Kids across the county are getting treated to some free golf this week through an initiative from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Canada.

Starting July 3rd, 700 Canadian golf courses will offer free golf to junior golfers under the age of 16 during the Take A Kid To The Course program.

Not only does the program promote the game of golf at the grassroots level, but it promotes something much more valuable: family time.

“Golfing with your kids, your grandkids, nieces and nephews is a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones and it’s also a lot of fun” states Jeff Calderwood, CEO, NGCOA Canada. “Deeper relationships with your kids are formed on the course as you can have one-on-one discussions without the interference of computer or video screens, not to mention the health benefits of being in the great outdoors.”

Along with providing junior golfers with free green fees, many of the clubs participating in the event offer free range balls, junior lessons and many other specials.

The program is entering its 15th season, during which it has allowed over 350,000 golfers an opportunity to golf for free.

For more information on the event and a complete list of participating courses visit kidsplaygolf.ca

Credit to Postmedia

PGA golfer Phil Mickelson at Harmony Discovery Centre west of Calgary giving the media an update on Mickelson National Golf Club, which is scheduled to open in 2019

Decked out in black slacks, a purple golf shirt — complete with two sponsor logos — and his oh-so-familiar KPMG hat, Phil Mickelson looked like he was ready for the first tee.

Except, of course, for his footwear.

The PGA Tour superstar was in Calgary over the weekend to check on the progress of his design project at Mickelson National Golf Club, arriving for a meet-and-greet with media and members in a pair of grey work boots that were caked in mud from a tour of several soon-to-be-grassed holes.

“He can’t wait to get back out there,” smiled Rick Smith, Lefty’s longtime coach and now his design associate. “We’d stay up all night out there if we could.”

After all, Mickelson doesn’t just want his name on the entrance sign, the scorecard and the paycheque.

He’s passionate about leaving his fingerprints — and boot treads — all over the 18-hole private setup, the showpiece of the Harmony community near Springbank Airport.

“This is a lot of pressure, to have my name on it,” Mickelson acknowledged. “And that’s why I want it to be done right.”

That’s why he was here Saturday and Sunday.

Mickelson’s day job keeps him pretty busy, with the 47-year-old still questing to add to an eye-popping playing resume that includes five major titles and 42 total triumphs on the PGA Tour.

But the World Golf Hall-of-Fame inductee has also been keeping close tabs on the construction at Mickelson National, constantly swapping sketches with Smith as his design is carved into the dirt.

With his approval on the shapes, contours, hazards and every other detail, the hope is that about half of the assignments can be seeded this summer.

The course is slated to open in 2019.

“I have a member in San Diego that joined, bought a place and is moving up here. So the word is starting to get around,” Mickelson said. “It’s a special place. Although word is starting to come out, it’s even more so as you start to be able to visually see it. It’s hard to get that picture of dirt when it’s not graded properly. Now, you can see some of the dramatics of the holes. Some of the trees are planted. You can see some of the bunkering. You can get a better visual of how it’s going to look and feel and play when it’s grassed.”

It’s no secret the folks behind Mickelson National are hoping to eventually play host to the RBC Canadian Open but during a chat with reporters on Canada Day, the three-time Masters champion stressed that his focus is not just on providing a worthy challenge for his pals on the PGA Tour.

He repeatedly mentioned “the average guy.” He revealed that Mickelson National will have separate tee-decks at 50, 100 and 150 yards from each green for junior golfers — “Nothing melts me more than seeing kids carry their bag down the fairway” — and that he considers how his father would navigate the layout.

“What I can’t stand is for the average player to hit a ball in a bunker and not be able to get out, to take three or four or five swings at it and then pick up,” Mickelson said. “I want them to be able to finish every hole here. That makes it playable for the average guy. But once we get to the green and once we’ve helped the average guy run the ball up onto the green and given him chipping areas where he can get it onto the green, there are pins that are very difficult to get to, and that’s how we make it difficult.

