10 Year County Capital Project Update

In 2009, the golf course entered into a purchase agreement with Lac La Biche County. After lawyers from both sides hammered out a deal, the golf course and all it's fixed assets (with the exception of all turf equipment and tools) was sold to the county. In exchange the club would operate as it always has.  We are still run by a board of elected directors, we are still a "not for profit society" (meaning any profits or deficits go back into the golf club), all daily operations are performed by "non-county staff" and any equipment, tools, course supplies and operating practises are accomplished with out county assistance or funding. So why did we enter into this agreement with the county since it seems things are operational like they always have been? The biggest caveat for the golf club was the guaranteed infusion of capital to address all future capital projects for the club.
At the suggestion of the county, I produced an in depth and comprehensive 10 Year Capital Plan valued at approximately 4 millions dollars. (In a future post I will highlight all projects addressed in the 10 year capital plan) Being non profit and open for roughly 6 months of the year, the club found it difficult to address certain capital projects without taking on too much debt. The county saw the golf club as a great asset to compliment it's parks and recreation facilities. The golf course is a big draw to both locals and visitors who can play a beautiful course at a very affordable price. Here is a list of accomplished projects with pictures and approx. pricing that have occurred since 2009:

2009:    Re-shaping and Paving of parking lot & town water and sewer upgrades. (400K)
             (See Apr. 24/2011 posting)

2010:    50hp and 25hp Irrigation Pump Rebuild (25K)
             New Irrigation Soft Start System (26K)
             Pumper Truck Irrigation Well Clean Out and Dug Out Work (9K)
             New Tee to Green Cart Path Construction & Gravel (92K)
             (See |Apr. 7/2011 posting)
             Out House Septic Tanks (9K)
             Stucco Work on the Club House (30K)
             Barricades for the Parking Lot (12K)

2011:    Re-Gravel Existing Green to Tee Cart Paths (19K)
             Paving of #7 Cart Path / Access Road (46K)
             Cart Shed Construction (53K)
             New Maintenance Shop Roof Construction (16K)
             Basement Up Grades and Carpeting / Pro shop Relocation Downstairs (12K)

Pumper truck sucking out water well. 60 truck loads and almost 20 cubic yards of
sludge and debris removed. No wonder pumps and irrigation heads were failing.




            



Pumps and electric motors being pulled from pump house.
Notice the clogged inlet screen at bottom of pump.

 

            

            

Rebuilt pumps and motors being installed in pump house.

Dropping motors onto pump shafts.

Septic tank placed and ready to be buried. Out houses behind
driving range tee, #4 green and #15 tee completed.

GLBY paving #7 cart path and access road from club house
to maintenance shop. (approx. 500 linear meters)

Completed 8 feet wide path. Edges to be completed
in spring 2012.



Prepping and levelling base for new 30 x 80 cart shed.
Approx. 105 cubic yards of gravel brought in.




6 x 6 laminated treated posts and cross members in place.




Bottom framing completed.




Roof trusses built on ground and ready to be lifted onto cart shed.




Rafters being dropped into place.



All framing done. Ready for exterior cladding (tin), soffit work and garage doors.

Completed cart shed able to hold 60 carts.

Starting construction on the 24 x 50 maintenance shop roof. Hard to believe this
building was the original club house when the first 9 holes were built in the early 1950"s.
Apart from the roof, the building is still very sound all be it too small for our needs.

Roof trusses in place and ready for tin.

Completed roof and they way it should have been done years ago.

The past 3 years has seen a lot of improvements to the golf course with many more to come. Almost $750,000 has been spent to date. Without the purchase of the golf course from Lac la Biche County, none of these projects would have come to fruition. The members and visitors to the area are the beneficiary's of this merger. On a personal level, it's an exciting time for me spear heading projects and working closely with the county to provide our members and guests a scenic and enjoyable golfing experience on a "true gem" of a course.