News

PGA of Canada National Awards - Good Luck to Alberta Professionals
Awards News

PGA of Canada National Awards - Good Luck to Alberta Professionals

The PGA of Canada is thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2021 National Awards. Each year, a National Selection Committee evaluates nominations from Professionals across Canada. Winners for each national award are traditionally recognized during PGA of Canada Night at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, however, this year will see winners revealed live during the Association’s virtual National Award Ceremony on Thursday, January 27th, 2022.

"We are blessed to have a family of over 3,600 professionals who proudly share their passion and expertise with golfers from coast-to-coast,” said PGA of Canada President Teejay Alderdice. “On behalf of the PGA of Canada, I would like to congratulate all nominees and finalists for their outstanding accomplishments this year.”

Good luck to the following Alberta Professionals up for a National Award in 2021:

  • Chris Schatzmann (Stewart Creek G&CC) - Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year
  •  Patrick Coli (Carnmoney GC) - Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year
  • Josh Fleming (GOLFTEC Calgary Beacon Heights) - George Knudson Teacher of the Year
  • Chris Ward (Edmonton Petroleum G&CC) - Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year & Tex Noble Professional Development Award
  • Rachel Wiebe (Windermere G&CC) - Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year
  • Stephen Yanitski (Valley Ridge GC) - Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year
  • Jamie Reimer (Golfuture YYC) - Ben Kern Coach of the Year
  • Fort McMurray GC (Head Professional - Kyle Corriveau) - Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year
  • Katy Rutherford (Silver Springs G&CC) - Brooke Henderson Female Player of the Year
  • Riley Fleming (Lynx Ridge GC) - Mike Weir Player of the Year

CLICK HERE to view all Finalists. Early in 2022, registration for the virtual National Award Ceremony will be live.

PGA of Alberta Announces Top 100 Professionals for 2021
Top 100 News

PGA of Alberta Announces Top 100 Professionals for 2021

With the new year upon us, the PGA of Alberta is proud to officially announce the TOP 100 PGA of Alberta Golf Professionals for 2021 as determined by the rankings in the Top 100 Program presented by Foresight Sports Canada! The list below is the top 100 point earners for 2021 program year. These members will receive a custom Top 100 logo in the new year recognizing this accomplishment.

Click Here for 2021 Standings

The Top 100 Program is based on pre-determined measurable criteria designed to recognize members who dedicate their time and demonstrate proven abilities in advancing the golf industry for the benefit of all Golf Professionals. The following areas where points are awarded are Education, Association initiatives, Tournaments and Volunteerism. Congratulations to the following Professionals (click on a name to learn more):

