The 2026 Alberta Golf High Performance Program athletes were announced on December 1 based on the set 2025 Performance Criteria. The 98 players who made the list among Tiers 2 and 3 are some of the top players within the province and we’re looking forward to watching their continued development in 2026.
Identified players can be viewed using the link below.
About the Program
The objective of the program is to support identified players reach their developmental and competitive goals while providing guidance in securing the most appropriate post-secondary golf scholarship.
The program aims to achieve this through supporting athletes, coaches, parents, and facilities through a tiered identification program that provides developmental training opportunities, competition guidance, and funding support for players who qualify.
Alberta Golf is committed to developing well rounded individuals as well as high performing athletes. The core values of the program are inclusiveness, respect, ethical practices and support. Ensuring these values are in place is critical to the success of Alberta golfers.
This year’s program has some minor changes including the naming of the tiers and adjusted age eligibility for players. We’re pleased to announce the 2026 criteria that will be used to identify the 2027 high performance athletes’ next fall. We’ve also created documents that will help parents, players and coaches to better understand how players achieve tier status.
Performance Criteria: Explained
The performance criteria established for each tier are meticulously selected based on a range of predetermined requirements. These criteria ensure alignment with the Alberta Golf Competitive Roadmap and incorporate identified and ranked WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking) and JGS (Junior Golf Scoreboard) events. The focus is on providing athletes with opportunities at the local, provincial, national, and international levels, with an emphasis on Alberta Golf and Alberta-based competitions, alongside regional and national Golf Canada championships.
The accompanying spreadsheet details the factors influencing the selection of placement requirements at the chosen events for each tier level. A primary focus in establishing the result criteria is the WAGR ranking of the event and the total field size. Based on these parameters, a specific finish, defined as a percentage of the overall field, is established for each tier, outlining the precise required placement to meet the criteria for that event.
For Alberta Golf events and selected NextGen events, the required results have been ‘boosted’ to create additional opportunities for players to achieve these standards. For example, in the Alberta Girls U19 event, which features a field of 30 players, the top 30% are recognized for achievement. Initially determined to require a top 9 finish, the boost increases the required result to a top 15 finish, thereby enhancing opportunities for participants to succeed and encouraging broader participation in provincial and regional events.
The performance criteria events and placing requirements are reviewed each season and required or necessary changes are made and communicated accordingly.
Female Performance Criteria Breakdown
Male Performance Criteria Breakdown
Tier Names and Criteria
Tier 1 – International
Tier 1 players are those who excel at the national level, consistently achieving winning results. They are well-acquainted with national championships, regularly finishing in the top 10, and have celebrated victories in provincial championships. These players are on the brink of reaching their full potential as golfers and receive high-level coaching support to refine their skills.
Tier 2 – National
Tier 2 players consistently compete at the national level, successfully making the cut in national championships. At the provincial level, they are strong contenders in provincial championships and often represent Alberta on inter-provincial teams during national competitions. While they are still in development, these players possess well-defined golf games and focus on specific, actionable areas for growth, backed by substantial coaching support in most cases.
Tier 3 – Provincial
Tier 3 players primarily participate at the provincial level, successfully making the cut in provincial championships. They are in the developmental stage of their golfing journey, working on building their overall games and gaining competition experience at various local and provincial levels. They benefit from the mentorship of club professionals and junior leaders for guidance in their development.
Tier 4 – Club
Tier 4 players are juniors competing at the club level, participating in club events and junior mini-tours, while receiving guidance from their local PGA professionals. They are focused on honing their skills and gaining valuable experience in a supportive environment.
Age Eligibility
To ensure alignment with the program’s objectives, Tier 3 is now a U19 category which is split into 4 age identified categories: U19, U17, U15, & U13. These players are in the key development stages, and this age eligibility adjustment ensures the appropriate resources are applied to Alberta junior golfers.
Tier’s 1 and 2 are now reserved for those who are active university golfers or younger to continue the support of players who’ve come through the program and are currently on post-secondary golf scholarships.
High-Performance Summits
With the 2026 identified athletes being named, Alberta Golf is pleased to announce the first two developmental opportunities for the athletes, the 2026 High-Performance Summits.
The summits aim to provide valuable insights into the Alberta Golf High Performance program, as well as opportunities for parents and players to engage with esteemed guest speakers. Past speakers have focused on crucial topics such as mental performance, fitness, game development and past experiences as professional athletes.
The summit details are below. Both summits begin at 11:30am and finish at 4:30pm with lunch being provided to parents and athletes.
Calgary Region Summit – Saturday, January 10th at the Heritage Pointe Golf Club
CALgary region hp summit registration
Edmonton Region Summit – Saturday, January 17th at the Windermere Golf & Country Club
EDmonton region hp Summit Registration
Any questions about the 2026 Alberta Golf High Performance Program, please connect with John Deneer, john@albertagolf.org.