2024 Youth on Course participation doubles in Alberta
Alberta Golf – 2024 was another successful golf season in Alberta with packed tee sheets and full tournaments. One of the biggest areas of growth can be seen in the amount of youth discovering the game, and a big reason is the Youth on Course program run by Alberta Golf. Youth on Course was established in 2006 at the Northern California Golf Association to break down financial barriers, offer life-changing opportunities through golf and bring diversity to the game. The concept is simple, if you’re aged 18 and under and you join Alberta Golf you can access 24 courses in the province (and over 2,000 golf courses across the United States, Canada and Australia) and play your rounds for $5 or less.
Alberta was the first province to bring the program to Canada in 2019 and a modest 1,000 rounds were played by youth in Alberta. In 2023 over 8,000 rounds were played by 1,400 kids while 2024 saw that number soar to over 16,000 rounds played by 3,000 kids. In the past year alone the number of youth using the program and the amount of golf they play has literally doubled! Some of these kids will eventually try our “learn to compete” McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour and follow the pathway to compete in our provincial championships while others will just keep enjoying recreational golf, but either way, by getting affordable access to the game many of these kids will be hooked for life.
24 courses were part of the program in Alberta in 2024 with the City of Calgary seeing the most action, accounting for 4 of the top 5 busiest courses.
Paul Hemstreet is the Volunteer Coordinator for Golf Course Operations for the City of Calgary and says the amount of kids enjoying the game on city courses has been inspiring.
“The City of Calgary Golf Courses are so proud of the impact Youth on Course has had at our facilities,” Hemstreet said. “Our management, staff and patrons have enjoyed seeing the affordable access that the program has provided kids of all skill levels. We are thrilled to continue growing the game of golf with our youth in Calgary and Alberta.”
Youth on Course is now expanding across Canada, there are over 100 participating golf courses offering Youth on Course in Canada and there are plans to grow that number next year with the expansion into Quebec, making the program operational in every province. Michael Lowe is the VP of Programs for Youth on Course in the United States and says he’s proud of how Alberta has paved the way for the program to expand across Canada.
“Witnessing Youth on Course continue to grow in Alberta is inspiring,” Lowe admitted. “Many thanks to Alberta Golf and the community of course partners who work together to ensure golf, and all of the opportunities it provides, are accessible for all.”
Youth on Course is a subsidy program and Youth on Course Alberta is the charity partner of the ATB Classic at Northern Bear Golf Course on PGA Tour Americas. In the past 2 years Youth on Course Alberta and the ATB Classic have fundraised over $100,000 to help keep the program viable for years to come in Alberta.
Alberta’s roster of courses for 2025 will be announced in the spring in what should be another successful season for Youth on Course across the province.
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUTH ON COURSE ALBERTA HERE
VIDEO: Drive, Chip & Putt champions get thrilling day at Shaw Charity Classic
Alberta Golf (Calgary) – Earlier in August at Golf Canada Calgary Centre, Jade Carter, Easton Hopkins, Justine Leon and Jalen Apedoe won their age categories at the Shaw Charity Classic Drive, Chip & Putt contest presented by West Island College. The four champions had the experience of a lifetime Sunday during the final round of the Shaw Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows getting inside the ropes access with the leaders and a trophy presentation from this year’s champion Wes Short Jr.
WATCH:
Brar & Frerichs take down Alberta Bantam Titles
Alberta Golf (Red Deer) – 12-year-old Jayden Brar of Calgary was eligible to compete in this year’s Alberta Novice Boys championship but instead decided to test his skills one age level up in the Bantam category. The defending Novice champion who plays out of Priddis Greens Golf & CC won the Bantam Championship by 2 strokes over Kye Krall with an impressive final round of even par 72 at River Bend Golf Course in Red Deer.
Jayla Kucy of Camrose had a one shot lead heading into the final round of the Bantam Girls Championship but Brooke Frerichs from the Glencoe Golf & CC took down the title with the round of the tournament shooting 1 over 73 to win by 4 strokes over Kucy.
VIDEO: Interviews with the winners:
The Novice Girls champion is Edie Nicholson of The Pinebrook Golf & CC while Tate Bruggeman of the Derrick Golf & Winter Club shot a final round 68 to win the Boys Novice title.
Kucy, Krall & Kidd lead at Alberta Bantam Championships
Alberta Golf (Red Deer) – Round one is in the books at the Alberta Bantam Championship after a sunny but gusty day at River Bend Golf Club in Red Deer. Kye Krall of the Inglewood Golf & CC leads the Bantam Boys Championship after a 1 over round of 73.
