Golf Safety with Blue Devil Golf

Thanks to the dedicated effort of Calgarians, the curve is flattening and businesses in Alberta are slowly beginning to open up again. One of the first industries to welcome guests back are golf courses, including the Blue Devil Golf Club in south Calgary. We talked with Blue Devil owner Scott Atkinson about what golfing looks like in the age of coronavirus.

First, can you tell me a bit about Blue Devil golf club? And it’s history and legacy in this part of Calgary?

Blue Devil opened in the summer of 2012, designed by incredible golf architects, Gary Browning and Wade Horrocks. Their philosophy when creating Blue Devil was “Give the Devil his Due.” We wanted to create a course that people want to play again and again, challenging enough to keep you wanting more, but not so much that you leave discouraged.

Beautifully located in the river valley of south Calgary, Blue Devil offers plenty of landing room with its generous fairways and surprisingly vast roll of the land. Strategic water hazards and dynamic bunkers accompany the layout to keep the challenge for golfers alive at every turn. In addition to the big 18-hole Blue Devil course, we have the 9-hole Lil Devil short course. Lil Devil was created with fun in mind, perfect for beginner golfers, families, juniors, or to practice your short game!

How many members do you have there? What can you say about the golfing community you have created in the area?

The golfing community we have created in the area is quite dynamic! We have 52 Platinum share members at Blue Devil, and many people opting for Annual Membership options for both Blue Devil and Lil Devil courses. We have created a place where people love to come to have fun, challenge themselves on the Blue Devil course, or have a wonderful day outdoors on the Lil Devil course with your family! We want Blue Devil to feel like home to everyone that visits us (members or not!) and that is the community we are trying to build—everyone welcome!

What are your thoughts on the province easing up on the restrictions specifically around golfing activities in Alberta?

Safety is our number #1 priority, and we are pleased that the government has allowed us to implement new social distancing protocols and continue to enrich the lives of the communities we serve. We believe golf provides so many wonderful benefits for mental health and exercise, and during this time of uncertainty, golf can be a safe solution. We are excited for the opportunity to lead the way in showing how businesses can develop new protocols and operate in a safe manner. We spent a lot of time researching best golf practices from around the world and collaborating with industry operators from across the country to ensure we developed and implemented the best COVID-19 golf protocols available.

More specifically, we’re following golf guidelines detailed by Play Golf Calgary and Government of Alberta regulations so that visitors to Blue Devil Golf Club can maintain social distancing while still enjoying a round of golf. For example, all guests will be asked to wait until 15 minutes before their tee time before coming on to the course grounds, to keep crowding to a minimum.

For Wolf Willow, what does it mean to have Blue Devil golf club within the community? And vice versa, what does the community growth mean to Blue Devil?

For residents of Wolf Willow, having Blue Devil in the community means you have another place to call home! Completely open to the public, we are here to bring the community together and provide a safe and fun place to enjoy golf and the outdoors. For us, the community growth is an incredible opportunity to welcome more Calgarians to our course and provide them with a safe place where they can get outside, exercise, enjoy the sunshine, and connect with other community members, at a safe distance!

Blue Devil is just one of the many surrounding amenities close to Wolf Willow. Nearby retail shops, everyday essentials and other recreational opportunities await our residents.