A new door has been constructed off the deck at the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club. (Alison Sandstrom)

By Alison Sandstrom

Provincial regulations

Golf and Curling Club undergoing COVID-19 renovations, asking for city assistance

May 14, 2020 | 6:10 PM

The Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club is undergoing an approximate $50,000 renovation to install a new bathroom and entrance at the north side of the building. The changes are being made to comply with provincial COVID-19 re-open plan guidelines and city administration is recommending Prince Albert cover half the cost of the project from a city-managed trust fund.

When golf courses are allowed to open on May 15, regulations stipulate washrooms on the course must remain closed, with the only washroom availability being at the clubhouse. But according to a city report, in the case of Cooke Municipal Golf Course, that means the only washrooms will be within the main facility owned by the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club which is currently closed to the public.

“The regulations are that no one can go into the clubhouse where the eating facility is and use the bathroom, so as a result they’re going to have to construct a new one and use that,” Coun. Don Cody, Vice-Chair of the Golf Course Advisory Committee told paNOW.

Council will decide whether to cover half the cost of the project up to a maximum of $26,786.000 at the next meeting on Tuesday. Cody emphasized if they do choose to chip in on the project, it won’t come at a cost to taxpayers.

“The money [in the trust fund] is not taxpayer money,” he said. “It is money that comes from the golf course people and their fees.”

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In fact, Cody said Cooke Municipal Golf Course is one of the few city facilities that turns a profit, although that may be difficult this year with COVID-19 provincial restrictions limiting the number of people on the course.

“The golf course always makes money. It does not take any taxpayer money whatsoever,” he said. “In spite of the fact we did a big renovation, we [will] still take that money out of the golf fees we get each year.”

Meanwhile the new door and bathroom off the existing deck are nearly complete. Cody said if council doesn’t approve the cost share, the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club will come up with the money themselves.

“I’m sure they could do it, if not by going and getting themselves a small loan, by way of donation because I think people would donate enough to do it because I think they’re anxious to get out there,” he explained.

As for when residents will be able to get out on the the Cooke layout, Cody said he can’t say for certain, but it could be as early as next week when course conditions allow.

“I’m not the greenskeeper, but I would suspect around the 20^th or so we will be on that course,” he said.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom