TOP STORIES 10. Follow Us On Social Media
20. 2019 Buying Show Education Series Registration Now Open
14.
Riley Risesto the Challenge at Assistants? Championship
2019 PGA Of Albert a Junior Scholarship Recipient s
30. Brot hers St ir Up Some Magic To Take Pro-Pro Event
50.
36
Mickelson Nat ional GC t o Offer Up Different Sort Of Layout
54. Everyone?s a W inner at Calgary?s Shaw Charit y Classic
Cont ent s SEP 2019 08
Top Image
10
Social Media
12
Golf Shows
16
2019 PGA of Alberta Bursary Program
18
Borsa Wins PING Club Pro Championship In Playoff
22
Members on the move
24
Valley Ridge GC & Goose Hummock GR Cruise to Victories at Pro-Senior
26
Heffernan Lays Runner-Up Demons to Rest at PGA of Alberta Championship
28
Two New Players Pass the Play Ability Test at Royal Mayfair GC
34
2019 Arizona Teaching Summit
40
Heffernan Leaves History in the Dust at Fall Championship
42
Pouring Pints, And Pounding A Few Back, With Darren Clarke
46
Calgary's Heffernan Wins PGA Assistants' Championship Of Canada
48
Darryl Dances His Way To Victory At PGA of Alberta Seniors?Championship
56
Rogers Rolls To Repeat At 2019 PGA of Alberta Ladies? Championship
57
Member Profile
58
The Parting Shot
The
t op
image CRED IT: PGA O F CA N A DA
Heff Hoists Another One Wes Heffernan?s recent win at the PGA Assistants? Championship of Canada capped off an impressive playing season for the Albertan. He finished fourth in June at the PGA Championship of Canada, second at the PGA of Alberta Assistants? Championship and won the PGA of Alberta Zone Championship along with The PGA of Alberta's Sunice/Bobby Jones Fall Championship. PG 08 | SEP 2019
how t o
f ol l ow t hePGAof
ALBERTA
FOLLOW THE PGA OF ALBERTA ON SOCIAL MEDIA
PG 10 | SEP 2019
nesws f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a
Golf Shows Calgary Golf Show
Edmonton Golf Show
March 21 & 22, 2020 Calgary Stampede BMO Centre, Hall B
April 4 & 5, 2020 Edmonton Expo Centre, Hall H
Bring the whole family to the PGA of Alberta Golf Shows in Edmonton and Calgary! Whether you?re looking to buy a membership, find somewhere new to play, book a vacation, or pick up your free Kidz Zone giveaway, there is something for every member of the family!
Competitions such as Long Drive, Closest to the Pin, Chipping and Putting
Approximately 7,000 avid golfers attend these two golf shows every spring, which features:
Students(must present student ID): $11.00
An indoor Driving Range Merchandise Clearance Centre New Equipment Promotion FREE golf lessons Junior Activities and Clinic PG 12 | SEP 2019
Over $50,000 of prize giveaways 2019 Ticket Prices General Admission (13 & Up): $12.00 Seniors(65+): $11.00
Children (12 & Under): FREE Interested in exhibiting at the 2020 Alberta Golf Shows? Call the PGA of Alberta Office at 403-256-8894 for details or email ashley.vankroonenburg @pgaofalberta.com.
nesws f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a 2019 Buying Show Education Series -
Registration Now Open The PGA of Alberta invites you to attend the Buying Show Education Series Seminars during the 3-day Show. There will be three separate Education Seminars throughout the course of the Show. See the below details for more information on topics, dates and times. Registration is now live for the Day 1 Seminar - The Body/Swing Connection by Presenter Shannon Heffernan (Dynamic
PG 14 | SEP 2019
Motion Golf Performance Centre). Click here t o learn more about t he Day 1 Seminar and t o regist er now! Registration is now live for the Day 2 Seminar - Buying and Inventory Management Strategies by Presenter Kristi Larson. Click here t o learn more about t he Day 2 Seminar and t o regist er now!
nesws f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a
PGA of Alberta Bursary Program The PGA of Alberta is pleased to present 4 bursaries of $750 each year to deserving Apprentice Professionals and/or Class A Assistant Professionals who meet or exceed the Bursary criteria as outlined below. The bursaries are awarded annually at the Association?s Awards Banquet in October. All seasonal and year-round Apprentice Professionals and Class A Professionals (who are not employed as Head/Executive Professionals) are eligible and encouraged to apply. A minimum of two of the bursaries will be reserved for seasonal Apprentice Professionals (working 9-months or less for their employer). All PG 16 | SEP 2019
Information to be held in strict confidence. Please review the below Bursary criteria below and submit the online application form by the deadline date addressing each of the following criteria.
r esul t s f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a
Borsa Wins PING Club Pro Championship In Playoff
This year's edition of the PING Club Pro Championship was held July 29-30 at the beautiful Elbow Springs Golf Club. 45 Club PGA of Alberta Professionals tee'd off for Round 1 and the weather cooperated making conditions prime for scoring. Matt Freeman (Canyon Meadows G&CC) took the first-round lead with a stellar PG 18 | SEP 2019
4-under par 68 which turned out to be the low round of the two-day event.
