2023 Alberta Golfer Magazine by Alberta Golf

THE ALBERTA

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ALBERTA GOLF | 2023

Alberta Golf's

Journey Through Our Past

COAL CREEK Hosts The 2023 Alberta Open Championship

Michelle Wie West

Speaks to Alberta Juniors

Wil Bateman

ALBERTAGOLF.ORG

PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year

Gallery

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The Alberta Golfer 2023

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Gallery

A golfer and her caddy enjoying the spectacular scenery at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club in the 2022 Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship.

Gallery

Junior Golf brings out the best in good sportsmanship from the competitors. Two juniors congratulate each other at the conclusion of their round in the 2022 Alberta Boys U17 Championship.

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Coal Creek Golf Resort will host the 2023 Alberta Open Championship.

Contents

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ALBERTA GOLF | 2023

The Alberta Golfer may be viewed online at: www.albertagolf.org

Alberta Golf's

Alberta Open Championship

10 Alberta Golf CEO Message

Going Back to 2001.

Wil Bateman

70 Course Rating

PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year.

36 The Champions

Profiles of 15 Alberta Golf Champions from 2022.

64 Double Aces 72 Scholarship Recipients 74 The Year in Pictures

Photo memories of the 2022 golf season.

PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year

Anatomy of a Golf Hole

42 The Time Capsule

Celebrating a Natural Hat-Trick.

Wil Bateman

ALBERTAGOLF.ORG

A Par-3 in Paradise.

34 Tour Talk

30 Brady McKinlay

Speaks to Alberta Juniors

Travel

Looking Ahead

Calgarian Ranked #1 in the World.

Michelle Wie West

A Closer Look

12 Alberta Golf's Journey Through Our Past

26 All Abilities Championship Slated for 2023

Journey Through Our Past

COAL CREEK Hosts The 2023

Looking Back

THE ALBERTA

Innisfail Hosts

2023 Alberta Men's Amateur.

24 Water Valley Hosts 2023 Women's Amateur.

41 Coal Creek Hosts 2023 Alberta Open.

56 Tournament Schedule

Listing of 2023 Alberta Golf competitions.

67 Dunc Mills and Bill Newis

To be inducted into Alberta Golf Hall of Fame.

Industry Happenings 44 Michelle Wie West 48 High Performance in Alberta 54 Tom Byers Junior Golf Day 60 Chris McNicol - New Owner at Woodside 71 Next Gen Golfers

Mesquite, Nevada:

Vegas Like It Used To Be.

28 North Carolina Calling 50 Silvies Valley

A Reversible Course...and Goat Caddies.

What's New 66 Shaw Charity Classic 66 Fortinet Cup Tour Championship Coming to Calgary.

68 Mary Beth McKenna

From Fort McMurray to Golf Canada.

The Alberta Golfer In April 2022 Alberta Golf launched a digital platform connecting golfers with everything the game has to offer. The free version of UpSwing by Alberta Golf will become a central place for golfers to interact and easily find the information they are looking for, while also being able to register and sign up for social and fun golf events. For a nominal fee of $20 ($0 for Golf Canada Members), the premium version of the platform provides loyalty points on all bookings. These points can be redeemed for year-end exclusive invitational events and as the UpSwing community grows, so too will the number of loyalty events being offered. So why now, why UpSwing and as a Member of Alberta Golf how can you become involved? Our research has shown that less than 10% of all golfers track their official handicap index which is the most significant benefit included with the Golf Canada Membership. It quickly became evident that most golfers want something more out of the game than what was currently being provided. They want a very simple, reliable and credible place to find exactly what they are looking for: how to start up as a newbie, how much to invest in the game, when to play, where is the fun? In our world of audience profiles “They” became Laid-Back Loren. So, who exactly is Loren and what do they like and dislike about golf? Loren enjoys a round of golf but doesn’t connect with the traditional aspects of golf culture. Loren is a family person who enjoys a wide range of hobbies outside of golf, maybe hockey. Loren believes golf is a difficult game to break into and feels like the practice required to become comfortable can be a barrier for some. Golf makes Loren feel

excited and optimistic, but the general atmosphere can make Loren feel frustrated with their golf experience. Loren is eager to get on the course and play in an environment where they feel comfortable. Enter UpSwing by Alberta Golf. For recreational players looking to play more golf, UpSwing is a golf experience platform that helps golfers find, book and engage with social golf experiences. Unlike tee time booking apps or golf performance tracking apps, UpSwing offers a variety of unique experiences and assists players through the entire golf journey from research, booking, and playing. Since last April more than 1,500 Lorens in the province have joined UpSwing by Alberta Golf and we are on a path to grow this to more than 5,000 by the end of 2023. With a marketing plan and a solid list of experiences being offered up by golf courses throughout the province, this season is going to be another great one. As a Member of Alberta Golf make sure you tell a friend or your neighbour. Reach into the archives and remind yourself of the many Lorens that came into your life who felt the Golf Canada Membership was for serious players only. Find a way to connect with them once again and watch as we make them feel welcome and included as part of the UpSwing by Alberta Golf community. Join today for free. This is going to be fun.

Phil Berube,

Chief Executive Officer Alberta Golf

Board of Directors Mark Bamford, President – Glendale G&CC Brent Bailey, Vice President – Windermere G&CC Shaane Nathu, Treasurer – Windermere G&CC Chris Leach, Secretary – Valley Ridge GC Kim Carrington – Cottonwood G&CC Ken Knowles – Windermere G&CC Kendra Koss – Earl Grey GC Peter Major – Calgary G&CC Lorraine Moster – Public Players Club

Staff Phil Berube – Chief Executive Officer John Deneer – Director, Competitions & Athlete Development Kevin Smith – Director, Communications Stephen Wigington – Director, Membership & Golf Course Services John Burns – Brand Manager, UpSwing by Alberta Golf Grant Cammidge – Field Manager, Competitions (Edmonton & Area) Tracy Hagen – Bookkeeper Taylor Tracey – Coordinator, Digital Communications & Heritage Services

Alberta Golf Contact Info #22, 11410 27 Street SE Calgary, AB T2Z 3R6 P: 403.236.4616 Toll Free: 1.888.414.4849 Email: info@albertagolf.org www.albertagolf.org

Extra savings for golfers at belairdirect! Alberta Golf members and their families can beneﬁt from an exclusive discount on their car, home, condo and tenant’s insurance, on top of any other discounts, savings and beneﬁts customers are already eligible for at belairdirect.

Call us to take advantage of this offer

1 833 294.2911 Mention you are an Alberta Golf member to get your exclusive premium.

Design & Production ev+ Agency Suite 105, 16060 - 114 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5M 2Z5 P: 780.424.1111 Email: michele@evhq.ca www.evhq.ca THE ALBERTA GOLFER is a print and digital magazine published annually by Alberta Golf in partnership with ev+ Agency. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from Alberta Golf. Thank you to all the golf clubs which allowed Alberta Golf to conduct provincial championships on their courses during 2022. Please enjoy the 2023 edition of The Alberta Golfer. www.albertagolf.org

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Looking Back

ALBERTA GOLF’S

JOURNEY THROUGH OUR PAST By Taylor Tracey

Our journey into Alberta Golf’s past began with a warehouse full of boxes and a table nicknamed ‘Question Mark Corner’. In the fall of 2016, Alberta Golf had finished another season of running Alberta’s amateur golf championships and was amidst off-season planning. As part of this process, the staff met and began writing down everything onto sticky notes that Alberta Golf had done that summer. From there we decided what was important to our business and what were items of lesser importance. In 2016, there were 125 things written down that were eventually narrowed to 40 items that made up our business plan. From this exercise, the history of Alberta Golf was identified as an important aspect and added to our business plan for that year. At the time, our warehouse was full of banker boxes with items generated from running our annual competitions. Each box contained a variety of items, including tournament posters that would hang at host clubs, competition results, along with stacks of scorecards, fact sheets, evacuation plans, and anything else you can think of necessary to operate an Alberta Golf championship.

Bob Wylie putts on sand greens in the 1952 Eaton Rose Bowl competition at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

“Alberta Golf's goal is to strengthen the connection between its history and its future.”

1955 Alberta Ladies Interprovincial Team. (L to R) Rae Milligan, Mrs. A.K. Snell, Audrey Dyck, Betty Stanhope-Cole

Our goal was to identify what was important, what wasn’t, and what we were unsure of. As you could imagine, 80% of each box was full of material that did not matter anymore, but every now and then we would come across more important stuff, and this is how ‘Question Mark Corner’ was coined. All the items we felt that had some importance were put into this corner for safekeeping. Each fall and winter we would continue sorting through our history and discover more and more about golf in Alberta. After three winters of sifting through our past,we finally had it narrowed down to items in ‘Question Mark Corner’. Small problem… we really didn’t know what we should keep and what we shouldn’t.

Enter Meggan Gardner from the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Meggan flew out from Golf Canada’s headquarters in Toronto to our Calgary office for four days. We started first thing in the morning and finished well past 6 p.m. every night. Meggan ended up helping us identify everything, cataloguing all the items, and most importantly telling us what we should keep and what could be thrown out. Meggan even ran into items she hadn’t seen before like an original photo of Charlie Hague, the first Alberta Men’s Amateur champion who won the tournament in 1907, 1908, 1910, and 1912. At Golf Canada, Meggan was already in possession of Charlie’s diaries, but to put a face to his writing brought AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Back

Located less than an hour from Calgary, our 27-hole facility features beautiful scenery, expertly manicured greens and fairways, and a gorgeous clubhouse.

1965 Alberta Willingdon Cup Team (L to R) Non-Playing Captain Ed Thomas, Doug Silverberg, Keith Alexander, Ray Rhodes, Bob Wylie.

another level to the artifact. From here, we scanned all the items that we had elected to keep, creating a digital library totalling over 2,230 artifacts, photos, and documents. In the summer of 2021, I was hired as an intern with Alberta Golf, with one of my main roles being the organization of this digital library. Two years and 2,230 artifacts later, we find ourselves where we are now; with a working Hall of Fame. At this point, we can respond to requests such as providing photos from different championships, information on all our previous interprovincial teams and even newspaper articles from the 1960s about championships we don’t run anymore. We are currently planning to create heritage displays that will travel to our 2023 Men’s Amateur, Women’s Amateur, and Alberta Open Championships. These displays will be complete with photos, artifacts, newspaper clippings, and even bag tags from

The Alberta Golfer 2023

previous iterations of these events. In the spring, we have our first Hall of Fame induction ceremony in five years, for two extremely deserving Distinguished Service Award winners (see p. 67). Looking to the future we understand that this project never truly has an end. History is always being made. You can always discover more on a topic, but our overall goal remains the same; strengthen the connection between our history and its role for our future. The first step is to start keeping track of our current winners, results, photos from our events, fact sheets and anything else that could be important 50 years from now. From there, we can continue to dive deeper into time, researching the gaps in our history to make it more complete for everyone. In addition to this, we plan to create a stand-alone Alberta Golf heritage website to display our ever-growing archives, and our deserving Hall of

Fame inductees. We will continue to showcase our history at our championships, with the hope of bringing our displays to other storied events. Our long-term goal is to one day create a physical Hall of Fame similar to that of Golf Canada. While this may be a lofty goal, so was creating our digital library.

Proud host of the 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship

Golf in Alberta has a wonderfully storied past, from the long-forgotten Inter-City Match Play to the Eaton 4-Ball Matches from the 50s. The glory of the 60s & 70s with Wylie, Silverberg, and Alexander running the show to the pure dominance of Betty Stanhope-Cole, Rae Milligan, and Marilyn O’Connor. To the golf course boom in the 80s and 90s, and the rise of the new generation in the 21st century. Alberta Golf is dedicated to preserving this history and excited for what the next generation can add to it.

6080 Lakewood Drive Innisfail, AB T4G 1S7 403-227-3444 innisfailgolf.ca

#experienceIGC

Looking Back

Looking Back of the Year on PGA TOUR Canada. The other was two-time PGA TOUR Champion Mackenzie Hughes, who captured his title in 2013.

Wil Bateman, PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year By Curtis Stock Wil Bateman knew - simply just absolutely knew - what he was going to do with his life a long time ago. Way back in Grade 6 in Edmonton, a teacher asked each student in her class what they wanted to be when they grew up. She then asked what their second choice would be. Bateman answered the first part of the question quickly. “I want to be a professional golfer,” he said without a blink. Golf was everything then and now for the newest member of the Korn Ferry Tour, who won PGA TOUR Canada’s 2022 season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship in Kitchener, ON. He not only won the tournament but also topped the year-long Fortinet Cup standings, which earned him Player of the Year honours and fully-exempt status for the entire 2023 Korn Ferry Tour, a total of 26 tournaments across five countries and 18 states.The top 30 finishers on the points list at the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour in early October will earn their 2024 PGA TOUR cards. Bateman also won $40,500 for winning the Fortinet Cup Championship, a $25,000 bonus for leading the season-long points race, a spot in this summer’s RBC Canadian Open in Toronto and nearly $120K in total prize money over the course of the summer. A left-hander, Bateman, who turned professional in 2013 at the age of 19, is only the second Canadian to become Player

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Just like he knew his career path back in Grade 6, Bateman knew he was going to win the Fortinet Cup as soon as he hit his opening drive in the final round - pounding his ball down the centre of the 520-yard Par-4 first hole.

times; you can make this one too.’” He did. Dead centre. Bateman, who was the No. 1-ranked Junior in Canada when he was 17 once losing to Jordan Spieth 2 & 1 in the round of 16 at the 2011 U.S. Junior Championship. After that round, Spieth marvelled, “(Wil) freakin’ stripes it; I’ve gotta hit the gym to catch up to him.” Bateman proudly shows off his trophies after

“I’ve got this,” he said to himself. And he did. “It didn’t actually hit me until I picked the ball out of the final hole that I’d won,” he said, arms raised high into the heavens. Bateman played in 10 PGA TOUR Canada events last year, making the cut in every one of them which was one of his many goals going into the season.

