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The 2025 Alberta Golf Yearbook is a print and digital publication published annually in partnership with ev+ Agency. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from Alberta Golf. Thank you to all the golf clubs that allowed Alberta Golf to conduct provincial championships on their courses during 2024. Please enjoy the second annual 2025 edition of the Alberta Golf Yearbook. www.albertagolf.org

2025 Men's Mid-Master

June 16-18

Lacombe Golf & Country Club

Christopher Thayer

2024 Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Championship at Trestle Creek Golf Resort, what memories are most vivid?

Thayer: “It was a lot of fun. It was my first trip internationally for competitive golf. I’m 44 and I’ve been playing competitive golf since I was 13, always as an amateur, but had done it all in the U.S. What kind of brought me up there is the Mid-Am age division spans from 25 all the way to 55. That’s a long time to play in the same age division — 30 years. So what had gotten on my radar is this Mid-Master age division, which is 40-plus. I did my research and there’s only about six or seven proper Mid-Master golf tournaments in the world. The list was pretty short. I ended up talking with John Deneer (of Alberta Golf), because I’m also on the Colorado Golf Association’s board and we have a tournament committee and I’m part of that, so we’re always looking for ways to run better tournaments and know what other associations are doing. I have work in Canada, as well, so it just all pointed toward this tournament. That’s what brought me up. And then when I got there, it was just a very cool golf course. The green complexes were very undulating. You had to be in the right spot. And that really matches up with my game. My iron play is usually pretty good. My distance control is pretty good. So I knew if I could get it on the putting surface and in the right spot, I’d have a lot of good looks for birdie.”

Q: You must have, because your three-round scorecard featured 14 birdies and an eagle. You have previously won a handful of state championships in the U.S., but how cool is it to now add a provincial title to your resume?

Thayer: “It’s very cool to win any golf tournament, and especially to do it on your first try out of the country. That was really fun. Any time you’re playing for a title that has some weight on it, whether it’s ‘provincial champion’ or ‘state champion’ or whatever, it gets the nerves going at the end. You don’t want to let one of those slip away, because they are so hard to win. So I just tried to stay focused on my game and keep playing good golf.”

Q: One of the highlights at Trestle Creek Golf Resort is an island-green assignment that played as No. 16 during the tournament … As you try to close it out, how nerve-wracking was that tee-ball?

Thayer: “Oh yeah, holding onto a lead, hitting to an island green … And that tee-shot is probably down 30 yards, so you watch the ball hang in the air for six or seven seconds and you’re thinking, ‘OK, is it going to hit land?’ But I got it done, so that was good.”

Thayer, who hails from Colorado, introduced himself to Alberta’s golf community by cruising to a wire-to-wire win. He signed for a three-round total of 5-under 211. The closest competitors were six shots back in his rearview mirror.

Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Past Champions

2024 – Christopher Thayer 2023 – Jamie Welder 2022 – Shiro Mani

2021 – Shiro Mani

2020 – Grant Oh

Alberta men’s mid-master championship heads to

Lacombe for their centennial

By Kevin Smith

The Lacombe Golf and Country Club dates back to 1925, and in their centennial year they’ll host the 2025 Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Championship. The golf course will hold several events during the summer including a weekend for public only play with green fees of $19.25, a gala for shareholders and long-time members along with a centennial event where members will play with hickory shafted clubs. The 400 members at this semiprivate country club are certainly looking forward to the summer celebration but before that they are looking forward to kicking off the Alberta Golf championship season June 16-18 as the host of the Mid-Master Championship for males aged 40 and over. Lacombe Head Professional Weston Gillett says this course sets up well for this age of competitors.

“I feel like that age bracket niche is really going to enjoy themselves out here and yeah we're excited to kind of tie that in with our centennial celebration as well,” Gillett said. ”Within our industry, how many people get to say they've been part of a 100 year celebration within their club, it’s going to be very special.”

Gillett was raised in Lacombe and played all his junior golf there before getting his PGA status and working at golf clubs across Western Canada. In 2019, after being the Head Professional at Drayton Valley Golf Club for seven seasons, he returned home to accept his dream job as the Head Professional at the Lacombe Golf and Country Club.

“To be honest coming back here is a dream job, my family still lives here, from a professional perspective it's great and comfortable, I know everyone here from my childhood and many are members which is awesome,” Gillett beamed. “The golf course is located right across from where all three of my kids play their minor sports, life balance is much easier here with help from our family for my wife Linda and I.”

Having grown up in Lacombe, Gillett has strong ties to the legendary McKinlay family. Tom McKinlay Sr lives just off the 14th hole while his boys Bobby, Perry, Kelly and Tom Jr are all accomplished players at the course themselves. Perry’s son Brady McKinlay is the 2022 Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion and has recently turned professional. Perry actually lives on McKinlay Crescent, according to Gillett that’s just a coincidence, but being golfing royalty in the area most assume streets are named after them! He says they’re all great people and give a lot back to the club.

Tom McKinlay Jr won the Alberta Men’s Mid-Master title in 2017 and was runner-up in 2024. When his nephew Brady competes at Alberta Golf events a family group known as the “Brady Bunch” come to watch and show their support and they’ll be cheering Tom on at this event, a few of Tom’s brothers might even compete as well.

“I think I'll be a little bit nervous because I’ve played a ton of events here, club championships, but this will have a much different feel being an Alberta Golf event,” McKinlay Jr stated. “Our Men's Open is a match play format which is a little easier as far as stress level goes, so when it's a stroke play event like the Mid-Master will be, it'll be a different feel but also fun to see the scores I can put up.”

Weston Gillett thinks McKinlay Jr will have a great chance to be near the top of the leaderboard considering the style of course and the short game you need to compete well.

“The course has tree lined fairways, small greens, it’s not overly long by any stretch but it requires a really good short game. A lot of the trouble is around the greens, and we’re probably best known for having very difficult par threes,” Gillett stated. “Anybody who can chip and putt it well will succeed. Tom McKinlay Jr has such great hands and short game, Lacombe typically has a lot smaller greens than your typical golf course, so you're going to miss a lot of greens no matter who you are and having that great short game will fair you well.”

Celebrating 100 years of the Lacombe Golf and Country Club while having the McKinlay brothers competing and their family cheering them on should make this year’s Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Championship a very memorable one.

2025 Men’s Amateur

June 25-27

Brett Jones

2024 Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship at The Derrick Golf & Winter Club, what memories are most vivid?

Jones: “Winning it was definitely really cool, and having my dad as the caddie was really cool for the both of us.”

Q: How did your dad, Clint, wind up on the bag that week? What was his impact?

Jones: “He loves caddying for me. He caddied for me in the Mickelson Invitational, the Glencoe Invitational. All the big amateur events that he could caddie for, he did. But this was his first year doing it, and it was just his second event as a caddie for me. So now, just keep doing that. He loves it. I love it. It’s nice father-son bonding. He’s been playing with me since I was four years old, so he knows my game really well and he knows what I’m capable of and what not to do. He can talk me in and out of some shots.”

Q: Take us back to that playoff … You go to overtime against Barrett Jarosch, a guy who has played a ton of professional tour events. What was that like?

Jones: “He’s a very accomplished golfer, played on the Korn Ferry Tour for numerous years, so he definitely has a lot of skill. I played with him that whole day and he didn’t really miss a shot all day. He kept applying pressure to me. I was actually leading through the front nine and then we had a two-shot swing — he made a birdie, I made a bogey — and then he got two up on me with three holes to go and I climbed back. In the playoff, I knew he wasn’t going to make any mistakes, so I had to be very solid. There were a lot of people watching, so it was a little nerve-wracking, but I was very happy to get it done.”

Q: Knowing that the Alberta Men’s Amateur is one of the marquee events in this province, what did it mean to hoist that trophy?

Jones: “It’s something I’ve always wanted to win. I didn’t think I’d win it at such a young age, so it’s nice that I’ll get a couple more goes at it. Hopefully, I’m going to hoist it again this year.”

Jones, a member at Glencoe Golf & Country Club in Calgary, was the only player in the field to fire three consecutive rounds in the 60s, signing for a total tab of 6-under 204. The 17-year-old cinched his title with a par on the third playoff hole.

Alberta Men’s Amateur Past Champions

2024 - Brett Jones

2023 – Ethan Wilson

2022 – Brady McKinlay

2021 – Braden O’Grady

2020 – Michael Valk

Alberta Men’s Amateur Interprovincial

Team

2024 – Finished (3rd)

Brett Jones

Jace Ouellette

Devin Kucy

The Amateur’s Return to

Paradise

By Taylor Tracey

A lot has changed in amateur golf since 1993. The disappearance of the balata ball, the creation of the hybrid, and a person only needs to catch one glimpse of a PGA Tour broadcast to recognize the change in fashion. More specifically amateur golf in Alberta in 1993 was amid a changing of the guard with the next crop of players, names like Wes Heffernan, Ryan Yip, Mike Mezei, Scott Stiles, Barrett Jarsoch, and James Love all about to burst on the scene. What has not changed is the annual running of the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship and for the 113th playing of this prestigious event, the ‘Amateur’ will see its return to Paradise Canyon Country Club, the first time since 1993.

“We’re excited to be back on the schedule, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what the top amateurs can do down here”. Remarked Matt Barkway, Executive Golf Professional at Paradise Canyon Country Club.

The course hasn’t undergone many significant changes since the last time the Men’s Amateur was held at Paradise, with the only major change coming with a lengthening of hole #9 in the early 2000’s mentions Barkway. The course has stood the test of time and has proven its ability to test the top players of any level. The course hosted the 2008 Canadian Men’s Amateur with future PGA Tour players Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, and Corey Conners all playing in the field. Paradise also hosted the Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open for two years which was an Alberta tour stop on the PGA Tour Canada.

“The last one (industry event) would have been the PGA Tour Canada event in 2018 and 2019. That event really showed the difference between the top level amateur and borderline professionals. Scott Stiles played the 2008 Canadian Men’s Amateur here and the winner may have been -5 or -6 and then the PGA Tour guys shot low 60’s every day. So the quality of golf was vastly different”.

One stretch that Barkway thinks will play a major role in a player’s pursuit of the Charles Scott Memorial Trophy is how they begin their rounds on the back nine. Holes 10, 11, and 12 all offer tough challenges especially when the wind direction is brought into a player’s decision.

Hole #12, Paradise Canyon’s signature hole, is a 148-yard par three that is sure to play a major role in deciding the 113th champion. With an elevated tee box, players will have a beautiful view with the Old Man River in the background and the coulees surrounding them. What awaits them in their club selection is more anxiety inducing than beautiful. Deep bunkers in front, the 100 feet of elevation change from tee to green, a steep slope running into the river behind, deep fescue on the left, and badlands on the right. Bring in the famous Lethbridge winds that can get up to 80km/h and a missed green here could be disastrous.

“There are challenges throughout the golf course, in the end of June it should be warm and it should be nice, but if the wind gets going that will be the #1 issue players will face. If you’ve ever faced Southern Alberta winds in the spring time, you’ll understand”

Matt Barkway has been at Paradise Canyon for a long time, first as a member of the back shop, then as an Assistant/Associate Professional for seven years, and now as Executive Golf Professional. Barkway has played in numerous competitive events as a pro including the Canadian Tour and the Gateway Tour Winter Series and knows what it will take to succeed at his course.

