First and foremost, The Bunker at Springbrook is an original, one-of-a-kind nine-hole golf course, located on just 20 acres of land and a mere 1,470 yards in length from the back tees.
But because the course is restricted to the use of foam balls which travel one-third the distance of regular balls, that 1,470 yards is equivalent to 4,410 yards on a normal course. The layout, then, is ideal for the first-time golfer and for the entire family in general.
“The Bunker is really a learning facility,” said Kieran Lang, co-owner of the course and president of WOOSH Recreation Inc. of Red Deer. “That was our intent from the beginning — to make golf really accessible to people who can’t go to a normal course and pay the high fees and deal with the frustration and stress.
“We developed The Bunker with that family concept in mind.”
The Bunker features three sets of tees on each of the par-3, -4 and -5 holes, and can be a challenge for even the accomplished golfer using the almostGolf ball which a leading magazine endorsed as “the best new product to impact the future of golf.”
Lang pointed out that the course is environmentally friendly with the limited land use and the reduced use of water, machinery, fuel, herbicides and insecticides.
The Bunker, located at the corner of Highway 2A and Airport Drive (the turnoff to Springbrook), opened last year.
“But the course is a lot better this year and we’re ready for more traffic,” said Lang, whose course also includes a practice range.
An added feature of The Bunker is a ‘family fun centre’ which includes covered decks, a fire pit and barbeque facility.
Visitors can also play games ranging from horseshoes to crocquet to bowling.
“It’s a great facility for staff barbeques, group and team get-togethers as well as family functions like birthday parties,” said Lang. “We want to bring people in and get them doing stuff as families and we want to develop more golfers who will eventually benefit the other courses in the area.”
Saturday nights are billed as Family Night at The Bunker and includes unlimited range and course use plus all of the activities at the family fun centre. The price is $25 for adults, with children admitted free.
The regular adult green fee is $15 for nine holes. Juniors (ages 12 to 17) can play for $10 and youth (11 and under) golfers are charged $8. Unlimited range use is available for $10 for adults and $5 for players 17 and under.
Call 403-755-2522 for more information.