INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Golf Club has made it easier and more enjoyable for local and regional cross-country skiers to slide and glide the trails.
Since 2013, the club has allowed the Innisfail Nordic Ski Club to create cross-country ski trails during winter on the snow-covered fairways but for skiers it was always a challenge getting on the 120-acre golf course.
As the golf club was not previously open to the public during the winter, the only access for cross-country skiers was to trudge to the bottom of the adjacent Innisfail Ski Hill.
But the golf club, with its gates now open year-round, is inviting all cross-country skiers to take advantage of an easier way to the trails.
This all came together following a chat between Brent Jackson, president of the Innisfail Ski Club, and Dwayne Simpson, general manager of the golf club.
“Typically, cross-country skiers would start by parking at the ski hill parking lot and it was getting quite full with skiers,” said Jackson. “Dwayne thought with Divots (restaurant) being open they could attract more people on the weekend by having cross-country skiers park up in their parking lot.”
Jackson facilitated the eventual partnership between the Innisfail golf and Nordic ski clubs that would give skiers better access to trails, and more people visiting the golf club during the winter months.
“This will be quite a bit better for skiers. They will have a safer, easier start for those getting out and learning, and it (golf club) is a bigger area for them to park,” said Jackson.
Simpson said the new agreement is a win-win formula for everyone.
“Our gates at the golf course are open seven days a week. The clubhouse is open at all times as well, so people can come in and have a hot chocolate or something to eat after they are done,” said Simpson, adding his club will have maps posted on its website and at the clubhouse for people who come out.
“We’re just trying to promote, especially with COVID going on, some outdoor activities that people can enjoy. We want to try to promote the Nordic club, and obviously we want to promote coming out to the golf course as well."
Bryn Chambers, president of the Innisfail Nordic Ski Club, said he has been setting cross-country ski trails up at the golf course since 2013.
He is pleased his trail creating work, which involves hours and hours of riding a snowmobile that pulls a track setter to create trails for classic cross-country skiing, will now become an even more enjoyable labour of love.
For the past eight years, the Nordic club had a 4.75-kilometre trail at the golf course. It is described as a black and more advanced trail that has steeper hills. And now there is a new second loop, a blue moderate trail that extends 2.25 kilometres. It has a few moderate hills but no steep inclines.
“We will have seven kilometres of trails out there,” said Chambers, who has also been setting a two-kilometer cross-country ski trail on Napoleon Lake for the past two years. “So, we really have three places to cross-country ski. If you are a beginner you can go to Centennial Park and park there, and ski on Napoleon Lake if you don’t want any hills and just want to cross-country ski.”
There is no cost for citizens to go cross-country skiing on any of the three trails but the club is actively looking for increased membership, which now numbers between 30 to 40.
“Our only source of fundraising right now to cover our expenses is from our members,” said Chambers, noting details, including current trail conditions and cost of club membership, are on the Innisfail Nordic Ski Club’s Facebook page. “We do need to buy some more equipment. We are hoping to attract more members to the club where they sign up and become a member of the club. You don’t have to pay to go and use the trails.”
Chambers was out and about looking at his trio of groom trails on Jan. 2, and all three were well attended by appreciative cross-country skiers. Like so many others, they were grateful for the exercise and recreational opportunity during a lengthy cold snap, and amidst a seemingly endless pandemic.
“Absolutely. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing have taken off. People can’t travel, so they are trying to find things to do while they are still in Canada, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are excellent exercises,” he said.
“You get outside in the fresh air and its safe and great for your state of mind, absolutely.”
