Golfers like the new logo.
Give them a second or two … and they love it.
At least, that’s been the experience of staff at the re-branded Winston Golf Club, the semi-private escape that was formerly known as Calgary Elks.
“The logo is two tees and a club head to form a W, and people just love it,” beamed Shawn Lavoie, executive professional and general manager at The Winston. “A lot of people at the golf show stopped by and said, ‘Wow, that’s a great logo.’ Then you ask them, ‘Do you see what it is?’ And they have that ah-ha moment. That’s a lot of fun.”
This is a fun time of year at every course in southern Alberta, but there was an extra buzz when the maintenance crew at The Winston peeled back the tarps and cut the first pins of the season Wednesday, officially launching a new era after a half-century as Calgary Elks.
While there’s still an association with the service-club, they’d been hearing for years that many birdie-seekers assumed they needed a membership to score access to the first tee or to test their luck — and their aim — on the intimidating island-green at No. 17.
You don’t.
So what’s the scoop on the new name?
Location, location, location.
The 7,037-yard hangout, known way way back as The Regal, is a centrepiece of Winston Heights, just north of 16 Ave. N.E.
Members were polled on two options, but the results of that vote were overwhelming.
“I think it was a no-brainer, really,” Lavoie said. “A lot of people have asked why, and we basically explain to them that we want to embrace the community we’re in. Much like The Hamptons or Willow Park or Inglewood or Canyons Meadows, all we’ve done is re-brand the golf club to reflect the neighbourhood we’re in.”
Next on the wish-list at The Winston is a new clubhouse, a project already in the works.
Golfers will be greeted by a new sign out front and the pro-shop is……READ MORE HERE