“The first time I ever played it (Hole #12) was with a slight north wind where I hit sand wedge to a front pin. On Day 2, it was a Lethbridge south wind, and I roasted a knock down 4-iron and I was in the middle of the green. So, you can run into that.”

With beautiful views provided by the coulees surrounding the course and the Old Man River, Barkway stresses that while they’re in the city of Lethbridge it doesn’t feel that way when you drive down the hill into the course. In 1993, only one year after its opening, Paradise Canyon provided this same feeling to the best players in Alberta. In 2025 the same will be said for the current crop of top amateurs in Alberta as they begin their preparations for the 113th Men’s Amateur Championship when it kicks off on June 25th.

2025 Women's Amateur

July 2-4

Eileen Park

2024 Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship at River Spirit Golf Club, what memories are most vivid?

Park: “I would say that the last day was the most important day, because I was two shots behind going into that round. I had a pretty good start. On No. 1, I made a 30-footer for birdie, which made me more comfortable playing the rest of the round. And I had a lot of fun playing with Grace (Bell) and Jenna (Bruggeman). They were both so nice to me.”

Q: When you’re trying to gain ground on the leader and you sink a long birdie putt on the opening hole, what goes through your mind in that moment?

Park: “There was a lot going through my head, because I was so nervous. Because I wanted this win really bad. But I was trying to not get a lot of thoughts in my head because I knew if I was over-thinking, it would make it more complicated. So I was trying to just take it one shot at a time.”

Q: Your playing partners probably couldn’t tell you were so nervous, since you hit all 18 greens in regulation and didn’t make any bogeys on that final day. What allowed you to play such steady golf in that scenario?

Park: “I think it was on Hole 16 that I thought to myself, ‘If I keep playing the way I have been, I could win.’ So starting on No. 16, I got so nervous. I had, like, a three-footer for birdie on No. 17 and I missed that because my hands were shaking. So I just wanted to keep myself calm. I was doing a lot of deep breaths.”

Q: You have quite a collection of provincial and national victories on your resume already … What does this latest one mean to you?

Park: “This tournament, the year before I won, I got secondplace and I was so close, so obviously I wanted to get the title this time. Because it’s the biggest amateur tournament in our province, I think it means a lot. Hopefully I can get it back again this year.”

Park, a rising star from Red Deer Golf & Country Club, added to an already long list of accomplishments by winning the Alberta Women’s Amateur at the age of 15. She posted a threeround score of 1-under 215.

Alberta Women’s Amateur Past Champions

2024 – Eileen Park

2023 – Jieming Yang

2022 – Katherine Hao

2021 – Hailey Katona

2020 – Yeji Kwon

Alberta Women’s Amateur Interprovincial Team

2024 – Finished (T-2)

Eileen Park

Grace Bell

Jenna Bruggeman

Meaghan LeBlanc

2024 Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory in the Mid-Amateur division at the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship at River Spirit Golf Club, what memories are most vivid?

LeBlanc: “We had a couple of bad days, with the weather, but it was still a great week. It’s always fun to play in those events, and I’m happy I can make it work with my schedule.”

Q: Due to your work commitments, you don’t play a ton of tournament golf. When your competitive rounds are a little more sporadic, what challenge does that present?

LeBlanc: “It has its challenges. I’m not playing as many tournament rounds as some of the others. It’s probably a little bit of consistency. I’m playing some golf, but it’s kind of a different mentality and mindset. Some weeks are easier than others. I don’t have a special sauce for it, but I think it’s trying to make sure that when I’m there, I’m there, and not trying to think about other stuff. Focusing on the golf, that’s the goal. Everybody has things going on, so it’s trying to separate them when you’re there, and then worry about the other stuff later.”

Q: You seem to have a strong grip on this particular trophy … What does a three-peat mean to you?

LeBlanc: “Yeah, it’s cool. Anytime you win an Alberta trophy, it feels good. I’ve been lucky that I played some good tournaments the last few years and was able to come out some wins.”

Q: In the past three Alberta Women’s Amateur Championships, you’ve finished second (2022), third (2023) and fourth (2024) on the main leaderboard. You’ve won the mid-amateur title each time, but how do you treat the overall competition? Do you believe you can win?

LeBlanc: “I think if I have a good week, I could contend. It’s tough. I’m happy to be there, not super far out of it. I also haven’t been chasing down anybody, either. If I had a really good week, I could compete, who knows? Some of these are university students and they’ve been playing all winter in the U.S. and have so many more competitive rounds than I do. And they’re so good. It’s tough, and it’s fun to get out there and play.”

LeBlanc, a member at Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary, continued her reign in the Mid-Amateur category, winning that title for a third consecutive summer. This time, she finished five shots ahead of the pack at 6-over 222.

Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur Past Champions

2024 – Meaghan LeBlanc

2023 – Meaghan LeBlanc

2022 – Meaghan LeBlanc

2021 – Heather Lee

2020 – Kylie Barros

Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur Interprovincial Team

2024 – Finished (2nd)

Andrea Kosa

Morgan Bell

Jenn Orcheski

Andrea Kosa

2024 Alberta Women’s Mid-Master Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory in the Mid-Master category at the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship at River Spirit Golf Club, what memories are most vivid?

Kosa: “First of all, River Spirit is a gem that I don’t think enough people know about it. It is a fantastic golf course. It was in awesome shape. The greens were really, really nice. I remember the weather was pretty tough out there for the finish — it was like snow, rain, hail on the last three holes. You had kind of power through. But there could always be an experience like that at an Alberta Golf event!”

Q: What was the strongest part of your game that week?

Kosa: “I had ups and downs, but I think my strength that week was bouncing back from adversity. My game was not great as a whole unit, but I would have good and bad. I made up for the bad stuff, and I was fortunate at times. I was more lucky than I was good.”

Q: You have now gone back-to-to-back as Alberta’s mid-master champion … What does this latest triumph mean to you?

Kosa: “It’s always an honour to be recognized at a provincial level. But I think about keeping these opportunities for people at the mid-amateur age and older to keep coming out and play. Maybe we’re not competing with the 18-year-olds. But to come out and play, the longevity is what I’m more proud of than the titles and just keep coming out to participate.”

Q: It’s a unique atmosphere at the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship, with three provincial titles — amateur, mid-amateur and mid-master — up for grabs. You just mentioned the importance of participation, especially in those older divisions, so what would you tell somebody who is torn on whether they’ll sign up in 2025? What’s the best thing about this event?

Kosa: “The best point, I would say, is you get to celebrate the young kids and lift them and see them and then become a part of a cheering group. The community of women’s golf, I think, is different than the men’s community. We rely on the cheerleaders and the support from our whole group. Men can kind of go out as lone dogs and be competitive — they’re just kind of built that way — but it’s the community spirit that women can bring to it. There are flight prizes, so there’s lots of things you can still win. It doesn’t really matter where you finish, overall, because there’s all the different categories. Or it can just be about getting out to these interesting golf courses and challenging your game.”

Kosa, a member at The Glencoe Golf & Country Club in Calgary, pulled off a three-peat in her age division. She finished nine shots ahead of the pack at 20-over 236.

Alberta Women’s Mid-Master Past Champions

2024 – Andrea Kosa

2023 – Andrea Kosa

2022 – Andrea Kosa

2021 – Heather Lee

2020 – Andrea Kosa

Leduc Golf & ClubCountry

The Community Country Club in Leduc

By Taylor Tracey

Driving up and down the QE2 is nothing new for most Albertans, as it’s the busiest highway in the province connecting Lethbridge all the way to Grande Prairie. As you drive this highway, you’ll pass a plethora of things. Livestock animals in the fields, broken down cars, slow drivers, and even a few golf courses. The one place you don’t want to miss though is Leduc Golf & Country Club. This quiet gem will be a hot topic this summer with the best female amateur golfers in the province descending on the course on July 2nd for the 112th Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship.

For someone who is new to the course, you’re in for quite the treat. The golf course has plenty of beautifully tree lined fairways, stunning water features, an easy walk, and a stunning clubhouse. For these championship contenders in July however, they’re facing “a good walk spoiled” as the course will test every facet of your game. Jeremy Beirnes, the Head Professional at the course, sees the course as being “deceiving” to those who stand on the tee.

“It’s going to be a good test of the top female talent out there. It’s a challenging course for being in the city. It’s not overly long, but it’s going to test their talent, make them think about their game, and manage the course correctly. You must hit fairways and keep the ball below the hole.” - Jeremy Beirnes

Beirnes’ words on what it will take to win surely ring true as he describes some of the important stretches on the course. He believes players will be tested early through holes 5,6,7 and the winner will have to survive holes 14,15,16 on the back. “We’re a tree lined golf course with lots of out of bounds and water” he remarked “you need to think your way through the golf course”. The players aren’t without a break though, the course offers #11 and #18 as their signature holes with the latter being a beautiful finishing hole with the clubhouse looming in the background.

Beirnes and Rick Brown, the General Manager at Leduc, certainly know what it takes to succeed at the course. Rick Brown started his time at Leduc as a junior member and likely has forgotten how many times he’s played the course. Jeremy had a similar humble beginning at the course, working in the back shop and working his way up. Additionally, Robin Stewart is an Associate Professional at the course and brings a wealth knowledge from experience at other courses but hasn’t seen a course environment like the one present at Leduc.

“We have a phenomenal membership and supportive membership. The course has grown with the community over the years and really is a staple of the community” – Rick Brown

With such an engaged community and close membership, Brown and Beirnes are very proud with the course continually being recognized and getting hosting requests. The club community has always been there but underwent a boost in 2019 after the City of Leduc entered into a land transfer agreement with the course. The course kept its management of the facility but as part of the agreement was given capital improvements including new irrigation and a brand-new clubhouse of over 10,000 square feet, complete with simulators in the basement for year-round golf.

“It’s just a privilege (to host) and we are grateful for the opportunity. A little pat on the back for ourselves as we’ve been asked numerous times so we’re obviously doing something right”. – Jeremy Beirnes

“We really have a family atmosphere here and lots of the staff are entrenched in this place. It’s not just a job for them it’s part of their life. It’s a close-knit group here and whenever we need volunteers people will always jump up and help out” – Robin Stewart

The course at Leduc is a true crowd pleaser within the industry, hosting a Golf Canada NextGen Championship last summer, the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in 2021 and a variety of PGA of Alberta tournaments through the years. Part of the reason for being so popular among associations, remarks Brown, would be the keen membership and their consistent involvement with volunteering.

With the summer fast approaching, some things are certain. Leduc is sure to be a busy facility with a rising intermediate membership category, an avid ladies’ league, and an active membership at large. The course is sure to be a new kind of challenge for the female competitors in the ‘Amateur’ and the walk up on hole 18 will welcome a sight for sore eyes; plenty of smiling members and the new clubhouse boasting one of the best patios in the Edmonton area. The one uncertainty at this time, is who will hoist the Jackson Bros. Trophy on July 4th.

