The Stuart Lake Golf Club is already one of the mofe affordable golf courses in B.C., but now it is even more so.
Thanks to a $25,000 grant from New Horizons for Seniors, the golf course is going to have programs to help encourage new golfers, especially amongst the over 55 and under 18 demographics.
There will be $15,000 to go towards course improvements, $5,000 for new clubs and the rest for professional services and hiring to support programs aimed at encouraging new golfers amongst seniors and youth.
Part of this will be to offset green fees for these new golfers, making an affordable golf course even more accessible for first-timers who otherwise might not be able to give the sport a try.
The money has also helped support the hiring of Kelsey Ouellette, who will be the coordinator of the seniors programs, organizing the three seniors tournaments planned for July and helping to encourage schools to come try the course.
So far, seven classes have booked to come out for a day on the greens.
The club also plans on having an instructor available for July and August to help support golfers learning and there will be a new pitch and putt greens area on the old driving range. This feature will allow for golfers to practice skills without paying green fees for a round of golf.
The money and help from Fort Machine Works will also help create a new batting cage for golfers to hit into a net for full-swing driving practice.
“One of the good things about this program is the infrastructure is left here for all future golfers,” said Dave Burgess, the club manager.
He said they also plan on upgrading tee boxes so they are easier for elderly golfers, who may currently not be able to climb up onto all of the ones now on the course.
Burgess is also happy the club has been able to offer support to some special needs youth to try golfing.
“It’s just wonderful,” he said.
With the diversity of Fort St. James, Burgess said the club wants to encourage all demographics to come out and give the sport a try, which is fairly feasible in a place where on a weekend, an adult can golf for less than $20, thanks to a reduction in tax rates for the club, which because it is a non profit, passes on those savings to patrons.
The seniors program will include working with the local seniors centre organization and potentially bringing in seniors from Vanderhoof as well.