Alberta Golf’s Rec Series

In the same vein as having your golf clubs, clothes and shoes fit you, Alberta Golf has what may be the perfect fit for recreational golfers who want to experience tournament play but not the pressure to play well in those settings.

“In talking to recreational players, they like the competition but they don’t like the pressure. So, if you can come with a couple of your girlfriends or your buddies or even a mixed event with your kids, would you come and just have a fun round and see where you sit?” said John Burns, Field Manager for Competition and Membership with Alberta Golf.

In a nutshell the Rec Series can be defined as a value-based opportunity for recreational players to come and enjoy a round of golf. In other words – fun without the competitive vice grip which many high-end tournaments can produce for some of its participants.

Burns has taken the reins after the series’ rookie year and will guide it through 2019. He says the season has gone well so far with successful events at Banff Springs, Stewart Creek and Jasper Park Lodge. All three are bucket list courses with an easy-on-the-wallet price. The Ladies Team Classic in Canmore and the Alberta Rec Series Net Amateur Championship in Wintergreen are still to come in August.

The target demographic for this series is quite broad which makes it a very important piece of the puzzle for Alberta Golf as it works towards filling a gap in what they do for golf in this province.

“This is more designed to promote golf to the 50,000 members we have that have never even considered competing in an event either because they don’t think they’re good enough or because they don’t want the pressure of having to qualify or play against players which are head and shoulders better than them,” Burns said.

This series could be a tool which introduces new golfers to the game, expose those recreational players to new scoring formats and more importantly, it will provide some fun in the fresh air.  At its roots, this is a tournament for recreational players regardless of handicap which Burns says is a key component in attracting players.

For example, the Net Amateur was held at River Bend Golf and Recreation Area in Red Deer last year with about 80 men and women taking part. The men’s winner was a 26 handicap. Yep, that’s not a misprint. If there was a poster which speaks to what the Rec Series is all about then Burns says just look at the photo from the event last year.

“These are everyday people. These are the blue collar members who play maybe once a week, a couple of times a month,” said Burns. “These are not the hard-core tournament chasing people.” If Burns needed more evidence to convince him this series has some merit, he got it from his own experience.

“I sat in a number of scoring tents over the summer. When the scores started coming in the volunteers I was sitting with would say ‘Oh, I can do that’,” he said.

That was a perfect example of the stigma attached to competitions where everyday players would never sign up for because they feel they aren’t good enough to compete. Burns continued, “But when you see there is now an opportunity to play in an event that maybe caters to your handicap or your playing level, you’re like ‘yeah, come on let’s go’.”

Burns says he’s contacting men’s, ladies’ and seniors’ leagues around the province to cull players who may be interested in these low-key events. This doesn’t mean there will be foot-wedges and questionable drops during the round. There will of course be rules to follow and players will get the feeling of being in a formal event but not so rigid they feel the pressure of having to perform.

Players will need to be an Alberta Golf member with a recognized handicap in order to register for each event. Think of it like your league night at your club with your friends and then you sit down for a beverage after the round. “I don’t want it to be loosey-goosey. I want it to be fairly structured but at the same time I want people to come and have fun,” Burns said.

For your entry fee (which could vary from course to course) a player will receive his or her round of golf, a meal and tee prizes. In addition, there will be something to reward the winners which may be in the form of a gift certificate.

The one-day events will be stroke play but the Net Amateur will remain Stableford scoring which removes even more pressure to score well. In most cases, when you get to double bogey you pick up and move to the next hole.

Burns feels it won’t be hard to get people to play if they know about the series. Word of mouth will also help while he gets the information into courses around the province, so their members are aware of what is happening.

One of the tenets of Alberta Golf is to educate its members as well as grow the game of golf in Alberta and Burns feels this will add fuel to that fire. For many casual players in the province the Rec Series just might fit like a (golf) glove.

Why not try it on for size?

Rec Series 2019 Schedule

Stewart Creek Golf & CC, May 12th

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, June 15

Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, June 29

Canmore, Aug 22/23 (2-day Ladies Team Classic)

Wintergreen, Aug 29/30 (Alberta Rec Series Net Amateur Championship)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR AUGUST EVENTS

Alberta Golf’s Rec Series

This article was originally published in the 2019 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Euna Han of Coquitlam, B.C., set the course record with a 64 to take the lead heading into the second round of the 65th Canadian Junior Girls Championship held at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.

Han was six under through the front nine and the lone blemish on her scorecard was a bogey on the par-3 No. 16. She could have gone even lower, narrowly missing an eagle putt on the par-5 No. 17.

“I cannot feel better really,” said Han. “I putted really well, but I also hit good shots into the green, so the putts weren’t as tricky as they could have been.”

Han’s 8 under 64, course record-setting round was especially remarkable as Lethbridge Country Club hosted the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. Future LPGA players Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn played the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur, with the former claiming the title and firing a round of 65.

