The Sturgeon Valley Golf & Country Club is debuting a new lounge and two new greens after a face lift.
Last fall the club began renovations to two of their older original dirt-base greens that were constructed when the club opened in the 1960s. Since then the technology for golf has improved and the standard for golf greens has evolved to a soil mix base.
Mark Beckwith, the general manager of the Sturgeon Valley club, said that he is happy with how the renovations to the greens on the 10th and 18th holes have gone.
“It is like two brand new greens really and the drainage work around them. The work has really turned out spectacular and we are very, very pleased with the result of these projects,” Beckwith said.
The two new holes made their debut on Canada Day and many golfers have already got to try them out.
“The golfers are very positive about the new look of the holes and the playability and the variety of the shots that the greens will allow the golfers to play. It’s just a huge improvement,” Beckwith said.
The club had been working on the greens since the fall but before they were able to start construction they had to get support from their shareholders.
In the last two years the club has made several improvements to the course. Hole number six was given a complete rebuild in 2016 and in the fall the greens on hole one and seven will also get green upgrades.
Most of the greens are now up to the new golf standards and they club only has a couple of improvements left to make.
“We’ve only got the two more to do this fall and then they will all be up to current golf specifications,” Beckwith said.
The greens renovations are part of a larger two-year upgrade to the course which involves new drainage and irrigation, repaving the cart paths, adding some new tee boxes and upgrading the golfers’ lounge and clubhouse. The price tag for the course upgrades come in at $2 million and the upgrades to the lounge cost around $1 million. The cost will be worked into the future membership. This year the club has around 450 members.
This is the largest upgrade the club has undergone since it was built more than 50 years ago.
The new golfers’ lounge opened on Monday June 26 featuring new floors, a new bar, new furniture and an expanded kitchen. The lounge also has a new fireplace, cherrywood finishes and televisions throughout the room.
“It’s quite a comfortable place to relax after a game of golf. It’s really beautiful,” Beckwith said.
With an expanded kitchen, the club was able to expand the menu and is also able to host several events in the building at the same time.
Upgrades to the first and seventh hole will begin in September.