2025 U19

July 8-10 Water Valley Golf Club

Sarah Armstrong

2024 Alberta U19 Girls Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Girls U-19 Championship at Olds Golf Club, what memories are most vivid?

Armstrong: “The final round is definitely what comes to mind. I was four back starting the day and my first six holes were quite poor, but then I changed my shot shape — I’d hooked a couple, so I started playing a fade or at least a fade feeling to hit a straighter shot — and turned it around. So kind of that up-anddown experience, that is what most comes back. And then the playoff obviously stands out.”

Q: Despite not being thrilled with your start, what allowed you to stick with it and eventually turn the momentum?

Armstrong: “I made a birdie on No. 8, which was really important. And then when we were walking off the 10th tee, one of the girls that I was playing with, we were both like, ‘OK, let’s make five birdies on the back nine.’ And I did make four. So that conversation and a bit of a focused goal, it helped to turn things around.”

Q: How did that playoff unfold?

Armstrong: “I was quite excited. I thought it was a lot of fun. I was like, ‘Wow, this is great.’ I hadn’t played in a playoff since I was 12, but I did have a good experience in that playoff, so kind of some fond memories from that. I hit a good drive and then I had a really great number on the wedge shot. It was 77 yards, which was an ideal number for my lob wedge for the shot I was playing that day. So I was quite happy when I shot that, and then I hit it about nine feet from the hole. I didn’t make the putt, but it left just a little tap-in. Tessa, she had a very difficult putt for par and she lipped out, so then it was over.”

Q: After prevailing in the playoff, what did it mean to leave there as a provincial champion?

Armstrong: “I was really happy and grateful. Provincial championships are great. Your name is on that trophy forever, right? It’s a really neat close to my junior career. It was my last shot at it, so I was relieved and very happy. I also really enjoyed Olds Golf Club. They treated us so well.”

Armstrong, a junior member at Desert Blume Golf Course in Medicine Hat, climbed the leaderboard during the final round and completed her comeback in a playoff, coming up clutch with her lob wedge to defeat Tessa Ion on the first extra assignment. Armstrong lowered her score each day en route to a 4-over 220.

Alberta U19 Girls Past Champions

2024 – Sarah Armstrong

2023 – Eileen Park

2022 – Eileen Park

2021 – Grace Bell

2020 – Annabelle Ackroyd

Alberta U19 Girls Interprovincial Team

2024 – Finished (3rd)

Sarah Armstrong Tessa Ion

Sydney Bisgrove

Ryan Gillis

2024 Alberta U19 Boys Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Boys U-19 Championship at Olds Golf Club, what memories are most vivid?

Gillis: “I remember I was putting really well that week and on the final day, I kind of made everything. I had 10 birdies that day, so that was probably the most memorable part. It felt like everything was going right with my game. I put it all together and was able to shoot 64 on that last day.”

Q: Would that have been your lowest round in tournament action?

Gillis: “It would have, at that point. And whenever you shoot your personal best in a tournament, you get a lot of confidence and you learn a lot about your game and how you score well. So, for sure, it was a confidence booster.”

Q: If we knew the magic ingredients, we’d all sink every putt every day. But is there any way to explain what was working with the flat-stick during that final round?

Gillis: “It was just different that day. I just saw how the ball was rolling, saw the line better. It just felt like every putt I walked up to, I could just see how it was going to enter the hole. That’s always nice.”

Q: There can be those moments in a round of golf when suddenly the momentum slips away from you … Was there a moment or a shot that allowed you to stay in that groove?

Gillis: “I double-bogeyed the third hole, so that kind of ruined the flow of it. But I just told myself, ‘Stick with it. You’re still in the lead or tied for the lead, so don’t give up.’ Two holes later, I had my second shot on a Par-5 and put it to about 10 feet and just missed an eagle putt. That was probably the shot that brought me up again.”

Q: What did it mean to win a provincial title?

Gillis: “It was the best feeling.”

Gillis, a member at Pinebrook Golf & Country Club in Calgary, fired to the top of the leaderboard with a final-round rip of 8-under 64. Although he narrowly missed a course record on that closing day, he finished five strokes clear of the field at 10-under 206.

Alberta U19 Boys Past Champions

2024 – Ryan Gillis

2023 – Jaiden Koonar

2022 – Logan Graf

2021 – Paxton Maxwell

2020 – Hunter Thompson

Alberta U19

Boys

Interprovincial Team

2024 – Finished (3rd)

Ryan Gillis

Brett Jones

Jon Vinge

Water Valley

Set to Welcome

Alberta’s Top Juniors

By Kevin Smith

In 1987 Brian and Cindy Setter started Water Valley Golf Club as a 9-hole course in the foothills wilderness northwest of Calgary with great elevation changes. The 18-hole course we know today took shape in 1994 and in 2021 ownership of the course was handed over to Jeremy Dueck and Timothy Patrick Thomas as they set out to market the course to the province and showcase their enjoyable property.

“Everyone outside of businesses calls me Pat,” Thomas said. “And at Water Valley I’m known as Uncle Pat because I’m Jeremy’s uncle.”

Jeremy and Uncle Pat have been getting the word out about Water Valley, hosting Alberta Golf championships has helped in that regard. Not only is the 2025 Alberta U19 Championship being held at the club but they had a successful debut hosting the 2023 Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship.

“We would like to express our excitement about hosting the Alberta U19 Championship at Water Valley Golf Club,” Dueck beamed. “This prestigious event will provide an opportunity for young golfers to showcase their skills at one of Alberta’s premier golf courses. The Water Valley community is deeply committed to supporting the development of young athletes, and we are honored to host this event as we were in 2023 with the Women’s Am.”

Jeremy is the club Professional, President, and one of the Owners, that’s a rare combination. It’s also a family business with Jeremy’s wife Tracy and son Austin in the office keeping everything running smoothly.

Pat Thomas “Uncle Pat” lives in Las Vegas full time with his wife of 55 years, running numerous McDonald's restaurants as well as other business ventures but always looks forward to his visits to Water Valley 3 or 4 times a year to reconnect with the area he’s fallen in love with.

“It was a really great experience actually, our first big event here,” Parsons admitted. “It was a little stressful getting the course ready for a provincial event but it turned out really well, the course was in really great shape, the players really enjoyed so we were happy how it turned out. It was exciting for our crew to showcase the course.”

That experience 2 years ago certainly has helped them get ready for the U19 Championship.

“It does make it even easier this time around,” Parsons said. “You know what sort of planning you need since we’ve already gone through the process in 2023.”

As for what type of player will do well July 8-10 at the Alberta U19 Championship, Parsons says hit it straight and have a good short game.

“It's actually fun once you’re done the job in the morning to head out on the course with our team to watch some of the action,” Parsons said. “It’s been three years now since the new owners took over and hosting these high level events has gotten the word out about how good this course really is. I can’t wait for July to roll around”

“Water Valley is my happy place! I love interacting with members and guests and playing the golf course with them. Lots of laughs and fun,” Thomas said. “We are beyond proud to host Alberta Golf championships! The course speaks for itself, it’s beautiful and challenging. It exceeds our expectations, and we’re very proud of our staff. Our superintendent Ross Parsons is outstanding and always has the course in great shape all season.”

Ross Parsons has been the Water Valley Golf Club Superintendent for 30 years. He says hosting the 2023 Women’s Amateur taught him a lot about getting the course ready for championship golf.

“You have to hit it straight, we have tree lined fairways and it’s easy to get in trouble,” Parsons explained. “You have to have a good short game if you're going to do well, the greens aren’t too tricky but we do have a few smaller ones that are harder to stick on the approach.”

If you’re out at Water Valley in July watching the best juniors in the province, make sure to say hi to Ross, Jeremy, and Uncle Pat, they’ll likely be walking the course, taking in the action and will certainly be very proud of the top end golf taking place on their track.

2025 Men's Mid-Amateur

July 15-17

Sundre Golf Club

Neil Thomas

2024 Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Barrhead Golf Club, what memories are most vivid?

Thomas: “First of all, it’s always good to have a chat with you about winning a tournament. I’ve been close in this tournament a few times over the last few years and haven’t been able to get it across the line, so it was nice to get the win. You hear it on the PGA Tour all the time — winning is hard. The Barrhead Golf Course, I hadn’t played it before the practice rounds, but it was in excellent shape and it fit my eye. You have to hit it straight off the tee and the greens were so pure, and I putted well all week. To get to 14-under, I had to birdy. And I didn’t make many mistakes. I kept the ball in front of me and plotted my way around. I was bogey-free on the second day and only one bogey on the third day. I kept it pretty clean. I tried to keep my game as simple as possible, to stay out of trouble, and it paid off.”

Q: Runner-up Barrett Jarosch tried to crank the heat during that final round. What was ultimately the difference?

Thomas: “It was a good battle. I was five ahead to start the day, but Barrett is such a good player and he’s won this tournament before, so I knew he was going to put a good charge on, and he did. He got pretty close midway through the back nine. He birdied No. 15, and he was just two back. We both birdied No. 16, so I still had a two-shot lead, and I remember hitting a really good drive on No. 17. That’s not an easy driving hole. I hit a really good drive, put me in the middle of the fairway, and then I was 125 yards out and hit a wedge to three feet and made birdie. That was when I started thinking that, with a three-shot lead heading into the final hole, it was probably going to be enough. I had my parents out watching, which was awesome, and a bunch of friends there around the 18th green when I finished. So a lot of good memories.”

Q: When you’re under the gun with two holes to go and you crank a drive and stuff a wedge, how gratifying is that?

Thomas: “It’s extremely gratifying, and that’s why I remember it so distinctly. It’s not easy. I’ve been in that situation before and I’ve let my mind wander and hit a couple squirrelly shots, so that’s what makes it even more special when you are able to bear down and hit the shots that you want and envision. I remember standing on the 17th tee and going back to my process. I made a point to stick to my process, and I did just that and I hit the exact shot that I wanted to. That tee-shot on No. 17, that’s a shot that I’ll never forget just because of the significance of it. It wasn’t an easy shot, and under the pressure I was able to perform.”

Thomas, a member at Edmonton Country Club, fired three consecutive rounds in the 60s. He made only three bogeys over 54 holes en route to a tournament tally of 14-under 202 and a three-stroke victory.

2024 – Neil Thomas

2023 – Barrett Jarosch

2022 – Jesse Galvon

2021 – Brandon Markiw

2020 – Alex Large Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Past Champions

Men’s

2024 – Finished (4th)

Ryan Werre

Ryan DenBraber

Cody Adolph (T-5)

Mid-Am in Mid-July at

Sundre Golf Club

By Kevin Smith

Sundre Golf Club, an hour Northwest of Calgary has become a staple on the Alberta Golf Championship calendar. The Alberta Open was contested there in 2022 with Ethan Choi taking the title, the season opening Alberta Best Ball Championship has been held there each May since 2023, and the Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship will be held July 15-17, 2025. Hosting the Mid-Am in Mid-July is something Sundre Director of Golf Scott Shouldice is looking forward to, he says hosting all of these elite events has spread the word about the calibre of the golf club and the area.

“I do think it has gotten our name out there and just made it a bit more well known,” Shouldice said. “When the best players in the province want to play there, and they spread the word about how good it is, I think it definitely puts our course on the map, we’re even hosting a Canadian Open qualifier this season”

As you drive into the picturesque town of Sundre, the golf course is the first thing you see.