“I want to stay calm and stay patient, not getting too excited or too down if I make mistakes,” added Han when asked about her outlook on the rest of the tournament.

The 16-year-old has enjoyed a successful season, finishing runner-up at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship and third at the B.C. Women’s Amateur. Han’s 64 also leads the Juvenile competition.

YanJun (Victoria) Liu finished a single stroke back of Han at 7 under 65. Liu was bogey free, notching six birdies on the front nine.

Hsin Chiao Chang of Chinese Taipei shot 5 under and sits in third place.

Four players are tied for fourth at 2 under; Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Angela Zhang (Vancouver), Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) and Annabelle Ackroyd (Calgary).

“My front nine was really good,” said Zhu. “I thought I kept my cool and overall I’m very happy with my round. The course is really nice, very well maintained and challenging.”

“I hit the ball really well, so I just stayed consistent out there,” said Ackroyd. “The course is in great shape, it’s playing awesome. It was a good test. I’d love to play the same way I played today. It’s awesome being home in Alberta.”

Team British Columbia, consisting of Angela Zhang (Vancouver), Cindy Koira (Victoria) and Erin Lee (Langley, B.C.), lead the inter-provincial team competition at 2 under. Team Québec, the defending champions, sit three strokes back in second.

The 2019 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2020 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Full scoring can be found here.

Alberta Golf (Edmonton) – 2018 Team Alberta member Ken Griffith of the Red Deer Golf & CC and Howard Smith from the Cottonwood Golf & CC are co-leaders at the Alberta Senior Mens Championship after round 1. Griffith & Smith shot matching 2 under 68’s at The Derrick Golf & Winter Club on Tuesday for a one shot lead over Alan Ross.

Rob Gerwing of Stony plain had the shot of the day, getting an ace on the 16th hole.

Bob MacDermott is a double amputee who is one of the world’s most inspiring golfers.

The Edmonton resident is one of 120 competitors in this week’s Alberta Mens Senior Championship. He’s also preparing for the Canadian Amputee and Disabled National Open next month in Okotoks at the River’s Edge Golf Club. Bob says the sport of golf saved his life after a horrible series of events one day in 1987.

WATCH:

FULL LEADERBOARD

ROUND 2 TEE TIMES

Alberta Golf (Edmonton) – Bob MacDermott is a double amputee who is one of the world’s most inspiring golfers. The Edmonton resident is one of 120 competitors in this week’s Alberta Mens Senior Championship at the Derrick Golf & Winter Club. He’s also preparing for the Canadian Amputee and Disabled National Open next month in Okotoks at the River’s Edge Golf Club. Bob says the sport of golf saved his life after a horrible series of events one day in 1987.

WATCH:

Alberta Golf (Edmonton) – The 2019 Alberta Senior Mens Championship is set to begin Tuesday at the Derrick Golf and Winter Club with 120 players competing for the provincial senior crown. The 54-hole stroke play tournament field is made up of competitors who are over the age of 55 as of the first day of the Canadian Senior Mens Championship. The event will coincide with the 60^th Anniversary of The Derrick Golf & Winter Club, founded in 1957 and opened in 1959.

John Burns, Alberta Golf’s Field Manager of Membership & Competitions is this week’s Tournament Director for the Alberta Senior. Burns says “Players from across the province will play the course following an extensive $6 million dollar redesign and facility upgrade in 2015.  Players will be challenged, as part of the redesign now includes 75 fairway bunkers!”

KEY INFO

Dates: July 30 – August 1st, 2019

Course: The Derrick Golf & Winter Club

Maximum Yardage/Par: 6,258 yards/70

Field: 120

2018 Champion: John Festival

2018 Super Senior Champion: Jim Russell

Format: 54 holes of stroke play

Social: #absrmens

LOOKING BACK

After three days of intense competition at the Turner Valley Golf and Country Club John Festival was crowned the 2018 Alberta Senior Mens Champion. With a challenging course setup and windy conditions, these seasoned veterans battled each round to fight for the top spot. Festival took the lead after bearing down on the back nine making three birdies throughout his round. Brian Coston finished a close second only one stroke behind Festival.

FULL STORY HERE

John Festival is the 2018 Alberta Senior Mens Champion! ??

Check out the final results➡️ ?️ https://t.co/mTFuPW35px pic.twitter.com/kPh8HBn8yi

— Alberta Golf (@Alberta_Golf) August 4, 2018

The 2018 Alberta Super Senior Champion was Jim Russell of Calgary. Russell had an impressive three days of play taking the top spot in this division.

HISTORY

The Alberta Senior Mens Championship was first contested in 1946.