CLICK H ERE TO
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
t he
associat ion
news
2019 PGA of Alberta Junior Scholarship Recipients
Each year the PGA of Alberta is proud to award four Junior Scholarships of $1,000 each. Two of the Scholarships are awarded to children of PGA of Alberta Members and the other two are awarded to selected Alberta Juniors who meet specific criteria. Congratulations to Jonas Nelson (Dave Nelson ? Henderson Lake PG 20 | SEP 2019
GC) and Michael Grant (Clive Grant ? Golf Supply House) for each winning the PGA of Albert a Family Scholarships. Winning the Golf Specific Scholarships are Sebast ian Farkas (Silver Springs G&CC) and Vict oria Tse (Country Hills GC). Thank you to everyone that applied for a Scholarship this year! Click here t o see winners
news f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a
Members On The Move
Follow t he Pros Follow your favourite PGA of Alberta Golf Professional using our Members on the Move feature updated throughout the year. September 2019
designation with the PGA of Canada.
12 Samuel Roy haspassed the Playing Ability Test and completed the application requirements.
30 Luke Luciano haspassed the Playing Ability Test and completed the application requirements.
11 DallasJackson haspassed the Playing Ability Test and completed the application requirements.
30 Matthew Cupido haspassed the Playing Ability Test and completed the application requirements.
10 Jordan Fenwick hasbeen named Teaching Professional at the GOLFTEC Calgary Midnapore.
29 Quinn Powell, ClassA Professional, hasmoved to River Spirit GC.
10 Tiffany Gordon, ClassA Professional, hasmoved from Blue Devil Teaching Academy to Carnmoney GC.
29 Ryan Woodward hascompleted the Core Competenciesof the PACE Program and hasobtained Class"A" status.
09 Brent Chapman, ClassA Professional, hasmoved to Royal Mayfair GC.
23 Nicola Jeffrieshaspassed the Playing Ability Test and completed the application requirements.
09 Brent Chapman, ClassA Professional, hasmoved to Royal Mayfair GC.
22 Ashley Van Kroonenburg, Apprentice Professional, hasmoved from Glencoe G&CC to the PGA of Alberta staff.
04 Zac Weisshaspassed the Playing Ability Test and completed the application requirements.
14 Dario Alvarez haspassed the Playing Ability Test and completed the
August 2019 30 Ray Meria hasbeen granted Life PG 22 | SEP 2019
Click to Read the Full Story
r esul t s f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a
Valley Ridge GC & Goose Hummock GR Cruise to Victories at Pro-Senior The 2019 Golf Trends Inc. & Golf Pride sponsored Pro-Senior Team Net & Gross Best Ball event was hosted at the stunning Valley Ridge GC. Team Valley Ridge GC with host Professional Jeremy Maher and Amateur Pat Nairn was able to lock up control of first place by carding a ridiculous Team Net total of 13-under 59. They had a very impressive scorecard as they had 11 birdies and 1 eagle. Winning the Team Gross Total was team Goose Hummock GR PG 24 | SEP 2019
with Professional Mike McEvay and Amateur Bruce Mclsaac. In second place on the Team Gross Total side was team Links of GlenEagles with Professional Mac Keats and Amateur Jim Russell who finished with a stellar 6-under 66. Thanks to all the golf course staff, our sponsors Golf Trends Inc. & Golf Pride and the competitors for making this event a successful one. Click here for t he final result s.
r esul t s f r om
pga of
Heffernan Lays Runner-Up al ber t a Demons to Rest at PGA of Alberta Championship BY GO RD M O N TGO M ERY, IN SID E GO LF
IMAGE COURTESY: PGA OF ALBERTA
If one is to believe the talking heads on TV golf broadcasts, following up a great round with another such 18 in tournament play is a tough assignment. Wes Heffernan, however, would beg to differ with that opinion. You see, at this year?s PGA of Alberta Championship, the PG 26 | SEP 2019
Calgary pro carded two superb back-to-back rounds, firing a course record 63 on day one and following that up with a solid 67 the next to capture the title by a comfortable four stroke margin. Heffernan began his run to the title by firing a 9-under 63 at the host site, Red Deer?s CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Riverbend Golf and Recreation Area, giving him a three shot advantage over Jeff Cuthbertson (Stony Plain GC), David MacComb (Blackhawk GC) and Dallas Cantera (Cardiff G&CC) headed into the second day of the 36-hole tourney. He then fired the best round of Day 2, a 67, to finish at 14-under and win by four over MacComb (66-68) and eight over third-place finisher Cantera. The winner, from Dynamic Motion Golf Performance Center, said he had no idea he was on pace to set a course record that first day, but noted he did know many of the 90 players on hand were bunched up near the top of the leaderboard. In fact, 10 players were within five shots of the lead after 18 holes. ?I didn?t know until after the round, which probably helps things,?the winner said in a phone interview about his opening round record. ?The PG 27 | SEP 2019
big thing was, a lot of the other guys were going low. I remember I birdied eight to go 3-under and we have live scoring now on our phones, so I had a look at the scoreboard to see where I was. There were guys at four, five and six (under) already so I knew I couldn?t just stay there. You?ve got to keep going lower.? That fact has been driven home a couple of times for Heffernan over the past few years in tournament action, so he wasn?t about to be satisfied with where he was at that point. ?I knew if I didn?t try to keep getting more birdies, somebody like Riley (Fleming) or David (MacComb) are going to catch me, so you just go as lo
CLICK H ERE TO
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
r esul t s f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a
Two New Players Pass the Play Ability Test at Royal Mayfair GC Two New Players Pass the Play Ability Test at Royal Mayfair GC. The fifth and final Play Ability Test of the season hosted at Royal Mayfair GC saw two new players pass and receive their Apprentice Professional status with the PGA of Canada! Congratulations to Harvey PG 28 | SEP 2019
Auger (Eagle Point GC) and Dallas Jackson (Edmonton Garrison Memorial G&CC) for shooting the Class A Target score over the two days. Congratulations also to current member Ben Matthews (Miskanaw GC) for shooting his Class A score as well. Click here for full PAT results.