“The No. 1 thing is that the average player, the high-handicapper, says ‘I really enjoyed the day. I was able to finish every hole. I was able to play and have a variety of shots and get around the golf course.’ I want him to be able to get away with some of his misses, advance the ball up by the green, putt it or bump-and-run it onto the green and make his bogey and move on. And then I want the good player to say ‘I had to play really well to shoot a few under.’”

The average guy can always take a mulligan.

The course-designer doesn’t have that luxury.

That’s why Mickelson wants to ensure everything is just right before the grass goes down.

“The great thing is that a lot of what he was visualizing, it’s coming to reality,” said Barry Ehlert, the managing partner for Windmill Golf Group and the man who hired Mickelson for this much-anticipated project. “Now, we get down to the details and the nuances of what can make the difference between great golf and spectacular golf. That’s what we are working on now.”

Coal Creek Golf Resort to host its first Alberta Junior & Juvenile Championship

Thomas defeats veteran Mckinlay Jr. with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – It took four holes of sudden death action to name the 2017 Alberta Mid Amateur Champion. When a 15-foot birdie putt by Neil Thomas of the Edmonton Country Club went down, it put the pressure squarely on Tom Mckinlay Jr. of Lacombe. When Mckinlay Jr.’s shorter birdie effort slid by the cup, it was all over. Both men started the day in a tie for seventh place, three shots off the lead.

“I made a couple of birdies on the back side. There was a point there on (hole) 14 where I made a nice birdie and I figured I had it going from there. After (hole) 14, I knew I was fighting for the lead, and if I could make another birdie coming in, or a few pars, then I thought I would have a good chance at the title,” said Thomas.

30-year-old Thomas is no stranger to high level amateur golf. He is a former Willingdon Cup and Pacific Coast Amateur team member. Thomas went to Clayton State University just outside of Atlanta, Georgia on a golf scholarship and now works full-time in the small business division at a branch of the Canadian Western Bank in Edmonton. Finishing the event at seven-over-par with a three day total of 223, this is his first provincial championship title.

It was heartbreak for past champion Brian Laubman. The 2005 winner was hoping to rekindle some of that magic, but a double-bogey on the par-5 sixteenth hole and a disappointing bogey on the last left him one shot shy of joining the playoff.

Mckinlay Jr. claimed the Alberta Mid Master Championship for competitors 40 years of age and older. Twenty players in total earned their spot in the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship being held at Wascana Country Club in Regina, SK, August 22nd to 25th. With Thomas unable to attend nationals, Alberta’s Interprovincial Team will be made up of Mckinlay Jr., Macdonald and Laubman. The latter two competitors earned those spots in a five-way playoff of those tied for third place.

TOP 10 LEADERBOARD

MEDIA

• Final Results
• Course statistics
• #ABMidAm
• Flickr albums

2005 champion, Laubman, seeks second career Mid Amateur title

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta.  – Day two saw a drastic change in weather conditions. Rain set in midway through the day and continued until the last competitors were off the course. As a result, the course played over two shots harder than in round one and no players reached red figures in the second round. It was a long, cold day for those competitors trying to make the cut on moving day.

Kevin Campbell and Warren Holman tied for the low score of the day posting even-par (72) rounds, leaving them tied for the lead after 36 holes. When asked about playing in poor weather, Campbell replied, “I just took what the conditions gave me.” Campbell went on to say, “there wasn’t much of a difference between yesterday and today. The greenskeeper in Grande Prairie has done an excellent job with the course.” Meanwhile, Holman found success by embracing the conditions. “It was a scrambley day. You set your mind to the way the weather is. Par is a good number on every hole.”

Former champion, Brian Laubman, also finds himself atop the leaderboard at 2-over par for the championship. Laubman won the event in 2005 and is looking for his second Mid Amateur title. Laubman noted the difficulty of his last few holes, “I couldn’t keep it together coming in. It was just too awful out.”

