2 PROfiles
PGA of Alberta 3
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Top St or i es 10 Ways To Practi ce M ore Ef f ecti v el y Central A l berta A Sh ort Dri v e From Ev eryw h ere
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Tiffany Gordon Changes Pace
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Meet The Board
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The Association's New Website
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Fort Mac Super ' Off To Ryder Cup
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Grande Prairie Is Not Forgetting Its History
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BEAUTY It’s closer than you think.
STAY & PLAY FROM $219 CLICK FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO BOOK TEE TIMES
1 800 523-2464 | CDACASINO.COM |
Worley, Idaho | 25 miles south of Coeur d’Alene PGA of Alberta 5
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Con t en t s 8
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Regu lar Con t en t
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Top Image: A Memory From The 2018 Shows
Lethbridge To Host Mackenzie Tour Event In 2018
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Tiffany Gordon Changes Pace For More Life Balance
Grande Prairie Isn?t Forgetting Its History
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Golf ?s New World Handicap System Designed to Welcome More Golfers
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Hole-In-One Insurance Program Now Open
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Hot Golf Products You Can Buy
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PGA on Wheels Gaining Momentum
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10 Ways To Practice Golf More Effectively
Impact Tournament Systems
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Fort McMurray Grounds Guru Off To Ryder Cup
USGA And R&A Release Distance Study
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Parting Shot: Congrats To APGA Members On Awards
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The 2018 Board Of Directors
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Riley Beams His Way To The Top At Vulcan G&CC
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M AY 2018
Social Media Cover Story Central Alberta: A Short Drive From Everywhere The Invasion Of The Amphibious Golf Carts
2018 Tournament Schedule
2018
PGA of Alberta 7
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THE
TOPIMAGE Image Credit PGA Of Alberta
Thanks Bo Levi Mit chell of t he Calgary St am peders t o you and your beaut iful fam ily for st opping by t he #YYCGolfShow once again!
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10 PROfiles
PGA of Alberta 11
MAKING
A
Ti f f an y Gor don Ch an ges Pace For Mor e Li f e Bal an ce CHANGE
BY GORD MONTGOMERY
Whi le t her e has been lot s of m ovem en t i n t he i n dust r y acr oss Alber t a t hi s of f -season , per haps t he m ost n ot ew or t hy of t hose has been t hat of a lon g-t i m e em ployee at a Calgar y ar ea cour se.
IMAGE CREDIT PGA OF ALBERTA
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Ti f f any Gordon, Longti me
Tiffany Gordon has left Ex ecuti v e Pro A t Th e Pri v ate her position as the Cottonw ood Gol f & Country Executive Professional Cl ub Has M ov ed On To Become at the Cottonwood Golf A Teach i ng Prof erssi onal A t & Country Club to Th e Publ i c Heri tage Poi nte Gol f undertake the a A cademy Just Dow n Th e Street. position as teaching CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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professional at Calgary?s Heritage Pointe Golf Academy. Gordon had been in her position at Cottonwood since 1990, starting as an assistant pro before eventually rising to the top position at the private club. ?I think it was a two-way kind of look at things and this was a great opportunity for me to
" I t?s a di f f erent opportuni ty f or me to tak e on some ch al l enges i n a di f f erent aspect of th e i ndustry but stay connected to w h at I w as bef ore." make some changes,? she said of beginning to wind down her career in the industry. ?A little work/life balance. I?ve always wanted to explore
other opportunities and I missed the people. I missed the teaching, grow the game initiatives, getting people into the game.? At Heritage, Gordon will once again mix and mingle with the general golfing public as she not only teaches the game but works on building the game from a couple of different angles. ?It?s a different opportunity for me to take on some challenges in a different aspect of the industry but stay connected to what I was before,? she noted of her new position. While it?s been a while since she taught lessons focusing instead of the day-to-day operation of a busy private club like Cottonwood, Gordon isn?t fazed by what lays ahead although she knows there will be an adjustment. ?That, I guess, is my biggest learning curve. To join
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YOURALBERTA
PGA
Th e 2018 Boar d Of Di r ect or s
The PGA of Alber t a Boar d of Di r ect or s set s all poli ci es, r ules an d r egulat i on s f or t he PGA of Alber t a, m eet i n g on a quar t er ly basi s t o con duct t he busi n ess af f ai r s on behalf of t he Mem ber s. Ther e ar e bet w een n i n e an d t w elve Mem ber s elect ed t o t he PGA of Alber t a Boar d of Di r ect or s, all ar e Class A Mem ber s of t he PGA of Can ada. Elect i on s t o t he Boar d ar e held ever y year at t he An n ual Gen er al Meet i n g i n Spr i n g, an d elect i on t er m s ar e set at t hr ee year s. The Board of Directors appoints past Board Members to its?Advisory Board to ensure continuity for the Association, and to provide the Board of Directors and the Association with more stability and background information in the decision making process. Associate Professionals and Candidates for Membership also have a voice in the
Association, through the Assistants?Board of Directors. Eight Class A Members or Candidates for Membership are invited to run annually for two-year Committee terms on the Assistants?Board of Directors, and upon election assume a portfolio, and attend Committee meetings consistent with those on the Board of Directors. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Your 2018 Boar d Of Di r ect or s Click On A Member's Picture To See View Their Bio
Trevor Goplin President
Greg McGarry Vice President
ClickHEREToSeeTheRemainder OfTheBoardMembers
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TOURNAMENT
RESULTS
VIA PRESS RELEASE Event Date: May 7, 2018 Host Venue: Vulcan G&CC
Ri l ey Beam s Hi s Way t o t h e Top at Vul can G&CC
Ri ley Flem i n g Field: 47 players of t he Purse: $6,250 Nat i on al Golf Course Par: 70 Academ y Dom e w ast ed n o t i m e t o m ake an i m pr essi on f i r i n g a 5-un der 65 at Vulcan G&CC f or t he f i r st Golf Wi nner Ri l ey Fl emi ng Supply House Ser i es even t (NGA Dome) w i th sponsor Cl i v e Grant (GSH) of t he season . Riley started the day hot with birdies on four of the first five holes to put himself in a strong position for the rest of the round. Not without competition, finishing just shy of Riley was Kent Fukushima (Redwood Meadows G&CC) and Mark
Corrigan (Mickelson National GC) both carding a 4-under 66. Three other players tied for fourth at 1-under 69. Sk in s Win n er s: $ 257 / per son #3 Riley Fleming - #7 Jason Roth #8 Mark Corrigan - #14 Ryan Mackenzie #18 Paul Hemstreet
Gol f Suppl y House Ser i es
Tournament Skins Pot Presented by:
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THE
COVERSTORY
PGA Laun ch es
New Websi t e A f ter 12 month s of h ard w ork , th e PGA Of A l berta h as l aunch ed th ei r new w ebsi te...