“I feel less pressure when I get to the top.” Wil Bateman In addition to the aforementioned Fortinet Cup Championship, Bateman also won in his own backyard - the ATB Classic presented by Volvo Edmonton - played in mid-June at the Edmonton Petroleum Club, just down the road from his home course, Blackhawk. Bateman won by chipping in for an eagle-3 with a 60-degree lob wedge on the second playoff hole against Joe Highsmith and Jorge Villar, who all tied at 19-under par after 72 holes. “I was about 30 feet right behind the green,” recalled Batemen, who had hit a 5-iron from 230 yards that took one hop just past the pin. “I told myself ‘You’ve made this chip a hundred

Bateman said he didn’t get nervous in Edmonton or in Kitchener, or anywhere else last summer for that matter. “I didn’t feel that much pressure. I feel less pressure when I get to the top. I know I am playing well so there is less stress,” said Bateman, who has been working with his golf psychologist and mental coach Deborah Graham since 2019. “I just stay present in the moment and do a lot of breathing exercises to help stay calm. The more pressure there is, the more comfortable I get,” said Bateman. “I’m not focused on other people. I just focus on myself. The outcome will take care of itself. I want to get more comfortable. More into the present. More into breathing. Less focused on the outcome.” Bateman’s success is no fluke. There might not be a professional golfer anywhere that works more diligently than he does. “He has worked very hard,” said his dad, Mike. “And he’s done that for a long, long time. First on the course. Last off,” said Mike. “I remember lots of times where some of his buddies would be teeing off on the first hole at Blackhawk, which is right beside the practice putting green. They would finish their round and Wil would still be on the putting green.They couldn’t believe it.” Today Wil works even harder, if that’s even possible. “Most people have no

winning the Fortinet Cup Tour Championship.

idea how many hours Tour players put in,” said Bateman, who packs 185 pounds of muscle on his 5’8” frame. “You have to treat it like it’s a full-time job because that’s what it is.” Bateman starts his day in the gym at 6 or 7 a.m. At 8 a.m., he goes to the range for two hours. From 10 to 11 a.m. he works on his putting, followed by an hour’s work on his chipping. After a one-hour break for lunch, it is back to work on his short game again. “From 4 p.m. to dark it’s all putting. It’s a ridiculous amount of hours,” said Bateman, who Monday-qualified for two Korn Ferry events last year and made the cut in both tournaments. In addition to all that practice plus the time he spends with Deborah Graham, Bateman also works with his swing coach Andy Patnou. “Andy has coached Wil to play more by natural talent instead of video-taping his golf swing all the time,” said Mike. “Wil now relies on feel and ball flight. He has a great belief system and work ethic. Some guys just take longer to mature.” It has finally paid off. “I went through a lot of injuries when I first turned pro,” said Wil. “I was actually wondering if golf was for me. I’m proud of myself for sticking it out. I can’t wait to compete on the Korn Ferry Tour this year and showcase myself at a different level,” said Wil. “I look forward to elevating my game and chasing that PGA TOUR card.” AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Ahead

Innisfail Hosts The 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship By Kevin Smith

The Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship returns to central Alberta in 2023 after being held the past two years at the Calgary Golf and Country Club in 2021 and The Ranch Golf and Country Club in Edmonton last summer. In early July, the Innisfail Golf Club will host the top male amateurs in Alberta for the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship. Head Professional Mat MacDonald says the entire community is excited to be hosting such an elite golf tournament on their course. “Everybody is excited about it,” MacDonald beamed. “From the moment it was announced that we were hosting this year, I received an astronomical amount of text messages from members saying they wanted to volunteer at the tournament. Over 40 volunteers responded right away and wanted to be part of this great event in any way they could.” MacDonald is starting his third year as the head professional at Innisfail Golf Club. It was a home-coming of sorts for him, as he started in the golf industry at the age of 14, working in the back shop at the nearby Olds Central Highlands Golf Club, before moving up to work in the pro shop at Innisfail in 2009. MacDonald worked at several other courses in central Alberta, then spent five years at Henderson Lake Golf Club in Lethbridge before completing the circle back to Innisfail.

Hole #3 - Aspen Nine - Innisfail Golf Club

The Alberta Golfer 2023

“To be honest it really felt like home for me, coming back to my start,” MacDonald admitted. “I’ve always felt this property and this golf course is a very special place, mostly because of the people that are here, but the golf course as we know is also fantastic.” Innisfail is the home for the yearly Parent/Junior event on the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour as well as having recently hosted the 2016 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship, won by Evan Holmes. MacDonald says the course really hasn’t changed much in the past seven years. “A lot of people say the course is difficult because of our tree-lined fairways; you just don’t have a ton of room to miss the golf ball,” MacDonald said. “If you hit it too far left or right you can find yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry so the players are going to be forced to make smart decisions and hit accurate tee shots. On top of that, the greens are very undulating and have subtle slopes, so the player who wins this event is going to have to have his short game dialed in.” Brady McKinlay’s game was indeed dialed in last year at The Ranch Golf and Country Club in Edmonton (see p. 30) where he won the 2022 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship by five strokes. McKInlay was also in contention at the Sundre Golf Club before the final round of the

Alberta Open was cancelled due to bad weather. McKinlay grew up in Lacombe, about forty-five minutes north of Innisfail, and is looking forward to defending his title close to home. “I’m super excited for the Men’s Amateur being held at Innisfail,” McKinlay admitted. “It’s not exactly a home game for me, but playing in central Alberta is always great because those are the courses where I grew up playing junior events. Innisfail is always in great shape and will be a tough test. I think there are some similarities to The Ranch, some demanding tee shots, but also some very scorable par-5s. I can’t wait to defend there this summer.” McKinlay may have played the course a lot growing up, but MacDonald is also excited to welcome those in the province who might be seeing the course for the very first time. “It’s a huge point of pride to host this Championship,” MacDonald boasted. “It is a hidden gem out here and just the fact that so many people are going to be exposed to the golf course that may have never seen it before. I believe it’s a true test of golf. We’re not overly long from the tips, so it will allow players of all ages and styles, not just the bombers, to compete and be in contention for a provincial title.”

Hole #9 - Spruce Nine - Innisfail Golf Club

AlbertaGolf.org

A Closer Look

ANATOMY OF A GOLF HOLE A Par-3 in Paradise By Andrew Penner

ALBERTA'S JEWEL OF THE WEST

2023 Alberta Women's Amateur Championship- June 27th to 29th

“In spring and fall, the winds here can easily get up to 80 or 90 km/hr,” says superintendent Kelly Thorson.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Similar to the previous hole - the drivable par-4 11th - a miss on the 12th can be disastrous. Two massive bunkers (a third bunker behind the green was damaged in the late 90s and was subsequently removed), a steep slope behind the green that funnels balls into the river, deep fescue grass to the left, and dry-as-a-bone badlands to the right can make your up-and-down a difficult - or next to impossible - proposition. And, of course, the 100-foot elevation change from tee to green always adds a degree of doubt in every golfer’s mind.

“I’ve always enjoyed designing par-3 holes,” says Newis. “Elevated tees, which allow you to have a birds-eye view of all the elements in play, are always a welcome feature. Bold bunkering, water hazards, and interesting natural features, like badlands, are other things I like to incorporate, if possible. The 12th at Paradise Canyon has all of these. And the view from the tee, looking west down the Oldman River valley, is outstanding. It’s a special hole.”

That said, the 12th, when it’s calm, is definitely a birdie hole. With just a wedge in your hand and a relatively spacious target, it’s a “green light” special when “the fan” is in the off position. But, regardless of the wind conditions, it’s certainly a hole that you’ll be looking forward to at the start of every round. “People often ask me which is the favourite of all the courses I have designed,” says architect Bill Newis, who was recently inducted into the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame ( see p. 67). “However, my answer is always the same. I don’t have a favourite course. But I do have favourite holes.

S & TU

Semi-Private 18 Hole Golf Course Newly Owned & Fully Renovated Paradise Pines Bar & Grill Golf Shop & Snack Shack Driving Range & Practice Area One Seat Golf Scooters 25 Minutes from Cochrane 35 Minutes from NW Calgary

NDAY O M

And the 12th at Paradise Canyon is definitely one of them.”

$59 ON L Y

With its stunning badlands setting along the Oldman River, the Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge is, in terms of the overall golf experience, easily in Alberta’s upper class. The par-71, 6,810-yard course, which was designed by Alberta architect Bill Newis, isn’t long by contemporary standards. However, throw in deep bunkers, heavy mounding, tiered greens, ball-hungry badlands, the Oldman River - and, yes, plenty of that famous southern Alberta wind - and the average player is going to have his hands full at Paradise Canyon. Even the shortest hole on the course the infamous 12th - can be a diabolical little test.

“Club selection can be anywhere from a sand wedge to a four-iron.”

A ESD YS

It’s only 155 yards to the pin. But, standing on the elevated tee with a gusty Chinook wind howling in my face, I’m contemplating hitting a four-iron. This is crazy, I think. I’ve never hit a fouriron from 155. Nonetheless, I grab it out of the bag, try to steady myself over the ball, and hit it crisp. I immediately say “get down!” But it’s the wrong command. My ball balloons in the wind and plunges into the front-right bunker, ten yards short of the green. The 12th at Paradise Canyon - one of Alberta’s great par-3s - has burned me again.

Without a doubt, it is the captivating beauty of this unique southern Alberta setting that will leave the most lasting impression. The beautiful river, the broad water-carved valley, the badlands, it’s just a beautiful location for golf. And, of course, for heavy Chinook winds coming off the mountains to the west! “During our first winter in the early 90s, all of the sand blew out of the bunkers on 12,” remembers Thorson. “Ever since then we’ve tarped the bunkers there to keep the sand from blowing away. Sometimes you just have to learn lessons the hard way, I guess.” Most likely, the first time you play this hole in the wind, you’ll have to learn a lesson the hard way as well.

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Travel

Mesquite, Nevada:

VEGAS Like It Used To Be Wolf Creek Golf Club

On the par-5 14th hole at the Falcon Ridge Golf Course in Mesquite, Nevada - it’s an epic boomerang par-5 with a hero tee shot option over the pond my playing partner, long-haired Logan from Salt Lake City, decided to go for broke. “I can do this,” he muttered. Unfortunately, he cold topped it. Nearly whiffed. But what ensued was one of the best “duffed” shots I’ve ever witnessed. “What happens in Mesquite, stays in Mesquite,” he embarrassingly offered after the ordeal was all said and done. (More on Logan’s laughable moment later.)

Lovin’ Laughlin If you’re looking for another inexpensive “mini” Las Vegas, the border town of Laughlin, Nevada, located approximately two hours south of Las Vegas, is yet another option. It’s similar in size to Mesquite, has eight large casino hotels along the downtown riverside “strip,” and also boasts a few solid golf courses. In my opinion, the top two courses in this area would be the Avi Mohave Resort Golf Club (a solid Brian Curley design that’s beautifully bunkered and shaped) and Laughlin Ranch Golf Club (a hillside stunner located in nearby Bullhead City.)

The Alberta Golfer 2023

By Andrew Penner

Of course, the real story of Mesquite - a casino-lined desert town located an hour north of Las Vegas - is the quantity and quality of its golf courses. With nine courses in town, all in close proximity, this is a fantastic destination for a swing-filled desert fling. Another key characteristic of Mesquite is the fact that although this is definitely a gambling outpost, the atmosphere is decidedly different than Las Vegas. It’s much smaller, much less expensive, and geared more to people who don’t need the high-end glitz and glamour of its “big brother” just down the road. Think “old school” Las Vegas. In fact, the tagline at the hotel I stayed in, the CasaBlanca Resort & Casino, is “Vegas Like It Used To Be.” I thought it was a spot-on descriptor. However, in terms of the golf, you could also say this: Las Vegas never had this many good golf courses all situated so close to one another. Without a doubt, the flagship course in Mesquite is Wolf Creek Golf Club, a spectacular and highly memorable golf adventure. It’s bold and beautiful, routed through deep canyons and ragged desert landforms. One of the leading architects in golfdom today, Tom Doak, had this to say about it.

Sand Hollow Resort

“It’s the sort of golf that makes a traditionalist want to run away screaming. Personally, I’d say that’s a little harsh. But, regardless of which side of the fence you’re on, you should definitely play this course… at least once.”

Course and The Canyons Course feature dramatic desert terrain, awesome panoramic views, and plenty of variety. As Mesquite’s only 36-hole semi-private facility, expect quality service and excellent turf conditions at The Oasis.

of getting around Mesquite. Unless you’re playing, say, Coyote Springs or Sand Hollow Resort (both are well worth playing, however, they are 45-minutes from Mesquite), you can expect no more than a 10-minute drive to get to any of the courses.

If you’re into desert golf but don’t need the fear factor quite as high the Conestoga Golf Course might tickle your fancy in a more pleasing way.

And, speaking of turf, there are a couple of things to know if you are new to winter golf in the desert. Like virtually every quality golf course in the American southwest, overseeding on fairways, greens, and tee boxes typically takes place in September when the turf begins to go dormant. And the courses will usually close for a few weeks to allow the seed (usually a rye blend) to root and establish. However, to save on costs and water usage, most courses will typically leave the rough dormant or brown during the winter, which actually makes the golf courses play a little easier.

Unlike Las Vegas, heavy traffic is not in play. So you can go from making blackjacks to making birdies in less time than it takes a dealer to get through a shoe.

Designed by a seasoned architect, Gary Panks, Conestoga features dramatic desert landforms (especially on the front) and a more traditional back nine that runs along the base of a towering mesa. Meandering through the fast-growing Sun City community, the only downside here is the ongoing residential construction. You also won’t find much of a downside if you tee it up at The Oasis Golf Club, which is home to two solid Arnold Palmer-designed courses. Both layouts - The Palmer

“Easier” is also a decent way to describe the effort required in terms

My grand finale in Mesquite was a fun-filled round at Falcon Ridge Golf Course, which is just a stone’s throw from the CasaBlanca. There are at least a dozen excellent and, in some cases, wildly unique holes on the course. The back nine, which features plenty of dips and dives and a beautiful run of holes along a sun-blasted mesa, is outstanding. And it definitely produced one of the most dazzling “duffs'' one could imagine. The moment occurred

when Logan scudded one into a mess of mesquite and sage just ten yards from the tee box. As he began the “walk of shame” back to his cart for another ball, I shouted out, “Hey, Logan, it’s still moving!” And, sure enough, his ball dribbled out of the desert and rolled onto the cart path where it began its long and winding journey down the many switchbacks to the valley floor. For what must have been over a minute we watched it bounce, ricochet, disappear, magically reappear, and, finally, when it reached the bottom of the 150-foot descent, it ran down another length of path, popped over the curb, and rolled out to the ideal position in the middle of the fairway, some 225 yards from the tee box. “Dude,” I said, when the laughter subsided, “I believe there are some casinos around here. You may want to head to a roulette table after the round.”

AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Ahead

WATER VALLEY GC HOSTS

The 2023 Alberta Women's Amateur Championship Hole #16 at Water Valley GC - 160-yard par-3

In October of 2021, Pat Thomas and Jeremy Dueck purchased the property, rebranded the course as the Water Valley Golf Club and set out on a number of changes that included the goal of hosting more tournaments and provincial championships. This is exactly what has happened. In 2022 the club hosted a McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour event, an

“There is no question that it's the jewel of the west.” Jeremy Dueck. 24

Alberta Golf Senior Men’s Regional Qualifier and the 2022 Alberta Match Play Championship. From June 27-29, the club will host their first ‘major’, the 2023 Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship. “There’s no question that it’s the jewel of the west,” Dueck said. “It’s an 18-hole championship facility and very well manicured. Our superintendent has been with us for 25 years and I think the course requires players to hit every shot in their bag.” “It would be silly to sit here and think that somebody coming to our facility has never been to a golf course before, so we work really hard to meet and exceed people’s expectations,” Dueck admitted. Dueck wants golfers to feel that sense of decompression when they leave the city and set foot on the gorgeous property located 25 minutes north of Cochrane on Highway 22. “When golfers drive in, they are met with great service, directed to an actual person to help them; not just sent to the pro shop. When we talk about golf experiences, that’s what coming out here is all about.”

We are a small town non profit club that has come a long way in the past 10 years. We are very proud of our turf quality and host to Canada’s largest introduction to the game of golf. Our junior academy has over 1,000 children from the ages 4 - 14 sign up for a weekly lesson that goes from the end of May until the end of July. We are also proud to be the home of Riley Fleming and Patrick Murphy. In 2019 our team received the 2019 Junior Leader of the Year Award.

