Apple Creek Golf Course transforms clubhouse into family-oriented arcade

Article content material

Entrepreneurship may be outlined as beginning up a enterprise, organizing and managing it, and taking the monetary danger in hopes of constructing a revenue.

Article content material

However for some concepts there has additionally to be a ardour for the brand new enterprise, and working a golf course in Alberta wants lots of that.

Article content material

Apple Creek Golf Course is an 18-hole circuit simply north of Airdrie.

Duck looking was one of many methods of getting away from enterprise cares for Rick Skauge, chair of Olympia Monetary Group, and certainly one of his favorite spots was round a lake to the west of Dickson Stevenson Path.

When the proprietor determined to promote his land, Skauge made him a proposal after which questioned what could be one of the best use for his new acquisition. His first enterprise was a tree farm, however he finally redeveloped the land into the golf course.

That was a decade in the past, and Rick and his son, Craig, who’s president & CEO of Olympia Belief Firm, have loved lots of household enjoyable on the venue.

It’s a flat course however has many challenges, notably from Nostril Creek that runs alongside a number of of the holes and the lake that was not too long ago machine-cleaned to get well greater than 12,000 errant golf balls.

Evidently, one of many issues in working a golf course in Alberta is the quick season, so most homeowners compensate with fairway residences and occasions.

Article content material

Article content material

However there aren’t any houses round Apple Creek to hit with wayward balls, and Craig says the marriage enterprise may be rewarding however that almost all {couples} wish to get married on Saturdays in the course of the summer season.

The log cabin design of the 18,000-square-foot clubhouse is quite distinctive for a golf course, however was underused for many of the 12 months.

So that they considered a greater solution to make their enterprise economical and got here up with the thought of changing the walkout flooring of the clubhouse right into a family-oriented arcade.

It’s a three-generation story as Rick got here up with the thought, Craig deliberate and executed the entire remodelling, and his two youngsters helped resolve the form of video games that will be hottest.

Completely renovated, the inside is now dwelling to greater than 60 arcade video games, together with these permitting contestants to take a seat in a automobile to race in opposition to three pals with the fun of the noise of accelerating and braking, and throwing rubber axes at targets. The arcade can accommodate as much as 200 folks at a time, so it’s superb for occasions from birthday events to company capabilities.

The Skauges have turned an underused asset into one thing to be welcomed by the entire neighborhood. Golf remains to be in full swing, with an added 19^th gap bonus to proceed having enjoyable along with your foursome, however weddings are outside ceremonies, as inside now has extra of a Jurassic Park really feel.

Article content material

The principle degree flooring remains to be open as a restaurant and bar, and enlarged to accommodate extra adult-style video games.

Apple Creek has turn into a enjoyable facility for the Airdrie district and the Skauges are happy with the transformation.

However they proceed to behave as entrepreneurs in different ventures.

One is in growing the land they personal on the east facet of Haskayne Park alongside the Bow River the place they’re planning a summer season marina. And a eager scuba diver, Rick is growing a resort on a Fijian island that he says gives one of the best diving he’s ever discovered.

In the meantime, father and son are nonetheless working profitable monetary companies companies. Craig experiences that Olympia is having fun with its best-ever inventory worth and now employs some 300 workers, primarily in its Calgary Centennial Place workplace, with others within the Vancouver location.

Notes:

Thirty-eight years in the past, Ralph Gibson, Paul Watermark and Invoice Browne joined forces to create Goal Realty, which has turn into a driving drive in Calgary’s industrial actual property world. Their legacy will proceed as Gibson and his present companions have merged with Steve Vesuwalla’s Clearview Business Realty; Goal’s 10 industrial brokers have moved into Clearview’s new workplace area at 6223 2^nd St. S.E.

David Parker seems often within the Herald. Learn his columns on-line at calgaryherald.com/enterprise. He may be reached at 403-830-4622 or by electronic mail at [email protected]