“It's definitely a big part of the area and it's kind of the first thing you see when you first approach the town,” Shouldice explained. “We do a lot of donations for the community at curling bonspiels and hockey tournaments, so yeah we’re definitely a big part of the community.”

Scott Shouldice is also a big part of the community having spent the past 9 years working at the golf club. Shouldice, from London Ontario, previously worked at Grey Wolf Golf Course and Fernie Golf Club in BC.

“It’s such a great place to live and work, it's kind of a small town away from the city which is kind of nice,” Shouldice said. “I've got an amazing girlfriend and 2 stepchildren and we enjoy the small town life with Calgary not too far away.”

Alberta Golf is focused on pace of play and Sundre Golf Club is set up for efficient rounds. The course is not overly long, doesn’t have a ton of elevation changes and while most of the holes are tight and tree lined, if you get off track you will usually find your ball in the pine straw.

“It's not a super long course, it's very playable with no tricks to it, what you see is what you get,” Shouldice explained. “It's very strategic especially off the tee, you have to be smart playing this course, it's not always rip driver as far as you can, you have to be smart and keep the ball in play off the tee and the rest sets up well from there. You should definitely play this course before you compete on it.”

Most of the 125 members of the golf club aren’t from Sundre, they travel in from Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton and stay at camp sites or use the stay and play packages at a local hotel.

“Yeah our members are really supportive when we have these events, it's usually not a problem at all for me to gather up a bunch of volunteers to help run the event,” Shouldice admitted. ”Our members love seeing all the top players come and play their course and see what the winning score will be. It’s hard to say what this year’s winning score will be depending on the weather but usually no one goes very low.”

There’s a good chance a lot of the competitors in this year’s Alberta Mid-Amateur Championship have played the course before since this event is for players aged 25 and older and recent champions are the who’s who on the Alberta Golf scene.

Neil Thomas won in Barrhead in 2024, Barrett Jarosch won in 2023 on his home course at Windermere, Jesse Galvon won in 2022 at Highwood Golf while Brandon Markiw took the title at the Edmonton Country Club in 2021. Speaking of the town of Sundre who can forget New Zealand’s Alex Large doing the “Haka” after winning the 2020 Championship at Coyotee Creek Golf and RV Resort.

5 different champions in the past 5 years shows the depth and competitiveness at the Alberta Mid-Amateur level in the province and this year’s event at Sundre Golf Club should be a great test for all variety and styles of players. There will be a great amount of excitement for everyone as you drive from the country into the town and right away this great golf course is in full view.

2025 Women’s Senior

July 21-23

Celina Lam

2024 Alberta Women’s Senior Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Women’s Senior Championship at Pine Hills Golf Club, what memories are most vivid?

Lam: “It was a confusing time. My mom had just passed away, so there was a lot of stuff going on and I hadn’t been playing. So I just went out and I thought, ‘OK, we just play.’ I guess there was a feeling of being relaxed. There was no expectations or any of that, and that’s what happened. It was kind of like a blur.”

Q: While grieving the loss of a loved one, a lot of competitors might have skipped the tournament … Why was it important to you to tee it up?

Lam: “I’d taken care of everything, so everything was done, and I guess we all need a break. I needed a place to reenergize, to reconnect. I went with my husband and we see it as a vacation. We played a few rounds around the area. And it was exactly what I wanted it to be, and more.”

Q: Was your mom on your mind during the event?

Lam: “Yes. I think it just made me feel calmer and more grounded and more focused and not to worry about what’s around me. It’s just, ‘Here I am, on a beautiful golf course. And just golf.’

Q: It’s rare to see a back-to-back winner at one of Alberta Golf’s provincial showdowns. What does it mean to be a repeat champ?

Lam: “It’s still very unbelievable. I mean, the first time you win, you’re like, ‘Oh, wow.’ And then the second time, it’s just, ‘Really? Really?!?’ That’s why I said that the whole event was more like a blur to me. If you asked me, what did I do well or what did I do wrong, I don’t know. I was just looking at my score and I’m like, ‘Wow, I did play really, really well.’ As I told somebody, it was just, ‘See ball, hit ball. See ball, hit ball.’ And that’s what happened.”

Playing with a heavy heart as she mourned the death of one of her biggest fans, Lam was able to defend her provincial title. A member at Canal at Delacour, she finished four shots clear of the pack with a three-round tally of 8-over 227

Alberta Women’s Senior Past Champions

2024 – Celina Lam

2023 – Celina Lam

2022 – Brenda Heyink

2021 – Kim Carrington

2020 – Kim Carrington

Alberta Women’s Senior Interprovincial Team

2024 – Finished (5th)

Celina Lam

Lynn Kuehn

Lisa Hall

Jackie Little

2024 Alberta Women’s Super Senior Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory in the Super Senior category at the 2024 Alberta Women’s Senior Championship at Pine Hills Golf Club, what memories are most vivid for you?

Little: “It was a road-trip with my two B.C. buddies whom I won’t even say how long we’ve been friends and traveled together. It’s always a fun week when we travel together to Alberta. I really liked the course. Course management is very important, which I think is my strong point. The first hole is a bit scary and I always felt relieved when I finished that hole. Fortunately, I did OK on it. Truthfully, I didn’t think I had won, so it really was a wonderful surprise when they called my name as the winner.”

Q: What was the strongest part of your game that week?

Little: “My short game is always a strong point, but I was happy with my long game, as I had been struggling with it up until that week. It helped a lot with building my confidence.”

Q: As a sort of tournament-within-a-tournament, do you pay close attention to the super senior leaderboard?

Little: “I have to admit, I am not a strong leaderboard watcher. I have always tried to play within myself and do the best I can and let what happens happen. I have found, with experience, I am better to not watch what is going on. If you are asking do I prefer to win the senior rather than the super senior, I think we would all agree winning the senior is the priority. But when you get to be a certain age, it becomes a little harder and not likely so winning the super senior becomes just as important for us oldies. Haha.”

Q: It’s not unusual for us to see your name on the leaderboard in Alberta. What’s the appeal of a summer trip to the Wild Rose Province, and why do you think you have had so much success here?

Little: “Alberta will always have a place in my heart. I was born and raised in Edmonton and began my golf journey at the age of 12 at Glendale Golf & Country Club. I played there until we left for B.C. in 1982. Prior to leaving, I had won two provincial junior championships and two provincial amateur championships, so I thought it would be so cool to win two senior championships and hopefully two super senior championships. Then I will have completed my golf goal in Alberta. I always feel good when I come back to my home province. Plus, I have made many friends through the years there, so it’s not hard to feel very comfortable.”

Little, who has roots in Alberta but lives in B.C., added to her stellar resume by topping the leaderboard in the 60-plus category. A representative of Balfour Golf Course, she finished three rounds in 14-over 233.

Alberta Women’s Super Senior Past Champions

2024 – Jackie Little

2023 – Lynn Kuehn

2022 – Brenda Heyink

2021 – Ava Broderick

2020 – Jean Nitchke

Lynda Palahniuk

2024 Alberta Women’s Diamond Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory in the Diamond division at the Alberta Women’s Senior Championship at Pine Hills Golf Club, what memories are most vivid for you?

Palahniuk: “It’s the whole camaraderie and getting to see a bunch of the Alberta girls. I have two friends and we’ve been doing road-trips for the past 25 years, and so we’re always looking for someplace to go and we’ve always enjoyed the company of the girls from Alberta. So we thought, ‘Well ... ’ I had kind of been out of tournament golf. I’d had a few different injuries. So we thought it would be a nice trip from Kelowna. It’s beautiful scenery all the way there. And then it was great to catch up with a couple of girls that I’ve been friends with in Alberta for a number of years.”

Q: You mentioned that you’d been out of tournament golf for a while. What did you enjoy most about getting back into the swing of it?

Palahniuk: “I just like road-trips with my friends, basically. And I just like touching base with some of my friends. I was just there for fun, certainly with no expectations of winning anything. That was just an added bonus.”

Q: Were you keeping tabs on the leaderboard in the Diamond division?

Palahniuk: “To be honest, I didn’t even know there was a Diamond division. In B.C., we call it the Super Super Senior. I won our first Super Super Senior in 2022. That’s the first year that we started doing that for people over 70, and I had no idea that Alberta had taken on that same kind of format. So after two days, I looked and I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, they have a Diamond division!’ The girls were teasing me about that.”

Q: Indeed they do, and it’s always nice to win a trophy, isn’t it?

Palahniuk: “Yes, for sure.”

Palahniuk, who is enshrined in the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and now lives in B.C., road-tripped to the Alberta Women’s Senior Championship and wound up returning home with a trophy. A member at Kelowna Golf & Country Club, Palahniuk scored bragging rights among the 70-and-over crowd with a threeround tally of 40-over 259.

Alberta Women’s Diamond Past Champions

2024 – Lynda Palahniuk

2023 – Ena Spalding

Highwood Golf

is always happy to answer when opportunity knocks

By Gord Montgomery

When opportunity knocks one best answer the door. And that’s exactly what Highwood Golf did when Alberta Golf approached the course about hosting a major championship for the second straight year.

Highwood Golf’s Head Professional, Dan Warwaruk, noted hosting big events is nothing new to this club as they prepare to host the Alberta Women’s Senior who are set to tee it up for a 54-hole competition in July.

“We had the Men’s Senior last year and when I got together with Alberta Golf, they jokingly said, ‘Well, what event are you going to host next year?’ Typically, just for equity and geographical representation it’s good for these events to move around the province. We do a really good job hosting, and enjoy hosting, so I just joked back, ‘We’ll take ‘em all! We’re like a collector. We’ll take the seniors, the kids, we’ll do this, we’ll do that.’ ”

Warwaruk explained that a big part of his job at Highwood Golf is promoting the club explaining, “A really good way is to host the best golfers in the province and we have a good course for competition. I’m at a club whose members embrace these sorts of things.”

A benefit for the members is the fact there’s another nine hole loop here, so they aren’t shunted off to the side while the tournament runs. The Head Pro also noted that they’re fortunate to enjoy reciprocal play with other area courses.

With a push as of late to get younger girls involved in the game, an event like the Women’s Senior Championship is a vital showcase.

“It’s very traditional, no tricks. It’s very straightforward. Skill is rewarded. It’s basically going to filter the best player out of those three days and generally the best player, over three days, is going to win. The golf course isn’t overly long,” about 5,200 to 5,500 yards for this event. “Regardless of the tees played, it’s a very demanding second-shot golf course. The greens are small and that puts a requirement on your short game. No matter how good an iron player you are, you are going to miss greens here so putting and chipping are at a premium. Regardless of the age or the gender of the golfer, it’s a firm test. A fair test but a firm test.”

When asked about areas that will particularly challenge the players, Warwaruk pointed to one hole in particular. And the fact it’s the closing hole adds extra weight.

“I think that ability to show the best players in the province playing here, whether male or female, for our young girls there is some pride there. The best are playing the course they play. Some of these young players, 10 to 16, look at these older ladies and go, ‘Wow! I can golf for life and I’m lucky I already have Highwood as my home base.’ It’s kind of like a pride thing but it’s also, ‘I love golf already, and I can golf the rest of my life’. These women in the tournament have been doing it their whole lives and that kind of just validates the young girls’ decision to golf here.”