Call (403)946-2343 | collicuttgolf.com

By Kevin Smith

Water Valley Golf Club was opened in 1987 as a nine-hole golf course by course designer and developer Brian Setter and his wife Cindy, who operated the course for 34 years. By the spring of 1995, the course had expanded to a full 18 holes. Known then as the Water Valley Golf & Country Club, a larger clubhouse was built in 1998.

Every drive here is perfect

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The clubhouse, pro shop and snack shack all received full-scale renovations in 2022 while the golf course now features many new tee boxes and an improved driving range. “It’s a great facility. We have a terrific group of people on our team working to create the best experience,” Dueck explained. “When Alberta Golf came to us and wondered if we wanted to host the Women's Amateur, we immediately said that we would do so. These ladies will feel like they’re on the LPGA Tour by the time the event is done.” The Women’s Amateur was held at Lakeside Golf Club east of Calgary in 2020, The Broadmoor Golf Course in Sherwood Park in 2021 and last year in the mountains at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club. This year’s championship at Water Valley is located in the foothills of the Rockies and Jeremy Dueck hopes word gets around about the quality of the facility. “We are honoured to host the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship. Our members will get behind this. It will be a great week.”

NEW “Optimist L’il Loop” 2021 (3 holes specifically for children) The Alberta Golfer 2023

Looking Back

away from the ball and then I can see the ball with my peripheral vision. The depth perception and everything is gone.”

Not only is golf the game for a lifetime, it’s a game for all abilities. Driven forward by people like Todd Kierstead, the world of adaptive golf has taken huge steps forward in the past but it perhaps still has a way to go.

That issue hasn’t slowed him down however. At Pinehurst he finished T-19 overall, and first in the Vision Impaired grouping. The next closest in his category finished T-59, 38 shots behind the Albertan.

Kierstead, the CEO and founder of ParaGolf Canada, is all about focusing on the abilities of a group of athletes rather than their disabilities. As a trick shot artist, Kierstead began his sojourn after holding a clinic for Wounded Warriors in Florida. His audience that day included single and double limb amputees as well as those blinded during warfare. From that single outing his role in bringing adaptive golf forward has grown exponentially.

New All Abilities Championship Slated for 2023 Calgarian Ranked #1 In The World By Gord Montgomery

“The word is getting out there,” he noted, particularly because of the media coverage of the 2022 U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst No. 6 where two Albertans had strong finishes. Playing off that and in their continuing effort to grow the game in Alberta, Alberta Golf will tee up a similar event this coming summer by hosting its first-ever All Abilities provincial championship. The event, to be held August 8-9 at Calgary’s McCall Lake Golf Club, will include golfers with physical, sensory, and intellectual disabilities.

John Deneer, Alberta Golf Director of Competitions & Athlete Development, talked about bringing an event like this into the public eye. “We are very excited to offer this opportunity to the All Abilities golfing community”, said Deneer. “We know there are many players who want to compete and giving them an Alberta Golf provincial championship is a high priority and we are excited to do so in 2023. We are working closely with the Alberta Amputee Sports & Recreation Association to ensure our championship is run to the standard expected and that all players who are eligible to play will have the opportunity.”

One of the expected participants will be Calgary’s Kiefer Jones, whose vision was damaged after a virus attacked his optic nerve. That affected his central vision rendering him legally blind, although it hasn't affected his golf game.

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Looking Back

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Haynes/ USGA

Calgary's Kiefer Jones receives some aiming guidance from his caddy at the 2022 U.S. Adaptive Open.

Said Kierstead of the 33-year-old Calgarian: “Kiefer, based on his classification (B3) in the blind golfing world, is ranked No. 1 in the world!” In a phone interview Jones said he began golfing when he was about 18-months old and has always had a love for the game. For several years he lived and played in Mexico, where he honed his skills. He had hopes of heading to the University of Arizona on a scholarship like his idol, Phil Mickelson. “As a junior, that was a goal for me. Then, losing my eyesight kind of changed things.” The fun, he noted, was gone from the game for a time, but a friend talked him into helping him improve his game and from there he started playing again. “It’s not like baseball where the ball is coming at you. I realized that as long as I could be consistent in my ball striking and set-up, having someone point me in the right direction, I could still play this game,” he explained of his decision to take up golf again. And as they say, the rest is history. Back in the game, and despite his vision loss, Jones earned his PGA of Canada professional status with the intention of becoming a teaching pro. He later reclaimed his amateur status and in 2016 he discovered the world of blind golf where he has excelled. The transition from the sighted game to visually impaired golf wasn’t that difficult, Jones noted, given the purity of his oft-repeated swing. “My swing didn’t change,” Jones pointed out. “I’m not fully blind. With my vision specifically, I have no central vision so I just don’t look at the ball. I look

About the Pinehurst tournament which was played out over 54 holes, Jones had this to say: “My goal was to go there and finish first overall. And it was looking pretty good for about six holes. I gave myself a birdie putt on the first hole and walked off feeling pretty good. On the next hole, from 150 yards, I left it hanging on the lip for eagle. I turned around and I had Golf Channel and about 100 people following me! This was unbelievable! For about four or five holes I had a big gallery. I was one-under par after six and leading the tournament,” before he had two tee shots go OB on the seventh hole. “I turned around and everyone was gone!” he laughingly related. As it turned out, he carded an 80, with a ’10’ and a ‘9’ that day “Two bad holes kind of cost me the tournament, in my eyes.” At Adaptive Golf events there is really no difference between where players tee it up and where golfers without disabilities compete from. The courses measure the same distance and the same rules apply except for blind golfers who are granted two exceptions. They’re allowed to ground their club in a bunker and their guide can stand behind them during a swing to aid in shot direction. Other than that, it’s the game of golf, pure and simple. As to having the public become more aware of adaptive golfers and becoming more comfortable playing alongside them, Jones noted, “Every time I play with someone they’re amazed. To me, it’s just another round of golf. To them, it’s (maybe) the first time they’re seeing someone who’s visually impaired.” And yes, they likely do have a hard time believing what they are seeing from the No. 1 ranked blind golfer in the world who doesn’t let his disability affect his ability.

“The USGA Adaptive Open was the most inspiring event I've ever been a part of. Real people doing unreal things.” Peter Davies - Alberta Golf Referee AlbertaGolf.org

Travel

NORTH CAROLINA CALLING By Andrew Penner After putting out on the 18th green on the legendary No. 2 course - a Donald Ross masterpiece that has hosted numerous U.S. Open championships - I did what most people do at Pinehurst. I lingered. I had a beer on the veranda. I explored the sprawling clubhouse. The historic images. The memorabilia. I took photos of the Payne Stewart statue behind the 18th green and remembered that epic moment in golf

Par-4 18th Hole, The Pearl Golf Club

history when he nailed that final putt to win the US Open in 1999. I could have stayed for days. As it turned out, I did. After all, Pinehurst, North Carolina is a golf Mecca. It’s dubbed “The cradle of American golf.” And, with nine (soon to be 10) stunning courses - plus enough history to fill a few leather-bound volumes - this is the type of place that warrants a multi-day “dissection.” But North Carolina, as I found it, is not just a one-trick pony. Sure, Pinehurst might be the trump card, the ace of spades, however, this golf-rich state is home to a number of outstanding places to play.

Iconic statue of Payne Stewart behind the 18th green on Pinehurst #2

The Alberta Golfer 2023

My journey started in the RaleighDurham area. (Pinehurst is approximately an hour south of Raleigh.) And exploring the historic downtown charms of this vibrant city was a great way to acclimatize to the “Tar Heel State.” Short-andsweet stops at two world-class museums - The Museum of North Carolina (the Civil War artifacts and exhibits were a highlight) and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (the aquarium is phenomenal) - were definitely memorable.

To celebrate my eye-popping discoveries and educational enlightenments, I decided some beer was in order. For example, the Raleigh Beer Garden, a downtown institution, holds the Guinness world record for most beers on tap. That’s right, you can belly up to the bar and try 400 different beers. But maybe don’t try them all on your first visit. In terms of delicious craft food, the multi-vendor food hall scene in Raleigh - including the Morgan Street Food Hall and the Transfer Co. Food Hall - is turning plenty of heads. You’ll find everything from mouthwatering barbecue to gourmet oysters. In terms of Raleigh’s best public-access golf, the outstanding Lonnie Poole Golf Club is the king of the hill. And, speaking of “kings,” it was designed by one. That’s right, this is the only collegiate course in the world designed by the late Arnold Palmer. Boasting beautiful views of downtown Raleigh on a near-perfect site for golf, this gently rolling gem of a course (it’s home to NC State’s men’s and women’s golf teams) exceeded my expectations. From start to finish, it’s one rock solid golf hole after another. And, at just $42 (walking, mid-week), this is one of the best values I’ve ever come across.

For additional rounds in the RaleighDurham area, try Heritage Golf Club (besides Lonnie Poole, it’s the only Audubon-certified course in the area) and Eagle Ridge Golf Club, which was designed by the 1992 U.S. Open Champion, Tom Kite. In addition to the moderate climate (temperatures tend to be warm yearround), the variety of the golf in North Carolina is one of its most impressive attributes. For example, in the west, stunning Appalachian mountain courses dominate. The sandy hills and towering pine forests in the central region (yes, this is where you’ll find Pinehurst) yield exquisite terrain for golf. And, in the east, dozens of wonderful coastal courses - often situated near wildliferich wetlands and spectacular beaches - beckon birdie seekers. For me, exploring the Brunswick Islands (the northern section of the Myrtle Beach region) was another highlight. While Myrtle Beach, which is actually in South Carolina, is known for its party atmosphere, clogged streets, and busy courses, the Brunswick Islands are quieter, more family-friendly, and tee time availability is seldom an issue. With over 30 courses, many crafted by

the game’s top designers, the golf is every bit as good. Maybe better. While the Arnold Palmer-designed River’s Edge Golf Club - it features seven spectacular holes along the Shallotte River - is often touted as the best of the best in the Brunswick Islands, there are at least a dozen fantastic layouts. On my recent visit, I played Carolina National Golf Club (a solid 27-hole facility designed by Fred Couples) and The Pearl Golf Links (a gorgeous parkland course in a pristine natural environment). Unquestionably, the Brunswick Islands (the region comprises five islands plus a pretty swath of mainland) is an excellent golf destination that stands well on its own. The stunning beaches, outstanding seafood restaurants (sitting tight along the Calabash River, The Oyster Rock is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to) and excellent courses, many of which feature expansive tidal marshes, pine forests, and abundant wildlife, combine to make this a well-rounded tourist destination that’s ideal for families. But, without a doubt, golfers visiting North Carolina should certainly plan for a pilgrimage to Pinehurst. While a

round on the legendary Donald Ross No. 2 course - the wildly-contoured green complexes are some of the best on the planet - is a revered experience, every course in the fold serves up an experience to savour. For example, No. 8, which was recently renovated, is a Tom Fazio gem that dips and dives along wetlands. With firm and fast fairways, sandy waste areas, and fairways lined with sky-piercing longleaf pine, this is a wonderful summation of what Pinehurst is all about. And No. 4, which many aficionados believe is every bit as good as No. 2, is always a riveting round that’s tough as nails from start to finish. Lastly, the recent announcement of No.10 - it will be created by architect Tom Doak just a few miles south of Pinehurst - is certainly creating an extra buzz. That course is slated to open in 2024. But it’s the storied grounds, the stunning accommodations (if possible, stay at the historic Carolina Hotel), the turn-of-the-century village, and all the little “extras” that make Pinehurst a near-perfect place to spend a couple of days. But, personally, I’d recommend lingering for a lot longer than that. AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Back

BRADY MCKINLAY

Looking Back

Celebrating a Natural Hat-Trick By Wes Gilbertson Brady McKinlay had been shooting for his first collegiate victory. Before long, he was celebrating a natural hat-trick.

He collected his first collegiate trophy in late September at the Ram Masters Invitational in Fort Collins, CO, finishing four shots clear of the field with a total tab of 9-under 201.

The reigning Alberta Men’s Amateur champion, McKinlay enjoyed a remarkable fall run with the NCAA’s Utah Valley University Wolverines, finishing atop the leaderboard at three consecutive tournaments.

He continued his roll at the Mark Simpson Invitational in Boulder, CO, closing with a clutch spin of 4-under 66 en route to a one-stroke victory.

Editor's Note: McKinlay picked up right where he left off by winning his first college tournament after the holiday break, making it four-in-a-row.

He capped this superb stretch at the Shocker Invitational in Wichita, KS, claiming individual medalist honours yet again by sizzling to a three-round score of 11-under 202. The next closest competitor was seven shots in his rearview mirror.

“I set goals before the college season and that was the biggest thing that was on my list for these three years that I’ve been at school was to get an individual win,” he said matter-of-factly. “I didn’t expect to get three, let alone four in a row.”

Only winter could cool him off. With the fall season coming to a close, he’d have to wait until spring for a shot at the four-peat.

"I didn't expect to get three, let alone four in a row." - Brady McKinlay

“That last tournament, at Wichita, he had such a big lead that in our team meeting before the final round, the guys were like, ‘OK, well Brady is going to do it again. He’s going to pick up another victory,’” said Chris Curran, the coach of the men’s golf program at Utah Valley. “It was incredible to watch first-hand because all aspects of his game were on fire. He played beautiful golf. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

McKinlay’s hot streak started while he was back home for the summer. The talented up-and-comer from Lacombe — he honed his skills on that underrated small-town layout — cruised to a wire-to-wire win at the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship at The Ranch Golf and Country Club.

“I know that if we could have thrown another tournament in there, he would have loved that. I’m sure his confidence was so high at that point that he felt like he could go win another one.” Can you blame him?

The Alberta Golfer 2023

AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Back McKinlay, now 22, finished his fantastic fall with a scoring average of 68.42, on pace to shatter the school's singleseason scoring record. He climbed to No. 38 — tops among all Canadians — in Golfstat’s individual male player rankings for the NCAA Div. I landscape. When you consider there are 300-and-some schools competing, with roughly 10 players on each roster, that puts him close to the top percentile. “To put it together and win one event, that’s great. And then to follow it up with another win, that’s even better,” said Calgary-based teaching professional Scott Stiles, who has been working with McKinlay for the past several years. “And then for the third one, he won by seven shots. So to put the stamp on the end of that, it was really, really impressive. But after the first one, I think he knew that he could still be better. After the second one, same thing. So it kind of kept him grounded. It wasn’t like, 'Holy crap,what's going on!' “I’d be talking to people and saying, ‘Are you seeing what Brady is doing? This is really fun stuff and fairly unprecedented, especially for a kid from Alberta.’ ” Indeed, not many golfers win three college events, period. To go back-to-back-to-back is a rare tear. McKinlay’s driving was dialled during that run. He has worked hard to add speed to his swing, resulting in some extra oomph. He was also feeling confident with his flat-stick. As Curran put it: “He really putted the lights out.” He stuck to his game-plan each week and was mindful of something that he and Stiles both stressed — golf is more about limiting mistakes than the pursuit of perfection. Stiles raves about his demeanour: “His attitude is just so good.” Oh, and he was dressed for success. This goes

The Alberta Golfer 2023

beyond his superstition of debuting a pair of brand-new, never-been-worn socks for each event. “We wore the same outfits for each day of the tournament in all three weeks,” McKinlay recalled with a chuckle. “The guys were saying, ‘Oh, what are we wearing today?’ And I was like, ‘We’re wearing exactly what we wore last week, because it’s working. We’re not changing that up.’ I was all over them for that.” Indeed, it was working. “The trophy or the ‘1’ beside your name, that obviously adds something, and I’m not going to say that it wouldn’t be different if I hadn’t won,” McKinlay said, reflecting on his trio of triumphs. “But there’s no way that I’m coming out of those three weeks with nothing, even if I didn’t win. I think the winning, it adds a level of reassurance. In golf, there are a lot of losers, and it can be really tough to find the reassurance or the validation that what you’re doing is right. “I think that was the biggest part — I got a little bit of that at the Alberta Amateur and realized that what I’m doing is right. And then I go to our second tournament of the season in Colorado and I win and it’s confidence,

it’s validation, it’s all of that. Everything is just more free, and it’s the best feeling and also the worst in a way because you know it's not always going to be there. But if you have that feeling and you have that memory, you’ve set a bar that you can work towards to get back to. That’s what I’ll be trying to do. “It is weird to look back on it now, just knowing my game was at such a peak. That’s really the best golf I’ve played in my life,” he added. “But at the same time, I think there’s a part of me that won’t really appreciate it until way down the road. As long as I’m still chasing something, I don’t think I’ll appreciate it as much as I should. Whenever the golf journey ends and I look back on it, I’ll probably then realize how cool it really was.”

