Breezy Bend remains a point of pride

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This article was published 31/07/2017 (3166 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Headingley country club makes it seem like a breeze to remain a popular destination for generations of golfers.

Established in 1961, Breezy Bend Country Club has continually attracted droves of golfers to enjoy time on the course as it evolved over the eras.

“The golf course has changed dramatically over the years,” said general manager Cory Johnson. “It’s interesting to see how far the course has come.”

It all began with John (Jack) McMahon, who bought the property in 1937 and farmed it for the next 20 years. Over time, he added more land and decided to take a swing at designing and building his own golf course.

McMahon, who was not a golfer himself, called the course Breezy Bend because of the strong breeze blowing from the nearby bend in the Assiniboine River. He did the bulk of the work himself — including the design — with help from casual labourers, a superintendent, a grounds director and an engineer who put in the original irrigation system.

His dream became a reality on June 1, 1960, when Breezy Bend officially opened to the public. At that time, McMahon charged $1.50 per round, or $30 for a season pass to play at the 18-hole course.

The following year, McMahon decided to sell his booming business to a group of businessmen who were interested in turning it into a private club. McMahon stayed involved after he sold the course, including its clubhouse complete with a dining area, showers and lockers.

Soon after, the new board remodelled the clubhouse, extended the locker room and expanded the dining area and locker facilities. They also built a new pro shop and storage facility for the club.

In the 1970s, the club underwent upgrades with the addition of a new pond, new raised tee boxes and new bunkers. In the mid-1980s, the club installed a fully automatic irrigation system to replace the deteriorating original system. A new clubhouse and pro shop officially opened in 1988 with a two-day celebration.

During the 1990s, the course was enhanced with tee-to-green cart paths and drainage projects to improve conditions in low-lying areas. Then in the 2000s, several holes were relocated and the pro shop plaza area underwent upgrades.

Since then, even more enhancements have continued to improve the long-standing country club, which currently has 650 members.

“Most recently, we’ve spent $6 million in the last eight years improving the club with a clubhouse renovation and a number of new holes on the golf course. It’s a really exciting time and our membership is very strong,” Johnson said.

“We do golf tournaments, banquets and functions — and you don’t have to be a member to book the banquet hall. We also do between 35 and 40 weddings each year. It’s a busy place, that’s for sure.”

For more information about Breezy Bend Country Club, located at 7620 Roblin Blvd., visit www.breezybend.ca or call 204-895-7205. Updates are also posted on Facebook and Twitter.