Phil Mickelson National Golf Course

[Spring2008]

Another big mixed-use for the west side. Can't help but think this is huge news for the golf community here:

World-class golf course part of Springbank’s Harmony development

3,500 homes to be built

BY MARIO TONEGUZZI, CALGARY HERALD SEPTEMBER 16, 2014



Birol Fisekci, president and chief executive of Bordeaux Developments.
Photograph by: Gavin Young , Calgary Herald
CALGARY - A massive residential project planned for the Springbank area, near the airport, received a major boost Tuesday with the announcement that a world-class golf course will be part of the development.

Harmony Developments announced that PGA superstar Phil Mickelson and his company, Phil Mickelson Design (PMD), have partnered with the Windmill Golf Group to design and build the Mickelson National Golf Club of Canada in Harmony, in Rocky View County.

The signature course, Mickelson’s first in Canada, will offer golf experiences for golfers of every level, and will host the world’s top players at marquis PGA events upon completion.

Construction on the first 18 holes will begin in the fall in tandem with Harmony, which is being developed in partnership by Bordeaux Developments, Qualico Communities and the original landowners, the Copithorne family.

“We are thrilled to have Phil working with the Windmill team to develop Harmony’s golf course,” said Birol Fisekci, president and chief executive 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.

“The more great minds we have the more great ideas there will be for the project.”

Karin Finley, vice-president of Qualico Communities said the “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 them 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.

“We’re predicting about a 10-year build out for the entire community.”

Harmony is a 687-hectare complete community that will incorporate 3,500 homes, one of the largest recreational lakes in the Calgary area at 56 hectares, and a 55-hectare employment campus. Harmony will be centred around a village core that will provide local boutique retail opportunities and community gathering spaces for its residents and neighbours.

The Village Centre will have a small charm European feeling with shops, dining, a hotel, an art and music centre, an ampitheatre, and outdoor plaza. There will also be a farmers’ market. The core village will include multi-family housing, a senior’s centre, schools, grocery store and commercial development.

The lake will include recreational beachfront.

The residential component will have housing ranging from affordable condos near the lake to family-sized estate homes.

The Employment Campus will include about two million square feet of office and light industrial space. There will be about 100,000 square feet of retail space.

“We believe with the Springbank Airport in the area we can create a westside corporate campus atmosphere,” said Fisekci. “And I think that’s critical as well. Something that doesn’t exist on the west side of the city.

“What we want to create is a place where people would want to work. A place where corporations would want to set up their roots. The ability to walk home at lunch and have your corporate campus nestled into the golf course areas.”

One-third of the land is reserved for open and active areas with 17,000 trees as well as trails, pathways and equestrian trails as well as various places for sports.

Project construction is anticipated to begin this fall with showhomes scheduled to open in the fall of 2015.

Fisekci said each stage is designed to effectively be a community in its own.

“So you won’t feel like it’s a 10-year process if you’re one of the early families moving into the community. You’ll get that sense of community right from day one,” he said.

Finley said the overall development is a “21st Century model of liveable, workable and walkable communities.”

“Harmony is made even better with the Phil Mickelson designed golf course,” she said.

Barry Ehlert, managing partner of Windmill Golf Group, is developing Mickelson National Golf Club of Canada.

“Harmony presents a tremendous new opportunity for us,” said Mickelson. “Our setting is magnificent and I’m really looking forward to contributing to a quality, family-oriented community.”

mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com



http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/World+class+golf+course+part+Springbank+Harmony+development/10207997/story.html

[Spring2008]

Phil Mickelson designing pro golf course near Calgary

By David Boushy and Tamara Elliott Global News

58
26


more

CALGARY- A legendary golfer has his sights set on Calgary, with plans to design a championship course just northwest of the city.

Phil Mickelson will be overseeing the Mickelson National Golf Club of Canada, which will be located near the Springbank Airport in a new community called Harmony.

It’s hoped the course will one day host PGA events.


“It’s likely that we’ll have a golf tournament here, the Canadian Open I hope being the first in 2020 or shortly thereafter,” explains Steve Loy, president of Phil Mickelson Design. “The Shaw Charity Classic and the group of people that have been behind that have done an incredible job and certainly raised the profile for golf in Calgary.”

He adds that the city is in need of a high-profile course.

“This is the most thriving economic and developing city in Canada. You look at the economics and the people in this community, it’s desiring a five star property.”

The course will feature a short par four and a 260-yard par three. It’s scheduled to open in fall 2017.

Report an error
CALGARY SPORTS

GOLF

PHIL MICKELSON

SPRINGBANK

http://globalnews.ca/news/1567164/phil-mickelson-designing-pro-golf-course-near-calgary/

[bt04ku]

While Mickelson is certainly a bigger and better name than the previous names attached to the project (the lovable Stephen Ames and Johnny Miller duo) the concept has been something of a joke in the industry (at least in the construction and maintenance side of the industry) since its inception.

For one, the "architect" hasn't even been to the site yet but has a layout and yardage picked out already (its the same one they've had for years); not exactly a Gil Hanse, Coore-Crenshaw or Rod Whitman approach to a sustainable golf course. A design team with no experience in a climate like this (with very little experience altogether really), a lack of construction people with experience in a climate like this and pre-set paramaters for length to tournament chase are just horrible ways to build a golf course. The Glencoe and Blue Devil already renovated/built courses that had Golf Canada chomping at the bit in their desperate hope of finding other venues for the Canadian Open because of how few clubs are able to host it (and how few of those actually want it), but this now screams "gimmicky" even more so now than it did before attaching a "Mickelson National" name to it. I've got nothing against Phil but this whole move represents everything that went wrong with the golf industry in the past 25 years.


There was an opportunity to build a fantastic golf course there. One with a fantastic backdrop, be a game-changer in sustainability and environmental stewardship and get away from the outdated model of golf course design and build it for the average player but they've gone in the complete opposite direction.

[DoubleK]

While Mickelson is certainly a bigger and better name than the previous names attached to the project (the lovable Stephen Ames and Johnny Miller duo) the concept has been something of a joke in the industry (at least in the construction and maintenance side of the industry) since its inception.

For one, the "architect" hasn't even been to the site yet but has a layout and yardage picked out already (its the same one they've had for years); not exactly a Gil Hanse, Coore-Crenshaw or Rod Whitman approach to a sustainable golf course. A design team with no experience in a climate like this (with very little experience altogether really), a lack of construction people with experience in a climate like this and pre-set paramaters for length to tournament chase are just horrible ways to build a golf course. The Glencoe and Blue Devil already renovated/built courses that had Golf Canada chomping at the bit in their desperate hope of finding other venues for the Canadian Open because of how few clubs are able to host it (and how few of those actually want it), but this now screams "gimmicky" even more so now than it did before attaching a "Mickelson National" name to it. I've got nothing against Phil but this whole move represents everything that went wrong with the golf industry in the past 25 years.


There was an opportunity to build a fantastic golf course there. One with a fantastic backdrop, be a game-changer in sustainability and environmental stewardship and get away from the outdated model of golf course design and build it for the average player but they've gone in the complete opposite direction.

Care to back any of this up with fact?? Or are we supposed to accept your drivel as gospel truth? Anything that competes against the Glencoe is surely crap.

Sounds like a scorned lover. . .

[bt04ku]

Not many facts, no, just a finger on the pulse of the industry I guess. Take it for what you want (I stand to benefit more from this place being constructed than not).

The Copithorne Club has been an 8,000 yard idea for years now with one goal in mind. Here's an article from 2011

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=5e8a2356-6519-4ee3-b94a-955bb82e2d42
Windmill also is ready to start construction on the Copithorne Club near Springbank Airport, a proposed 18-hole championship course measuring more than 8,000 yards and designed by former PGA Tour legend Johnny Miller with input from Calgary-based PGA Tour pro Stephen Ames.