Canada’s year round golf destination Stay & Play The Vancouver Island Golf Trail

McKinlay’s golf journey is far from over. He will dig his final collegiate divots this spring — he had already burned one year of eligibility before he transferred to Utah Valley — and plans to eventually pursue a career in the birdie-making business. In fact, he’s already booked a tee-time for one professional event. Thanks to his second of four NCAA victories, he scored an exemption to compete in a Korn Ferry Tour shootout this summer in Colorado. “I don’t really know what route I want to take into pro golf, but I know I want to give it a go,” McKinlay said. “I’m at a point where I’ve kind of proven — proven to myself, really — that if I can keep growing my game at the pace it has, then I think I can compete at whatever level.” He’s not the only one convinced. “He understands what he’s done but at the same time, and I think this is one of his best attributes ; he still knows he can get better,” said Stiles, himself a past Alberta Amateur champion. ”He knows he can get better but also knows he doesn’t have to play perfect to succeed, which I think is going to carry him a long, long ways.”

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A Closer Look

TOUR TALK

Good

Making New

Learning How to

The School of

Competition

Friends

Play in Tournaments

Life

Many competitors in ‘MacRoss’ events might struggle to break 80 or 90, but the winning scores at Tour events are often around par or better. Knowing that the winning score will likely be in that range gives players a benchmark they can aim for as they seek to improve their games. There are always both gross and net score prizes in every age group, so all players have the opportunity to earn some prize money.

With over two dozen events on a typical Tour schedule every year, many juniors will compete in several tournaments over the course of the summer. They will meet other kids in their age group from across the province and many of these fellow competitors become lifelong friends as a result of first meeting at a junior golf tournament. There is no better feeling than beating one of your best friends and then sharing some laughs over a burger or a soft drink after the round.

There is an old adage in golf that the only way to learn how to play in tournaments is to play in tournaments, and it is very true. When you have to make those testy threefooters and you have to play by all of the Rules all of the time, it’s just not the same experience as going out for a casual game of golf with your buddies or your parents.

Golf is such a tremendous sport for helping to teach kids some very valuable life skills that will hold them in good stead for their entire lives. Junior golf isn’t all about pounding a golf ball 300 yards down the fairway, or making a 20-footer for a birdie. Through golf, young people learn the value of hard work (practice), honesty (count all your strokes), perseverance (no one wins all the time), accountability (be willing to enforce Rules on other players), interpersonal skills (making new friends), and learning how to interact with adults (Referees). But one of the most important aspects of playing junior golf is that kids learn how to have FUN!

Juniors from across Alberta warming up at Wolf Creek Golf Resort at the 2022 Tour Championship.

By Dunc Mills “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” ……Franklin D. Roosevelt When FDR uttered those very meaningful words, it seems doubtful that he had the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour specifically in mind. Nonetheless, the meaning behind that quote captures the essence of junior golf. The Tour was founded in 1996 based on the concept of providing a series of coordinated, well-run junior golf tournaments across the province to deliver the opportunity for junior golfers of any age to learn the ropes of what it takes to be successful in junior golf competition. Over the last few years with the surge of interest in junior golf, partly as a result of the overall boom in the golf industry as we come out of COVID, having a platform the likes of the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour has become even more valuable. Alberta Golf has seen a fantastic increase in the numbers of kids taking up the sport, especially in the U15

The Alberta Golfer 2023

and U13 age divisions. The Tour provides unmatched value for these young people to help them learn the joys and yes, the disappointments of playing in competition. This is not to say that the Tour cannot provide tremendous experiences for junior golfers in the U19 and U17 age groups as well. Tour events are held in every corner of the province, giving virtually any junior the chance to compete in a tournament within a reasonable driving distance of their home. We have an outstanding roster of host sites, featuring many of Alberta’s best golf courses that have hosted numerous provincial and national championships over the years. What can young golfers expect when they make the commitment to enter a Tour event? Many youngsters register in a Tour event for perhaps their very first taste of tournament competition, while other kids have already built impressive competitive resumes by the time they are 15 or 16 years old.

Edie Nicholson, Willow Park GC,

Kole Keenas, Country Hills GCC,

2022 Girls Tour Champion

2022 Boys Tour Champion

For over a quarter-century, the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour has provided thousands of young Albertans with a great way to get on board in the world of junior golf competition. It continues to be a fantastic platform for kids 8-18 to hone their skills, both on and off the golf course. Registration for all Tour events is open at www.albertagolfjuniors.org See you on Tour! AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Back

By Wes Gilbertson

ETHAN CHOI

JESSE GALVON

BRADY MCKINLAY

KATHERINE HAO

MEAGHAN LEBLANC

Alberta Open Championship

Alberta Men's Mid-Amateur Championship

Alberta Men's Amateur Championship

Alberta Women's Amateur Championship

Alberta Women's Mid-Amateur Championship

Admittedly steaming after a bad bogey, Calgary’s Jesse Galvon remembers this thought as he settled himself down on the tee-box at No. 17 — ‘We’re three back, but who knows what can happen?’ Nobody could have imagined this.

Brady McKinlay was on the brink of a hot streak.

Vancouver’s Katherine Hao turned 15 on trophy day. This was a great way to celebrate.

Calgary’s Meaghan LeBlanc was excited to be sneaking away from her desk for a few days of mountain golf. The trophy was a bonus.

The 2022 Alberta Men’s MidAmateur Championship at Highwood Golf in High River featured a jaw-dropping finish. Galvon had whittled the deficit to two when tournament leader Ryan Werre tried to sneak a shot under the trees, watching in horror as that attempt instead skipped, popped in the air and wound up stuck near the top of a spruce. Werre scaled the branches, shaking with all his might, but his ball never dropped back to ground level. He plopped his next in the water.

“I’m glad the first one of that stretch was back home,” said McKinlay, who honed his skills at the Lacombe Golf and Country Club. “Because my family was there, I got to enjoy it with them.”

There was no pressure-packed playoff. Pincher Creek’s Ethan Choi didn’t seal this title with a bending birdie putt or a clutch par-save and emotional fistpump on No. 18. As winning stories go, though, this is still a doozy.

Champions

Mother Nature wreaked havoc on the 2022 Alberta Open Championship, with the final round ultimately washed out due to unplayable conditions. The competitors were in the clubhouse at Sundre when it was announced that Choi had been declared the champ.

The

“I was actually in the bathroom and a kid walks in and he says, ‘Oh, you won man!’ ” Choi said, cracking up as he recounted this moment. “Everyone was there to shake my hand. ”

Choi, who competes for the NCAA’s North Carolina State Wolfpack had shaved nine strokes off par through two rounds. He was one shot up on Stefan Cox, an instructor at Calgary Golf and Country Club. Cox earned low-pro honours at the weather-shortened shindig. “I would have loved to play the third round, to go out and play all 54 of ’em,” Choi said. “But I’m honoured to be the champion.” He’s hoping to repeat in August at Coal Creek Golf Resort, preferably celebrating somewhere other than the restroom.

Galvon, a member at Heritage Pointe, was suddenly in control as he sized up his own approach from the middle of the fairway. “I felt for him, but I’ve never felt more nervous in my life over a golf shot and it was a 130-yard wedge,” he recalled.

He was in control for three straight days at the 2022 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship at The Ranch Golf and Country Club, a wire-to-wire waltz for his first provincial triumph.

McKinlay wrapped a stellar showing at the Alberta Mens Amateur Amateur with a threeround score of 11-under 202, five strokes lower than anyone else in the field. Gathered around the final green, his loved ones — parents, grandparents, uncles, etc. — understood he had been waiting for a moment like this. More importantly, they realized how hard he’d been working for a moment like this.

“Obviously I was hitting it well, and that helps, but what I remember is just how comfortable I was,” said McKinlay, who was especially proud of his mental approach that week. “When you’re Galvon managed his par, comfortable hitting your drives, securing a two-stroke victory you’re comfortable with your at seven-under 206. “My heart short game, you’re comfortable bled for (Werre),” he said. “I with your putting, there’s no think the first thing I did was weight on your shoulders. You just give him a hug.” just play so free.”

Instead of blowing out the candles on a cake, Hao was blowing away the competition at the 2022 Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship at Canmore Golf and Curling Club, capping off a seven-stroke victory as one of the youngest golfers in the field. “The year before, I played a bunch of local tournaments on the MJT (Maple Leaf Junior Tour), and I won a lot,” said Hao, a July baby. “But the tournament on my birthday, I lost by a couple of strokes because I didn’t play well. So I really wanted to play well this year.” Hao had a little extra motivation at this mountain showdown. Her father Alain, who lives in Taiwan, was able to visit his daughter for the first time since prior to the pandemic. He was on the bag for a brilliant ball-striking display. Hao fired a three-round score of five-under 211, punctuating a splendid performance with back-to-back birdies. “Because my dad was there, I really wanted it to be a meaningful moment.” It was, and a proud moment, no doubt, for Alain. “During the Car ride back to BC, he was so happy,” Hao beamed. “I could really feel it.”

LeBlanc topped the mid-am division at the 2022 Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship at Canmore Golf and Curling Club. “It was just a really fun week,” LeBlanc said. “For me, it’s more about enjoying the moment. It’s how I sometimes use some of my summer holidays. So it’s great to get a title but really, it’s nice to just be out there playing and competing. It’s maybe a little less stressful than it used to be. LeBlanc finished three laps of this scenic setup in two-over 218, sharing second place on the overall leaderboard and cruising to a nine-shot victory in the mid-amateur age category. The Country Hills Golf Club member fired a 69 on the second day, tied for the tournament low. While LeBlanc works as an accountant, she tries to avoid too much number-crunching on these days off. “I think you just play your game,” she reasoned. “If you go out and play the best you can, make some good recoveries and hit some good shots, it sort of takes care of itself.”

AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Back

BRENDA HEYINK

KELLY RISLING

ANDREA KOSA

SHIRO MANI

LOGAN GRAF

EILEEN PARK

CLARA DING

CONNOR CZIRJAK

Alberta Women's Senior Championship

Alberta Men's Senior Championship

Alberta Women's Mid-Master Championship

Alberta Men's Mid-Master Championship

Alberta Boys U19 Championship

Alberta Girls U15 and U19 Championship

Alberta Girls U17 Championship

Alberta Boys U17 Championship

A good friend delivered great news. Thanks to a terrific two-putt, Brenda Heyink had just carded a par on her final assignment at the 2022 Alberta Senior Ladies Championship at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club. Heyink doesn’t track the leaderboard. She wasn’t thinking about the trophy.

Make no mistake, this putt was fast. But as Kelly Risling tracked a 25-foot slider, the could-be clincher on the first playoff hole at the Alberta Senior Men’s Championship at Desert Blume Golf Course in Medicine Hat, it seemed as though he was watching in slow motion.

This is a special place for Andrea Kosa. That was true long before she claimed her latest provincial championship at Canmore Golf & Curling Club.

For Calgary’s Shiro Mani, this was a repeat feat. Mani made it two in a row at the Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Championship, the only golfer to successfully defend a provincial title in 2022.

On Logan Graf’s wanna-win-that wish-list, this was a biggie. And since this was his final summer of junior eligibility, it was his last crack. He tried to push that all out of his mind as he sized up his birdie try on the first playoff hole at the 2022 Alberta U19 Boys Championship at Cougar Creek Golf Resort, a half-hour west of Edmonton.

In both cases, Red Deer’s Eileen Park turned a scorching start into a stress-free finish. Park has already solidified her status as a rising star. She was the only golfer to collect two provincial titles in 2022 — and she was only 13 at the time.

Clara Ding could contend for this trophy several more times. Ding triumphed last summer at the Alberta U17 Girls Championship ... at age 11. “Obviously, I have a lot of confidence now because I know I can compete with older girls,” she said afterward.

Connor Czirjak simply had to sink a shortie, and he’d been draining ’em all day long. Except this putt was to clinch his first provincial title.

“It’s sort of like time was standing still — it was taking forever to get there,” Risling recalled. “When it was about three feet away, I thought, ‘Jeez, this just might go in.’ Looking at the replay, I started walking to the left and had the fist-pump ready to go, and it dropped in.

“I didn’t know that I’d won. I had no idea,” Heyink said. “I made that putt and walked off and Cheryl Van Dornick, who is also from Camrose and is a good friend, came up to me and said, ‘You won!’ I said, ‘Yeah, I made the putt. I’m happy to make the putt.’ And she said, ‘No, you won!’ I said, ‘You mean, I won this hole?’- She said, ‘Brenda, “It’s really hard to describe you won.’ I was totally surprised. when you win like that and I was shocked.” there are people up on the balcony and it’s for a provincial championship and with as Heyink was steady through all tough a competition as there three rounds, steering clear of is at our level,” he continued. any major blow-ups en route “So to see it go in, it was such a to a total score of 12-over 228. She finished two shots ahead of relief. And then a second later, the pack. “It was a great feeling. it was like the reality of what And to have all the other ladies had just happened sunk in and congratulate you and say, ‘Well then it was just euphoric.” done,’ that was really nice,” said Heyink, who represents Challenged by a nasty and Camrose Golf Course. unrelenting wind, Risling signed for a three-round “We all support each other. We tab of three-over 219. He prevailed in a two-man playoff, want to do well ourselves, but defeating James Varnam when also for everyone around us. he drained that downhiller Everyone cheers for you. They for birdie. It was a hometown say, ‘Good shot!’ or ‘Way to go! triumph for the longtime You can do this!’ You get that member at Medicine Hat Golf with these ladies, and that’s and Country Club. really important.”

