Navigating sand traps and trees is part of the challenge of golf — but imagine playing the game when you can’t see the course.

That’s what golf is like for Kiefer Jones, 27, who recently qualified for the 2018 World Blind Golf Championships, which will be held in Italy in October.

“I golf six days a week,” the Albertan told CTV News. “I don’t know what else I would do if I wasn’t golfing!”

Since he first picked up a plastic golf club at age 18 months, the sport has been his passion. But when Jones was 16, he began to lose his sight.

“I got a virus that attacked my optic nerve,” Jones explained.

Adjusting to life with a visual impairment caused Jones to give up his beloved game for several years until a friend came along with an idea to get him playing again.

“A friend of mine said, ‘I’ll take you out golfing and I’ll watch your ball if you help teach me to play golf,’” Jones said.

Not only did that suggestion get Jones back on the links, but it also helped him figure out a new way to play in which he has a buddy line him up and describe the shot distance. The system has proven to be so successful that it even resulted in a recent hole-in-one.

“So he takes his line, lines up and hits it right at the hole,” Jones’ friend Tobyn Larsen recalled. “(The ball) takes one hop, bounces right a little bit, takes a little loop around the hole and just disappeared.”

With the 2018 World Blind Golf Championships now on the horizon, Jones feels unstoppable.

“It’s a game I’ve played my whole life,” Jones added. “And it’s a game I plan to play until I can’t play anymore.”

OTTAWA, Ont. – On a day that was perfect to play golf, Canada’s golf industry was on Parliament Hill touting the benefits of the sport to nearly 70 members of parliament and a handful of Canada’s senators as well.

It was the first year the National Allied Golf Associations (composed of Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada, the National Golf Course Owners Association, the Canadian Society of Club Managers, and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association) decided to change their outward marketing approach to align with the American golf industry associations.

NAGA, as its known, will remain the administrative name for the body of industry associations, but moving forward the brand will be called ‘We Are Golf.’

We Are Golf set up a junior golf clinic on Parliament Hill in concert with Golf in Schools, and welcomed nearly 100 students from Carson Grove Elementary School on Tuesday, many of whom had never played golf before.

“What’s been amazing is that we’ve been able to get the word out about We Are Golf,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum, who has just recently celebrated one year at the helm of Golf Canada.

From left to right: Charlie Beaulieu (Vice President, Golf Canada), Leslie Dunning (President, Golf Canada), Laurence Applebaum (CEO, Golf Canada), Patrick Kelly (President, B.C. Golf)

The objective of the day was to continue to grow awareness of golf in the country’s decision makers, as leaders from each of the respective organizations had a day chalk-full of meetings on Parliament Hill with MPs from across the country.

Jeff Calderwood, the CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association and chair of NAGA, said one of the main objectives of the day was based on how many people the organization got to meet with, and he said they ended up exceeded that number.

“It’s up to us to tell the story about golf and let the nearly 70 MPs and the few senators know all about what the golf industry is really about. Without that, you’re susceptible to politicians just seeing this as a game,” said Calderwood. “It could be a great game, and a game more people could play than any other sport, but if you need to go beyond that and give them the rest of the story. That’s when they start to treat you the way you need to be treated to have a fair outcome on anything environmental, tax-related, or funding-related.”

Calderwood said a key message would be around how golf is a vital industry in almost every community in Canada. Well north of 75 percent of all communities (or ‘ridings,’ in political vernacular) have a golf course – save for downtown ridings like Toronto Centre or Ottawa Centre, for example – and even the ones that don’t are only 10 minutes away from the nearest course, said Calderwood.

This past election was a first for Calderwood, he said, as more than 200 MPs that came into the legislature were first-timers. He admitted Tuesday that with the next election only 18 months away, there would be a lot of education for the new MPs on the golf industry – its economic benefits, its environmental benefits, and more.

“It never ends,” he said. “This time they had 200 new members of parliament, which is an unusually big turnover. You start back at ground zero with their awareness of the golf industry, but the education needs to be a perpetual thing. This gives us a chance to highlight (golf) early in the year and sync up with National Golf Day in the U.S.”

Unlike Calderwood, this was Applebaum’s first time on Parliament Hill lobbying on behalf of the golf industry.

