Alberta Golf (Sherwood Park) – We’re happy to announce that the All Abilities Championship is back for the 2024 season. After the success and positive reviews from the inaugural event at McCall Lake Golf Course in 2023, the event is back and heading north this season to the Broadmoor Golf Club in Sherwood Park August 6-8.

The Broadmoor hosted the 2023 Alberta Amputee Sports and Recreation Association, which makes them an amazing host for the All Abilities Championship.

The Broadmoor has hosted two previous Alberta Golf events, the 2021 Alberta Women’s Amateur and the 1995 U19 Championship (formerly known as the Alberta Junior Championship).

Broadmoor Golf Club in Sherwood Park

Alberta Golf is excited to bring another championship to the Broadmoor and looking forward to future events. The All Abilities Championship had its inaugural season in 2023 and was met with positive acclaim. The event is an official WAGR ranked event and is partnered with EDGA. The inaugural event was won by Kiefer Jones, the #1 ranked blind golfer in the world. 

Kiefer Jones – 2023 Alberta All Abilities champion 

2023 All Abilities Championship / McCall Lake Golf Course in Calgary

WATCH VIDEO: ALBERTA GOLF HOSTS 2023 ALL ABILITIES CHAMPIONSHIP

John Deneer is the Competition Director for Alberta Golf and is excited to once again bring an event like this into the public eye.

“We are very excited to offer this opportunity to the All-Abilities golfing community. We know there are many players who want to compete and giving them an Alberta Golf provincial championship is a high priority and we are excited to do so. We are working closely with the Alberta Amputee Sports & Recreation Association to ensure our championship is run to the standard expected and that all players who are eligible to play, have the opportunity.”

Written by Jim Claggett

Most of us have done this during a round of golf. You take a chance with a shot, and maybe it works and maybe it doesn’t, but you tried. In the case of the first annual Tom Byers Junior Golf Day at Inglewood in Calgary in May of 2022, organizers tried, took the shot and wow, did it ever work out!

“We thought if we get 25 or 40 kids, that would be a home run,” said former Calgary Flame Lanny McDonald, Tom’s brother-in -law and one of the people behind this special day.

So how about more than 70 kids of varying degrees of ability showing up.

Tom Byers was a long-time member at Inglewood who passed away in September of 2020. As McDonald tells it, this big, gentle, bear of a man had no children of his own, but he had a magical connection with everyone else’s.

“All of our grand kids would seek out Tom, when they were younger and climb up on his knee and say ‘Tom, can you read me a book,”?

McDonald said Tom really loved that and always had time for kids. He also had a great love for the game of golf and the willingness to share it with those kids. So having a junior golf day was a natural way to honour the man.

Calgary Flames Alumni: Tim Hunter, Colin Patterson, Perry Berezan & Lanny McDonald with photo of Tom Byers

So, what was Tom the golfer like? Well, McDonald says he didn’t hit the ball very far, but his handicap was between six and 12 at varying stages, so he had game. Some might call it, sneaky game.

“You always thought you had him,” said McDonald. “You out drove him by forty yards, he didn’t make his second shot to the green and you’re on the green putting for a birdie, 35 feet away. Tom had such soft hands from anywhere around the green, chip it to within six feet, make the putt and now you’re struggling to two putt.”

Tom Byers

Staff at Alberta Golf were a key piece in pulling this day together as they got involved, creating a fit’s-like-a- glove format for the kids which consisted of 30 minutes on the range, 30 minutes putting and another 30 chipping. All under the watchful eye of several PGA of Alberta pros. A lunch followed as well as some positive words from McDonald and other Flames alumni. The kids went home with memories and a Flames hat as well.

Along with those who signed up, KidSport and Kids Up Front brought in some disadvantaged youth to come give the game a try. It is exactly what Tom would have wanted said McDonald.

“It made perfect sense to do something with junior golf and try to honour him and get more kids off the sidelines and into the game,” said McDonald. “We had so many of Tom’s old friends drop by and say hello and think this was the greatest thing.”

