With Calgary’s residential construction down by 30 per cent and not many golf courses being built anywhere in North America, how is it that an ambitious project in Springbank is plowing full speed ahead and creating buzz in both golf and housing circles?
Phil Mickelson‘s first golf course design in Canada is one of the most ambitious golf construction projects ever in Alberta.
READ MORE: Phil Mickelson designing pro golf course near Calgary
Mickelson National Golf Club is taking shape in Springbank, moving five times as much earth as an average golf course. The course’s sales marketing director Mark Corrigan says over 100 memberships have already been sold. Pictures don’t do justice to the elevation changes on what used to be a flat farmer’s field.
“It’s an exciting time and people are working so it’s great for Calgary,” Corrigan said.
“If nothing else it’s a great opportunity to see what goes into making a good golf course, because who knows if this will be the last one built in Calgary?”
Changing earth-moving companies and the horrible summer weather in Calgary have led to delays in shaping the course, which is now set for a full 18-hole opening in 2019.
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Once open, Mickelson National Golf Club will be a world-class course for members and a stadium venue able to host a Canadian Open, other PGA or LPGA events and even a big-team event like The President’s Cup. The massive amounts of earth moved have created areas for spectators where they can view multiple holes at once.
READ MORE: Construction starts on Phil Mickelson-designed golf course near Calgary
Adjacent to the golf course is the Harmony housing development that will eventually see 10,000 residents live in a mini city with shops, an arts centre, pathways and beachfront property.
The first residents will move in early 2017 and the village core will begin to take shape in the next few years.
Despite the slowdown in the Calgary residential construction market, Garett Wohlberg from Qualico Communities says the Harmony project is meeting their sales projections so far.
“We haven’t really seen a slow down, we’re continuing to move ahead with our plans for the next few years,” Wohlberg said. “We continue to see decent sales growth and absorption of our housing product out here.”
Sophie Gowsell with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association says Harmony is a unique enough project in the right location that it can be successful even in a tough housing market.
“More sustainable, more work-life balance, really promoting walkable communities,” she said.
“I think the bonus of Harmony is the golf course and then also having the Rocky Mountains and a lake in your backyard.”
And Wohlberg says the decade-plus construction project to build all of Harmony will create jobs.
“It does create jobs,” he said. “In addition to the earth movement and building and development jobs, there’s also the water and wastewater treatment plant we’ll have employees in and the ongoing construction of the lake.”
A membership to play Mickelson National Golf Club is currently going for $18,500 plus GST. Even Harmony residents will have to buy a golf membership if they want to play the course but Wohlberg says residents will have access to facilities.
“Family-friendly facility and ideally four seasons, so it’s not just golf and there will be amenities there that residents of Harmony can take advantage of and use throughout the year.”
The lake carved out between Harmony and the golf course will be the deepest man-made lake in Alberta. By next spring, it could see residents swimming, fishing and cheering athletes on in a triathlon. All part of the vision to create Harmony.
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