He said the day was a positive one, and he was impressed to see how many rookie MPs play golf, along with their families. Specifically he was happy to hear from MP Roger Cuzner from Cape Breton-Canso, who has seen millions of tourism dollars flood the island thanks to the worldwide success of Cabot Links, Cabot Cliffs, and Highlands Links.

Scenes from National Golf Day on Parliament Hill ??⛳️#CanadaGolfDay#WeAreCanadianGolf pic.twitter.com/KS4VoolZwB

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) May 29, 2018

Getting the message out about golf’s positives was key, said Applebaum, speaking specifically to its impact on Canada’s GDP ($15 billion) and employment (more than 300,000 across the country).

While in past years NAGA was on Parliament Hill lobbying for tax fairness for the golf industry – to allow people to claim a round of golf on their taxes in terms of entertainment as a bonafide business expense – that wasn’t on the agenda Tuesday.

Applebaum said that is still an “important issue” as an industry, but instead the day in Ottawa was more for “advocacy, information, and sharing.”

“We’re not here for an ask. We’re just here to let the MPs know how active their constituents are with golf, and down the road we’ll address the tax issue,” he explained.

Moving forward, Applebaum is hopeful that National Golf Day results in more awareness, and maybe even days off for people to go play golf. But he would say the first iteration was a success.

“We’ve gotten together as an industry, which we don’t always do so well, and we’ve been able to get our voice heard,” he said. “That makes for a really nice day for us.”

HIGH RIVER, Alta. – The 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship is set to begin on Friday at Highwood Golf.

With support from Alberta Golf, the Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship is the third of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament will begin with a practice round on May 31 before the tournament gets underway with round one on June 1.

The Highwood, as it is locally known, was established in August 1958. This will be the first Future Links, driven by Acura Championship for the club, which is located just 30 minutes south of Calgary.

“Alberta Golf is excited to present the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship alongside Golf Canada,” said Stephen Wigington, this week’s Tournament Director and Manager of Competitions at Alberta Golf. “We are confident that the course here at Highwood Golf will challenge Canada’s premier junior golfers and allow them the opportunity to showcase their  skills.”

The field will consist of 77 junior golfers in the Junior Boys Division with the top six earning exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 30-Aug. 2 at Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club in Medicine Hat, Alta. A tie for the sixth position will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play.

The Junior Girls Division will consist of 34 golfers with the top six (including ties) earning an exemption into the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on July 31- Aug. 3 at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, B.C.

Three additional Future Links, driven by Acura Championships will span the country this summer.

• June 8-10 – Future Links, driven by Acura Québec – Lachute, Que. – Club de golf Lachute.
• June 15-17 – Future Links, driven by Acura Prairie – Portage la Prairie, Man. – Portage Golf Club.
• July 17-19 – Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic – Port Blandford, Nfld. – Twin Rivers Golf Course.

Two other editions of the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Championships have taken place so far.

The 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship took place on May 11-13, where Cole Wilson and Monet Chun earned medallist honours in their respective divisions. Additional information regarding the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship, including participants, start times and full results can be found here.

At the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship, Laurent Desmarchais and Taylor Kehoe were crowned champions in their respective divisions. Additional information regarding the Ontario Championship can be found here.

NOTABLES
Ethan Choi of Pincher Creek, Alta.
The sixteen-year-old member of Team Alberta’s 2018 High Performance Squad finished second in this event last year. He would go on to place T4 at the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Choi, who currently ranks third on the Future Links, driven by Acura Jr. Boys Order of Merit, is fresh off a win last weekend at the PGA of Alberta Junior Masters.

Camille Lapierre-Ouellet of Granby, Que.
The seventeen-year-old is off to a spectacular start this season with wins at the CJGA Atlantic Spring Classic at the Eagles Glenn Golf Club and the Humber College PGM Junior Open in Metcalfe, Ont. Alongside her wins are four other top-three finishes, the most recent being a T2 place at the CJGA Quebec Junior Open.

Ty Steinbring of Barrhead, Alta.
Eighteen-year-old member of the 2018 Team Alberta finished last year’s event in third, only two shots behind the lead. His top-ten finishes this season include a T7 place at the PGA of Alberta Junior Masters and a 5th place finish at the CKGA Junior at RedTail Landing.

Sydney Scraba of Calgary, Alta.
Seventeen-year-old Scraba placed third at this event last year. The Calgary, Alta. product most recently came in second at the MJT – Alberta Spring Classic 2018, which took place from May 5-6 at Paradise Canyon Golf & Country Club.

