Calgary and Surrounding area - Golf Thread

[Dion]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Holy cow that Hole #13 looks ridiculous. It might just be the picture but the fairway/green look very narrow.

It's just the picture as the green is actually quite large. Problem is you have to hit over 165-yards of water to make the green. It's the signature hole for the golf course and a graveyard for a lot of golf balls - including mine

[Ethaniel]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

My dad played Beaver Dam with his brothers one time and said it was pretty insanely hard. He lost many balls as the fairways are narrow and the roughs are very rough... and it was intensely windy that day as they could barely stand haha

for sure it is a good track, but I wouldn't say it is tough(of course if the wind blows a tonne any golf course in calgary gets a lot harder).
It is at an Average toughness level for golf courses.
Heritage and Hamptons(you can't play here but I can, You probably don't want to either as it is the hardest course i have played in Canada) are probably in the tough category.

If your in the NW Beaver Dam is for sure one of the best bang for the buck courses because it is still quite challenging. I would rank it higher than the silverwing/boulder creek style courses and almost all city courses.

Personally on the golf ball issue i would go one under the best in your situation. Stick with the Callaway/Taylormade/Titleist but don't get the best available. Go with the NXT Tours or DT Roll or Warbirds.

You should notice a difference around the green more so than the TopFlite type golf ball, but probably wont notice anything else different IMO.

[mykalberta]

Wow, this thread is right up my ally. If I didnt have to work and just had cash in the bank all I would do is golf.

I have played Nanton, Maple Ridge, Innisfail.

Nanton and Innisfail are my favorite courses but neither are really close. Never tried Chestermere, will have to do that. My brother and dad are coming down August long for the week to do some golfing etc. We have Kananasisks booked twice but for the most part we are staying around Calgary.

I hate to say this, but I would move to the burbs (Chestermere) if that course was good - from the website it looks fantastic.

I just wish my friends would wise up and leave Edmonton so I would have some regular golfing buddies - oh how I miss the UofA days of working menial labour jobs in the summer (landscaping etc) only so I could play golf everyday

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Maple Ridge is the best deal in town at $44.

Its also pretty nice, particularly for a city course. Challenging in spots.
Tee boxes are in good condition, fairways are in good condition, greens are in good condition.
I love the 11th hole Par 3... 221 yds from the blacks to the green, all downhill.

Also, its usually pretty easy to get on as a walk-on on the weekend if you are a single.

Playing there tomorrow. Hole 11 is a dog leg left par 5, the par 3 you are talking about is number 13.

Boulder creek has some decent deals, when I played there last year I enjoyed, especially the gps on the carts. It still needs a couple years.

Springbank is one of my favorites, havent played it in years though.

And I also vouch for Beaver Dam, got my first eagle there on a par 5 last year (the one coming down the hill, i think its number 5, on in 2 and 1 putt!)

[FlamesKickAss]

If anyone wanted to play mapleridge tomorrow I know there is a 2:15 time that just became available, as I just switched to a 9:08 time!! I have so much good luck getting on that course, two days ago there was nothing. Gotta say I like the new booking system the city has for their courses.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

If anyone wanted to play mapleridge tomorrow I know there is a 2:15 time that just became available, as I just switched to a 9:08 time!! I have so much good luck getting on that course, two days ago there was nothing. Gotta say I like the new booking system the city has for their courses.

Lucky you! I 've had zero sucess with the booking system

[Dion]

Originally Posted by fotze

If you want to quit playing golf, play a city course, it will be sure to take all the fun out of it and you will never want to do it again. That is why I quit golf for many years.

The home of hit and wait golf. Last Friday it took us 5 1/2 hours to play 18 holes.

Some Marshall told us we needed to pick up the pace as we were behind. Told him we had to wait on the group ahead of us at every hole. An argument started and i nearly got kicked off the course. Like, where the hell are we supposed to go when we're waiting all the time.

[Bobblehead]

I haven't played much this year, yet.

Last year, out side of what people have already mentioned, I didn't like River Spirit but I did like River's Edge.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Dion

I wouldn't say it's easy to get on. I play there most Saturdays and i've had to wait a minimum of 2 hours to get on.

You gotta get there a little earlier then ...
Get there by 9 on non mens club days and you should have no problem.
On men's club days there is a problem because we take all the tee times from 7 to 9:15.

Men's club days in 2009 are as follows:

May 2
May 16
May 30
June 13
June 20
June 27
July 11
August 8
August15
August 22

As you can see, 3 out of the 4 Saturday mornings in June were booked for the mens club, but only one Saturday in July is booked.

[FlamesKickAss]

I think it changes with the day and time of day you play. That is why I switched from a 2:15 time to a 9:08 for tomorrow. Some people just dont get it, just like the foursome in front of our group at shawnee on sunday for twilight. People its twilight we arent out for a stroll, and if you need a ball so bad that you look in a ravine I will give you one of mine seriously.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Rerun

You gotta get there a little earlier then ...
Get there by 9 on non mens club days and you should have no problem.
On men's club days there is a problem because we take all the tee times from 7 to 9:15.

Men's club days in 2009 are as follows:

May 2
May 16
May 30
June 13
June 20
June 27
July 11
August 8
August15
August 22

As you can see, 3 out of the 4 Saturday mornings in June were booked for the mens club, but only one Saturday in July is booked.