The final group on Wednesday will be comprised of Holman, Campbell, and Laubman. All three players have the chance to take home not only the Mid Amateur trophy, but the Mid Master (40+) trophy as well. With 17 players within four shots of the lead, a low final round score could vault many contenders to the top of the leaderboard.

A total of 61 players made the 36-hole cut. They will compete in the final round tomorrow for a chance at one of 20 quota spots into the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship being held at Wascana Country Club in Regina, Saskatchewan, August 22-25th.

MEDIA

• Final round pairings
• Full leaderboard
• Course statistics
• #ABMidAm
• Flickr albums

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on individuals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment.

MORE INFORMATION
Stephen Wigington
Tournament Director
Alberta Golf
(p) 403-860-7425

Past Champion, Laubman, sits one shot back of the lead.

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta.  – There was plenty of sunshine and blue skies during the first day of competition for the 2017 Alberta Mens Mid Amateur Championship at the Grande Prairie Golf & Country Club. With just six players at even par or better, the small greens and tree-lined fairways have proven to be a demanding test for this year’s mid amateurs.

Graeme Bishop and Grant Oh posted the low rounds of day one with a 2-under (70). “I putted really well,” Bishop said. “You could make a lot of putts today if you were on the right side of the hole.” Meanwhile, Oh relied on getting up and down around the greens, saying, “this course is all about chipping. You have to leave yourself four or five-foot par putts.”

Ryan DenBraber and Brian Laubman were the only other two players under par, shoot 1-under (71). DenBraber put up four birdies, on route to going 2-under on the par 3’s today. Laubman finished red hot, going 5-under in his last six holes to sit one shot off the lead.

It was long drive north for some of the field, with some players only arriving late Sunday evening. If the weather cooperates, look for more players to shoot under par as they become more familiar with the course. Although, with ~25mm of rain expected over the next two days, players may be forced to grind through tough conditions to post low scores.

With the field being cut to top 60 and ties after tomorrow’s second round, the players will be fighting for an opportunity to play the final round on Wednesday.

MEDIA

• Tuesday’s pairings
• Full leaderboard
• Course Statistics
• #ABMidAm
• Flickr albums

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on individuals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment.

MORE INFORMATION
Stephen Wigington
Tournament Director
Alberta Golf
(p) 403-860-7425

The Province’s top male Mid-Amateur competitors are set to compete in the Peace Country.

Over the span of three days, 107 players, aged 25 and over, will compete at the Grande Prairie Golf and Country Club in the 2017 Alberta Mens Mid-Amateur Championship.

The championship runs June 26-28th at the Peace Country’s premier golf facility. Players will compete in two contests. The Mid Amateur division is open to all competitors and the Mid Master is open to those aged 40 and over. Unable to attend this year’s championship, defending champion Jordan Irwin will pass along his trophy to a new champion. The championship serves as a qualifier for quota positions in to the 2017 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

“We are excited to head up to Grande Prairie for the 2017 Alberta Mens Mid Amateur Championship”, said Stephen Wigington, the event’s tournament director. “The Grande Prairie G&CC is a tremendous facility and we know the competitors are going to enjoy themselves next week. The course presents a stern test and it will be interesting to see if some of the Mid Master competitors will challenge for the Mid Amateur trophy.”

Round one kicks off on Monday at 8:00 AM with a crossover draw.

