paNOW sports editor Jeff D'Andrea mistakes his ball for an actual snowball at Elk Ridge, in the middle of May on a day where it reached 30 Celsius. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Golf at Elk Ridge

The newly refreshed Elk Ridge offers pleasant and unique experience

May 19, 2021 | 2:12 PM

There aren’t many places in the world where it can get to 30 Celsius but still have snowbanks hidden underneath trees in the middle of May.

That’s the case on the golf courses at Elk Ridge Resort, which offers a rare experience.

While Cooke Municipal Golf Course is like finding a little piece of paradise in Prince Albert, golfing Elk Ridge feels like it’s your own piece of paradise for the day.

You’re not a few blocks away from the bustle of a busy intersection, you’re surrounded by nature, smelling the pine trees when the breeze rolls in. There’s an extra calmness when you play at Elk Ridge, compared to a course in or near a city centre.

Even the holes themselves are secluded from each other, either by a stack of trees, or a winding path to separate each hole.

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“When you play here, each hole is its own. You don’t see any other holes. You don’t see any other golfers. It’s just a unique feature we have here in Elk Ridge,” head professional Ryan Wells said.

Elk Ridge features three different nine-hole courses, each with its own feel. Aspen has a more adventurous feel. Its sixth hole is right near a roped sky bridge, which is part of the zipline course run by Treeosix Adventure Parks. Birch has a nice scenic feel, as its second hole provides a picturesque view of the resort’s lodge and pond. Tamarack is the original course and is very fun to play.

As we wait for guidelines to loosen, golf offers a unique experience in a pandemic world of safely socializing with others and being active outside. And there is a demand to get back out on the course, especially after many have been cooped up in the winter.

“That’s the greatest thing about golf right now. We can get outside, we can play, we can socialize with our family and friends. During these tough times over the year and a half now, golf is striving and it’s great to be a part of this sport. Hopefully, it continues to grow,” Wells said.

The entire resort has been renovated and renewed, especially with the resort’s flagship of the main lodge. The lodge’s hotel has been completely redone, with each room featuring all-new beds, furniture, blinds, paint and Smart TV’s, with upgrades being done to the spa as well. The conference room has been touched up as well, with new flooring and a “cool, new vibe” according to director of operations Ryan Danberg said.

Danberg is also a partner in Routes2SK, the investor group that purchased the resort from Arne Petersen, the resort’s founder and former president.

“We’re trying to inject that new level of life in here,” Danberg said. “I often reference the fact that Arne Petersen built this place and did a tremendous job and set up everything. But it needed a refresh, the entire resort needed a refresh. That’s what Routes2SK is trying to bring.”

The resort offers lodge rooms, cabins and cottages and two restaurants to stay in. Once checked in, there are three golf courses and hiking trails to check out in the summer, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing tracks and ice skating in the winter. The spa, pool and waterslide also offer some fun indoors.

But despite all the features, Danberg said what makes Elk Ridge isn’t necessarily all the possible activities—it’s the people.

“Elk Ridge is nothing without people. It’s nothing without Saskatchewan people visiting, but it’s also nothing without our staff understanding how important people are to this property,” Danberg said. “That’s one of the things that I was very adamant about with our Sask. group, we need good people here to execute and provide a service level that’s second to none. That’s what we’re focused on here.”

One of the junior suites at the lodge in Elk Ridge. (Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff)

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW