Alberta Courses

[specimania]

Happy February! 

Has anyone decided on what they are doing for memberships in that, where are you going to play. I am having a difficult decision this year. Delacour is sold out of memberships, I was thinking there. I have a VIP but like to have a home course as well. I was thinking carstairs or water valley.... I don't really wanna blow 5k on a membership so just looking for thoughts on where you would recommend playing that is good shape for a fair amount.

[Kale_m]

22 minutes ago, specimania said:

Happy February! 

Has anyone decided on what they are doing for memberships in that, where are you going to play. I am having a difficult decision this year. Delacour is sold out of memberships, I was thinking there. I have a VIP but like to have a home course as well. I was thinking carstairs or water valley.... I don't really wanna blow 5k on a membership so just looking for thoughts on where you would recommend playing that is good shape for a fair amount.

Where in the city are you? 
 

i saw a BOGO on memberships at highwood. think regular was just under $3k , so $1500 each.. bout the same as Carstairs. 
 

Carstairs was pretty sweet when I played it in August, good price too.

 

i live delacour but their membership stipulations are stupid… you have a membership but if they open before a certain date you pay green fees, if you play later then Oct 10 , you pay green fees. Can’t play 36 in one day as a member.. meh… 

i was going to do a membership but I love touring around playing a variety of courses. Keeps my game sharper and more exciting when you get to play a variety 

 

[specimania]

I am in the NW so High River is a jaunt, even with the ring road. However that ring road opened up so many options. 

I 100% agree that Delacours stipulations are stupid. It is why I did not re-up a few years ago. I worked it and I could break even there with VIP with 55 rounds. A few members also found this and left. I do really like the staff and course at Delacour, the price is ok when you compare it to other places. 

I also thought about just playing kananaskis all year for 30-40 rounds. It works out the same as a membership as most places in the city. Way better golf too! 

I don't want to get locked into an equity (I wonder if they had a significant cash call at priddis??). I, like, you, enjoy variety. Kale, you helped me reduce my options till midnight! Thanks!

[knock it close]

On 2/5/2024 at 2:43 PM, specimania said:

I wonder if they had a significant cash call at priddis?

There was a minor one last year, might be one coming once they figure out what they're going to do with the half way house addition, which I am all for, but I have no clue where that's at now. 

Edited February 7 by knock it close

[Treats]

6 hours ago, knock it close said:

There was a minor one last year, might be one coming once they figure out what they're going to do with the half way house addition, which I am all for, but I have no clue where that's at now. 

Huh?....Priddis' cash reserve/contigency fund is that low that they need to do a member capital assessment to build a half way house?

[st1800e]

On 2/5/2024 at 2:43 PM, specimania said:

I am in the NW

After 49 years of playing and membership at 6 clubs across western Canada , pick the one that is close.  Yes they all have their pros and cons , but driving to Kananaskis repeatedly?     I’m in the NW too.  Playing at Bearspaw for 28 years.  I’m sure the haters will chime in.  😂

 

I’m 8 minutes away.  

 

Theres also something to be said for mens night, club tourneys and knowing the membership, and regular familiar people to play with.  Some of my best friends are golfing buddies at the club.  

 

Sure there’s many opinions about the quality of courses, the good and the bad, but it’s all about the experience.  
 

That’s what you need to evaluate.  
 

[knock it close]

11 hours ago, Treats said:

Huh?....Priddis' cash reserve/contigency fund is that low that they need to do a member capital assessment to build a half way house?

Halfway house might be selling it short, but it is replacing the current Raven shack. Covered heated patio, outdoor kitchen and bar, it's going to be a 2,500 sq ft building and have 3000 sqft of patio space, putting green expansion too. Basically a more casual post round f&b option, with a multi million dollar price tag. I'm not subject to it so I haven't looked at the funding plans in much depth.

[Instron4204]

Maybe it was like this in years past but there sure seems to be a lot of Priddis memberships for sale on Kijiji.

[Treats]

On 2/8/2024 at 7:55 AM, knock it close said:

Halfway house might be selling it short, but it is replacing the current Raven shack. Covered heated patio, outdoor kitchen and bar, it's going to be a 2,500 sq ft building and have 3000 sqft of patio space, putting green expansion too. Basically a more casual post round f&b option, with a multi million dollar price tag. I'm not subject to it so I haven't looked at the funding plans in much depth.

Ok...sounds like an "addition" to the clubhouse facilty offering a more casual F&B option....makes sense now...and yes ....a likely multi M $ build.

 

I spoke with a member of Donalda in TO.

They are playing on $6M in bunker & irrigation upgrades...no capital assessments.

[Chanceman]

Locked in my August visit to the Rockies ages ago and have been waiting for bookings to open. Greywolf ✅ Jasper✅ and then Banff opens this week- totally booked out on my day! So I have had to move the day to a Sunday - just hope it’s not a 6 hour sleepfest. The positive is I can now play Mt Kidd ilo Banff.

[Double K]

On 2/5/2024 at 12:15 PM, specimania said:

Happy February! 

Has anyone decided on what they are doing for memberships in that, where are you going to play. I am having a difficult decision this year. Delacour is sold out of memberships, I was thinking there. I have a VIP but like to have a home course as well. I was thinking carstairs or water valley.... I don't really wanna blow 5k on a membership so just looking for thoughts on where you would recommend playing that is good shape for a fair amount.

This is a problem I wish I had. 

 

I moved to Seattle in the fall. This place is basically a golf desert. 

[ZipinZ]

On 2/28/2024 at 2:08 PM, Double K said:

This is a problem I wish I had. 

 

I moved to Seattle in the fall. This place is basically a golf desert. 

 

I understand Scottsdale is a desirable place to be. Better golf that's for sure.

[specimania]

Two weeks till we tee off? 

Wonder what opens first??

[knock it close]

36 minutes ago, specimania said:

Two weeks till we tee off? 

Wonder what opens first??

I expect Play Golf Calgary to be some of the first. 

[Kale_m]

55 minutes ago, specimania said:

Two weeks till we tee off? 

Wonder what opens first??

2 weeks you think? I am saying mid April around here in Calgary 

 

It’s calling to be back below zero and snowing in a couple weeks 

Edited March 12 by Kale_m

[st1800e]

4 minutes ago, Kale_m said:

2 weeks you think? I am saying mid April around here in Calgary 

 

It’s calling to be back below zero and snowing in a couple weeks 

As usual it’s going to be up and down.  My earliest in Calgary was March 27 @ Gleneagles.  I’m guessing they might beat that this year.  

[Cruisin1966]

47 minutes ago, Kale_m said:

2 weeks you think? I am saying mid April around here in Calgary 

 

It’s calling to be back below zero and snowing in a couple weeks 

 

Way too soon up here in Red Deer.  Still lots of snow, and as you mention, more weather to come

[specimania]

I’m just ordered new irons so as long as it doesn’t start before I get em (bps modus 125). I am pumped. Long term doesn’t look too bad. Every year I am super optimistic and usually wrong. Let’s hope I am right though! 

[specimania]

3 hours ago, Cruisin1966 said:

 

Way too soon up here in Red Deer.  Still lots of snow, and as you mention, more weather to come

Ya unless delbourne has a huge melt. Maybe riverside. RD is usually about a week or so behind Calgary. 
 

 

[Kale_m]

22 minutes ago, specimania said:

I’m just ordered new irons so as long as it doesn’t start before I get em (bps modus 125). I am pumped. Long term doesn’t look too bad. Every year I am super optimistic and usually wrong. Let’s hope I am right though! 

I am in the limbo stage with my irons right now. Stressing me out as the season is right around the corner!!!

[specimania]

I take no stock in anything except trying to grove things up. The driving range is only good to see if I can make decent contact. First three weeks of the season is where things need to get better. Don’t get brained early Kale! It sucks so bad when it happens.

 

[thesloth]

My earliest to actually start a season here in Calgary was March 12 in 2016. This doesn’t including the odd round in January/February over the years when Fox Hollow has opened for a few days. The upcoming week of double digit temperatures will likely melt and get some tracks in shape that they COULD open. I think it will depend on what’s coming for weather after that as the courses that could open are not going to bother if it’s scheduled persistent subzero temps and snow.  

[Kale_m]

18 minutes ago, specimania said:

I take no stock in anything except trying to grove things up. The driving range is only good to see if I can make decent contact. First three weeks of the season is where things need to get better. Don’t get brained early Kale! It sucks so bad when it happens.

 

And if I can’t make decent contact with my new irons? lol. Old irons were fine… 

[specimania]

11 minutes ago, Kale_m said:

And if I can’t make decent contact with my new irons? lol. Old irons were fine… 

Then there is another set in the wings… stupid mats, they ruin everything 

[Kale_m]

1 hour ago, specimania said:

Then there is another set in the wings… stupid mats, they ruin everything 

I dunno. 
 

be something with narrower soles if I can’t figure these out ..

 

will be a range rat this week 

[st1800e]

3 hours ago, thesloth said:

My earliest to actually start a season here in Calgary was March 12 in 2016.

Which course? 

[thesloth]

2 hours ago, st1800e said:

Which course? 

Good question. I think it was Blue Devil, but it might have been Gleneagles. They both tend to open up pretty early.

[st1800e]

26 minutes ago, thesloth said:

Good question. I think it was Blue Devil, but it might have been Gleneagles. They both tend to open up pretty early.

I’d guess Blue Devil, it’s in the “banana belt” compared to Gleneagles.  I’m pretty sure my earliest recorded round , Mar 27 at Gleneagles was in 2016.  It was a “very strong’ El Niño year.  
Let’s hope El Niño is kind to us this year.  

[HoudinisBlanket]

Paradise Canyon opening tomorrow!  Hopefully this bodes well for everywhere else!

[thesloth]

6 hours ago, HoudinisBlanket said:

Paradise Canyon opening tomorrow!  Hopefully this bodes well for everywhere else!

Whoa! I had checked their twitter a couple days ago wondering if they might open in the next week or two. Was nothing at that time and I figured I was just getting a little overly excited. Makes me wonder if we might see a Calgary course open in the next 7-10 days. I see highs of 14-19 over the next five days, but then a high of -4 and flurries...One can hope.