NOTABLES

• Paul Briske 2017 Mid Master Champion
• Gerry Macdonald – 2016 Alberta Mid-Amateur second place
• Howard Broun – 2 time Alberta Mens Mid-Amateur Provincial Team member
• Brian Laubman – 2005 Alberta Mens Mid-Amateur Champion
• Brandon Markiw – 2015 Alberta Mens Mid-Amateur Provincial Team member
• Tom Mckinlay Jr. – 3 time Alberta Mens Mid-Amateur Provincial Team member
• Jeff Murdoch – 2015 Alberta Mens Mid-Amateur Provincial Team member
• Neil Thomas – 2012 Pacific Coast Amateur Alberta Morse Cup Team member

FAST FACTS

• First contested in 1986
• 107 players are set to compete
• 54 hole stroke play competition, top 60 and ties advance to a third and final round
• Mid Master contest for those aged 40 & over as of the first day of the Canadian Mid Amateur Championship
• The top two players, along with the top player aged 40 & over will form the Alberta Mens Mid-Amateur Interprovincial Team. They will compete in the 2017 Canadian Men’s Mid Amateur Championship at the Wascana Country Club in Regina, SK, August 22-25th

ABOUT THE COURSE

• Championship tees – 6,784 yards, par 72

MEDIA

• Monday’s pairings
• Full event information
• @Alberta_Golf
• #ABMidAm
• flickr albums

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on individuals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment.

MORE INFORMATION
Stephen Wigington
Tournament Director
Alberta Golf
(p) 403-860-7425

Brendan MacDougall defeats Emmett Oh 2 up in the 2017 Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP Alberta Match Play Championship final.

The top seed from the Alberta Open Championship defeated four opponents on the way to his eventual victory.

The talented 19-year-old from the Glencoe G&CC has been on a hot streak of late. He finished in fourth place at the Glencoe Invitational a week ago and took low amateur honours at the Alberta Open earlier this week. When asked about his feelings once he won the final match, he said “it was awesome. It was kind of just a wave of relief that went over me that said ‘it’s finally over. I can go take a break.’”

The 2017 Team Alberta High Performance Squad member enjoyed the competition this week and the challenge of the match play format. MacDougall said “my opponents were fantastic. This morning, I had an awesome match with Logan. So much fun. Then in the afternoon, Emmett and I just grinded it out. Luckily, I came out on top.”

Matt Williams of the Glencoe G&CC defeated Logan Carver of the Calgary G&CC in the consolation final 2 up.

MacDougall becomes the second member of the 2018 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship Alberta Morse Cup Team. He joins Emmett Oh on the team, who he defeated in the final. Oh claimed the first team position by finishing as the low Albertan at the Glencoe Invitational. The third and final member of the team will be the Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion. The squad will compete at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California next July. MacDougall said “I’m very excited. I have heard great things about the tournament. I know that it’s a wonderful field with amazing players. I’m happy to go to San Francisco and play the Olympic Club.”

For the full leaderboard, click here.

For photographs from the championship, click here.

Follow along using #ABGolf.

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on indivudals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment.

ABOUT SCOTT VENTURO RUDAKOFF LLP
Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP is a multi service law firm based in Calgary, Alberta. Since its establishment in 1986, the firm has become one of Calgary’s leading legal service providers, focusing on delivering high quality, efficient solutions for clients. The partners, associates and staff of Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP come from a wide range of backgrounds, and this experience enables us to offer responsive, effective and creative legal solutions to our clients.

Top four players advance to semi-finals of the 2017 Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP Alberta Match Play Championship

Carver carves up the greens in his quarter-final match, with top seed MacDougall still in contention

It was a battle of the best on day two of the Alberta Match Play. The sixteen lowest scoring Alberta Open amateurs went head to head in a match play bracket challenge at the Sundre Golf Club. The top eight then played this afternoon, for their chance to play in the semi-final and finals tomorrow.

First time Alberta Match Play contender, Logan Carver, won his semi-final match 5 and 3, as he fought to the end against his UBC teammate, Evan Holmes. With an eagle on the second hole, and a five-up lead at the turn, the 18-year-old Calgarian’s putter was on fire.

“Today was 100 percent putting, I wasn’t hitting it exceptionally. I would either miss a green or chip it to like five feet and make it or I’d hit a green and it would somehow die on the front edge. I got it going from the start, and just never looked back.”

