JASPER – One of Canada’s most iconic golf courses is celebrating its centennial a year after suffering damage from a wildfire.
The Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course reopened for its 100th season during a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 1. Greg Van Tighem, who worked with fire crews last summer to save Jasper Park Lodge from the wildfire, was the first to tee off.
“It’s so great to be here to open up the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course, truly an incredible achievement when we look at where we started from a little while ago and then to where we are today,” said Garrett Turta, general manager of Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
Nearly a year ago, the Jasper wildfire destroyed most of the course’s infrastructure and cut its season short. Staff spent the next year assessing the damage and undertaking restoration work, such as removing 7,000 hazard trees and ordering replacement equipment.
Crews are still working to replace the irrigation system. To ensure golfers can play an 18-hole course, a 19th hole, an old practice hole, will be activated whenever one hole is having its irrigation system replaced.
Next year, crews will be busy replanting vegetation and replacing the infrastructure. Temporary shelters and washrooms will be available this season.
The restoration work is expected to continue until the 2027 season.
Turta thanked firefighters for saving the property and staff for being able to get the course operational this season.
Tahlon Sweenie, director of golf operations at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, also expressed his gratitude to the turf care team.
“It takes a team to move mountains, and certainly we’re going to be able to showcase that for you this year, and we welcome everybody to be a part of their recovery,” Sweenie said.
Designed by famous architect Stanley Thompson, the alpine course opened in 1925 and is often listed as one of Canada’s top ten golf courses.
Renovations will include expanding the greens to the original layout to reclaim historic pin locations and restoring two bunkers to their original designs.