As for what the competitors will face when they hit these fairways, Warwaruk noted this course can jump up unexpectedly, especially toward the end of a round.

“The easy answer is, you can’t take a break here,” he related. “It’s easy to take a big number if you don’t focus. But, if you look at the last two events we’ve had here, the 2022 Mid-Am Championship and the Men’s Senior last year, in both events the leader was on the 18th hole with a minimum of a three shot lead — and disaster struck! So, the 54th hole of the event has played a pivotal role in determining the winner in the last two Provincial events we’ve had here.”

What makes that hole key is the fact it’s a tough driving par-4 with the green protected by water. Hit a poor tee shot and it calls for a big gamble to reach the green in regulation or hitting a lay-up shot. “All parts of this golf course provide a test but certainly the 18th hole in the last two events has just been a shocker!”

So when opportunity knocks in this event this year, the leader best be prepared for what could possibly happen when that knock is answered on the final hole of the tournament.

2025 Men’s Senior

July 29-31

Wolf Creek Golf Resort

David Schultz

2024 Alberta Men’s Senior Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Men’s Senior Championship at Highwood Golf, what memories are most vivid?

Schultz: “It’s the kind of week that I was in control of for two rounds. I shot 68-68, and that’s the worst I could have been. I was playing well. And obviously the last day, I woke up and something changed. It was a battle. I’m sure it was fun for people to watch, but it was excruciating to play for both of us. It was like, ‘Here, you have it.’ ‘No, you have it.’ ”

Q: What was ultimately the difference?

Schultz: “It can be hard playing with a big lead, and I lost it by the middle of the back nine. And then he gave it back, and then I messed up on No. 18 and he played it well. So going to the playoff, anything can happen, right? I hit a pretty good approach, except it hit right in front of the green and scooted straight over. It was a weird bounce. So I had 70 feet coming back and he’d hit it inside 10 or 12 feet. I hit my chip-shot about four feet away and he missed and I made, so we went to the second playoff hole, which was lucky for me. On the second hole, I hit it in the fairway and he blocked it right into another fairway. And I’m watching him over there and he hits his approach in and as soon as he hit, I just heard him say, ‘Get down!’ Unfortunately for him, he hit it a groove or two low, hit it a little thin, and it rocketed over the green and out of bounds. From there, it was just me trying to get it in and make sure I beat him by one. So it was a bit anticlimactic on that last hole, but it was exciting day.”

Q: Did you breathe a big sigh of relief when that last putt dropped?

Schultz: “Oh yeah, that’s a lot of pressure on an old man’s nerves.”

Q: You have won a lot of golf tournaments over the years. What’s the key to still finding success on those days that you maybe don’t have your ‘A’ game?

Schultz: “It’s a matter of making sure you think clearly, anytime you’re in or around the lead. I mean, that’s the fun part for most of us that are out there playing to win — it’s being in the hunt. But when you don’t have it, it’s tough. experience and really wanting to be in that moment. It’s fun. It’s nerve-wracking and pressure. But for me, that’s the fun part.”

Schultz, a regular at Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary and an inductee to the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame, outlasted Senan Foley on a back-and-forth final day. After both posted three-round scores of 1-over 214, Schultz prevailed in a playoff.

Alberta Men’s Senior Past Champions

2024 – David Schultz

2023 – James Varnam

2022 – Kelly Risling

2021 – Senan Foley

2020 – Grant Oh

Alberta Men’s Senior Interprovincial Team

2024 – Finished (1st)

David Schultz

Brian Laubman

Senan Foley (1st)

The Wolf

is back and set to howl at the Alberta Men’s Senior Championship

By Gord Montgomery

The bite is often worse than the bark on the famed Old Course at the Wolf Creek Golf Resort near Ponoka, and some of the best senior golfers in Alberta are about to find that out in late July.

After a year of being out of operation the Wolf is back, and ready to bare its fangs once again as it looks to claw up some scorecards in this annual tournament. It will see the best players in Alberta aged 55 and over, competing during the 54hole, three-day event.

As the course looks to build on its reputation under new ownership, the club’s General Manager, Jim Boomer, pointed out the illustrious history of this track. “Obviously that would have been the ‘80s and ‘90s as part of the Canadian Tour so a lot of big name golfers came through. It certainly put the golf course on the level where it’s not that common to get the ink when it’s sort of in the middle of nowhere. Because those players spoke so highly of Wolf Creek, it certainly gained quite a reputation.”

Now under the control of Golf North, work has been done to begin bringing the Old Course, and its sister the Links course, back into championship condition. The competitors in the Senior Championship will be on the Old Course, which, Boomer said, is likely to give them all they can handle, especially if the wind is blowing.

Boomer noted that while there is trouble lurking around just about every corner, or straight away for that matter, here, there is a particular stretch that will be key to coming out on top.

“I think 9, 10, 11 is definitely that three hole stretch. They can, for whatever reason, play the first eight really well, but then the real holes separating the men from the boys seem to be 9 (a par-4), 10 (a testy par-3), and 11 (a par-5). Even going through there with a couple of bogeys isn’t too bad. That’s a place where you can get derailed. There are certain shots where there’s no such thing as second place. You either make the shot, or you’re reloading!”

One thing that Boomer pointed out was how the new ownership has gone out of their way to repair/replace things at this rural layout to update the facility. He noted that as people begin to come back to once again test their game against one of Alberta’s most storied courses, they’ll notice big changes, both on the course and elsewhere. But, this is about guys who can play, and who are familiar with the Old Course.

In looking ahead to what players like last year’s top3 finishers, Senan Foley, David Schultz, and Brian Laubman will have to shoot, Boomer said he doesn’t expect anyone to go dramatically low. “My guess is somebody could go around here in a few under, if the weather is really good. I’d be surprised if, especially over three days, if somebody is going to go lower than that. Because of course, there’s lots of places to get bit. You think through that group of seniors, and they’re not young but they still play awfully well. We’ll say somewhere between two and five-under would be my estimate.”

“I say this with caution, but a links golf course is still a bit of a rough cut in comparison to a country club type of maintenance program. They’re certainly going to see the fairways in the condition they’re used to and that’s one thing the players want. They’ll find the greens back to the speed they’re used to. We know the greens here are small so there’s a little more emphasis on accuracy.

The one thing this tournament does for the future of Wolf Creek is it brings back what used to be into the here-and-now, Boomer said about hosting this major Alberta Golf event. He agreed that his staff, club members, and the general public are all excited to see the Wolf howl again.

“Exactly! It is particularly nice to see Alberta Golf giving us one of their best events. With Alberta Golf wanting us to host the Alberta Men’s Senior Championship, you know those guys are of the age where they love this place. I think maybe they encouraged Alberta Golf to approach us, and I think we are going to make a lot of older golfers happy with having this event here. It’s going to be really nice to host them the last week in July.”

2025 Alberta Open

August 11-13

River Spirit Golf Club

Wes Heffernan

2024 Alberta Open Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Open Championship at Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat, what memories are most vivid?

Heffernan: “I was struggling a bit at the start of the year and it ended up being that my grip. and I didn’t realize it. So my first couple of events, I was pretty disappointed in my play. The week before the Alberta Open, we had our PGA of Alberta Assistants’ Championship at Sirocco and I noticed my grip was way off. So I changed it back to where it was supposed to be, played a round at Silver Springs and I shot 61. Even though Mitch (Fox) smoked me at Sirocco, I played really well. So going into the Alberta Open, I felt my game was back where it should be. I was excited with that. I’d never played Desert Blume but had heard good things. We got out there and I knew immediately that I was going to love the golf course, and I played well because that golf course fits me. I like it. It’s now one of my favourite courses I’ve ever played.”

Q: With your experience, when you show up to a tournament and you’re thinking, ‘Oh man, I really like this golf course,’ how can that translate to a strong performance?

Heffernan: “It’s more that you just know you’re going to enjoy the week. It puts you in that good mindset. It’s hard to think back and remember a course that I showed up and really liked and I played poorly. I may have, but you usually just remember the good ones. Desert Blume, there are some really cool holes to start. It’s unique. I was blown away by some of those holes om the back nine. Obviously, you want to play well in the tournament, but you just know, ‘I’m going to enjoy this week because this golf course is so fun to play.’ Almost every single time, you’re going to play better because of that.”

Q: Now to be a seven-time champion, can you put into words what the Alberta Open has come to mean to you over the years?

Heffernan: “A lot. Back in 2006, it was my first win as a professional after struggling to start my career. And as soon as I won that tournament, I won the next two and then four Canadian Tour events in two years, so it kind of got me rolling. I’ve always treated it as a really big event and tried to make it super important on my schedule. To win seven is fantastic. The funny thing is I always look at it feeling like I should have won more,

Heffernan, who is a teaching professional at Dynamic Motion Golf Performance and has long represented Silver Springs Golf & Country Club, won the Alberta Open for the seventh time with a three-round tab of 15-under 201. A model of consistency, he signed for scores of 67, 67, and ... 67.

Alberta Open Past Champions

2024 – Wes Heffernan

2023 – Max Sekulic

2022 – Ethan Choi

2021 – Riley Fleming

2020 – AJ Armstrong

but that’s being greedy obviously. You tend to remember the ones you didn’t win rather than the ones you did win sometimes. And then I won so many early on and I’ve only won two in the last 12 years now and, to be honest, haven’t really been close, so the last two wins are the ones that are most important to me. To win one at 47 is pretty good. Hopefully, I can get a few more.”

Q: Canadian Golf Hall-of-Famer Stan Leonard won nine of these … Do you think about a run at that record?

Heffernan: “Oh, for sure. I think the ultimate goal of 10 would be fantastic. But a lot of things have to go right for that to happen.”

River Spirit Golf Club

hosts expanded alberta open championship

By Kevin Smith

The Alberta Open is the flagship championship for Alberta Golf as the only event with a male amateur and professional division, and in 2025 for the first time ever it’s expanding even further to include female amateur and professional competitors. River Spirit Golf Club in the foothills of the Rockies just west of Calgary is a fitting host for the elevated championship.

7-time champion Wes Heffernan is the defending champion having won at Desert Blume Golf Club in 2024, but he also won the Alberta Open in 2018, the last time the championship was held at River Spirit.

“I was happy to see River Spirit as the host this year,” Heffernan said. “Being the defending champion this year and also the winner the last time we played at River Spirit gives me some confidence going into the event for sure.”

Having a female component in 2025 also means many of the competitors from the 2024 Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship held at River Spirit will be competing on the course in back to back years. Golf Operations Manager Molly Bygrove says it’s amazing to host such big events.

“It was a great opportunity to host the Women’s Amateur in 2024, for them to come out and see the course and compete on it, I think it showcased everything we have to offer and helped grow the women’s game,” Bygrove admitted. “Watching them compete was a master class in itself, it was one of the best weeks we had all summer, can’t wait to see some of the same women back this year.”