The clean , n ew look i s just t he st ar t . The si t e i s n ow t ot ally r espon si ve an d looks just as good on a m obi le devi ce as i t does on your deskt op com put er . CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Responsive websites reformat for optimal viewing on desktop, mobile or tablet. And with almost 30% of visits to the PGA's website coming from mobile devices, this is a welcome upgrade Says Association Executive Director Robert Rousselle, "We are extremely pleased and proud of our new website and the feedback from our membership is very positive. They are enthusiast about the new look, the adaptability and the functionality of the website. " The rebuild was the work of well regarded web designers Pixel Ar m y.
Th e Responsi v e Desi gn A s I t A ppears On A M obi l e Dev i ce
Continues Robert, "The development of our new site with our association partner Pixel Army website design was a positive exercise. They developed a modern responsive site, user friendly tool for our members to Th e Redesi gn Has I ncl uded Tw eak i ng To enjoy. On an administrative angle, a Th e Drop Dow n M enus large percentage of the development of our website was focused on the content management system that is also user friendly, functional and efficient." To view the new website, click HERE.
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VACATION
INYOURBACKYARD BY JEFF SUTHERLAND
Central A l berta A SHORT DRIVE FROM EVERYWHERE Why dr i ve f or days an d pay sky-hi gh gr een f ees w hen t he best golf deal i n Alber t a i s r i ght at your door st ep? Central Alberta in a hub around Red Deer has six great tracks: Alberta Springs , Innisfail, Pine Hills, Ponoka Golf Club, River Bend and Wolf Creek. Each course is within an hour ?s drive of the central hub making getting to any tee time a breeze. A custom golf
experience any way you slice it. As well, each brings its own unique character from challenging elevation, to immaculate fairways, to scenic river fronts to Scottish-style links. The value comes in the packages these course are
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able to put together with the local accommodators is just amazing. From the Black Knight Inn to the Red Deer Hotel & Suites to the Baymont Inn & Suites Conference Centre Red Deer to the Sheraton Red Deer, there is a
room and roof exactly tailored to meet your needs. One round of golf and one-night's accommodation starts at $99.95.Using their website to request a complete quote takes literally two minutes. Visit golfcentralalberta.com to find out more.
What is happening at Golf Central Alberta this year? The big event in 2018 is the golf tournament to be held in mid August. Compete as a twosome and play wo best ball stableford shamble shotgun rounds at Alberta Springs and Wolf Creek on consecutive days. The $300 cost includes everything listed on the next page. If you w ou ld lik e a ch an ce f or you an d a f r ien d t o com pet e f or FREE, sim ply sign u p f or t h e In side Golf eNew slet t er or PGA of AB digit al m agazin e by click in g on t h e post er on t h e n ext page .
ClickHEREToReadRest OfArticle
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FROMTHE
COMPILED BY iG EDITORS
FRINGE
Th e I nv asi on of th e A mph i bi ous Gol f Carts
The m ost r ecen t i s by a Mi ssi on , BC m an w ho has developed an am phi bi ous golf car t called t he ?Golf i sh?(see n ext page) w hi ch can t ake you on a r oun d of golf f ollow ed by a f i shi n g out i n g.
70-year old retired mechanic Peter Lammerts? unique golf cart utilizes fold down pontoons with high tech styrofoam inside to safely enter the water (see images next page). Lammerts, who has started the process to patent the pontoons, has also taken the Golfish to Arizona which he sees as a major market. Early projections see the unit selling for approximately $26,000 (CAD). Innsert Bubba Craft He is not the only one who sees a image HERE market for amphib golf carts. The $60,000 (USD) Hydra Gator (above) is a
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hybrid golf cart, with a drivetrain that mates a 953 cc diesel engine and a pair of 75 pound electric marine motors taking care of the vehicle?s propulsion in the water? good for not so7 MPH on calm waters. Of course, the most famous pond traversing cart-boat is the Bubbacraft. Who can forget the internet sensation caused when Bubba Watson
cruised around on the BW1 Hovercraft gliding over water hazards and bunkers never even touching the grass? At the time Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield, Ohio bought two of the Bubbacrafts for its golfers to use but have since taken them out of service (probably due to crashes and/or lawsuits). You can still buy yours from the manufacturer for just $58,000 USD.
M i ssi on?s Peter Lammerts l ow ers th e pontoons and tak es th e ?Gol f i sh ?out on th e Fraser Ri v er
PGA of Alberta 29
IMPROVING
32
YOUR
BY GARETT JENKINSON
GAME 10 Way s To Pr act i ce Gol f Mor e Ef f ect i vel y
Golf i s on e of t he on ly spor t s t hat i s pr i m ar i ly pr act i ced on a r an ge. It w ould be ver y expen si ve t o bui ld pr act i ce holes an d i t i s also di f f i cult t o get ever yon e on i t t o pr act i ce. So w e have a r an ge t o pr act i ce an d usi n g i t pr oper ly can help you i m pr ove. A great range comparison is the gun range because you need to go and ensure you are shooting straight and at the proper distance. Whether or not you have ever been to a gun range, there are rules that we should apply to the range that can help us get more out of our practice sessions. Follow these simple rules to help improve your game. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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1. Plan w h at you ar e goin g t o do bef or e you ar r ive. You wouldn?t go to the gym without a plan of what you are going to do and when you go to the range you need to have a plan in place as well. 2. Alw ays h ave a t ar get ! One simple rule is that you need to always measure every shot based on a target. You wouldn?t go to the gun range and just shoot bullets all over the place and the same rule applies to the driving range. 3. Align m en t is key! You have to make sure that you set your body up the same way every time so you know if you need to make an adjustment you need. A range mat can help a lot if you know where it is aiming so don?t be afraid to adjust/turn the range mat to aim perfectly at your target. 4. Tak e you r t im e. Bullets cost money and you don?t want to waste them. Pretend each range ball costs you a dollar, make them count. You have to wait 5-8 minutes between shots on the golf course so why do we rush so much on the range? 5. If you m iss t h e t ar get or h it a bad sh ot , t ake som e t im e t o con sider w h at w en t w r on g, m ake an adju st m en t an d t h en t r y again . Never grab another ball without considering what happened. You will learn more from bad shots than good shots if you take the time to figure out what happened. 6. St ar t w it h a close t ar get . You need to know exactly how far a target is from you and roughly how close you hit it. If you can?t hit a close target you will never hit one that is far away. The closer your target the more accurate you have to be. On the gun range you have to hit the bullseye at 50 yards if you want to be close at 200.
