By Charles Lefebvre

Riverview Golf Club seeing steady business this season

Jun 19, 2019 | 12:06 PM

REDCLIFF, AB — Eight months after fears Redcliff’s only golf would close, the club’s general manager says this season has so far been successful.

Speaking Tuesday afternoon, Douglas Braithwaite, the new general manager at Riverview Golf Club, says since reopening for the season in April, there has been steady use of the course.

“The club is doing pretty good,” he said. “The club has lots of new members that have shown up, a big junior program that’s happening, the course is in good shape, and we’re looking forward to a really good successful season,”

Braithwaite estimates the club has approximately 225 members of all ages this year. He adds the junior program, which has restarted this year, has approximately 50 people, and the club is focusing on growing the game at a younger level.

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“We’re trying to have a lot of family fun,” he said. “We’re trying to get juniors out and playing. It’s just to keep the game up and flowing. It’s really good to have a lot of people out here.”

Back in October, the club’s financial situation was in a difficult state. During several meetings with members, the board at the time revealed the club had amassed $400,000 in debt, and they were looking for assistance from the Town of Redcliff.

A new board was eventually created, and this past March, Riverview secured a loan from the Town of Redcliff for $315,000. The loan consolidates many of the debts the club was facing, and has a 10-year term.

Braithwaite says the club is working to put the tumultuous off-season behind them.

“There’s just a more positive attitude around here, and some more support through volunteers,” he said. “We have a lot of great volunteers that have shown up, and that’s great for the facility.”

Braithwaite says they want to keep membership at the club growing through this year and next to keep it viable.