Jackson Kahn design that came up with the original layout for the behemoth had pretty lofty goals for the place as well

http://www.jacksonkahndesign.com/mobile/copithorne.html

...the course is slated to host the 2016 Canadian Open

This is just the most recent team (the third to be exact) to be attached to the project.

8,000 yards and 'sustainable' are not really compatible. An architect being forced to fulfill preset yardage desires are also a problem when it comes to golf courses because now you're not building a course to fit the natural landscape, you're molding the landscape to fit the course you're building. Basically learning from the champion of unsustainability RTJII ('The Forest' is probably the least sustainable property in the province, not sure they want to compete with that, but adding over 300 yards is a good first step).

Mickelson Design has worked on five courses on three properties (Arizona, southern China x2) and one restoration (San Diego). With the exception of the restoration these courses have seen considerable land moving and shaping, hallmarks of the boom in construction in the early 90s and the opposite of the 'minimalism' that the likes of the current darlings of golf design (Coore-Crenshaw and Gil Hanse among others). The other hallmarks of sustainability are architects that have a very high "on-site" time. As long as Phil is a player he will never have that, but I won't hold that against him (i.e. a guy like Jack is unlikely to even visit the properties his design company attaches his name to, at the very least Phil has had the courtesy to do so at his designs), but his people don't have that reputation either. Plus 'starting construction this fall' before the named architect has set foot on the property is a head-shake moment.

I'm not exactly sure who is going to be doing this construction, the two big players in Alberta are currently pretty busy (Puddicombe up North with their own courses, Goodwin Golf with Kananaskis) EDIT: with use of the 'National' name I guess it's safe to assume that Fazio is involved, so that at least has some foothills/cold climate credentials /. So not only do you have a design team with limited experience in cold climates but you're bringing in non-local contractors. All of these things added up: the length, the choice in designers, the contractors, the lack of a superintendent and the timeline are not how you build a sustainable golf course 'for elite and average' golfers. Too often you have to pick one or the other (Phil has been pretty critical of Rees Jones for picking the former when he is asked to do redesigns for clubs that host tour events) at at 8,000 yards its obvious what one they're picking. This is a new golf course built with a mid-90s attitude.

[Oliver Klozov]

I'm not exactly sure who is going to be doing this construction, the two big players in Alberta are currently pretty busy (Puddicombe up North with their own courses, Goodwin Golf with Kananaskis)

GDS / Les Furber?

[bt04ku]

GDS / Les Furber?

I can't see them wanting to take orders from another design team for a construction like this, though I do tend to forget about them since they haven't done much in Calgary recently despite having a handful of courses to their name.

[CorporateWhore]

There was an opportunity to build a fantastic golf course there. One with a fantastic backdrop, be a game-changer in sustainability and environmental stewardship and get away from the outdated model of golf course design and build it for the average player but they've gone in the complete opposite direction.

Can any golf course ever consider itself to be sustainable, or an environmental steward? They take up massive plots of land, displace local flaura and fauna, probably require a ton of water (and pesticides) to keep green, encourage sprawl, and are used by a minuscule amount of people for their size. I know that there different degrees of sustainability, and finding ways to be more efficient is always a good thing, but not unlike finding efficiencies in a coal power-plant, you're fighting an uphill battle right from the start.

Maybe we need to ask ourselves if we need any more golf-courses at all.

[Oliver Klozov]

I can't see them wanting to take orders from another design team for a construction like this, though I do tend to forget about them since they haven't done much in Calgary recently despite having a handful of courses to their name.

Can't really see it myself either but he does have relationships with the contractors who can handle the work.

I think the last 'new' full course of his in Alberta is the 27-hole Quarry in Edmonton. He is currently building the new Rotary Links GC in Fort McMurray as well as 4 new holes at Highwood in High River.