ClickHEREToReadRest OfArticle
GOING
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THE
EXTRAMILE
BY GORD MONTGOMERY
For t McMur r ay Gr oun ds Gur u Of f To Ry der Cup Man y apply but f ew ar e chosen . As i t t ur n s out , Jef f Haci or w as on e of t hose chosen f ew . Hacior, the superintendent of the Fort McMurray Golf Club, has been named as one of the North American grass groomers for the 2018 edition of the Ryder Cup. and is the only Canadian involved in the event. In all, there were 374 members of the Golf Course Superintendents?Association of America eligible for the selection process based on membership status and work
Jef f Haci or, Th e Superi ntendent A t Th e Fort M cM urray Gol f Cl ub, Was Th e Onl y Canadi an Sel ected To Joi n Th e North A meri can Grounds Crew For Th e 2018 Ryder Cup To Be Hel d I n Pari s, France. experience with 10 chosen. The honour comes on the heels of the devastating wildfire that destroyed much of his hometown two years ago, including damaging buildings on his golf course. Now though, Hacior gets the CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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chance to work alongside some of the best turf tenders in the world for the popular event.
said he noticed in a GCSAA newsletter about the opportunity to take part.
?It wasn?t necessarily volunteering (as the reason for going in 2015) but the superintendent did such a great job of letting everyone in on the goings-on of such a big tournament. I thought what a cool way to be involved.?
general questions about his home track. ?The biggest question they asked was why you wanted to go.?
?It was an offering of 10 Hacior said his desire to take superintendents being part grew after attending the selected from the GCSAA and Ryder Cup in 2015 at (another 10) the European Golf Hazeltine. There he toured the Superintendents?Association. course and saw for himself They had a questionnaire to fill how important the out so I filled it out, and ended maintenance staff is to such an up being one of the lucky event, where 36 holes a day chosen.? are played. While there, he got Hacior noted there wasn?t any a first-hand look-see at what real criteria a wanna-be had to was being done in preparation meet to be in the running. for the world?s top players. Rather, it was a series of five
Even though he hadn?t really considered being a hands-on guy at one of these birdie hunting spectaculars, Hacior
?The Ryder Cup only happens once every two years, so to be named as part of the team is the opportunity of a lifetime. After all our course has been through since 2016, with the rebuild of our clubhouse and returning the course to the
ClickHEREToReadRest OfArticle
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THE2018PGA
2018 Tour n am en t SCHEDULE Sch edul e Ther e ar e over t hi r t y t our n am en t s r un each year by t he PGA of Alber t a, i n cludi n g Cham pi on shi ps, Team Best Ball Com pet i t i on s, Pr o-Am s an d In di vi dual St r oke Play Even t s. In addition to these provincially sanctioned tournaments, Golf Professionals will participate in a
number of other tournaments throughout the season, including Member-Guest Events, Team Best Ball and Scramble Competitions, Local and National Pro-Ams as well as other local club events and regional tournaments. Tournaments and Competitions generate widespread interest in the sport, ensure the calibre of our athletes remains strong and help to promote the game of golf to almost one million Alberta golfers. Not to mention the tens of millions of dollars that are raised through Charity Tournaments each season for worthwhile causes. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Tournament
Type
Location
Start Date
Team Match Play Championship - North
Championships
N/A
May 1, 2018
Team Match Play Championship - South
Championships
N/A
May 1, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (1-day) - Vulcan G&CC
Golf Supply House Series (1-day)
Vulcan G&CC
May 7, 2018
PGA Scramble of Canada
PGA of Canada
N/A
May 10, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (1-day) - Sirocco GC
Golf Supply House Series (1-day)
Sirocco GC
May 14, 2018
Playing Ability Test #1
Playing Ability Test
Alberta Springs GR
May 22, 2018
Junior Masters
Junior Masters
Wolf Creek GR
May 24, 2018
Pro-Pro Scramble
Team Events
Windermere G&CC
May 28, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (1-day) - Valley Ridge GC
Golf Supply House Series (1-day)
Valley Ridge GC
May 29, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (1-day) - River Spirit GC
Golf Supply House Series (1-day)
River Spirit GC
Jun 4, 2018
Tournament of Champions
Pro-Am?s
McKenzie Meadows GC
Jun 5, 2018
Pro-Lady North
Pro-Am?s
Cardiff G&CC
Jun 11, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (2-day) - Lynx Ridge GC
Golf Supply House Series (2-day)
Lynx Ridge GC
Jun 12, 2018
Playing Ability Test #2
Playing Ability Test
Lynx Ridge GC
Jun 12, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (1-day) - Jagare Ridge GC
Golf Supply House Series (1-day)
Jagare Ridge GC
Jun 18, 2018
PGA Championship of Canada
PGA of Canada
Credit Valley G&CC
Jun 25, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (2-day) - Wolf Creek GR
Golf Supply House Series (2-day)
Wolf Creek GR
Jul 3, 2018
Playing Ability Test #3
Playing Ability Test
Wolf Creek GR
Jul 3, 2018
ClickHEREToReadRest OfArticle
THE
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PGATOUR
BY GORD MONTGOMERY
CANADA Let h br i dge To Host
Mack en zi e Tour Even t In 2018
Next up on t he t ee, t he Par adi se Can yon Golf Resor t .
will be held sometime in late June.
