Calgary Herald

LEFTY’S LOVE OF SHORT-GAME SHOWS AT CLUB

Mickelson National in Harmony designed to provide options and promote creativity

- WES GILBERTSON wgilbertso­n@postmedia.com Twitter.com: @Wesgilbert­son

You might not have that Mickelson magic.

Phil would like to see you try. Mickelson National Golf Club opened a week ago and anybody who has played a round on the brand new beauty, located just west of Calgary, has likely had a chance to channel their inner Lefty — scrambling to save par with a brilliant bump-and-run or delicate flop shot or maybe by using your flat-stick from several yards off the putting surface.

We all miss the green sometimes (or oftentimes), and one of Phil’s priorities was to provide options and promote creativity if your approach shot happens to land short or if you’re not quite on target.

“Obviously, Phil has one of the best short games of any player that has ever played,” said Rick Smith, Mickelson’s longtime coach and his design associate on this 7,412-yard setup in the new developmen­t of Harmony. “And what Phil likes to do is create these quirky small containmen­ts, so it gives the player a chance. So if they mishit the iron shot or the approach into the green, the ball doesn’t deflect and get so far away from play.

“Phil, as a player, loves hitting different shots around the green and he’s really brought that in and we put that in the design, specifical­ly. That’s one of the best short-game guys in the world giving the common golfer an option to hit different shots. You’re not deflected. And that’s better. It’s more fun. It’s not fun to be chasing your ball, after you’ve hit it on the right edge of the green, 40 yards away and then you have an impossible shot.”

It’s not often a new course opens, let alone one that bears the name of a five-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame inductee.

Mickelson National, eventually set to be an exclusive private hangout but allowing public play as the membership grows, was the place to be last week. One star-studded foursome featured Flames captain Mark Giordano, his former teammate Matt Stajan, Stampeders quarterbac­k Bo Levi Mitchell and Olympic curling gold medallist Ben Hebert.

This being billed as a soft opening, these being strange times, an appearance by the legendary left-hander with his name on the entrance sign will have to wait. Mickelson should be back for a ceremonial shindig once the clubhouse — still in the design/ permitting phase — is complete.

“I’m so proud of this course,” Mickelson posted on Twitter.

“As visually intimidati­ng as it appears, you can play it on the ground and the average golfer will have a blast!”

He’s right.

Take it from me, with my very average golf game.

“We’re hearing really good things,” Smith said. “And I think one of the cool things is we’re hearing that everybody, their favourite hole is a different hole. That’s always a compliment to design.”

My personal fave, if you’re wondering, is No. 10, an intimidati­ng look but a definite birdie opportunit­y as long as you avoid a gnarly centre-line bunker.

There are lots of other candidates, too.

The third hole, the first par-3 on your scorecard, has a really cool green. A back-left pin will be a doozy.

With a tailwind, you’ll feel like you can hit it a country mile on No. 11, which will leave you with something to think about as you size up your second shot. (Unless you can actually hit it a country mile, don’t go near the back tees. This par-5 stretches to almost 650 yards from the tips.)

There’s a lot to love about Nos. 7 and 16, both driveable par-4s. In fact, one gent has already drained an albatross.

And Mickelson National, the latest addition to Windmill Golf Group’s roster of courses, has a superb finishing stretch.

“We just hope everybody loves it,” Smith said. “We know we have a great superinten­dent (Bob Novecosky) who is going to really follow through with a lot of the detail that we like and what Phil likes. We love the attention to detail. It’s really important. So we know that it’s going to keep getting better.

“We’re just happy it’s open and we hope the weather is good this year, where we can go deep into the fall and really see some of the beauty. The photograph­s are going to be mind-boggling, with the shadows of the bunkering and the land contours and the beauty of the fescue that is wrapping and turning all throughout the property. Someday, when you’re sitting in that clubhouse, you’re going to be wanting to sit on the balcony, looking out at people playing on this massive landscape that is going to be very memorable, we hope.”

HAVE YOU HEARD?

Mickelson National isn’t the only new turf for Calgary-area golfers to check out sometime soon.

There are now nine newbies at Serenity Golf Club, with half of the assignment­s on the Sun Catcher layout opening this past weekend. Until the remainder are ready, they’ll operate a 27-hole rotation at this semi-private setup, already popular for its Dancing Bull Course.

Stay tuned next week for a review.

 ?? MICKELSON NATIONAL ?? The 16th hole at the Mickelson National Golf Club in Harmony just west of Calgary is one of two driveable par-4s on the scorecard. The other is the seventh hole.
MICKELSON NATIONAL The 16th hole at the Mickelson National Golf Club in Harmony just west of Calgary is one of two driveable par-4s on the scorecard. The other is the seventh hole.
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