Coal Creek Golf Resort

I had two choices to make today, 1: go fly a kite or 2: go golfing. I don't own a kite so I went golfing.

There must have been a major front of some sort moving through central Alberta as the wind was blowing steady at 25-30 mph the entire round. The last time I played in winds like this was during a round at the Old Course at Ballybunion.

One of my favorite courses was in remarkable shape once again. Two thumbs up to the grounds keeping staff. The tee boxes well maintained, the fairways tightly mown and running out nicely, the rough a manageable 1 1/2". The greens played as expected and were rolling true and at a nice pace.

The wind made approaches into many of the greens something of a guessing game. For example, on Hole 2, a relatively straight 365-yard Par 4, but dead into the wind. I hit my driver right on the screws and I still had 158 yards to the pin. I flushed my approach onto the green with a 7 wood, the club I usually pull out of the bag when I have a 190-yard shot to make.

Hole 12, a short, narrow and uphill Par 4 was playing downwind, my 7 wood flew 265 yards leaving me a 54* wedge into the green. On some holes the wind was helping out big time so it all comes out in the wash as they say.

The strong winds made the course play just a bit more challenging today. The sun was out, the bluest of skies were peppered with clouds and the company was entertaining. Who could ask for anything more?

Coal Creek Golf Resort is by far the best conditioned course in the Edmonton area. Our family felt like we got great value and super service during our day. From the moment we arrived you could tell that the attention to detail was first rate. We were greeted when we arrived at the golf shop, the golf course was in fantastic condition (with the best greens around) and after the round we had a great meal. Overall the day was first class for a public facility. I would recommend giving Coal Creek a go if you have yet to play it. The course still has that hidden gem feel!

It's always a treat to play a round at one of my favorite courses, Coal Creek. Driving onto the property it's fairly obvious that the conditioning of the course is up to its usual high standard.

An expedient check in, forty minutes on the range, fifteen minutes on the practice putting green and it was off to join a group of three golfers on the first tee.

The course has matured nicely since it opened in 2012.

The views never get old here as there is always some little detail to be discovered.

Large flat tee boxes provide nice sight lines for golfers. Wide, lush fairways are separated by tall fescue. Forty four "dark & dirty" bunkers are scattered throughout the course. Water hazards are found on seven holes but I've found the water only really comes into play on two holes, 6 and 11. The greens are enormous but still require accurate approach shots to hit in regulation. Good putts roll out nicely and the pace of the greens was consistent throughout all 18 greens. Overall conditioning of the course tells you that the grounds crew pay close attention to the little details.

A fresh grilled burger & beer afterwards out on the deck topped off another good round. I can't say I've ever had a bad round at Coal Creek. I may have a bad hole or two, but never a bad round. You'd be hard pressed to find better value for your golf dollar.

Grab a coffee and head out for a 45 minute trek east of Edmonton, Alberta to one of Alberta’s hidden gems. This 18 hole track was constructed on an abandoned coal mine. It is the only course in Alberta to have black sand traps, which give each hole a unique, picturesque view.

This would be my second trip here this summer. The front nine holes winds around some of the old mining pits, which are now filled with water and random pieces of old mining equipment strewn about the entire property.

The very first hole is an elevated, straight away 4 par. A good drive is needed to avoid water on the right along with water and sand on the left. It grabs your attention right away.

The greens here were immaculate, both trips. The greens were firm and quick, which suits me just fine. If you happen to land in the sand, it plays a little differently than a conventional bunker. The black sand is more like fine powder and takes a bit of getting used to. Be aware if you are hitting into the wind as you can expect to receive a face full after you strike the ball.

The back nine has a few more flatter, wide open holes. As with any Les Furber design, there is a driveable 4 par to a heavily bunker fortified green complex. If you got the wind at your back, then grip it and rip it!! You didn’t drive an hour to come and lay up!!