15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer added to her fantastic resume by winning last year’s Alberta Women’s Amateur. River Spirit recently went through a rebrand, and hosting a rebranded Alberta Open is exciting news for the Bygrove family.

“It’s been great for me, my sister and my brother to work at the golf course. Why not put all your labour and love into a passion you care about that benefits you, your family and the golf community,” Bygrove said. “It’s great to see the vision my parents had at the very beginning come to life in this community and now with the ring road complete it’s easy for anyone anywhere in Calgary to get out here.”

For this year’s Alberta Open the Millburn and Cattails 9s will be used. Millburn showcases 6 tightly treed valley holes with 3 holes on the links while Cattails is played entirely on the links with a view of the foothills and a dramatic par 5 finishing hole.

“Honestly it's the best news ever that everyone, men and women, get to be highlighted and showcased at the same time,” Bygrove said. “We’ve had a recent rebrand and the new Alberta Open format is an exciting and bold move, I think more eyes will be on the game of golf and our golf course for sure and I think that’s amazing.”

In 2002 the country land west of the city was up for sale but the owner wouldn’t sell for a housing development, that’s when Molly’s parents stepped in with the idea to build a golf course. They purchased the land in 2002 and opened the first 9 holes in 2004, now it’s a picturesque 27-hole layout with links and valley holes.

“The valley holes are pretty straight forward to be honest. I’ll hit mostly iron shots off of each tee,” Heffernan explained. “The pivotal holes are actually on Cattails, there are more difficult tee shots, a few tougher holes and a much more difficult 9, the player that plays that 9 the best will probably win.”

And Heffernan, who’s played in multiple U.S. Opens, says the Alberta Open is always a can’t miss event on his schedule.

“I have always treated the Alberta Open as a very important event on my schedule,” Heffernan admitted. “Now that I have won 7 times, I have put myself in a unique position to try and add to that and chase down Stan Leonard who has a record 9 Alberta Open titles, matching and even surpassing Stan would be a very cool accomplishment.”

It will also be a cool event August 11-13 at River Spirit Golf Club when competitors in our province come together to compete for 4 different divisions, top professional and amateur male and top professional and amateur female.

2025 U17

August 18-20

Alberta Springs Golf Resort

Saylar May

2024 Alberta Open Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta U-17 Girls Championship at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, what memories are most vivid?

May: “I just remember I played some super solid golf. I made some really good swings that week. I was competing against one of my good friends, Kali, and we usually have a good time out there going back and forth. And obviously, it was nice to get the win over her.”

Q: You described that second day as ‘stressful,’ and Kali applied plenty of pressure, chipping away at your four-stroke lead. How were you able to ultimately close it out?

May: “On the last hole, I had a two-shot lead. She made a great birdie, but I was able to make a par from the sand. She’d gone long on a back pin, and that’s not the place you want to be. But she made an unbelievable chip and she actually almost made it. She went first so I knew that sand shot, I had to get it on and two-putt for a par. My sand shot rolled down a tier, so I didn’t really have an easy two-putt in front of me. But I was able to knock the first one close and just tap it in for par.”

Q: You’ve been working hard to improve your short game. Was that sand shot a good example of all that practice starting to pay off?

May: “Yeah, for sure. It makes you feel so much better when you know that you can trust the shot. You don’t have to feel shaky over it. That was definitely something I’d struggle with before is I’d put so much pressure on one shot as opposed to just trusting myself and knowing that I’m capable of hitting that shot. That was a big part of that, just knowing that I had that shot in the bag and I was able to execute.”

Q: You won the Alberta Girls U-15 Championship in 2023. To jump up an age division and win another provincial title, what does that mean to you?

May: “It means a lot, especially to go out and defend it. I feel like I proved to myself that I deserve to be there, so it feels great. There are so many great U-17 girls that were playing and most of them are my friends, so I always have a lot of fun in that tournament. Obviously, the next goal would be to win U-19s this year.”

May, a junior member at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, won a showdown with one of her close pals for U-17 bragging rights. May finished with a two-round score of even-par 144, one stroke up on Kali Yeske of Glencoe Golf & Country Club.

U17 Girls Past Champions

2024 – Saylar May

2023 – Tessa Ion

2022 – Clara Ding

2021 – Kalee Seto

2020 – Georgia Barr

Patrick McLarty

2024 Alberta U17 Boys Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Boys U-17 Championship at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, what memories are most vivid?

McLarty: “Mostly the back nine for me during the second round. I was making a lot of big putts coming down the stretch. At the start, I wasn’t getting much going, but I was just steady. And then I made some big putts. I birdied Nos. 10, 11 and 12 to tie it up with Bray (Rogalczyk) and then I made a couple more birdies and that was the end of it.”

Q: What was the key to your putting performance that week?

McLarty: “I had my men’s club championship the day before and I ended up winning that, so I got a Scotty Cameron as a prize. It’s funny because I was thinking, ‘Well, I might as well try it.’ So my first time actually using it was at that tournament. It went decent the first day so I decided to stick with it, and then it just really clicked on that second day.”

Q: What does it mean to now have a provincial title to your name?

McLarty: “It feels pretty sweet, just knowing that I’m a provincial champ and that I’ve actually won a pretty bigname tournament now. That’s a good feeling.”

Q: In an interview at Alberta Springs, you mentioned that you’ve been playing the age-group championships for several years and always looked up to the U-17s … To win that category, was it everything you imagined it could be?

McLarty: “Yeah, I remember as a U-13, just being on the putting green and seeing the older kids, or coming in after and seeing the older guys tee off, and just thinking, ‘That would be really cool to be in that opportunity one day.’ And yeah, it was an unreal experience.”

McLarty racked up 13 birdies, offset by only three bogeys, during this two-day showdown. A junior member at Highwood Golf in High River, he ultimately finished three shots better than any of his buddies at 10-under 134.

U17 Boys Past Champions

2024 – Patrick McLarty

2023 – Charlie Gillespie

2022 – Connor Czirjak

2021 – Brett Jones

2020 – Ethan Howes

Alberta Springs

Set to Host Inaugural U17 Championship

By MacKenzie Baustad

After five years of Alberta Springs hosting the U17, U15, and U13 Championship, Alberta Golf is excited to return for another year—this time with the first-ever standalone U17 Championship, taking place August 18-20. Alberta Springs is a true hidden gem located just west of Red Deer, AB. This 18-hole oasis is always a pleasure to visit, thanks to a dedicated team that continually enhances the course, facilities, and overall golf experience. With 4 tee boxes and a new additional tee to holes 9 & 10 the course now offers an even more positive experience for all golfers. These updates make the holes more approachable and enjoyable, especially for those still learning or seeking a less challenging round.

This year, the new tees will not come into play for the U17 players. Instead, they will be playing from further back to better reflect their skill level and the competitive pathway they are on. To accompany the longer yardage, an additional day will be added. These changes are designed to elevate the competitive atmosphere of the event and make it eligible for WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking), which will help promote and showcase the players internationally.

Jaxon Lynn, Assistant Professional, gave some advice for players facing the longer yardage: “It’s a lot less about just ripping driver everywhere. You have to be a little more methodical. It’s a better golf course from the back tees, but one step back can add a few extra shots.” This will be a new challenge for players who have participated in this event in the past, as they’ll need to adjust their approach. Nick Robichaud, the Head Superintendent, will be ready in August with the usual firm greens, and players should expect healthy rough outlining the fairways. Lynn added, “Nick always has fun with the course conditions whenever they’re here, so this year, he can definitely do something special.”

The entire team at Alberta Springs, including the volunteer community, has played a pivotal role in the success of this championship throughout the years. The volunteers and the surrounding community have been integral to the championship’s success, and when asked what fuels this support, Lynn responded, “We’ve been pretty fortunate; a lot of our members have been coming back for 20-plus years, so whenever we ask them for anything, they are more than happy to volunteer and support such a good golf tournament.”

“We’ve been pretty fortunate; a lot of our members have been coming back for 20-plus years, so whenever we ask them for anything, they are more than happy to volunteer and support such a good golf tournament.”

As Lynn, reflected, “It’s been a privilege, really pretty honored to host all the great young individuals that come out here, yet they are always kind and respectful, and we welcome having them back.” The volunteers and staff consistently go above and beyond, welcoming players and ensuring they feel at home, with all the necessary items—yes, even a giant table of candy! This event has become a staple for many players and will be remembered for the amazing culture and sense of community that surrounds the property.

Alberta Golf Juniors' preparation varies across players, and with the new tee arrangement, it will allow them to approach the course with a different game plan and potentially see the course from a new perspective. Another valuable piece of advice from Lynn was, “Know where to miss – hole one is a great example. If you miss right, you’re probably making bogey, but if you miss 100 yards left, you can still make birdie or par.”

Understanding where your miss is and knowing how to manage it can be a huge advantage in golf. Developing this strategic mindset is key to improving consistency and excelling in competitive play, as it helps players minimize mistakes and make smarter decisions under pressure. By learning to embrace the areas where they can afford to miss, players can avoid big numbers and stay in control of their rounds, ultimately boosting their confidence and performance on the course.

In this time of golf’s rising popularity, Alberta Golf is fortunate to have a course that consistently welcomes the junior players year after year. This championship will serve as the perfect backdrop for the inaugural U17 Championship, reflecting the growing excitement and engagement in the sport. These up-and-coming golfers will be provided a with an equal playing field, where they can showcase their talents and compete at a high level, marking an important milestone in their development and the future of golf in Alberta.

2025 Men's Super Senior

David Schultz

2024 Alberta Men’s Super Senior Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Men’s Super-Senior Championship at The Ranch Golf & Country Club, what memories are most vivid?

Schultz: “It was certainly a challenging first day. We got a lot of rain, and it’s a challenging golf course as it is. I was four back after that first round. Norm Bradley, from B.C., had played very well, so I had to go chasing the last day. I played pretty well on the front nine, but so did he, and I think he still had a four- or five-stroke lead after nine. I reeled it in a little bit, but No. 15 was the big change. It’s a tough little Par-4 — difficult drive, difficult approach shot to the green — and everybody had been having troubles with it. I actually hit two of the best shots of the day, hit it in there to about 12 feet and made for birdie. And after I finished the next hole, I heard Norm had some issues on No. 15 and had made a triple there. That was the big turnaround, and I was able to par it in from there and nip him.”

Q: Do you enjoy that chase, trying to whittle away at a deficit?

Schultz: “Sometimes, yeah. In some ways, it’s a little easier on your brain because you know you have to go after it. When you have a three- or four-stroke lead, you have to stop yourself from being tentative and too safe. When you’re chasing, you kind of know what you have to do and you put the pedal down and try. But if you ask, I’d still rather have a big lead.”

Q: When you heard that Norm had made a mess of No. 15, do you feel like the pressure immediately shifts over to you?

Schultz: “It certainly does put the pressure back on, and then you’re trying almost not to make a mistake, and that’s harder to do. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how many times you’ve done it, it’s a tough thing to do. But it’s fun. That’s why I play is for that kind of pressure. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s fun to be in the mix.”

Q: After winning the 2023 Alberta Men’s Super-Senior Championship in a playoff, you joked that you couldn’t let this trophy go to one of the boys from B.C. Now that it’s a repeat feat, I guess you still feel that way?

