USING INNOVATIVE NEW TECHNOLOGY, USGA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT HELPS FACILITIES HARNESS DATA TO SAVE MAINTENANCE COSTS AND PROVIDE A BETTER GOLFER EXPERIENCE

Ever since the first shepherds swatted at rocks with their crooks, golf has followed a trajectory of innovation. For much of the game’s history, most of the innovations have focused on the playing of the game itself: teaching the game to golfers, the equipment used by players and the grounds on which they play.

But in the early years of the 21st century, the industry requires new modes of thinking in order to approach the game as a business, impacting the way facilities – private clubs, daily fee courses, municipal facilities – make decisions and pursue increased productivity and efficiency in order to increase the financial viability of golf course and secure the future of the game.

The USGA’s strategic plan includes a commitment to advance the game, and we have set a goal of a 25 percent reduction of critical resources – such as water, fuel and labor – that are used in maintaining golf courses. The USGA introduced this challenge statement during the North American Golf Innovation Symposium, which took place in Vancouver, British Columbia in March 2017.

The Symposium covered many topics in the areas of research, science and technology related to golf facilities. One of the highlights was the introduction of Resource Management, a web-based tool that provides exact data about how maintenance budgets are spent on the course. The product will help facilities measure and allocate their finite resources more effectively and make smarter decisions without an adverse effect on golfers.

The engine of USGA Resource Management is a fully customizable map and dashboard, which users can populate with the inputs, boundaries and maintenance practices in place at their courses. The tool’s algorithm can calculate the cost of maintaining specific areas of the course – a single hole, the fourth fairway, all the greens, the fairway bunker on the 17th hole, etc.

By adding, editing or deleting features in the map, it is possible to calculate the financial implications of potential changes to the course design or maintenance levels. Whether you’re thinking about converting portions of your course to native areas, adding teeing grounds or removing bunkers, USGA Resource Management can calculate the potential return on investment.

All these options are being considered at golf facilities around the country, but these decisions are often made without fully considering how they will impact golfers. USGA Resource Management allows for the overlay of golfer heat maps on top of the course map so you can see the areas that most impact golfers and – more importantly – identify the areas that rarely come into play.

The USGA employs inexpensive GPS loggers to collect data about golfer tracks and behavior, an area that has the potential to yield benefits and innovations in numerous areas of facility management and golfer experience, from pace of play to course setup to course design. No doubt, the more data we can collect, the more insights we can glean.

When used within the Resource Management platform, the heat maps produced by the GPS loggers allow for the presentation of easy-to-visualize scenarios that expedite the process of making decisions that reduce or reallocate resources without negatively impacting golfer experience.

In addition, the USGA is looking to add potential features such as an advanced weather dashboard that provides guidance for maintenance tasks; the ability to track hole locations on the map and print hole-location sheets similar to those used at the U.S. Open; and a pace calculator to model the impact of changes such as tee-time interval, hole lengths and number of players to pace and playing times.

This is the kind of data and technology that is transforming other industries and helping managers to make smarter decisions, both on a daily basis and in strategic planning. These changes are slowly coming to golf, and the USGA is leading the efforts to put them in the hands of those who need them most: facility managers.

Advancing the Game

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

There’s something about heading west – to the mountains – that appeals to, well, just about everyone. Not that you can’t have fun on the flatlands. You certainly can. But add some elevation – some ice-scoured peaks, some pine-scented air, some scintillating views – and many outdoor games seem to get a tad more interesting. Sometimes a lot more interesting. The great mountain golf courses in Alberta would be a testament to that.

Whether it’s a quick day trip “outta dodge” or a week-long getaway to your favourite mountain courses, Alberta is home to an awesome collection of mountain layouts that are the envy of the country. The Stanley Thompson-designed masterpieces in Banff and Jasper immediately come to mind as courses that have been swooned over for decades.  

However, Alberta’s claim to fame as a world-class mountain golf destination goes a lot deeper than that famous one-two punch. Throw in the outstanding courses in Canmore and Kananaskis – as well as foothills “gems” such as Redwood Meadows, Wintergreen, Water Valley, Pine Hills in Rocky Mountain House, and Sundre, to name a handful – and it’s easy to see why golf aficionados from around the world consider a trip down Alberta’s “Rocky Mountain Golf Trail” a bucket-list adventure. 

While every mountain course in Alberta shares some similar traits (breathtaking scenery tops this list!), each one boasts its own character, its own unique flavour, that makes it a worthwhile stop on an Alberta mountain golf getaway. 

Obviously, Banff and Jasper stand apart in terms of their “Golden Age” history and their inspired architecture. Envisioned by the master, Stanley Thompson, one of the greatest golf course architects of all time, Banff and Jasper have an air, an ambiance, about them that simply does not exist anywhere else in Canada. With their storied history, their location near iconic CPR hotels (built during the railroading glory days), and their glorious settings in National Parks, these are courses in rarefied air, indeed. And if your itinerary can only include two mountain golf courses, these “classics” should be on the top of your list.

Not surprisingly, while both courses were designed approximately 90 years ago by the man they called “The Toronto Terror,” (Thompson died penniless in 1953, his flamboyant style and love of whiskey was well-documented), both have an aura that is all their own.

A true resort course that is both playable and pristine, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course remains virtually unchanged from its original build in 1924. And, fingers crossed, it will always stay this way. Relatively “easy” by contemporary standards, Jasper’s quirky charms and gorgeous routing are second to none. The surrounding mountains – and the finish along Lac Beauvert – are sublime. Thompson’s eccentric flair for puzzling contours, perched greens, moats, mounds, and bold bunkering is evidenced throughout. With all the humps and hollows, nasty slopes, and artistic musings, Jasper is, at the end of the day, simply one of the greatest mountain golf experiences in the world. And, perhaps, the best part? It won’t beat you up!

