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What started out as wishful thinking has turned into a full-fledged nine-hole golf course.

Riverside Golf, located just west of Innisfail along the Red Deer River, officially opened its doors to the public on Tuesday, July 27.

For manager Rick Malcolm, Riverside Golf has been seven years in the making - Malcolm started out selling synthetic turf out of the property the golf course is located on, and in order to put his product into perspective, Malcolm built a small tee box and green to show how the turf would stand up. And seven years later, piece by piece, the golf course grew.

"I have been dreaming and scheming about it for years," Malcolm said from the middle of the fairway, last week.

But this golf course isn't like many other golf courses. The nine holes stretch out over about 2,300 yards, which Malcolm said isn't far for a regular nine-hole course. And the course has nine tee boxes, but only four greens, because as golfers advance through the course they will shoot from a tee box towards a green that they may have already shot at before, but from a different angle and terrain towards the green. Each tee box and green are colour coordinated, so golfers can't get lost.

"I've always wanted to build a small nine-hole course," Malcolm said of his par 35 course. "Some people thought I was crazy. It's shorter than most nine holes, but it's tighter and there are a lot of hazards."

Malcolm said the greens on his course are a good size and he anticipates playing on his course would help any golfer's short game.

"It plays like a full-length course, just shorter," he explained.

Golfers also book times at the course differently than other courses. Malcolm said his course is rented out by the hour, which gives golfers as much time as they want or need to get through the course and without any rushing. Up to 12 golfers can play at a time, and club and pull cart rentals are available, but Malcolm said he doesn't have power carts available for renters yet.

"I'm excited," he said of opening the course to the public.

Malcolm said he is an avid golfer and has been playing since he was a kid, about 35 years.

When asked what he enjoys about golf, Malcolm didn't have to think long. "I enjoy being at one with nature out there, and the beautiful landscapes."

Malcolm said he has played Riverside Golf numerous times - first in his head, then across a bare field and now since the golf course was finished.

"It's great," he said.

Besides golf, people coming out to the course can also fish in the nearby Red Deer River, have a barbeque or pitch a tent and stay the night.