FAST FACTS
In 2018, Golf Canada is conducting its six regional Future Links, driven by Acura championships in conjunction with the Provincial Associations.

Top six finishers in the Boys Division earn exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Top six finishers (including ties) in the Girls Division earn exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

Logan Carver went wire-to-wire to win the junior boys division at the championship last year.

Angela Zhang won the junior girls division after bouncing back from a rollercoaster-like second round.

More information on the tournament can be found here.

ABOUT THE COURSE
Established as a non-profit corporation in August of 1958.

The Alberta Flood of 2013 saw 250 mm of torrential rain inundated the club with water. Thanks to the passion and commitment of the staff and members, a flood mitigation dike project was completed in 2014 through and around the property to help restore the course.

More information on the Highwood Golf can be found here.

Golf is a game for life and Future Links, through Golf Canada, has plenty of options to get you started on the right path and keep you there.

Since 1996 more than one million golfers aged five to 18 have gone through some part of the myriad of programs involving players of all abilities, professionals who lead the instruction and golf facilities which play host to events.

“One example is the Golf in School program, it has three levels which basically cover students from kindergarten to when they leave school”, said Jeff Thompson, Chief Sport Officer at Golf Canada. He expects around 370 thousand golfers will take part in 2018. This is the definition of grassroots.

“We’re not trying to develop golfers in our Golf in School program. We’re trying to develop kids who may have an interest in actually learning the game and experiencing the game.”

Thompson says this program is a chance to expose kids to the game at the same time they are being shown other sports like basketball, volleyball and soccer.

“Research shows if you don’t reach these young people by the age of 12, the chances of them picking up a sport goes down drastically.”

Other branches on the Future Links tree include Learn to Play, Test Your Skills, Girls Only, Order of Merit and the very popular mobile clinics.

“They (the clinics) are vehicles that are driven by PGA professionals and outfitted with clubs. They will go to where the kids are, and it could be at summer camps, boys and girls clubs, YMCA’s or recreation centres,” said Thompson. “I think this year we’ll be around 65 thousand kids that will have been engaged through the mobile clinic program.”

Future Links is part and parcel of the community outreach strategy Alberta Golf has crafted which expands the scope of who they are reaching and how they’re getting to them, said Jennifer Davison, Director, Sport Development and High Performance for Alberta Golf.

Bringing onboard the PGA of Canada professionals to help run these events was a smart move. Davison said they are the ones who can provide that next level of instruction and are passionate about bringing the game to the kids.

“Players are getting great opportunities in their own backyard and the best of the best are teaching them,” she said.

Golf Canada develops these programs for use and it’s up to provincial bodies like Alberta Golf to deliver them. But it’s not a case of dropping of material to the facilities, never to be seen again.

Davison says Alberta Golf will support them in some way to make things work and put a face to the facility of the person conducting the program,

“It’s making the connection between these grassroots programs and connecting them to a facility, whether that be a driving range or a golf course or a golf professional in that area.”

A prime example of how this all comes together would be the Derrick Golf and Winter Club in Edmonton which has been a part of Future Links for several years.

Associate professional Adam Werbicki says the resources provided by Future Links allows them to run successful events.

“It’s great for the young professionals or even community golf coaches or facilities that are looking to jump start a junior program or maybe add more to what they currently do.”

Support for Future Links adds up to about $500 thousand taking various forms from Sport Canada, Acura, Puma, ClubLink, PGA of Canada and the Royal & Ancient. With no cost to the facility Werbicki says he fully recommends taking full advantage of what’s being provided.

“Talk to other professionals that are using the program and get yourself right in there using it. Don’t wait. There’s no downside in using it.”

Werbicki says nobody is telling the facilities what to do with the resources but instead it’s a chance to pick and choose what your membership might want while you can flesh it out as you see fit.

“There is a lot of planning and preparing which goes into these events,” said Werbicki. “Tools like what Future Links provides can help guide a professional when hosting an event and do what is important-spend time with the kids.”

It’s a tried and true program with plenty of resources for parents, professionals and community golf coaches, Werbicki added.

Davison says the thought process is to expand on what is being provided and not try to re-invent what’s already there. Like anything else however, there is always room for improvement.