The Fairmont Banff Springs, on the other hand, is a beauty anda beast. But, while the layout definitely favours powerful hitters, the many “wow” moments during the round can be equally enjoyed by all. For example, the jaw-dropping 4^th(the legendary “Devil’s Cauldron,” which features a punchbowl green protected by an emerald lake and a clan of unruly bunkers) and the riveting riverside run on the back nine make this experience one that, rightfully, has been revered for decades.

But, when it comes to “famous” mountain golf courses, the two Robert Trent Jones Sr. Courses at Kananaskis – Mount Kidd and Mount Lorette – can certainly hold their own. Damaged – well, to be honest, basically destroyed – in the Flood of the Century in 2013, the comeback story here is one for the ages. During limited preview play in 2017 (after four excruciatingly long years of restoration and rebuilding), the consensus from the fortunate few who played Mount Lorette was overwhelmingly positive. While Canmore-based architect Gary Browning was hired to “modernize” both courses, the routing and hole configurations are virtually the same as they were before the flood. However, Browning’s subtle, “minimalist” stamp has given both courses a softer, smoother, and more player-friendly demeanor. Mount Lorette will open to the public this spring and Mount Kidd will open later in the summer in phases. Without a doubt, “the buzz” surrounding the re-opening of Kananaskis will continue to be a major story in 2018. 

But exceptional mountain golf “stories” are also written every time golfers peg it up on the heralded mountain golf courses in Canmore. Both the Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club and the Silvertip Golf Course have a knack for “wowing” visiting golfers with dramatic, mountain-filled backdrops and stunning holes that plunge down the fall-lines and careen through rugged, pine-framed playing corridors.

Stewart Creek, also designed by Gary Browning, is a gorgeous, mountainside crusade that features challenging holes benched on the rugged slopes just minutes from downtown Canmore in the Three Sisters development. With impeccable turf conditions that will rival anything you’ve ever played, the clean, contemporary, and upscale mantra here is impossible not to appreciate. The 7009-yard course, which incorporates plenty of creek crossings, old mine ruins, natural rock outcroppings, and a number of towering solitary pines to indicate target lines, is spiced with natural, lay-of-the-land features as opposed to obvious machine-made shapes and contours. 

Situated directly across the valley from Stewart Creek, Silvertip, a Les Furber design, has a much different feel. Large tees, perched greens, rock-lined ponds, three-tiered greens, blind shots, sharp doglegs, wild contours, and dramatically downhill and uphill shots are the norm at Silvertip. This is mountain golf on steroids. But what a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat ride! Every hole is completely different than the next and the visuals (especially the view of the Three Sisters from the 4^thtee) are phenomenal.

Surrounded by mountains, the beautiful Bow River, and nestled in the historic Canmore townsite, the scenery at the beautiful Canmore Golf & Country Club is also awesome. A true community-oriented course that’s fun, walkable, and on par with some of the best private clubs in Canada (except it’s open to the public!) the Canmore Golf & Country Club is one of Alberta’s most underrated courses.

For obvious reasons, the snow-capped Rockies are an ideal setting for a game of golf. These are the mountains that define Alberta. And the many stunning courses that are routed near the glacier-fed rivers, the cliffs and crags, the soaring summits, of these amazing mountains are, rightfully, considered “the stars” of Alberta’s heralded golf scene. So whether it’s Banff, Kananaskis, Canmore, or Jasper – or perhaps some other locale that’s positioned near these pristine peaks! – rest assured, you’re in for an “elevated” golf experience.                  

The Rocky Mountain Trail

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

These up-and-coming birdie-machines are easy to root for.

Not just because they can split fairways and sink putts and post the sort of scores that most of us can only dream of.

Because, as Alberta Golf’s coaches and support staff can attest, the provincial programs are stocked with top-notch characters, too.

“Anybody who knows the game and loves the game knows that there’s more to it than just hitting a ball,” said Jennifer Davison, Alberta Golf’s director of high performance and sport development.

“There’s etiquette, interactions with your competitors, interactions with rules officials… And I think Albertans can definitely be proud of the kids and young adults that are on this list and representing and wearing that Alberta Golf logo proudly.

“These are good, quality individuals.”

The best part is, there’s more of them than ever before.

In 2017, Alberta Golf introduced a high-performance squad, revealing a lineup of five of their best and brightest. (This, in addition to their usual Under-19 troupes.)

For 2018, they offered 20 spots on that roster, extending invites to a dozen males and eight females. If you’ve followed the leaderboards at the Alberta Junior or Alberta Amateur Championships, you will recognize all the names.

In the past, golfers graduated from the provincial program after aging out at 19. Thanks to the creation of the high-performance squad, support is now being offered a cast of talented 20-somethings, most with experience digging divots at the post-secondary level and many with hopes of one day earning their paycheques on the professional tours.

“We want to continue those relationships. We don’t want to lose them,” said Team Alberta head coach Randy Robb. “We’re trying to keep them involved. Hopefully they can help mentor some of the younger kids, playing with them a little bit. And hopefully we can support them at some of the bigger events — the Alberta Open, the Glencoe Invitational, the Canadian Amateurs.

“We’re trying to get creative with how can we help them, and how can they help us?”

It seems they’re keen to help.

Calgary’s Matt Williams figures he was 14 when he was first invited to tee off with Team Alberta. Not quite a decade later, he is a soon-to-be senior on the men’s golf squad at the University of Houston. The Cougars count some of the biggest names in the sport — Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, etc. — among their alumni.

Williams was one of the originals on Alberta Golf’s high-performance squad last year. He has more company this summer.

“I love being around the juniors and seeing them climb up the ranks, because I totally remember being there when I was their age,” said Williams, who finished in a tie for eighth — tops among Albertans and fourth among Canucks — at the 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

“I definitely remember when guys would come back and help out, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I was like, ‘This guy plays golf in college?!?’ I thought that was just the coolest thing. So to grow up in it and still be a part of the program and be able to give back, it’s pretty special.

