FAQ
WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF OPERATION, DOES IT COST MONEY TO USE SHAGANAPPI IN THE WINTER?
HOURS:
Once Shaganappi is open for the winter, all gates to the Shaganappi Point golf course that are typically open for the winter are open 24/7. Click here to view or download Maps to the three different user trail systems that also show Shaganappi access points.
COST:
Shaganappi is free in the winter to all and our goal at SNO is to keep it this way! We only ask that you please consider financially supporting this community winter recreation area if you can by Donating or becoming a Friend of SNO.
It literally costs thousands of dollars every year to run winter operations at Shaganappi. SNO relies heavily on financial support from businesses and the public to pay for costs associated with managing winter operations at Shaganappi.
WHERE CAN WE FIND RENTALS?
Shops that focus on Cross Country Skiing offering both retail sales and rentals with knowledgeable staff:
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Norseman Outdoor Specialists rents ski gear and snowshoes, and are located on 37th Street near Shaganappi operates on a first-come first-served basis.
Other rental providers:
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Sports Rent in Bowness
WHERE CAN I FIND LESSONS?
Calgary and area lesson and/or coaching program providers:
CANSI-certified instructors are recommended, it is wise to confirm before booking. If your organization isn't on our list, please contact us with a request to be added.
LIGHTS: ARE THERE LIGHTS AT SHAGANAPPI FOR NIGHT SKIING?
Unfortunately, no.
SNO would love to install lights in the driving range at the very least, however the cost is quoted at ~$65,000 to run 100amp electrical service from the closest power pole to the sheds and install the electrical system Shaganappi needs for winter operations.
DOGS: ARE DOGS ALLOWED AT THE SHAGANAPPI POINT GOLF COURSE IN THE WINTER?
The short answer is no.
The reasoning why follows:
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City of Calgary Bylaws state that dogs are not allowed on golf courses.
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Dog excrement (not coyote excrement) has been widely found on the winter trail system and in the snow we need to harvest to put onto the trail systems in low snow winters.
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Sunken dog footprints damage trails, increase snow deterioration and melting, and when frozen into the snow on trails, are a safety hazard to skiers travelling at speed (especially at night!).
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Shaganappi is home to many species of urban wildlife.
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Some native Shaganappi Urban Wildlife are dangerous to domesticated dogs such as porcupines, coyotes, and Bobcats.
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Dogs stress the urban wildlife whose home is at the Shaganappi Point golf course.
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Please, allow these animals to have a peaceful home free from dog encounters and dog stressors!
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HOW CAN I HELP?
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Volunteer for SNO, as all winter operations work is done by volunteers. Learn More
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Take a moment to help the trails while skiing, walking, fat biking, or snowshoeing and clear windblown debris from trails such as leaves, sticks and pine cones, as they are safety hazards and act as heat-sinks melting the snow around them quickly.
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Donate money to help pay for operational expenses. Running a ski area costs money!
WHY ARE THERE ROPES AROUND FEATURES ON THE GOLF COURSE?
Fragile non native grasses are easily killed by snow compaction above the grass. Tee boxes and golf greens are typically sensitive areas of the golf course with fragile non native grasses. Usually skiers go under ropes onto the grasses of tee boxes and greens because there are hills surrounding them. There are many other hills around Shaganappi that skiers can go on where the grasses are less likely to be killed.
HOW CAN THE GRASSES ON GOLF COURSES BE KILLED DURING THE WINTERTIME; AREN'T THEY DORMANT?
Compacted snow above fragile grasses prevents gases formed from natural decomposition during the winter from escaping up through the snowpack. The decomposition gases then concentrate along the surface of the grass, and kill the grass over time. If the public continues to go on roped off areas in the winter causing damage to the golf course grasses, the golf course may be permanently closed to the public in the winter, as repairing and replacing the dead grass in the spring is expensive.
WHEN WILL THE GOLF COURSE OPEN FOR SKIING, FAT BIKING, WALKING, AND SNOWSHOEING?
This varies year to year.
Golf course summer staff must prepare and protect fragile areas of the golf course for the winter, and this is done once the golf course summer operations are closed to the public at the end of October which involves:
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Preparing the grass surfaces for the winter
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Putting expensive, specialized tarps on all 27 greens
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Roping off greens and some tee boxes near ski trails by manually installing temporary fencing
After golf course staff are done putting the golf course to bed, we need:
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Unfrozen ground for golf course staff and/or SNO volunteers to install metal snow stakes and string rope fencing around safety hazards and tee boxes near winter trails to keep the public off these areas all winter to prevent permanent turf damage. If the ground freezes, this significantly increases the manual work and volunteer/worker time that will be required to install the metal snow stakes.
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At least 15 cm of snow on the ground at one time is needed to pack down as an initial base to work with. Typically, our machinery requires approximately 15 cm of snow as an initial amount to avoid damaging our machinery and also fragile golf course turf.
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Consistent cold temperatures, and a long range forecast of consistent cold temperatures. Grooming snow that will melt away completely in the next Chinook is a waste of volunteer time and also pollutes the environment unnecessarily.
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In general, grooming and track setting won't begin until the above conditions are met.
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THE GROUND MUST BE FROZEN AND SNOW COVERED BEFORE FAT BIKING IS ALLOWED ON THE GOLF COURSE. This is to protect the health of the turf.
