News

Association News

The Professional Golfers’ Association of Alberta would like to wish everyone and their families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Our office will be closed starting December 23^rd and will be open again on December 30^th. Please note the office will be closed on January 1^st for New Year’s Day.

PGA of Canada News

After two years of extensive research and feedback from members, boards, zones, Golf Canada, International PGA’s and the Association’s exit surveys, the PGA of Canada is announcing updates to the Play Ability Test (PAT) process effective January 1, 2020.

While maintaining the integrity of playing ability, these updates streamline the PAT process and address several key areas identified as barriers to joining the association. The PGA of Canada has addressed the below points with the new PAT process:

• The new PAT process will be consistent across the country, including the cost, which has been made more affordable for all prospective members.
• The new PAT process standardizes and simplifies the registration process for PAT’s; applicants will register centrally on pgaofcanada.com for all PAT attempts moving forward.
• Eliminating the IN and OUT scores; the PAT will be conducted over one 18-hole round.
• Separate PAT target scores for men, women, and seniors, backed by handicap data from Golf Canada.

NEW PAT Process
Step 1 - Register online at pgaofcanada.com - The cost is $325 plus tax, which includes your 1st PAT attempt and is valid for one year from the date of the registration. After a year, you must re-register as an applicant to register for and attempt at PAT.
Step 2 - Register online at pgaofcanada.com for all PAT’s - ($150 per attempt, PAT’s for 2020 to be posted online by April 1)

NEW PAT Exemption Process
Step 1 - Register online at pgaofcanada.com - at $325 plus tax
Step 2 - Submit your scores for a possible PAT Exemption (click here), using the online form at pgaofcanada.com (if successful, an additional fee of $25 plus tax applies).

Click here to learn more about the new PAT process including target scores.

PGA of Canada News

The PGA of Canada in partnership with Golf Talk Canada is proud to unveil its Top 100 golf courses in Canada which features the top 50 public/resort and top 50 private venues across the country as voted on by PGA of Canada members.
 
“We are so excited to have our more than 3,600 PGA of Canada members from across the country come up with a list to call their own,” said PGA of Canada CEO Kevin Thistle.

Alberta has a strong presence on the list as expected with 16 courses in total being named inside the Top 100. Congratulations to the following Alberta facilities:

Top Public/Semi-Private/Resort Courses

• Banff Springs GC (#3)
• Jasper Park Lodge GC (#4)
• Stewart Creek G&CC (#11)
• Kananaskis Country GC – Mt. Lorette (#14) & Mt. Kidd (#15)
• Wolf Creek GR (#30)
• Silvertip GR (#45)

Top Private Courses

• Glencoe G&CC (#13)
• Calgary G&CC (#15)
• Blackhawk GC (#19)
• Royal Mayfair GC (#26)
• Priddis Greens G&CC – Hawk (#33) & Raven (#39)
• Canyon Meadows G&CC (#35)
• Earl Grey GC (#42)
• Red Deer G&CC (#43)

Click here to view entire list.

Association News

The PGA of Alberta is proud to announce that three members from Alberta won a 2019 PGA of Canada National Award! All three members were also the recipients of the matching provincial award in October and have been recognized nationally for their dedication and achievements this past year. Our winners from Alberta are:

Chris Cooke (Kananaskis Country GC) – Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year

Sam Kirkness (Priddis Greens G&CC) – Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year

Wes Heffernan (Dynamic Motion Golf Performance Centre) – Mike Weir Player of the Year

Chris, Sam, and Wes will all be recognized at the PGA of Canada Awards Night in January taking place at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. Congratulations to all the other National Award Winners and Finalists.

Click here to learn more about this years winners.

Top 100 News

The Association is proud to recognize the Top 100 PGA of Alberta Golf Professionals for 2019 as determined by the rankings in the Top 100 Program! The Top 100 list below is the top 100 point earners for 2019.

The Top 100 Program is based on a pre-determined measurable criteria designed to recognize Members who dedicate their time and demonstrate proven abilities in advancing the Association’s interests for the benefit of all Golf Professionals. The following areas where points are awarded are Education & Employment, Association initiatives and Tournaments.

“The Top 100 Program was an initiative introduced for the 2019 season and helped the PGA of Alberta identify and celebrate those Members who go above and beyond to make our Association one of the strongest in the country" said PGA of Alberta President Greg McGarry.

"The Top 100 Golf Professionals of 2019 are an impressive group of individuals demonstrating key qualities such as leadership, professionalism and dedication to their craft.  We look to grow on it’s success for years to come.”

Award Winner...
Congratulations to Sean Thompson of Cottonwood G&CC, winner of the Top 100 Award this year after accumulating the most points (91) to win by a margin of 10. Sean was the winner of the Award in 2017 (formerly the Professional Development Program) and has been ranked consistently in the top 10 over the last five years.

“I am incredibly proud to be the recipient of the inaugural Top 100 Award" said Sean. "Outside of doing a good job at our various facilities, I view it as our responsibility as Golf Professional’s to grow the game at every opportunity and to have an award that recognises Professional’s for developing their skills to better service the local golfing community is a great asset for our Association"

Sean Thompson at the 2019 Awards Banquet

Cash Prizes...
In addition to the Award winner, the Association is proud to have awarded seven cash prizes to the top point earners for the program year. Members needed to accumulate 65 points or more to earn a cheque. Congratulations to the following cash recipients:

We look forward to another successful year of the Top 100 Program in 2020. The Buying Show always begins a new year for the program so stay tuned for Top 100 news moving forward. Check out the updated Standings on the website and see where you currently rank on the leaderboard.

View Standings - Click Here

PGA of Canada News

Both Dallas Cantera (Cardiff G&CC) and Scott Allred (Elbow Springs GC) sit inside the top 10 at 5-under after two rounds at the PGA Head Pro Championship of Canada hosted at the Wigwam GC in Arizona. Both players will need to have miraculous rounds to catch leader Gordon Burns from Ontario after shooting a blazing 17-under to lead by seven strokes over his nearest competitor going into the final round.

Sitting just outside the top 10 is Kevin Black (Redwood Meadows G&CC) having another terrific performance at the Head Pro Championship at 3-under.

Click here for full results and live scoring throughout the round.

Association News

Congratulations to Sam Kirkness of Priddis Greens G&CC on being elected President of the PGA of Alberta Assistants’ Board of Directors. Sam has been a member of the Assistants’ Board since 2017 and has been actively involved in the Association through all facets including committees, tournaments and education.

Being appointed as the new Vice President of the Assistants’ Board was Joel Douglas of Inglewood G&CC. Like Sam, Joel has been an active Association member since passing his PAT in 2014 and has been on the Assistants’ Board since the beginning of 2018.

The Assistants’ Board is in great hands with Sam, Joel, and the other five Board members all working hard to make a positive impact for the PGA of Alberta.

Sam Kirkness	Joel Douglas

About the Assistants’ Board of Directors...
Class A Professionals and Apprentice Professionals also have a voice in the Association, through the Assistants’ Board of Directors. Eight Class A Members or Apprentice Professionals are invited to run annually for two-year 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.