“And the camaraderie with the guys that are also on the team… We all grew up in that Alberta Golf umbrella, and I think that’s been great for all of us just having that competition and feeding off each other.”

“So Alberta Golf has been a huge piece for me. I wouldn’t be where I am — playing college golf, which is what I always wanted to do — without the support that they’ve given me.”

In the Under-19 provincial programs, a bunch of boys and girls are trying to follow that same path.

That group will meet for training camps throughout the season. There are lots of swings and short-game work during those get-togethers, but it’s not all about beating balls on the range or practising your touch around the greens. They focus too on fitness, on nutrition, on goal-setting and pursuit of post-secondary opportunities.

“We had our first camp for the boys on Team Alberta in January, and there were seven guys coming and they’re from seven different cities and towns,” Robb proudly reported. “I’ve never seen it as distributed as this. Ben (Farrington) is from Fort McMurray. There is one from Banff, one from Canmore. There’s Edmonton, Red Deer… They’re from all over the place, from different backgrounds.”

More evidence of the widespread reach of Alberta Golf’s development programs? A tidy stack of pick-me-please applications on Davison’s desk.

In the past, Alberta Golf selected the provincial teams based primarily on the Order of Merit standings from the previous season. For the first time, there was an application process for Tier 2 and Tier 3 hopefuls this winter.

“We wanted to move it away from just a Top-5 finish or a certain ranking on the Order of Merit,” Davison explained. “That is definitely always going to play a part in it, but it’s not the only thing. There’s the coachability factor. One of the big parts of the application that we took into consideration is we asked everyone to let us know what their goals are for the next 1-3 years. Because that plays a factor, too — how much does the player want to put into their outcome?”

“It’s a little more along the lines of that university or college application so that we’re looking at the player as a whole rather than just a bunch of stats on a piece of paper.”

Ask any of the members of the high-performance squad, and you can immediately tell that they would recommend the experience to any smooth-swinging youngster.

“For me, as a girl, being a part of Team Alberta really helped bring me together with other juniors and expose me to different competition, more competition,” said Calgary’s Sabrine Garrison, who celebrated a one-stroke victory at the 2017 Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship at Red Deer Golf & Country Club.

“This is especially true, I think, from a female perspective, because as a girl growing up in competitive golf, you often feel a little bit alone and by yourself. There’s not a lot of young girls that play so unless you have guy friend or parent to take you out, you’re often by yourself and that can be tough to get girls to stick with it.”

“For me, being part of those teams was an opportunity to meet other girls, to compete, to be exposed to different experiences, travel experiences, and go to higher-level tournaments. I have a lot of good memories of Junior America’s Cup teams or the Alberta-Montana Ryder Cup. Those were all experiences that grew my game and allowed me to develop as a player and person.”

Garrison just completed her senior season with the women’s golf program at the University of Minnesota. At the same time, she was applying for medical school. Her dream is to be a family-practice doctor.

Many of her teammates on Alberta Golf’s high-performance squad, meanwhile, are dreaming of stardom on the PGA or LPGA Tours.

If you eventually spot them on the biggest stage, take it from us — these Alberta-bred birdie-machines are easy to root for.

“We understand that competition amongst each other at home is definitely going to set us up for success down the road, whether it’s at Q-School or wherever,” Williams said. “And I feel like if one of us succeeds, the rest of us are going to say, ‘If he can do it, why can’t I?’.”

“I love those guys to death, they are some of my best friends, but I can’t stand losing to them. So you know we’re going to be out there practising, out there grinding, trying to beat the next guy. Definitely, it’s pushing all of us in the right direction.”

Top Guns

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

In advance of the modernization initiative to the Rules of Golf which will take effect in 2019, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), recently announced a new Local Rule effective January 1, 2018. The new Local Rule will eliminate the additional two-stroke penalty for failing to include a penalty on the score card when the player was unaware of the penalty.

In addition to this Local Rule, new protocols have been put in place to review video when applying the Rules of Golf at broadcasted events. For Golf Canada specifically, this will only impact our two professional opens and not have any impact on our amateur competitions.

For some time, it has been a point of contention with many enthusiasts of the game that viewer call-ins should not be permitted in our sport. Advances in technology and the use of high definition television and slow motion replay have added a level of complexity that has caused undesirable outcomes to many competitions in recent years.

Golf’s governing bodies felt this needed to be closely looked at and a group of experts from the PGA Tour, LPGA, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour and The PGA of America, as well as the governing bodies, was tasked with discussing the role of video footage when applying the Rules.

As a result of these discussions over the last year, the protocol moving forward will be to assign one or more officials to monitor the video broadcast of a competition to help identify and resolve Rules issues as they arise. Committees will also discontinue any steps to facilitate or consider viewer call-ins as part of the Rules decision process.

All of the organizations represented on the working group will introduce the Local Rule for 2018, and this score card penalty will be permanently removed when the modernized Rules of Golf take effect on January 1, 2019.

As golf’s governing body, Golf Canada will be implementing this new Local Rule as part of their Standard Local Rules and Conditions of Competition for competitions in 2018.

If a committee wishes to introduce this Local Rule to modify the score card penalty, the following wording for the exception to Rule 6-6d is modified as follows:

“Exception: if a competitor returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken due to failure to include one or more penalty strokes that, before returning his score card, he did not know he had incurred, he is not disqualified. In such circumstances, the competitor incurs the penalty prescribed by the applicable rule, but there is no additional penalty for a breach of rule 6-6d. This exception does not apply when the applicable penalty is disqualification from the competition.”

For more information on the Rules of Golf, or to send a rules question to our ‘Ask an Expert’ tool, please visit golfcanada.ca/rules-of-golf/

Rules Update for 2018

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

Like all businesses, golf has found “millennial” easy to define but a challenge to embrace, much less engage.

From the definition standpoint, here’s a concise demographic summary.

A “millennial”, also known generically as a member of “Generation Y” or an “Echo Boomer,” (because they are the offspring of Baby Boomers), is generally considered to be someone born in the early 1980s up to the late 1990s and early 2000s. At this point, most range between 18 and 34 years of age.

