage public play as much as possible. The other day we had 190 players and a hundred of them were public players,” so those residing elsewhere are always more than welcome to experience this small town golf challenge and pride in ownership.
And to find out how proud residents are of this facility and how important it is to the overall community, you have to go no further than a lifetime member, Mr. Lewko. “This is a really special place. When we use the phraseology “essential service,” I think a golf course is that. It’s a gathering area. A place for volunteerism. I think it’s an essential service and while some people may think it’s an elitist sport, it’s not. Whether your a guy or a girl, you can come out here, play, and really enjoy yourself.”
And really, isn’t that what golf is all about, whether it’s in a big city or a rural part of the country?
Public players are more than welcome to book a tee time at the Westlock Golf Club five days in advance, and due to the COVID-19 restrictions governing golf, it is preferred that green fees are paid online, but it’s not mandatory. To book a time, go to their website at www.westockgolf.com or call the pro shop at 780-349-2478.