The 113th Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship gets underway tomorrow at Paradise Canyon Country Club. This is the first time Paradise Canyon has hosted the Men’s Amateur since 1993, a year after they opened.

This week there’s a lot at stake. The Men’s Amateur not only names the best male amateur golfer in the province, but has been used as a spring board for many players careers. The winner is named to the Morse Cup Interprovincial team for 2026 and competes at the Pacific Coast Amateur championship. There are also 18 quota spots available for the top finishers with Alberta residence. This will also be the first event with an interprovincial team being named, with the top three finishers with Alberta residence making up the 2025 Willingdon Cup Team to compete at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The list of high-profile players is long including past champions like Brett Jones, Mike Valk, and Braden O’Grady. Also a part of the list are Mid-Amateur Champions like Jesse Galvon, the defending Senior Champion David Schultz, 2025 Glencoe Invitational Champion Brandon Markiw, Alberta’s U19 and U17 Champions Ryan Gillis and Patrick McLarty.

Click the link below to read more about the course and hear from our defending champion, Brett Jones, in the 2025 Alberta Golf Yearbook.

Men’s Amateur Preview Article

Alberta Golf (Lacombe) – The first full championship for Alberta Golf in 2025 was held this week at Lacombe Golf and Country Club. The Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Championship for competitors aged 40 and over was held Monday through Wednesday at the historical course celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this year. There’s no bigger golfing family in the Lacombe area than the McKinlays, with three generations of golfers coming out of the club. Brady McKinlay is a 24-year-old professional, he and his wife Caylyn were on hand with the entire McKinlay family to cheer on Brady’s uncles Tom McKinlay Jr. and Bobby McKinlay. Tom started the day with a one shot lead on defending champion Christopher Thayer. After a front 9 3-under 33 with three birdies and no bogeys, the lead grew to 3 shots. After birdies on 11 and 12 McKinlay Jr built and 6 stroke advantage on Ryan Vallely. Despite a double bogey on the par 3 15th hole, McKinlay Jr shot a final round 3-under par 68 for a 4 stroke victory over Christopher Thayer and earned an emotional home course win in front of friends and family.

WATCH INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION TOM MCKINLAY JR

The Lacombe Golf and Country Club were outstanding hosts and congratulations on your 100 years as a club in Alberta.

Weston Gillett – Head Professional Lacombe Golf & Country Club

FULL SCORING IN ALL DIVISIONS HERE

The Alberta Golf competition season officially started with the Best Ball Championship, but the 2025 Men’s Mid-Master kicks off our summer of individual competitions.

Up for grabs this week is not just the title, but a national quota spot into the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur. The Men’s Mid-Master is opened for male players aged 40 and above as of the first day of the Canadian Mid-Amateur, with a Handicap Index of 15.0 or lower. The event is easily one of Alberta’s most popular championships.

The list of players this year includes past champions of the event including Shiro Mani, past Men’s Senior Champions like Ken Griffith and David Schultz, long time competitors such as Howard Broun, and hometown favourites like Tom Jr McKinlay and Chad Cargill.

Click the link below to read about the course and hear from the defending champion, Christopher Thayer, straight from the 2025 Alberta Golf Yearbook.

2025 Men’s Mid-Master Preview

Alberta Golf (Sundre) The 2025 Alberta Golf Championship season is off to an exciting start with Ryan DenBraber and Mickey Spencer from the Glendale Golf & Country Club beating Logan Graf and Cole Bergheim from the Red Deer Golf & Country Club on the first playoff hole to win the 2025 Alberta Best Ball Championship on a sunny day at Sundre Golf Club. Both pairings shot 9 under 63 in regulation to end up in a playoff. On the first playoff hole with Bergheim and Graf in trouble, DenBraber knocked his approach shot to the fringe at the back of the green and made the 2 putt for the victory.