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH LANNY MCDONALD HERE

Included in the onlookers was Tom’s widow, Joanne and McDonald says it played out perfectly for her to see firsthand what transpired.

“For Joanne to see it, knowing that Tom’s legacy lives on was so great.”

It was a perfect balance of remembering the man and exposing more kids to game without having them out on the course and maybe getting frustrated or intimidated by the length of a golf course.

There were a variety of swings on the range, along with chipping and putting styles but it didn’t matter to anyone what it looked like.

“To see kids make that long putt for the first time, the smiles on their faces. It was a good day for golf, to remember Tom,” said McDonald.

He says he gets approached at hockey games by parents whose children were at the event and are asking about the next one. He simply tells them to watch for the announcement coming from Alberta Golf. Here we are in 2024 and bring on the third annual Tom Byers Junior Golf Day on Sunday May 19 2024 at Inglewood Golf and Curling Club.

TO REGISTER FOR THE 2024 EVENT CLICK HERE AND LOOK FOR THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

Alberta Golf (Red Deer) – Alberta Springs Golf Resort in Red Deer will once again host the Alberta U17, U15, U13 Championship, this year’s event will be played over 2 days August 19-20. Alberta Springs has hosted the previous 3 installments of the U17, U15, U13 Championships seeing a variety of winners. Last year’s winner were Hannah Thomas, Jayden Arnold, Saylar May, Harrison Kiziak, Tessa Ion, Charlie Gillespie.

READ FULL STORY ON THE 2023 U17, U15, U13 CHAMPIONSHIP

Charlie Gillespie: 2024 U17 Boys Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH CHARLIE GILLESPIE

Tessa Ion: 2024 U17 Girls Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH TESSA ION

Harrison Kiziak: 2024 U15 Boys Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH HARRISON KIZIAK

Saylar May: 2024 U15 Girls Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH SAYLAR MAY

Jayden Arnold: 2024 U13 Boys Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH JAYDEN ARNOLD

Hannah Thomas: 2024 U13 Girls Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH HANNAH THOMAS

Alberta Springs is one of the top public golf courses in Central Alberta and has won numerous awards since its opening in 1996. The course has 18 holes and a variety of tee boxes to choose from letting golfers of every skill level enjoy their time at the course. Formerly known as the Juvenile Championship, the U17 division has seen some of the top young players in the game come through the event from Barrett Jarosch, Dustin Risdon, Drew Hartt, Jackie Davies, Heather Lee, and Kareen Qually. The 2024 Alberta U17, U15, U13 Championship is open to both male and female players and the maximum age is 18 as of August 1^st, 2024. Players can play in the division they want, as long as they meet the correct age requirements. It should be a fun couple days in August when we crown 6 champions.

Al Norlin: Alberta Springs Executive Professional

Alberta Golf (Olds) – Olds Golf Club will be hosting the 2024 Alberta U19 Championship this summer, July 9-11, where the top young players in the province will compete for a provincial title and national quota spots. 

Olds Golf Club is tucked just off Provincial Highway No. 2 and is a quiet, versatile course that has hosted a variety of Alberta Golf championships and events from their annual McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour Stop, the 2016 Alberta Women’s Senior Championship, the 2020 Alberta Men’s Senior Championship and most recently the 2023 Men’s Mid-Master championship which was shortened due to heavy rain on day 1. The 2023 Alberta Men’s Mid-Master title was claimed by an emotional Jamie Welder capturing his first ever provincial title.

2023 Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Champion Jamie Welder (Olds Golf Club)

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH JAMIE WELDER

READ STORY: JAMIE WELDER WINS 2023 ALBERTA MEN’S MID-MASTER CHAMPIONSHIP

This years U19 Championship is open to male and female players. Players must be under the age of 19 as of August 1^st, 2024. The defending champions are Jaiden Koonar on the Boys side, and Eileen Park on the Girls side. Both players are a part of our High-Performance Program, as the first Tier 4 athletes since Jaclyn Lee.