r esul t s f r om
IMAGE COURTESY: PGA OF ALBERTA
ThePGAof
al ber t a BY GO RD M O N TGO M ERY, IN SID E GO LF
Brothers Stir Up Some Magic to Take Pro-Pro Event There?s nothing like a little brotherly chemistry. And of course, a hot putter. The Vendermey boys, Nick and Spencer, put that equation to work at Calgary?s Priddis PG 30 | SEP 2019
Greens G&CC on the Raven course, to top some big names and walk away with the big money at this year?s PGA of Alberta Pro-Pro Best Ball tournament Presented by Allstate Canada. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Spencer, from the Edmonton Petroleum G&CC said that having played countless rounds of golf with his brother during their lifetime put them in a comfortable position even before the one-day, 18-hole event began.
was enough to walk away with the win by two strokes and the top prize money of $3,050.
Nick, from the Windermere G&CC in Edmonton, said a pre-game chat on the way south helped put them in the right frame of mind and a number to chase.
professional golf mixture, Spencer said, ?You try not to think about that, and just go out and play your own game.?
?We were thinking if we played well we could place third or fourth, given the other teams there like (Dustin) Risdon, and Wes (Heffernan), and Riley ?I couldn?t even count,?he said (Fleming),?which shows that about the number of times he?s sometimes realistic teed it up alongside his brother. expectations can be rewarded ?I don?t think we?ve ever played through outstanding effort. a team event without each Of taking down those big other.? names in this province?s
?We were talking that we wanted to get to eight or nine under, and as we were playing I think we were only three or four under through nine holes. Then we made a run of six birdies in a row which got us to nine-under. Then we birdied the last hole to get to 10,?and that, as it turned out, PG 32 | SEP 2019
On this day, it was largely Spencer?s short game, and in particular his putting, that was
CLICK H ERE TO
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
nesws f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a
2019 Arizona Teaching Summit The PGA of Alberta?s Education Committee is proud to present the third annual winter ?Teaching Summit?hosted in the Arizona area. This 3-day educational event will give a select group of PGA of Alberta members (16 participants max.) a chance to observe and participate in interactive lessons with three of the most sought-after instructors in North America ? Pia Nilsson, Lynn Marriott (Vision54) and Gabriel Hjertstedt (Gabe Golf). During the 8-hours of instruction each day, participants will take a 60-minute lesson to work on their own game as well as develop their coaching skills by observing the other participants take their lessons; always with the ability to ask questions in real time to both student and PG 34 | SEP 2019
teacher. The combined cost of taking a single lesson with each instructor would normally cost in excess of $1000 CAD but PGA of Alberta members will have access to 16 hours of instruction at a fraction of that cost. Full details of the PGA of Alberta ?Arizona Teaching Summit?and biographies of both instructors can be found below. Immediately following this one-of-a-kind golf experience is the PGA of Canada Head Professional Championship at The Wigwam from December 3-6. We encourage all attendees to extend your trip and support our local Head Professionals competing in the tournament. Full details of the PGA of Alberta ?Arizona Teaching Summit?and biographies of both instructors can be found Here.
r esul t s f r om
pga of
IMAGE COURTESY: PGA OF ALBERTA
al ber t a
BY PGA O F A LBERTA
Riley Rises to the Challenge at Assistants?Championship Round 2 of the Cobra Puma Golf Sponsored Assistants? Championship at the gorgeous Lynx Ridge GC saw rainy and gloomy weather to start the day but beautiful conditions as the later groups and leaders started their back nines. It was an extremely exciting day as Riley Fleming (NGA Dome) and Wes Heffernan (Dynamic Motion Golf Performance Centre) distanced themselves from the field and battled it out all PG 36 | SEP 2019
afternoon to see who would take the Championship home. Everyone including competitors were glued to the online leaderboard as Riley and Wes dueled it out. Champion Riley Fleming had a great 3-under par 33 after 9 to sit at 8-under and two strokes off the lead. However, he raised his play to an even higher level on the back 9 and managed to card a stellar 4-under par 31 to finish the day at 7-under 64 and the CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
tournament at a ridiculous 130 total. The turning point on the back 9 was hole 16 as Riley was able to make eagle and create 2 strokes of separation between himself and Wes. Heffernan started the day off in another dimension as he tore up the front 9 with an out-of-this-world 8-under par 28, with birdies on the first 5 holes, an eagle on the 6th, birdie on the 7th and two pars to finish 8th and 9th to sit at 10-under par through 9. He had a solid back 9 going even par to finish the day at 8-under par 63 and the tournament at 10-under for a total of 132. Holding onto sole possession of 3rd was Kent Fukushima (Redwood Meadows G&CC) who had a stellar 2 Rounds carding a 7-under par 64 on the first day and a 3-over par 74 for Round 2 for a tournament total of 138. Dillion Batsel (Desert Blume GC) finished in sole possession of 4th carding a 1-under par 70 PG 38 | SEP 2019
on Day 1 and 71 for Round 2 for a tournament total of 141. Eric Locke (Priddis Greens G&CC) (73, 69) and David MacComb (Blackhawk GC) (70, 72) ended tied for 5th with tournament totals?of 142. Blaine Kruger (Stony Plain GC) (68, 75) and Dustin Risdon (The Players Shack) (73, 70) ended tied for 7th both shooting tournament totals of 143. After Riley?s victory today, he has guaranteed himself a spot on the Alberta Assistants? Team which will be competing in the PGA of Canada Assistants?Championship hosted in Ontario on September 16-19. Special thanks to our wonderful long time sponsor Cobra Puma Golf and the entire Lynx Ridge GC team for hosting a great event! See full t ournament result s here.
