Tom Henihan
Express Staff
Although a few avid golfers, taking advantage of the good weather, were out on the course prior to the its opening, the Smoky River Regional Golf Course in McLennan officially began its season on Saturday April 30 to a relatively busy opening weekend.
Men’s night began on Tuesday May 3 at 7pm and will take place every Tuesday night during the season. Women’s night will happen every Thursday also at 7pm with the first night taking place on May 19.
There are a variety of memberships available for the season; junior 13 to 17 – $150, senior 55 + – $225, adult- $350, couples – $500 and family membership which includes 2 adult and 3 kids is $600. There are also corporate and community memberships held by communities such as Whitefish Lake and Sucker Creek Cree First Nations. Corporate memberships are $1000 for a minimum of 5 individuals with $200 for each additional individual on that membership.
Upcoming scheduled events include the McLennan and District Chamber of Commerce Tournament that runs in conjunction with the Chamber’s Show and Shine event June 11. The one-day event is a four ball, best ball tournament.
The Opening Tournament, which is a 2-day event, will take place on July 9 and 10.
Instead of contracting out the running of the clubhouse as on previous seasons, the Golf Club Society is overseeing the operation of the fully licensed facility that offers a full kitchen, open from 1pm through the month of May and from 11am from June 1 to the season that usually runs until mid to late September depending on the weather.
The club will also have a wing night from four to 7pm on Fridays leading into couple’s night that starts at 7pm. The full details of the Friday night events have yet to be established.
The Smoky River Regional is a 9-hole golf course, challenging to the senior golfer while also amenable to the novice and intermediate level player.
The golf course, which also has a driving range, attracts many visitors travelling through the region and is well positioned for the vacationing golfer looking for variety as it is close to the Heart River Golf Club in Nampa and High Prairie and Area Golf Club, on Highway 2.
The McLennan golf course is situated on Bousfield Avenue across the road from the Municipal Campground; so ideally, one can setup camp and walk across the street for a round of golf. A round of golf costs $15 and a double round of 18 holes is $25.
The current members of the McLennan Regional Golf Course Society Board are Ryan Rondeau (President), Ren Lambert, (Vice President), Lorraine Willier (Secretary/Treasurer). Other members of the board are Ron and Norma Chalifoux, Lance Rondeau, Leo Giroux, Clarence Cunningham and Vicky Willier.