PGA of Canada

21 Golf Facilities in Canada 2017 Edition © Golf Canada and The PGA of Canada CASE STUDIES Full construction of the 18-hole layout is ongoing as of spring 2017, with the expected opening of the first nine holes to be completed in 2018. WITH 308 GOLF FACILITIES, third most of any province, Alberta is a hotbed for golf. The province has led the way in new developments with eight golf facility openings since 2010 as well as 8.5 new course develop- ments currently in planning or under construction. One of the most highly touted new developments has even tapped Phil Mickelson in the hopes of one day bringing Canada's National Open Championship back to Calgary. The five-time major champion has lent his name, and his design prow- ess, to Mickelson National Golf Club in Springbank, Alberta — about 25 minutes west of downtown Calgary. Full construction of the 18-hole layout is ongoing as of spring 2017, with the expected opening of the first nine holes to be completed in 2018. According to Barry Ehlert, the managing partner of Windmill Golf Group — responsible for bringing Mickelson to Calgary, there are an additional nine holes planned, which could become 18. The initial layout sits on 240 acres — 18 holes plus green space — and, as Ehlert says, it is "bold" and "will be completely unpredictable and fun for everyone." "This course will be spectacular and attention to detail second to none," he continues. "I realized that the first ten minutes on site with Phil when he wanted to go to one very specific area and he began to spout off yardages, strategy, etc. It was at that time I realized he knew the actual golf plan better than I did. This guy (Phil) is all in. He's genuine and he gives it his all, in everything he does." The 1,700 acre community in which the golf course is going to be built, called Harmony, has many homes already up with more and more going up each week. Although the golf course will be private — with a limited run of memberships — the public in the neighbourhood will have social access to the facilities. Not only that, but members of Mickel- son National will also have access to four other courses in the Calgary area, along with six more worldwide (not unlike the 'one membership, more golf' model of Ontario's GolfNorth or ClubLink). And while not every new golf course in the country has ambitions to one day host the RBC Canadian Open, this particular one, does. "I could not be more excited about the partnership we've formed for my first signature golf course in Canada." says Mickelson. "The Calgary area has a huge number of golf fans and players and we plan to create an outstanding golf course — one that's both fun for amateurs and challenging enough to host the world's best players in a PGA Tour event." Calgary buzzing with highly touted development. M I C K E L S O N N AT I O N A L G O L F C LU B U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N , S P R I N G B A N K , A L B E R TA

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