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Wolf Creek Golf Resort lands nominations for top courses in Canada

The facility has hosted many high level golf tournaments over the years
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TOP MARKS - Team members from the Onion Lake First Nation watch as the pairing from the Saddle Lake First Nation finish off their putts at the ninth hole to complete their round at the 2016 First Nations Cup golf championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort. Jordie Dwyer/file photo

Both of the Wolf Creek Golf Resorts’ two 18-hole courses have been nominated for the Top 50 golf courses in Canada.

The resort has been known for consistently being favoured by both amateur and professional golfers alike.

“It definitely has stood the test of time,” Head Pro Aaron Miller said.

“For the last plus 30 years, we have been trying to keep everything at a high level. That is also a testament to the players and the fact they still love coming out here. We have seen the same groups year after year and some of them have been coming for 30 years. They say it is their favourite golf course.

“It is nice to get some recognition nationally from everyone around the country.”

The course, located between Ponoka and Lacombe, has had a strong contingent of local golfers, however much of their golfers come from much further away.

“It gives us some pride - 70 per cent of our play comes from Edmonton,” Miller said.

“We have around 15 members from Edmonton as well. They want to make that hour and a little bit drive every day to come out here and play.

“We have great local support as well and we have a lot of groups which we call the north-south match. A couple guys will come from Edmonton and two guys from Calgary and have a big day out here.

“It is easy to get to off the highway and is pretty convenient. They have a lot of fun in those matches.”

Wolf Creek has hosted many high level golf tournaments, with many competitors remarking on how unique the prairie links course is.

“Last year was our big national event when we hosted the Canadian Ladies Mid-amateur,” Miller said.

“We had players come from as far as West Virginia. Some of them said they don’t always go to this match but since it was at Wolf Creek, a lot of them hadn’t played it and couldn’t wait to try it.

“The course is in fantastic shape and they absolutely loved it.

“We have a different type of golf since we are a links-style golf course. People have to make adjustments and it was really great when a lady from Quebec came and said, ‘I couldn’t wait to make my way out here’. That gives us a lot of pride.”

Miller noted it takes a complete team effort to make a Canadian Top 50 list.

“Everyone works together really well out here,” he said.

“Our designer Rod Whitman is turning into one of the top designers in the world. He works really closely with our designer Mike Stewart and his team. We all have a common vision of how we want the golf course to play.

“We are on a massive sand dune and there are some very unique things out here and we buy into the vision of what we want to do. Everyone understands what we are about.”

Wolf Creek will continue to grow and adapt, according to Miller.

“Our owner Ryan Vold has some projects on the go,” Miller said.

“There are exciting things coming up that I am not privy to share at this time. We are always looking at fine-tuning things out here and I don’t think it is ever done.

“We are constantly looking at ways to evolve the golf course and to keep it unique. What the future holds is constantly improving and staying on top of everything.”

He added, “Thanks to all of our players around Central Alberta for coming out and making Wolf Creek one of their favourites. We wouldn’t be on the Top 50 list without a lot of big fans out there.”