That seems to be the contention that a revamped Glencoe Glen Forest course outside of Calgary might be in line for a Canadian Open after significant alterations by Robert Trent Jones Jr.:
Fairways were widened so that players would have to consider where to place their tee shots. This can seem to make a course easier, but in fact width generates options. There’s 23 per cent less sand, and therefore more grass. The idea is to allow the ball to run away. Green contours were also softened. This will allow for greens to play at modern speeds. Every tee, fairway, and green was sodded rather than seeded. A couple of greens were repositioned. Some bunkers were moved forward and fairways pinched there, so that tour pros would have to think about whether they wanted to hit driver from the tee.
Interestingly, Trent Jones said Golf Canada and RBC will likely come and see the course next spring. That’s news to my sources — though it wouldn’t surprise me if Glencoe was pushing hard to get both organizations interested. Interestingly, if I’m correct I understand a former RBC exec previously involved with the golf business recently joined Glencoe. Can’t hurt its chances, though I was told by RBC that it is unlikely Glencoe would have a shot at the Canadian Open before 2017.
Lorne Rubenstein’s story is here, interestingly posted on Golf Canada’s site, though no one from Golf Canada is quoted. I know Golf Canada would like to take the event to Calgary, but that’s not as clear on the part of RBC, which really controls where the tournament goes for the next five years.
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Interesting to see Wes Gilbertson’s story in the Calgary Sun about the second course at Stewart Creek in Canmore growing over:
While the staff at most mountain layouts tarps greens, sets up elk fences and takes other precautions to prepare for the frigid winter months, Three Sisters Creek likely won’t get the attention it needs before the snow starts to accumulate.
“If it goes into next year in this kind of condition, I would say we’re running out of hope,” Browning said.
Three Sisters Creek is located just a couple of wedge shots away from Stewart Creek, arguably the best work of the Browning/Horrocks firm. The stunning backdrop that has wowed experts — Stewart Creek was rated No. 32
in SCOREGolf Magazine’s latest list of Canada’s Top 100 Courses — is the same.
Like Blue Devil just a few months ago, the work at Three Sisters Creek is more than three-quarters complete.
Fourteen of the holes are finished, while the others are already shaped. The irrigation system has been installed. And the cart paths are paved.
The clock is ticking fast, though.
I’m trying to think of another modern example of a course in Canada that never opened and went to seed. I suppose that was kind of the case at Tom Fazio’s Terrebonne project outside of Montreal, but it was never completed — playing areas were cleared but little was done beyond that. There was the case that might happen at Humber Valley in Newfoundland, but it never quite got to that point.
Given the convoluted ownership and financing associated with Terrbonne what was the final outcome.
Who owns the land? Is Golf Canada still involved? What if any GC money has been spent there?
Is the loan guarantee to the Stollery group still in place? Or, is the whole project still under a confidentiality agreement???
does that Glencoe picture look like Glen Abbey 10th?
Calgary is golf mad and could host the Open.
Ironically enough, I think Glencoe was left to go to seed in the 80’s. Don’t know exact dates but know past CGSA president Ken Olsevik rescued Glencoe from distaster.