The catchphrase has been following professional golfer Phil Mickelson around since it was used in a 2004 Ford commercial and on Tuesday the answer came from Calgary as he announced the creation of his first signature course in Canada.
Phil Mickelson Design (PMD) and the Windmill Golf Group have signed on to design and build the Mickelson National Golf Club of Canada in the Springbank community of Harmony.
"We are thrilled to have Phil working with the Windmill team to develop Harmony's golf course," says Birol Fisekci, President and CEO of Bordeaux Developments. "He spent a lot of time understanding the guiding principles of Harmony. His vision for the golf course aligned perfectly with our plans for the community and we share a mutual passion for bringing it all to life."
It will be the first Mickelson signature course in Canada and will play host to some of the world's top players at PGA events when it is completed.
“We have one major PGA Championship tournament in Canada, the Canadian Open, that Golf Canada is a part of, and I know the people at Golf Canada and first and foremost, our commitment is building the golf course and then after its built, we know, with Phil Mickelson Design and his team, that we can build a golf course that’s capable of hosting that type of event,” said Barry Ehlert, Windmill Golf.
“We’ve had a great discussion with Golf Canada as late as last week. They are very excited about the opportunity to bring the Canadian Open to Calgary. They’re most excited about having the Phil Mickelson golf course design to play it on,” said Steve Loy, Phil Mickelson Design.
Construction on the first 18 holes of the course will start soon and developers say the site's gently rolling foothills will be transformed to accentuate the golf course design and complement the community.
"Our goal is to create a truly distinctive environment where families and friends can connect, enjoy their time together and create lasting memories. Having Phil involved in the golf course at Harmony is very exciting – his expertise will perfectly supplement Qualico Communities' and Bordeaux Developments' years of experience developing and bringing communities to life," said Karin Finley, Vice-President of Qualico Communities.
The Copithorne family was the original land owners and the new course will honour the legacy of the family and be the centerpiece of the 1,700 acre community.
Mickelson has also created courses in Scottsdale and Shanghai, China.
As for what’s next for Phil? He is currently preparing for the Ryder Cup in Scotland at the end of the month and his company has plans to renovate Torrey Pines North in San Diego.
