Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/68546
NEW COURSE REVIEW BY GORD MONTGOMERY DIAMOND Coal Creek Is A Golfing In nature, diamonds emerge from coal so it should come as no surprise the latest golf gem in north central Alberta is surfacing from the dust of a coal mine. IMAGE CREDIT GORD MONTGOMERY Coal Creek Golf Resort, located about 45 minutes east of Edmonton, is a family business that is taking the place of their former enterprise, the Dodds Coal Mine. With the course having wintered well, the hope is it will be open in its entirety by the June 8 weekend this season, some infrastructure aside. That being said, it won't be a full-bore onslaught on the course once the doors do swing open, Jason Rasmuson, the course's general manager explained. "We will have a conservative opening, and being closed on Mondays and Tuesdays will help the course recover, plus give our maintenance team more time for projects." The course has "grown in as well as could be expected and in some 74 areas, better than expected," Rasmuson said. "There is still more bunker work that needs to be done and we will continue throughout the summer to improve the golf course." The unused part of the coal patch, worked for the past three generations by the Kudrowich and Bowal families and which is still partially operational, was land that had to be reclaimed as its natural resources finally came to an end. The question from that however was what was the best way in which to reclaim the land to make the best investment for the owners?