Schultz: “It was me and Norm at the end both times. He’s a good player, a good guy. I get along with him really well. But you want to keep it in Alberta, for sure.”

With this victory, Schultz sealed his status as Alberta Golf’s only multi-event winner in 2024. Just four weeks earlier, the Country Hills Golf Club member had captured the provincial senior crown. This was a come-from-behind job for Schultz, who fired a 69 in the final round and signed for a two-day total of 4-over 146.

Alberta Men’s Super Senior Past Champions

2024 – David Schultz

2023 – David Schultz

2022 – Kelly Risling

2021 – Floyd Kilgore

2020 – Frank Van Dornick

Howard Broun

2024 Alberta Men’s Diamond Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory in the Diamond division at the Alberta Men’s Super Senior Championship at The Ranch Golf & Country Club, what memories are most vivid for you?

Broun: “I had a two-stroke penalty for hitting the wrong ball on the first day, so that wasn’t too good. But other than that, it wasn’t too bad. Pretty steady. It’s a really good test of golf, and they did a good job of hosting.”

Q: You’re now 2-for-2 since the introduction of the Diamond division … What does it mean to repeat as the winner?

Broun: “There’s always good competition in Alberta. We have a good bunch of players. So it’s always good to win.”

Q: For a lot of golfers, shooting your age — or better — is a monumental achievement. Is that a goal for you, or has it become old hat?

Broun: “I used to think about it, but I shoot my age a lot now, so I guess I don’t think about it as much. When I first did it, I think I was 66 or 67. And when you first do it, it’s exciting. You think, ‘Oh, that’s good!’ Especially when you’re in your 60s, because you know you’ve played really well. But when you get to 75 or 76, you think, ‘That’s not such a big deal.’ ”

Q: It would be a big deal for a lot of people … Can you share your secret to continuing to play such good golf?

Broun: “I work out a lot. Especially in the winter, in Palm Springs, I’m in the gym five days a week — a lot of balance and stretching and some weight work. I think that’s really helped. Being supple and the strength, I think it has really helped. There are some things I can’t do — my knees aren’t so good — but I think if you want to keep playing for as long as you can, that really helps. And at home too, the fellas I play with at Earl Grey, we walk every time we play. I think that’s another good thing, to walk as long as you can.”

Q: It’s a pretty neat sport, isn’t it? You’re 77 years old now and doing interviews about winning trophies …

Broun: “Yeah, and I’d like to keep on going. I play in the Alberta Men’s Senior, too, and I want to try to keep on doing that until at least I’m 80. That’s my goal.”

Broun, a member at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, successfully defended this title with a two-day tab of 12-over 154. A lot of his pals were probably jealous that Broun bettered his age with a second-round score of 75.

Alberta Men’s Diamond Past Champions

2024 – Howard Broun

2023 – Howard Broun

Magrath

“The Hidden Gem of the South”

By Todd Saelhof

Glen DesRoche wants word of his course’s charm spreading like wildfire across the Alberta Golf landscape. So, he’s got a few catch-phrases that are fuelling the folks at Magrath Golf Club, the host track of the 2025 Alberta Men’s Super Senior Championship in the summer.

“There’s ‘MGC, the place to be’,” said DesRoche, the club’s Director of Golf Operations. “Or ‘Worth the drive since 1925’.” Whatever works for you works for him. Because, truly, Magrath Golf Club — branded officially as ‘The Hidden Gem of the South’ — certainly is the place to be and worth the drive for Alberta Golf’s super senior provincials August 26-27.

It’s an event featuring the best golfers age 65 and over in the province, vying to claim bragging rights for the year ahead. And really, it seems there’s no better place to set up shop for such a tourney than MGC. “At our golf course, we celebrate our seniors,” said DesRoche, proudly. “They make up the majority of our membership. They're the heartbeat of our place right now. This is my third year as Director of Golf and Head Professional, and my long-term goal is to definitely bring in some youth and some younger members to the club and more ladies to the club. But right now, what we rock with is a senior group. “We’ve got a group of 40 to 60 guys that go out five days a week,” continued DesRoche. “They call themselves ‘Early Morning Gamblers.’ They've set up their own games. It's really easy for me. I just got to give them tee-times, and they take care of everything.” At least one of them, JP Theberge, hopes to play the role of ungracious host during the super senior provincials, by winning the event on his home course. “JP is 73 years old,” DesRoche said. “He still shoots in the 60s. Shoots his age, which is incredible.” Certainly, homecourse knowledge should work to Theberge’s advantage.

But if you want to know a little about the 6,632-yard track itself, the Director of Golf certainly has the goods on it. “It’s a very big property we have that you don't run into too many holes where you're side by side,” DesRoche said. “And you've got a nice array of doglegs that go left to right and then come back right to left. So, it's not a bomber’s paradise. Like you’ve got to position your golf ball and sometimes throttle back.

“The green complexes for modern golf are quite small,” continued DesRoche. “There's not a lot of slope to them, but the greens are really fast, and anytime you have greens that don’t have a ton of slope, they can be tricky to read. “Par 3s? We don't have any superlong hard ones. The longest par three is 200 yards — Number 17 — over water, and the wind is always a factor on that hole. “And we have a natural creek that runs through the golf course that comes into play on many holes.”

There’s ‘Ned’, too. He’s the old guy daily on the scene standing out there on hole No. 11 — Magrath’s signature challenge covering 429 yards. Ned is a terrific tree, which folks figure is at least twice the age of the now 100-year-old jewel of a course. “It's just a gigantic, massive tree, where you can be right underneath it and the branches are still 15 feet above your head,” DesRoche said. “And Ned sits right on the corner of Number 11. The sharp dog-leg goes left, with a water hazard on your left. It's probably our best green complex. It's a massive green, it’s got good slope to it. There's bunkers on both sides. Literally, it's got everything that you can want in a challenging par 4. “If you want to get aggressive, you could try and carry a driver between 285 and 300 and cut the corner and have a little flip-wedge in. Or you play it the way most of us play it, which is hybrid or long-iron or fairway wood to the corner, and then you've got a midiron in.” It’s not the only tremendous test on the track. Included is the par-5 16th — a 509-yard bit of fun — the par-3 17th — a 205-yard trip with Pothole Creek in play off the tee and along the left side of the fairway — and the par-4 18th — a strong 370yard closing remark — making for a solid finishing stretch.

“Right now in our area, if you think championship golf courses, you think Paradise Canyon and Lethbridge Country Club,” DesRoche said. “But I think ours is every bit as good as those golf courses. “I would put our layout, our track and our course conditions right up against Lethbridge Country Club, and we have less than half the budget that they have. Paradise Canyon … the same thing. It’s the most modern club here in Lethbridge, and it was built in the late ’90s, and it was sodded. So their course conditions are good because they don't have any wild grasses, and it's a more modern golf course with modern green complexes, but I still put our golf club in tournament conditions right up against it.

“My goal for the next five years is to host an Alberta Golf event every year. And hopefully, by the time we get four or five years from now, we can get one of their big tournaments.

“We want to be on that scene — get people to start thinking about the Magrath Golf Club in a different light.”.

2025

U15 & U13

August 30-31 Lakeside

Sela Ogada

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta U-15 Girls Championship at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, what memories are most vivid?

Ogada: “Before that tournament, I’d never broken 70 before, so I wanted to do that. And I wanted to win. The last time I played that tournament, I finished last, so I wanted to come back and do well. In the first round, I was making a lot of putts. And then, I was thinking, ‘If I just keep on making pars, I’ll break 70.’ But I was like, ‘I can’t think like this.’ So I tried making more birdies. I bogeyed the last hole, which is annoying, but I still had 67.”

Q: Knowing it was a goal of yours, what was that day like, to know that you were on the brink of your first round in the 60s?

2024 Alberta U15 Girls Champion 2024 – Sela Ogada

Ogada: “It kind of felt unreal, in a way. I don’t know how to describe it. I was just hitting a lot of shots close and just making a lot of putts. I’d never played that well before.”

Q: What do you learn about yourself on a day like that?

Ogada: “It raises my expectations and I feel like I can do more on the golf course and score lower and just play better. I never realized I could play that well and I had the game to compete with really good players and win at really big events. So it gives me a lot of confidence.”

Q: You always hear talk at all levels of golf about how difficult it is follow up a great round … How did you handle that challenge?

Ogada: “I tried taking it one shot at a time and staying present. Whenever I was getting too ahead of myself, I tried to stay in the present and that helps, because I wasn’t thinking of my score. It was, ‘OK, what do I need to do on this shot?’ I wasn’t trying to think, ‘Oh, I have to play as well as I did in the first round.’ Those thoughts definitely came up, so it was a bit hard, but I tried to stay in the present.”

Q: What does it mean to be a provincial champion?

Ogada: “It feels really good, especially since the last time, I didn’t play very well. It always feels nice winning, especially an event this big. That was probably one of my favourite events that I’ve won.”

Ogada, a junior member at Sirocco Golf Club in Calgary, surged to an early lead thanks to a career-low 67 in the opening round. She continued to roll on Day 2 and finished 11 shots clear of the competition at 6-under 138, the lowest score among the girls in any age category.

U15 Girls Past Champions

– Eileen Park

– Aastha Savadatti 2020 – Jayla Kucy

Bennett Love

2024 Alberta U15 Boys Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Boys U-15 Championship at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, what memories are most vivid?

Love: “Definitely my back nine on the second day. I almost shot 29. I ended up shooting 30. It was pretty crazy. I haven’t felt that very many times playing golf.”

Q: That is a heck of a nine! What was working so well?

Love: “I was sinking lots of long putts and the driver was working, too. I had one hole — it’s Hole 4, because we started on the back nine … It’s a horseshoe hole and most people just lay it up with an iron out to the left, but I hit driver up over the trees and hit it in the middle of the fairway between the two ponds. I think that was a momentumchanger for me, just with how much confidence it gave me to hit it there. I ended up making eagle on that hole and went on a run from there.”

Q: Since most of us will never shoot a score like 30 over nine holes, how would you describe the sort of groove you were in?

Love: “It felt like I couldn’t get out of it. It just kept going. On Hole 6, I had a long putt and made that down the hill. I figured maybe it was going stop there, if I missed that putt, but I made it and just kept rolling. I felt like I didn’t really have to think about anything. I just hit the shots and I knew the ball was going to go somewhere near the hole.”

Q: What does it mean to you to win your first provincial golf title?

Love: “It’s really cool to represent Alberta and be one of the few players that have won that event.”

Love, a junior member at Red Deer Golf & Country Club, pulled off an epic comeback with a fantastic finish. Playing in the fourth-last group on the final day, Love rocketed into top spot with a spin of 7-under 65, the lowest score from any competitor in any age group. He finished 36 holes in 7-under 137 en route to a two-shot triumph.

U15 Boys Past Champions

– Tyler Kidd

– Jon Vinge

Camilla Ruesga-Rojas

2024 Alberta U13 Girls Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta U-13 Girls Championship at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, what memories are most vivid?

Ruesga-Rojas: “It was really exciting. Just seeing my parents there while watching me play golf, that’s mostly what I remember. They were encouraging me.”

Q: What was the strongest part of your game that week?