r esul t s f r om
t hepga of
al ber t a
Heffernan Leaves History in the Dust at Fall Championship
So Wes Heffernan, what was the best part about winning the 2019 Alberta PGA SunIce/Bobby Jones Fall Championship? A) Coming from behind on Day 2 to win? B) Winning by six shots? C) The winner?s prize of $3,500? or D) Setting a new course record at the Royal Mayfair G&CC ? that was formerly held by some dude named Arnold ? umm ? Arnold Palmer that is.
answer, noting humbly that his record came on a somewhat different track than the one played by The King four decades ago. While Palmer carded a 64 at the end of his day on what was than a par-71 layout, the Calgarian posted a 63, on what?s now a par-70 design, to take over the lowest score ever at the Mayfair in Edmonton.
?The course?s are different so Without a whole lot of thought, they are two different records, Heffernan went to the final but it was pretty cool to do PG 40 | SEP 2019
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
some-thing like that. It?s something that I can always remember,?Heffernan said of comparing the two special numbers.
able to play 18 holes at Pinebrook (prior to the event) and I hit the ball fantastic so I was in a better frame of mind going in, for sure.?
Asked that lead-off question, Heffernan noted, ?Ah, the record to be honest. It?s pretty cool. To win the tournament and get the cheque is pretty cool, but you don?t get the chance to do stuff like that (set a course benchmark) very often. It was a 40-year-old record but it won?t be 40 years ? . it?ll probably get broken next year.?But for now, he holds a place in history that few will ever have a shot at matching.
Trailing after Round 1 by two shots to Dustin Risdon, Heffernan admitted he likes that position on the leaderboard rather than leading the charge, start to finish.
About the tournament itself, the winner noted he certainly wasn?t over-confident despite his strong play this season on the Alberta PGA circuit. ?I didn?t play, basically, until the weekend before this tournament and only nine holes and I played terrible,?he confided. ?So, my confidence wasn?t too high. Then, I was PG 41 | SEP 2019
?I prefer to chase,?he noted, adding that he often feels more comfortable moving up the leader-board as a tournament wears on and thus putting added pressure on those in front of him. This was one of those times he put that philosophy to work, in the best of ways.
CLICK H ERE TO
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
f r omt hef r inge
a night out wit h an
open champion BY GO RD M O N TGO M ERY, IN SID E GO LF
Pouring And Partaking Of A Few Pints With
Darren Clarke It?not often one can get up close for a one-on-one chat with a member of the PGA TOUR Champions. And while this Inside Golf writer didn?t get any private time with former Open champion Darren Clarke, save for a brief moment in a hotel lobby, during the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, there was an opportunity to sip a pint and listen to the affable Northern Irishman regale a sold-out crowd of fans with tales at Ceili?s Irish Pub, thanks to Tourism Calgary. PG 42 | SEP 2019
IMAGE CREDIT:GO RD M O N TGO M ERY
Here are some of the quips and comments Clarke, now 51, had to make about life on the tour, life after winning the Open, and simply his life in general. About hit t ing t he Ceremonial Tee Shot at t his year?s Brit ish Inside Golf'sGord Montgomery (The Little Guy) PosesWith 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke Open as a former champ and at his home course, Royal Port rush: CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
?They asked me about three weeks before to hit the opening shot. To hit the opening tee shot, you?re supposed to be something like 70! It?s almost like ceremonial but at the same time it?s not something you can say no to ? before I hit the opening shot, I was all cool. I?ve hit some big tee shots in my time. I was up at 5:40 in the morning practicing, chipping, putting, and everything was going great. And then I step onto that first tee and think ?Ah shit! What?s gonna PG 44 | SEP 2019
happen here?? About his play at t he lat est Open aft er st art ing t hree-under on t he first five holes of Round 2: ?I played nicely on the Friday (finishing at even par) and
CLICK H ERE TO
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 47
r esul t s f r om
IMAGE COURTESY: PGA TOUR
pga of
al ber t a
BY PGA O F CA N A DA
Calgary's Heffernan Wins PGA Assistants' Championship Of Canada Wes Heffernan elevated his game to the next level at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on Sept. 19th, capturing the PGA Assistants?Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf in impressive fashion. The 42-year-old from the Dynamic Motion Golf Performance Centre in Calgary capped off his first PGA of Canada national championship with a final-round 8-under-par 64, bringing his three-day total to -19. Heffernan?s championship run featured 19 birdies and more incredibly, not a single bogey for the week. "Today I played pretty much like I had all week,? PG 46 | SEP 2019
Heffernan said. ?I drove the ball really, but hit my irons great? especially on the back nine when I needed it most.? Heffernan?s five birdies on the final nine saw him put some space between himself his two playing competitors, Yohann Benson of Quebec and B.C.?s Oliver Tubb. All three were jostling for the lead throughout the front nine of the North Course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, but the back is when Heffernan took his play up a couple notches. For the full leaderboard CLICK HERE.
r esul t s f r om
IMAGE COURTESY: PGA OF ALBERTA
pga of
al ber t a
BY PGA O F A LBERTA
Darryl Dances His Way To Victory At PGA of Alberta Seniors?Championship Darryl James (NGA @ Shaganappi) came from behind to win the 2019 PGA of Alberta Seniors?Championship presented by Sponsor MKRAK Management Inc. with Round One and Two scores of 70-68 for a stellar two-day total 138 (6-under). James shot a Round Two low of 4-under to vault into the lead and take home the Championship for the second time (won in 2012).