The Alberta Golfer 2023

“That’s my home. That’s where I grew up, and that’s where I learned to golf,” Kosa said. “I was able to go back and reflect on all the good times I’ve had.” Indeed, Kosa has a history with this charming layout. She was a junior member at Canmore, worked summer jobs at the course and made the most of home-turf advantage to score midmaster bragging rights at the 2022 Alberta Ladies Amateur. Kosa, who now lives in Calgary and is a regular at The Glencoe Golf and Country Club, signed for a three-round score of 11-over 227, finishing 17 shots clear of the competition in her age division. “I’m one of the older golfers out there now and I totally enjoy spending time with the younger ones and seeing where they’re at and where their game is at and if I can help them in any way with any questions,” said Kosa, who has two kids of her own. “And I like to push them a little. They get a little upset when the old one hits it past them a couple times, so that’s always my goal.”

“I’m so happy to win back-toback,” he said, reflecting on his triumph at The Winston Golf Club in Calgary. “The first one is always good but to have my name on the second, that’s a really great feeling.” Despite the bullseye on his back as defending champ, Mani arrived at this event with admittedly low expectations. He’d been bothered by a hip injury that caused pain on his follow-through and made it a challenge to complete his swing. That ultimately couldn’t stop him. He circled five birdies on the second day of the 40-and-over showdown, surging to a two-stroke victory at two-under 142. The defining moment came at No. 17, the signature hole at The Winston and one of the most daunting tee shots in the province. That island green par-3 has spoiled many good rounds and shuffled many leaderboards. “I made a triple bogey on the first day on No. 17. And then the next day, I chipped in for birdie. Golf is a crazy game, right?” said Mani.

“I’d hit a pretty good wedge shot to about 10 feet and the guy I was playing against, he was in for par, so I knew that was to win it,” Graf said. “Standing over that putt, it’s tough not to get in your own head about what it means, but I was trying to treat it like any other putt and just focus on putting a good roll on it. After I made it, that’s when it all hit me and I really got excited.” Graf, who hails from Sylvan Lake and frequents the fairways and greens at Red Deer Golf and Country Club, navigated 54 holes of tournament action in even-par 216. With that clutch birdie in the playoff, he defeated Josiah Tong of Heritage Pointe and delighted a past champion in the crowd. Graf’s older brother Carter, won this title in 2019. “That was pretty inspiring,” Logan recalled. “Ever since that, it’s been one of my goals to do the same thing.” Now, both smooth-swinging siblings have their name engraved on the trophy.

Park surged to an early lead at the Alberta Girls U19 Championship at Cougar Creek Golf Resort, posting her career tournament low with an opening-round score of fourunder 68. She never looked back, cruising to a 12-stroke victory. At the U15 showdown at Alberta Springs Golf Resort just west of Red Deer, she set the pace with a 6-under 66, a new personal best. She once again finished a dozen shots clear of the competition in another dominant performance.

This was a recurring theme at some of Alberta Golf’s marquee events in 2022 — one of the youngest competitors in the field surging to the top of the leaderboard. In addition to Ding’s victory, Eileen Park claimed the provincial U19 crown at 13 and Katherine Hao capped a wire-to-wire win at the Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship on her 15th birthday. Ding is a former Calgary resident but now lives in White Rock, BC. She was back in Wild Rose Country for a family reunion and doubled her fun with a tournament title. Turns out, she was travelling with a hot flat-stick. The pre-teen talent carded a two-round total of two-over 146 at Alberta Springs. She jarred a half-dozen birdies on the second day, including one that ended a playoff against Aastha Savadatti of Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.

“For me, it gives me a lot of confidence for the next few rounds,” Park said, reflecting on those superb starts. “But I don’t try to get too hyped up, because I don’t want to mess up my last rounds. Because you never know what can happen.” Park has an extensive list of goals for this season — she is aiming to win the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship, wants to Monday qualify for an LPGA “It feels really good,” said Ding, Tour event and is determined to who admitted she was feeling earn a spot on Team Canada. the nerves on that extra hole.

“I was shaking over that little two-footer that I had,” Czirjak said, reminiscing about his playoff victory at the 2022 Alberta U17 Boys Championship. “Considering how many tap-ins I’d had that day, you’d think it would be routine, but I was nervous over it. But then, it was a great feeling to hear that ball hit the bottom of the cup.” Even if he hadn’t hoisted the trophy, this would have been a memorable day for Czirjak, a Calgary resident and a regular at Mickelson National. He roared into contention with a rip of six-under 66, mixing an eagle, four birdies and zero bogeys to equal his best tournament round. His playing partners were also going low — along with Graysen Collins and Jonathan Vinge, this trio shaved a combined 15 strokes off par during that last lap at Alberta Springs Golf Resort. Collins fired a 29 on the back nine. “I just remember, the vibes were great out there. We were all feeding off each other,” said Czirjak, who ultimately defeated Collins with a par on the first playoff hole.

AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Back

Looking Ahead

COAL CREEK GR HOSTS 2023 Alberta Open Championship By Gord Montgomery PETER HLUSHAK

ALEAH SHIELDS-RODIPE

CHASE STRANG

JAKOB CHICOYNE

Alberta Boys U15 Championship

Alberta Girls U13 Championship

Alberta Boys U13 Championship

Alberta Match Play Championship

They were deadlocked through 36 holes of tournament action. And through 37 and 38 and 39, 40, 41, 42 ...the 2022 Alberta U15 Boys Championship featured a marathon playoff, with Spruce Grove’s Peter Hlushak finally prevailing with a par on the seventh hole of sudden-death. He outlasted Innisfail’s Brae Rogalczyk in that epic overtime session.

Aleah Shields-Rodipe had wanted to win an Alberta Golf trophy. Even when her home address changed, that objective didn’t.

Even before the scores were being counted, this was a special week for Chase Strang. During a practice round for the 2022 Alberta U13 Boys Championship, the 12-year-old sharpshooter from Airdrie drained an ace. Strang sized up the eighth hole at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, gripped his gap-wedge and buried a beauty from about 90 yards away.

Calgary’s Jakob Chicoyne credited his victory at the Alberta Match Play Championship to a laser-like focus on the here-and-now. No dwelling on a bad break or a dropped shot. No sense pondering the big picture.

“I couldn’t believe that we kept tying those holes for that long,” Hlushak said. “I was really happy that I was able to get it done, especially against such great competition all week. I was so happy I was able to come out on top.” Hlushak signed for a 5-under 67 in the final round at Alberta Springs, the first bogey-free spin of his career.

Shields-Rodipe, who now lives in Texas, returned to her old stomping grounds last summer, catching up with loved ones and friends and also capturing her first provincial title. At age 11, she scored bragging rights at the Alberta U13 Girls Championship. “It means a lot to me,” she said. “Me being from Calgary, it was a little dream for me when I was growing up playing golf.”

“I stood there and I watched it go in and I was speechless,” Strang recalled. “I had no idea what to say.”

While he’d require his putter for all 36 holes in tournament play, Strang continued to hit Consistency was key for sweet shots. A junior member at Shields-Rodipe, who fired back-to-back rounds of 3-over Woodside Golf Club in Airdrie, he 75 at the two-day shootout at opened with a spin of 3-under Alberta Springs Golf Resort. 69, his best tournament round of the summer. On the second day, She played her final eight He headed to extra holes with an holes in two-under, mixing six after falling a few strokes off the aggressive mindset. As he put it: pars and a pair of birdies over pace, he clawed his way back. Standing on the tee-box at No. “I was trying to end it early. I was that clinching stretch. 18, he and two other youngsters getting kind of tired, so I wanted it to be over.” It wasn’t over for a Shields-Rodipe doubled as her — Jayden Arnold and Bennett Love — were all tied for the long while. At one point, Hlushak own caddie and was just as needed to drain a 25-footer to proud of her decision-making lead. Strang claimed the U13 avoid elimination. and ability to maintain a sharp crown with a birdie on that par-5 challenge. focus as she was of the way “I think, for both of us, it was our that she dialed in her driver first playoff, so we were talking — the ball, she was reminded, “I hit a good tee shot, but it went flies a little further in Alberta a little too far and everybody about how different it is, how else was in the fairway,” he said, important each shot feels,” said than it does in Texas — and detailing a clutch sequence. “I drained all those putts. Hlushak, a junior member at had a downhill lie and somehow Windermere Golf and Country I managed to put it on the green, Club. “I feel proud of myself, “It really showed me that I just with how I was able to hold was capable of doing amazing and the other two put it left in the bunker. And I two-putted (to it together under pressure for things when I put my mind to win). It felt so good.” those seven holes.” it,” Shields-Rodipe said.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

“It’s a different challenge than stroke play,” Chicoyne said. “The key for me was just playing it hole-by-hole. You can’t think about the entire event and or think ‘Oh, I’m positioned here.’ Because you’re playing against one guy, and one guy only. In two of the matches, I was down holes standing on No. 10 tee. But there’s still nine holes left. Even if I go for a green and I miss it and make double bogey and my opponent makes birdie, it’s only one hole. It’s not a three-shot difference. So it’s taking it hole-by-hole and planning out when to be aggressive and when to play the conservative shot.” That approach worked wonders for Chicoyne at Water Valley Golf Club, a half-hour north of Cochrane. Superb iron play also helped. The Glencoe member claimed the top seed with a six-under 66 in the qualifying round and then won four straight showdowns. He capped his run with a 5&4 triumph over Leduc’s Kye Fisher in the championship match.

For a number of years Coal Creek Golf Resort was one of those places known as a hidden gem. Well, after 11 years that designation no longer applies. In fact, this rural course near Ryley, designed by Puddicombe Golf, has become so popular it has been chosen as the home of the 2023 Alberta Open Championship. According to co-owner Jason Rasmuson, this is another step in the right direction for this wonderful test of golf. Five years ago they hosted the Alberta U19 Championship, so it’s onwards and upwards with the Open teeing off there this year. Coal Creek was first opened in 2012 and now its tee sheet is full virtually every day. “Yeah, it’s been pretty crazy. Over the last couple of years we’ve done over 26,000 rounds a year with the peak at 28,000," said Rasmuson, thus doing away with that “hidden gem” moniker. What makes this part of the golfing landscape so popular is not only the wonderful layout, but the black sand bunkers and some of the best greens you’ll test your short-game nerves on. And, Coal Creek offers a variety of skill-testing holes including some dramatic risk/reward challenges along with holes that present birdie opportunities. But, bogeys, thanks to fescue grasses, are never far off on several holes. All that, Rasmuson feels, will allow the cream of this year’s challengers to rise to the top.

“I think with the Alberta Open’s move to August, the conditions are going to be great. It could be fast and firm out there and our turf is getting better every year. The green speed will be what’s recommended by Alberta Golf but they’ll be in their usual great condition. The bunkers will be in great shape. It’s a bit heavier sand so it may take a bit of practice to get used to.” The telling stretch of holes for the players could well come relatively early in each round, on holes 4, 5, and 6. Lining those holes up in order, Rasmuson noted, “It’s not a hard par-3 (a slightly downhill 180 yards over water), but then you have an uphill (454 yard) par-4 and the (603 yard) par-5, that’s a three-shot hole. But, we did do some work on the left side there, so there’s a chance guys may try to hit that landing area now,” in hopes of reaching the green in two. That still doesn't make this hole a sure birdie possibility as the green is guarded in front and to the right by water. “It’s a long shot coming in so it’s still going to be difficult to get there in two. There is a (small) landing area in front of the green where they could land and roll it on. I’ve seen guys do it but depending on your scoring, you might be better hitting three good shots, getting on for a birdie putt. Or even being happy with a par there.”

That being said, there are places to make up some ground in a late charge or for someone looking to extend their lead. “Scoring on the back nine will likely be a little bit easier, as it always is, if you can survive the front. It opens up a bit,” and includes the true go-forbroke 14th hole, a 355 yard par-4 which is protected by numerous bunkers to clear in order to hit the green, so it is reachable as the crow flies. To top that off, Rasmuson suggests holes 15, 16, and 17 can also help propel a player forward on the leaderboard as their round winds down. But, one last late challenge awaits on the home hole, which has been extended by 50 yards to now play at 464 yards from the tips. That ups the entire track’s length to 7,257 yards in what will be a true test of golf, especially if the wind comes up on the prairie layout. As to hosting this major championship, Rasmuson noted his membership is excited and already stepping up to volunteer. “Part of our mandate is every couple of years to be part of competition golf. It’s always an adventure for sure and it’s definitely a crowning moment for us. We’re excited to host this great event.” The Alberta Open runs from August 15 to 17. AlbertaGolf.org

A Closer Look

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Industry Happenings

MICHELLE WIE WEST

“She’s super experienced, so it’s nice to hear it from her.”

Speaks to Girls in Alberta Golf's Athlete Development Program

Hearing that from a young golfer such as the India-born Savadatti would be music to Wie West's ears. Wherever she goes, the LPGA legend seizes the chance of imparting wisdom on those following in her footsteps.

By Todd Saelhof It’s not every day you get up-close and personal with a golf legend. So Aastha Savadatti, a promising young Alberta golfer, made sure to soak it all in. Michelle Wie West is, after all, her idol — and someone well worth taking seriously. “Everybody was just in awe of her being here,” said the Calgary teenager of Wie West's feature visit to the city during the 2022 Shaw Charity Classic. “It was awesome,” continued Savadatti. “Getting to see her in person was a great experience. Once I started playing golf, I was really into watching golf, so I watched her in tournaments and I liked her game and her overall personality and the way she carries herself on the course.”

Savadatti and scores of other Alberta golfers found out first-hand just how she carries herself off the course, as well. That’s because Wie West hosted a stroke clinic for 104 Calgarybased corporate women on Blake’s Women’s Day at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club during the PGA Tour Champions event last August. “She hit a couple of balls and was teaching us some of the trajectory stuff,” said Savadatti, who sports a 0.4 handicap as a member of Canyon Meadows. “It was so cool just getting to see her hit balls in person. I never really thought I’d be able to see her up close, so that was great for me. “She was talking about how you shouldn’t be trying to hit it really hard when you’re hitting into the wind. She gave us a few little hints here and

there to help us along the way.” Then came the real excitement for the then-15-year-old Savadatti … a rare opportunity alongside 15 of the province’s top junior female players — all talents in the Alberta Golf High Performance Player Support Program — to take in a session of sweet shoptalk from Wie West. “I did get to hear about what it’s like to play on tour — what you need to be out there and play well,” said the Western Canada High School student, whose own passion for the game grew after — at age 12 — winning a membership to the National Golf Academy dome in Calgary. “She was really speaking about how having a good short game makes you consistent and how everyone on tour is really good, obviously, so you have to be super consistent and know what you’re doing to play well.

“The biggest sentiments that I want to get across is not to be afraid of who you are and your uniqueness and don’t be afraid of mistakes,” Wie West said during her visit to Calgary. “They think that — I guess because I am who I am — that I’ve never made mistakes and I don’t do anything silly. But you know, I’m a human — and that’s OK.” Everything she said was A-OK as far as the wide-eyed juniors were concerned. There’s no doubt Wie West left quite the impression on the Alberta youngsters. "Not only is there a path to become pro, golf is a valuable life skill to have, a valuable business skill to have," Wie West said during Blake's Women's Day. "So for more girls and more girls of colour to acquire this life/business skill, I get very excited when I see girls start to golf. It doesn't even matter if they turn pro. It's a great life and business skill to have." Wie West's visit to the 10th anniversary of the Shaw Charity Classic follows many others who’ve been keynote speakers during the tournament’s kick-off day. Judy Rankin, a winner of 26 LPGA titles during her time, previously thrilled fans during women’s day. So has Canadian veteran golfer Alena Sharp and today’s national superstar on the links, Brooke Henderson.

