I want to pet a dinosaur (and play some golf)

In some ways the Drumheller Golf and Country Club has always been central to this trip. While we had targeted Indianapolis’ Brickyard Crossing and Idaho’s Coeur D’Alene we’ve always known for this to succeed we would need a strong and interesting Canadian component. It is a Canadian-based show after all and what better way to generate interest than to showcase a relatively-unknown Canadian gem?

Drumheller, for those who don’t know about it, is not for the (golfing) faint of heart. It is built amidst the Badlands of southern Alberta and, for those who don’t know a Badland from a Goodland, “Badland” equates to hidden archaic buried dinosaur fossils.

Exhibit A

The golf course kind of sneaks up on you. The front nine play like any other place you’ve played; nice, tree-lined, and relatively-flat. That quaint feeling of solace leaves you rather quickly after exiting the fairly innocuous tunnel that separates the front nine from the ominous back nine. Playing Drumheller - hole 10 to hole 18, at least - is akin to a scared child lost in a horror house. You will hold your breath at least five times and you will ask to return to the clubhouse at least once.

Those who brave the onslaught however, will be treated to golfing the way it must have been played when caveman roamed the earth and nobody could break 120. Drumheller demands your attention and your best shot. Guarantee: You will lose golf balls. The line between safe and out-of-bounds is razor-thin and this (believe me) is an beguiling enticement, not a detriment.

Miss a shot and you WILL be fossilized.

Whatever great score you might have had on the front can be destroyed in an instant on the unforgiving back nine but don’t take this to mean that your game WILL spin hopelessly out of control, just that it might. And, if it does, take solace in the fact you are enjoying the day in one of this nation’s most naturally-splendid and intriguing surroundings. A lost ball - looked at optimistically - is just a great chance to find another dinosaur bone.

she was never seen again (until we found her in the clubhouse later)

Lastly here’s a picture you really need to investigate.

three guys, happy for some reason

Wayde has an update on this in Facebook. Curious? Click..