In the U.S., millennials now slightly outnumber Baby Boomers, who were born between 1946 and 1964. That statistic is reflected in Canada, where we identify Boomers being born between 1947 and 1966. In any case, millennials now represent the largest workforce cohort in North America as Boomers reach retirement age.

So that’s the definition, which reflects the reality that every industry must address to succeed. Undeniably, golf is struggling with that challenge, perhaps more than most because of its unique status. Is it a game? A sport? An industry?

For many years, it has been opined that “golf business” is an oxymoron. Perhaps it is because “golf” has relied on its 500-year legacy to expect its ongoing survival, rather than approach the sport for what it is: a consumer-based product. One that’s under siege from some formidable competition for the entertainment dollar as never before.

That’s just a cold hard fact.

And that fact is reflected in the challenges that the sport faces, with well-documented declining or flat-lining participation statistics.

Golf must evolve.

Today, millennials, a significant market segment with a huge upside, represent that evolutionary prerogative.

The challenge for golf is multi-faceted and difficult, perhaps more so than other industries. In a great demographic divide, golf is controlled, for the most part, by Baby Boomers who, as owners, operators and club members, seem perversely, inextricably tied to the traditional business model. They don’t (or won’t) understand the expectations of millennials.

That’s a whiff, in golf terms.

“Successful modern brands understand that the demand for their product(s) comes from unique customer segments,” according to the Golf and the Millennial Generation study by Golf 20/20, an industry-wide coalition of U.S. golf organizations.

“Each has a personality, a set of needs and a certain willingness to spend… In order to deepen the engagement level of our current millennial golfers, and attract and retain the millions of prospects who tell us they want ‘in,’ golf needs to take a close look at itself… We must modernize our brand.”

Kris Hart is the founder and CEO of www.nextgengolf.com and co-chair of Golf 20/20’s Millennial Task Force. He says in order to address the needs and wants of millennials, golf courses must reorient themselves to become “experiential entertainment facilities.”

Not “reinvent.” “Reorient.”

He doesn’t mean courses must employ gimmicks such as 15-inch holes, golf boards and bikes, and other passing fads. The integrity of the game must be preserved.  Instead, he emphasizes that millennials want action, technology, updated food and beverage options, high customer service standards, and an overt element of excitement. They want to “golf.” And have fun doing it.

“These are educated, connected and value-oriented young people who are evaluating golf against their myriad other entertainment options,” says Hart. “When they go through that process, how do we ensure golf has a seat at the table?”

TopGolf combines golf and entertainment off the course. With more than 30 venues, largely in the U.S., TopGolf, in partnership with Cineplex, plans to open its first Canadian venue in 2019.

“Each venue features fun and competitive golf games for all ages, climate-controlled playing bays similar to a bowling lane, an impressive food and drink menu, private spaces for groups of any size, HDTVs to watch the big game and a music selection that will make every visit feel like a party,” according to its web site.

TopGolf entertained, and the emphasis is on “entertained,” more than 13 million customers in 2017, half of whom were non-golfers. Its winning formula, according to Director Jeehae Lee, is “an interactive play experience, great food, music, and a community atmosphere.”

Exactly what everyone wants from golf, right? Where did we go off track? More importantly, how do we get back on the demographic train?

To assume the TopGolf experience will translate into more on-course golfers is akin to assuming every millennial who takes part in other currently popular entertainment activities among that demographic such as axe-throwing or paintball will become a lumberjack or a sniper.

So where does this leave course operators?

Don MacKay has a unique perspective. As a Golf Canada Director at Large and past-president of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, he has been battling golf’s challenges for many years on several fronts. Not only is he the co-owner of Muskoka Highlands Golf Links in Bracebridge, Ont., but he also chairs Golf Canada’s Membership Committee, among other association duties.

MacKay says progressive golf facilities will adapt the successful aspects of the TopGolf experience to their courses.

“You have to push the right buttons, no matter who your customer is and to do that, you may have to change the way you run things without alienating any one group. If younger golfers want to hoot and holler and play music, so be it, as long as it’s not compromising the game. Who cares what the dress code is, as long as you’re respectful of other players and the course? Do it right, and they may evolve into core golfers in the years to come.”

From a Golf Canada perspective, MacKay also notes that a reluctance to embrace the non-traditional expectations of younger golfers is impacting club and association membership levels. Of our country’s six-million “golfers,” only about 300,000 belong to a provincial association and, by extension, Golf Canada, and only about two-thirds of those have a current handicap factor.

In a stark departure from the traditional approach, MacKay says, “for the good of golf, we have to be relevant not only to those people who already play the game but to those who might want to play the game.” He suggests, and with good reason, that a new benefit-laden and entertainment-based incentive would attract those 5.7-million or so Canadians interested in the game to become part of the golf culture.

The Northern California Golf Association owns both Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge. PGA of America professional Cole Handley leads the NCGA’s Millennial program, one that has been adopted in some fashion by at least 19 other state golf associations.

He says millennials have an insatiable appetite for entertainment options and, for golf, that means they’re ever-aware of the alternatives for their time and money.  To paraphrase his key message, golf facilities have to give them an experience that, when they pick up their phone, you’ve given them something worth sharing with their friends. “You have to keep them engaged, even when they are not at your course.”

Glenn Gray co-chairs the Golf 20/20 Millennial Task Force with Kris Hart. A vice-president of Buffalo Agency, a global golf and sport marketing agency, he is very aware of the urgency of attracting an affluent and acquisitive millennial market share to golf.

Even with his expertise, he admits it is a formidable challenge. “Putting all ‘millennials’ into one bucket is impossible. What are their various expectations? What is their budget? What is their time commitment? They are savvy, value-oriented and social. “

Overall, (oxymoron alert) “golf” as a “business” has been late to the social media world, to its detriment. One negative review on social media is one too many, yet most courses do not have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram, not only to defend themselves but to promote their product.

