Golfers could see at least a partial new layout at the Athabasca Golf and Country Club as early as this time next year.
That’s due to the construction of the new replacement bridge on Highway 813 over the Athabasca River.
That new bridge is still in the design stages, according to Alberta Transportation.
However, according to the survey done this summer, the realigned highway to the new bridge indicates it will be 150 to 200 feet north of the present bridge.
What that means for the golf club is the loss of the back tee box on hole #16 along with all of the maintenance and storage facilities.
And the process is moving rapidly, as Alberta Transportation has requested the club submit its costs for the new maintenance shops and what it will take fix the course so it’s close to what it currently looks like.
“They wanted us to figure out what we are going to lose, what we need done to return the course to the way it should be and then submit those costs so they can get that into their 2015 budget,” said Trevor Martin, golf club board member and on the board’s committee to deal with Alberta Transportation.
“They have worked with us so the work has the least impact and stated we will be fairly compensated to put the course back in order.”
The club has hired the world-renown golf course design and construction firm Puddiecomb Golf, who handled the last course renovation.
“They are presently working on coming up with a variety of options for what can be done,” stated Martin.
“Whether it means we keep 16 a par five, make it a par four and change another hole to a par five, or reconfigure other parts of the course while also finding a new place for our maintenance shops. They will give the board options to choose from and then we can hand those costs to the department.”
The realigned highway will also impact the club’s driving range so a new, realigned intersection can be built, plus an allowance taken for a future service road. The highway will also be seven metres below the grade of the present tee box.
Martin is somewhat excited about the prospect of getting a chance to enhance the driving range.
“I see this situation as a chance for positive change,” he said.
“It will allow us to enhance the course and better utilize the space we do have, along with a better access and improved maintenance and storage facilities.”
One idea Martin would like to see for the driving range is the large bumps taken out and, along with using some of the dirt and soil that crews rebuilding the highway would normally truck away, fill in a section of the current driving range so there would be about 100 to 150 yards of flat area for golfers to use in order to practice their short game.
Not only would it improve the experience for some golfers, but altering the direction of the driving range slightly would provide a spectacular view of the Athabasca River valley and the new bridge crossing, he added.
For now, Alberta Transportation said there is no cost estimate or construction timeline available for the project.
