Hole No. 16 at The Links of GlenEagles golf course has been swinging its way to international fame as one of Canada’s most unique par 3s.
Some of its fandom comes from a unique contest the course puts on – “Hit the green on 16” – which staff created to celebrate the course’s 20th anniversary, while promoting its distinctive features.
“We found we weren’t hyping it up enough,” Riley Boothby, the assistant golf professional at GlenEagles, stated. “This is a special hole.”
With the panoramic view of both the foothills and mountains, the hole gives its golfers a beautiful challenge. The trick, as the name suggests, is to hit the green on the first swing.
Don’t let the spectacular view fool you – it’s a 180-foot drop to the green from the tee box and environmental factors make it a tricky shot. Out of the hundreds of golfers who play the course each day, the course gets about 125 entries a month.
“I have played it quite a few times,” said Garry Lane, a GlenEagles community resident who has been a member of the course for more than 10 years. “The wind really affects the shot.”
Lane has hit the green many times since the challenge started and has submitted many entries, but has yet to be the lucky winner.
Those who do hit the green are eligible to win a month of free golf.
“It’s their signature hole – and it’s a real challenge,” Lane said. “It’s a spectacular view … it’s just awesome.”
Every month, one lucky golfer gets to putt around the course for free and May’s winner couldn’t have been happier when his name was drawn.
“I just love the course,” said Dallas Wymenga, from Rocky Mountain House who got the chance yell “Fore!” as many times as he liked that month. “It’s a real challenge though.”
“I love that it’s a huge drop,” he said. “And I love the fact I can see the train tracks below,” adding his two favourite things in life are golf and trains.
Entering to win is quite simple – a golfer needs to take a picture with the “Hit the green on 16” sign that’s near the tee box and tag GlenEagles in one of Four ways which include: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or simply sending the picture to the GlenEagles email.
Boothby is very proud of the hole and was ecstatic when two Australians tagged the course on Instagram – he hopes more golfers from far and wide will attempt to “hit the green on 16.”