In short, millennials represent a paradigm shift for golf. How best to approach this tectonic movement, not only to address the current demographic bubble but to anticipate future changes?

Hart and Gray co-authored a blog on www.wearegolf.org, titled “Are You Ready? How the Golf Industry Can Help Prepare You.” The article cites a checklist for ensuring golf facilities are “millennial ready.”

The site’s stated mandate is to “ensure those interacting with millennials, whether on site or managing digital channels, are set up for success.”

Or, as Hart, says, to advertise that the “grand old game” is “hot, young and cool.”

Not to overstate it, but to paraphrase Charles Darwin (historical footnote: he was the grandfather of renowned golf writer Bernard Darwin), golf must continue to evolve.

Or…

Writer credit: Chief among John Gordon’s accomplishments covering Canadian golf for more than 30 years are his three millennial offspring, two of whom are avid golfers. He’s working on the third and he has high hopes for his new grandson.

Millennials and Golfs Changing Landscape

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

Alberta Golf was pleased to support the 2018 AGSA Challenge Cup as a hole sponsor July 23-24. Thank you to the Superintendents and Professionals at all of the facilities across the province!

At last November’s Alberta Golf Property Managers Conference one of the first questions was what the dates for this year’s Challenge Cup were going to be.

Dennis McKernan, the executive director of the Alberta Golf Superintendents Association (AGSA) and the organizer of both the Property Managers Conference and the Challenge Cup wasn’t surprised.

“Here it was November and they wanted to know when a tournament was going to be played eight months away in July,” McKernan said of the event which has taken place annually since the mid 1980s.

“But it’s just that popular. They look forward to it that much.”

The Challenge Cup, you must understand, is not just another tournament.

Bringing together Alberta golf course general managers, club presidents, head pros and superintendents, the Challenge Cup is one of the most unique tournaments anywhere.

“I don’t know of any other association in Canada that has something like this,” continued McKernan.

“For sure it is the largest gathering of the golf management teams in Alberta. You might get events where the club managers and head pros play together. But to have all four of those groups – the brain trusts of golf clubs that make all the major decisions – come together is very rare.”

The brainchild of the AGSA, McKernan said the Challenge Cup is a great social event but also a venue for business development and professional management development all centered around a couple of rounds of golf.

“They praise this tournament to the skies.”

Apparently so.

“The presidents that preceded me told me it was one of the best things about being a president,” said Lynn Booth, past-president of the Red Deer Golf and Country Club.

“They were right. It was a great experience and very well run. They looked after us great. We pretty much just live in our own little bubble but this event gave all presidents a chance to talk to other presidents which doesn’t happen very often,” said Booth, who will sit on the board of directors this year.

“It also gave us a chance to meet with course superintendents, head pros and general managers – which hardly ever happens – over an extended period of time.

Questions get asked. Answers are given. Ideas are generated. New friends and contacts are found and meshed. Communication is opened.

“It’s a great opportunity to understand what challenges there are at other courses, what their solutions were and how they approach things,” said Booth. “I constantly found myself saying ‘I didn’t know that, or I didn’t know this.’ You get to ask technical questions in a relaxed situation.”

Don McFarlane, Red Deer’s general manager and PGA of Canada Executive Professional, said “We wouldn’t miss it. From my perspective, it’s all positive. There’s not a reason not to go.

“It’s a really good networking deal for us. You can put a face to a name so that if you have an issue you know people and can knock on their doors for information.”

A two-day tournament with net stableford scoring, the Challenge Cup originally rotated primarily between Calgary and Edmonton.

But for golf course personnel who lived in one those cities it wasn’t a chance to get away. And, as more and more clubs came on board it was also impossible for one 18-hole course to hold.

So, seven years ago, they moved it to Windermere Valley where Eagle Ranch and Radium Springs hosted it; five years ago Copper Point became the tournament site where they could play 18 on the fantastic main course and 18 on the decidedly underrated Ridge layout.

Last year they had 42 teams which means 168 golfers. “A nice reasonable number,” said McKernan.

“Nice and close to get to and an away site for everyone,” added McFarlane. “As well as meeting new people, it’s just really good for team building. We drive down together, spend three days together in an informal setting, stay at the same hotel, share breakfasts and dinners and we’re all there to talk about the industry and have a few laughs.”

Trevor Goplin, head pro at the Derrick, another club that has made an annual point of participating, said the Challenge Cup is good for everyone.

“No. 1 it’s great to see other colleagues in-season, have a few laughs and a few chats sharing stories and comparing how things are going at the other courses in Alberta. But it’s especially good for the presidents who, by and large, probably don’t know the lengths the superintendents go through to make this whole thing work: how they deal with problems, how their courses are doing and things like how they put their courses to bed in the fall.”

Keith Blayney, the superintendent at the Edmonton Petroleum Club, couldn’t agree more.

“It’s a good way to get the management club from the various clubs together but I think it’s a real eye opener for the presidents, who probably never get another chance to play with the superintendents. They talk to us about just about everything. From bunkers, to mowing patterns, green speeds, how they trim their course… It all comes up,” said Blayney, who is also chairman of the Challenge Cup committee.

“The pros get quite a few chances to get together when they play in tournaments together. But the managers generally don’t, the presidents don’t and we superintendents don’t. This way we all get to know people from other clubs, quiz them about their operations and what issues they are dealing with. We’re all in the same boat – trying to provide a product for the members or guests or if it’s a public course the general public.”

“In the current economic environment, one of the biggest issues is costs,” said Blayney. “It’s all about keeping expenses under control and maintaining the conditions that the golfers are expecting.”

Also often discussed are issues like green speeds, water, aeration, the use of pesticides and air flow.

“Everybody cuts grass, fertilizes and waters their greens. We mostly do the basic things the same. But there are so many other issues that are part of the package of keeping the clientele happy and everybody wants to know what everybody else is doing to achieve that.”

