Transcona Golf Club tees up changes

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/05/2014 (4343 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A major part of golf is getting out of what might look like tough situations initially and making something of them.

That’s what Transcona Golf Club (2120 Dugald Rd.) has been able to accomplish over the past several months.

The cold and blustery winter, which left many golfers dreaming of the green, didn’t turn out to be quite as big of an issue as might have been expected for the club. With this year’s first rounds played on May 2, it actually opened four days earlier than in 2013. That said, club professional Ed Boge noted the average opening time is the third week of April.

Even with ground freezing anywhere from two to four feet deeper than normal in Winnipeg this year, Boge said the course was prepared.

“The last two falls, we’ve top-dressed our fairways with sand,” Boge explained. “We aerate them, and then we dump sand on the fairways, and that helps for the drainage of the fairways a lot.

“Having done that the last two falls has made the opening late for us a little bit easier.”

Golf director Mike Berney added during the May 8 interview the course could actually benefit from extra precipitation.

Another potential challenge for the course has to do with Plessis Underpass construction in the area. One part of the project is building a merge lane to allow northbound traffic on Plessis Road to access Dugald Road more smoothly, and the City of Winnipeg needs a portion of golf course land to complete the project.

Boge said the club had met with the city twice, and talks were progressing well. He also feels the project might actually improve the course.

“We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen but we’re definitely not going to lose much of the course,” he said.

Boge said discussions have included the possibility of building a berm with trees along Plessis that would help reduce traffic distractions at the course.

City of Winnipeg spokesperson Michelle Finley said in an email construction on the project is expected to begin next month.

Boge feels the closure of Plessis Road late last July didn’t keep golfers from checking out the course’s offerings, noting only a marginal drop-off on the restaurant side of things after the closure.

“It definitely did not deter from the public play we had last year,” Boge said. “Last year, we had a good year with our numbers.”

The club has also moved all 18 tee boxes closer to the pins in order to make the course more playable for all golfers, shaving off approximately 900 yards from the course.

“The trend is to play shorter golf courses, play to your ability,” Berney said. “We’re trying to accommodate each level of playability.”

A free-of-charge ladies night is slated for June 24. Registration is available in the pro shop.
For more information or to book a round online, visit www.transconagolf.ca

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