York Lake Golf Course officially marked becoming only the second 12-hole course in Saskatchewan with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.
“It’s a very historic day for us,” said Club President Judy Hughes, adding “we’ve put in a lot of work,” recreating the course as a 12-hole one.
“We’re very pleased to say we have a 12-hole course.”
Hughes also notes it “took a long five-years,” to make the conversion from an 18-hole course.
Now that the conversion is complete, Hughes said it is a unique feature for the city and for York Lake Regional Park.
Club vice-president Rick Schrader said the project was one which had to be undertaken following two major flood events which impacted the course. However, the club was also in financial difficulty to the point five years ago the course was also “done”. He said it was to the point they were turning in pop and beer cans to have the funds to cut the greens.
“That’s how bad it was,” he said.
But thanks to volunteer efforts both in terms of work and fundraising the conversion was undertaken.
Schrader said being a 12-hole course is a little like the story of the three bears and the porridge, nine holes “are not quite enough,” he said, adding 18 “are too many” for many people in terms of time commitment.
“Twelve is just right,” he said, adding it can be played in 2.5 hours, even if the course is busy.
The twelve-hole course also reduces costs for players, and for course upkeep.
In terms of course maintenance, Schrader noted a 12-hole course has “33 per cent less grass to cut” and requires “33 per cent less fertilizer.”
The 12-hole course plays as a par-41, and is now fully open for play.