2021 Top 100 Professionals
Logo_-_Transparent_Background
Anderson, Scott
PGA of Alberta Member
 Anderson, Stefan
Lakeside GC
 Babkirk, Tyrel
Apple Creek GC
Barendregt, Nathan
Derrick G&WC
 * Boyd, Kyle * Top 10
Edmonton Petroleum G&CC		 Brayton, Gordon
PGA of Alberta Member
Bruce, Adam
GOLFTEC Edmonton		 Bunner, Alexander
Belvedere G&CC		 * Busetto, Joseph * Top 10
Edmonton Petroleum G&CC
Caines, Ryan
Inglewood G&CC		 Cartier, Jacob
Glendale G&CC		 Chow, Kevin
Blackhawk GC
Christenson, Gary
Sturgeon Valley G&CC		 Cooke, Darren
Canmore G&CC		 Copeland, Josh
Wainwright GC
Cox, Stefan
Calgary G&CC		 Crease, John
Jasper Park Lodge GC
 Cuthbertson, Jeff
Stony Plain GC
DesRoche, Glen
Picture Butte GC
 DiPasquale, Chris
Par 3 Golf Academy at
Bridge Valley Golf		 Fast, Brian
PGA of Alberta Member
 Feener, Chad
Leduc GC		 * Fleming, Josh * Top 10
GOLFTEC Calgary
Beacon Heights		  Fleming, Riley
Lynx Ridge GC
Foote, Kurtis
PGA of Alberta Member
 Gagne, Brad
McKenzie Meadows GC
  Gillett, Weston
Lacombe G&CC
 Halpen, Todd
Golfuture		 * Halverson, Bryce * Top 10
Carnmoney GC		 Hanson, Leif
Mickelson National GC
Hardy, Richard
McKenzie Meadows GC
 Hartford, Gary
Highlands GC		 Henzie, Dave
Nanton GC
* Hill, Logan * Top 10
River Bend G&RA		 Hopfner, Jonathan
Springbank Links
 Horton, Paul
Golf Channel Academy at
Heritage Pointe
Ingalls, Dean
Carnmoney GC
 Jeffries, Nicola
Willow Park G&CC
 Johnson, Robert
Jasper Park Lodge GC 
Johnson, Greg
Inglewood G&CC		  Johnson, Matt
Royal Mayfair GC		 Karlson, Brady
Canyon Meadows G&CC 
Keats, Mac
Pinebrook G&CC
 * Kirkness, Sam * Top 10
Inglewood G&CC
 Lee, Tommy
Carnmoney GC
Leicht, Tyler
Derrick G&WC
 Locke, Eric
Priddis Greens G&CC		 Longley, Nic
Lakeside GC
Luopa, Shaun
Country Hills GC		 MacComb, David
Royal Mayfair GC		 MacDermott, Brice
Windermere G&CC
MacDonald, Mathew
Innisfail GC
 MacGregor, Jeff
Glendale G&CC 		 Mackey, Joshua
Windermere G&CC
Mah, Matthew
Cardiff G&CC
  Maher, Jeremy
Modern Golf		  Matuch, Mike
PGA of Alberta Member
McCluskey, Phil
River Bend G&RA 		 McCourt, Murray
Ranch G&CC		 McDermott, Ryan
Links at Spruce Grove
McEachern, Michael
Country Hills GC		 McKiernan, John
HeatherGlen GC		 Mills, Troy
Jasper Park Lodge GC
Nelson, Graeme
Derrick G&WC
 Numrich, Grant
Red Deer G&CC
 Paskin, Chris
Valley Ridge GC
Pecman, Tyler
Highlands GC		 Petryk, Larry
Larry Petryk Golf Academy		 Piercey, Shaun
Ranch G&CC 
Pilon, Matt
Hamptons GC
 * Plosz, Jason * Top 10
FootJoy - Acushnet Canada		 Quickstad, Bryn
Windermere G&CC
Raina, Shannon
Glencoe G&CC
 Repp, Doug
HeatherGlen GC
 Robb, Randy
Mickelson National Golf Academy
Robertson, Curtis
Valley Ridge GC
 Rook, Randy
Pitch Perfect Golf
 Schatzmann, Chris
Stewart Creek G&CC 
Scheller, J.D.
Turner Valley GC
 Sklarenko, Dean
Executive Professional
 * Stanier, Jason * Top 10
Inglewood G&CC 
Stiles, Scott
Earl Grey GC		 Stringer, Richard
Country Hills GC
 Sweenie, Tahlon
Jasper Park Lodge GC
Timms, Kasey
Royal Mayfair GC
 Tomlinson, Dale
Winston GC		 Valleau, Kim
Winston GC 
Van Tighem, Taylor
Highlands GC		 Van Amsterdam, Evan
Highlands GC
 Vanderkooi, Keenan
Silvertip GR
Vandermey, Spencer
Edmonton Petroleum G&CC
 Vandermey, Nick
Windermere G&CC 		 * Ward, Chris * Award Winner
Edmonton Petroleum G&CC
Westman, Scott
Ranch G&CC		 Whitton, James
Leduc GC
 Willner, Tyler
Lakeside GC
Wilmot, Pat
Earl Grey GC
 Wilson, John D.
Priddis Greens G&CC		 Wisser, Adam
Ranch G&CC
Wright, Adrien
Woodside GC
 * Yanitski, Stephen * Top 10
Valley Ridge GC		 Young, Nick
Willow Park G&CC

 Award Winner
CW2

Congratulations to Chris Ward of the Edmonton Petroleum G&CC on winning his second consecutive Top 100 Award! Chris had a terrific year within the Top 100 Program accumulating 83 points to cruise to a five point victory. Chris is the first member to win this award in back-to-back years (including the years of the former Professional Development Program).

