Golfers can now surf between shots at Woodside in Airdrie
‘It’s like being a kid again,’ operations director says of new Golf Boards
This is more fun than a tap-in birdie.
Which is really saying something.
Woodside Golf Course in Airdrie is the first public-access hangout in Alberta to introduce a fleet of Golf Boards, electric surf-style smile-makers that are simply the coolest way to travel from tee to green.
“The fun factor on these things, it’s so high,” said Chris McNicol, the director of operations at the 6,097-yard setup. “It’s like being a kid again. I don’t know how else to describe it, it’s just so much fun.”
Woodside’s new toys will be available for rent later this week.
While waiting for the necessary signage to arrive, staffers have been testing out the Golf Boards and a few lucky regulars have been able to climb aboard for a sneak preview.
“You get the odd person who says, ‘Oh, I’ll probably hurt myself,’ ” McNicol said. “But once they take it for a quick spin, they realize it’s not that difficult to ride.”
Indeed, most members of the bogey brigade will likely find it’s easier to control a Golf Board than control a golf ball.
You dictate the speed with the press of your thumb, shift your weight from side-to-side to steer, and your ride will brake automatically when you release the throttle. Your clubs are strapped to a stand at the front of the board, a good thing because you’ll be having such a hoot that you might need a reminder to stop and hit your next shot.
The rules are pretty straightforward, too. Golf Boards are allowed anywhere you can drive with a power-cart.
“We went out Wednesday for what we’re calling the test run, and it was pretty slick. They’re very easy to manoeuvre,” said Kurtis Foote, the new head professional at Woodside. “From members who live on the golf course and have seen us out riding around while we’re doing our routing, the feedback has been phenomenal. There have been a lot of questions: ‘What are those?!? Is that a surfboard? Is that a skateboard? Are they for rent? Can I rent one today?’ ”
Woodside purchased four Golf Boards, which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and restricted to divot-diggers who are 18 and older. The rental rate, on top of your usual green-fee, is $30 per 18 holes or $20 for nine.
You must watch a safety video and fill out a waiver on the course website, and there will be a brief training session before you tee off.
“You’ll want to be on them longer anyway,” McNicol said.
The folks at Woodside have adopted the social-media hashtag, ‘#InsanelyOutrageous,’ and they’re serious about ensuring that you’ll be smiling ear-to-ear even if you don’t shoot the lights out.
Two years ago, they became the first dog-friendly course in Alberta, a program that’s such a hit it’s been expanded to three nights a week. You can now bring your fourlegged friends — on a leash — on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays after 4 p.m.
In addition to the Golf Boards, they’ve ordered a few custom carts decked out with everything from Bluetooth speakers and USB chargers to heaters and specialized rims.
And if your match ends allsquare, you have a few options to settle your bets — you’ll find a horseshoe pit and giant checkers and chess boards just outside the clubhouse.
It’s all part of their quest to honour course founder Otto Steiner,
You get the odd person who says, ‘Oh, I’ll probably hurt myself.’ But once they take it for a quick spin, they realize it’s not that difficult to ride.
who passed away in 2013.
“His personality was larger than life and for us, ‘Insanely Outrageous’ is exactly that,” McNicol said. “The way I’ve described it to staff here always is, ‘You know when you’re out with your buddies and something happens that becomes a story that you share over and over and over because it’s just that good, that awesome, that sweet of a moment?’
“That’s what ‘Insanely Outrageous’ is for us. It’s trying to create or instigate those moments with people, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than with a Golf Board.” HOLE-IN-ONE REPORT: It’s a tradition at Bearspaw to ring the bell in the bar after a hole-in-one, and members had twice as many reasons to toast Saturday thanks to a pair of aces on No. 12 at the private club. Randy Koroluk started the party with a flawless 5-iron from 186 yards away, while D.J. Richardson was flag-hunting from 215 yards out with a 3-iron. Richardson now has three career aces to his credit … Ricardo Santos celebrated an ace on No. 15 at Inglewood, completing the 165yard assignment with one swing of a 6-iron … Weslie Watt worked wonders on No. 13 at Maple Ridge, finding the 4.25-inch target with a 3-wood from 204 yards away.