Blue Devil Golf Club has only been around for 12 years, but they’re already making a big statement when it comes to the environment. Course superintendent Garry Haynes and his crew do a lot to make sure the course is environmentally-friendly, and they’ve recently been recognized for their efforts. Blue Devil has become the third golf course in Canada to be certified by the Golf Environment Organization (GEO). Haynes said it was a learning process and a lot of data went into it. “How much fertilizer you use, how much waste you collect in your bins,” Haynes said. “How much top dressing sand you use per year...and then what happens is it’s all done and a third party comes in and we go through the entire process and he admits it to the GEO Foundation and then they approve it or a or don’t approve it.” Feather in the cap Slade King is the C.0.0 and executive professional at Play Golf Calgary. He says he has been working at this for the past four years. Finally getting a GEO certificate is a feather in his cap. “Yeah, It’s just kind of a neat thing that our ownership and our management team is supportive of and proud of and it’s cool to get that final certificate. Haynes says he and his staff take being environmentally-friendly seriously and will continue to work at it. “You know, some golf courses do get under the scrutiny of not being correct environmentally, so to be able to get certified and show that we actually are committed to showing our environmental due diligence is awesome.” That’s not the only big news coming out of Play Golf Calgary. They’re building 18 more holes at Serenity. “You know 18 more holes,” King said. “(So with) 54 holes, we’ll be the largest golf facility in Western Canada once we’re all said and done. “We broke ground this summer, stripped the land and rough shaped some holes, and we have some holes finished, shaped already -- next year will be a full finish and grow in and (we’re) hoping to launch in 2028.” Two courses in Calgary have been certified: Mickelson National got their GEO certificate last year. Blue Devil closed for the winter last Friday but have six indoor golf simulators that will be open Saturday.
