What Events Can I Play: Event Eligibility FAQ’s
With championship registration opening tomorrow for all Alberta Golf events, players—both new and returning—may have questions ahead of the big day. Common inquiries include what is required to register, which events are available to enter, and for younger competitors, which championships are most appropriate for their development. This guide is designed to provide clarity on each of these points.
What Do I Need For Registration
All Alberta Golf championships and qualifiers require participants to hold an active Golf Canada membership. It is important to ensure that your membership is current and not expired; if it is, please contact your home facility to have it renewed prior to registration.
Most events also require a valid Handicap Index. To establish a Handicap Index, players must have a minimum of 54 holes of submitted scores, which can be a combination of 9- and 18-hole rounds.
In addition, a valid credit card is required to complete registration, as the Golf Genius platform does not accept debit cards for payment.
Registration FAQs & Need TO Knows
What Events Can I Play In
With 14 championships and 14 qualifiers, each with varying Handicap Index and age requirements, determining eligibility can be a complex process. To assist players, Alberta Golf has developed a series of eligibility charts tailored to male, female, and junior competitors. These resources are designed to simplify the process and help identify the events that best match your profile.
Women’s Eligibility Information
Junior Eligibility Information
What Should I Be Playing This Year
For junior golfers focused on development, those pursuing post-secondary opportunities, or players unsure where to begin, Alberta Golf has created additional resources aligned with Golf Canada’s Long-Term Player Development Guide. These documents are intended to help athletes assess their current skill level and identify the most appropriate competitive pathway for the season.
High-Performance Roadmap: What to play & When
Junior Golf Development Pathway
Alberta Golf hopes this information helps ensure a smooth registration experience on April 1, and looks forward to welcoming players to the course this season.
April 1 Registration Opens: FAQ’s and Need To Know’s
With only a month remaining before registration opens for all Alberta Golf events, here’s some important items to know ahead of time to make sure you don’t miss out this season!
Alberta Golf Championships and Qualifiers – April 1 @ 9am
Registration will open on April 1st at 9am for all events. All participants need an active Golf Canada membership with a Handicap Index. If you’re entering an event that is age based, please ensure your birthdate is listed in your account and is accurate. Players can register through the Alberta Golf website for each event or can do it directly from the Golf Canada app by clicking on the Competitions tab in the drop-down menu.
Some things to be aware for the 2026 Championship season:
- The Men’s Mid-Master Championship will now have two regional qualifiers prior to the championship. Exemptions have already been sent out for those who are exempt from last year.
- Those who qualify for a championship will have their qualifier registration fee rolled into the championship fee, leaving them with a smaller fee to play in the event. All participants at qualifiers will also get a $25 Food and Beverage Gift Card
- All participants at qualifiers will also get a $25 Food and Beverage Gift Card
Common Issues and How To Fix Them
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Inactive Golf Canada Account
If you’re a member at a golf course or facility, reach out to them directly to get your Golf Canada account reactivated. If you’re a Public Player, you can renew your membership yourself by logging into your account.
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Age/Date of Birth Issues
This likely means your birthdate is incorrect in your account. You can edit this in your account by logging on to your account on a computer and clicking Account Settings from the drop-down menu. You can also get your course or facility to fix this for you.
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Handicap Index
If you have scores from last year, you can enter them into your Golf Canada account and change the date so they’re from last year. You only need 54 holes worth of scores to get a Handicap Index, and they can be any combination of 9-hole or 18-hole scores.
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Credit Card Issues
Golf Genius uses a pending registration model, so when a player registers, they are put on this pending list. When on the pending list, multiple charges will show up but one charge is the card authorization and the other is a refund for that authorization. Your card will not be charged until you’re confirmed in the event. Once you’ve been confirmed, the charge will go through on your credit card and the other charges will be removed in 5-10 business days. You will not be charged if you’re on the waiting list!
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Eligibility
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Registration Error Messages
A common problem is registering on tablets or phones. The Golf Genius system works best if you register using a computer. This can explain many problems and we highly recommend registering using a computer to avoid additional pressure or issues.
McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour – April 1 @ 12pm
Registration for the #1 competitive onboarding junior tour in the province will open on April 1st at 12pm. Players can register as a member of Golf Canada or as a non-member. The Tour is open to all junior golfers who are younger than the age of 19 as of August 1, 2026. We have separate age divisions for U11, U13, U15, U17, and U19 on both the male and female sides.
If you’re looking for more information on the Tour, the schedule, policies and procedures, or just want to learn more click the link below.
McLennan Ross Alberta Junior tour
Common Issues and How To Fix Them
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Age Requirements
Each age division represents the age you’re under, so U13 means you’re under the age of 13 as of August 1st. For non-members it’s very important to register for the correct age division, so if your child is turning 13 on July 31st, they should be registered in the U15 division for all tour stops. If you’re registering as a member of Golf Canada, please make sure your Date of Birth is correct in your account.
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Email & Preferred Emails
Lots of junior’s Golf Canada accounts have email addresses that may not get checked and this can cause confusion and frustration with parents and the players. When you register, please either edit the account to have your preferred email address listed or when you register please add in your preferred or parent email address to ensure no communications are missed this summer!
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Registering More Than One Player
If you plan to register more than one player, please use a different email or a different login for each registration. Golf Genius does not support duplicate email addresses for different registrations.
UpSwing by Alberta Golf – April 1 @ 7am
Registration for Alberta’s premier recreational events will open on April 1st at 7am. UpSwing events are open to all players, and there is no age or handicap requirements, it’s all about fun! You only need to be an UpSwing member to play. To create your account visit the UpSwing website link below.
Sign Up For An UpSwing Account
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is this a tournament?
No, UpSwing is focused on providing fun golf experiences for the golfers who prefer a relaxing round on the links. Keeping score is not mandatory, but there may be some fun challenges that you can take part in during the round…
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Can I book a group of two players and request to play with friends?
Yes! UpSwing is all about having fun, if you have a pairing request you would like to make, please send them to info@upswinggolf.ca after you register.
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What do I need to register for an event?
You just need an UpSwing account, no handicap index, no Golf Canada membership, just a free UpSwing membership!