FULL SCORING HERE

Ryan DenBraber & Mickey Spencer. 2025 Alberta Best Ball Champions

WATCH VIDEO: CHAMPIONS INTERVIEW

The Alberta Men’s Amateur is one of the most prestigious events in the golfing landscape, tracing its origins back to 1907. The event has been played at a plethora of different golf courses over the years, and in 2025 the event will return to a course that it hasn’t visited since 1993. Paradise Canyon Country Club will play host to the top 120 male amateur golfers in the province for the 113^th Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship on June 25-27. 

The Men’s Amateur Championship is wrapped in history with a wide variety of champions throughout its playing. The event has been used as a springboard into professional careers for players like Henry Martell, Darryl James, Wes Heffernan, Scott Stiles, and plenty more. The event has also seen many of the great amateurs in our province compete with Doug Silverberg, Keith Alexander, Bob Wylie, and Ken Wasslen all being crowned champions. With three qualifiers and over 250 players trying to qualify each year, getting into the championship field is a major accomplishment. Registration for qualifiers opens in early April each season and players hoping to qualify need to have a Handicap Index of 8.0 or lower to register. 

Paradise Canyon Country Club promises to be an amazing host for the 113^th Men’s Amateur. Having hosted its own professional event in 2018 and 2019, and hosting the Canadian Men’s Amateur in 2008, the course is no stranger to the best of the best competing on its fairways. With an unpredictable Lethbridge wind, the course is sure to offer challenges from the first tee shot to the final putt. A key stretch on the course starts on the back 9 with holes 10, 11, and 12 often causing movement on the leaderboard. Hole 12 is the course’s signature hole, a beautiful elevated par 3 where players can see the Old Man River and the coulees surrounding it. With deep bunkers protecting the front of the green, fescue and badlands on either side, and the river right behind, club selection here can easily decide the winner of the event. 

In 1993, the Alberta Men’s Amateur at Paradise Canyon Country Club was won by Darryl James, who would go on to become a top PGA of Alberta Professional. Since then, plenty of players have gone on to win the event including names like Mike Mezei, Ryan Yip, and Riley Fleming. Many things have changed since James’ win, but in Lethbridge the wind remains constant and players in the 113^th Men’s Amateur will have to find a way to navigate this challenge, just as James did, to be crowned the best in Alberta. 

Leduc Golf & Country Club is a decorated golf course, having played host to a variety of competitive tournaments in the last 5 years. With the 2021 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, the 2024 NextGen Western Championship, and an Alberta Men’s Amateur qualifier in 2024, it has shown its ability to test the top players at every level. The course will add to its impressive event history with the playing of the 112^th Alberta Women’s Amateur in 2025, as it’s slated for July 2 to July 4. 
 
The Women’s Amateur Championship is one of the oldest golf championships in the country, with its origins being traced back to 1907. With the original trophy still in play, the event has been a breeding ground for all of Alberta’s up and coming players with players like Jaclyn Lee and Jennifer Ha winning the event before moving on to the next step. There is no age limit for the event and no qualifying required, players only need to have a Handicap Index of 20.0 or lower. Included in this event however, are the Women’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s Mid-Master Championships. The Women’s Mid-Amateur is only open to competitors aged 25 and above as of the first day of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, and similarly the Women’s Mid-Master is open to those females who are aged 40 and above as of the first day of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur. Registration has already opened for the event. As part of Alberta Golf’s commitment to growing the event, courses in the province have been contacted to try and drive registration with special invites going out to courses and their club champions. 
 
Leduc Golf & Country Club will host the Women’s Amateur for only the second time, the first being in 1993. The course offers an amazing walk for competitors but will surely challenge the players. With tree lined fairways and plenty of water features the course is commonly seen as deceiving as you stand on the tee. To navigate the course correctly and avoid the big numbers, players will have to think their way through the golf course, keeping the ball below the hole, and keeping the ball in the fairway off the tee. The course also boasts a family atmosphere with a supportive membership and plenty of feel-good stories, like the former junior member turned General manager, Rick Brown, or the back shop employee turned Head Professional, Jeremy Beirnes. With all the events at the course, the membership community continues to show their support through their commitment to volunteering. 
 