Springs GC) who finished in Third by posting a two day total of 142 (2-under).
Grant Cammidge (72-69) (Red Tail Landing GC) finished alone in Second with excellent rounds of 72-69 for a two day total of 141 (3-under). Not far behind the leaders was defending Champ Scott Allred (69-73) (Elbow
Special thanks to Sturgeon Valley G&CC for hosting great Championship events, all the staff did an amazing job throughout the tournaments.
PG 48 | SEP 2019
Rounding out the top five were Gord Courage (70-74) (Hamptons GC) & Blair Oko (73-71) (Blair Oko Golf Academy) tied for Fourth with tournament totals of 144 (even par). Special shout out to Gord for winning the Super Seniors? Division for players 60 years & older.
Click here for the final results.
news about
IMAGES COURTESY: GORD MONTGOMERY
l ef t y's New cour se coming
Mickelson National GC to Offer Up Different Sort of Layout While it may seem a somewhat bold statement to proclaim a new golf course coming to life just west of Calgary as unique, once you set your eyes on Mickelson National, you see that declaration isn?t at all that out of line. Speaking about this new golf playground that?s still under construction and is presently offering free preview plays to the public, but which will turn private next year, David Forma put some context to a casual comment that there was PG 50 | SEP 2019
perhaps nothing else like this course in these parts. ?The golf course itself is not really true parkland and not really true links. When you look at other properties around Alberta they?re pretty clearly defined,?said Forma, the VP of Business Development for Windmill Golf. ?When you go to some signature, some name properties around Calgary, around Western Canada, it?s pretty clearly defined the style of golf you?re playing and what the golf course designer was CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
really looking to accomplish as far as the style of play. Mickelson?s a hybrid. It has 91 'linksy' bunker complexes around the property. It has a lot of centre-cut fairways with bunkering that gives it a links feel. It has quite a bit of slope and undulation as well as slope on greens. ?But on the flip side, every shot is out in front of you here. It?s not station-to-station, landing area to landing area with blind shots like you find on a lot of links properties. So, it is not like any other property out there. It was designed that way on purpose to give you a different feel.? Looking More Like A Painting PG 52 | SEP 2019
Than A Photograph, This Shot Of One Of The Drivable Par-4 Holes At Mickelson National GC Is Not Only Pleasant To Look At But A Pleasure To Play. (Photo/Gord Montgomery) The interesting twist to this facility is that while it can play long, really long in fact, it can also play to the Average Joe?s and Median Mary?s abilities given its
CLICK H ERE TO
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
news f r om
IMAGE COURTESY: GORD MONTGOMERY
TheChampions
Tour in Cal gar y BY GO RD M O N TGO M ERY, IN SID E GO LF
Everyone?s a Winner at Calgary?s Shaw Charity Classic Whether you were a competitor, a fan, a sponsoring company, or the business community at large, you walked away from the 2019 Shaw Charity Classic as a winner. While Wes Short , Jr. picked up the winner?s share, $352,500, of the total $2.35 million purse offered at this year?s PGA TOUR Champions event, every player who teed it up, and finished, received a cheque of PG 54 | SEP 2019
some amount. As for the fans that flocked to the event, they also went home richer, although in a different way, by having seen some of the biggest names in the game on the over-50 circuit. Then, kids? charities throughout Alberta profited to the tune of around $12 million thanks to several unique, and fun, fund-raising ideas. But perhaps the biggest winner, by far, over CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
tournament week was the business community in Calgary, which according to tourism officials saw an economic impact of somewhere around $33 million. Carson Ackroyd, the Senior Vice President of Sales for Tourism Calgary, said that the annual Labour Day weekend golf tournament is a huge yearly event that does nothing but good for the entire city. ?When we get major events like this, and certainly the Champions Tour is a significant event, not only do we get people who travel to the city to come and watch, but the city also gets the (destination) profile,?brought about through the auspices of Golf Channel broadcasts and other media coverage. ?On top of that, the infrastructure and the individuals that come to put the tournament on have a huge economic impact. They are spending locally, working PG 55 | SEP 2019
IMAGE COURTESY: DAVE FINN
Former Calgary Resident Stephen AmesWasOne Of Two CanadiansIn ThisYear's Shaw Charity Classic In Calgary, And His Attendance Was Likely One Of The Driving Forces Behind The Large Number Of Fans That Showed Up For ThisYear's Tournament.
with local companies. All of those have an impact on local economies. Overall, this event
CLICK H ERE TO
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
r esul t s f r om
IMAGE COURTESY: PGA OF ALBERTA
pga of
al ber t a
BY PGA O F A LBERTA
Rogers
Rolls To Repeat At 2019 PGA of Alberta Ladies?Championship
Marsha Rogers (The Derrick G&WC) put together two solid rounds at the 2019 PGA of Alberta Ladies?Championship hosted at Sturgeon Valley G&CC to successfully defend her title. Marsha carded a 74-77 for a two day total of 151 to secure the Championship and become the 5th female in the Association to win the trophy back-to-back years. Shannon Werbicki (Royal PG 56 | SEP 2019
Mayfair GC) played solid over the two days to finish in second while Rhonda Cart er (Canyon Meadows G&CC) took home third place sitting a few strokes back of Shannon. Thank you to everyone who played in this year's Championship. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year! Click here for more information.
t he
IMAGE COURTESY: PGA OF ALBERTA
member
pr of il e
Patrick O?Doherty Current Golf Facilit y: McKenzie Meadows GC Member Classificat ion: Class A Professional Educat ion Background: Grant MacEwan University PG 57 | SEP 2019
Q. W hat significant accomplishment s are you most proud of? Winning my first tournament in 2015 Click to Read the Full Story
The
par t ing
shot
Puttering Around
Golf shows are great for seeing all the cool stuff that golf manufacturers have to offer. At a recent Alberta Golf Show, this table gave attendees plenty to choose from if they were in the market for a new flatstick. PG 58 | SEP 2019
THIS IS THE
ENDOFTHE MAGAZINE Remaining Pages Are Cont inuat ions Of Art icles St art ed Previously In The Magazine.
