Gord’s Alberta Golf Notes: Hot Temps, Hot Scores, Two ‘59’ Watches, On PGA of Alberta Tour

Riley Fleming

By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf

Temperatures in Alberta aren’t rising only on thermometers but on golf courses as well, as several outstanding rounds were turned in by PGA of Alberta pros in recent events. Riley Fleming from the Lynx Ridge GC was the first one to put heat on his opponents, as he broke out the ’59’ watch in the first two-day Golf Supply House Series. The Calgary-based pro opened with a splendid 61 at the Highwood GC. And then followed that round up with a 71 to narrowly edge out Dillon Batsel from Medicine Hat’s Desert Blume GC by one stroke, after he carded rounds of 67-66.

And speaking of ’59’ watches, coming even closer to that magic number was the duo of Mike Belbin from the Royal Mayfair G&CC and Matthew Mah from the Cardiff G&CC, as they teamed up in the Pro-Pro Scramble, sponsored by EZ-Go, Pixel Army &BPG Buying Group. The duo, playing at the pristine Edmonton Petroleum G&CC in extreme heat, carded a 60 including seven birdies on the front nine and five more on the back, to edge out the team of Josh Fleming (GolfTec Calgary) and Tyler LeBouthillier as well as Samuel Hart (Bearspaw GC) and Gord Courage (The Hamptons GC). In the Ladies Division, the winning team with a solid round of 7-under par was Nicola Jeffries (Willow Park G&CC) and Gina Nelson (Magrath GC) while the team of Marsha Rogers (Derrick G&WC) and Shannon Werbicki (Royal Mayfair) finished two shots behind.

On the amateur side of the tee box, a record number of players teed off in the first major Alberta Golf tourney this year, the Men’s Mid-Am, held at The Ranch G&CC and the Edmonton CC. In all, 240 gents went prize hunting in temps nearing +40C, and in the end a familiar name came out on top. Brandon Markiw, playing out of Calgary’s GLencoe G&CC, stood up to the heat, and the pursuit of runner-up Neil Thomas from the Edmonton G&CC to win by one shot after 54 holes of play.

If you thought owning a golf course was an easy way to financial security, maybe you best think again. Or, better yet, give the City of Edmonton a call. You see, the three courses owned by the City have fallen upon hard times, even with the boom in the game over the past two seasons. While no firm decision has been made, as of yet, the City is looking at perhaps leasing the lands to an investor(s) who may have better ideas on how to capitalize on the popularity the game at this point and time. The City has stated its revenues from three courses — Rundle Park, Victoria, and Riverside — have fallen in the years 2015 through 2019.

Alberta Golf will be relaunching a popular golf event, the Golf Festival, sponsored by Shaw and the Shaw Charity Classic. The festival celebrates the game in a unique way, with up to six people taking over a single hole on two selected golf courses, Cottonwood G&CC in Calgary and the Innisfail GC. While you ‘own’ that particular hole you and your partners can play it however you want, meaning you can play the hole in its entirety as often as you’d like, or practice your short game. The date in Calgary is on July 5 with times available at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. The field is limited to 54 groups. In Innisfail, the date to play is on July 13 with times set at noon and 2 p.m. and this is limited to 18 groups. There is a cost of $20 per group for taking part. For more information, go to albertagolf.org.

There will be three major national championships contested in Alberta this summer, with the Junior Girls kicking things off from July 20 - 23 at the Leduc Golf and Country Club. that’s followed by the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at the Edmonton Petroleum G&CC from July 27 - 30. Things wrap up with the Canadian Men’s Mid-Am in Fort McMurray running from August 24 -27.