2023 U19 Girls Champion: Eileen Park

2023 U19 Boy’s Champion: Jaiden Koonar

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH EILEEN PARK

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH JAIDEN KOONAR

READ FULL STORY OF THE 2023 ALBERTA U19 CHAMPIONSHIP

Olds is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary meaning they work with the community through education and certification programs aimed at protecting our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. They are one of 68 courses in Canada that are certified through Audubon International. It should be a great time during the summer when the best young players in our province test their skills at Olds Golf Club in the 2024 Alberta U19 Championship. 

Written by Dunc Mills:

“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” ……Franklin D. Roosevelt

When FDR uttered those very meaningful words, it seems doubtful that he had the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour specifically in mind. Nonetheless, the meaning behind that quote captures the essence of junior golf.

The Tour was founded in 1996 based on the concept of providing a series of coordinated, well-run junior golf tournaments across the province to deliver the opportunity for junior golfers of any age to learn the ropes of what it takes to be successful in junior golf competition.  Over the last few years with the surge of interest in junior golf, partly as a result of the overall boom in the golf industry as we come out of COVID, having a platform the likes of the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour has become even more valuable.  Alberta Golf has seen a fantastic increase in the numbers of kids taking up the sport, especially in the U15 and U13 age divisions. The Tour provides unmatched value for these young people to help them learn the joys and yes, the disappointments of playing in competition.

This is not to say that the Tour cannot provide tremendous experiences for junior golfers in the U19 and U17 age groups as well. Tour events are held in every corner of the province, giving virtually every junior the chance to compete in a tournament within a reasonable driving distance of their home.  We have an outstanding roster of host sites, featuring many of Alberta’s best golf courses that have hosted numerous provincial and national championships over the years.

What can young golfers expect when they make the commitment to enter a Tour event?  Many youngsters register in a Tour event for perhaps their very first taste of tournament competition, while other kids have already built impressive competitive resumes by the time they are 15 or 16 years old.

Benefits of the Tour:

• Good Competition – Many competitors in ‘MacRoss’ events might struggle to break 80 or 90, but the winning scores at Tour events are often around par or better. Knowing that the winning score will likely be in that range gives players a benchmark they can aim for as they seek to improve their games.  There are always both gross and net score prizes in every age group, so all players have the opportunity to earn some prize money.

• Making New Friends – With over two dozen events on a typical Tour schedule every year, many juniors will compete in several tournaments over the course of the summer. They will meet other kids in their age group from across the province and many of these fellow competitors become lifelong friends as a result of first meeting at a junior golf tournament.  There is no better feeling than beating one of your best friends and then sharing some laughs over a burger or a soft drink after the round.

• Learning How to Play in Tournaments – There is an old adage in golf that the only way to learn how to play in tournaments is to play in tournaments, and it is very true. When you have to make those testy three-footers and you have to play by all of the Rules all of the time, it’s just not the same experience as going out for a casual game of golf with your buddies or your parents.

• The School of Life – Golf is such a tremendous sport for helping to teach kids some very valuable life skills that will hold them in good stead for their entire lives. Junior golf isn’t all about pounding a golf ball 300 yards down the fairway, or making a 20-footer for a birdie.  Through golf, young people learn the value of hard work (practice), honesty (count all your strokes), perseverance (no one wins all the time), accountability (be willing to enforce Rules on other players), interpersonal skills (making new friends), and learning how to interact with adults (Referees). But one of the most important aspects of playing junior golf is that kids learn how to have FUN!

For over a quarter-century, the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour has provided thousands of young Albertans with a great way to get on board in the world of junior golf competition.  It continues to be a fantastic platform for kids 8-18 to hone their skills, both on and off the golf course.  Registration for all Tour events is open at www.albertagolfjuniors.org

See you on Tour!

Alberta Golf (High River) – Highwood Golf in High River will play host to the Alberta Men’s Senior Championship July 30 to August 1. Highwood Golf has hosted many provincial championships in recent years including the 2019 Alberta Junior Championship won by Carter Graf in the boys competition and Annabelle Ackroyd on the girls side.