Michelle Wie West (Far L) speaks to Alberta Junior Girls at the 2022 Shaw Charity Classic

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Other feature athletes having accepted the invite to lend their expertise on women’s day include

hockey hero Cassie Campbell and fellow Calgarian and Olympic legend Catriona Le May Doan. “Obviously, we like the idea of trying to incorporate something to help young women, whether it’s a clinic or somebody to share some of their educational experience and something to help them grow as athletes or people,” said Shaw Charity Classic executive director Sean Van Kesteren.

“That’s a lot to put on someone, but she was up for the task.” All that and she attended a top-shelf college — that being Stanford — eventually getting her degree in communications in 2012.

“Just being around these athletes who have travelled the world and have played in major championships, you aspire to be these people as young kids — myself included. Hopefully, they are providing folks here and throughout the province a sense of being a role model and show what can be accomplished.

And these days, she’s traded in her clubs — seemingly not forever, however — to embrace motherhood. Her daughter, Makenna West, is three.

“And if people are picking up tips from them here and there, that doesn’t hurt.” Van Kesteren, who's had a golf connection with Wie West since she was 15, knew the then-32-year-old American would be a smash hit — a perfect fit — for women’s day. After all, she’s had the quite the life in just three-plus decades. Wie West burst onto the golf scene at the tender age of 10, when she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. At 13, she became the youngest player to make an LPGA cut followed by the youngest golfer to make the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open. One year later, she became the youngest female to compete in a PGA Tour event. “For many years, she carried the LPGA Tour, and she was the most marketable person out there,” said Van Kesteren. “And that was at a young age, she had to deal with that.

Along the way, she went on to capture five LPGA titles, including a major championship after topping the field at the 2014 U.S. Women's Open.

“She has lived it,” said Van Kesteren. “She’s hands down one of the best talents to ever pick up a golf club, male or female. "She’s had life experience and knows how to get to the next level. Everybody knows who Michelle Wie West is, because she has been on the golf scene since she was 11 or 12 years old. I couldn’t think of a better person to speak to a bunch of potential LPGA players coming out of Alberta. “It was great having her,” added Van Kesteren. “She was phenomenal, as she always is. She’s such a professional. But obviously, her life has changed since she’s pseudoretired from playing and has focused on some of her business activities and being a mother. So that was great for her to share all of those stories with not only the Alberta golfers but with the ladies who were playing on women’s day. A lot of people could relate. And we wanted her to share some of her wisdom with some of the top golfers in Alberta." She did just that, engaging Savadatti and others on a day they’ll forever remember.

AlbertaGolf.org

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Industry Happenings

HIGH PERFORMANCE in Alberta By Todd Saelhof

Alberta’s Premier Golf & RV Resort IN SUNDRE!

PROUD HOST OF THE 2023 ALBERTA WOMEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, JULY 25-27

Brendan MacDougall

Big names from the past have benefitted from it. So, now, are present and future talents — ones you could well see someday swinging for glory at Pebble Beach or Augusta National. That’s the high ceiling — the sky-high ceiling, if you will — of success enjoyed by the Alberta Golf High Performance Player Support Program. But while shooting Albertans onto tour play is certainly a feather in its cap, the main tee-up of the provincial body’s strategy is to help launch promising golfers as deep as possible into the sport, from club-level play to regional championships and national tournaments and onwards to varsity and collegiate golf. “The main objective is to see provincial players receive a post-secondary scholarship,” said John Deneer, Alberta Golf Director of Competitions and Athlete Development and the lead man in the high-performance program. “When juniors who have come through the program obtain an NCAA or U SPORTS scholarship and play well at national championships or play well at NCAA championships down south, that’s the best part.” Today the stars are Calgary’s Brendan MacDougall, now a professional after graduating from the University of Nevada Wolf Pack, and Rycroft’s Max Sekulic, a burgeoning regular on PGA Tour Latinoamerica after honing his game with the Washington State Cougars.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

They are all poster boys of the how far the Alberta Golf’s high-performance road-map can take talents. “We don’t have Alberta coaches on staff, but we work closely with about 10-12 PGA of Canada professionals who are high-level coaches,” said Deneer, a PGA pro and high-performance coach himself. “We contract them to help us with national championships and preparation camps and different activities. “If you come to us as a 16-year-old highlevel player, we’re not necessarily going to have a training camp set up, but we’re going to align you with coaches who work with players at your level and align you with sports psychologists and fitness professionals. We also share insight into scheduling and championships. We’re trying to be the touch-point for any questions families have for what they can do to help their child succeed," said Deneer. Alberta Golf scouts out potentially golf-gifted kids for its tiered program by tracking their results from club events. Annabelle Ackroyd

Tier 1, says Deneer, consists of any junior in the province at the club level. Tier 2 currently features 45 golfers who have checked promising achievement boxes with their game. Tier 3 — with 31 players in place — is where the majority of the support from Alberta Golf kicks in. The only Albertan to achieve Tier 4 support status has been Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee, who has competed in 28 LPGA Tour events since 2019. “Tier 4 is a hard-to-reach level, and we want it to be that way” Deneer said. “We’re not trying to make it easy. We want players to earn their spot.

18 Hole Championship Golf Course

“The number of players at each tier has been increasing every year over the last four or five years. Our players are getting better.” Other Albertans competing collegiately include Calgary’s Annabelle Ackroyd, attending Elon University in North Carolina. Male Albertans at NCAA universities include Sylvan Lake’s Carter Graf and Pincher Creek’s Ethan Choi, both with the North Carolina State Wolfpack as well as Lacombe’s Brady McKinlay, with the Utah Valley Wolverines (see p. 30), a four-time winner this past season. “Seeing players like them come up through the program and succeeding is fantastic,” Deneer said. “There are so many good young players — 13, 14 and 15-year-olds — that it's exciting to see what they put into their development and where they can go.”

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Travel

SILVIES VALLEY offers a reversible course …and goat caddies! By Gord Montgomery The most unique caddies in golf!

Nestled in the high desert in eastern Oregon, Silvies Valley Links & Spa is a unique golf experience in more ways than one. Spread out over 144,000 acres of rolling terrain and mainly home to a goat ranch, this destination among other amenities tees up three, no make that four, golf courses. You see, one course is actually two, in a wondrous work of routing that’s known as a reversible course, the first built in over 450 years. The two 18-hole designs, the Hankins and the Craddock, meld together to feature 21 greens, 18 fairways, and 29 tee boxes. And if you’re concerned about running into cross-traffic on the course, don’t be. One day you play clockwise and the next counter-clockwise so everyone is always going the same direction. Silvies’ Director of Golf, Dave Lewis, explained the eccentricities of these layouts, noting, “People don’t get it to begin with. What we have is 36 holes of golf and they are distinctly different - they just happen to be on the same dirt,” encompassing around 170 acres of land as opposed to the 350 acres a normal 36-hole facility would use. Silvies Valley is home to only the third such design in the world along with The Old Course at St. Andrews and The Loop in Michigan. Dreamed up by owner Dr. Scott Campbell, a non-golfer by the way, and designed by Dan Hixson, the idea began as a four-hole combo. Then it was upped to six, and finally, the entire loop was put into play. What separates the two 18s is the fact the Craddock runs uphill while the Hankins goes downward. Together, they fool the eye, especially on your second tour of the property. “These are two utter distinctly different looks for your brain,” Lewis continued. “And people swear that, ‘I haven’t been on this hole before! But yes, you were yesterday! It was just a different part of the fairway.”

Silvies Valley Links and Spa

The Alberta Golfer 2023

There are nine double greens here, but only one hole per green per day. You play the same fairway on the par-4 and par-5 holes with seven of the eight par-3s being standalone entities. The courses run on a north-south line at around 5,000 feet elevation. As you go north you head uphill into the pine trees. AlbertaGolf.org

Travel

Turn around to go downhill, and you’re confronted with sagebrush and the massive valley below. Each routing is virtually the same distance - the Hankins 18 plays to just over 7,000 yards from the back tees, winding down to 5,300 yards. The Craddock track plays 40 yards shorter off the back deck, reducing to 4,338 yards moving forward. A word of advice here: If you go, make sure you take a rangefinder. Why? Because there are no yardage markers on the fairways as many see double-duty. And one other thing: Because these courses are open only to resort guests, no tee times are needed. So just show up, tee it up, and live it up for a round or two of golf on a unique layout.

Four-Legged Loopers In my writing career I’ve had the opportunity to use a caddie five times, but they were always the two-legged variety. At Silvies, I had a four-legged looper for the first, and likely last time ever. And it was probably the best ever! You see, here in Oregon, on a goat ranch/people retreat, goats act as caddies on the two smaller golf courses, the Chief Egan par-3 and the demanding 7-hole challenge course known as McVeigh's Gauntlet. Why a goat? Well, actually there’s a good reason. “When McVeigh’s was built, it was too severe to take golf carts on,” PR guy Mark Conn said of the teethchattering, butterfly inducing tee shots and approach whacks that face those brave enough to come to this foreboding, winding, canyon-crossing, up-and-down knee-knocker. On this day I hooked up with Charlie, who as it turned out, was a rookie bag toter. Other than stopping to munch on sagebrush — and poop on occasion — he was a joy to be with. Sure, he didn’t read putts at all and his intermittent comments on my swings or ball flight was simply “Baaaaaaddddd.” Overall though, he was the G.O.A.T. of caddies I’ve ever used.

Charlie the goat caddie, lines up a putt for Gord Montgomery.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Chosen specifically for this job, the soon-to-be caddies are the third kid born to a mother who can only look after two babies at a time. So, Charlie, and his sidekick caddie pal Chunky, like other triplets, were hand-raised. They were quickly indoctrinated into their future role by showing an affection for humans; being able to manoeuvre an obstacle course (McVeigh's is, simply put, rugged territory); and a willingness to shoulder a customized saddlebag.

“People don’t get it to begin with. What we have is 36 holes of golf and they are distinctly different - they just happen to be on the same dirt” Charlie proved to be a real trooper who worked for peanuts - real peanuts, with salted in the shell preferred. While he’s a workhorse — please excuse that mixed fourlegged metaphor — Charlie’s only rule is he won’t carry a full set of clubs. But on this 7-hole layout you only need a few clubs as the longest hole is a par-4 of 277 yards. Because of the lack of sticks, you can add a few extra pack pounds to the pack with cans of all-important adult beverages a.k.a. beer. And trust me, on the Gauntlet, those pops are a very welcome ego soother! Charlie and Chunky also work the much more sedate Chief Egan par-3 layout, which totals less than 900 yards. It’s set up for first-timers and family fun, complete with a goat to keep you company if you wish. After all, they do commiserate over poor shots without making snide comments (as caddies in Ireland like to do), and are willing to partake in your selfie …. as long as you have peanuts to pay them at the end of the round!

Industry Happenings

Tom Byers Junior

Junior golfers and organizers at the first annual Tom Byers Junior Golf Day.

By Jim Claggett Most of us have done this during a round of golf. You take a chance with a shot, and maybe it works and maybe it doesn’t, but you tried. In the case of the first annual Tom Byers Junior Golf Day at Inglewood in Calgary, organizers tried, took the shot and wow, did it ever work out! “We thought if we get 25 or 40 kids, that would be a home run,” said former Calgary Flame Lanny McDonald, Tom’s brother-in -law and one of the people behind this special day. So how about more than 70 kids of varying degrees of ability showing up. “All of our grand kids would seek out Tom when they were younger and climb up on his knee and say, ‘'Tom, can you read me a book?' So having a junior golf day was a natural way to honour the man," McDonald said. So, what was Tom the golfer like? Well, McDonald says he didn’t hit the ball very far, but his handicap was between six and 12 at varying stages, so he had game. “You always thought you had him,” said McDonald. “You out drove him by forty yards, he didn’t make his second shot to the green and you’re on the green putting for a birdie, 35 feet away. Tom had such soft hands from anywhere around the green, chip it to within six feet, make the putt and now you’re struggling to two putt.”

Day 54

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Staff at Alberta Golf were a key piece in pulling this day together as they

got involved, creating a fit’s-like-aglove format for the kids which consisted of 30 minutes on the range, 30 minutes putting and another 30 chipping. A lunch followed as well as some positive words from McDonald and other Flames alumni.

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“It made perfect sense to do something with junior golf and try to honour him and get more kids off the sidelines and into the game,” said McDonald. “We had so many of Tom’s old friends drop by and say hello and think this was the greatest thing.” Included in the onlookers was Tom’s widow, Joanne and McDonald says it played out perfectly for her to see firsthand what transpired. It was a perfect balance of remembering the man and exposing more kids to game without having them out on the course and maybe getting frustrated or intimidated by the length of a golf course.

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“To see kids make that long putt for the first time, the smiles on their faces. It was a good day for golf, to remember Tom,” said McDonald. He says he gets approached at hockey games by parents whose children were at the event and are asking about the next one. He simply tells them to watch for the announcement coming from Alberta Golf. “There’s always things that you can improve on, and it will evolve in time but what a great start to the Tom Byers Junior Golf Day.” Bring on the second annual.

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Looking Ahead

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

2023

Alberta Best Ball Championship

Alberta Men’s MidMaster Championship

Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship

Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship

Alberta U19 Championship

May 22 – Sundre Golf Club

June 20-22 – Olds Golf Club

June27-29–WaterValleyGolfClub

July 04-06 – Innisfail Golf Club

July 11-13 – Turner Valley Golf Club

Field: 60 teams of 2

Field: 120 players

Field: 160 players

Format: 18 holes of team stroke play (best ball)

Format: 54 holes of stroke play competition

Format: 54 holes of flighted stroke play competition or 54 holes of net Stableford

Format: 54 holes of stroke play competition with a 36hole cut to the low 60 and ties

Format: 54 holes of stroke play competition with a 36-hole cut to the low 60 and ties

Eligibility: No gender or age restriction. Handicap Index must be 15.0 or less for men, 20.0 or less for women

Eligibility: Must be a 15.0 Handicap Index or less and aged 40 & over as of the first day of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur

Eligibility: Must be a 20.0 Handicap Index or less for stroke play (35.0 or less for net stableford)

Eligibility (#): Must be a 8.0 Handicap Index or less

Eligibility (Boys): Must be a 25.0 Handicap Index or less and aged 18 & under as of August 1st Eligibility (Girls): Must be a 30.0 Handicap Index or less and aged 18 & under as of August 1st

Water Valley Golf Club

Alberta Men’s MidAmateur Championship

Alberta Women’s Senior Championship

Alberta Men’s Senior Championship

Alberta All Abilities Championship

Alberta Open Championship

Alberta U17, U15 & U13 Championship

Alberta Men’s Super Senior Championship

Alberta Interclub Championship

July 18-20 – Windermere Golf & Country Club

July 25-27 – Coyote Creek Golf & RV Resort

August 01-13 - Glendale Golf & Country Club

August 08-09 – McCall Lake Golf Course

August 15-17 – Coal Creek Golf Resort

August 21-22 – Alberta Springs Golf Resort

August 28-29 – The Track Golf Course

September 06 - Kananaskis Country Golf Course

Field: 120 players

Field: 120 professional and amateur players

Field: 120 players

Format: 54 holes of stroke play competition with a 36hole cut to the low 60 and ties

Format: 54 holes of flighted stroke play competition or 54 holes of net Stableford

Format: 54 holes of stroke play competition with a 36hole cut to the low 60 and ties

Format: 36 holes of stroke play competition

Field: 30 teams of four players (men), 18 teams of four players (women)

Eligibility (Boys): Must be a 30.0 Handicap Index or less and aged 16, 14, or 12 and under as of August 1st

Eligibility (#): Must be a 30.0 Handicap Index or less and aged 65 & over as of the first day of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship

Eligibility (#): Must be a 10.0 Handicap Index or less and aged 25 & over as of the first day of the Canadian MidAmateur

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Eligibility: Must be a 25.0 Handicap Index or less for stroke play (40.0 or less for net stableford), and aged 50 & over as of the first day of the Canadian Women's Senior Championship

Eligibility (#): Must be a 20.0 Handicap Index or less and aged 55 & over as of the first day of the Canadian Men's Senior Championship

Eligibility: Golfers will be classified by a European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) representative

*Dates, venues, competition requirements and information are subject to change.

