Fundraisers to build the multi-sport courts at DVSS have found they are coming up about $20,000 short for the project and hope they can make up the difference and break ground this spring.

The proposed new outdoor multi-sport court is about $20,000 away from a spring start.
    The Drumheller Tennis Club spearheaded an effort to create new permanent courts in Drumheller. Rewind about two years ago the club partnered with Golden Hills School Division and the Friends of DVSS and now have a site at the former court at the high school.
    The momentum continued and a number of community groups jumped on board to help. The project also grew from tennis to include pickle ball and basketball.  They are hoping to break ground this spring, but are still short a few dollars and cents.
    “Essentially we had to upgrade the type of asphalt and thickness of gravel pack after assessing the site and blueprints,” said Jillian Augey of the Drumheller Tennis Club. “This causes us to need an additional $20,000. To “upgrade” to this better quality mix means a longer lasting court of more professional standing.”
    The project has received great support and was successful in its application for a provincial CFEP grant for $40,000. The Friends of DVSS have matched this amount and other donors including the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, the Kinsmen Club,  Cenovus and Canalta. An anonymous donor brought approximately $30,000 to the table in honour of  Royal Canadian Air Force Pilots of World War II.  The Town of Drumheller has also offered in kind support.
    Augey hopes the groups will be able to make up the shortfall and encourages residents who feel strongly about such a project to show their support.  A donation can yield a tax receipt from the Friends of DVSS.
    For more information, to donate or suggestions, contact Augey at 403-436-0031.

Mitch Davidson, left, and Paul Ainscough, of the Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club, April 7 at the regular meeting of Drumheller Town Council. The club is currently losing money and came to Council to ask for assistance, in any form, from the Town. The club has been working on incentives to attract more golfers to their greens this year.

The Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club gave a presentation at the regular meeting of Drumheller Town Council Monday night.
    Golf Club Superintendent Mitch Davidson and Board Member Paul Ainscough, representing the Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club, attended Council to request Town assistance with the club’s $25,000 annual municipal tax bill.
    The tax figure was listed as one of the major four challenges currently facing the club and outlined to Council at the meeting.
    Mr. Ainscough noted the golf club is the only facility in town not subsidized by the Town, and asked if there was any way Council could help out, they would appreciate it.
    “If we don’t have the money, it doesn’t matter what I do as Superintendent,” said Davidson.
     The other major challenges the club listed were the water source, membership issues, and aging infrastructure.
    Davidson wants the message to get out that Dinosaur Trail is Drumheller’s public, community golf course.            The Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club is a non-profit society governed by a Board of Directors, with current membership standing at 335 members and annual revenues of $1.2 million.
    Davidson said some short-sighted decision making in the past led to the Club’s current financial state, which shows the Club losing $75,000 a year, due in part to the $80,000 required per year to service a term loan debt.
    He explained the facility has just spent $10,000 on UV treatment and reverse osmosis treatment in order to provide safe drinking water on-site and avoid the club once again having to truck in safe drinking water for the season.
     Davidson presented to Council that the club has its own water and septic, and pays for trash removal from the site.
    He said the water well they have on-site was drilled in the 1960s and is subjected to run-off from agricultural lands nearby.
    Ainscough and Davidson explained the club is working hard to do some long range planning, including involving more young people in the club and goals to increase attendance and membership.
    Davidson said one of the programs the club is trying this year is a discounted golfing special on Mondays.
    The club is also offering a discounted membership rate to first time members.