The most recent championship was the 2022 Alberta Mens Mid Amateur Championship won in dramatic fashion by Jesse Galvon when leader Ryan Werre lost a ball high up in a tree on the final hole.

The defending champion at Highwood Golf this summer at the Men’s Senior Championship will be James Varnam who took the provincial title last summer at The Glendale Golf and Country Club.

2023 Alberta Men’s Senior champion James Varnam

READ THE FULL STORY HERE ON JAMES VARNAM WINNING THE 2023 ALBERTA MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP  

WATCH VIDEO: James Varnam interviewed after winning 2023 Alberta Men’s Senior Championship

Highwood Golf is a picturesque course 30 minutes south of Calgary and boasts 27 holes including its Championship 18 layout and its Spitzee 9. Highwood Golf Head Professional Dan Warwaruk is excited to host the best in the province once again.

“We are always thrilled and honored to host Alberta Golf tournaments,” Warwaruk said. “Our course will provide a firm yet fair test. The last time we hosted the senior men in 2009, only one player broke par for the event. We look forward to seeing how the best players in the province do this summer!”

Highwood Golf Head Professional: Dan Warwaruk

The Men’s Senior has an impressive history of producing national success with the likes of Bob Wylie’s impressive 5 wins in a row, Ken Griffith’s 2023 3^rd place finish at the senior men’s nationals and the Men’s Senior Interprovincial team successfully defending their national team title in 2023.

Team Alberta: 2023 National Champions Ken Griffith, James Varnam and Brian Laubman.

It should be a great battle with the best senior men in the province aged 55 and over in late July in High River.

THE 2024 GOLF SEASON IS ALMOST HERE !

Alberta Golf tournament registration is a few days away and golf courses across our province are getting ready to open soon. Alberta Golf has an expanded schedule of championships this season including a new format for the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship as well as 26 stops on the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour. Our UpSwing offerings continue to expand for recreational golfers, we offer $5 golf for juniors in our popular Youth on Course program and we have a new heritage website as well to keep in touch with our past. Please enjoy the following look at what Alberta Golf has been up to the past few months as we prepare for the upcoming season.

2024 CHAMPIONSHIP AND JUNIOR TOUR REGISTRATION

Our Alberta Golf Championship registration opens at 9am on April 1 with The McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour registration opening 3 hours later at noon. Golf Genius centralized registration for all events will be used again in 2024. Please ensure your Golf Canada Score Centre profile is updated in order to register for championships and qualifiers.

The McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour has 26 events across Alberta this season.

Please read the following Championship registration reminders.

2024 CHAMPIONSHIP REGISTRATION REMINDERS

2024 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

2024 MCLENNAN ROSS ALBERTA JUNIOR TOUR SCHEDULE

RED DEER GOLF & CC TO HOST 2024 ALBERTA WOMEN’S AMATEUR WITH NEW FORMAT 

The Red Deer Golf and Country Club will host the 2024 Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship July 2-4. In an effort to strengthen the field, the maximum field size for the Women’s Amateur will be 30 players. Players will either be exempt or qualify for a spot in the championship. There is also a new stand-alone event at River Spirit Golf Club in August for the Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s Mid-Master Championship.

READ MORE HERE ON THE ALBERTA WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHANGES

ALBERTA GOLF HIGH-PERFORMANCE PROGRAM 

The Alberta Golf Athlete Development Program is designed to support golfers throughout the province reach their competitive goals in the sport and earn a post secondary scholarship.

SEE THE 2024 HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATHLETES HERE

READ MORE ABOUT THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE PROGRAM HERE

ALBERTANS SEKULIC AND MACDOUGALL MAKE TEAM CANADA 

Golf Canada recently named 18 professionals to their 2024 men’s and women’s Team Canada squads that include Alberta’s Max Sekulic and Bendan MacDougall.

READ MORE ABOUT TEAM CANADA HERE

GOLF CANADA TO RECOGNIZE ALBERTANS DUNC MILLS AND TIFFANY GORDON WITH ITS 2024 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Long time Alberta Golf volunteer Dunc Mills of Edmonton along with industry leader Tiffany Gordon of Calgary are among the four people being recognized later this year for a Golf Canada Distinguished Service Award.