I'm always early - usually by 8:30.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

I think it changes with the day and time of day you play. That is why I switched from a 2:15 time to a 9:08 for tomorrow. Some people just dont get it, just like the foursome in front of our group at shawnee on sunday for twilight. People its twilight we arent out for a stroll, and if you need a ball so bad that you look in a ravine I will give you one of mine seriously.

You must be getting the tee time that people have cancelled. I'll try your method next time.

Nothing worse than golfers who think they are married to thier golf balls. Drives me nuts when i see someone ahead of me spending 5-10 minutes looking for their golf ball

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by fotze

If you want to quit playing golf, play a city course, it will be sure to take all the fun out of it and you will never want to do it again. That is why I quit golf for many years.

Totally agree with this. When I started golf a bunch of my friends played the city courses because they had those punch cards so it was a lot cheaper for them. The grass was bad, the layouts were boring and sometimes the people in front of you have no idea how to play and it takes them 10 shots to get onto the green.
Ever since I moved to Edmonton for school, we started going to some semi-private and courses 30-50 minutes away from town. The differential is just astounding... some even include free carts or 2 for 1 deals. Great grass, decent layouts all for the same price or a little bit more but very worth it.

I started taking the friends who only played city courses to some of the nicer courses and now they all agree the extra bucks is much more worth it. I rather play one nice course every 2 weeks than play the city course every week.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by fotze

Wondering where to take the brother in law, money is no object as he is a member at TPC Sawgrass, they are doing kananaskis so I want something closer. Thinking either gleneagles or Heritage pointe?

I played both about 2 years ago and I liked the feel of glen eagles. Pretty fun to play but you can't go too wrong with either.

[corporatejay]

Heritage Pointe is gorgeous but really tough. The rough is knee high in some places. I really enjoyed it, especially since I wasn't the one paying.

I've heard Silvertip is ridiculously gorgeous and hard. Perhaps your bro-in-law would like that.

The reason I like city courses is that I can leave work at 6:00 and still get in nine any night of the week in the summer (best part of having the sun go down at 1030pm).

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

I think it changes with the day and time of day you play. That is why I switched from a 2:15 time to a 9:08 for tomorrow. Some people just dont get it, just like the foursome in front of our group at shawnee on sunday for twilight. People its twilight we arent out for a stroll, and if you need a ball so bad that you look in a ravine I will give you one of mine seriously.

Yeah... some people spend so much time looking for balls you'd think they were gold.
I also hate it when people don't play ready golf.... come on! If you're ready to hit the damn thing or putt... do it!

I also hate when beginner hackers are out on the course when they have no business being out there. If you can't keep the ball in play and and consistantly hit for accuracy and distance, play at one of the easier beginner courses (ie LakeView, Buffalo Run, Shaganppi par 3, etc.

Nothing worse than playing with or behind somebody who either constantly sprays the ball all over the place or can't hit the ball more than 75 yds at a time.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by fotze

I've actually quit mid-round on city courses. Used to hop the fence at shaganappi and run to the misty's beer store and stock up. Also the marshalls should be born in this century, ditto for the customers. City courses are the cheapest so they attract people who cannot afford to lose a ball.

The marshalls the city uses have zero people skills. The guy i got into a heated arguement with was a total a-hole. Wanted to kick me off the course because i told him we had no where to go as we were always waiting on the group ahead. Obviously the guy has never played golf.

I expect a very slow pace when i play a city course. It seems to attract people who have played little or no golf.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Totally agree with this. When I started golf a bunch of my friends played the city courses because they had those punch cards so it was a lot cheaper for them. The grass was bad, the layouts were boring and sometimes the people in front of you have no idea how to play and it takes them 10 shots to get onto the green.
Ever since I moved to Edmonton for school, we started going to some semi-private and courses 30-50 minutes away from town. The differential is just astounding... some even include free carts or 2 for 1 deals. Great grass, decent layouts all for the same price or a little bit more but very worth it.

I started taking the friends who only played city courses to some of the nicer courses and now they all agree the extra bucks is much more worth it. I rather play one nice course every 2 weeks than play the city course every week.

I won't play a city course if I can't get an early morning tee time (b4 9:30 am). After that play slows down dramatically. Get an early tee time and its great. Last Saturday I had a 7:00 am tee time at Maple Ridge (city course) and the three of us played it in 3 hours and 45 minutes. Sweet.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by Dion

The marshalls the city uses have zero people skills. The guy i got into a heated arguement with was a total a-hole. Wanted to kick me off the course because i told him we had no where to go as we were always waiting on the group ahead. Obviously the guy has never played golf.

I expect a very slow pace when i play a city course. It seems to attract people who have played little or no golf.

If i'm in a very loving and happy mood I don't mind playing the city courses... but that is rare and far between. But I haven't had any problems with the marshalls at the city courses. They usually are pretty nice and polite and say hello and give a friendly wave here and there.

[corporatejay]

It seems to attract people who have played little or no golf.

Nothing worse than playing with or behind somebody who either constantly sprays the ball all over the place or can't hit the ball more than 75 yds at a time.

Where do you guys expect people to learn? While I agree it can be frustrating, there's a reason they are cheap and accessible. They are mostly for beginner players, since no beginner players is going to drop 100 bucks on a course where they'll shoot a 150.