Canada's oldest municipal golf course teeing up new players

“When the kids are having fun and we’re running around giving high fives and just seeing them enjoy the game, it makes my day,” said the golf program manager with the City of Edmonton. “It’s fantastic.”

The 39-year-old said it’s not about creating a generation of Arnold Palmers, but about growing the sport.

“There’s a lot of different ways we’re doing that through junior membership, junior golf camps, and lesson programs,” he said.

In addition to teeing up youngsters, Prosser points to popular couples nights, singles nights and ladies nights at the three city-owned golf facilities as ways they’re reaching out to new players.

Kara Prosser, Brody Dorn, Brooke Bemister and Marko Balaban getting into golf. (Adrienne Lamb/CBC)

“You’re talking about … 5.7 million Canadians playing some level of golf, 60 million rounds of golf played annually, with 2,300 golf facilities across the country,” said Dan Pino of Golf Canada.

The industry association says Edmonton is a hub for the sport in a province lined up for growth recreationally and economically.

“Golf contributes $2.4 billion toward Alberta gross domestic product, 43,000 jobs, $82 million in property and other taxes,” Pino said.

The view from the Victoria Golf Course clubhouse balcony. (Adrienne Lamb/CBC)

Zach Ewing has been hitting the links since he was nine years old.

“My parents got me golfing when I was young and I kind of fell in love with the game,” said Ewing, now 26.

Ewing spent his childhood golfing the 18 holes at Edmonton’s Victoria Golf Course, which dates back to 1907, making it Canada’s oldest municipal course.

The Edmonton Golf Club was established in 1896 and Victoria Golf Course opened in 1907. (City of Edmonton)

“Sometimes it’s easy; sometimes it’s hard; sometimes I can’t putt; sometimes, sometimes I can’t drive but sometimes you do everything good, so I like the battle,” he said.

Prosser says his latest thrill is schooling his seven-year-old daughter Kara in the ways of the sport.

She’s getting a jump on her dad who didn’t pick up a club until he was 18.

“When it comes to golf, there’s no wrong time to start,” he said.

You can see more from Victoria Golf Course this week on Our Edmonton on Saturday at 10 a.m., Sunday at noon and Monday at 11 a.m. on CBC TV.

A view of the first hole and one of 57 golf carts at Victoria Golf Course in Edmonton. (Adrienne Lamb/CBC)  

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