Format: 54 holes of stroke play competition with a 36hole cut to the low 60 and ties Eligibility (#): Must be a 8.0 Handicap Index or less

Eligibility (Girls): No Handicap Index requirement and aged 16, 14, or 12 and under as of August 1st (#) This Championship requires players to be exempt or qualify in regional qualifying events

Format: 18 holes of team stroke-play. Gross competition only for men & women. Eligibility: Males and Females, must be registered by club.

AlbertaGolf.org

Looking Ahead

LOCAL QUALIFYING (18 holes stroke-play competition): Coloniale Golf Club

Westlock Golf Club

The Canal at Delacour GC

May 29 Men’s Mid-Amateur, Calgary Region Qualifier – Strathmore Golf Club

June 06 Men’s Amateur, Calgary Region Qualifier – Serenity Golf Club

June 14 Men’s Senior, Edmonton Region Qualifier – Goose Hummock Golf Resort

May 31 Alberta Open, Calgary Region Qualifier – Elbow Springs Golf Club

June 07 Men’s Amateur, Central Region Qualifier – Lacombe Golf & Country Club

June 19 Men’s Senior, Calgary Region Qualifier – The Canal at Delacour

May 31 Alberta Open, Edmonton Region Qualifier – Coloniale Golf Club

June 08 Men’s Mid-Amateur, Edmonton Region Qualifier – Westlock Golf Club

June 27 Men’s Senior, Central Region Qualifier – Whispering Pines Golf Club

McLENNAN ROSS ALBERTA JUNIOR TOUR Six core values of the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour:

2023 McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour Goals: • Provide young Albertans the opportunity

RESPONSIBILITY 1 TEACH by developing qualities of leadership & integrity,

to develop their golf games in a series of coordinated tournaments throughout Alberta in a fun, but competitive environment

June 05 Men’s Amateur, Edmonton Region Qualifier – Barrhead Golf Club

while assisting juniors in becoming productive members of the adult community

THE RULES OF GOLF 2 TEACH As well as etiquette and fundamentals

• To make the tournaments challenging for

the elite level junior golfer, but also to provide young players just starting out their first exposure to well organized tournament competition

New Championships for the 2023 Season Alberta Golf is excited to introduce 3 new championships slated for the 2023 season. These championships are a result of input received from various stakeholders and will allow our tournaments to be more inclusive, provide additional playing opportunities, and enable our events to deliver a more suitable experience for different demographics.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

3 PROVIDE GOLF AT A MINIMAL COST SPORTSMANSHIP 4 TEACH By providing an environment that encourages and promotes

• To give back to the development of junior

golf in Alberta by assisting host courses with funding for their junior development programs • To educate players and developing referees

Alberta Best Ball Championship

Alberta All Abilities Championship

Alberta Men’s Super Senior Championship

The brand-new Alberta Best Ball Championship is set to offer both men and women of all ages the opportunity to compete in a two-person, team competition. Teams can be two men, two women or a mixed team, with appropriate championship yardages for each gender.

Committed to offering players of all abilities an opportunity to compete at a provincial championship, Alberta Golf is excited to host the inaugural 2023 Alberta All Abilities Championship. The All Abilities Championship is an EDGA listed event and a WR4GD ranked event.

Previously part of the Alberta Men’s Senior Championship, the Super Seniors will now have their own event. This will allow competitors aged 65+ to enjoy a two-day event, with the course set up specifically for them. This championship will also include a Men’s Diamond division (75+).

with the understanding and application of the Rules of Golf

good sportsmanship and friendship among junior golfers

TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES 5 PROVIDE Giving junior golfers opportunities to travel and play a variety of high-quality courses

FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 6 PREPARE By providing post-secondary workshops to assist juniors with their educational transition

2023 MCLENNAN ROSS ALBERTA JUNIOR TOUR SCHEDULE July 4 Barrhead July 6 Henderson Lake

July 13 Whitetail Crossing

July 26 Olds

July 17 Innisfail

July 27 Montgomery Glen

July 19 Ponoka

July 31 Canmore

July 10 Grande Prairie

July 20 Lacombe

August 1 Carstairs

July 12 Camrose

July 24 - 25 Goose Hummock

August 3 Nanton

July 10 McKenzie Meadows

August 8 Fort McMurray August 8 Collicutt Siding August 9 Strathmore August 14 Stony Plain August 15 Westlock

August 17 Wainwright August 22 Desert Blume August 24 Victoria GC Tour Championship August 31 River Bend albertagolf.org

Industry Happenings

Woodside's Chris McNicol

Adds Co-Owner to His Title

Industry Happenings

By Gord Montgomery In the Alberta golf industry it’s very rare at one course to go from the back shop to on top, but that’s exactly what Chris McNicol has done during his 25 year ride at Woodside Golf Course in Airdrie. McNicol moved to Calgary in 1991 and in 1996 at the age of 18 started scrubbing clubs in the back shop before moving up into the golf shop the following season. “Over the years I’ve done everything at the club from Event Planning, Corporate Sales, Director of Marketing before becoming the General Manager in 2007,” McNicol said. “During that time I got a Business Degree through The University of Lethbridge. Not a lot of people have the same story as I do. It’s quite unique to stay in one place for 25 years.” And it looks like McNicol will be around for years to come, because on September 1st of 2022 with a group of investors, he bought the golf course. “I worked for the Steiner family my whole life. I have a lot of admiration for both Otto and Reto. When the course came up for sale I went to dinner with Reto,” McNicol admitted. "When Reto said he was thinking of

selling and doing some other things, I was kind of shocked and said I needed a few days to think about it. I ended up putting together a group, there are 4 of us who have bought into this, 3 partners that I am thrilled to be working with all with unique skill levels and contributions and will be a fantastic group to go forward with. I’m super excited for what comes next.” Woodside Golf Course opened with 9 holes in 1988 and a full 18 holes in 1989. Over the years it’s become one of the main gathering spots in the Airdrie area. “This property is unique for a lot of reasons but Airdrie doesn’t have a lot of gathering spots, especially for bigger venues or for special occasions and Woodside is known for that,” McNicol beamed. “Whether it’s a wedding or Mother’s Day events, anniversaries, graduations all of those things, we have a huge connection to what goes on. We’re kind of the fabric of what goes on in Airdrie.” And that’s why a clubhouse renovation is one of the first big projects McNicol and his group are overseeing as new owners. “For us we want to make this the place to work and play in our community,” McNicol said. “We’ve got some ambitious plans including upgrading the clubhouse to make it a much more comfortable and receptive space for a number of groups in our community.” As for the golf course itself, it’s changed quite a bit in the quarter century McNicol has been involved. “Probably one of my legacies in my time here as General Manager is the

amount of trees we’ve planted on this property,” McNicol said. “There’s a lot of shape to holes now that didn’t exist back then. You used to be able to hit it all over the place back then and you can’t do that anymore.” McNicol is the most visible member of the ownership group but says everyone has their role and brings something valuable to the vision of where they want to take the golf course in the future. “Working with my partners is great. They are so excited and it’s awesome to see. They don’t have a golf background for the most part so I’m helping to educate them,” McNicol admitted. “The level and energy that these guys are bringing is going to drive things forward and I’m so excited to see what we do next.” Chris McNicol is leaving a legacy hard to match at any golf course in our province. “Our hash tag for a number of years has been “insanely outrageous” and I think that will continue. There’s a great opportunity for more people to be introduced to the game, whether it’s through all the technologies that are out there or even through beginner programs. We have a huge junior program here that welcomes 250 kids a year through camps let alone our 100 plus junior members. Woodside is a family facility and we want this to be a comfortable spot for anyone to come and play.” From back shop to front office, Chris McNicol’s ride at Woodside Golf Course certainly has been insanely outrageous.

Chris McNicol, General Manager and Co-Owner, Woodside Golf Course

The Alberta Golfer 2023

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Looking Back

said. Why not? I mean there isn’t a handbook as to how to react to a hole-in-one. This was her first ace in her brief golf career and as one might expect, the next hole presented a big challenge to keep the adrenalin in check.

Here are some numbers to take in. 12,000 to one and 67 million to one. Those are the odds of getting a hole-in-one and getting two in the same round. Spoiler alert-neither happens a lot. But back on August 21st, 2022, 14-year-old Adele Sanford defied the odds during the club championship at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club.

“I knew I couldn’t live up to that. I was just like; I’m just going to have a fun rest of my round. I’m not even going to care about the score anymore because I’m good with that. I’m good with the hole-in-one.”

Adele moved to Alberta about three years ago from the Caribbean, playing some golf down there but it wasn’t her passion-yet. “My mom was a big golfer, but I just did a little bit. It was so hot, I didn’t really enjoy doing it,” said Sanford. She says she has fallen in love with the game and really enjoys practicing, spending hours at the range. “I don’t necessarily enjoy competing, but I do like practicing more.” But back to the aces. Adele stepped up to hole #12 at Canmore, a 101yard par-3 and canned a sand wedge. It was a back-nine start for her group and so this was her third hole of the tournament. “Honestly, I was thinking ‘Get it on the green. Just get it on the green’“ she said. Did the thought of acing it cross her mind? “Probably in the back of my head. That would probably be good because my putting isn’t great.” Adele says the shot was about as pure as she could strike it at the front pin. She did see it roll in and remained calm while the rest of her group celebrated. “I didn’t know what to do. I just stood there and smiled,” she

As Adele made her way to the 15th hole, a 150 yard par-3, word had raced around the course about the ace on #12 so there was a buzz making its way back to her.

Double

ACES! By Jim Claggett

Adele Sanford made two holes-in-one in the same round!

“I was the last to tee off and I hit a dead straight shot (using an eight iron) and I thought, ‘oh my gosh’ and everybody started screaming and I just stood there again.” The other group on the next tee confirmed ace #2 and suggested Adele go buy a lottery ticket. Sure, play the odds. Given what just happened it would have been easy to just mail it in the rest of the round. Not this girl though. “I love golf too much. I could never quit now.” With 12 more holes to go, she had three more par-3s on the Canmore track, including #17. “My whole group was thinking I was going to get another one, but I couldn’t even hit the green I was shaking so much.” When she crossed over to the front nine there were people around the clubhouse high fiving her and passing along congratulations. She garnered some media attention locally and even a call from a Toronto outlet.

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What's New

Looking Ahead

Shaw Charity Classic’s

Dunc Mills and Bill Newis

10th Anniversary!

Photo Courtesy by Todd Korol

Jerry Kelly celebrates with the champion's trophy from the 2022 Shaw Charity Classic

The Shaw Charity Classic, held each summer at Calgary’s Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, celebrated its 10th Anniversary last year and is now the largest charitable contributor on PGA TOUR Champions. The tournament has once again shattered all charitable fund-raising records by generating an unprecedented total of over $17M in 2022 alone. This brings the 10-year total from the PGA TOUR Champions’ only Canadian stop to more than $93M since 2013. “What an absolutely magical way to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Once again we see the power this tournament has in rallying our community to make a meaningful impact on the true champions of our event – the children in our province,” said Jim Riddell, Chair, Shaw Charity Classic.

The main focus for charitable fundraising from the Shaw Charity Classic has always been towards children and youth-based activities in Alberta. “Our community has once again wrapped their arms around the Shaw Charity Classic to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and youth across the province, ” said Brad Shaw, CEO and Executive Chair, Shaw Communications. The 11th playing of the Shaw Charity Classic is scheduled to take place August 16-20, 2023 at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club in Calgary. The 2022 Champion Jerry Kelly will no doubt be on hand to defend his title, along with many of the legends competing on PGA TOUR Champions.

Fortinet Cup Tour Championship Coming to Calgary

For the first time in several years, PGA TOUR Canada will feature two events in Alberta during the 2023 season. In addition to the ATB Classic that will be held at Northern Bear Golf Club in Edmonton from June 26- July 2, PGA TOUR Canada Executive Director Scott Pritchard has announced that the season-ending Fortinet Cup Tour Championship will be held at the Talons Course at Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary from September 4-10. For many years dating back to the launch of the Canadian Tour era, Albertans were often able to enjoy tournaments in both Edmonton and Calgary that featured many of the world’s best young touring professionals as they launched their careers. This year, PGA TOUR Canada will once again showcase these terrific young players in both cities.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Current PGA TOUR stars such as Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, and Aaron Wise, along with Canadians Nick Taylor, Corey Connors, and Mackenzie Hughes all got their professional careers underway on PGA TOUR Canada. In 2022, Edmonton’s Wil Bateman won the ATB Classic at the Edmonton Petroleum Club, catapulting him to Player of the Year status on PGA TOUR

Canada and earning Bateman fullyexempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour this summer (see p. 16). With the growing emphasis on helping pave the way for the top graduating collegiate players through the PGA TOUR University program, we can expect to see many of these young future stars at Northern Bear and later in the summer at Country Hills.