The tournament was essentially brought to the That was the word coming from the Mackenzie Tour - PGA southern Alberta city by Paradise Canyon Golf Resort?s TOUR Canada when they owner, Ron Sakamoto, who announced they?ve added another stop in Alberta during suggests that it?s time others got to see what great golf the 2018 season. The event, facilities this part of the which is in addition to already province, and country, has to existing stops in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray, offer. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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In fact, the owner of the course is so certain that this event will be a hit, he?s waived the usual fee of $50,000 that it would cost to book his river valley course for the amount of time the Mackenzie Tour will use it. To that end, Mackenzie Tour VP Scott Pritchard noted this wasn?t a deal done overnight. ?We?ve been having discussions with Mr. Sakamoto since the summer of 2016 after we were introduced through a mutual connection. Since then, Tour officials have visited Paradise Canyon Golf Resort to assess the viability of an event there from both a competition and event perspective and were thoroughly impressed with both Ron, the facility and the Lethbridge community.? As for putting this event into play on an already full schedule the time was found
to add this stop in. ?We?re always looking to add top quality playing opportunities for our membership,? said Pritchard. ?The schedule is always a work in progress as we seek to provide the best flow for our players and assure the tournaments can maximize their community impact but ultimately whenever we have the chance to add a tournament ? especially in a great market like Lethbridge and at a great course like Paradise Canyon ? it?s worth it.? And make no mistake here. Paradise Canyon is fully ready for the challenges the rising stars on the Mackenzie Tour PGA TOUR Canada will toss at it. And if you think these guys are ?minor leaguers,? think again. Recent graduates who have already made their mark on the PGA TOUR include two
ClickHEREToReadRest OfArticle
PGA of Alberta 37
ANNIVERSARY
BY GORD MONTGOMERY
PROFILE Whi le Looki n g Ahead
Gr an de Pr ai r i e Isn ?t For get t i n g It s Hi st or y
The Gr an de Pr ai r i e Golf & Coun t r y Club i s r i ch i n hi st or y but n ot st uck i n t r adi t i on . As such, i t has com e a lon g w ay si n ce i t s hum ble begi n n i n gs as a n i n e-hole, san d gr een s, lan d-locked layout t hat had n o chan ce of expan di n g. Executive Professional Bob
Martens explained the course, that is celebrating its 50th anniversary at its current location has done nothing but prosper since. ?Back in 1929 we were called the Richmond Hill Golf Club. It was land-locked because it had poor access to any water because it was sitting on top of a hill,? surrounded by privately owned CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
IMAGE CREDIT/COURTESY FACILITY/ORGANIZATION
50TH
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land. ?It had a par-six for the ninth hole. A guy named Roy Wright, back in 1963, said ?You guys, we have to go and make an 18-hole golf course somewhere.?That?s when I think the plan first started. Grande Prairie was less than 10,000 people then, and they thought Roy?s dream was maybe too lofty for little GP.? Despite that original opposition, Wright and his supporters, including Bill Hull who was the manager of the local branch of the CIBC and an enthusiastic fund-raiser, gradually picked up the momentum they needed to move the course. Although they passed on the first land (on Hwy. 40) that became available, they finally settled on the present
locale on Resources Road. ?At the time it was three miles out of town but now it?s right in town,? Martens noted about how the community has expanded since the club?s beginnings. ?A group of interested members and board members wanted to see it grow with grass greens. It was exciting for everybody. Originally it was to be nine holes and then they?d phase in another nine, but it was quickly decided,? ...that given all that was taking place, they?d start from the beginning with a full 18 holes. ?It was to be a new place, a new time for the golf club and that?s when we became the Grande Prairie Golf and Country Club.?
" We h av e 15 h onorary members and ev ery w eek , starti ng on M oth er?s Day f or 14 w eek s l eadi ng up to our M embers Cl assi c ev ent, w e are goi ng to cel ebrate one of th em. Hav e a l i ttl e bi o, a l i ttl e l i gh t-up i n a secti on of th e cl ubh ouse f or peopl e to come i n and see a l i ttl e bi t of h i story as to w h at?s h appened.? ClickHEREToReadRest OfArticle
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BYTHE
RULES
Gol f ?s New Worl d Handi cap System Desi gned to Wel come M ore Gol f ers
VIA PRESS RELEASE
The R&A an d USGA have an n oun ced key f eat ur es of t he pr oposed n ew Wor ld Han di cap Syst em . CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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The tenets of the new system focus on three main objectives: #1. To encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap; #2. To enable golfers of differing abilities, genders and nationalities to transport their handicap to any course globally and compete on a fair and equitable basis; and #3. To indicate with sufficient accuracy the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions. Some of the features of the new system: 1. Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes,. 2. A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; A recommendation that the number of scores
needed to obtain a new handicap be 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds. 3. An average calculation of a handicap taken from the best eight of the last 20 scores. 4. A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player ?s performance each day, daily handicap revisions. 5. A limit of a Net Double Bogey for the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only). 6. A maximum handicap limit of 54.0 regardless of gender. Given worldwide alignment towards a single system, all parties will now embark on a two-year transition period targeting implementation in 2020. For more visit golfcanada.org
PGA of Alberta 41
HELPING
50
THE
MEMBERS
VIA PRESS RELEASE
Hol e-In -On e In sur an ce Pr ogr am Now Open !
The PGA of Alber t a i s pleased t o an n oun ce t he laun ch of 2018 Hole-In -On e pr ogr am . Foster Park Brokers Inc.
(w w w.f pb.ca) is excited to partner again with the PGA of Alberta to provide a Hole-In-One Insurance Program for the Members. This program provides Members with preferred pricing on prize limits ranging from $500 to $50,000. FPB is also able to accommodate prize limits up to $1,000,000 outside of the program.For the second year in a row, the PGA of Alberta is working in conjunction with Foster Park Insurance Brokers to provide CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
51
both Members and Non-Members with the opportunity to purchase Hole-In-One Insurance for your corporate, charity, and club events for the 2018 golf season.
Benefits of purchasing HIO Insurance through PGA of Alberta: Supporting the Association Competitive Industry Rates Easy to Purchase Online
ClickHEREToReadRest OfArticle
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YOURPGAOFALBERTA
MEMBERS
VIA PGA OF ALBERTA WEBSITE
Mem ber s On Th e Move
Follow your f avour i t e PGA of Alber t a Golf Pr of essi on al usi n g our Mem ber s on t he Move f eat ur e. Dean Dereniuk (shown right) Head Professional has moved from Meadowlands to Camrose GC. Paul MacLeod Teaching Professional has moved from Golf Performance Canada at Elbow Springs. Corry Webster Candidate for Membership has moved from Lethbridge CC. Scott Smith Class A Professional has moved to Pinebrook G&CC. Peter Kenneford Class A Professional has moved from Belvedere G&CC. Jerry Noga, Teaching Professional, has transferred to the PGA of Ontario.