D O UBLE CLICK H ERE TO
SEE THE TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROUDLY POW ERED BY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52
set up. Forma pointed out that Mickelson presents some reachable par-four holes, some lengthy par-threes, and some gettable par-fives. But, on the reverse, those holes can also play diametrically opposite. ?It?s going to test every club in your bag on every hole. There are collections of similar holes, drivable fours, four 600-yarders, long threes, short threes, long fours and short fours. As a result of that, saying that it?s like nothing else out there, I think for Western Canada, for Calgary and the country, it is very unique.? What one doesn?t necessarily feel, see, or take advantage of on their first tour of what?s presently in play is the fact there are areas designed to allow for some breathing room if you?re not a tour calibre player. ?I think there?s a big word that Phil and his design team focused on which was ?playability,?and that shines through in a variety of ways,? Forma noted. Those ?helping | SEP 2019
hands: include playable bunker complexes, different cuts of fairways, and areas where if your shot strays a wee bit it?s not penalized too harshly, if at all. ?Phil wanted areas where if you missed as you come into a green site you have a fair opportunity to make a score but still test your short game,?Forma explained of that Phil-osophy ?Phil is obviously a master short game player so on a lot of green complexes around the property, no matter what style of hole it is, no matter the size of the green or the bunker complexes, there is always a great, what I?d call a ?miss area?or a collection area. You can miss, but then you?re going to have to get your wedge out and get creative,?in getting up and down. When this idea first came to life CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE XX
not all that long ago, there was talk that this track could possibly one day play host to the PGA TOUR?s Canadian Open. That?s certainly something that?s not off the books by any means, said Forma.
One Of The Top Public Courses, Not Only In Calgary Or Alberta, But In All Of Canada, When Completed in 2020. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)
What Will Be The Tenth Hole In The Roation At Mickelson National is Another Piece Of Eye Candy, On What Will Be
previewplay. mickelsonnational.com.
It is expected the full 18 holes will be in play in the Spring of 2019, with the clubhouse being ?You can never predict the a bit behind that given building future. Obviously there?s a lot of permit requirement timelines. parties that would be involved But, Forma promised, those in a decision like that,?but let it plans are all well underway and be said that everything needed when all is said and done, this is being done to play that card if, new playground is most and when, the time comes. certainly going to be something Mickelson National GC does special, not only in the Calgary have all the components or Alberta areas but most likely necessary to stage a major in all of the country. event, including the yardages For more on the Mickelson (one configuration suggests an National GC, and its 8,000 yard monster) needed to membership options, go to host a PGA TOUR event. ?(All mickelsonnational.com and those things) certainly put us in follow the links. And if you a position that at some point in haven?t tested this track out yet, the future we could have a you still have a bit of time favourable property that would before the preview plays attract the interest of a major conclude at the end of championship.? September, by going to
| SEP 2019
THISISTHE ENDOFTHEARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
CONTINUE READINGMAGAZINE (FROMWHEREYOULEFTOFF)
THISISTHE ENDOFTHEARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
SEETABLE OFCONTENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
Four-time Club Pro Champion and host Scott Allred (Elbow Springs GC) and defending champion Jamie Gerlitz (Picture Butte GC) sat only two shots behind heading into day two. Another fine day saw minimal wind and blue skies for Round 2 on the Mountain Course making for favourable scoring conditions once again.
Allred had a tough downhill lie for his 15-foot chip while Borsa's precise iron approach gave him a makeable putt for a three. Allred got unlucky as his chip took a heavy bounce leaving him a 20-foot putt for birdie which he lipped out.
Borsa then sealed the championship with a two-putt birdie earning his first win of Scott Borsa (Devon GC) looked the season. to elevate his play after Phil McCluskey (River Bend shooting a 72 on day one and G&RA) matched his first round fired a solid 3-under 69 early 71 to take sole possession of that included 6 birdies in 3rd in the championship round 2 to take the clubhouse finishing one shot back. lead. Defending Champion Gerlitz That left Scott Allred needing followed up his first-round 71 to birdie the 18th hole to with a 73 to settle for sole 4th. secure a playoff and Allred PING has been a Champion came through with a clutch Partner of the PGA of Alberta putt. for over 14 years and has Great tee shots by both supported the Club Pro competitors on the 1st hole of Championship since 2006. the playoff at the par 5 18th For more about Ping, visit left each with legitimate shots Here. at eagle. | SEP 2019
ENDOF ARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
CONTINUE READINGMAGAZINE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
SEETABLEOF CONTENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27
IMAGE COURTESY: @HEFFGOLF
The Sweet Swinging WesHeffernan Carded A Course Record 9-Under In HisOpening Round At Red Deer'sRiverbend G&RA En Route To HisFirst Title In Four TriesAt The Alberta PGA Championship
kick-started the second day?s round for him rather than shaving strokes off his score.
