Team Alberta, The Game Before the Game

On the score card, the game begins at the first tee box. For the players however, it starts long before that. Team Alberta has been performing phenomenally well to start the 2016 season. The CN Future Links Pacific Championship in Kamloops turned out to be one of the best all-around tournaments in recent history for Alberta players, and the PGA Junior Masters was won by Team Alberta members on both the girls and boys sides. All of this considered, it is easy to get lost in the magic that seems to be happening on the course during tournament play. Although, if you asked the players, they’d tell you that magic has nothing to do with it.

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Brendan MacDougall (left) and

Christopher Horton (right) take a minute to read the green on 9 during the practice round at The Dunes at Kamloops.

Tournament preparation for the budding Alberta Golf Team starts long before tee time, days before in fact. Competing in national events means extensive travel, often times all over the country. For the CN Future Links Pacific Championship in Kamloops, it was an eight hour bus ride through the Rockies that brought Team Alberta to the tournament. Once the team arrives at their destination, their pre-competition routine has all but begun. The day before official play begins, the team is up with the sunrise and on course for an early shot gun start. During their practice round, players need to fine tune their game, discuss strategy with their coaches, and familiarize themselves with a course that is miles from home.

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Team Alberta Coach

Randy Robb discusses strategy with two of his players during the practice round at The Dunes at Kamloops.

Team Alberta’s day is far from over when they step off the course. Team meetings, healthy meals, and an evening yoga session are awaiting them upon arrival back at the hotel. Amongst this extensive routine, the players find support in each other in order to relax and mentally prepare for the busy few days of competition ahead of them. Finally, last minute adjustments are put in place at early driving range and putting green sessions the morning of the opening round. With that, the game before the game comes to an end, and the competitors make their way to the tee box with the hope that all their hard work will translate to low scores for themselves and their teammates. The video (below) chronicles the events discussed above, providing a behind the scenes look into Team Alberta’s early success so far this season.

 

 

 

The 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine is now available!

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The Alberta Golfer Magazine is the official magazine of Alberta Golf. Originally published in 1986, The Alberta Golfer is an annual print and digital magazine that is distributed to all member facilities and individual members. It is Canada’s premier provincial golf publication that has educated, informed and highlighted the game of golf in Alberta and across Canada for over three decades. The Alberta Golfer offers something for everyone whether you’re a golf professional, a proud member, or just getting into the game. Expect to find the latest industry news, feature stories, profiles on the people that contribute to golf in this province, provincial, national and international achievements of our top athletes and much more. The Alberta Golfer aims to enhance your enjoyment of the game and bring you closer to golf in Alberta.

The Official Magazine of Alberta Golf  2016 is now available, please click here to enjoy the 2016 edition!

In this issue…

FEATURES

* Innisfail Hosts Men’s Amateur
* Take The High Road
* Whitville
* She Swings She Scores
* Social Media Growing Golf
* Stepping Up The F&B Game
* The Life Of A Course Rater

* The Year In Pictures

PEOPLE 

* Heffernan Changes Focus
* Riley’s Green
* Veteran Bests The Young Guns
* The Champions
* Jennifer Ha Becoming Her Own Team
* The Real Boss Of The Moss
* Legends In Their Own Time
* A Resilient Love
* Albertan’s Abroad

* The Return Of The Ashdown Cup

TRAVEL 

* Golf The North

* International Sport Exchange Diary

WHAT’S NEW

* Shaw Charity Classic
* New Clubhouse In Innisfail
* Mackenzie Tour Returns To Edmonton
* Fort McMurray GC
* Alberta Net Amateur

* CPWO Returns To Priddis Greens

INDUSTRY

* Message From Alberta Golf CEO
* The Rules Have Changed
* Junior Golf Development Centres
* Tournament Schedule
* Olympic Revival
* Golf Fore The Cure
* Going The Distance
* Team Alberta ‘TAPS’ Into Talent

Visit your local member facility to pick up a hard-copy print version of The Alberta Golfer Magazine l 2016. Do you have a question, comment or concern? Write to us via email at info@albertagolf.org.

She Swings She Scores Program Launch

Alberta Golf (Calgary) – Alberta Golf is excited to announce the launch of She Swings She Scores, a program designed to introduce girls aged 6-12 to the sport of golf. She Swings She Scores focuses on girls currently participating in hockey by encouraging them to switch their hockey sticks for golf clubs at local hockey tournaments and community events. The goal of the program is to bring golf directly to girls and provide opportunities for players and teammates to learn the sport together in a fun, safe and developmental environment.

“Our goal over the next four years is to spark an interest in girls to try golf, bringing more of this key demographic into a game for life,” explains Matt Rollins, Executive Director/CEO at Alberta Golf.

Alberta Golf will set up an onsite hitting station and kiosk at hockey tournaments, where girls can try using golf clubs, enter in contests and get free swag. In addition to introducing the girls to golf, the program will educate parents and coaches about the Learn to Golf Field Trip Program.

“This initiative is a model for collaboration and partnership across provincial sport organizations in support of underrepresented and marginalized group’s participation in sport opportunities,” says Aaron Lavorato, Sport Consultant at Alberta Sport Connection. Support for the sport program is provided by Sport Canada and Alberta Sport Connection.

The first She Swings She Scores event will take place at The Olds Sport Complex in Olds on January 15th, 2016. For more information, visit our website or contact angela@albertagolf.org

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Seen above is the inflatable hitting room that will travel to girls hockey tournaments across Alberta.


Learn to Golf Field Trip Program

The Learn to Golf Field Trip Program will be hosted at various Alberta Golf member golf courses, featuring four instructional sessions (equipment provided) with a PGA of Alberta Professional. Each session will involve an hour of introductory basics to golf, as well as lunch, snacks, golf swag and transportation to and from the golf course. The purpose of the field trips is to instill a positive golf experience for girls and a greater awareness of the next steps to become involved in the sport of golf.

The PGA of Canada will also be introducing a Community Golf Coach training workshop that is designed for individuals who work with children and youth to introduce the basic skills of golf. The training workshop will help prepare individuals to run the She Swings She Score and Learn to Golf Field Trips.

If you are interested in hosting a Learn to Golf Field Trip at your facility please contact angela@albertagolf.org