McLennan Ross Alberta Tour’s Tour Championship winner Jayla Kucy of Camrose continued her solid play shooting a 7 over 79 to lead the Bantam Girls Championship.
In the Novice Boys Championship Tyler Kidd has a 5 shot lead after an impressive round of even par 72.
The final round starts at 8am Tuesday morning.
VIDEO: Alberta Golf partners with Junior Achievement for golf business camp
Alberta Golf (Calgary) – Alberta Golf has partnered with Junior Achievement Canada for a week long camp at Silver Springs Golf & Country Club.
The camp breaks down barriers and gets youth on a private golf course for an entire week to learn golf and business skills as well as learn the value of teamwork and working together with new found friends.
Junior Achievement has been active in Canada for 64 years and is the world’s largest charity teaching youth about business and personal finance.
Junior Achievement hopes to partner with more golf courses in the coming years across the country.
FULL STORY WATCH:
Drive Chip & Putt winners get exciting Shaw Charity Classic opportunity
Alberta Golf (Calgary) – It was a gorgeous day for the Shaw Charity Classic Junior Drive, Chip & Putt event presented by West Island College. Over 70 boys and girls tested their skills at Golf Canada Calgary Centre.
The winners of each age group will get inside the ropes access during the final round of this year’s award winning Shaw Charity Classic to follow one of the final groups on Sunday September 1st. To top it all off, the Shaw Charity Classic champion will present the 4 winners their trophies in front of thousands of golf fans on the 18th hole at the conclusion of the event.
The winners of each age group at the Junior Drive, Chip & Putt were:
Girls 8-11, Justine leon – 38 pts
Girls 12-15, Jade Carter – 40 pts
Boys 8-11, Jalen Apedoe – 41 pts
Boys 12-15, Easton Hopkins – 39 pts
VIDEO of Junior Drive, Chip & Putt
Interview with age 12-15 champion Jade Carter
2019 ATB Financial Junior Golf Clinic
In conjunction with the 2019 ATB Financial Classic, ATB Financial will be conducting a Junior Golf Clinic on Saturday, August 10 at the Blue Devil Golf Club in Calgary. The clinic is for kids aged 6-12, and provides the opportunity to learn some golf fundamentals from PGA TOUR Canada Professionals.
Attention all Junior Golfers in Edmonton !
The 2019 Melcor Jiffy Lube Edmonton Junior Championship is coming up at The Sturgeon Valley Golf & CC July 28-29.
Entry deadline is JULY 24TH !!
Calling all junior golfers 15 and under !
The Junior Drive, Chip & Putt presented by West Island College is a youth development initiative providing a free opportunity for young golfers to showcase the three fundamental skills of golf.
On August 18, 2019, the Shaw Charity Classic will host the fourth annual Junior Drive, Chip & Putt Challenge presented by West Island College! Calgary juniors come out to compete and showcase their golf skills to win a chance to walk inside the ropes as an Honorary Observer during one of the championship rounds and to receive their trophies on the 18th green on Sunday from the 2018 Shaw Charity Classic Champion!
Ackroyd and Graf take provincial junior titles
Alberta Golf (High River) – Defending junior girls champion Annabelle Ackroyd of the Glencoe Golf & CC shot a 3 over round of 73 at Highwood Golf to defend her Alberta Junior Championship title with an impressive 9 stroke victory over Victoria Tse and Kaitlyn Wingnean.
Kaitlyn Wingnean of the Derrick Golf & Winter Club shot a 3 over round of 73 to win the Juvenile Girls title by a whopping 16 strokes.
Victoria Tse will join Wingnean and Ackroyd on Team Alberta that will compete later this summer at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at the Lethbridge Country Club.
On the boys side Carter Graf of the Red Deer Golf & CC outlasted UBC golfer Ethan de Graaf to take the title with a 1 shot victory. Graf had a clutch par save on the par 4 17th hole to help secure the title.
Tommy McKenzie from the Priddis Greens Golf & CC won a 4 player playoff to take the Juvenile Boys championship.
Team Alberta on the boys side will see Carter Graf, Ethan de Graaf and Brady McKinlay from the Lacombe Golf & CC compete later this summer at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Covered Bridge Golf & CC in Nova Scotia.
FINAL ROUND VIDEO FEATURE – WATCH:
FULL FIELD JUVENILE BOYS SCORES