LAC LA BICHE – Lance Palamaruk is getting ready to hang up his clubs after spending three decades working at the Lac La Biche Golf Club.
Palamaruk started working at the golf course in 1995 as a preteen and took over as head professional/general manager in 2006, when he was 22 years old.
“It’s been good,” Palamaruk told Lakeland This Week, looking back on his career.
Palamaruk played a lot of junior golf around Alberta until he turned 18. He was one of two 15-year-old juniors to represent Alberta at the Alberta/Montana Ryder Cup in 1999. He also finished in second place at the Alberta JR Championship for 16 and Under in 2000.
“We had a lot of fun, made a lot of friends and learned a lot in those junior golf years,” Palamaruk said.
During his early years at the Lac La Biche golf course, Palamaruk worked under different managers, including Don Brayton, Dallas Johnson, and Wayne Hall. He worked under Rob Belbin for a couple of weeks in 2006 until Belbin retired and took another job closer to Edmonton.
“That is when I was given the opportunity to operate the golf course,” Palamaruk recalled.
Palamaruk is now preparing to move on just as the Lac La Biche Golf and Country Club undergoes a multi-million-dollar renovation that involves the construction of new tee boxes, the addition of 18 bunkers for sand traps, work on five of the course’s seven fairways, new greens, as well as a new irrigation system.
Currently, the golf course is reduced to nine holes as the work takes place.
The course renovations, Palamaruk said, are exciting. The architects have done an amazing job of re-creating an already great layout and improving everything about it.
“The site lines, tees, bunkers and greens are going to be beautiful and a lot of fun to play. I believe this course will be some busy in the coming years,” he said. “I am hopeful that the Back 9 will get the same attention in the very near future and maybe even a new clubhouse so we can host some major events here at the club.”
As for what his plans are post-golf course, Palamaruk’s current plan is to stay in the community and take over Modern Wears, a clothing business in Lac La Biche that is operated by his parents, who he says are ready to retire.
“I love it here and I’m looking forward to some free time in the summer, which is more difficult in my current line of work,” he said. “I do plan on retaining the golf shop for at least one more season, so I still will be involved with the club in many ways.”
While he can’t say for certain that he has a favourite hole at the Lac La Biche course, Palamaruk vividly remembers three of his five hole-in-ones. Those took place on holes two, eight, and 15.
“One personal accomplishment is I have eagled 14 of our 18 holes in my lifetime at this golf course,” he said, with a smile.
Looking back over his golfing career, Palamaruk said there are many things that he has enjoyed, including helping and serving guests, meeting new people, and discussing the current happenings around the world at corporate events.
He also likes listening to players’ stories regarding their ‘coulda, shoulda, sorta-did’ rounds.
“Everyone who walks off the golf course has a story to tell about something good, bad, funny or otherwise. I have made a lot of good friends at this golf course over the 30 years,” he said.
With Palamaruk getting ready to move onto the next phase of his life, the board of the Lac La Biche Golf and Country Club is planning a barbecue and golf send-off event for him on Aug. 17. Tee time for the event starts at 2:30 p.m., with a barbecue lunch and cocktails to follow.