Future Links looks much different today than when it started in 1996 and a really important watermark was in 2007 with the creation of the long-term player development guide. It was done in partnership with PGA of Canada and Sport Canada as a blueprint on how to develop in the sport of golf from the time you first pick up a club.

Golf Canada put Future Links under a microscope to give it a real refresh as to what was being delivered. The same process was recently undertaken in late 2017 to see what are the needs today for junior golf in the country and how does Future Links need to evolve, said Thompson.

He says with Golf in School and the mobile clinics, players get a first taste of the game but then there are more levels to discover and complete while developing a golfer.

“Parents need to see that the sport has a plan of how my son or daughter is going to progress in the sport,” said Thompson.

Davison added, Alberta Golf wants to get away from the idea these tiers are vertical, that one level is better than the other.

“What we’re trying to promote is that these tiers are horizontal and that we’re trying to best match where a golfer is and what we can do to support their growth and development.”

With golf being a game for a lifetime it’s good to know the people who share some of the responsibility to grow the game have a concrete system in place which gives parents of young players a more defined road map of how to negotiate this path.

Future Links

This article was originally published in the 2018 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

From May 28 to June 1, Golf Canada will be celebrating all donations made towards the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program in support of the third annual Adopt a School Week.

The week represents a coast-to-coast celebration to mark the efforts of all Golf in Schools adoptions. Since the program’s inception in 2009, adoptions have accounted for close to 50% of the over 3,500 registered schools delivering the curriculum. Together, Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), and all provincial partners have aligned to celebrate the generosity of golf enthusiasts across the country.

“Golf Canada recognizes the many investments made by Canadians across the country in support of the Golf in Schools program,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer. “It is in the industry’s best interest to support the continued growth of the sport at the grassroots level, which in turn benefits the future membership of facilities.”

Adopt a School Week is just around the corner! Make an impact in your community and grow the game through #GolfinSchools ⛳️?

➡️ https://t.co/buOMp4E5gA pic.twitter.com/o0Cxx3TNAc

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) May 26, 2018

For the first 30 adoptions, any golf facility, PGA of Canada professional or individual who adopts a school into the Golf in Schools program from May 28- June 1 will see their adoption matched with a school of their choice. This matching grant is possible due to Golf Canada’s partnership with the Canadian Seniors Golf Association (CSGA).

In 2017, 266 new schools were adopted, introducing an average of 120 students per school to golf.

For the first 30 adoptions, any individual or facility who adopts a school will see their adoption matched in support of Adopt a School Week #GolfinSchools ⛳️?

➡️ https://t.co/zWFQ4ewcVc pic.twitter.com/KWXQULBlkK

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) May 25, 2018

A Golf in Schools donation includes the full program kit, which features safe, age-appropriate golf clubs along with a teacher-friendly learning resource. Developed in conjunction with the PGA of Canada and Physical Health Education (PHE) Canada, the learning resource incorporates Life Skills into the curriculum—placing added focus on transferrable skills both on and off the golf course.

The Intrapersonal Life Skills—perseverance, goal-setting and emotional regulation—are meant to instill focus while the Interpersonal Life Skills—honesty, teamwork and respect—embody a sense of sportspersonship.

Following Adopt a School Week, Golf Canada will be announcing all elementary, intermediate and high school adoptions conducted in 2018.

To adopt a school in your community, visit golfcanada.ca/adoptaschool

Since the first Scotsman put club to ball in the 1400s, golf has taken the entire world by storm. Canada has not been immune to the call of the links, with this country having the highest per capita participation in golf and more people playing the game than all other sports combined. For over 100 years, Golf Canada and Alberta Golf have fostered that love of the game and looked for new ways to grow it further. To aid in that effort, they introduced a new Gold membership model for the organizations last year.

“A year ago, when we were launching this program, there was a lot of uncertainty,” says Phil Berube, Executive Director and CEO of Alberta Golf. “We were increasing the fees but the associated benefits were increasing along with them. Given the timing, which was after many facilities had already gone through their budgeting process, we were a bit apprehensive, conservative with our estimate, but the response was tremendous.”

Berube had hoped to convert between 30 and 36 facilities to the new model across the province, but change can be challenging, especially in a sport so steeped in tradition. But by the end of the season the team had exceeded expectations, converting 51 facilities to bring the total to 70. The number of Gold memberships jumped from 1,052 to 20,138, proof that the uncertainty about the program was unfounded.