Andrew Penner has been named Teaching Professional at McKenzie Meadows GC. Tyler Komick Teaching Professional, has moved from Ranch G&CC (The) to GOLFTEC Edmonton. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Stuart Chan (shown right) Class A Professional has moved from Pinebrook G&CC to Willow Park G&CC. Levi McDermott Candidate for Membership has moved from Wainwright GC. Minbae Jun Candidate for Membership, has transferred to the PGA of Ontario. Mitch McCartney has passed the PAT and completed the application requirements. Jason Herstad Has moved from Victoria Driving Range to Affiliate. Luke Rundell Class A Professional, has moved from Alberta Springs GR to Pine Hills GC and been named Teaching Professional . Nevin Dunfield Head Professional, has moved from Links of GlenEagles (The). Kyle Crawford Class A Professional, has transferred to the PGA of BC. Trent Wright has been named Head Professional at the Broadmoor GC. Kent Fukushima Class A Professional, has moved from Affiliate to Redwood Meadows G&CC.
ClickHEREToReadRest OfArticle
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GOLFINDUSTRY
TRENDS
COMPILED BY iG EDITORS
HOT GOLF PRODUCTS
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www.golfzongolf.com
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GROWING
THE
PGA on Wh eel s Gai n i n g Mom en t um Wi t h New Player s, Par t n er GAME
BY GORD MONTGOMERY
When t he PGA on Wheels r olled i n t o t he ci t y of Spr uce Gr ove on Can ada Day, hun dr eds of ki ds an d even a f ew adult s got a t ast e of som et hi n g t hat could w ell last t hem a li f et i m e ? an d w e don ?t m ean t he li f elon g desi r e f or chow i n g dow n on m i n i -don ut s! Rather, those happy folks were introduced to the game of golf in a friendly, relaxed setting where newbies were welcome to whack away to their hearts content with oversized plastic SNAG (Starting New At Golf) clubs and targets.
IMAGE CREDIT GORD MONTGOMERY
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A Spruce Grov e Youngster Gets A n Earl y Li f e Lesson On How Hard M ak i ng Th ose Sh ort Putts Can Be Duri ng Th e PGA On Wh eel s Stop On Canada Day. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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And while doing so, they were able to gain valuable swing assistance from PGA pros and trained volunteers.
experience the game and learn what the provincial bodies do to promote the game.
Speaking to the hubbub of activity in the golfing area, Trevor Rioux, the Tournament and Communication Manager for the PGA of Alberta, said it
?It?s our first time here and it?s been a great response introducing the game, our professionals, getting them in front of the people here,? Rioux stated. ?And Alberta Golf, as of last year, joined us and added another level to what we do. Having them here, along with our pros and volunteers is a big help and makes the event even better.?
Th ese communi ty ev ents are h uge f or us as w e see h undreds of k i ds th rough out th e day and th e more sw i ngs w e can get th em doi ng, th e better th e i ndustry i s goi ng to be. was exciting to see so many people taking the time to explore the game, perhaps for the first time. He also noted that working alongside Alberta Golf, who supplied the practice gear, meant there was more ways for participants to
Rioux noted getting the kids involved in the game early on, no matter how they participate, is key to growing the game. ?It?s our mandate,? he said of getting youth interested and involved. ?When we can introduce this to kids who haven?t played before, they get to see how fun it is and that it?s something they can do. These
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SUPPORTING
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THE
PGA of Al ber t a PGA Ext en ds Par t n er sh i p w i t h IMPACT Tour n am en t Sy st em s For th i s season, th e Sk i ns Pot f or ev ery GSH Seri es ev ent w i l l begi n at $ 400.
The PGA of Alber t a i s exci t ed t o ext en d t hei r par t n er shi p w i t h IMPACT Tour n am en t Syst em s as t he Of f i ci al Tour n am en t Sof t w ar e pr ovi der f or t he Associ at i on . IMPACT Tour n am en t Syst em s w i ll n ow Spon sor t he Ski n s Pot f or all Golf Supply House (GSH) Ser i es even t s f or t he 2018 season ! Based out of the Calgary area, IMPACT has been a Proud Partner of the PGA of Alberta for many years. Their purpose is to make running events easier for the Professional and more fun for the participants. IMPACT is the combination of personal CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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experience, industry knowledge and technical expertise to produce an exceptional suite of golf solutions. They are founded on the belief that events do
not have to be not hard to manage as long as you have the right tools. For this season, the Skins Pot for every GSH Series event will begin at $400. Participants will then buy into Skins at the tournament (if they choose) at $20 per round. The boost into the Skins Pot for all GSH Series events will bring added value for the participants as well as increase the size of Skins available to be won. For more information on IMPACT Tournament Systems, please visit im pact t s.ca or contact Brian Haydamack (br ian @im pact t s.ca) or Chantel Wons (ch an t el@im pact t s.ca) at 1.855.224.5600 (ext. 3).
BY
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THE
VIA PRESS RELEASE
USGA An d R&A Rel ease Di st an ce St udy NUMBERS
The R&A an d t he USGA com plet ed t hei r an n ual r evi ew of dr i vi n g di st an ce i n golf , pr oduci n g a r esear ch r epor t t hat docum en t s an d evaluat es som e si gn i f i can t f i n di n gs f r om t he 2017 season . Introduced in 2015, the annual report examines driving distance data from seven of the major worldwide professional golf tours, based on nearly 300,000 drives per year. The data from studies of male and female amateur golfers is also included. The 2015 and 2016 editions of the distance report presented the increases in driving distance since 2003 as a slow creep of
Th e av erage di stance gai n across th e sev en w orl dw i de tours w as more th an th ree yards si nce 2016.