[Spring2008]

Looks like this is going to be a 5 star golf course. Was just thinking having a big name like Mickelson behind this, along with the huge course, tournaments including PGA, and mixed-use village tied to it would be a good boost to tourism and the Calgary area in general. Like a Spruce Meadows for Golf.

[Spring2008]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/cms/binary/10208516.jpg?size=620x400s

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/cms/binary/10208515.jpg?size=620x400s
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/World+class+golf+course+part+Springbank+Harmony+development/10207997/story.html

[Canucklehead]

Ha. Start construction this fall. Right. Mickelson has never been to Calgary, for the record.

These guys don't have any of their services, etc. lined up. One day, but not anytime soon

[bt04ku]

Can any golf course ever consider itself to be sustainable, or an environmental steward?

They definitely can be. Many are one or the other (we might have different ideas of sustainability in this case), unfortunately very few are both.

They take up massive plots of land, displace local flaura and fauna, probably require a ton of water (and pesticides) to keep green, encourage sprawl, and are used by a minuscule amount of people for their size. I know that there different degrees of sustainability, and finding ways to be more efficient is always a good thing, but not unlike finding efficiencies in a coal power-plant, you're fighting an uphill battle right from the start.

These are all legitimate and is what the industry has been fighting for a while. It is also a good summary of why I hate the last golf course boom generation of courses and how they were built. Done so with little to no integration or concern with the environment in large part because the layout was pre-chosen (the environment would be houses) and that causes architects to just design what they want rather than what is best done with the land.

Golf courses can be very good additions to communities when done right. While it is a large space, it is at least a green space and grass doesn't get the love it deserves when it comes to environmental benefits. Water usage is an issue but it is an industry that is the first to adapt because it is the first at risk of losing water licenses. When courses are using collected storm-runoff and effluent from surrounding communities as the water that leaves the course is often cleaner than the water that entered it (sand and soil are fantastic filters). There is a growing acceptance of 'brown is the new green' and just letting the grass be as nature will water it which has reduced water usage significantly. More natural grasses are encouraged and being maintained green area, noxious weeds are kept in check.

While this is a lot of industry talking points, the reality is hitting hard that lip service isn't good enough any more and a concentrated effort is happening to make the push from being "less bad" to actually being beneficial. People want their recreation space and any maintained turf will have the same drawbacks as a golf course, albeit on a smaller scale, so golf courses don't need to be bad. This course could have been a game changer in the golf world. Engineered wetlands, max. efficiency irrigation, low input playing surfaces, embracing tee it forward and building it for the average golfer rather than the best 50 players in the world etc.

I just see it as a missed opportunity that completely ignores the challenges the industry is facing going forward.

Maybe we need to ask ourselves if we need any more golf-courses at all.

Given the fate of the Hamptons and Blue Devil I would have figured that the market answered the question if any more expensive and private courses were needed, but what can ya do?

[Fuzz]

After witnessing the destruction of wildlife corridors, recreational trails and forests in Canmore, I'd be hard pressed to see give a crap about a golf course anywhere. They totally butchered the valley.

[Spring2008]

Construction has started:

WATCH: A hall of fame golfer is bringing his course designing skills to Canada for the first time, and close to Calgary. Brendan Parker explains.

CALGARY – After years of dreaming and planning, Barry Elhert’s vision of a building one of the finest golf courses in Canada is finally taking shape.

Construction has now begun on the over 200-acre lot, just west of Calgary in Rocky View County, at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Story continues below

RELATED

Phil Mickelson designing pro golf course near Calgary

“Every time I come out here something’s changed, and the project’s evolved,” said Ehlert, managing partner of Windmill Golf Group. “It’s exciting. We’re thrilled to be a part of it, and can’t wait to have the golf course open.”

He’s not the only the one who’s excited–it’s the first signature design in Canada by five-time major champion Phil Mickelson.

“I’m thrilled that we’ve begun work on a project we’re confident will be one of the outstanding courses in Canada,” Mickelson said in a statement. “The land and setting give us a great opportunity to create a versatile course that will both challenge the world’s best players and be great fun for amateurs of all levels.”

