The new state-of-the-art clubhouse at the Innisfail Golf Club officially opened last Sunday afternoon (June 12) with a promise to be the “pride” of the town and a facility every citizen, golfers and non-golfers, can enjoy.
The full-service facility was completed about eight weeks ahead of schedule after the old clubhouse, a former residence that was moved onto the site in 1971, was demolished last Sept. 22.
“This is the pride of our golf course and the pride of Innisfail. We now have a facility that we can now be proud of here, and the entire Innisfail community, the surrounding area and visitors from wherever in the province and country, can enjoy,” said Darren Black, the club's manager, noting the reviews for the new facility have already been positive as it was ready for last month's Memorial Cup corporate golf event. “We had people here from Newfoundland and all the way from Victoria. We are hosting the Alberta amateur in the third week of July this year and that will obviously be a provincial event, and we will have people from everywhere, from north and south.”
Club officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the afternoon, following a speech by Black to clubhouse guests to thank the many people involved in the project, which had been discussed by club officials since the 2012 season. Mayor Brian Spiller was also on hand, and praised the new facility for complementing the “most beautiful golf course in Alberta.”
The project had an original budget of just over $2 million but was completed under the original estimate of about $1.9. The new 5,500-square foot facility, which is fully handicapped accessible and features a patio overlooking the Spruce #9 green, is more than 2,000 square feet larger than the old clubhouse. It can seat up to 120 guests, compared to 72 in the old building.
“This is huge for us. This means we are a full-service facility, right from a first-class golf course, first-class clubhouse, first-class pro shop, through and through. For the town it is just one more check mark for somewhere to go, an attraction for the town,” said Black, emphasizing the facility can be used by every citizen in the community.
“They are free to come out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You do not have to golf to be out here. It is a wide open door policy,” he said, adding club officials are “playing it by ear” as far as having all-season accessibility. “But for the summer and the fall for sure we will be open to the general public as well as the golfing community, and of course the Town of Innisfail.”
Although the clubhouse has been open for the past two months for guests, club officials will continue to work hard to enhance every aspect of the new facility, said Black.
“We still have a couple of wrinkles we are working out but we are working on them daily,” he said. “We will be a place to come and a desired place to be.”
For more information on the Innisfail Golf Club go to www.innisfailgolf.ca
Darren Black, club manager
"This is the pride of our golf course and the pride of Innisfail. We now have a facility that we can now be proud of here, and the entire Innisfail community, the surrounding area and visitors from wherever in the province and country can enjoy."
