Alberta Golf Mourns The Passing of Doug Silverberg
January 16, 1933 – Red Deer, Alberta
May 20, 2025 – Calgary, Alberta
Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Athlete
Douglas “Doug” Howard Silverberg, a man of extraordinary talent, deep integrity, and boundless love for his family, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, well visited by those who cherished him. He was 92.
Born with a competitive spirit and a generous heart, Doug came from humble beginnings and lived a life rich in achievement. He was the devoted husband to Carole Silverberg, his partner in love and life for 58 years. Together, they built a life full of friends and family and a passion for Flathead Lake, MT. He is survived by his brother, Dick, and was predeceased by his sister Babe. He also leaves behind eleven nieces and nephews.
Doug was the proud father of three sons, Doug (Kim), Kyle (Angie), and Scott (Melanie)—each of whom he mentored with wisdom, strength, and wit. He was also the deeply adored grandfather of nine grandchildren, Taylor, Kara, Cole, Jack, Jenna, Brooke, Lara, Heath, and Liam—each of whom he shared a unique, loving, and unforgettable bond with. To them, he was more than a grandfather—he was a hero, a confidant, and a lifelong source of inspiration.
His natural ability and drive for excellence revealed itself early. At Colorado College, he was an All-American defenseman for all three years he played—a testament to both his athletic prowess and relentless work ethic. His success on the ice was only the beginning.
In the world of golf, Doug rose to extraordinary heights. A fierce competitor with a stoic demeanor, he achieved victory in World Cup matches, Commonwealth matches, represented his province an astounding 22 times on the Willingdon Cup team, and crowned his amateur career with a prestigious Canadian Seniors Championship win. These achievements speak not only to his skill, but to the discipline and sheer will with which he approached the game—and life. He was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Professionally, Doug enjoyed a successful career with London Life, where he built strong relationships and earned the respect of clients and colleagues alike. He brought the same integrity and commitment to his career as he did to sport and family.
He leaves behind a legacy not just of success, but of love, generosity, authenticity, and deep human connection.
There will not be a public celebration of life.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Alberta Golf, 22 11410 27 Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2Z 3R6, Telephone: (403) 236-4616, www.albertagolf.org, in support of junior golf in Alberta.
Jackie Little & Cathy McMillan Announced As 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees
Alberta Golf is proud to announce the newest members of the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame, as the class of 2025 was announced officially today. Cathy McMillan (Galusha) and Jackie Little (Davies) both boast impressive playing records throughout their careers which include a combined four Alberta U19 (Junior) Championships, two Alberta Women’s Amateur Championships, four Alberta Women’s Senior Championships, five Canadian Championships (ranging from Junior Girls to Women’s Senior), and a plethora of interprovincial and international teams.
Little and McMillan will both be given the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame Player Award and will join a long list of the top provincial players including names like Betty Stanhope-Cole, Marilyn O’Connor, Rae Milligan-Simpson, and many more. The Player Award is presented to any player that is deemed to have brought recognition to the province through excellence in golf championship play at the international, national, provincial, and regional levels.
Cathy McMillan was a staple in the competitive golf landscape for over 50 years, as she competed against and with many of the names already enshrined in the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame. Bursting onto the scene with a win at the 1963 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, McMillan then added two Alberta Junior Girls victories in the following years. From 1965 to 1991, she would go on to make 15 Alberta Interprovincial Teams, including the 1973 team that won the Women’s Interprovincial Team Championship. She finished as runner-up seven times at the Alberta Women’s Amateur in that span before making the switch to the Senior side of things. Then from 1996 to 2006, she made every Alberta Women’s Senior Interprovincial team, including being a member of the four teams that won the interprovincial championships in 1997,1998,1999, and 2001. In 2006 she capped off her provincial career with a win at the Alberta Women’s Senior Championship. She also played in the 2004 Irish Senior Women’s Championship where she finished third and played in the 2004 British Senior Women’s & USGA Senior Women’s Championships.
In the late 2000’s McMillan focused more on growing the game in the province and was the Director of Player Development at Alberta Golf from 2004-2009, and continues to volunteer her time with local golf competitions at her home club of Ponoka Golf Club.
Jackie Little found success early and often in Alberta. Coming out of the Glendale Golf & Country Club, Little won both the Alberta Junior and Juvenile Girls Championships in 1974 and 1976, won the Alberta Women’s Amateur in 1978 and 1981, and was a member of four Alberta Junior Girls Interprovincial teams and three Alberta Women’s Interprovincial teams. She then moved to British Columbia where she continued her dominance winning five BC Amateurs, five Senior Amateurs, and two Mid-Masters. She continued to come back to Alberta in the summer and win three Alberta Women’s Senior Championships. In addition to her provincial victories; she won the PNGA Women’s Senior twice, four national championships including a Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master, and a Senior victory, and has been a member of World Amateur teams and a Canadian Commonwealth Team.