Country Hills Golf Club - Talons Course

Dunc Mills

to be inducted into Alberta Golf Hall of Fame

Bill Newis

By Kevin Smith Two very deserving Distinguished Service Inductees, Dunc Mills and Bill Newis, will be entering the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame this spring; Mills for his quarter century dedication to The McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour and The Alberta Golfer Magazine and Newis for his near half-century work in golf course design. Dunc Mills started volunteering at Alberta Golf events in 1991 and became the Executive Director of The McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour in 1996. He will be starting his 28th year as the Tour Director in 2023. “It was a very pleasant surprise to learn of my election to the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame. When I joined Alberta Golf in 1991, the concept of me ever becoming someone worthy of being in the Hall of Fame was the furthest thing from my mind,” Mills admitted. “To me, Hall of Fame people were players who I looked up to and admired like Keith Alexander, Bob Wylie and Betty Cole, people of that calibre. I didn’t even really realize there was a part of the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame that recognized volunteers.” Over the years Mills has spent time on the Alberta Golf Executive Committee, and for over 25 years helped create the yearly Alberta Golfer Magazine. But it’s his presence on the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour that Mills is synonymous for. “As the face and driving force behind the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour, everyone knows Dunc Mills” said

Alberta Golf Hall of Famer Les Swelin. “With over 600 events in the tour’s history, many kids played for three or four years and became much more well-rounded people because of Dunc's guidance and consistent leadership on the tour.” And Mills is proud of the life skills these kids have taken into adulthood. “The poster child for the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour right now would probably be Wil Bateman. Wil was the Player of the Year on PGA TOUR Canada last year, which earned him fully-exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour this year," Mills beamed. “But to be honest, it is just as rewarding to me when I run into former players who are successful in their lives, using life skills they learned as junior golfers to help them further their careers or in raising their own families.” Bill Newis was born in Regina but has lived in Priddis, AB the past 34 years. During a 45-year-career he’s designed and renovated over 60 golf courses, most of which are located in Alberta. “I was certainly pleased to hear about the Hall of Fame honour. I’m already in the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame, but most of my work has actually occurred in Alberta,” Newis said. Many of Newis’ course designs are part of residential developments or resorts including Cottonwood Golf & Country Club, Bearspaw Golf Club, Redwood Meadows Golf & Country Club and Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in

the Calgary area. Newis is proud of all his courses but has a fondness for one hole in particular. “The 4th hole on the south course at Priddis Greens (now the 13th hole on Raven) is a hole I cherish and always enjoyed,” Newis admitted. “It’s a long dogleg par-4 with water on the corner of the dogleg and more water guarding the left side of the green. It’s a hole I’m proud of and have always enjoyed.” While looking over the list of current Alberta Golf Hall of Fame members, Newis says he’s proud to join that group and leave a legacy for his three sons and seven grandchildren. “It’s really nice to achieve this,” Newis said. “When other generations come along in my family, they can appreciate that one of their own is in the Hall of Fame.” Newis and Mills will be formally inducted into the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame at a dinner at The Winston Golf Club in Calgary on April 20, 2023. Phil Berube, CEO of Alberta Golf, said, “We have two outstanding inductees to recognize and to be conducting this special event at The Winston Golf Club as part of their 100th anniversary should serve as a great start to the golf season. In addition to the celebration itself, Alberta Golf will be showcasing some of the heritage services work we have been doing over the past few off-seasons in an effort to connect our future to our past.” AlbertaGolf.org

What's New

MARY BETH MCKENNA

From Fort McMurray to Golf Canada It is a long way from Fort McMurray AB to Oakville ON, both literally and figuratively. But Mary Beth McKenna has completed that journey as she has now taken the reins at one of Golf Canada’s most important positions. Mary Beth was appointed last year as the Director of Amateur Championships and Rules, based at Golf House in Oakville.

assuming a full-time position with our country’s national golf body a year later. She worked for the next seven years helping to run a myriad of national championships from coast to coast. She followed that up with four years as assistant Tournament Director with the RBC Canadian Open, before being promoted to her current position at the end of 2021.

McKenna, now 35, grew up in Alberta’s oil sands city. She and her brother Greg were shepherded around the province by their golf-mad parents as the siblings came up through the ranks of junior golf in Alberta. They cut their competitive teeth in dozens of McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour events, as well as numerous Alberta Golf junior championships. Mary Beth earned a golf scholarship at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH where she competed for four years on the women’s golf team before graduating in 2010 with a degree in Sports Management.

“I supervise a team of six full-time staff, plus several summer interns, to run Golf Canada’s amateur championships and qualifiers,” McKenna explained from her Oakville office. “This summer, we will stage over 30 tournaments across Canada, including 10 National Championships, eight Next Gen Championships (elite junior events), seven USGA qualifying events and six RBC Canadian Open qualifiers. Mary Beth and her team are also responsible for the CP Women’s Open Qualifier, amongst other events that come up year-to-year, such as the Canada Summer Games, or International Qualifiers.

From there, Mary Beth went to work for Golf Canada as a summer intern, Photo Courtesy by Bernard Brault

Mary Beth McKenna gives a ruling to Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas at the RBC Canadian Open.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

“Our team is also responsible for the operation of the World Junior Girls Championship, which will be held September 20th – 23rd in Ontario at a site yet to be announced,” McKenna continued. “It will be a busy summer!” In addition to her tournament duties which include securing host courses, coordinating plans with club staff, tournament officials, training volunteers, media relations and the onsite tournament buildouts, McKenna and her team also play an important role in delivering rules education programs throughout the country.

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can make all the difference on or off the course.

“We will be running a number of regional tournament administration and referee schools to help train officials to learn more effective ways to set up a golf course for a competition,” McKenna explained. “We also coordinate several Rules of Golf seminars throughout the winter months, which is very important given all the new changes to the Rules that came into effect January 1, 2023." McKenna went on to talk about some of the things she enjoys most about her career. “The culture of Golf Canada is outstanding,” McKenna boasts. “Golfers in Canada are passionate about the sport, and getting to meet so many of these people from every corner of the country is very satisfying for me. The volunteers we rely on to help on the ground at the tournaments are so amazing!” There are a few “home province” Golf Canada Alberta-hosted events on the 2023 schedule; an RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier in May and the Next Gen Western Championship in early June. Last spring, McKenna ran the RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary and her team was at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club to stage the 2022 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in September “I always look forward to getting back to Alberta every chance I get,” said McKenna. “I know Golf Canada will continue to schedule as many of their championships as possible in Alberta.”

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A Closer Look

Course Rating By Stephen Wigington

Hole # 16 at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club.

If you are a long-time golfer you may not realize how unique the sport is. It’s tough to take a step back and objectively look at the game you have adopted as part of your lifestyle. But committing four hours to walk around 100+ acres of land trying to put a tiny white ball in a hole while wearing a collared shirt isn’t exactly “normal”. To get this objective look at golf, a good starting point is to compare it with other sports. Picture any other sport with various skill levels trying to compete in the same game. How do you make it fair? Maybe the tennis expert is forced to play with the wrong hand, the track star gives a head start, or the better hockey team needs to play with one less player on the ice. If you turn your mind back to golf, you quickly realize that the difference of skill levels is baked right into the sport. The Handicap Index you carry as a golfer can (as of 2020) be taken around the world to compete on a fair and equitable basis with any other golfer. Remember those 100+ acres of land you were wandering? They are split into 18 holes, and no two holes anywhere on the planet are the same. With such an overwhelming variety of golf courses, the keystone

The Alberta Golfer 2023

of the entire handicapping system becomes: Course Rating. The average golfer will recognize two numbers when they are looking at a scorecard: the Course Rating and the Slope Rating. To reach these numbers, each hole will be measured for length, and inspected for up to 10 different obstacle factors that can impact the hole’s difficulty (water, sand, trees, green surface, etc.). Each hole will also be looked at from four different perspectives: a scratch male (0.0), a scratch female (0.0), a bogey male (20.0), and a bogey female (24.0). Time for our first question: Why is there a difference in Handicap Index between a male and female bogey player? Great question. The simplest answer (to almost any Course Rating question) is that although accuracy is very important, consistency is paramount. The overall goal of Course Rating is to provide a quantitative idea of how difficult a course is so it can be used to calculate a golfer’s Handicap Index. If the way we measure the difficulty of a golf course changes, all previously rated golf courses become outdated. Once we have rated a golf course from our four different perspectives, we

get two ratings. The “Course Rating” is the rating calculated using our scratch golfers. If a scratch golfer plays under normal course and weather conditions, this is what we have calculated they will shoot. The other rating we get is the “Bogey Rating”, or what bogey golfers would shoot under those same normal conditions. The Bogey Rating is not published as it alone does not directly impact anything for the golfer. What it does is help to determine the slope of the golf course. Simply put, the Slope Rating measures the difficulty of the course for Bogey Golfers compared to Scratch Golfers. Generally speaking, the harder a golf course, the higher a Slope Rating would be, but this is not always the case. A Slope Rating doesn’t need to be high if the course has been designed to be accommodating to the Bogey Golfer (i.e. less forced carries, shots might come up short of the trouble etc.).

Next Gen GOLFERS By Andrew Penner

It’s nearing midnight on a cold Thursday evening in mid-December and inside LaunchPad - the new golf “experience” at Heritage Pointe in southeast Calgary - things are heating up. Young ladies wearing, well, not traditional golf clothing, are swatting at golf balls and, after impact, spinning around in poetic pirouettes. Young men in jeans, many sporting full-sleeve tattoos, take turns smashing golf balls and long-driving for drinks. Yes, it appears as if the demographics of the game might be turning a page. True, golf has, for decades, struggled with “old guy” stereotypes. Yes, from the monied, old-school country clubs, the five-hour rounds, the staunch dress-codes, the high cost to play, the cumbersome rules; there are many inhibiting reasons why young people especially, choose other sports, other forms of entertainment. But, make no mistake, golf is hitting back. The young folk have another entry point. And you’ve just got to visit LaunchPad - and a growing contingent of indoor/outdoor golf centres equipped with state-of-the-art technology - to see it first-hand.

“Roughly 70% of our guests at LaunchPad are non-golfers,” says Barry Ehlert, CEO of the Windmill Golf Group, the company that owns and operates Heritage Pointe and LaunchPad. “This is one of the most exciting things about this facility. Yes, we still love to attract seasoned golfers. Our leagues, lesson programs, memberships, and amazing practice technology definitely appeals to core players. But if you come on a Friday or Saturday night, you’ll see people from 3 to 83, from all walks of life, just having a blast. People who have never picked up a club before, come here and just have fun.” Unquestionably, the incredible advancements in ball-tracer technology, launch monitors, graphics, speed sensors, beginner-friendly target games, and so on, has certainly bolstered the appeal of the game, this new “genre,” to the beginner market. Numerous year-round indoor facilities have popped up throughout the province and similar results - attracting new golfers to the game - are being realized. Drop Zone Golf Centre (Lethbridge), Fore Seasons Indoor Golf Centre and Town Centre Golf (both in Grand Prairie), Golf Traders Indoor

Industry Happenings Golf Centre (Edmonton), Total Golf (Calgary), and Go Go Golf (Calgary), are just a few examples. At Rad Golf, for example, which has two state-of-the-art facilities in both Red Deer and Calgary, the formula is simple: offer guests a fun, nonintimidating place to unwind, have a few drinks, great food, and play worldclass courses on the most advanced simulators available in the world. “We’re seeing a steady flow of new golfers at both our centres,” says Jared Nicolls, co-owner of Rad Golf. “There’s no pressure here. Our private rooms are a huge hit. We do corporate events, birthday parties, stags, you name it. People can relax on the couches, play ping-pong, watch the big game on TV. It’s the perfect place to play golf for the first time.” While the nightclub-like theatrics that do occasionally occur at some of these facilities are not the norm, unquestionably, a “let-your-hair-downand-just-have-fun” mantra certainly prevails at most of these facilities. And, make no mistake, many powerful people and organizations within the game are taking note. “It’s great to see the excitement and the energy that these new indoor golf centres and driving ranges are creating,” says Kevin Thistle, CEO of the PGA of Canada. “Sure, many people that visit these centres will not go on to fully invest in the sport. But many will. They’ve been introduced. They’ve got a taste for the game. And I believe the industry as a whole will benefit because of it.”

Next time you tee it up, try looking at a few holes from the four different perspectives. Maybe you will gain some perspective of your own on the intricacies of Course Rating. Young adults and families enjoying the fun at the LaunchPad facility in Calgary.

AlbertaGolf.org

Scholarship

Looking Back

RECIPIENTS

The Alberta Golf Foundation is pleased to announce the distribution of

$70,500 in scholarships to the following 57 students. Scholarships are made possible through the contributions from the AGLC as well as from the following funds:

• Bob Rintoul Memorial Fund • Carol Stevens Memorial Fund • Charles C. Reid Memorial Fund • Christa Spahmann Memorial Fund • Festival Family Scholarship Fund • Frank Lindsay Memorial Fund • Jeff Llewellyn Memorial Fund • Lola Rozsa Memorial Fund • Marg Condon Memorial Fund • R.E. Courage Memorial Fund Nicholas Sebjanic, UBC Okanagan

For more information about the Alberta Golf Association Foundation visit www.albertagolffoundation.org

Alcaz, Mirela University of Calgary Andrekson, MacGregor University of Toronto Arink, Kyle Olds College Baustad, Mackenzie Central Michigan University Beaton, Cam University of Western Besler-Chalcroft, Cooper University of Calgary Bruggeman, Jenna University of Idaho Burzminski, Nolan Rocky Mountain College Burzminski, Owen University of Calgary Burzminski, Brooklyn University of Alberta Chauvet, Thomas University of Alberta Chicoyne, Jakob Old Dominion University Choi, Ethan NC State University Churchill, Conor University of Western Copeland, Samantha UBC Okanagan Coyle, Amanda University of Alberta de Graaf, Ethan University of British Columbia Desai, Dhairya University of Calgary Farris, Sawyer Arizona State University Fung, Gavin University of British Columbia Grant, Zachary University of Calgary Gupta, Alex University of Alberta Hasan, Waqar University of Calgary Holan, Will Lipscomb University Holmes, Jeff University of Alberta Houston, Tyler U of Cal. - Berkeley Iguchi, Kai Utah Valley University Isinghood, Keeley University of Waterloo Kaura, Aneesh Simon Fraser University

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Jenna Bruggeman, University of Idaho

Kropp, Kael University of British Columbia Kurysh, Connor West Texas A&M University Lee, Justin University of Alberta Lehouillier, Cam Olds College Makarchuk, Alanna Lawrence Technology University Makarchuk, Andrew Minot State University Martinson, Alyssa The King's University McKinlay, Brady Utah Valley University Murchison, Melanie University of Calgary Murillo, Sergio University of Western Nagel, Sarah U of A - Augustana Pasitney, Colin Cypress College Ray, Joel University of Alberta Rhead, Brooklyn University of Calgary Ritchie, Taylor University of Alberta Rosborough, Hailey Trent University Rouleau, Vianne University of Alberta Scanlon, John Queens University Sebjanic, Nicholas UBC Okanagan Sluka, Tommy University of Calgary Sudak, Lukasz University of Alberta Todrick, Callum MacEwan University Tri, Dustin University of Calgary Vaselenak, Rylan University of Victoria Von Kuster, Kesaly University of Alberta von Muehldorfer, Valerie St. Francis Xavier University Wingnean, Kaitlyn Western Carolina University Wingnean, Alexa University of South Dakota

The Year in Pictures

Looking Back

4 8

7 1. The incredible landscape of Desert Blume Golf Course creates a surreal experience at the Alberta Men's Senior Championship. 2. A moment of beauty at the Alberta Open at Sundre Golf Club. The event was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather. 3. Taylor Stone of Calgary lines up a putt during the 2022 Alberta Women's Amateur Championship.

The Alberta Golfer 2023

Looking Back

4. At 88 years young, Leslie Maureen O’Shea plays in the Alberta Women's Senior Championship with her daughter on the bag. 5. The future stars of competitive golf in Alberta get their start at one of many McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour events. 6. The ladies from The Glencoe Golf & Country Club claim victory at Alberta Golf’s final event of the season, the Alberta Interclub Championship.

7. Former Alberta Amateur champion Brian Laubman tees it up at the Men's Mid-Master Championship at The Winston Golf Club. 8. Host club volunteers and staff make sure everything is up and ready before the competitors even set foot on property.

9. Alberta Golf volunteers enjoy a wonderful day at the Edmonton Country Club for Volunteer Appreciation day. 10. Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club hosts one of many UpSwing events. Recreational Golf in the mountains never gets old!

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