Mickelson National Golf Club of Canada is the centrepiece of Harmony, a 1,750-acre community built by partners Qualico Communities and Bordeaux Developments.

“He’s engaged, he’s really, really positive about the project, and excited to be part of Calgary,” said Ehlert.

“We think it’s special. Quite frankly, Phil doesn’t want to do a whole lot of course design–he wants to do maybe 20 around the world–which probably means there’s going to be one or two in Canada at the most,” added Ehlert.

The hope is once finished, Mickelson National will be a suitable host for a PGA Tour event and maybe one day, the Canadian Open.

“Would love to see, of course, anything that’s related to the PGA Tour or big events is great. We know we need to build the golf course first, and that’s what our big focus and emphasis is today,” said Ehlert.

The goal is to open the course in fall of 2017.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2048051/construction-starts-on-phil-mickelson-designed-golf-course-near-calgary/

[J-D]

Yeah. The Glencoe, Pinebrook, Elbow Springs, Wintergreen, and Redwood Meadows are not enough golf course for the area. What a joke :yuck:

[DoubleK]

Windmill can't even take care of their current courses. Can't wait to see the awful condition this one ends up in.

[artvandelay]

Great news that they're moving ahead!

Yeah. The Glencoe, Pinebrook, Elbow Springs, Wintergreen, and Redwood Meadows are not enough golf course for the area. What a joke :yuck:

You can never have too many golf courses, bro.

[speedog]

Great news that they're moving ahead!

You can never have too many golf courses, bro.
I kind of agree with J-D - west of the Bow River, south of Highway #1, north of De Winton and west of the foothills...


Canyon Meadows
Priddis Greens
Heritage Pointe
Blue Devil
Sirocco
Maple Ridge
Willow Park
Glencoe
River Spirit
Redwood Meadows
Wintergreen
Valley Ridge
Springbank Links
Livingstone
Shaganappi
Calgary Golf &Country Club
Lakeview
Earl Grey
Richmond Green
Elbow Springs
Pinebrook


And I've probably missed some in that area I defined above.

[B-side]

13. Springbank Links is North of Hwy #1

[artvandelay]

I kind of agree with J-D - west of the Bow River, south of Highway #1, north of De Winton and west of the foothills...
........
And I've probably missed some in that area I defined above.

My point still stands. :)

Anyway, I'm not so sure that this course is going to be anything overly special. It's going to be jammed up against an airport and residential development and looking at the map it appears fairly gimmicky with water all over the place. Massive yardage, but I see this being another Blue Devil. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[speedog]

13. Springbank Links is North of Hwy #1
Okay, erase the south Highway #1 statement - just south or west of the Bow River, east of the foothills and North of De Winton, fair enough? Plenty of golfing options it would seem.

[Surrealplaces]

My point still stands. :)

Anyway, I'm not so sure that this course is going to be anything overly special. It's going to be jammed up against an airport and residential development and looking at the map it appears fairly gimmicky with water all over the place. Massive yardage, but I see this being another Blue Devil. Hopefully I'm wrong.

I couldn't careless about it, expect that if it can draw a PGA event, or other high profile events, than it's good for the city.

[bt04ku]

Windmill can't even take care of their current courses. Can't wait to see the awful condition this one ends up in.

They're really stretching their water licenses. It was the main driver behind the purchase (and subsequent sale) of Harvest Hills. Springbank Links already uses some effluent despite the closure. This new one will greatly depend on water runoff from the developments, but if these drought conditions continue for a couple years it will be a real challenge to do a proper grow-in with what they have now (their other courses will have to suffer even more).

[bt04ku]

I couldn't careless about it, expect that if it can draw a PGA event, or other high profile events, than it's good for the city.

