Dave Wigelsworth has never been a conventional farmer. He started in turf and now he’s cultivating fun.
Dave and his wife Debi operate a small amusement centre southwest of Saskatoon and live nearby.
They have a pitch and putt, mini-golf, an inflatable playground and ice cream shop.
“It’s a fun business in the sense that you’re making something that people enjoy. You don’t get complaints. People are happy to be here and I’m happy to serve them,” said Dave.
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It’s a nice departure from the Instant Turf business he took over from his father and ran for 20 years before selling it in 2002.
There are no customers calling to complain about a dandelion that appeared in their lawn, none of the headaches associated with managing 20 employees or the stress accompanying a harvest that lasts from April through the end of October.
“Compared to that, this is easy,” said Wigelsworth. “You’re just scooping ice cream and mowing grass basically.”
Debi said Dave came up with the idea when he was out cutting the lawn one day and there was no turning back.
“David is very focused. When he sees something that he wants to do, it’s like he has blinders on,” she said.
“Dave doesn’t stand still. There’s no moss on him.”
Changing the focus of the farm operation has turned out to be a good financial decision as well. While the gross revenue is lower than it was in the turf business, net profit has improved because the couple is no longer paying 20 salaries.
But like any new business, there were some tense moments in the early years.
“I foresee it getting better. But to begin with, it was really scary. I think our sales for the first day were like $35,” said Debi.
Dave and Debi and two employees, including Becki, one of the couple’s three daughters, operate the amusement park.
“Our biggest effort is put into keeping everything tidy, nice, clean, just a nice environment,” said Dave.
But a lot of work went into building the multi-purpose facility. Dave did everything himself aside from excavating the ponds and moving that earth to sculpt the golf course. The ponds are filled from an irrigation pump connected to the South Saskatchewan River and the pond water in turn is used to irrigate the golf course.
During the winter months, Dave works as a cabinetmaker and Debi teaches special needs children in Lloydminster to augment the income from their seasonal farm business. Debi adores children and has no problem being surrounded by happy little faces during her two-month respite from teaching.
The project started with the ice cream stand, which was erected in 1998. The mini-golf course was built in 2003. Construction on the par-three golf course began in the fall of 2003, with the first nine holes opening for business in 2005.
Pitch and putt courses are smaller versions of golf courses. The holes at Crickle Creek range from 27 to 132 metres (30 to 145 yards) and offer a cheaper training ground for beginning golfers.
Wigelsworth’s irrigated course features contoured grass greens, sand bunkers and water hazards.
Dave said there was no master plan behind the evolution of the business.
“I just kept throwing darts and waiting for something to stick.”
It has been a hit-and-miss process. The par-three golf course hasn’t taken off the way Dave had hoped. He believes it’s just a matter of waiting for the 1,000 trees that he planted to provide a little more shelter for golfers. On the other hand, the inflatable amusement park is a big draw.
Children can play mini-golf, frolic in the fun zone or play nine holes of pitch and putt golf for a fee of $5 for each of those activities.
Dave doesn’t miss his old life in the turf business, managing the truck drivers and turf stackers and conducting the never-ending maintenance on the harvesting equipment.
The new business has proven to be fulfilling, financially rewarding and may even have some health benefits.
“It’s a lot less stressful, a lot less stressful,” he said.
Debi notices a big difference in her husband as well.
“He has changed now. He might be mad if I said that, but he’s a happier man,” she said.