While all the events at Leduc have been a great success, the 112^th edition of the Women’s Amateur is sure to boast a similar result. The players of all ages will come to the event ready to compete for the Women’s Amateur, Mid-Amateur, and Mid-Master Championships. Following play, the players will surely enjoy the club’s new clubhouse and one of the best patios in the Edmonton area. 

Women’s Amateur Registration

Alberta Golf (Calgary) – Tuesday April 1 is registration day for our 2025 Championships, McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour as well as our recreational UpSwing events. Here’s what you need to know to make sure it’s a smooth process to get into your events this season.

2025 CHAMPIONSHIP REGISTRATION: Registration for our 2025 Championships opens at 9am on Tuesday April 1. Make sure you have your active Golf Canada membership, a verified handicap index, and your birthdate listed. If you play in a qualifier, your fee will be applied towards the championship if you qualify for the event. 3-day events are WAGR ranked and also act as qualifiers for Golf Canada National Championships (excluding the Alberta Open). Pace of play will be a major focus once again this season at our championships. Please refer back to Golf Genius pages for updated information on each event including information for practice rounds, championship meals, quota spots, and any other item.

Alberta Golf Championship Schedule

2025 JUNIOR TOUR REGISTRATION: Registration for the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour opens at Noon on Tuesday April 1 for all players who are under 19 as of August 1, 2025. Registration fees for all 25 events on the tour range from $59 to $69. New this year are 2 showcase events for parents and players who want to learn more about the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour. The showcase events with a registration fee of $30 will be held June 28 at Rundle Park Golf Course in Edmonton and June 29 at Lil Devil Golf Course in Calgary and will have 9 hole play on the par 3 course with lunch, prizing and an information session.

McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour Schedule

2025 UPSWING REGISTRATION: Registration for our recreational UpSwing events are open at 9am on Tuesday April 1, the lone exception is our year end wrap up event at Silvertip Resort which opens on Tuesday July 1. In order to register for an event you will need an UpSwing account. To sign up for UpSwing and register for an event go to the UpSwing website. You can include a pairing request for events by emailing info@upswinggolf.ca

UpSwing Website

Hope these tips help you during registration on April 1 and we’ll see you on the fairways at our events this season.

Magrath Golf Club is known by many as the hidden gem of the south and has a reputation since its inception in 1925 as a must play golf course in the province. As part of its centennial year a lot is happening at the course this year including the hosting of the 2025 Alberta Men’s Super Senior Championship. 

The Men’s Super Senior Championship is open to male golfers aged 65+ as of the first day of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. There are no qualifiers for this event, registration will open on April 1^st at 9am, and a player’s Handicap Index must be 30.0 or lower. This is the third year of this event being separated from the Men’s Senior Championship and continues to receive praise from the players excited about an additional competitive opportunity and a chance to compete against players their own age. The Super Senior has two championships up for grabs, the Super Senior and the Diamond division, which is specific for players aged 70 and above. The previous two iterations of this event have had the same winners both years with Howard Broun winning the Diamond Divisions and David Schultz winning the Super Senior championships. Schultz has had a flare for drama both years with a playoff win in 2023 and a comeback win in 2024. 

Magrath is sure to be a great host and a great test for the players. With pristinely manicured fairways, lush landscaping, and beautiful vistas the players can surely enjoy. It’s the quick greens, stunning par 3’s, shot maker par 4’s, and go for broke par 5’s that will make the players be sure to show up on top of their games. The course is also set to host the 2025 Alberta-Montana Junior Ryder Cup in August and the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns Invitational in May. 

While the centennial celebration will be in full effect when players show up for the first round on August 26, the celebration of the eventual winners will have to wait as they’ll have to navigate their way around this challenging yet beautiful hidden gem for two days. The beautiful vistas will surely provide a great view for the winners and add another chapter to the course’s history books. 

Highwood Golf is a common sight on many players competitive schedules in the past few years. It has played host to the Men’s Senior in 2024, the Men’s Mid-Amateur in 2022, the U19 Championships in 2019, and the Women’s Amateur in 2016. The course has a tradition of getting the event winner to sign the championship banner and hangs each of them in their maintenance facility. In 2025, a new sign will be going up for an event they’ve never hosted, the Women’s Senior Championship. 