As well as being a team building and brainstorming event, the Challenge Cup comes by its name aptly because every club goes looking for other clubs to challenge.

“I remember one year someone came up to me and told me they had made 41 challenges,” said McKernan.

“I said ‘Geez, you’ve challenged just about every team,’ and the guy responded ‘Yeah, we still have to find three other teams.’

“They wanted to challenge everybody and in the end they did just that. It’s all part of what makes this such a fun event.”

The Challenge Cup

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

If you’re one of those who think a round of golf takes too long, here’s a suggestion — cut it in half. Rather than playing a full 18 holes, try nine holes. After all, that should take about half the time freeing up some time but also still allowing you to enjoy a golf outing.

A recent mandate of Alberta Golf has been to get more people playing more golf. To them it’s about getting out and playing no matter how many holes your round is comprised of. To help you play more in less time, we’ve tracked down some great 9-hole courses throughout Alberta in an effort to entice you to take up the shorter game.

A great place to start is at the oldest golf course west of Winnipeg, located in Fort McLeod. Teeing it up here is like stepping back in history as this little gem was first opened in 1890 by the North West Mounted Police. While the original design has been changed somewhat, it still harbors remnants of its past including a former buffalo wallow.

A second wonderful little layout, Living Stone Golf Course, is just outside Calgary. This beautiful foothills track is a fun play and for those who struggle getting out of bunkers, there’s some great news — there are no bunkers here!

Moving further north, a unique round is found in Daysland, where of all things, their little layout offers a beautiful island green. Built by the members, the hole is a delightful change from the typical small town prairie course. This test plays to only 120 yards, and the green is large, but if your aim is off you simply aren’t getting that ball back.

A short drive outside of Lloydminster, the Kitscoty Golf Club offers up a taste of the game from years past with its sand greens. If you’ve never putted on sand, find a course that offers that type of green simply to see where today’s superb putting surfaces came from.

North of Westlock, Hidden Valley is indeed a hidden 9-hole gem. Designed and sculpted by owner Tony Dirks, this pristine layout offers challenges you might expect only on bigger courses, including a couple of dramatic elevation changes going both up and downhill.

Another great short track is found near Teepee Creek where River Stone lets you arrive by land or water. If you take the latter route, a golf cart will pick your party up and transport you to the upper levels of the reclaimed gravel quarry. It offers dramatic elevation changes and ends with the huge par 5 9th hole at 658 yards.

And if nine holes isn’t quite enough, Pineridge Golf Resort west of Edmonton offers up a bonus of three extra holes, making it the only 12-hole course in Alberta, an idea long touted by none other than Jack Nicklaus.

So, if time is a constraint, play nine this year and savor the challenges, plus the time saved, during a shorter round of golf.

In a time crunch? Try 9 instead of 18 and relax

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

For many golfers, tournaments are the highlight of the season. They allow players to forge friendships while testing their skills against great golfers from across the province, region or country. They are amazing weekends of golf and fun, but the hard work begins long before tee off. For months in advance, course committees consider everything from practice rounds to prize presentations to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” says Adam Helmer, Director of rules, competitions and amateur status for Golf Canada. “We have a staff member dedicated to securing future venues and we typically look three to five years out.”

Golf courses seeking consideration for a major event have to meet specific requirements to qualify. Courses need adequate clubhouse and banquet space, a suitable driving range for warm up and practice, the appropriate yardage for the category, a fitting course design and layout, proximity to amenities to support out-of-town competitors and, lastly, they need community and member support.

It is critical for club members to be on board with hosting an event. Members not only need to sacrifice their tee times for four or five days but they also must be willing to offer their time as volunteers as well.

“It’s a big ask of membership at a busy golf course like ours,” says Greig Burnie, executive golf professional and General Manager at Highwood Golf and Country Club, “but our membership embraces junior golf and we’re proud to host the 2018 Western Future Links tournament.”

Junior events are an easy sell. Members are eager to support young golfers and build junior golf at the grass-roots club level as well as nationally. That was one reason the Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club threw its hat into the ring to host a junior event and why around one-quarter of its membership has already jumped on board to volunteer for the Canadian Junior Boys championship in July.

“We have a strong six-person committee that is willing to put their time into the event and be on call 24/7 during that week, and staff who will essentially live at the golf course for those five days,” says Cam Jacques, General Manager of Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club.

These volunteers agree that it’s time well spent. Golfers who do well in these tournaments can earn a spot on the national golf team or attract scholarship attention from universities. That’s what it’s all about for clubs and members. While there can be a modest economic spinoff for the community and new golfers visiting the course, hosting is more about showcasing their facilities, getting wider exposure, and most importantly helping grow the game and supporting golfers.

In return, Golf Canada supports these courses as they plan their events. A tournament director guides the course committee and sub-committees through the process, offering information covering everything from volunteer expectations and responsibilities to food and beverage requirements to pin and tee placements. Golf Canada officials also visit the course a month prior to the event to help iron out any wrinkles and to ensure everything is ready for day one.

“They give you a binder that says what you need to do and gives you a timeline of what you need to accomplish when, from sponsorship to volunteers to training to course set up. If you stay up to date with that, you’ll do fine,” says Jacques.

Tim Garbutt, marketing professional with Linx Marketing, operates three events in the PGA Tour Canada’s Mackenzie Tour in much the same way as courses do the amateur events. He builds on the same six organizational pillars—volunteers, the host facility, sponsors, charity, the players, and the media—to ensure his tour stops are successful.

With $200,000 in prize money on the line and costs ranging from $500,000 to $750,000 at PGA events, sponsorship is crucial. Garbutt works six to 12 months in advance to secure the financial backing to cover costs as well as ensure there is a tidy sum for charity at the end. The tournaments also extend into the community, holding junior and women’s clinics and having professional players out supporting charity initiatives.

“We are really community focused. We try to engage as many people as possible, and not just to come out and watch golf,” says Garbutt. “The community in which we work is extremely important as is growing the game of golf.”

