The City of Calgary saw a record number of visitors to its golf courses in the 2021 season, according to a city official.
John Faber, Calgary’s acting golf lead, estimates by the end of the season, the city will have seen almost 260,000 people come to its golf courses this year. And that number doesn’t include driving ranges.
“People have re-found their passion for the game of golf,” Faber said.
The city operates seven golf courses across five properties, which includes three driving ranges, according to Faber.
Municipal golf courses took a staggered approach to opening this year due to COVID-19, with the first courses opening in early April. Most courses are now closed for the season, but the 18 holes at Maple Ridge and nine-hole combination at Shaganappi Point golf course will be open until the evening of Oct. 24.
“It’s been a little bit of a challenge, but I can say COVID has probably been a bit of a blessing for the golf course industry,” he said.
In Saskatchewan courses were as busy this year as they were in any other year. Last season they had huge success because it was one of the only sporting activities you could take part in, and this year it carried forward.
“Most golf courses have 85 per cent of their times taken up, or more,” said Golf Saskatchewan Executive Director and CEO Brian Lee.
A big measuring stick as to how popular your sport is how many youth are taking it up. For golf, it was another big year for young players hitting the links, and also first-timers hitting the links, as well.
“If they come out and play three rounds, they usually get hooked for a lifetime,” says Lee. “That’s something that our sport can always maintain or hopefully maintain, is that young people continue to play and that becomes almost like a family legacy to play.”
In Calgary Faber said “city staff observed more young golfers than usual visiting courses this year, including people in their 20s and “lots and lots of kids” using the McCall Lake and Lakeview golf courses. There was a downturn in the season in May when COVID-19 guidelines restricted gathering limits. But besides that month, “the golf season has been outstanding.”
Everyone is starting to look forward to 2022 and hope we can keep this momentum going.
