Gord’s Alberta Golf Notes

By Gord Montgomery, Inside Golf

It’s hard to say which of two major announcements (well, one for sure and the other a pretty solid rumour) that hit the air on February 28 is the biggest. But, we’ll start with the one that is known for sure.

The LPGA is coming back to Alberta, and to Calgary, in 2024. The host site this time will be a city course rather than the countryside venue of Priddis Greens GC, which has played home to the event in the past. This time around for the CP Women’s Open, they’ll be teeing it up at the Earl Grey Golf Club. The event will run from July 25 to 28.

While still a rumour, but it appears to be a fairly solid one, the famed Wolf Creek Golf Resort, located in Ponoka which is halfway between Edmonton and Calgary, has a new owner. It’s being circulated that an Ontario-based company located in Conestogo, GolfNorth Properties, has put up the cash to take the 36-hole layout out of receivership and into play for the upcoming season. While it isn’t yet known what the purchase price of the property was, and it was valued by independent appraisers at around $6 million (CDN) when it was put on the block, it is very likely the least that was paid was in the area of $3M (CDN).

On its website, GolfNorth Properties shows it owns 35 courses in Ontario plus three indoor facilities. They also own the wonderful Cape Breton Highlands Links in Ingonish, N.S., plus the Salmon Arm Golf Club and the Marahills Golf Resort in British Columbia.

The company bills itself as the “largest owner/operator of public golf courses in Canada,” and it can now add one more facility to its ranks ... supposedly.

Since the new year arrived, there has been a multitude of position changes within the staffing of golf courses all across the province. Here, as listed by the PGA of Alberta, are these changes, running from late February back until the first week of January:

February 2023

27   Stephen Green, Apprentice Professional has moved to Miskanaw GC.

27   Stephen Green, Apprentice Professional has transferred from the PGA of ON.

27   Michael Young has been named Head Professional at the de Boer’s Golf Shop and Fitting Centre.

22   Stefan Anderson, Apprentice Professional has moved to Country Hills GC.

21   Kenny Roy, Class Professional has moved to Golf Traders - Calgary.

21   Connor Beeston, Apprentice Professional has moved to Raven Crest G&CC.

16   Warren Reeves , Class A Professional has moved to Priddis Greens G&CC.

16   Warren Reevies, Class A Professional has transferred from the PGA of BC.

15   Benjamin Owens, Apprentice Professional has moved to Silver Springs G&CC.

15   Melvin Dies has been named Head Teaching Professional at Nanton GC.

15   Melvin Dies, Head Professional has transferred from the PGA of BC.

15   Robert Bernard, Teaching Professional has moved to Centre of Gravity Golf.

15   Robert Bernard, Teaching Professional has transferred from the USPGA.

14   Jordan Campbell, Apprentice Professional has moved to GOLFTEC Sherwood Park.

13   Cullen Wanvig, Apprentice Professional has moved to Earl Grey GC.

13   Matthew Mah has been named Head Teaching Professional at the Mill Woods GC.

10   Jack Nordquist, Apprentice Professional has moved to GOLFTEC Calgary Beacon Heights.

10   Jack Nordquist, Apprentice Professional has transferred from the PGA of BC.

10   Jordan McComb, Apprentice Professional has moved to Bearspaw GC.

10   Jordan McComb received a Playing Ability Test Exemption and completed the application requirements.

09   Erik Nusl, Apprentice Professional has moved to Total Golf.

09   Erik Nusl received a Playing Ability Test Exemption and completed the application requirements.

09   Matthew Kirlin has been named Executive Professional at the Lynx Ridge GC.

09   Greg Johnson has been named Head Professional at the Lynx Ridge GC.

09   Greg Johnson, Class A Professional has moved to Lynx Ridge GC.

09   Dallas Jackson has completed the PGA of Canada Training Academy and has obtained Class "A" status.

08   Jacqueline Phillips, Apprentice Professional has moved to Mickelson National GC.

08   Jacqueline Phillips Apprentice Professional has transferred from the PGA of BC.

08   Dave Henzie, Class A Professional has moved to Cottonwood G&CC.

08   Ken Stasiewich, Class A Professional has moved to Cottonwood G&CC.

08   Steve Richardson, Class A Professional has moved to D’Arcy Ranch GC.

07   Dustin Ranger has completed the PGA of Canada Training Academy and has obtained Class "A" status.

06   Matthew Mah has been named Teaching Professional at the Mill Woods GC.

06   Matthew Mah, Class A Professional has moved to Mill Woods GC.

02   Shaye Leidenius has completed the PGA of Canada Training Academy and has obtained Class "A" status.

01   Nicholas Becker, Class A Professional has moved to Golf Traders Calgary.

January 2023

31   Amy Popkes has completed the PGA of Canada Training Academy and has obtained Class "A" status.

30   Geordie Miller, Class A Professional has moved to Priddis Greeens G&CC.

30   Geordie Miller, Class A Professional has transferred from the PGA of BC.

30   Connor Epping, Apprentice Professional has moved to McKenzie Meadows GC.

27   Michael Thompson has been named Head Professional at the Windermere G&CC.

27   Michael Thompson, Class A Professional has transferred from the PGA of BC.

26   Tyler Pecman has been named Head Professional at the Mill Woods GC.

26   Tyler Pecman, Class A Professional has moved to Mill Woods GC.

26   Matthew Cook, Apprentice Professional has moved to Canyon Meadows G&CC.

26   Mike McEvay has been named Head Professional at the Cold Lake G&WC.

26   Mike McEvay , Class A Pfrofessional has transferred from the PGA of SK.

25   Carter Doerkson, Apprentice Professional has moved to Grande Prairie G&CC.

25   Danny Grant has been named Executive Professional at the Grande Prairie G&CC.

25   Danny Grant, Class A Professional has moved to Grande Prairie G&CC.

25   Jeffrey Roy has been named Teaching Professional at the Paradise Valley GC.

23   Jamie Driscoll has been named Head Professional at the Edson GC.

23   Jamie Driscoll, Class A Professional has moved to Edson GC.

20   Alan Riley has been granted Life designation with the PGA of Canada.

16   Randy Rook, Apprentice Professional has moved to Wintergreen G&CC.

13   Gina Nelson, Class A Professional has moved to Highlands GC.

12   Albert Pistorius, Apprentice Professional has moved to Lynx Ridge GC.

12   Josh Berze, Apprentice Professional has moved to Priddis Greens G&CC.

10   Ryan Craig, Apprentice Professional has moved to Westlock GC.

09   Rick Thompson has completed the PGA of Canada Training Academy and has obtained Class "A" status.

05   Nathan Barendregt, Apprentice Professional has moved to Edmonton Petroleum G&CC.

05   Nathan Barendregt, Apprentice Professional has transferred from the PGA of BC.

04   Matt Bean, Apprentice Professional has moved to Priddis Greens G&CC.

04   Eric Locke has been named Head Teaching Professional at the Priddis Greens G&CC.

04   Jennifer Ha has been named Teaching Professional at the Priddis Greens G&CC.

04   Tyler Van Amsterdam, Apprentice Professional has moved to Inglewood G&CC.

03   Mike Matuch has been named Head Professional at Bearspaw GC.

03   Mike Matuch, Class A Professional has moved to Bearspaw GC.

03   Samuel Hart, Class A Professional has moved to the Hampton’s GC.