?I started the round by missing low as possible. two really short putts on three As for following a great round and five. I think there was a with another good one, four- or five-way tie for the Heffernan said he approached lead then so that was probably the final 18 knowing he the best thing that could have couldn?t take his foot off the happened to me. Just a little gas pedal. kick in the butt to get going!? ?There were a bunch of guys at That?s exactly what happened as Heffernan eagled the eighth 6-under, a bunch at five, a hole and then birdied the next bunch at four, so one of those two after that to stretch is lead guys could get to 12, 13 or 14 (under). So if I just rested on my back up to ?three or four,?and 9-under I likely wasn?t going to which put him into ?the same mode I was the first day. I think win. I just tried to make I was six or seven under after birdies,?but it was a couple of the fifth hole so other than the mistakes that actually | SEP 2019
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
first five holes yesterday (Day 2), over 31 holes of golf I didn?t really make any mistakes. It was pretty efficient golf.? Those holes provided the victor with a nice payday of $5,700 for his efforts but more than anything, proved to Heffernan that he did have what it takes to win out there. After all, in his three previous tries at taking this particular title, he?d finished second each time, and each time by one stroke. Add to that the same number of runner-up finishes at the Assistants?Championship, again all by one stroke, and you?d think he'd have to be wondering it he?d ever top the leaderboard.
The answer to that, of course, was a resounding ?Yes!?. Noting he?d lost those previous tournaments to some pretty good players including Fleming, Dustin Risdon and Adam Bruce, this year?s champ said, ?There definitely was extra incentive to win. I won the Fall Championship last year, so that kind of got me over the hump, where I finally beat Dustin or Riley. "And I?d played quite well at the (PGA TOUR Mackenzie Tour) ATB Classic (in Calgary), so this kind of kept my momentum going,?and showed that indeed one good round can follow another.
About t he W rit er Gord Montgomery isa member in good standing of the Golf JournalistsAssociation of Canada. He isnow in his10th year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He?salso on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2. | SEP 2019
THISISTHE ENDOFTHEARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
CONTINUE READINGMAGAZINE (FROMWHEREYOULEFTOFF)
THISISTHE ENDOFTHEARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
SEETABLE OFCONTENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41
?You do feed off other guys but a lot of times, this year and last, I fed off Riley (Fleming, who was third in this event) and with him you know you have to make birdies. This was a little differ-ent because I was behind early and I started off slow (on the final day). I made some putts on the front nine, and suddenly I think I was up by four. So within a two hour frame of time, I went from two down to a four-shot lead.?
Heading into what will be his final two events of the year, the PGA of Alberta Pro/Pro and the Canadian Assistants Championship, Heffernan says he?s going into both with his confidence up.
?I had a couple of 15-footers, a couple of 20-footers,?he stated. ?I had a sliding 25-footer on nine,?to post a 30 on the front side on the final day and take control of the tournament. ?It was just one of those nine holes.?
next year, so I kind of wanted to go out this year and play really well,?which, needless to say given what?s transpired over the past few months, he did.
?It?s nice to have won a few times, especially against guys like Riley (and Dustin). It?s nice to fi-nally win against those guys because I finished second so many times last year. To win by six gives me confidence but A big part of that, he continued, then unfortunately, it?ll be was making his time on the seven months off,?due to an greens as short as possible. upcoming big moment, as he While the winner said he didn?t and his wife are expecting their stick any approach shots overly second child in November. close to the hole, he wasn?t ?My focus won?t be on golf for missing when he pulled his the next little while. There putter out of the bag. won?t be any tournaments until
| SEP 2019
ENDOF ARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
CONTINUE READINGMAGAZINE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
SEETABLEOF CONTENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55
has a very positive impact on the city.?
play in this event in the Pro-Am a number of times and (tour) players will tell you the crowds Ackroyd went on to explain that come out to support it are that the tournament was brought to Calgary through the one of the top on their circuit so they really do enjoy coming efforts of ?a group of to Calgary, because they get champions (including the late great fan support,?Ackroyd Clay Riddel),?who explained. spearheaded the campaign to bring the PGA TOUR However, all that being said, Champions event to this city this week is about more than seven years ago. ?This group of just the golf tournament to patrons got behind the idea Tourism Calgary. Sure, this and had the vision, and major sporting event is what basically the drive, who could brings people to town but it?s go out and convince the tour to all the other activities in this make a stop in Calgary and that vibrant community that his it would be supported here.? association looks to highlight to the visiting public, Ackroyd That vision has proven true. continued. Year after year the Shaw Charity Classic has drawn enthusiastic golf fans who love the ability to observe, first-hand, the skills the players put on display for three days at the Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club. And it?s not only the spectators who love what they?re witnessing. ?I?ve been fortunate enough to | SEP 2019
?As the event gets established we look to find ways to make sure the destination gets profiled during the week,? partly through social media reports by the players themselves. ?We also look to use our social channels and our networks to amplify the tournament itself so that it CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
continues to be successful and that it continues to want to invest and come back here.?
money gets donated for charity and a lot of businesses do hosting during that week.?
While the charitable contributions made by the Shaw Charity Classic continue to draw the headlines each and every year - that total was over $32 million in the first half-dozen go-rounds - the economic impact on the entire community at large is also astounding. And, says Ackroyd, the hope is that continues as this PGA TOUR Champions event, the only one in Canada, keeps rolling along.
As for the continuation of the event, Ackroyd hopes it has a long run.