READ MORE ABOUT THE AWARD WINNERS HERE

ALBERTA GOLF AGM UPDATE AND ANNUAL REPORT

The 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Voting Members of the Alberta Golf Association was held virtually on Wednesday March 27. Subsequent to the AGM, the Board of Directors met and the officers were named.

READ HERE: 2024 ALBERTA GOLF BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTED

2023 ALBERTA GOLF ANNUAL REPORT RELEASED

WORLD NO.1 CALGARIAN EXCITED TO HAVE ADAPTIVE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP IN ALBERTA

Alberta Golf will be hosting it’s second All Abilities Championship this summer at the Broadmoor Golf Club August 6-8 after a successful debut of the event in 2023 at McCall Lake Golf Course in Calgary where Kiefer Jones was the champion.

READ MORE ABOUT THE ALL ABILITIES CHAMPIONSHIP HERE

ALBERTA GOLF’S RECREATIONAL BRAND UPSWING: FIND.. BOOK.. PLAY

UpSwing continues to build momentum in 2024!! As the recreational brand of Alberta Golf, anchored with a digital platform that supports the golf industry, we are again accommodating recreational players looking to diversify their playing opportunities. Besides our 6 mainstay UpSwing events at Banff Springs, Stewart Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Canmore, Sundre and Silvertip, you will discover us throughout the province doing on-course activations, as a way to interact with players while providing a skills challenge!

New for 2024 is our UpSwing Grant program. Event organizers, course operators or tournament committees can request up to $1000 in pro shop grants for events that align with our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI).

For more information, or to request support for your DEI focussed event:

Contact john@upswinggolf.ca or visit UpSwing at  www.upswinggolf.ca

MORE ON UPSWING HERE

ALBERTA GOLF HAS A NEW HERITAGE AND HALL OF FAME WEBSITE

Alberta Golf has a new Heritage and Hall of Fame website to celebrate our past which dates back to 1912. Please check out the new website and it’s content below.

ALBERTAGOLFHERITAGE.ORG

ALBERTA GOLF SURVEY

Alberta Golf wants your feedback! Please take 10 minutes to fill out this third-party anonymous survey so we can better understand how to serve all golfers needs across the province. For your time and responses, you will have the opportunity to enter a draw for one of ten prize packs (valued at $100) at the end of the survey.

TAKE PART IN THE ALBERTA GOLF SURVEY HERE

ALBERTA GOLF ANNOUNCES THE COURSES INVOLVED IN THE 2024 YOUTH ON COURSE PROGRAM

Youth on Course is a popular program in the province run by Alberta Golf that gets kids 18 and under on to 23 courses across in Alberta for $5 or less. Please check out the courses available for 2024 and how the program works.

2024 YOUTH ON COURSE PROGRAM

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: SELA OGADA & JALEN APEDOE DISCUSS DIVERSITY IN GOLF & ACCESSIBILITY FOR EVERYONE

February was Black History Month and Alberta Golf juniors Sela Ogada and Jalen Apedoe spent some time with us to discuss growing up in Alberta playing golf and diversity in the game. Please read the story below.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: SELA OGADA & JALEN APEDOE

SAFE SPORT: PLAY TO YOUR POTENTIAL

Alberta Golf is once again aligned with Golf Canada and Respect Group to create a Safe Sport environment where our competitors can reach their full potential free of Bullying, Abuse, Harassment and Discrimination.

WATCH OUR SAFE SPORT VIDEO HERE

2024 CHRISTA SPAHMANN MEMORIAL GOLF SCRAMBLE AND GAL PALS GIRL’S GOLF CLINIC

If you’re in the Lethbridge area make sure to check out the 2024 Gal Pals Girl’s Golf Clinic at the Lethbridge Country Club and the Christa Spahmann Memorial Golf Tournament at Henderson Lake Golf Club, both to honour the late Christa Spahmann and her Memorial Scholarship Fund.

CLGA UPDATE

The Calgary Ladies Golf Association kicks off the 2024 season with the 40th Anniversary of the Rileys Best Ball Ladies Classic with a reception, May 6, at The Calgary Golf and Country Club. Other featured Championships on the 2024 CLGA schedule include:

Calgary Ladies Amateur, June 24-26, Priddis Greens Golf &CC.

Calgary Ladies Senior Amateur, August 13-14, The Glencoe Golf &CC.

Calgary Junior Girls’ Championship, August 1-2, Turner Valley Golf Club.

For more info go to the CLGA website calgaryladiesgolf.ca

EGA UPDATE

The Edmonton Golf Association has announced their 2024 event calendar. The main events include:

BMW Men’s Open Championship, June 3-5, Coal Creek Golf Resort

Arctic Spas Senior Open, June 4-5, Coal Creek Golf Resort

Senior and Super Senior Amateur, June 22-23, Trestle Creek Golf Resort

Provincial Electrical Services Ladies Tournament, July 21-22, Broadmoor Golf Course

103rd Edmonton Amateur presented by IG Wealth Management, July 26-28, Cardiff Golf and Country Club 

Jiffy Lube Edmonton Junior Championship, July 31-August 1, Sturgeon Valley Golf and Country Club

For more info please go to egagolf.ca

CGA UPDATE

2024 is the 50th playing of the Rileys Best Ball! 

Draw night will be May 16 at The Calgary Golf and Country Club.

The CGA Junior will be the first event on the 2024 McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour, July 2-3, at Maple Ridge Golf Club.

Entries and more information for all events can be found at: calgarygolfassociation.org

MJT UPDATE

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour is launching a new Ready2Play (#R2P) initiative which aims to make players aware of Pace of Play and areas relating to Respect for the Game. The MJT R2P program will focus on Pace of Play, Responsibilities of the Scorer and Fellow-Competitor, Respect for the Golf Course, and Etiquette.Watch out for educational videos relating to R2P on our social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok (new this April!).

To see the 2024 MJT Junior Tour and Mini Tour schedules click HERE

To register for events click HERE

For more info go to maplejt.com

FOLLOW ALBERTA GOLF ON SOCIAL MEDIA

You can follow us as always on Instagram and X/Twitter but we also have a brand new Facebook page you can check out as well.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/people/Alberta-Golf/61556008408332/

INSTAGRAM: @Alberta_Golf https://www.instagram.com/alberta_golf/

X/TWITTER: @Alberta_Golf  https://twitter.com/Alberta_Golf

Alberta Golf (Calgary) The 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Voting Members of the Alberta Golf Association was held virtually on Wednesday March 27. Subsequent to the AGM, the Board of Directors met and the following officers were named:

OFFICERS

President: Brent Bailey

Vice President: Kendra Koss

Treasurer: Ross Nesbitt

Secretary: Chris Leach

Brent Bailey starts his second year as President after taking over from Mark Bamford in 2023 who provided Alberta Golf with two successful years of leadership, where a continued emphasis was placed on diversifying the Association’s many relationships and enhancing its governance structure.

Bailey, a retired Scotia McLeod Investment Advisor, is well known in most provincial golf circles as a result of his strong competitive play spanning several decades. The past president of the Windermere G&CC has won multiple Club Championships, won the 1971 Alberta Junior Championship, was a member of 3 Alberta junior teams and represented Alberta nationally as a member of the Willingdon Cup Team in 1973.

FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brent Bailey: Windermere Golf & Country Club (Edmonton)

Mark Bamford: Glendale Golf & Country Club (Edmonton)

Jennifer Biernaskie: Public Players Club (Calgary)

Kim Carrington: Cottonwood Golf & Country Club (De Winton)

Ken Knowles: Windermere Golf & Country Club (Edmonton)

Kendra Koss: Earl Grey Golf Club (Calgary)

Chris Leach: Valley Ridge Golf Club (Calgary)             

Lorraine Moster: Public Players Club (Edmonton)

Ross Nesbitt: River’s Edge Golf Club (Okotoks)

VIEW THE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT HERE

VIEW THE 2024-2027 ALBERTA GOLF STRATEGIC PLAN HERE

Alberta Golf (Calgary) – The 2024 Championship season in Alberta brings a number of new events to the province including the inaugural stand-alone Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship to be held at River Spirit Golf Club in the foothills just west of Calgary. The event is scheduled for August 6-7 and is open to players who are aged 25+ as of July 10, 2024. The event also includes the Alberta Mid-Master Championship for players aged 40+ as of July 10, 2024. In 2023 those 2 events were part of the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship at Water Valley with Meaghan LeBlanc winning the Mid-Amateur title and Andrea Kosa taking the Mid-Master title.

Meaghan LeBlanc shot rounds of 72-77-77 to take the 2023 Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur title. 

Andrea Kosa shot rounds of 76-79-80 to take the 2023 Alberta Women’s Mid-Master title

Additionally, the 2025 Women’s Mid-Amateur Interprovincial team will be created from this event, with the top 3 Albertan residents winning this honour.

The Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship was first contested in 2003 and was won by Kim Carrington. Since it’s inception the championship has seen many top players win the event including Andrea Kosa, Jessica Luciuk, Meaghan LeBlanc, Heather Lee, and Skyesong Alexis. The Women’s Mid-Master Championship has had a similar story starting in 2007 with a Kim Carrington win, and being won by great champions like Heather Lee, Andrea Kosa, Cheryl Newman, and Barb Flaman.

River Spirit Golf Club is in a beautiful setting half way between the west edge of Calgary and Bragg Creek and has a stunning backdrop courtesy of the Millburn Creek and the Elbow River with the mountains in the distance. The course has 27 holes, with three distinct 9-hole layouts. The course was designed by Russ Olson, who most notable worked on the Whistler Golf Club, Dakota Dunes Golf Linkes, and the Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club.

River Spirit Golf Club

River Spirit Golf Club has recent history hosting championships with Max Sekulic winning the 2019 Alberta Match Play Championship and Wes Heffernan taking the 2018 Alberta Open title.

Max Sekulic: 2019 Alberta Match Play champion at River Spirit Golf Club

Wes Heffernan: 2018 Alberta Open champion at River Spirit Golf Club

Molly Bygrove is the Golf Operations Manager at River Spirit Golf Club and says the club in thrilled to be a part of a championship celebrating women’s golf and their excellence.

“River Spirit Golf Club is thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the upcoming Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. We appreciate the significant contributions these women make to the golfing community, and we are proud to stand behind them in their endeavours at our facility,” Said Bygrove. “This tournament not only showcases the talent and dedication of female golfers but also highlights our commitment to fostering inclusivity and excellence in the sport. We eagerly anticipate welcoming participants and spectators alike to our course for what promises to be an exciting and memorable event.”

For both participants and spectators it will be even easier to get to the golf course with the recent completion of the Calgary ring road.

“The completion of the ring road is truly a game-changer for accessibility to our course,” Admitted Bygrove. “The increased convenience and opportunities that the completion of the ring road brings significant improvement in accessibility enhances the overall experience for our members, guests, and tournament competitors. We look forward to seeing how this positive change fosters growth and strengthens our community at the club.”

Registration for the 2024 Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will open April 1^st at 9:00am.

FULL 2024 ALBERTA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE HERE

Alberta Golf (Red Deer) – Red Deer Golf & Country Club will host the 110th playing of the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship this summer July 2-4. This is the 4th time Red Deer has hosted the Women’s Amateur, the last time was in 2017, won by Sabrine Garrison. The defending champion is Jieming Yang who won at Water Valley last year, a 4 stroke victory over 2023 Canadian Junior Girls and Alberta U19 Champion Eileen Park who plays out of the Red Deer Golf and CC.