They'll definitely bring a Canadian Open, no doubt about that. Golf Canada has really had a hard time trying to stay away from Glen Abbey and now that a bunch of courses have gotten their little prestige boost, nobody's really jumping at the opportunity again. Plus Golf Canada really wants to get out of Ontario more. They were really getting excited when Blue Devil broke ground, and also very exciting when the Glencoe renovated the Forest, but neither course seems to be entertaining the idea (definitely not Blue Devil, the Glencoe would depend on what the board make-up is).

If these guys build a course this long and say they want the Canadian Open, they'll get it. Golf Canada is operating on a "build it and we will come!" model right now.

[O-tacular]

Ha. Start construction this fall. Right. Mickelson has never been to Calgary, for the record.

These guys don't have any of their services, etc. lined up. One day, but not anytime soon

Doesn't he live in Calgary? I've seen him before.

[Deepstar]

Doesn't he live in Calgary? I've seen him before.

Stephen Ames is about as close to Phil Mickelson living in Calgary as we'll get.

[artvandelay]

Phil was in town hawking memberships for the course last week. ScoreGolf has a good article about about it as well (http://scoregolf.com/blog/rick-young/mickelsons-grand-plans-in-calgary/); here are some excerpts:

Mickelson and Windmill managing partner Barry Ehlert believe an RBC Canadian Open at Mickelson National is possible as early as 2021 or 2022. Also mentioned a couple of times by the luminaries was the potential for a Presidents Cup.

“We don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” said Ehlert, who, like Mickelson, is adamant about wanting a national open in the province of Alberta. “We want to get the golf course built then we’ll have to make tweaks and changes and play some kind of test event. It will be a minimum of two to three years after we open.”

This is great news. The Shaw Classic has become one of the largest stops on the Champions Tour and we are starved for a PGA event out here. I have no doubts that it would be successful.

Mickelson National will be the proverbial big ballpark. It is being constructed on 240 acres with 80 million cubic yards of earth being moved to create textures and pitch that will blend seamlessly with the accompanying terrain and Rocky Mountains backdrop. It will come in at just over 7,800 yards and play as a par 72. A provision to stretch the 18 holes out to 8,000 yards to counteract the region’s thinner air for a tour event is likely.

“The site is very bold,” said Smith, “but it’s going to be extremely playable. We’re integrating some very unique things into this design. Each hole has its own character. Every hole is different; every green complex is different. Phil and me are very sensitive to how the common golfer plays, very sensitive to the beginner and how they play, to the senior player, sensitive to the gals who should be hitting the same iron shots the guys are hitting, not just the same yardage but the same shot type. We’re sensitive to that one word —fun. This is going to be fun.”

It's certainly going to be a monster of a course at ~8,000 yards. I'm still not enamoured with the location though. The terrain looks fairly bland and I doubt the surrounding airport and single family housing will make for a very picturesque setting.

It seems nothing has been left to chance. Mickelson and Smith will use Mike Oliphant and Oliphant Design Companies team of world-class shapers for the construction phase of the project. Having just finished up at Cape Breton, N.S.’s Cabot Cliffs, they are now immersed in Mickelson National.

I've heard that Cabot Cliffs is fantastic, so that sounds promising.

[bt04ku]

It's certainly going to be a monster of a course at ~8,000 yards. I'm still not enamoured with the location though. The terrain looks fairly bland and I doubt the surrounding airport and single family housing will make for a very picturesque setting.



I've heard that Cabot Cliffs is fantastic, so that sounds promising.

Well you can only do so much with the terrain you're given. Cabot is a location the likes of which may never be seen again (certainly not in this country) and hasn't really been seen since the likes of Cypress Point have been built (it is THAT good). Problem is, you can't make that location, it's just there.


For contrast, most architects today are trying to move as little Earth as possible in their designs. While they're talking about 80 million yards of Earth being moved here, that is more than all six of the Bandon Courses and both Cabot courses put together. Outrageously expensive but necessary on a less than ideal site (which is most Alberta courses, even the high end ones). But that's the problem when the land wasn't picked because it would be good for a golf course, but because it is where they had the land to build a golf course.