Connaught golf closing course earlier due to irrigation concerns
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 21, 2023.
sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews Golfers wanting to play some more golf at the Connaught Golf Club before the winter season better tee it up sooner than later. The club announced Wednesday via its website and social media it will be closing the course for the season at end of play on Oct. 9. Connaught will continue normal operations until Oct. 1 at which point it will be closed for play until Oct. 6 when it will open for full operations on the long weekend. Connaught president Miles Thorson details in a press release how the lack of irrigation availability led to this decision for the course. “We cannot operate on the hope of rain.” With the St. Mary River Irrigation District shutting down irrigation Sept. 22, the city will not have the water supply to replace the loss and the course can not operate without SMRID water without long-term risk to the course. The release says that any damage could impact spring growth. “Sacrificing two/three weeks of play now will offers us a better chance to have a normal opening in the spring.” In the release, Thorson says any questions or concerns from the Connaught Golf Club’s members are to be directed to the board of directors, not staff. “It was our decision.” 10-9