Ruesga-Rojas: “My putting was great. It was really helping me a lot. It was a saving a bunch of holes.”

Q: Going into that tournament, what was your game-plan?

Ruesga-Rojas: “It was basically to try to keep my score in the 70s. Obviously, the first day wasn’t that good. But the second day, I achieved it.”

Q: To win a provincial championship, what does that mean to you?

Ruesga-Rojas: “Oh, it felt great. My parents were proud of me, and I was also proud of me. But you can always do better.”

Q: What are your future goals in the game of golf?

Ruesga-Rojas: “I would love to go to university in the U.S. playing golf and get a scholarship.”

Ruesga-Rojas, who lives in Edmonton, completed two rounds in 19-over 163, good for a one-stroke victory. She was especially steady on the second day, with nothing worse than a bogey on a tidy scorecard that added up to 79.

U13

Girls

Past Champions

2024 – Camilla Ruesga-Rojas

2023 – Hannah Thomas

2022 – Aleah Shields

2021 – Eileen Park

2020 – Eileen Park

Oscar Gosgnach

2024 Alberta U13 Boys Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta Boys U-13 Championship at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, what memories are most vivid?

Gosgnach: “I remember that I made a lot of five-footers that were kind of big, and I thought my irons were pretty accurate. And then the trophy I got was really nice, so that was cool.”

Q: To bury a bunch of five-foot putts, how did that help you to build and maintain momentum?

Gosgnach: “I felt like if I made a five-footer for par and then I go to the next hole and have another five-footer, then the last hole was really a boost of confidence that I would make that putt. And then it kept snowballing, with more and more confidence building.”

Q: How did you handle the pressure or the nerves of teeing off with the lead on the second day?

Gosgnach: “The course wasn’t playing too long, so I didn’t have too many long clubs in. And I made a couple shorter putts at the beginning of that round, and that helped to calm my nerves.”

Q: What does it mean to now have a provincial title on your resume?

Gosgnach: “It’s pretty cool to think that, ‘Well, I won the provincial championship, so theoretically I’m the best in Alberta.’ It’s cool to have that in the back of my mind.”

Q: What are your future goals in the game of golf?

Gosgnach: “Just try to get as good as I can and try to have a successful career, probably.”

Gosgnach, a junior member at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, set a sizzling pace with an under-par round on the opening day and never looked back. He celebrated a five-shot victory at even-par 144.

U13 Boys Past Champions

2024 – Oscar Gosgnach

2023 – Jayden Arnold

2022 – Chase Strang

2021 – Jalen Apedoe

2020 – Peter Hlushak

Lakeside

Looks to Make

Their Mark on Junior Golf

By MacKenzie Baustad

With junior golf on the rise, the next generation of players is gaining more opportunities to compete at a high level. For the first time, Alberta Golf’s U15 and U13 divisions will have their own standalone championship, separate from the U17 Championship, set for August 30 & 31 at Lakeside Golf Club in Chestermere, Alberta, just east of Calgary. The course offers the ideal setting for young players still developing their competitive skills, providing an exciting and challenging environment to test their game. As the sport continues to grow, events like this offer valuable experiences that help aspiring junior golfers take the next step in their journey.

Lakeside Golf Club is also a proud host of a McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour Stop, taking place on July 14th. As one of Alberta’s longest-running junior tours, it offers players of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to compete in a welcoming yet competitive environment. Designed to introduce juniors to tournament play while reinforcing the fundamentals of the game. The tour serves as an excellent steppingstone for players aiming for higher levels of competition, as well as for those seeking a low-stress environment to build their skills and confidence. For players preparing for the U15 & U13 Championship, this event provides an ideal opportunity to gain valuable course experience and develop confidence in a competitive setting.

Lakeside Golf Club has long been committed to junior golf development, Head Professional Tyler Willner, who started the junior program at Lakeside Golf Club in 2019, is passionate about providing young players with the resources they need to succeed. "Hosting events like this and welcoming some of the brightest up-and-coming stars—it’s exciting,” said Willner. “Hopefully, we’ll see some of these juniors go on to play college golf, or maybe even further into PGA or LPGA territory. It’s amazing to witness the future of the game and know that golf’s next generation is in great hands.”

The course design also ensures that success isn’t solely determined by distance off the tee, making it a balanced test for all types of players. “It’s not a golf course where you can just overpower it,” Willner said. “There are holes where you can rip it if you can, but you’ll hear more about how many putts players had.” With strategic play taking precedence over power, Lakeside levels the playing field, giving shorter hitters a fair chance and emphasizing chipping and putting over pure distance. This ensures an exciting and balanced competition as well as a welcoming environment where golfers of all abilities can thrive. It’s a blend of challenging yet accessible golf that attracts not only players but also a community eager to support and encourage the next generation of golfers.

Tyler Willner’s commitment to junior golf is clear, since launching the junior program in 2019 with just 40 players, the program has grown to over 150 juniors. Meanwhile, the ladies’ league now has 140 players, and the men’s league exceeds 170 players. "The game of golf has really grown, and we’ve definitely benefited from that,” said Willner.

The layout of Lakeside Golf Club makes it an ideal venue for junior competition, offering both a challenge and a fair test for developing players. Unlike tight, tree-lined courses that can intimidate younger golfers, Lakeside provides a more open feel, giving juniors the confidence to focus on their game. “It suits well for kids because there's not a lot of bushes,” Willner explained. “I think it takes a little bit of pressure off knowing that you're not playing a tree-lined golf course where you're standing up on the tee and shaking.”

By hosting both the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour and the U15 & U13 Championship, Lakeside Golf Club continues to play a key role in junior golf development in Alberta. These events not only provide a competitive platform but also reinforce the club’s dedication to growing the game at the grassroots level. With the support of Alberta Golf and clubs like Lakeside, junior golfers across the province now have more opportunities than ever to develop their skills, gain competitive experience, and lay the foundation for a bright future in the sport. These events shape the next generation of players—one swing at a time.

2025

All Abilities

September 9-11

McCall Lake Golf Course

Bob MacDermott

2024 Alberta All Abilities Champion

Q: When you reflect on your victory at the Alberta All Abilities Championship at Broadmoor Golf Club, what memories are most vivid?

MacDermott: “It was a good competition. It was a couple of young flat-bellies that I was up against, and they were pretty good. It came down to one stroke to pull it off.”

Q: You have competed — and won tournaments — all over the world … What’s the significance of having a championship like this in your own backyard in Alberta?

MacDermott: “I think it’s key to not only offer the opportunity, because there are some good players out there, but also for recognition. For the general public, it makes them aware that, you know, sometimes stuff is going to happen to you in life, right? But it’s not the determining factor to be able to compete at a high level of any sport. It doesn’t have to determine your destiny with regard to your dreams and your desires of whatever it is you want to do. For me, golf is just one of my passions.”

Q: What does it mean to you to be proof of what you just talked about, to be a role model for others to continue chasing their own dreams?

MacDermott: “I was trying to get back to as normal a life as possible after being injured. I really wasn’t paying attention to how what I was doing might affect other people. I was doing my thing. It’s not until after you realize, if you put the work in, you get results. I wanted to play golf again. And I realized through technology and perseverance that I could play pretty good. In fact, I’m better than I was when I had two arms and two legs, in a shorter period of time. I wasn’t focusing on that at all, it just turned out that’s what comes out of it.”

Q: When you play events like this one, are you inspired by what you see around you?

MacDermott: “Absolutely. I’ve had a lot of experience, no doubt about it, but I was inspired from Day 1, when you come into these events and see some of the adversity that some of these men and ladies have overcome. And I always hope they’re playing their best with regard to whatever they’re trying to achieve. Win or lose, there are really no losers.”

MacDermott, who lost his left leg, left arm and right thumb in a farming accident and ambulance accident in 1987, added to his incredible collection of trophies at the second-ever playing of the Alberta All Abilities Championship. This was a steady showing for the Belvedere Golf & Country Club member — two consecutive spins of 76 for a tournament tally of 8-over 152.

Alberta All Abilities Past Champions

2024 – Bob MacDermott

2023 – Kiefer Jones

The All Abilities Returns to

McCall Lake

By Todd Saelhof

Augusta National has its unforgettable Amen Corner. But it’s got nothing on Aviation Corner and the memories that will be made there in September at McCall Lake Golf Course.

Even if you’re not a fan of airplanes, it’ll be a high-flying time with Albertans winging their way to the City of Calgary course to compete in the 2025 Alberta All Abilities Championship.

“Oh, absolutely … yeah,” said Paul Hemstreet, the city’s Volunteer Coordinator of Golf, praising the Alberta Golf tournament for players with disabilities. “It’s just a positive vibe, and it’s a positive experience for everyone involved. To see these golfers compete and overcome any challenges they have, it is very special.”

“It’s a celebration of golf and of competition, and then you’re just impressed with all of the individuals themselves. We love just being out and celebrating golf and celebrating being active.”

The event — the last one on Alberta Golf’s 2025 tournament calendar — runs Sept. 9-11 at the 6,845yard city track in northeast Calgary. “And this is a competitive golf tournament,” continued Hemstreet. “The players are excelling at the sport. It's flighted, of course, but they're taking their golf seriously, and they've kind of taken it to the next level, which is cool to see and nice to be involved in.

“There's a few golfers that have single-digit handicaps, people excelling at this sport that they've chosen.”

Then there’s the airplane adventures. Of course, parts of McCall Lake are only an iron shot away from Calgary International Airport property — the southernmost runway, in particular — making for adventure that's more than just a round of golf.

corner of the course,” continued Hemstreet. “You've got a risk/reward par five there where the airplanes are landing, and then you have a tricky par four after that, where you're hitting the other direction. But that spot on the golf course is your most interaction with the airplanes.”

It’s not the only bit of fun at McCall Lake, which features water in play on many of its tests — largely on the par-4 seventh (395 yards), the par-3 13th (218) and the two par-4s to bring you into the clubhouse, the memorable ninth (320) and 18th (391).

“Certainly nine is a golfer's favourite,” said Hemstreet, of McCall Lake’s signature hole. “It’s a short par four and depending on the tees you're playing, It can be drivable with water all along the left. You’re hitting alongside the water, certainly a hole that can be birdied, but also if you hit it in the water, you're making a bogey.”

“It is very cool that the planes will land right over your head,” said Hemstreet, in describing the par-five, 523-yard 11th hole. “That green is on the other side of McKnight Boulevard where the runway is for planes taking off and landing.

“When I bring my boys out there, they think it's the coolest thing ever. When the planes are taking off, they’re well above you. But when they're landing, it feels like you could hit them with a pitching wedge.”

What follows on the next hole is a challenging par-4, measuring 374 yards. “It's a neat spot there on that

McCall Lake was chosen by Alberta Golf after excelling as hosts for the inaugural All Abilities event back in 2023.

“These events have not been at our courses much in the past, we want to be more involved in the golf community moving forward” added Hemstreet. “The All Abilities Championship is a great fit for us — not a huge tournament, so it gets our feet wet. But also, it just fits with what we are and what we can be with the city, which is accessible and open to all. We pride ourselves on that.

“Year 1 was a successful and good championship. And I'm sure this year will be, as well.”