Shaganappi Point Golf Course celebrates a century of providing golf to Calgarians

Today, The City of Calgary celebrated 100 years of municipal golf in Calgary at Shaganappi Point Golf Course. Shaganappi Point was Calgary’s first public municipal golf course and is the second oldest course in Calgary.

“While its appearance has changed dramatically over the past 100 years, the guiding principle of why we have municipal golf courses remains. These courses are here to provide an affordable recreational opportunity for Calgarians,” says Kyle Ripley, manager of golf courses, The City of Calgary. “Providing a variety of affordable recreational opportunities, whether its golf or one of the other many programs we offer, helps foster health lifestyles and encourage active daily living.”

Built in 1915, Shaganappi Point began as a bare-bones 18-hole golf course and served a community of 80,000 Calgarians who in that first year played just over 2000 rounds of golf. This golf course is now a 27-hole golf course, averaging 72,000 rounds of golf per year, and includes a 48-stall driving range.

Individuals, schools and families have been gathering and coming together at Shaganappi Point to enjoy the fabulous city views, utilize the driving range, participate in lesson programs, cross country ski and, in the 1940s, downhill ski. To share what this golf course has meant to citizens over the years a variety of personal stories have been captured and are available on calgary.ca along with more information about what The City is doing to celebrate 100 years of golf in Calgary.

Leading up to the 100-year celebration, a comprehensive review was done by the Calgary Heritage Authority. This led to Shaganappi Point being added to Calgary’s Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources. 

“It’s a formal acknowledgement of the importance of the site,” explains Scott Jolliffe, chair, Calgary Heritage Authority. “It’s not just its age.”

The site has also been enjoyed for more than its golf course. Today’s celebration also acknowledged the golf course’s historic relevance. Shaganappi Point’s 100-year history includes use by First Nations, the 1901 Royal Visit King George V and Queen Mary,  and the home of the 1988 Winter Olympic Hot Air Balloon Festival. 

The celebration was blessed by Leonard Bastien, Blackfoot Elder from the Piikani Nation, to honour the historical relationship between Shaganappi Point and First Nation peoples. From the 1870s the wider landscape, which includes the golf course, was known as Shaganappi Point and the bluffs were used for encampments, a buffalo jump, and later as a Métis settlement.

For more information on Shaganappi Point and other municipal golf courses visit calgary.ca/golf.