Willie Miller of Bordeaux Properties, left, Claudio Palumbo of Qualico Communities, Barry Ehlert of Windmill Golf Group, and Peter Maat of Wilco celebrate the start of the clubhouse for Mickelson National Golf Club. PHOTO BY DON MOLYNEAUX /Postmedia
Ground has broken on a new 25,000-square-foot clubhouse that will overlook the first and the 18th holes at the Mickelson National Golf Club in Springbank.
The 18-hole championship golf course is named for PGA Tour champion Phil Mickelson and is the first Canadian course to bear his name.
The course is in Harmony, an amenity-rich community by Bordeaux Developments and Qualico Communities west of Calgary. The Mickelson National opened for play in 2020 and the new facility, which should be completed in 2023, will be a clubhouse for members and a social hub for Harmony residents.
“We think a clubhouse should be a gathering place and an extension of people’s homes. As a private club, we want people to feel very welcome and to enjoy a great atmosphere,” said Barry Ehlert, CEO of Windmill Golf Group, operators of the Mickelson National.
The main level of the clubhouse will feature an open-style kitchen, a 400-seat dining room with private banquet rooms and a wraparound outdoor deck. There will be a grand south-facing entrance and nothing but glass on the north side so that patrons will enjoy the panoramic views of the golf course, the mountains and the Bow River valley.
The clubhouse will have men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, storage and a pro shop.
The Mickelson clubhouse was mapped out by PHX Architecture of Phoenix, Ariz., in association with design partner, DMA Architecture and Design of Calgary.
The design was 14 years in the making with ideas and inspiration gathered from more than 50 clubhouses across North America.
“This is going to be an absolutely spectacular facility. It will probably be one of the most spectacular clubhouses in the entire country,” Ehlert said.
All Harmony residents, whether they golf or not, are social members of the Mickelson Golf Club through their annual Home Owner’s Association fees.
Golf is one of many amenities in Harmony, along with a recreational lake and beach, a skate park, pump track, climbing wall, Ninja course and beach volleyball court.
An off-leash dog park also opened in 2021, with another playground, a festival zone, hockey rinks and community garden coming within the next 12 months.
