Alberta 3-Peat At PGA Assistants’ Championship Of Canada Presented By Callaway Golf
Congratulations to our 2023 Cobra Puma Golf Assistants’ Team for a third consecutive year of Victory in the InterZone Championship at the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf at the Ranch G&CC! It was a hard fought and exciting two-day InterZone competition with 6 Teams battling for National bragging rights and a total purse of $3,450.00.
Wes Heffernan,Mitchell Fox, David MacComb & Michael Harrison made up the 2023 Team and started the competition with an encouraging Round 1 Team Gross score of -6 but knew they’d need something special for Round 2 with Team Ontario coming out firing. Something special did indeed happen and our Team carded a scorching Round 2 Team Gross score of -9 which saw them vault into the lead after starting the day 1-stroke down to the Leaders from Ontario. They finished the two round event at a Team Gross of -15 and just nudged Ontario for the Title by 1-stroke; Wes fired a -5, Mitch a -3 and David a -1 during Round 2 which just was enough to prevail and keep the hardware in Alberta for another year!
In 2003, Alan was the first PGA of Alberta Member to be awarded the Master Professional designation, a title that only 14 members in Canada held at that time. Today, Alan is one of three Master Professionals in Alberta and 25 in Canada. In 2016, Alan was selected by the PGA of Alberta Board of Directors as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Teacher Category. Alan becomes the third Member in Alberta to receive this prestigious Award.
On behalf of the PGA of Canada & Alberta, thank you for:
Your unwavering loyalty.
Your relentless efforts developing your leadership facilitator skills.
Being a long-standing role model for professionals in Alberta.
Your pride, representation and commitment to the PGA of Canada & Alberta.
Tournament News
North Team Victorious In Consolation Final Of Team Match Play
After a hard fought battle and 21 holes of golf, including 3 playoff holes, our team from the North, featuring Geoff Carew (Windermere G&CC) & Graeme Nelson (The Derrick G&CC) prevailed in the Consolation Final of the Srixon/Cleveland Golf Team Match Play Championship presented by Nike Golf. Our South team featured Austin Keller and Jacob Suto from Bearspaw GC.
It was a close match throughout, with neither team ever getting more then 1 Up for the duration of the Match. Each team had some chances to extend and stretch a lead at various times but were never able to create the separation needed to end it during the first 18 holes. There were some excellent shots, with Geoff & Graeme each sticking it to about 2.5 feet on a Par 3 respectively. The Playoff was complete on the third or 21st hole of the match, with Graeme Nelson draining a clutch approximate 15 foot birdie putt from just off the green after leaving his tee shot on the fringe/first cut and seeing his partner just miss a similar putt.
Last Week Left to Apply for a $1,000 PGA of Alberta Bursary
The PGA of Alberta is proud to present 4 bursaries each year to deservingApprentice Professionals and/or Class "A" Assistant/Teaching Professionalswho meet or exceed the Bursary criteria. The Association is pleased to continue awarding each bursary amount at $1,000 each!(previously $750).
All seasonal and year-round Apprentice Professionals and Class "A" Professionals (who are not employed as Head/Executive Professionals) are eligible and encouraged to apply. A minimum of two of the bursaries will be reserved for seasonal Apprentice Professionals (working 9-months or less). All Information will be held in strict confidence.
Deadline to apply for a bursary is September 30th, 2023 (end of day). The bursaries will be awarded at the Awards Banquet on Wednesday, October 19th.
*Save Draft Feature* Please remember you can save your applications online before submitting. This allows you to complete an application form intermittingly rather than all at once. Please follow the steps below.
You must be logged into your account to be able to save your draft.
Save Draft button is located at the bottom of every application form on the website.
To find Saved Drafts, please go to "My Account" or "Manage Account" and click ’My Saved Drafts’.
Or guests can directly call Marriott Reservations at 1-877-236-2427 to book a room
The PGA of Alberta would like to invite you to attend the 2023 PGA of Alberta Buying Show on October 17 – 19 at the Calgary BMO Centre in Hall D !The purpose of the Buying Show is to bring Golf Professionals, Equipment Manufacturers, and Sales Representatives all together in the same building, in order for them to prepare their inventories for the following season.
Over the course of the three days, nearly 1,200 people gather from across the province, and country, to look at what’s new and exciting in the golf industry. Our Buying Show continues to be the only “full scale” show of its kind in Canada and it is with great pride that we host this show every fall for our Members, Industry Suppliers and guests of the Industry. The Buying Show is an event that is restricted to PGA of Canada Members, Non-PGA of Canada Facilities, and Golf Industry Equipment Manufacturers/Businesses.
The Show will be hosted in Calgary at the BMO Centre (Hall D) in Stampede Park.We are excited to build off the success of previous shows which include easy transportation in & out of the city, increased networking opportunities, and walking distance from our preferred hotel partner, Hotel Arts.
If you have any questions about the Show, please contact Michelle Moody ([email protected]). Click on the "Exhibitor Hub" or "Attendee Hub" tab below for more details and to get started with your registration.
Parking and Wi-Fi are both complimentary for Exhibitors and Attendees.More details related to parking will be released closer to the Show. A code for Wi-Fi access will be given at the Show.
There are 5 Ticket Types for Attendees. Please read through the descriptions below to ensure you register using the correct category.
PGA of Alberta Member
PGA of Alberta Professionals who have paid their annual dues and work within Alberta.
PGA of Canada Member (Outside of Alberta)
PGA of Canada Professionals who have paid their annual dues and are working in a Zone outside of Alberta.
Individual(s) working at a facility with an employed PGA of Alberta/Canada Professional and are not Members of the PGA of Canada and do not pay annual dues. This ticket type is for Facility Owners, General Managers, Food & Beverage Staff, and Employees at a course or a guest who is somehow affiliated with a facility.
NGCOA Member
Individual(s) whose facility is a Member of the National Golf Course Owner’s Association and does not have a PGA of Canada Professional employed at their facility.
Please note NGCOA Members are only eligible to attend on Day 2 (October 18) & Day 3 (October 19) of the Buying Show.
Green Grass Facility
Individual(s) who are attending the Buying Show on behalf of a facility that does not have a PGA of Canada Professional employed at the course and is not a Member of the NGCOA. There is a $75.00 per person charge for this ticket type when purchased in advance online and a $125.00 per person charge when purchased at the door.
Please note those representing Green Grass Facilities are only eligible to attend on Day 2 (October 18) & Day 3 (October 19) of the Buying Show.
Looking for more information on the benefits of attending the 2023 Buying Show? Click on the button to download our Attendee Package for further details on all the Show has to offer Attendees this year!
Ready to register? Click the above button to get started.
Association News
Bill Dreger In Memoriam
We are deeply saddened to announce the recent passing of PGA of Alberta member Bill Dreger.
Bill has been a lifelong member of the Association becoming a Class "A" member of the PGA of Canada in 1994 and receiving his 25-year milestone in 2020. He passed away in 2023 at the age of 57 years.
William Darcy Dreger, "Billy" born in Didsbury, Alberta has passed away in his beloved mountains of the Bow Valley. He is survived by his wife Mayuko, sons, Benjamin and Yoshi Dreger of Canmore, two sisters, Joy Hoerle of Red Deer, AB. and Gaye Pauls of Calgary, AB, plus numerous other family members.
He will also be greatly missed and deeply mourned by his second family, the Canmore golf community.
Please join for a Celebration of Bill’s Life on Wednesday, September 13th at 2:00 pm at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club.
No flowers by request. Friends wishing to remember Billy are encouraged to make contributions in support of the Canmore Junior Golf program at the Canmore Golf Course in his memory.
Call Emily at the Canmore G&CC directly at 403-678-5959 ext. 236 if donating by CC. She will process payment and email the receipt.
OR
[email protected] and provide a note saying it is for Junior Golf or Bill Dreger.
Tournament News
Locke & Kirkness Claim 2023 KAILANI Pro-Pro Scramble Title
Today saw the KAILANI Pro-Pro Scramble presented by: E-Z-GO hosted at the beautiful Bearspaw GC. The course and weather were fantastic for a round of September Golf. We had a stacked field of 60 teams encompassing 120 total players in the mixed division and 3 teams in the Ladies’ Division field. It was a very exciting day with the Leaderboard jammed packed at the Top and lots of movement throughout the day.
Our 2023 Champions, hailing from: Inglewood G&CC & Priddis Greens G&CC and comprises: Samuel Kirkness + Eric Locke. They carded an absolutely scorching -13 under par 58 with an outstanding 3 Eagles & 7 on the card. They fired a mere 27 strokes on the front-9 for a ridiculous -9 and followed it up with 1 more Eagle and 2 Birdies for a back-9 total of -4 under par 31. With a playoff looming, Sam and Eric made an very timely Birdie on their last hole to prevail by 1 stroke over their nearest competitors.
In sole possession of Second Place, was: Josh Berze + Matt Bean from Priddis Greens G&CC. They carded an unreal -12 under par 59 and were the only other team to fire in the 50’s. They fired an excellent -5 under par 31 on the front-9 and followed it up with -7 under par 28 on the back-9.