around 0.2 yards per year. The 2017 data shows a deviation from this trend. The average distance gain across the seven worldwide tours was more than three yards since 2016. As noted in previous annual reports, variability in driving distance of four or more yards from season to season on any one tour is not uncommon. However, this level of increase across so many tours in a single CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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season is unusual and concerning and requires closer inspection and monitoring to fully understand the causes and effects. As the review of this issue progresses, The R&A and the USGA remain committed to the spirit of the 2002 Joint Statement of Principles which recognize that distance impacts many aspects of golf and that any further significant increases in hitting distances at the highest level are undesirable. Increases in distance can contribute to demands for longer, tougher and more resource-intensive golf courses at all levels of the game. These trends can impact the costs to operate golf courses and put additional pressures on golf courses in their local environmental landscape. For More visit r an da.or g or u sga.or g
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THEPAR TINGSHOT
Image Courtesy PGA OF ALBERTA
M eeti ng A t Red Deer Gol f & Country Cl ub on A pri l 24th
An inside look at t he Board of Direct ors m eet ing in lat e April. The Board m eet s on a quart erly basis t o conduct t he business affairs on behalf of t he Mem bership. Click t he link t o m eet t he current Board of Direct ors ht t ps:/ / bit .ly/ 2HMq3ss
End Of M agazi ne To Recei ve Ever y Issue Of Th e Gol f Repor t Cl i ck HERE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59
Ev ents f or 2018
1. A nnual Go Gi rl Ev ent Col l i cutt Centre, Red Deer Wednesday, M ay 16, 2018 2. A l l Sport One Day Gl enmore A th l eti c Centre, Cal gary Saturday, June 16, 2018 3. Stampede Break f ast Gol f Canada Cal gary Centre Sunday, Jul y 8, 2018 Photo Courtesy: PGA Of Alberta
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community events are huge for us as we see hundreds of kids throughout the day and the more swings we can get them doing, the better the industry is going to be.? Phil Berube, the Executive Director with Alberta Golf was also on hand in Spruce Grove, answering questions from parents about what his association does for amateur golf in the province and the events they sponsor each year. He noted his association was delighted to team up with the PGA of Alberta in order to put on events like this. ?We both want to grow the game and this is a great way to do it,? he said as dozens of kids milled about the area, whacking away at targets and receiving helpful hints from the pros on hand, getting that early taste of the game that means so much. Berube also pointed out that
despite what some may think, the game is experiencing a rebound from a bit of a downturn and the number of people participating in the game is once again on the upswing, thanks in large part to events like the PGA on Wheels. The PGA on Wheels visits four Alberta communities each year and they always look at focusing on areas they haven?t visited in the past, said Rioux. ?It?s something we look to move around every year. Hitting new markets. Hitting new people. We?re always looking at ?Where can we go next??? So if you want your community to be one of those that are next on the list in having the PGA on Wheels roll into town, contact Rioux at t r evor .r iou x@pgaof alber t a.com
or call the PGA office in Calgary at 403-256.8894.
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And as for trying out those mini-donuts from the food trucks that were scattered around the Spruce Grove park, well, let?s just say anyone who had a few after taking their first-ever journey into the world of golf certainly deserved the treats! About the Writer Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his ninth year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He?s also on Twitter at @Gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at @gordinsidegolf2.
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Brent MacKay Class A Professional, has moved from Fort McMurray GC to RotaryLinks @ Wood Buffalo. Jason Vaughan Executive Professional, has moved from Fort McMurray GC to Miskanaw GC and been named Executive Professional Melissa Perron Candidate for Membership, has moved from Carstairs GC to Lacombe G&CC. Mark Di Ubaldo Candidate for Membership, has transferred to the PGA of Manitoba. Steve Lauder Teaching Professional, has moved from Long Shotz Driving Range to Ottewell Curling Club & Driving Range. Aaron Pakylak Class A Professional, has moved from Hamptons GC (The) to Blue Devil GC. David Tanton Class A Professional, has moved to Pinebrook G&CC. Michelle Van Slyke has been named Head Professional at the Belvedere G&CC. Kyle Brandt Class A Professional, has moved from Belvedere G&CC. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Riley Fleming Candidate for Membership, Riley Fleming has received a P.A.T. Exemption, has completed the application requirements and has moved to National Golf Academy Dome. Kelli Fry Class A Professional, has moved to Calgary G&CC. Mike Dern Head Professional, has moved from Taber GC Matt Stokes Candidate for Membership, has moved from RedTail Landing GC to Devon GC. Brent Chapman Class A Professional, has moved from Edmonton Petroleum G&CC to Belvedere G&CC. Spence Laurie has received a P.A.T. Exemption, has completed the application requirements and has moved to McKenzie Meadows GC. Matt Komada, Class A Professional, has transferred to the PGA of Saskatchewan. Trevor Killam Class A Professional, has transferred from the PGA of Ontario. James Fehr Class A Professional, has moved from PGA of Alberta Member to Elbow Springs GC.
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Benef i ts of purch asi ng HI O I nsurance th rough PGA of A l berta: Supporti ng th e A ssoci ati on Competi ti v e I ndustry Rates Easy to Purch ase Onl i ne Purch ase f or one ev ent or f or an enti re season w orth of ev ents at once! Purchase for one event or for an entire season worth of events at once! For those of you who have been involved in the Hole-In-One program in the past, prices for the 2018 season have slightly increased from 2017 due to inflation (2018 rate example - Total Premium for a prize value of $2,500 is now $54.50).
?My Hole In One?. Step-by-step instructions will guide you through the purchasing process. Once completed, a confirmation is submitted to the PGA of Alberta Office and your request is then submitted on your behalf to Foster Park Insurance that day (any Hole-In-One requests made on weekends will be submitted first thing Monday morning).
Coverage can now be purchased by visiting www.pgaofalberta.com and logging in to your member profile. Select your account (your name) in the top right-hand corner followed by
If you require any further assistance on how this Hole in One program can work for you, please do not hesitate to contact the PGA of Alberta Office at 1-403-256-8894 or toll free at 1-888-866-6140.