?This event has substantial impact on the local economy. You get a lot of the business community out supporting the Pro-Ams where a lot of the
?I think from Calgary?s markets? perspective it?s certainly one that we?d want to continue to have a long run. When you get events that have a longer run that?s when you can best start to leverage it, because people get used to having it there ? so you really hope the city supports it so that the dollars and cents really make sense for this event to be able to continue. And, we?re fortunate that this city has embraced it.?
About t he W rit er Gord Montgomery isa member in good standing of the Golf JournalistsAssociation of Canada. He isnow in his10th year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He?salso on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2. | SEP 2019
THISISTHE ENDOFTHEARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
CONTINUE READINGMAGAZINE (FROMWHEREYOULEFTOFF)
THISISTHE ENDOFTHEARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
SEETABLE OFCONTENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32
the magic potion for stirring up the win. He went on that putting rampage over the final few holes, propelling the brothers to the one-shot win over a team led by one of the big names in Alberta golf circles, Wes Heffernan. ?Actually, I made nine (birdies) by myself, and Nick made one, on the one hole there that I bogeyed,?Spencer explained. ?I think I made eight or nine putts in a row on the back nine. They weren?t bombs or anything,? but they found the bottom of the cup on a constant basis and that?s a key ingredient to
what?s needed to win in this sort of tournament. Having never seen the Raven course at Priddis before, Nick said of the end result, ?I don?t think we were expecting that much. We?d heard good things about Priddis so we decided to just take a day and go up there,?which proved to be well worthwhile. The Ladies Division in the event was captured by the team of Rhonda Carter from Canyon Meadows G&CC and Kim Valleau from the Winston GC, both located in Calgary.
About t he W rit er Gord Montgomery isa member in good standing of the Golf JournalistsAssociation of Canada. He isnow in his10th year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He?salso on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2. | SEP 2019
ENDOF ARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
CONTINUE READINGMAGAZINE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
SEETABLEOF CONTENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44
started well the second day. Then I took a treble bogey on a hole (the 18th) I?ve never taken a treble on before ? and I was so pissed I lost the power of speech for a day after I missed the cut! I was so pissed walking off that 18th green!?
about 6 a.m. in the morning and we?d run out of red wine and beer so it was a case of ?Do I go to sleep or keep going??
?But overall, the tournament was a huge success and I enjoyed being a part of it. And thankfully, touch wood, I?m exempt until I?m 60 so I may have another shot at it!?
?I thought I?d have one, then I had another one, then another one. They found me in the kitchen at 8:30 in the morning, hammered, still in the same clothes I?d come off the 18th green. They told me I?d have to go home and get changed, which I did, and then I went up and I allegedly tried to speak to the world! It was one of those moments I was always going to cherish and enjoy ? For me it was a culmination of years of work and trying to achieve what I?d achieved ? and I enjoyed it a little too much!?
About another Irishman, Shane Lowry, winning this year?s Open and the celebration: ?Very few people celebrate the way Irishmen do. We tend to do it right!? About his own celebrat ion aft er winning t he Open in 2011 : ?Oh, wasted! We had a party afterwards and that went until about 1 a.m. Then we went to the house we were staying in and carried on drinking ? and carried on drinking! It got to | SEP 2019
?I opened a closet and found a large bottle of vodka and 24 cans of Red Bull ? it was if it was fate!
In Ireland, or maybe around t he world, have you bought a pint since you won t he Open? ?Bought, and consumed many, yes!? CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
About being one of t he most likeable at hlet es in t he world: ?Athlete is a very generous term! Athletes are the modern golfer not the old ones!? On winning t he World Golf Championship Mat ch Play in 2000 including defeat ing Tiger Woods 4&3 in t he final: ?It was very cool. In match play you?ve got 64 of the best players in the world. I played quite nicely, played OK, and held off Tiger in the final round. They handed me the cheque on whatever green it was, the 16th green, for I forget what it was, one million and 96 thousand dollars.? About Rory McIlroy: ?He?s just ridiculously gifted ? He?s probably more gifted than anyone I?ve ever seen, apart from Tiger.? About t ransport at ion and his love for fast cars (including having owned 15 Ferraris): ?Lambos (Lamborghini), Ferraris, you name it over the | SEP 2019
years. All sorts of stupid things. I?ve got a need for speed. It?s just one of those sorts of things; I?m alright now. But whatever. It was just one of those things ? Living in London they?re two a penny. You see them all over the place but in Northern Ireland there was very few there, so I didn?t want people to see me driving a Ferrari or Lambo and say ?There?s that dickhead, Darren Clarke,?so ? ? So, what do you drive now? A mini-van? ?No, Now I?ve only got two!? Can you just show up anywhere and play? ?It depends on what your record is. It depends on how much you won, where you?ve won. That makes things a little bit easier. For the most part, if you wanted to play somewhere, the courtesy is to call the head professional. That?s the right way to do it and if you do that you?d have a CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
good chance of getting on.? About t he Shaw Charit y Classic: ?The whole team has done a wonderful job. It?s wonderful to see an event which gets all of the local people?s attention. Everybody knows about it. Everybody is aware of the Shaw Charity Classic. This was my second event on the Champions Tour last year and
one of the guys said ?You go up to Calgary and see the crowds and it?s like a full blown PGA event. We go to a lot of tournaments, and don?t get me wrong, they?re wonderful tournaments but we don?t get that big of crowds. The atmosphere helps us. The crowds make it better and this is probably the best attended one out of all those championships.? IMAGE CREDIT: DARREN CLARKE TW ITTER
| SEP 2019
ENDOF ARTICLE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
CONTINUE READINGMAGAZINE DOUBLECLICKHERETO
SEETABLEOF CONTENTS