CALGARY

Days numbered for McCall Lake Golf Course

CTV Calgary Published Tuesday, February 12, 2013 12:06PM MST Last Updated Tuesday, February 12, 2013 6:49PM MST

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2014 will be the final season golfers hit the links at a municipal golf course in the city’s northeast.

The City of Calgary has announced its intention to sell McCall Lake Golf Course, located south of the Calgary International Airport between McKnight Blvd. and 32 Ave. N.E., citing unsustainable operating costs.

“While I’m sad to see the golf course close, I’m very excited about the potential repurposing of this site for industrial and recreational purposes,” says Ward 5 Alderman Ray Jones.

The proposed plan for the approximately 263 acre area includes preserving the area surrounding the golf course’s lake as a community green space, selling the space along 32 Ave. N.E. for future commercial development, creating a public recreational area on the north half of the golf course (bordering McKnight Blvd.), and the remaining area will serve as a future industrial area.

According to city officials, the funds received in the sale of portions of the McCall Lake Golf Course may be used to help address the capital needs of Calgary’s other city-run courses.

“Despite many successes in delivering high quality municipal golf services to Calgarians, challenges remain in meeting the financial sustainability and capital infrastructure needs,” says Mayor Nenshi. “The business model Golf Course Operations has been working under the last 17 years is not sustainable and changes are needed to ensure competitively priced golf opportunities continue to be offered to all citizens.”

The city is also reviewing the green fees of Calgary’s remaining public courses and is considering adjusting the current rates. Any proposed changes to green fees would not be approved by council until the end of 2013.

With the planned closure of McCall Lake Golf Course, only five municipal golf courses will continue to operate in Calgary: