'Perfect for every skill level': Edmonton golf course attracting new and experienced golfers from all walks of life
A so-called forgotten golf course in Edmonton is becoming popular thanks to a local golf pro.
"Golf is for everyone," Garrett Hadfield told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday. "We want everyone to be playing this game, because it's the best game, and you can play it forever."
Hadfield was hired by the City of Edmonton as the director of golf at the Rundle Park Golf Course in 2022.
"We got here and it was our mission to just reintroduce people to run the park because it is just such a fun little golf course."
"We've seen a huge uptick in clientele. Return customers, seniors, juniors, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds, men, women, children, everyone comes out here."
Hadfield describes the course as perfect for beginners, but also challenging enough for an experienced golfer.
"Now that we've changed the scorecard, we do have a few par fours. We've seen someone shoot under par. But as a par three golf course, from what I understand no one's ever even shot par before."
"It's just the funnest little golf course that is literally perfect for every skill level."
In addition to making some updates to the course, Hadfield has used his company, Goat Track, which sells casual golf apparel, to make the game more accessible to everyone.
"You walk into our pro shop and it's not like a normal golf pro shop. It's kind of a little bit more skateboard shop. Just really, really leaning on the casual side of things.
"When we do get beginners that come out we try to make them feel as welcome as possible. I would say on any given weekend 20 per cent of our players are brand new to golf."
Goat Track also puts on events to encourage new players to try the game.
"We started having social events where we would book tee times and we would pair people with other people that they had never met before."
"We've seen a lot of different ethnicities, different sexual orientations, we've had all sorts of people come up to our events."
Hadfield says a portion of sales from Goat Track are also donated to help parents get kids involved in the game.
Garrett Hadfield shows off the merchandise at the pro shop at Rundle Park Golf Course. (Evan Kenny/CTV News Edmonton)
"We've amassed eight sets of junior rentals. The rule of thumb here is if they fit, they're free. So if you have a young kid out there that wants to try golf, we'll give you clubs to use, we'll give you balls to use, we'll give you tees to use."
He says it's already paid off for some young golfers.
"We had an uncle, brought in his two nephews to try golf because he was a golfer. He was coming to rent all the clubs and all that sort of stuff. I overheard him say, 'We're only doing nine holes. I can't afford to do it all.' I said, 'Oh, no, no, the kids' stuff is completely free.'"
"That first year he came back four times. The next season the kids came with their own clothes."
The course is also hosting a Golf Gal event for all female golfers on May 18 and June 1. The event is free for girls under 18, and $30 for all other women.
Since Hadfield took over in 2022, the course has seen a 60 per cent increase in revenue, and 50 per cent more rounds were played on the course within the first year.
For more information about what's happening at the Rundle Park Golf Course, visit them on social media or check out Goat Track.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump delivers rambling response to conviction in hush money trial
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.
How did Ontario's bankrupt 'Crypto King' travel the world on Scene+ points?
Newly released documents suggest Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ paid for months of world travels with $13,000 worth of Scene+ points while bankrupt – but how?
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Solutions coming for piled-up bodies outside Newfoundland hospital
Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador say they are only weeks away from a solution to move unclaimed human remains out of roadside freezers and into a nearby hospital.
Actor Nick Pasqual charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing estranged girlfriend
An actor who has appeared in film and TV projects like 'Rebel Moon' and 'How I Met Your Mother' has been arrested and charged with stabbing his estranged girlfriend multiple times.
'Unprecedented': Human smuggling from B.C. to U.S. soars, using train, Uber and foot
American prosecutors and law enforcement officers say they're dealing with a huge increase in human smuggling from British Columbia.
The northern lights are returning to night skies across Canada this Friday
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
Incendiary device thrown at Vancouver synagogue, Jewish Federation says
An incendiary device was thrown at a Vancouver synagogue Thursday night, leading to increased police presence at local institutions, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver says.