Bearspaw Golf Club will be open this summer after all.
In fact, for the first time, the once-exclusive course will be open to the par-seeking public.
Windmill Golf Group struck a deal over the weekend to operate Bearspaw for the remainder of the season, a second life for a facility that locked its gates in early May due to massive cost overruns on the construction of a new clubhouse and is now in receivership.
The 18-hole hangout, located just a wedge-shot west of city limits, could be open as soon as Friday.
“We realize there are a lot of golfers who haven’t had an opportunity to play Bearspaw,” said Barry Ehlert, the managing partner for Windmill Golf Group. “I know that people are going to be blown away. I know that people are going to be excited. I know that people are going to be really enthused and have a positive experience.”
This is the first slice of positive news on Bearspaw since stakeholders received word May 1 that the club was ‘ceasing active operations,’ leaving about 500 members without a course to call home.
Ehlert is hoping many of those familiar faces will consider returning when the flags are back in the greens later this week.
“This was a really unfortunate situation as a whole,” Ehlert said. “So we really want to be supportive and see if we can encourage some members to come back and play for the year and give us an opportunity and a shot to hopefully put a smile on some people’s faces. And also with the staff, we really want to do what we can to bring a lot of the great people that have been there for a long time back.
“So we will provide some great member benefits and opportunities and will try to do some things that create some consistency from what has been done in the past, but we are also excited about welcoming the general golfing public, who for the first time are getting their shot at Bearspaw.”
