Leduc Golf Club is opening its arms wide to the general public
The Leduc Golf Club may be an old Edmonton-area track but the pro shop is putting a new face on it this year with some changes, both in its public persona and in its playability.
James Whitton, the club’s Head Golf Professional, said the biggest difference and one that began last year, is making the general public feel more welcome at his course, a tree-lined, easily walkable 18 holes that while relatively flat still makes you use every stick in your bag.
“We’re going through a little bit of a rebrand, making our golf course a little more accessible to the general public,” he began in answering the question of why they were beginning to use the Play Golf Alberta online booking system. “We want to use social media more, reach a lot more eyes.”
In describing the offers that will be forthcoming this year, Whiten said they now “use a seven-day rotational special,” to entice players out to Leduc, where the course is located on the south end of the city.
Once people tee it up at the Leduc Golf Club, they’ll find that while the design isn’t over-the-top tough, it can be a challenging one considering 13 of the holes have water on them. The front nine is tree-lined and stately in its aging majesty. The back nine is more open but at the same time that’s tempered by more water coming into play.
There have been a couple of changes to the layout over the past while, including removing some trouble spots for the average player.
“We’ve filled in what was sort of a treacherous creek that’s on one of our more difficult holes, especially those guys that hit it in the 175- to 200-yard range,” Whiten explained of softening the impact of hole No. 16 in particular. “And we filled in a couple of bunkers on 14, and one on 18, just to make it a little more playable.”
In regard to the special offers the Leduc Golf Club will tee up this year, that can be taken advantage of by booking online, the pro explained them this way: “Things like Date Night Friday, where two golfers can get a cart, two drinks and an appetizer for $75 after 5 p.m.; we do a weekend 2-for-1 for green fees on a great course to walk from 2 p.m. (carts are full price at that time); and we have a little ceramic dog, Spot, out on the golf course where you can take a selfie and put it up online, just to make it a little more entertaining,” as they look to capture new players through today’s trend toward using social media in all forms.
While the course harkens back to its roots in the 1960s, that doesn’t mean it looks like something from that time. The conditions at the Leduc Golf Club are always superb with lush fairways, thick rough and greens that run fast and true. And that’s even more true this year with some new equipment to tend to the putting surfaces with.
In order for his course to reach one of the goals set, to be seen and played by more people this year, Whitten emphasized how anxious they are to open up their arms and greet newcomers to their playground.
“We’re just trying to shed that country club, you know, nose-up mentality so to speak, and just make this more friendly of a place and a more fun place to be.”
For tee times at the Leduc Golf & Country Cub, go to playgolfalberta.com.