The Pulse
May 27, 2025

Goat Track Social Club has transformed the formerly nameless clubhouse at Rundle Park Golf Course into the latest smashburger attraction, called Shortees.

The restaurant is open 7am to 7:30pm daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bar service. It's just the latest venture from Goat Track, which works to make golf more inclusive and a bit less uptight with a clothing line, events, and charity work.

Garrett Hadfield and Cody Heath, both professional golf players, started Goat Track in 2020 as a modern clothing brand for golfers. The name comes from golfer slang for an unkempt course. Hadfield has worked for Henry Singer and at golf shops, where he said he made connections in the garment industry. Goat Track's motto is "golf is for everyone," and one part of that is challenging clothing norms, he said.

"I just think it's silly that golf is still the only sport where they get to tell you what you have to wear," Hadfield told Taproot. "If you are playing golf (in Goat Track clothing), you don't have to go home and change before you meet your wife for dinner or something. You could just go straight there, because you're actually enjoying what you're wearing. It's not a loud polo with hot dogs all over it."

Goat Track's polos are currently available in black and lilac, feature a small goat emblem on the left side, and are designed to be worn untucked. The company also makes hats, sweatshirts, shorts, accessories, youth clothing, and more. Goat Track has also collaborated with brands such as Adidas Golf on products.

"My entire life, I have only cared about what I'm wearing," Hadfield said. "My mom has famously said that she has three sons, but at least one of them cares about what he wears … I couldn't leave the house unless the 'fit looked nice."

A similar taste for detail has gone into Shortees, the re-imagining of the canteen that Hadfield spearheaded, including the aforementioned smashburgers. "What I like about ours is that we have our own version of a sauce," Hadfield said. "We also do shredded lettuce and pickles. Most smashburgers that I've seen, it's meat, cheese, bun, go. We give you a little bit more."

The restaurant features drink options that include a bespoke beer from Sea Change Brewing, called The Footwedge Lager.

Goat Track operates the Rundle course on behalf of the City of Edmonton, and also hosts events there that are designed to make players feel welcome in a sport that has an exclusionary history. The events are partly inspired by an experience Hadfield, who has many tattoos, had at a private club, he said.

"I'm wearing everything to dress code, and I'm wearing sunglasses, and I can see these two members pointing at me, and laughing, and rolling their eyes," he remembered. "I'm a straight, white guy with tattoos, and if I felt like that, imagine what people who actually are different (from the stereotypical golfer) go through."

• The City of Edmonton announced Street Sparks, a summer event series encouraging Edmontonians to explore active transportation options. Events are happening July 5 at Booster Juice Recreation Centre and July 19 at Mayfield Park. They will feature free e-ride experiences with vendors Bird and Lime, plus safety workshops, family activities, and food trucks.
• Edmonton Elks fans can use their game-day tickets to access Edmonton Transit Service on their way to and from Commonwealth Stadium. Starting May 30, ETS Football Park and Ride will operate from Eaux Claires, Lewis Farms, NAIT, and Naki Transit Centre in St. Albert. Game-day tickets are valid fare on Park and Ride, regular bus, and LRT services for two hours before, during, and two hours after the game. Fans can also use the Capital Line LRT to Stadium Station or routes 2 and 101 to Stadium Transit Centre. Supervised bike parking is available at Clarke Stadium.
• In his latest piece, Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein explores the upcoming Edmonton mayoral race, highlighting the matchup between Andrew Knack and Tim Cartmell. Gerein suggests that Knack, running as an independent, is seen as amiable but potentially lacking the assertiveness needed for the mayor's office, while Cartmell, who is running with a new party, has a stronger presence but may struggle with cooperation. Cartmell has already raised $447,000 in 2024 and, with a full slate of 12 council nominees, could collectively spend $3 million on the election, a significant advantage. Tony Caterina is also running for mayor.
• Alberta will introduce new rules this fall to ensure school libraries contain "age appropriate" books. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the move was prompted by the discovery of four graphic novels with sexual and LGBTQ+ content in Edmonton and Calgary public schools. The government is developing new standards for school officials and launched an online survey to gather input from Albertans, which is set to close June 6. The Edmonton and Calgary public school divisions said they were surprised by the announcement and have pulled the books for review.
• An Alberta judge has issued 14 recommendations for the RCMP and Recovery Alberta following a fatality inquiry into the death of Jesslyn Fenton. Brett Fenton, who had a history of mental health issues, killed his wife less than two weeks after being discharged from the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury in Ponoka. The recommendations include more robust discharge policies, mandatory training for police on violence in relationships, recruiting psychiatrists to live in central Alberta, and ensuring follow-up with patients' previous therapists. Recovery Alberta said it is reviewing the recommendations.
• Three Alberta provincial byelections were called for June 23 in Edmonton-Ellerslie, Edmonton-Strathcona, and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi will run in Edmonton-Strathcona, which has been vacant since Rachel Notley's resignation in December 2024, while Rod Loyola vacated the Edmonton-Ellerslie seat to run in the federal election. Nathan Cooper, the MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, resigned earlier in May to become Alberta's representative to the United States.
• In an interview with The Narwhal, Senator Paula Simons shared her thoughts on a variety of topics, including her love for the North Saskatchewan River, which she calls "the most extraordinary urban park in Canada." Simons recounted seeing eagles mating near Métis Crossing and discussed her evolving understanding of climate change, influenced by reporting on the aftermath of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires. The senator also discussed the aftermath of the federal election and the threat of Alberta separatism in a recent episode of her podcast with guests Anne McLellan, Shannon Phillips, and Ken Boessenkool.
• An evacuation alert was issued for Swan Hills, a town 220 km northwest of Edmonton, after a wildfire grew to 1,600 hectares and was burning just north of the community on May 25. Residents were told to prepare to evacuate, gathering essential supplies. The fire is being fought by helicopters and heavy equipment. Another evacuation alert was also issued in Yellowhead County, about 250 km west of Edmonton, where a wildfire near Mercoal and Robb grew to nearly 400 hectares.
• Dwayne Mandrusiak is returning to the Edmonton Elks for his 50th season with the team. Mandrusiak, who started as a ball boy in 1971 and was inducted into the EE Builders Wall of Honour last year, will take on a joint community and historian role.
• The Edmonton Elks signed American offensive lineman Greg Eiland and American linebacker Brock Mogensen ahead of the conclusion of training camp. The Elks also released American defensive backs Steve Stephens IV and Chris Jackson.

Correction: This file has been updated to accurately reflect the date of the Fort McMurray wildfire.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Executive Director Mentorship Program starting at 9am at Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations
• Womanition Connect Group Meeting starting at 11:30am at Edmonton Inn and Conference Centre
• Coffee with the Curator - Those mountains of shadows and valleys of light starting at 1pm at Mitchell Art Gallery
• Managing Menopause starting at 5:30pm at Sherwood Park Strathcona County Primary Care Network
• Streets Drinks from Around the World starting at 6:15pm at Spilt
• Brain Health and Mental Health: Using Science To Guide Mental Wellness starting at 7pm at Brain Care Centre
• A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder starting at 7:30pm at The Orange Hub

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• May 29: Nerd Nite Edmonton #88: May-hem at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• June 7: What's on your mind, municipally speaking? at Edmonton Public Library (Castle Downs)
• June 10: Some Weeds are Friendly – Getting to Know and Use the Good Ones at Sakaw Gardens Hall

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.