From smaller tournaments to week-long professional events, golf courses follow a similar playbook when hosting their events. It takes long days, hard work, dedicated volunteers and staff, and months of planning every step of the event from registration to celebrating the winners.  To support golf and golfers in their area, members agree it’s worth every second.

Alberta Plays Host

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

There is one official site for this summer’s Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur: RedTail Landing. But when the players post their final scores they will probably feel like they have played four different courses.

“Every time you play it, even on back-to-back days, it can feel like a completely different course,” said RedTail Landing head professional Joshua Davison.

The big reason is simple: the wind.

“The prevailing wind is from the north-west. But if the wind switches, which it often does out here, and comes from the south-east it can be a two-to-three club difference.

“Nobody gets bored at RedTail.”

A $6-million links-style project designed by Puddicombe Golf which opened in 2003 – just in time to host that years’ Alberta Open – the course’s chameleon-like variety is also accentuated because of the five very distinct tee boxes which range from 5,500 yards all the way to a staggering 7,300.

Davison expects the course will play closer to 7,000 yards for the Amateur. “In all likelihood it will be a hybrid of our black and blue tees,” said Davison, who has been on board at RedTail from the beginning and has been the club’s head pro since 2009. “That will give the lads more than enough of a test.”

At its sternest, RedTail Landing can be a beast. But Davison doesn’t want to see that happen for the Amateur.

“Some courses toughen their layouts for tournaments – making the course as tough as possible. But I’m of the opposite frame of mind and Alberta Golf and I are on the same page regarding this approach to course set-up.”

“I’d like to see it set up so the guys can light it up. I’d love to see something like 15-to-20 under par win it. That would be awesome.”

“We’re not going to hide the pins or anything like that. But we’re not going to put every pin in the center of the greens either; they will all be accessible placements.”

“You don’t want the general public to see high scores; I don’t want anyone thinking that this course is impossible or get the idea that it’s so tough that only the best can play it.”

“There are different kinds of tough,” Stuart Hendley, a multiple international and Canadian Tour winner, prior to winning the 2003 Alberta Open. “There is gimmicky tough, unfair tough and then there is RedTail, which is just tough. It’s tough but it’s fair. There isn’t anything gimmicky about it. Not one weak hole.”

“It will be fair just as it is for our clientele on an everyday”, concurred Davison.

Going low at RedTail isn’t easy. Especially if the wind howls the way it can. But with its generously wide fairways and perfectly manicured greens – “if you hit your putt on line it’s going to go in,” said Davison – it is possible as James Love demonstrated when he shot a course-record 64 in the 2005 Alberta Open – a score which was equaled by Royal Mayfair assistant professional Mike Belbin in the 2015 Alberta Assistants Championship.

“I’ve always liked RedTail but then I’ve always liked Puddicombe designs,” said Belbin. “It gives you a bit of everything and it tests every part of your game. It doesn’t force you to lay up off the tee; you can hit driver on most of the holes.

“The Par 3s are probably the most difficult part of the course.”

A solid test of golf from start to finish with great variety and not a single cookie-cutter hole, RedTail Landing is also home to what was easily the favorite hole in an ‘Edmonton Journal’ survey of 40 Edmonton golf pros and managers: No. 11 which has been nicknamed Oceans 11 because you have to go over water twice – first off the tee box and then again on the approach to the green.

“No. 11 is a great Par 5,” Jagare Ridge head pro Tyler Rumpel said in that survey.

“It’s reachable in two for the long hitters. But you’ve got all the water to cross off the tee with fescue on the right and fescue on the left. Then there’s the approach to a well-bunkered green with more water in front of the green.”

“No. 11 is so memorable,” said Davison. “It’s the absolute definition of risk/reward and begins with the tee shot – how much of the water do you want to bite off? Then, if you hit a good drive do you dare go for it in two?”

Davison said No. 11 is the start of their course’s Amen Corner.

“No. 12 is a great Par 3 over water and over sand. The green is wide but shallow.

“Then you get to No. 13 which has a split fairway with a massive water hazard in the middle. Left is the easier tee shot but leaves a more challenging approach where you have to fly the bunkers and land it soft which is certainly possible because the greens hold nicely. Right is tougher but leaves a straight-in approach. Another risk/reward hole.”

“RedTail has always been one of our favourite designs,” said Grant Puddicombe, managing director of Puddicombe Golf which has been involved in close to 100 golf course projects in Canada, the U.S., New Zealand and Japan.

“What you see is what you get and golfers like that. It’s entire character is unique.”

Getting the July 16-19 Sun Life Financial Alberta Amateur is a “feather in the cap” for RedTail according to Davison.

“We’ve hosted the Alberta Open five times and held PGA of Alberta events like the Alberta Assistants.

“But the Alberta Amateur is Alberta Golf’s most prestigious event. It’s their baby; it’s their big event of the season. Only the best amateurs play in it.”

“I’m really excited to be able to hop on board. I know Alberta Golf is looking forward to playing RedTail and we’re very proud to be hosting this event. From the owners to the food and beverage staff we’re all very thrilled.”

RedTail hosts the Mens Amateur

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

Jaclyn Lee of Calgary is one of the top young female amateur golfers in the country.

Born and raised in Calgary the 20-year-old is a member of the Glencoe Golf and Country Club. She is a two-time Alberta Amateur champion and a member of the Canadian National Women’s Amateur team.

In 2013, she tied for fourth in the Canada Summer Games and tied for eighth at the Canadian Junior Championship. She won the 2014 and 2016 Alberta Amateur titles and tied for 15^th in the World Junior Girls. She’s competed in the last four Canadian Amateur championships, finishing 17^th last year and tied for 59th in the LPGA Canadian Open last year.

Question: How did you get into the game, and at what age?

Answer: I started playing golf in Kelowna when I was 10. We had a place there where we spent the summers and my parents (Stephan and Maria) wanted my sister (Carolyn, 22) and I to get into golf, which seemed like a natural family outing.