“It was a sign that there was buy-in from the entire industry,” says Berube.

Coast to coast, all eyes were on Alberta Golf’s experiment. Other provincial organizations were watching to see how members and courses would receive the changes and were waiting for results here before revamping their own membership models.

“Now across the country everyone is going full steam ahead and implementing the Gold model,” he says.

As Alberta Golf continues to roll out the new membership system it will help connect more golfers to the associations, with the goal being to add another approximately 20,000 new members in the coming year. Alberta Golf anticipates transitioning 73 more facilities in 2018 to bring the total under the new model to 143. Courses are also continuing to promote the program and encouraging their golfers to take advantage of the benefits of membership. And because membership to one association includes membership to the other, the benefits—both provincial and national—are incredible.

The membership model retains that which attracted many golfers to the associations to begin with. Alberta Golf and Golf Canada have traditionally been known for their handicap system, and the new membership continues to support competitive golfers by tracking their scores and handicaps. For many clubs, this remains the key appeal for membership.

“Our day-to-day players don’t have (the membership) but we make it mandatory for our men’s and ladies’ leagues to have their handicap,” says Josh Davison, general manager of RedTail Landing Golf Club.

Handicaps are necessary for golfers to compete in many provincial, national and regional events as well as in some course leagues. But Alberta Golf is so much more than just handicaps, and the organization now offers more tangible benefits that have a wider appeal.

“There is value in Alberta Golf for every member, not just the competitive golfer,” says John Fisher, general manager of Silver Springs Golf and Country Club.

For a low annual fee, golfers receive custom ID labels displaying their membership number that they can adhere to their equipment. If they misplace or leave behind a club, golf courses can easily find out to whom it belongs and return it to its owner.

Membership also includes an insurance package for incident protection.

“Golf clubs have situated themselves as the centerpiece of new communities. With that there are windows, and not everybody has mastered hitting the ball down the fairway so this is a great thing,” says Fisher.

In the event of a hooking tee shot that breaks a window, an unfortunate slice that damages someone’s property, clubs that go missing, or a too-tight turn in a power cart, members are covered for up to $6000 in damages and loss. Golfers can also take advantage of discounted home and auto insurance through their member policy.

On top of these benefits, members receive a rule book, Golf Canada magazine subscription, membership to both Alberta Golf and Golf Canada and participation in national and provincial championships if eligible. They can also download the Golf Canada app to track scores, share rounds on social media and register for events, all with a few taps on a cell phone.

Courses also enjoy the perks of membership. The associations provide course and slope ratings, which is the international standard used to measure a course’s difficulty. Golfers can post their rounds to a member course, which can help courses identify potential growth markets and demographics. Golf Canada and Alberta Golf have a great deal of information to offer member courses as well, ranging from tournament management software that helps them run their events to year-round course maintenance requirements. The benefits are impressive and have made Berube’s job converting facilities that much easier.

“I was pleased to see that, yes it was a little more money, but I felt like now members really get something. There is value there,” says Alan Carter, general manager of Edmonton Country Club.

As a steward of the game, Alberta Golf is dedicated to offering value and resources to its members and it appreciates the support from member courses and players so it can continue to grow the game. It provides various programs throughout the year to help develop young players, attract new golfers, educate weekend golfers, and support elite competitive players in the province.

“All of the programs that people take advantage of and don’t even realize it and the services Alberta Golf provides, it all costs money. Having the membership support is the best way to do it. And it’s a win-win for both,” says Brent Syme, general manager of Country Hills Golf Club.

With thousands of new Gold members enjoying the perks, everyone benefits with the new Alberta Golf membership.

Everyone Benefits

This article was originally published in the 2018 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

On Wednesday, May 23^rd the Alberta golf industry gathered at Heritage Pointe Golf Club to kick-off the 2018 season.

A new staple on the golf industry annual calendar, the season kick-off brings together Alberta golf stakeholders (Golf Course owners, general managers, professionals and representatives, media, partners, amateur athletes, coaches, sponsors, suppliers, volunteers and members) to celebrate the start of a new season.

The festivities were hosted by Global Sports Anchor Kevin Smith, a passionate golfer in his own right. We (Alberta Golf) were able to share our passion for the game and the mission of the association – all represented through our strategic pillars of ‘Discover & Try’, ‘Learn & Play’, ‘Compete & Excel’ and ‘Connect & Enjoy’.

