An Oasis on the Prairies

Perdue Resort is a great addition to Saskatchewan golf

By Stan Bartlett

The Saskatoon district is arguably the heart of golf in Saskatchewan, with more golfers and high-end courses than anywhere else in the province. The latest addition is the Perdue Oasis and RV Resort about half an hour west of the city, presenting players with a memorable golfing experience on a gently rolling, target-style golf course.

This Glen Campbell-designed course on the eastern slope of the Bear Hills has added all the touches – massage therapist service, hair salon, and gourmet meals such as wild boar tenderloin with wild mushroom demi-glaze – to distinguish it from its competitors in a highly competitive local market.

“You’re going to have a great time,” says Perdue Oasis owner Jim Scharf, who opened the course on a portion of the 10,000-acre family farm last spring. The 20-hole track has two holes in place for a third nine when expansion to 27 is complete. There’s also a RV park on site with 40 full-service hook-ups.

Scharf, who can be found seeding in the spring on his tractor at 4:30 in the morning, is also the owner-operator of E-ZEEWRAP, a company that manufactures a food wrap dispenser that holds 1,000 feet of plastic wrap. The company has won six industry awards including a listing in Profit Magazine’s Top 100 companies. Although Scharf is a non-golf, he clearly has brought determination to the project – the front nine was reseeded three times and the back nine twice as a result of wind and flash flood damage. He’s also brought some marketing savvy to his latest entrepreneurial challenge.

“Perdue Oasis is designed so a pro will love it because of the challenge of the bunkers, water hazards and its length,” says Scharf of his user-friendly track. “The average golfer will also love it because it’s set up so you won’t lose a lot of balls.”

The championship course was crafted by Glen Campbell of Calgary, a well-known golf course architect who has designed courses in Calgary, Candle Lake and Rosthern, Sask., and dozens of other locations around the world.

The eastern slopes of the Bear Hills, just before it gives way to the great out-wash prairies, are the backdrop for Perdue Oasis. Situated on a hill, the southwestern-style clubhouse along Highway 14 sits like a dowager surveying her grand estate in all directions.

The 2,200-square foot clubhouse deck, and its enclosed glass conservatory, provides a memorable 300-degree view of the entire course including the first, ninth and 18th holes. Golfers will be able to enjoy a beer and burger at the restaurant, or better still, tasty gourmet delights of the full restaurant.

At par 72, the current 18 measures 6,943 yards from the tips, with two distinct nines – one flatter and the other more rolling. When complete, the third nine will be more undulating as Campbell uses the nearby Bear Hills to full advantage.

The front nine is distinguished by large bent grass greens – one green is a staggering 17,600 square feet. Golfers will need to be accurate or face a demanding two putt. Greens on the back nine are smaller and reward accurate shot-makers.

While the course is young and still maturing, the condition of the greens, fairways and tee boxes on the front nine are already the best in Saskatchewan.

The course has a full practice facility including a putting green, a driving range with unlimited free balls, and a two-hole practice loop with every green fee. Golf carts are outfitted with Global Positioning System (GPS). One of the more attractive aspects of the course is the red shale cart paths that wind throughout the facility.

For many golfers, the most challenging hole will be the ninth, a healthy 385-yard, par 4 that descends from a small hill to a green protected by a pond, a small hill, and several traps. The second shot demands accuracy shot. The signature hole is considered the lovely par-5, 18th that runs 526 yards from the men’s tees. Golfers climb a gently, rolling hill until the green, the clubhouse and much of the course comes into view. The mid-sized green is well-protected by sand traps, and a stream that descends from the hill to a pond.

Golfers will need to negotiate six water holes developed from the sloughs originally on the property, two of which are stocked with rainbow trout and are temporary homes to migrating ducks. The second hole has an enormous “extreme” bunker, one of Saskatchewan’s largest.

The harvest of two tree farms – an estimated 10,000 trees – was purchased to provide colour and variety to the Perdue Landscape. Although a little bare to the naked eye at this point, the course will be hardly recognizable once this transplanted forest matures.

The best way to get to this instant Saskatchewan classic is to take Highway 14 west about a kilometre to, as the locals say; “the other side of Perdue.” Tee time bookings are available at (306) 237-GOLF or at www.PerdueOasis.com