Elk Point Golf and Country Club

A hidden gem in central Alberta

Initially beginning with sand greens in the 1950s, Elk Point Golf and Country Club has been a centre of the community since before the area was even dubbed an official town. As the years went on, more recreational facilities began to be installed—including grass greens for the course in 1992—and the complex is now a hub for many small town activities.

“It’s an extension of the community like any small town with any small venue—like the curling rink or the arena during the winter, it’s the golf course during the summer,” said club director Dick Millar. “We have all of our recreational contacts out here, including the ball diamonds, soccer pitch, campground, playground. It’s all here, so it’s very family-oriented.”

Millar said the course workers are also a very tight-knit community, as Elk Point runs primarily through the efforts of volunteers.

“We have a board that’s volunteer and we have our volunteer contract workers who manage the clubhouse and manage the grounds,” said Millar. “The rest are students. We probably have about 12 to 15 employees, and most of them are students from the local high school.”

Giving back

Though the 9-hole course is rather small, it hosts a large number of events throughout the season in order to give back to the people of Elk Point.

“We probably had close to 30 huge tournaments last year, mostly money-raising projects for various organizations,” said Millar. “We have a number of tournaments with the Aboriginal neighbours to the north—they use the course for money-raising projects for their youth three or four times a year.”

Two of the biggest fundraisers hosted by Elk Point are for STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society), and Haying in the 30’s—a local organization that helps out families dealing with cancer. Millar said that each year the club raises approximately $20,000 for STARS, a pattern that he hopes will continue well into the future.

Though volunteers are constantly busy with events and tournaments throughout the year, Millar said the course always maintains a low-key and friendly feel.

“All of our staff are very hospitable,” he said. “We just want to make sure that when people come out, they enjoy themselves and have a great time. Whether it’s golfing or just sitting in the clubhouse, we want them to remember us when they leave.”