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Martens noted that Don McFarlane, the former head professional at the club, was a big part of that early growth. ?He was here for a long time. The golf course had very humble beginnings and a very small budget. It was all about the community then, and it still is.? During its Teei ng I t Up I n lifespan, the GPGCC has become the backbone of the golfing community in the northern Alberta city. They?ve turned out a number of strong players, hosted a wealth of major amateur tournaments, as well as charity events giving back over $750,000 in 2017 alone, plus pulling people into the game while pushing donated funds back into the community. ?That?s something we?re pretty proud of,? Martens explained of
that longterm commitment to the area. ?One of our slogans is ?It?s more than a game. It?s our community.?We like to think we live that. We?re the only golf IMAGE CREDIT/COURTESY FACILITY/ORGANIZATION
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1968 course in the Grande Prairie area that?s not privately held. We?re a not-for-profit organization and membership-driven.?
That being said, the course has learned over the years that they aren?t the only club in the bag. There is competition all over in the golf world and because of that, the GPGCC has realized they need to be open to everyone and accommodating to the changing trends in the CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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sport. That includes making the game more enjoyable for some; making it more accessible for others by following trends; and making it time manageable for others. To that end, the course now allows music, within reason, because that?s what Millennials
?We are nev er goi ng to l ose si gh t of our h i story and w e?re not goi ng to l et i t go by th e w aysi de. We?re proud of i t. We?re proud of th e l ayout and i t?s stood th e test of ti me." want. That also includes more fun leagues and shorter loops for a round of golf. While the management and board of the course looks to the future, Martens notes, ?We are never going to lose sight of our history and we?re not going to let it go by the wayside. We?re proud of it. We?re proud of the
layout and it?s stood the test of time. At the same time, there is the future that must be dealt with and Martens has a plan in place for moving ahead, starting with the young players in the city and surrounding areas. ?I really think it?s critical to work on junior development. Kids are finding other ways to spend their time and it?s our job to make sure they know this is a hot sport. Junior golf is important and they?re a big driver for us. Our membership is getting younger and we need to continue to drive toward that, lower our average age. Golf in today?s world is about trying to be as much as you can,? because there is so much competition, from other golf venues as well as other activities for people to choose from. Another couple of ways the course is making the game ?better ?is by shortening a round with a the Country Club Quick CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Six loop and by hosting the Women?s Social League, a group of 160 ladies that don?t keep score and is ?one of the most successful programs we run right now. Who wins at the end of the season is all based on participation. Scorecards aren't that relevant,? the pro explained. What is relevant though is the 50th anniversary the Grande Prairie Golf & Country Club will celebrate in 2018 and how they will honour the special people who have strolled their fairways during that time. Each week during the season, Martens explained, they?ll pay tribute to a group of special people. ?We have 15 honorary members and every week, starting on Mother ?s Day for 14 weeks leading up to our Members Classic event, we are going to celebrate one of them . Have a little bio, a little light-up in a section of the clubhouse for people to come in and see a little bit of history as to what?s happened.?
The course will also celebrate with special deals during the season including Throwback Thursdays in the pro shop and elsewhere around the club, including older golf sticks for members and guests to test out. ?We?ll also celebrate the staff that got us here through those weeks,? Martens ended, adding they?ll be having a major tournament during the season in order to bring present day members, and possibly founding members, together to talk about 50 years of history for the Grande Prairie Golf & Country Club. For more on the Grande Prairie Golf & Country Club, visit www.gpgolf.ca
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Canadians, Adam Hadwin and Mackenzie Hughes as well as Tony Finau. Matt Barkway, the head pro at Paradise said his course will certainly stand up to what these young guns have to throw at it.
?I t w i l l be real speci al to h av e pl ayers on th at tour come h ere. Th ese pl ayers are tw o years, th ree years f rom pl ayi ng on th e PGA TOUR. I t w i l l be pretty cool to w atch . Th ese are l i teral l y w orl d cl ass gol f ers.?
when you get off the fairways, especially in late June when our rough is going to be healthy, if you?re not striking it well it?s going to set you back quite a bit. If you miss your tee shot, you?re in trouble.? Barkway noted the course is a par-71 but ?If we wanted, it could be a par-70. On the back nine there?s a real getable par-5 but it would be a heck of a par-4 if they wanted to play it that way.? Having the Mackenzie Tour make a stop in Lethbridge is a big deal, said Barkway, noting that the entire area is excited about bringing this event into their backyard.
- M att Bark w ay, Paradi se Canyon Head Pro ?It will be real special to have ?The course is bordered by mounding, coulees or water,? he began. ?It?s going to be a course that really rewards a good ball striker. If someone can control their ball, there?s a low number to be had. But
players on that tour come here. These players are two years, three years from playing on the PGA TOUR. It will be pretty cool to watch. These are literally world class golfers.? To help with the costs of CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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running the tournament, Lethbridge?s city council recently voted 6-1 in favour of pitching in with seed money of $250,000 per year, for the three year team of the contract. Those funds will apparently come from the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve. Event organizers are also seeking help from the provincial and federal governments through grants. Pritchard pointed out in closing that this event is not replacing the Fort McMurray tournament that was cancelled in 2017 because of the massive wildfire that hit that area the previous summer. ?This event will be a brand new event and we?re excited to make the next steps towards finalizing all the details and officially announcing it for 2018. Regarding Fort McMurray, we still maintain
contact with key members of the community but there are no plans to have an event there in 2018.? While no official time has been set for the new stop in Lethbridge, all indications are it will be sometime in late June. The schedule will be released at some time in the coming months, said Pritchard. About the Writer Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his ninth year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He?s also on Twitter at @Gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at @gordinsidegolf2.