2010 – Tom Skinner

2011 – Jim Russell

2012 – Frank Van Dornick

2013 – Floyd Kilgore

2014 – Frank Van Dornick

2015 – Floyd Kilgore

2016 – David Schultz

2017 – Frank Van Dornick

2018 – John Festival

PAST WINNERS

NOTABLES

• John Festival – Defending Champion
• Frank Van Dornick – Four time champion (2009, 2012, 2014 and 2017)
• Brian Coston – 2018 Runner-up
• Brian Laubman – 2017 Runner-up
• Jim Russell – 2011 champion; Ten time Bearspaw Club Champion
• Floyd Kilgore – Two time champion (2013 and 2015)

FAST FACTS

• There are multiple contests up for grabs this week. The Senior Championship for those aged 55 & over, the Super Senior for those aged 65 & over and an overall contests for age groups (55-59, 60-64 and 65+)
• The top three competitors at weeks end will make up Team Alberta at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Cedar Brae Golf Club in Scarborough, Ontario Sept 10-13 2019.
• Alberta has 23 senior quota position available for the national championship along with 2 super senior quota positions.

ABOUT THE COURSE

The Derrick’s championship golf course, newly redesigned by Jeff Mingay, has a distinct layout reminiscent of classic course architecture of the 1930s. We have invested in a top-quality golf course that will challenge and delight golfers for years to come.

Our 18-hole course is fun to play for recreational golfers, while still offering plenty of challenges for low-handicap players. Golf members can take part in leagues and tournaments, and our golf professionals (working closely with our fitness department) offer comprehensive developmental programs for players of all levels. Our nationally recognized junior program is second to none.
Even in winter, the Derrick keeps your game sharp with our two high-end virtual golf simulators.

More information on the Derrick Golf and Winter Club can be found here.

MEDIA

• First Round Pairings

• Championship Information

• Flickr Albums

RED DEER, Alta – Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., shot 4 under 68, overcoming a four-stroke deficit to capture the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship held at Red Deer Golf & Country Club on Friday.

Michelle Liu of Vancouver finished as the low Canadian of the tournament, becoming the youngest player ever to earn an exemption to the CP Women’s Open. Liu carded a final round of 2 over, finishing at 1 over on the tournament in a tie for 12th.

Liu will be aged 12 years, nine months and six days when the 2019 CP Women’s Open tees off on August 22 at Magna Golf club in Aurora, Ont.

“I’m very proud of myself, especially being able to play with so many well-known professional players,” said Liu. “I started off today not very well – at three over through four holes and I was like ‘oh, this may not happen.’ I managed to get back and get my scoring under control.”

Navarrosa won the championship with a tap-in par putt on the par-4 No. 18. Jennifer Chang (Cary, N.C.) was one stroke behind Navarrosa – narrowly missing a 15-foot birdie putt to force a playoff.

This is Navarrosa’s second tournament win of the season, having claimed the Buick Shanshan Feng AJGA Girls Invitational in February. By claiming the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup, the 17-year-old earns exemptions into the 2019 CP Women’s Open and the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

 

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Your 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion @brianna.navarrosa ??? #CDNWAm

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Jul 26, 2019 at 3:58pm PDT

“Going into today I was really hoping just to get a top three and stay consistent throughout the whole day,” said Navarrosa. “Of course I wanted to win. I wasn’t nervous going into the back nine, I was hyped to sink some putts. This will be my first LPGA event. I just want to have a good experience. If things don’t work out well, it’s ok. Just being there is an honour.”

Chang finished at 9 under par after firing 2 under 70 on Friday.

The 54-hole leader, Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, Calif., shot 3 over on Friday and finished in third place.

Alyaa Abdulghany (Newport Beach, Calif.) made a charge up the leaderboard to finish fourth. Abdulghany entered the final round at even-par and her round of 7 under 65 was the lowest round of the tournament.

Full results can be found here.

RED DEER, Alta. – Andrea Lee (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) shot 3-under-par 69 at Red Deer Golf & Country Club on Thursday and heads into the final round of the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship with a three-stroke lead.

Lee held a share of the lead after the opening round, but fell to second after 36 holes. The No. 2-ranked golfer on the World Amateur Golf Ranking sunk four birdies in the third round, moving herself to 10 under for the tournament.

“I played really solid today and had a good front nine,” said Lee. “On the back, I just stayed really patient. I made nine straight pars and played steady golf. It’s a really tough field and a lot of top amateurs are out here competing, so it’s always fun and exciting to be out here.”

After roaring into the lead with a first round of 6 under 66, Lee was quiet in round two, shooting 1 under. The USGA has committed to send at least two players to both the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championship since 2017, and Lee’s play at the 2019 edition of the competition is a direct result of that commitment.

Round two leader Jennifer Chang (Cary, N.C.) shot even-par, leaving her at 7 under for the tournament.

Brianna Navarrosa (San Diego, Calif.) remained in third place, four back of Lee, with a round of 2 under.