Carver, the 13th seeded player, will tee off against the first seed Alberta Open low amateur, Brendan MacDougall, tomorrow at 8AM. The two are friends, and Carver knows that he will have to keep his short game momentum going if he’s to beat MacDougall.

“Brendan and I go way back, we’ve been playing in these events since we were like 13 or 14. I know his game. He hits his driver well. He’s not going to make too many mistakes, so I’ll have to definitely bring it again tomorrow.”

MacDougall closed out his match on 16 after three straight birdies, finishing 4 and 2 against UCLA Bruin, Patrick Murphy. Matt Williams won his match with Chris Horton in convincing fashion, 5 and 3. He went bogey-free and made five birdies in tough, swirling conditions. It took Emmett Oh 19 holes to defeat Alex Large. He will face his University of Houston teammate Williams in the semi-finals.

Semi-final victors will advance to the final tomorrow afternoon. The Alberta Match Play Champion will become the second member of the 2018 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship Alberta Morse Cup Team.

For the full leaderboard, click here.

For photographs from the championship, click here.

Follow along using #ABGolf.

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on indivudals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment.

ABOUT SCOTT VENTURO RUDAKOFF LLP
Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP is a multi service law firm based in Calgary, Alberta. Since its establishment in 1986, the firm has become one of Calgary’s leading legal service providers, focusing on delivering high quality, efficient solutions for clients. The partners, associates and staff of Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP come from a wide range of backgrounds, and this experience enables us to offer responsive, effective and creative legal solutions to our clients.

36 year-old pro tops the Province’s strongest field of the year

SUNDRE, Alta. (Alberta Golf) – You could call it a case of Dustin being Dustin. The Strathmore native who has virtually been on a winning tear since last year continued his dominant play into today’s final round of the 2017 Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP Alberta Open Championship.

Risdon shot a final round 69 to win by one shot over Calgary’s James Love. Professional, Ryan Werre, of Redcliff finished tied for third and five-time champion, Wes Heffernan, of Calgary finished at even par in a tie for seventh.

In his winning speech, Risdon said “I always wanted to win this one and now I’ve got my hands on it.” Risdon has been a top player since his junior days, winning the Alberta and Canadian Junior Championships, along with three Canadian Tour wins (Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada). He now enjoys the game more than ever as he has found teaching the game to be both rewarding and a benefit for his own competitive game. Risdon will put the first-place cheque of $5,000.00 towards expenses for the rest of his competitive 2017 schedule, which now includes his exemption into the ATB Financial Classic on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada.

Evan Holmes, of the Glencoe G&CC, had a one-shot lead in the championship after five holes before making a 10 on the par five, sixth hole when his drive hung up in the trees and was forced to head back to the tee and struggled to get it home.

Low Amateur honours went to Brendan MacDougall of the Glencoe G&CC. The 19-year-old Team Alberta High Performance Squad member made a clutch 5-foot par putt on the eighteenth hole to go bogey-free in the final round. When asked about his accomplishment, MacDougall said “I think it’s awesome. It just really shows that all the work I’ve put in, over the last few years, is really coming together. It shows that I can compete with just about anyone in Alberta.” He will be the number one seed in the Alberta Match Play Championship which starts tomorrow morning.  The Match Play Champion will become the second teammate on the 2018 Pacific Coast Amateur Alberta Morse Cup team.

For the full leaderboard, click here.

For photographs from the championship, click here.

Follow along using #ABOpen.

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on indivudals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment.

ABOUT SCOTT VENTURO RUDAKOFF LLP
Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP is a multi service law firm based in Calgary, Alberta. Since its establishment in 1986, the firm has become one of Calgary’s leading legal service providers, focusing on delivering high quality, efficient solutions for clients. The partners, associates and staff of Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP come from a wide range of backgrounds, and this experience enables us to offer responsive, effective and creative legal solutions to our clients.