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Tournament
Type
Location
Start Date
PGA Women?s Championship of Canada
PGA of Canada
Ladies GC of Toronto
Jul 3, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (1-day) - Stony Plain GC
Golf Supply House Series (1-day)
Stony Plain GC
Jul 9, 2018
Pro-Junior
Pro-Am?s
Blackhawk GC
Jul 10, 2018
Pro-Lady South
Pro-Am?s
Redwood Meadows G&CC
Jul 16, 2018
Club Professional Championship
Championships
Innisfail GC
Jul 30, 2018
Pro-Senior
Pro-Am?s
Highlands GC
Aug 1, 2018
Playing Ability Test #4
Playing Ability Test
Ranch G&CC (The)
Aug 6, 2018
Assistants?Championship
Championships
Ranch G&CC (The)
Aug 7, 2018
PGA Seniors?Championship of Canada
PGA of Canada
Beverly G&CC
Aug 7, 2018
Pro-Pro Best Ball
Team Events
Stewart Creek G&CC
Aug 13, 2018
PGA of Alberta Championship
Championships
River Bend G&RA
Aug 20, 2018
Golf Supply House Series (1-day) - Leduc GC
Golf Supply House Series (1-day)
Leduc GC
Aug 27, 2018
Playing Ability Test #5
Playing Ability Test
Alberta Springs GR
Aug 27, 2018
Ladies?Championship
Championships
Cottonwood G&CC
Sep 4, 2018
Senior Championship
Championships
Cottonwood G&CC
Sep 4, 2018
Fall Championship
Championships
Royal Mayfair GC
Sep 10, 2018
Team Match Play Championship - Final
Championships
Red Deer G&CC
Sep 13, 2018
Pro-Assistant
Team Events
Kananaskis Country GC
Oct 1, 2018
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shape it was in before the Horse River wildfire, this is such incredibly good news for me and for the Fort McMurray Golf Club.? Another big factor in this is ?the learning opportunities and the networking,? that will encompass him during his brief, but busy, tenure in
As of right now, he doesn?t know what his duties will be at the Ryder Cup. Responsibilities will likely be assigned closer to the actual date and it?s very likely that each grass guru will handle different duties over the course of the event.
?All I know is I have to get to New York on a certain date and from there, I?ll just " A f ter al l our course along with what h as been th rough si nce follow the itinerary calls for.?
2016, w i th th e rebui l d of our cl ubh ouse and returni ng th e course to th e sh ape i t w as i n bef ore th e Horse Ri v er w i l df i re, th i s i s such i ncredi bl y good new s f or me and f or th e Fort M cM urray Gol f Cl ub."
Hacior also isn?t sure of how much of the golf he?ll get to see, or what sort of hours he?ll be expected to be on the job. It is likely he?ll get so see some of the action, but again, that?s up in the air until he gets there.
- Jef f Haci or, ?I have a feeling there will Fort M cM urray GC be a few different shifts France. ?It?s a pretty cool stage. You?ll never find a better place to find all that information in one place.?
per day. I know at the Hazeltine one, the guys had to be on the golf course around 3 a.m. get it prepped prior to CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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any player starting. Because it?s 36 holes (a day) I know they prep it two or three times a day. Again before the second round goes out and then again in the evening once the play?s over.? As for his takeaway, Hacior seems quite happy to take what comes his way, sort of like the invite to head to Paris. ?I just want to take away a great experience. Some knowledge that I can use for the rest of my career, whether it?s in Fort McMurray or wherever. Just the experience in general, just being part of the tournament is an amazing feeling. This is on a higher level than what I?ve experienced in the past.? About being one of the
?chosen few,? Hacior noted, ?I?m honoured. I?m shocked at even being selected. After I filled it out, I never once thought that anything would happen so it?s truly amazing. I?m honoured. Excited. It?s once in a lifetime,? which is sort of like winning the lottery but without the big financial payday. But then again, the pay Hacior receives in knowledge and experience that will be, as they say, priceless. The 2018 Ryder Cup will be held in Continental Europe for only the second time in its history. Le Golf National in Paris, France will be hosting the biennial match on its spectacular L'Albatros course, from Sept. 25-30. For full story CLICK HERE
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7. Pr act ice m u lt iple t ar get s. An example of this would be to practice two yardages inside 100 yards (40 & 70 yards), two targets outside 100 (120 & 170 yards) and then practice your Driver. If you want a great way to practice this please email me and ask for my 30 ball scoring game. 8. Pr act ice dif f er en t t r aject or ies. Hitting the ball high, low and curving both directions isn?t something just for elite golfers. You can?t play tennis with only a backhand shot and you need to hit more shots in golf. If you would like a PDF that explains how to do this send me an email and ask for our impact drills. 9. Pr act ice Of t en , Not Lon g. You need to practice multiple times per week rather than for 3 hours once per week. If you practice your targets often you only need enough time to ensure you are able to hit your target. Hitting your target in the least amount of balls increases your confidence. Hitting your target for hours at a time will decrease your confidence on the course as you might feel you can?t hit a target unless you have hit at it for an hour. Think of it like the gym, you need to go for an hour 3 times per week rather than for 3 hours once per week. 10. Tak e car e of you r equ ipm en t . Clean your gear and make sure your grips that are in good shape. Practicing like this may also help you figure out if you need a club that goes a yardage you are working on. Practice what you need to do on the course. The 2014 Alberta Teacher of the Year, Garett Jenkinson is Head Teaching Professional at Golf Performance Canada located at Elbow Springs Golf Club. He can be reached at 403-453-GOLF or garett@golfperformancecanada.com
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Your 2018 Boar d Of Di r ect or s Click On A Member's Picture To See View Their Bio
Dave Henzie
Garett Jenkinson
Matt Johnson
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Your 2018 Boar d Of Di r ect or s Click On A Member's Picture To See View Their Bio
Shawn Lavoie
Jason Stanier
Tahlon Sweenie
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Your 2018 Boar d Of Di r ect or s Click On A Member's Picture To See View Their Bio
Jeremy Tanner
Sean Thompson
Dale Tomlinson
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Heritage Pointe is absolutely fantastic for me, working with two of the best teachers (Paul Horton and Bob McArthur). Bob is like a big brother to me. He was instrumental in hiring me at Cottonwood.? Going forward in her new role, Gordon continued by saying, ?I don?t want to be the general manager. I don?t want to be the head professional. My focus will be on women?s programs and junior golf. That excites me. It recharges you a little bit and gets you taking on new challenges. There?s still gas left in the tank and I want to see what it takes to get it to empty!? The new position will see Gordon working through the golf season while in the winter months she?ll do some consulting, work with her family in their business and continue with her charitable
work. ?Who knows where it will go from there? I see some potential to do some indoor teaching ? it?s just an open book right now. ?For me, it offers me the opportunity to do some different things. I?m just looking forward to being involved with the operation out there at Heritage Pointe and again, it?s just a little bit more balance for me.? About the Writer Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his ninth year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He?s also on Twitter at @Gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at @gordinsidegolf2.
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WI N A SPOT I N THE TOURNA M ENT FOR YOU A ND A FRI END. Si mpl y si gn up f or th e I nsi de Gol f eNew sl etter or PGA of A l berta di gi tal magazi ne by cl i ck i ng on th e poster
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