The low round of the day belonged to Therese Warner of Kennwick, Wash. Warner shot 4 under 68, moving into fourth position at 5 under for the tournament.

The low Canadian heading into the final round is 12-year-old Michelle Liu of Vancouver. Liu was bogey-free in round two, but carded 1 over on Thursday, sitting in a tie for sixth.

The final round of competition will see the first groups tee off at 7:30 a.m. from holes No. 1 and No. 10.

The 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club from August 19-25. Should the winner be a non-Canadian, the low Canadian will also earn an exemption to the 2019 CP Women’s Open.

Full scoring can be found here.

Alberta Golf (Rocky Mountain House) – Kim Carrington must like odd numbered years, but it’s anything but odd that she’s this year’s Alberta Senior Ladies champion, it’s actually become quite common. Thursday at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House the 2015 and 2017 champion added the 2019 title to her already amazing resume after shooting the low round of the tournament, a 1 over 74 for a 6 stroke victory over Jackie Little and Lynn Kuehn to take the title. The Cottonwood Golf & CC member also won the BC Senior Women’s championship in June and was emotional after her victory Thursday especially after letting the Calgary Senior Ladies Championship slip through her fingers last week after a mental lapse in the final round.

“I let it slip last week because I couldn’t control myself mentally and I thought I can’t let that happen today, this is my home turf in Alberta.” Said Carrington “Joanne was caddying for me and it was great, my dad Bill who used to be the pro at Pine Hills came down from Edmonton to watch with his wife. It’s very emotional, the family support was awesome.”

Alison Murdoch of the Victoria Golf Club won the Super Senior Championship by 4 strokes after posting a round of 3 over 76.

Kim Carrington, Lynn Kuehn and Barbara Flaman will make up Team Alberta that will compete at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship at Osoyoos Golf Club Aug 18-20 2019.

Carrington donated her winner’s cheque to the junior program at Pine Hills Golf Club.

FULL LEADERBOARD 

RED DEER, Alta. – Jennifer Chang of Cary, N.C., vaulted herself into the lead in the second round of the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship held at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta.

Chang moved atop the leaderboard with a round of 5 under 67, the lowest score in the second round and her second consecutive round in the 60s. The No. 13-ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Chang was bogey-free on Wednesday, leaving her at 8 under for the tournament.

“I thought I played pretty well [yesterday] at 3 under and today I really took it up a notch,” said Chang. “The wind blows pretty hard, so I’m just going to do the same thing each and every day and take it one shot at a time.”

.@jenniferchang99 taking it one shot at a time ⛳️?? pic.twitter.com/UgULT7gg91

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) July 24, 2019

Andrea Lee (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) sits in second place, one stroke behind Chang. The No. 2-ranked golfer on the World Amateur Golf Ranking made back-to-back birdies on the par-5 No. 4 and the par-3 No. 5, finishing the second round at 1 under.

Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., sits in third at 4 under, having shot even-par in the second round.

After sharing the first-round lead with Lee, Zoe Campos (Valencia, Calif.) carded a round of three over, falling into a tie for fourth with Min A Yoon (Republic of Korea) and Emilee Hoffman (Folsom, Calif.), five shots back of Chang.

Michelle Liu is the low Canadian after 36 holes. The 12-year-old Vancouver product fired a bogey-free round, sinking two birdies to bring her score to 2 under, good for a tie for seventh position.

Seventy-two players have advanced to the final two rounds of the championship. The first groups will tee off Thursday at 7:30 a.m. from holes No. 1 and No. 10.

Team Ontario won the Inter-Provincial team competition, with Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Sarah Dunning (Waterloo, Ont.) and Tiana Cruz (Richmond Hill, Ont.) combining for a score of 18 over. Team British Columbia finished in second, two shots back.

Congrats to @thegolfontario squad for winning the inter-provincial title at the Canadian Women’s Amateur #CDNWAm ???? pic.twitter.com/AuVXGhM1pt

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) July 25, 2019

This is Ontario’s first time winning the Inter-Provincial competition since 2014 and their 39^th time claiming the team championship since it was inaugurated in 1947.

Play was suspended for 71 minutes, resuming at 4:30 p.m., due to inclement weather.

The 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club from August 19-25. Should the winner be a non-Canadian, the low Canadian will also earn an exemption to the 2019 CP Women’s Open.

Full scoring can be found here.

Alberta Golf (Rocky Mountain House) – Former Alberta Senior Ladies champion Jackie Little tied Lacombe’s Lynn Kuehn for low round of the day with a 2 over 75 at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House. Little is now the co-leader with 2017 champion Kim Carrington, one shot clear of Kuehn and 2 strokes ahead of defending champion Barbara Flaman heading into Thursday’s final round at the provincial championship.

FULL LEADERBOARD

FINAL ROUND TEE TIMES