Calgary: History of golf course makeovers
As an avid golfer and neighbour, I couldn’t resist attending Calgary Historic Week’s talk about the history of Calgary’s St. Andrews Golf Course this past August.
St. Andrews History
The tag team talk by Donald Smith and Marcel Hebert was a perfect blend of being entertaining and informative. It always amazes me what historians can dig up!
I was surprised to learn the current St. Andrews’ Community Centre building is in fact the club house of the St. Andrew’s golf course built in 1912. And that this 18-hole golf course with sand greens had 250 men and 50 women members. Other fun facts included that the land was leased from E.H. Riley (early 21st century pioneer and politician who donated the land for Riley Park in 1904) for $1,000 per year and the idea for the golf course came from Tate White (no relation) who was from Scotland - hence the name St. Andrews.
One local rule: You got a free drop if it was determined your ball rolled into a gopher hole.
It operated as a public golf course from 1912 to 1921. Then $100,000 in shares were sold to purchase the land after which it was operated it as a private golf course until it closed in 1927. In 1931, it reopened as a public golf course, struggling until 1951 when it was sold to a developer who subsequently converted it into a new residential community St Andrews Heights at edge of the city.
Not there are no trees in this photo.
Too bad the course isn’t still there as I could walk to it.
Curbing Urban Sprawl
Fast forward to the early in the 21st century. The conversion of golf courses into residential developments is again a hot and controversial topic. While some urbanists were cheering for these golf course redevelopments as a means of curbing urban sprawl, local residents didn’t like having their green spaces converted into more homes.
In 2011, Shawnee Slopes golf course was sold to Geo-Energy, who then sold it to Cardel and Genstar in 2013 for the redevelopment into the master planned Shawnee Park, a 1,700-home, 52-hectare community currently under construction. It should be completed by 2022.
Shawnee Park: Phase 5 - The Heath
Highland Park vs Highland Golf Course
Two years later, the Highland Golf Course was closed after being purchased by Ajay Nehru a Vancouver developer who proposed a new residential community with about 2,000 new homes. Though it was vehemently challenged by the community, but landuse changes were approved by City Council in 2017. However, subsequent studies showed the site was unsuitable for such a massive redevelopment due to drainage issues.
The fate of the golf course redevelopment is now in limbo.
The “in limbo” Highland golf course has become a dog park for the time being. This is one of the fairways and cart paths.
Harvest Hills
Then in 2016, City Council approved the rezoning of the Harvest Hills golf course into a 716- new home community by Quantum Place and Cedarglen Homes. Again, local residents weren’t happy citing the loss of trees, destruction of wildlife habitat, flooding and drainage issues and lack of amenities to support more residents would negatively impact their community. The redevelopment got approved and today, there are 52 single family homes (with another 94 to come in phase 2), as well as 161 townhomes and 258 condos completed (and another 123 condos also to come in phase 2).
In 2017, Council approved the rezoning of a small portion (3 holes) of the Hamptons Golf Course to allow for 66 new homes, once again, over the protests from the neighbours.
Harvest Hills multi-residential on left with park space in the middle and existing residential to right.
Harvest Hills golf course is in the process of being transformed from something that was used less than six months year, to a year-round community for 1,500 Calgarians.
Golf Courses Struggling
I don’t expect the debate over golf course conversion to end any time soon. With the popularity of golf declining for several decades now, private club owners are looking at selling their land which is now more valuable for residential development.
Heritage Pointe has just been sold and rumour has it the new owners are looking to redevelop the Desert Nine (it is currently a 27-hole layout) into a housing development. Look for Willow Park to be sold at some time in the future.
With City Council looking for opportunities to densify established communities, sets the stage for more inner-city golf courses to be repurposed. Lakeview and Richmond Green golf courses are prime candidates for redevelopment given their proximity to Mount Royal University, downtown and the new SE BRT. (FYI: a recent study showed that the Lakeview site is not appropriate for development.)
As well, don’t be surprised if the Shaganappi Golf Course is converted into a 9-hole course - or disappear entirely - to allow for a major mixed-use redevelopment next to the Shaganappi Point LRT station.
Shaganappi Point LRT station
Last Word
City “building” is a series of adaptations to ever-changing economic times and the expectations of its citizens. Golf courses have had their heyday! Nothing lasts forever!
While I am an avid golfer, I appreciate the need for Calgary to add more density and diversification in existing communities to create a more sustainable city.
If you like this blog, you will like these links:
Approval of Shawnee Slopes development criticized
Council approves Harvest Hills Golf Course Redevelopment
Highland Park Golf Course needed for storm water