Jieming Yang: 2023 Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion 

Eileen Park: 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Champion (Red Deer Golf and CC member)

The Women’s Amateur Trophy has been held by many of the great female golfers in the province including Patricia Arnold, Rae Milligan, Marilyn Daku, Marilyn O’Connor, Jessica Luciuk, Heather Lee, Jackie Twamley, and of course the 17-time champion Betty Stanhope Cole.

The origins of Red Deer Golf & Country Club dates back to 1919, with the first course being only 6 holes along the main highway, Calgary-Edmonton trail. The club had its centennial celebration in 2022.

Red Deer Golf and Country Club

Red Deer has played host to a variety of championships for Alberta Golf including the Alberta Open, Men’s Amateur, Men’s Senior, and the Women’s Senior. Red Deer has also hosted national championships and was the famous host of the Eaton Rose Bowl Final.

Alberta Women’s Amateur Changes: In an effort to strengthen the field, the maximum field size for the Women’s Amateur will be 30 players. Players will either be exempt or must qualify for a spot in the Championship. There will be two one-day events for players to qualify into the championship.

A stand-alone event has been created for the Women’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master Championships, players will not have to qualify for these events. Registration for the qualifiers & the Women’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master Championship will open on April 1st at 9am.

These changes will help heighten the prestige around the Women’s Amateur and will allow players to feel a sense of accomplishment playing in the championship, this will help the event to become a celebration of Women’s High-Performance Golf and will help strengthen the field.

Creating a stand-alone event for the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master players, together with the Women’s Amateur qualifiers add more playing opportunities for female golfers in the province. Creating the qualifiers supports the high-performance strategy for our younger players, as the pathway mirrors other high-level competitions and teaches players how to play with pressure. The qualifiers are less time-intensive compared to a championship, and a great entry for women to get into competitive golf. This is intended to help grow women’s competitive golf.

Women’s Amateur Eligibility & Exemptions

Exemption Criteria:

The players that meet any of the following criteria are exempt and will be invited to immediately register for the championship.

• Past Champions of the event from the last 5 years (2019-2023).
• The 2023 Interprovincial Team.
• The 2023 Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion
• The 2023 Women’s Mid-Master Champion
• The 2023 Women’s Senior Champion
• Players who made the top 10 + ties from the 2023 Championship.
• Any players who made the cut at the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Eligibility Criteria:

The players that meet all of the following criteria are eligible to register for one of the qualifiers and try to qualify for the Championship.

• Players can be of any age.
• Players must be a handicap index of 20 or lower.
• Players must be amateurs at the time of registration and competition.
• Players must be members of Golf Canada.

READ THE ALBERTA GOLF WOMEN’S ELIGIBILITY CHART HERE

New Tournament Opportunities

Qualifiers (June 6th at Edmonton Garrison, June 11th at Canyon Meadows)

• One day events.
• Allows players to learn more about competitive golf.
• Helps align the championship with our high-performance program.
• Top players qualify for Women’s Amateur.
• Registration opens on April 1st.

Women’s Amateur Championship (July 2-4 at Red Deer G&CC)

• 3-day event.
• Top 30 female players in the province.
• Exemptions will be sent out allowing exempt players to register.
• Players qualify through one-day qualifier events.
• Celebrates high-performance women’s golf.

Women’s Senior Championship (July 23-25 at Pine Hills Golf Club)

• 3-day event. 
• Open to players aged 50+, competing for the Senior (50+), Super Senior (60+), Diamond Division (70+) Champions, and 2024 Women’s Senior Interprovincial Team.
• Registration opens April 1.

Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship (August 6-7 at River Spirit Golf Club)

• 2-day event.
• Open to players aged 25+, competing for the Mid-Amateur (25+), Mid-Master Championships (40+), and 2025 Women’s Mid-Amateur Interprovincial Team.
• Registration opens April 1.

Our 2024 competitive schedule including our host clubs has been finished and can be found using the link below.

ALBERTA GOLF 2024 SCHEDULE HERE

Registration for all qualifiers and any events without qualifiers will open on April 1^st at 9:00am. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to john@albertagolf.org or taylor@albertagolf.org