In a 2-way Tie for Second Place, all carding excellent -11 under par 60’s, was the teams from: Redwood Meadows G&CC & Dynamic Motion Golf Performance Centre, comprising Kevin Black + Wes Heffernan & Edmonton Petroleum G&CC & Windermere G&CC composed of, Spencer Vandermey + Nick Vandermey.
Rounding out our Top-5, in sole possession of Fifth Place was: Matt Seifert + Darryl James from Golfuture YYC & National Golf Academy at Shaganappi carding a great -10 under par 61.
Ladies’ Division Pro-Pro Scramble Finishes All Square With 2 Co-Champions After 3 Hole Playoff
We had an exciting day for this year’s edition of the Ladies’ Division Pro-Pro Scramble sponsored by: KAILANI at the stunning Bearspaw GC. All 3 Teams finished at a great -1 under par 70 to force a playoff and after 3 holes in quickly fading light and 1 team being elimanted, are 2023 Co-Champions are the Teams from: Willow Park G&CC & Highlands GC comprising, Nicola Greaves + Gina Nelson & Winston GC (The) & Blue Devil GC comprising, Kim Valleau + Rhonda Carter. The Co-Champions will split the the Purse for the event with each team taking home, $ 650.00 split amongst themselves.
Earl Grey GC Captures 2023 Callaway Golf Pro-Assistant Title
Round Two of the Pro-Assistant at the spectacular Jasper Park Lodge GC and sponsored by Callaway Golf was a successful day. We had a strong field of 60 teams and 120 Professionals competing. This year saw a continuation of the 6-6-6 format of play with the order shifted again and Teams playing: Best Ball (6-holes),Scotch Ball (6-holes) & Scramble (6-holes) which made for an extremely exciting Leaderboard with plenty of movement throughout both Rounds.
Our 2023 Callaway Golf Pro-Assistant Champions hail from: Earl Grey GC (Pat Wilmot + Scott Stiles) who put together two outstanding rounds of golf and carded an excellent -8 under par 63 today to finish the tournament at an unreal -14 under par! Pat and Scott tore the course up today with 8 Birdies on the card to clinch the 2023 Callaway Golf Pro-Assistant Title for the first time. They fired 22 strokes on the Best Ball format, 21 on Scotch Ball and finished with 20 on the Scramble portion.
In a 2-way tie for Second place, finishing with 2-Day totals of -10, were the Teams representing: GOLFTEC Edmonton (Jordan Maclean + Oliver Brown) & Lynx Ridge GC, X2 Defending Champions (Kaleb Gorbahn + Matthew Kirlin) who kept some heat on the Leaders all day. Jordan & Oliver played two great rounds and carded a -2 under 69 today. Matt & Kaleb played two great rounds of golf and carded a -5 under par 66 today.
Congratulations to our Closest to the Pin Winners from Day 1: Dallas Cantera (Cardiff G&CC) on #9 and Nick Vandermey (Windermere G&CC) on #15 who both take home $200.
Congratulations to our Closest to the Pin Winners from Day 2: Ben Matthews (Miskanaw GC) on #9 and Robb James (Stony Plain GC) on #15 who both take home $200.
GOLFTEC Edmonton Leads Callaway Golf Pro-Assistant After Round 1
Today saw Round One of the second last event of the season at the spectacular Jasper Park Lodge GC and sponsored by Callaway Golf. We have a stacked field of 60 teams comprised of 120 Professionals playing who had to brave some cool and rainy conditions throughout the day. Our Defending Champions from the last 2 Year’s are the team representing Lynx Ridge GC.
This year saw a continuation of the 6-6-6 format of play but a change in the order of play with Teams playing: Best Ball (6-holes), Scotch Ball (6-holes) & Scramble (6-holes).
Leading the Pack after an excellent Round One today is the Team representing: GOLFTEC Edmonton (Jordan Maclean + Oliver Brown) who carded an outstanding -8 under par 63 today. Jordan and Oliver had 8 Birdies on the card today. They carded 23-21-19 (Best Ball, Scotch & Scramble) to hold a 2-stroke over their nearest competitors.
In 2-way tie for Second Place is the Teams representing: Earl Grey GC (Pat Wilmot + Scott Stiles) & Windermere G&CC (Michael Thompson + Nick Vandermey) after carding excellent -6 under par 65’s today. Team Earl Grey had 7 Birdies on the card and Team Windermere had 1 Eagle and 6 Birdies on the card.
