Okotoks' D'Arcy Ranch Golf Club marks 35 years with stories, new driving range coming

D'Arcy Ranch Golf Club in northwest Okotoks is celebrating 35 years of operation and inviting the community to share memories of the facility and its founder, Jerry D'Arcy, through a Share Your Story campaign.

Mattie D'Arcy, the vice president of marketing and Jerry's granddaughter, launched the initiative to gather reminiscences from members and the community. "Most of the stories we've received are about the impact of Jerry on the community and what he did for people and what he did to help grow this community," Mattie said.

One story reflects Jerry's quirky personality: "People joke and they're like, 'You know your grandfather, why we call him a shotgun start? Jerry used to stand off of the porch and shoot a shotgun every tournament,'" Mattie shared.

Jerry D'Arcy founded the picturesque 18-hole course with a vision of creating a place where everybody was welcome. "He made a huge demand and said, 'I will not own a facility where people are not allowed to come in.' He didn't want any opportunity for people to feel turned away or not welcomed or not part of the community," explained Mattie.

The club hosted an anniversary celebration last month featuring more than two dozen vendors and drawing community members to mark the milestone.

When asked to name D'Arcy Ranch's greatest accomplishment over 35 years, Mattie had one word: loyalty. "We have people who have worked here and committed their lives here for 10, 15, 20, 35 years," she said. "That's spending your life and your family and growing up here and making memories and now being part of building something new."

Mattie is committed to continuing her grandfather's mission. "I can't help but feel humbled and have this deep desire to continue what he wanted to do forward," she said.

The course's next venture is "The Stables," an entertainment-focused driving range facility. "I didn't want to just build another golf facility. I was like, 'How do we make this for everyone?'" Mattie said. Each driving range stall will be named after a D'Arcy Ranch horse, honouring the stables that once stood on the land.

As for the family name's pronunciation — while most commonly pronounced "Darcy," the correct way according to Mattie is D-R-C.