Golfers won’t have to wait until May to play as Jasper’s first golf simulator is now available to book at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club.
Located at the clubhouse, the Bear’s Den is a luxury golf simulator that currently features over 75 unique virtual courses.
Head golf professional Troy Mills said the reception had been great since the simulator became available in early December.
“Up until Dec. 4, a lot of our local members and local community members would go to Hinton to the golf club there to play, so it’s been very well received that no one’s going to [have to] drive the hour and a half to play a round of golf.”
Jasper experiences a compressed golf season of only five-and-a-half months.
Even then, freak weather such as the snow last June can sometimes close the course during the summer, which is why Fairmont decided to invest in a golf simulator that offers a year-round golf experience, rain or shine.
Mills said the simulator also allows local golfers to stay on top of their game during the winter months.
“You’re not taking a six-month break from swinging the golf clubs and then trying to get going again when we open in May, so it’s been really good for those [people] to come out and keep the swing intact and work on a few things.”
Since launching, the simulator has been booked roughly half the time during weekdays, while the weekends are almost sold out.
Iconic courses that can be played include Augusta National Golf Course, Pebble Beach Golf Links and the historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course.
“So, it’s been extremely well received from a lot of the people that have played these [simulators] before in some cities,” Mills said.
“Even those that have jumped on the simulator for the very first time are pleasantly surprised with the graphics, the realism behind it and all the live data that it’s able to spit back at you in regards to your carrying distance and ball speed, clubhead speed, everything like that.”
Mills added that his favourite course on the simulator was Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s own course.
“One of the reasons I haven’t left in 16 years is due to this incredible golf course that was created by Stanley Thompson back in 1925. It’s near and dear to my heart and to many, many others.”
Call the clubhouse at 780-852-6090 to book.