The Women’s Senior Championship began in 1963 and to no surprise the list of winners encompasses some of the best female amateurs throughout Alberta Golf’s history. It’s where Diane Williams became a Hall of Famer, where Marilyn O’Connor and Betty Stanhope-Cole continued their battle for the most championships, but most importantly it’s been where the older generation could provide knowledge and experience to the younger players. The event is open to players aged 50+ as of the first day of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship and is open registration for players with a Handicap Index of 30.0 or lower. In recent years, the event has been a favourite for many out-of-town players including a contingent of BC competitors including the great Jackie Little, Sandra Turbide, and many others. The event has three championships that players are competing for based on their age, the Senior (aged 50+), the Super Senior (aged 60+) and the Diamond Division (aged 70+). 

Highwood Golf is an impressive 27-hole facility located just south of Calgary in High River. The 18-hole championship course is made up of the Heritage and Mountainview nines with each presenting a unique test for the golfers to enjoy. The additional 9 holes are the Spitzee 9 which is a peaceful and picturesque gem which runs along the Highwood River. The layout offers great golf for families, beginners, and even the experienced golfer looking for a quick round. The course is a staple of the community with plenty of fun events being hosted throughout the season and different league options for the members. The club has a great community with many members volunteering their time to help take care of the facility and a plethora of repeat volunteers at each provincial championship that have been hosted over the years. 

In 2025, competitors can expect much of the same from Highwood Golf. An amazing community feeling upon arrival, a tough golf course with a knack for causing drama on the last hole, and three new champions to be crowned at the end of day on July 24. Highwood will anxiously await the new champion’s signature and new decor for its facility as the three-day event will get underway on July 21.  

In between Red Deer and Edmonton, there lies a golf course that is consistently recognized as one of the top courses in the province. The facility requires no introduction to golfers since its inception in 1984, as it boasts an impressive 36-hole layout designed by Rod Whitman. The facility is Wolf Creek Golf Resort and in 2025, it finds itself hosting the 2025 Men’s Senior Championship. 

The Men’s Senior Championship is one of the most well attended championship events on the Alberta Golf schedule with three qualifiers scheduled around the province every year. The event is open to players aged 55+ as of the first day of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. Players are required to have a Handicap Index of 20.0 or less and players must qualify at one of the regional sites which are scheduled to be held at Nanton Golf Club on May 29, Ponoka Golf Club on June 2, and Edmonton Garrison Memorial Golf & Curling Club on June 6^th. The Alberta Men’s Senior Championship has also proven to produce some of the top players in the country with the great names like Wylie, Alexander, and Tait continuing their dominance in the 80’s as individuals and on interprovincial teams. This has continued with the new crop of players like Broun, Schultz, Van Dornick, Foley, Laubman, Griffith and others creating their own dominance at the national event as a team. The championship also proves to be a place of great camaraderie with wives coming out as caddies and friends of old looking forward to the yearly catch up after the winter. 

Wolf Creek is a staple to the golfing scene in the province. After its inception in 1984 as a 27-hole facility and then the expansion to 36 holes in the 90’s this course has consistently found itself in the Top 100 Score Golf Rankings and for good reason. The course gained world-wide publicity as a regular stop on the Canadian Tour and a consistent host for the Alberta Open Championship. The course has seen many of the greats of each generation walk the course including Kirk Triplett, Moe Norman, Keith Alexander, Darryl James and many more. For this year’s event, the players will face a familiar foe in the Old Course, the original Rod Whitman design. It’s a pure inland links course with plenty of strategical decisions to be made and the keys to success will surely be the creative shot making and precision, just the way the predecessors of the game had intended.

As the snow continues to melt around the province, the Old Course at Wolf Creek awaits its chance to show its fangs once again with its return to the Alberta Golf schedule. The competitors will surely need to come prepared for more than just the catch-up with friends, but as history has proven, this crowd is always ready to play.