Little is still playing on the Senior circuit and won the 2024 Alberta Women’s Super Senior Championship and hopes to continue to add to her impressive legacy.
The 2025 Alberta Golf Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction will take place on October 30, 2025 at the Edmonton Country Club with invitations being sent out in July to all the esteemed guests.
At this time Alberta Golf would like to call for future nominations to the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame. Please use the link below to fill out a nomination form, and email this to Taylor Tracey, taylor@albertagolf.org.
2024 Hall of Fame Induction Video Recap
2024 Hall of Fame Celebration Announced
(Herb Black and Munro Hunter in the final match of the 1919 Men’s Amateur)
The Alberta Golf Hall of Fame is proud to announce their 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, who will all be inducted into a new category of the Hall of Fame, known as the Pioneers.
The category of Pioneers was created this year specifically for this group of Inductees to honour their accomplishments and ensure they were properly recognized at the same level as the rest of the Hall of Fame members.
The Pioneer Clubs are the Calgary Golf & Country Club, Edmonton Country Club, Calgary St. Andrews Golf Club, Lethbridge Country Club, and Fort Macleod Golf Club. These five clubs were some of the first golf clubs in the province, and in October 1911 came together for a meeting where the idea of a provincial sport organization was created. A year later the Alberta Golf Association was created with the focus of providing amateur championships for the players. These five clubs are the true founders of the Alberta Golf Association.
The Pioneer Players being inducted are Janet Sparrow, Irene Horne, Mrs. J. Train Gray, Patricia Arnold, Charlie Hague, J. Munroe Hunter, Carson MacWilliams, Stu Vickers, Jim Hogan, and Fred Wells. Many of these players are the inaugural champions of the Men’s Amateur, Women’s Amateur, the U19 (Junior) Championship, and the Senior Championships. While many of these names have been long forgotten, they are the ones who paved the way for the future of the game.
The Pioneer Distinguished Service Award Builders are William Brinkworth, Tom Scott, Bill Broadfoot, and Stanley Thompson. These four men helped build the game in Alberta from behind the scenes in a variety of ways. Some were architects who helped created many of the courses still played to this day, while some were the early administrators within the Alberta Golf Association ensuring the game continued to grow in the early days.
The Pioneers will be celebrated for their long overdue achievements on October 30th with a special event held at the Calgary Golf & Country Club. Invitations have been sent to the guests already.
(Edward VIII, the Prince of Wales, plays nine holes with his entourage at Fort Macleod Golf Club in 1924.)
About the Inductees
Much is unknown about our inductees given the lack of information from that time, with many of the original Alberta Golf records and books being lost in the shuffle between clubs until Alberta Golf had its first permanent home which didn’t come until the 1970’s.
Janet Sparrow – Calgary Golf & Country Club
1913 Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion
Irene Horne – Calgary Golf & Country Club, Edmonton Country Club
1929,1930,1932-34, and 1937 Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion
1935 Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion
Mrs. J Train Gray – Calgary Golf & Country Club
1935-36 Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion
Patricia Arnold – Calgary Golf & Country Club
1938-39, 1946-49 Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion
6-time interprovincial team member
Charlie Hague – Calgary Golf & Country Club
1908,1910,1912 Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion
1921 Canadian Men’s Amateur Runner-Up
Munro Hunter – Edmonton Country Club
1913,1914, 1919, 1920 Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion
Carson MacWilliams – Earl Grey Golf Club
1923, 1925, 1926 Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion
Stu Vickers – Elks Golf Club of Calgary (The Winston Golf Club)
1932,1933,1935 Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion
1933-36, 1951 Willingdon Cup Team Member
Jim Hogan – Jasper Park Lodge
1938 Inaugural Alberta Junior Champion
Fred Wells – Earl Grey Golf Club
1946 (inaugural), 1947, 1949 Alberta Men’s Senior Champion
William Brinkworth – Edmonton Country Club, Glendale Golf & Country Club
Course Designer and Course Builder
Dr. Bill Broadfoot – Royal Mayfair Golf & Country Club
Alberta Golf Secretary-Treasurer 1935-45, first golf course turf consultant
Tom Scott
Presided over the Eaton’s Rose Bowl Matches starting in 1937
Alberta Golf Secretary-Treasurer 1948-1951
Stanley Thompson
Designed Banff Springs Golf Club, Edmonton Country Club, Jasper Park Lodge, Lethbridge Country Club, Royal Mayfair Golf & Country Club, and Waterton Park Golf Course
For more information about the founding clubs and their histories, please visit the following websites:
(Patricia Arnold, Alberta Golf Pioneer Player)
About the HOF
The Alberta Golf Hall of Fame honours the legacies of the men and women who have made a difference to the game of golf in Alberta, both the competitors and the builders who have helped change and grow the game in our province. The Hall of Fame has its own website where people can learn more about these people and the rich history of golf in Alberta. For more information, please visit https://www.albertagolfheritage.org