My parents didn’t really play, but they tried to get into it when we started. My dad did play a little before, but he wasn’t that good and when my sister and I got better they both stopped playing with us (laughs).

Q: Did you progress quickly? Were you a natural at the game?

A: To be honest I hated the game when I first started. I didn’t like it much as it was summer and I wanted to do things with my friends rather than golfing with the family. But there was a course marshal in Kelowna and he told Carolyn and I we should take it more seriously as we had a natural talent. He saw something special in us and said we should try to practice and take lessons and try to get better. I’m a hard worker no matter what I do and that transferred over to golf as well.

Q: So, when did you start to like the game?

A: I’d say around 12. I started playing tournaments when I was 11 and they scarred me. I didn’t like the thought of playing tournament golf. Playing in club championships was fine, but I felt a lot of pressure in tournaments, and that’s weird as I was 11 years old and what pressure do you have when you’re 11? But with the competition and everything I felt nervous, but I’ve grown to love the game and the challenges that it possesses. I’d say it’s a love-hate relationship but more love. There’s just something about it that makes you come back.

Q: Was there a time when you knew you were good at it?

A: I don’t think there was any specific time. I just kept working and practicing and doing my thing. Golf is something unknown and I don’t think you can feel comfortable and feel you’re really good. I think with golf you can always get better. I believe in myself but I never tell myself I’m really good and I should turn pro. I’ll keep working and see how far it will take me.

Q: You progressed quickly on the national scene and played in the LPGA Canadian Open last year. Was that possibly your career highlight so far?

A: It was one of my proudest achievements so far in making the cut and winning the Marlene Streit Award as low amateur. That award meant a lot as I know Marlene personally and she’s a great women and is always out supporting us. To get a medal in her name was really special.

Q: Did you have a home course advantage with the Open at Priddis Greens in Calgary?

A: No, I had never played Priddis before. But it was great playing in my home town and having everyone out supporting me.

Q: You’ve done well at the provincial level in both junior and amateur, is that something you can take pride in as well?

A: I was 17 when I first won the Alberta Amateur and I really went in with no expectations. I knew Jennifer Ha and she was always strong. She was dominating when I was just starting up and I looked up to her. But I managed to put together a couple good rounds and came through. That was another of my favorite memories.

Q: You’ve been competitive at the national level in the junior and ladies amateur, but never won. Is that a disappointment?

A: At the junior level I had to pull out my final year (two years ago) because of a wrist injury, which didn’t allow me to be at my best. Plus there’s a lot of good competition.

Q: You attend Ohio State University. Did you always want to get a scholarship south of the border?

A: I didn’t get into golf to get a scholarship, it just kind of happened that I progressed in the game and wanted to take it to the next level.

I chose Ohio State because of the coaching and practice facility. I know it’s a Northern school and snows there, but I’m used to having a bit of an off season. They also have a $6.5 million practice facility, possibly the best in the nation, so that made up for it being a bit chilly. Plus I wanted a school, not only for golf, but good academically.

Q: Academically you’ve done well being a two-time All-American scholar and OSU Scholar-Athlete and last year an Academic All-Big 10. As for golf, last year you were on the All-Big Ten second team and finished ranked in the top-100 nationally. You had three top-five finishes, five top-10s and eight top-25s. This season you won your first NCAA tournament. Are you pleased with your game there?

A: I didn’t start off well as a freshman, but I kept plugging along and finally received a NCAA medal this year. That’s a nice accomplishment and I still have a year-and-a-half remaining.

As for my statistics, I really don’t pay much attention. Not sure who keeps them.

Q: The last five years you’ve been with the Canadian Amateur Team, the first two on the Development Team. How important has that been for you?

A: It’s been an immense help in helping me grow as a person and my golf game. The Development Team helped prepare me for college in that you’re gone three or four days at a time and missing a lot of high school. You learn how to travel and take care of yourself and be responsible.

There was one time two of us had a flight cancelled in Chicago and that gave you a feel what life is like and you learn new skills.

Plus the support staff is amazing. I don’t have enough good things to say about (assistant coach) Ann Carroll and (head coach) Tristan Mullally. Both of them have impacted my game positively. There is so much I can learn from Tristan … so much knowledge. I trust him completely and we’re working on things with an end goal as to what I want to achieve. I believe my game has changed completely for the better.

Q: What would say are your strengths and weaknesses?

A: Ball striking is a strength. Always has been. I need to continue to work on my short game, but then also work on the long game as well. But yes, driving the ball is a strength.

Q: What about putting?

A: It’s OK and I’ve seen an improvement in putting this last fall, but you can never improve enough.

Q: Did you learn as much about the mental side of the game as the physical side with the National Team.

A: I’ve learned so much mentally and on the golf side. It’s great to have that support… you get a glimpse into what professional life is like.

Q: As a member of Team Canada you will have a busy summer, but what are your plans?

A: I haven’t really looked at my schedule yet, but I hope to compete in the World Championships in Ireland. The top three from our (four-person) team go and I’m gearing up for that.

I’m not sure if I will play in the Alberta Amateur or not, depending on what else is going on. But as member of Team Canada I will be in the Canadian Amateur.

Q: I understand you have a slight wrist injury, which you had a couple of years ago. How is that coming along?

A: I’ve been healthy the last couple of years, but I re-injured it in October in our third (NCAA) tournament of the season. Right now, I’m just nursing it back so I am healthy, but right now it’s wait and see.

Q: I’m sure you hope to be completely healthy by the busy summer. And will another berth in the LPGA open up?

A: It depends on who they take as well as on exemptions. I hope so but it’s up in the air.

Q: Is pro golf your ultimate goal?

A: For sure. I have another one and a half years before I graduate and there’s been some sort of a change in the process for Q-school, so not sure yet about that, but I’ll sort that out. I’d love to turn pro after college and see where it takes me.

Catching Up with Jaclyn Lee

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