Members of our high performance program, Team Alberta, were introduced to the audience, along with a short clinic and a ceremonial drive to officially kick-off the season.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the celebration. Have a great season!

View the photographs from the 2018 Season Kick-Off at bit.ly/2IOuPTL 

The Great Canadian East-West Contest is back for 2018, giving one lucky draw winner the golf trip of a lifetime to one of Canada’s most renowned golf courses. This year will include an all-expenses-paid trip for two to either Bear Mountain Golf & Country Club in B.C., or Kingswood Golf & Country Club in N.B.

The winner is drawn from all score entries posted by Golf Canada members from April 1 – Oct. 31, 2018. Each additional score posted counts for an additional entry. In addition to the golf, the winner will receive:

• Four nights accommodation at hotel near chosen golf course
• Round trip airfare (with either Delta or WestJet)
• Five-day car rental (with National/Enterprise)
• One hour lesson and one round of golf with the PGA of Canada professional
• $500 spending money

In 2017, the Great Canadian East-West Contest came to an end Oct. 31, with North Vancouver’s Patrick Lloyd winning the draw amongst over 7 million scores posted by Golf Canada members.

As the winner, Lloyd was given the choice of a golf vacation for two in 2018 to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club (also in B.C.) or The Links at Crowbush Cove in Morell, P.E.I.

Lloyd, a member of Seymour Golf & Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C., will head east to Crowbush Cove alongside wife Linda this summer.

Click here for contest details.

STILLWATER, Oklahoma – Ohio State standout Jaclyn Lee recorded a 4-under 284 to end the 2018 NCAA Championship in a tie for fifth, the best individual finish in Buckeye history.

Lee, a member of the Team Canada Women’s National Amateur Squad, went into the final day one-stroke behind the lead after recording a 6-under 66 during the third round.

The Calgary, Alta. product kicked off the final round with back-to-back birdies on the first two holes, scoring 1-under 35 across the front-nine.

After 13 holes, the 21-year-old was at the top of the leaderboard. Bogeys at 15 and 16 and a double bogey at 17, however, dropped her from first position. After closing with a birdie from the greenside bunker on 18, Lee finished four-strokes behind the tournament medallist Jennifer Kupcho.

Post-round reaction from @JaclynLee57#GoBuckspic.twitter.com/H0mfnabOdJ

— Ohio State W Golf (@OhioState_WGOLF) May 22, 2018

Kupcho, the reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, posted 8-under 280 to capture the title and become the first Wake Forest woman to win an NCAA golf title. The reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion overcame two bogeys and a double bogey across the front-nine with five birdies over her final eight holes.

Congrats to reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Jennifer Kupcho on capturing the #NCAAGolf title ????

She’ll be back to defend her #CDNWAm title this summer @MDGC1922 from July 24-27 pic.twitter.com/xoQHBLna8l

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) May 22, 2018

Lee’s stellar junior season with Ohio State saw her winning three individual tournament titles, including a record-tying performance at the Big Ten Women’s Championship and an overall scoring average of 71.14, the lowest in Buckeye history. She will have another chance at winning the NCAA next year in her final collegiate season.

I can’t thank everyone enough for all the support this past week at #NCAAGolf ☺️ it always puts a smile on my face to see people following along. I appreciate it more than you know! Even though I didn’t finish the way I wanted to, I played my heart out there today #GoBucks ❤️

— Jaclyn Lee (@JaclynLee57) May 22, 2018

Lee’s fellow Team Canada member Maddie Szeryk closed out her outstanding collegiate career with a tie for 17th after scoring a 2-over 290. The Texas A&M Senior won four tournaments in her collegiate career and leaves with career records for stroke average, birdies, eagles and rounds played. She set the NCAA career record with 91 rounds of even-par or better and an SEC record with 32 Top-10 finishes.

Full tournament results can be found here.