The finishing hole is a downhill 4 par with numerous bunkers, just waiting to catch an errant drive. It’s a lovely view with the clubhouse in the elevated backdrop.

Both my rounds were 86 total strokes. I played each round from two different tee boxes. So I am thinking 2020 will have to do another trip for the tiebreaker.

After your round, stop by the 19th hole for a beverage and snack, maybe grab an apparel item and book another round with one of the friendly staff members.

I will definitely be back. .

Friendly staff, great course conditions. One of my favorites in the Edmonton area. Definitely worth the drive!

My golf trip around Alberta was coming to a close (ten rounds in ten days) and it was an easy choice to play Coal Creek. Coal Creek Golf Resort is far and away one of my favorite Sid Puddicombe designs. I'm not sure what it is about this course but it always seems to bring out my best.

The view from the first tee lets you know right away that the grounds crew are doing a fantastic job of paying attention to the details.

There are four tee boxes on every hole to accommodate players of all skill levels. An even mix of dogleg left and dogleg right holes require accuracy off the tee and water features can come into play on a few holes. Quality approach shots into expansive and well contoured green complexes can still make getting down in two a challenge.

As a reminder to the courses history as a former coal mine, the course is littered with around forty three strategically placed "deep & dark" bunkers.

Friendly staff, great service, pristine fairways along with some of the best greens earn high marks from this visitor. A golf trip around Alberta would not be complete without a stop at Coal Creek.

The course is close to prime condition. Great practice area 5 sets of tees, no large forced carries who could ask for more. You have to hit straight and play from the proper tees otherwise it can cause slow rounds. Started at 8:40 done by 12:15 and we were slow not the course. Will try and get there once a month at least.

Unfortunately we ended up with a 5 hour 20 minute round with a mid morning tee off time. The greens were in reasonable condition but somewhat bumpy. Better than many in the Edmonton area but not great. The fairways were very hard and cut very short so not very good. The couse layout is O.K. But there are a few holes that need to be redesigned.

Price wise it is a little expensive if you consider the value. Certainly not worth the drive from Edmonton.

They definitely need a Marshall, which we finally saw on hole 16 but he did nothing to speed up play.

A brilliant fall day for a round of golf. A brisk wind, the sun popping out now & again to light up the turning leaves, fast sloping greens, rolling fairways and wispy fescue grasses to remind you the importance of staying in the fairways. The round started off with a lot of promise, two birdies on the front nine and then I made the turn, whereupon the wheels abruptly fell off. Some days you're on top of your game, some days not. The company was great and the course was as challenging as ever. Any day at Coal Creek is a good day.

Made the 2 hr drive from home to join a golfing buddy for a game at one of my favorite courses. Always a treat playing on a well conditioned track that offers spacious fairways, huge rolling greens, terrific bunkering, numerous water hazards and brilliantly routed through an old mine site. With attentive, friendly staff, a great practice area and a cozy clubhouse, you're guaranteed a good day. I just wish it was a little closer to home.

Coal Creek has only recently (2012) come onto the golf scene in Alberta when the owners of the Dodd's Coal Mine hauled the last load of coal out from this site in 2007. Nice of them to think outside the box & commission Puddicombe Golf to come in & design a course that maintains the history of the mine that once was. As you drive onto the property you'll see remnants of the old mine scattered around this rugged landscape, the old tipple, a processing plant & storage facility along with some retired heavy equipment laid to rest in the fescue lined fairways. There are numerous elevation changes, doglegs right & left, uneven fairways, large, undulating greens, a few water hazards & a great mix of short & long holes strategically routed throughout the property. Coal Creek is renowned for its "deep & dark" bunkers. It's not coal but a black copper slag hauled in from a mine in B.C. As golfers you're taught early to avoid them but it would really be a shame to play here & not experience them...they are brilliant. With a new clubhouse, cordial staff, driving range & an RV park onsite, Coal Creek is worth the drive from where ever home is.