Crossfield’s youngest golfers will soon have their own place to tee off at Collicutt Siding Golf Club.
On Aug. 30, Collicutt Siding Golf Club will unveil the L’il Optimist Loop – a trio of new holes the course has built strictly for youth golfers. Lyndon King, the Crossfield-based course’s general manager and head golf professional, said the area is not a practice area for adults, except for one evening a week – still to be determined – when it will be reserved for Special Olympics athletes.
The three holes are located on the northeast side of the course, according to King, who added the development has been four years in the making. The Optimist clubs of Calgary and Airdrie sponsored the new amenity, while local golf enthusiasts, such as Charles Goodwin, helped make it a reality by donating time, labour, equipment and expertise.
“The small-town mentality has really helped us get this area open for the kids,” King said.
King added L’il Optimist Loop will complement Collicutt Siding Golf Club’s existing junior golf academy, which he claimed is the largest junior golf academy in Canada, with approximately 1,000 members.
“We want it just for kids,” he said. “Our program teaches them to swing, but it doesn’t teach them the game – to get the ball in the hole in the least amount of strokes. That’s’ what this area is all about.”
With the longest of the three holes measuring just 95 yards, King said L’il Optimist Loop will provide a welcome spot for young golfers to practise the fundamentals of their game. He added course ambassadors will be on-site to assist golfers while they are working on their strokes and provide tips and encouragement.
“I’ve always said our junior academy is a great introduction to the game, but it doesn’t get the kids ready for the double-black diamond, if I were to compare it to a ski hill,” he said. “Where’s the bunny hill? That’s what we’ve done, is build a bunny hill for the golf industry.”
The Aug. 30 ribbon-cutting for L’il Optimist Loop will take place at 2 p.m. According to King, the unveiling is open to the public and will include dignitaries from Crossfield Town council, Special Olympics Alberta, Golf Alberta and the Optimist clubs of Calgary and Airdrie.
Collicutt Siding Golf Club is located at 1025 Western Drive, on the south side of Crossfield.
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