Special shout-out to the following facilities for all having multiple Professionals inside the top 10 of the program this year; Edmonton Petroleum G&CC, Valley Ridge GC, and Inglewood G&CC.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH CHRIS RECEIVING THE AWARD

Cash Prizes
In addition to our Award winner, the Association is proud to award 10 cash prizes to the top point earners. Members needed to accumulate 57 points or more to earn a cheque this year. Congratulations to the following:

Professional
Facility
Points
Cash Prize
1st Chris Ward Edmonton Petroleum G&CC 83 $1,300
2nd Josh Fleming GOLFTEC Calgary Beacon Heights 78 $1,000
3rd Bryce Halverson
 Carnmoney GC 76 $800
4th Joseph Busetto Edmonton Petroleum G&CC 73 $600
5th Stephen Yanitski
 Valley Ridge GC 70 $450
6th Kyle Boyd Edmonton Petroleum G&CC 62 $350
7th Jason Plosz FootJoy - Acushnet Canada 61 $250
8th Logan Hill River Bend G&RA 60 $200
9th Samuel Kirkness Inglewood G&CC 58 $150
10th Jason Stanier Inglewood G&CC 57 $125
LEARN MORE HERE


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Foresight Sports produces the most trusted launch monitors in the world. The Foresights Sports GCQuad and the ceiling mounted GCHawk are world leaders in launch-monitor and golf-simulator technology and software, providing forward-thinking solutions to aid instruction, club fitting, and equipment innovation.

As the most trusted launch monitor in the world, Foresight Sports has more than 10,000 launch monitors in use in retail, residential, commercial, and driving range facilities around the world.  The GCQuad and the GCHawk are trusted by the leading OEM’s for their indoor club fitting needs.

To learn more about the products, please visit www.foresightsports.com. For a demonstration, contact the Representative below:

Garett Jenkinson, Territory Manager
P: 403-861-0551
E: [email protected] 

PGA of Alberta Office Hours Update - Closed Dec. 20th - Jan. 3rd
Association News

PGA of Alberta Office Hours Update - Closed Dec. 20th - Jan. 3rd

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 20th and will be open again on Tuesday, January 4th.

Read More

Podcast S3E2 Now Live
Education News

Podcast S3E2 Now Live

Episode 2 is focused on the relationship between a golf professional and the head superintendent. Matt Johnson and Wade Peckham discuss how they have worked together over the past 8 years to improve and progress The Royal Mayfair GC. Topics discussed will include;

Renovations and facility upgrades

Taking care of the course in the early/off seasons

What they look for when hiring

How they both entered the industry

Thank you to Troy Mills (Jasper Park Lodger GC) for hosting this episode of the podcast. Stay tuned for future episodes of this season going live every 2 weeks.

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 2 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3 Episode 2 on Apple

Podcast_Schedule

Richard "Rick" Martison in Memoriam (1943-2021)
Association News

Richard "Rick" Martison in Memoriam (1943-2021)

We are deeply saddened to announce the recent passing of former PGA of Alberta Member and PGA of Canada member Richard "Rick" Martison. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta on November 19th at the age of 78.

Rick joined the PGA of Canada in 1965 and in 67-68 became one of the first Canadians to play on the Australian Tour. After his touring career, Rick shifted focus back to Canada and in 1971 landed the head professional role at Silver Springs Golf and Country Club where he remained for 25 years before retiring. Five years later Rick found himself drawn back to the golf industry where he served as the General Manager at Country Hills where he finished out his career in 2006.

Our thoughts are with Rick’s family and friends during this difficult time. Click the link below for obituary.

Click Here for Obituary
Podcast Season 3 Now Live
Education News

Podcast Season 3 Now Live

Kicking off Season 3 of the PGA of Alberta Podcast Series is Paul Horton discussing his journey of becoming a premier golf instructor. During this episode topics that will be discussed are;

How Paul got into golf?

Stories working with Stephen Ames

Keys to success besides just technique

How important the relationship is with the student

Technologies role in coaching

Craig Vogel from GOLFTEC Beacon Heights will be joining Paul to be our first host of the season.

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 1 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3  Episode 1 on Apple