Alberta Match Play Championship – June 06-08 – Silver Springs Golf & Country Club

Field: 90 male & 30 female players for qualifying round. 16 player brackets for championship

Format: 18 holes of stroke-play competition to determine seeding in brackets

Eligibility: Males and Females. Must be a 8.0 Handicap Factor or less

SVR Alberta Open Championship – June 19-21 – River Spirit Golf Club

Field: 120 professional and amateur players

Format: 54 holes of stroke-play competition with a 36-hole cut to the low 60 and ties

Eligibility: Must be a 5.0 Handicap Factor or less

Alberta Mid-Amateur Championship – June 26-28 – Glendale Golf & Country Club & Stony Plain Golf Course

Field: 200 players

Format: 54 holes of stroke-play competition with a 36-hole cut to the low 60 and ties

Eligibility: Must be a 8.0 Handicap Factor or less and aged 25 & over as of the first day of the Canadian Mid-Amateur

Alberta Junior & Juvenile Boys Championship U19 & U17 – July 03-06 – Sundre Golf Club

Field: 120 players

Format: 72 holes of stroke-play competition with a 36-hole cut to the low 60 and ties including age protection

Eligibility: Must be a 15.0 Handicap Factor or less and aged 18 & under as of August 1^st

Alberta Junior & Juvenile Girls Championship U19 & U17 – July 02-04 – Coyote Creek Golf & RV Resort

Field: 120 players

Format: 54 holes of stroke-play competition

Eligibility: Must be a 25.0 Handicap Factor or less and aged 18 & under as of August 1^st

Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship – July 09-11 – Willow Park Golf & Country Club

Field: 120 players

Format: 54 holes of stroke-play competition

Eligibility: Must be a 25.0 Handicap Factor or less

Sun Life Financial Alberta Mens Amateur Championship – July 16-19 – RedTail Landing Golf Club

Field: 120 players

Format: 72 holes of stroke-play competition with a 36-hole cut to the low 60 and ties

Eligibility: Must be a 8.0 Handicap Factor or less

Alberta Senior Ladies Championship – July 24-26 – Woodside Golf Course

Field: 120 players

Format: 54 holes of stroke-play competition

Eligibility: Must be a 30.0 Handicap Factor or less and aged 50 & over as of the first day of the Canadian Senior

Alberta Senior Mens Championship – August 01-03 – Turner Valley Golf Club

Field: 120 players

Format: 54 holes of stroke-play competition with a 36-hole cut to the low 60 and ties

Eligibility: Must be a 20.0 Handicap Factor or less and aged 55 & over as of the first day of the Canadian Senior

Alberta Ladies Team Classic – August 07-08 – Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club & Canmore Golf & Curling Club

Field: 60 teams of two players

Format: 36 holes of net best-ball stroke-play competition

Eligibility: Each team member must be a 40.4 Handicap Factor or less

Alberta Bantam & Novice Championships U15 & U13 – August 21-22 – Goose Hummock Golf Resort

Field: 120 players

Format: 36 holes of stroke-play competition for Bantams. 36 holes of stableford competition for Novices

Eligibility: Boys must be a 36.4 Handicap Factor or less and Girls must be a 40.4 Handicap Factor or less. Boys and Girls must be aged 14 & under as of August 1^st

Alberta Interclub Championship – September 04 – Kananaskis Country Golf Course

Field: 36 teams of four players

Format: 18 holes of team gross & net stroke-play competition where the best three of four scores per hole are counted to the team total

Eligibility: Males and Females. Each team member must be a 20.0 Handicap Factor or less

Local Qualifying (18 holes stroke-play competition):

May 22 – Open Qualifying North – Edmonton Garrison Memorial

May 22 – Open Qualifying South – Valley Ridge Golf Club

May 26 – Junior Qualifying South – Riverview

May 27 – Junior Qualifying Edmonton – The Legends Golf & Country Club

May 27 – Junior Qualifying Calgary – Apple Creek

May 27 – Junior Qualifying North – Grande Prairie

May 29 – Mens Amateur Qualifying North – The Dunes

May 30 – Mens Amateur Qualifying Calgary – Carstairs Community Golf Club

May 30 – Mens Amateur Qualifying Edmonton – The Ranch Golf & Country Club

May 30 – Mens Amateur Qualifying Central – Olds

May 30 – Mens Amateur Qualifying South – Picture Butte

June 11 – Senior Mens Qualifying North – Goose Hummock

June 11 – Senior Mens Qualifying South – Nanton

REGISTER ONLINE AT ALBERTAGOLF.ORG

*Dates, venues, competition requirements and information are subject to change.

2018 Tournament Schedule

This article was originally published in the 2018 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.