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Fairways & Greens for June 2009 - Volume 1 - Edition 2
By Gord Montgomery
If you’ve never had the fortune of canning a tee shot you may not want to read any further than this. If however, you’re a glutton for punishment, continue on at your own peril. Edmonton golfer Don MacDonald, a chipper 72 years of age, hasn’t just drilled one tee shot into the can - he’s had three – and that’s this season alone. In fact, the three ‘shots of a lifetime’ all came within a span of three weeks at his home course, Raven Crest. In order, the aces came on holes measuring 112 yards, 198 yards and then 135 yards. By the way the odds of making a hole-in-one, according to one insurance broker, is somewhere around 12,750 to 1. The odds of doing that three times in three weeks – who knows but it certainly can be done. And by the way, MacDonald has a career total of seven aces.
Junior shooting stars
Perhaps it’s the case that kids are simply more talented these days than in past, or that they’re getting more training in sport, but it seems young golfers are becoming better all the time. Just look at some recent examples from tournament play where Alberta golfers showcased their talents:
Red Deer’s Jesse Teron lit it up at the Canadian Junior Golf Association A1-North America Cup/Lipton Brisk Canada Cup team West qualifier at River Spirit Golf Club in Calgary recently, shooting a three-under, two-day 141 to win the 14-and-under division by 16 shots. Teron’s score was also four shots better than anyone’s score in the 15-19 age division. Teron, 14, was one-over the first round and then had an eagle and four birdies coming home to shoot a 4-under 68 on Day 2. St. Albert’s Jake Behiels tied for eighth for the best local finish in the 15-19 division.
At another CJGA event, this one at the Willows Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon, it was another Red Deer golfer who took top honours, with Zak Griffiths winning the 15-19 age division with a 6-under 138.
In the popular McLennan Ross/Sun Junior Tour that travels around Alberta each summer, the kids have played two events, with Mason Sparrow from Sherwood Park taking the title at Drayton Valley by one stroke over Ponoka’s James Ursulak. On the girl’s side, Teri-Lynn Adams of Wabamun won by six over St. Albert’s Paige Bednorz.
Holiday Time
While I’m nowhere near as good as those kids on the links, I just returned from a trip to the Okanagan where I played a couple of great courses in the Kelowna area. If you’re making a trip there this summer for some leisure time, be sure to tee it up at Sunset Ranch and the newest course in the area, Black Mountain.
The track at Sunset Ranch, run by head pro Bruce Vermee is in exceptional condition and is a challenge for any level of golfer. The final four holes on this course are enough to test anyone’s mettle but the entire layout deserves at least one round.
As for Black Mountain, a course run by Melcor Developments out of Edmonton (The Links at Spruce Grove and Lewis Estates) this is one you’ve just got to try. It’s a different type of a layout with half a dozen par 3’s and five par 5’s, and two very different nines. Former Royal Mayfair man Eric Thorsteinson heads things up at the newest addition to the company’s stable of courses and has things running smoothly early on.
The outward nine at Black Mountain is gorgeous and quite tight with dramatic elevation changes while the homeward nine offers a more spacious, meadowland sort of design but it’s no easier than its counterpart. And if you’re thinking that at less than 6,400 yards from the tips that this track is short, you’re partially right. Where it makes up for that is on the short holes, if you can call five of the par 3’s that run at 224, 211, 215, 234 and 219 yards ‘short’.
The one great thing about both of these courses are their price tags, which for golf in the Okanagan are exceedingly reasonable considering both the condition of the courses and the service offered by staff.
For now, keep ‘em out of the woods and water.
Also catch Fairways and Greens for BC for an Audio Interview with Richard Zokol and his Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club Creation.
Fairways & Greens for May 2009 - Volume 1 - Edition 1
By Gord Montgomery
Cool weather slows pro tournament starts
The weather, rather than hooks and slices, has been the major problem for the province’s club pros as they got their 2009 Alberta PGA Calaway Professional Series underway. At a 44-pro tourney at the Derrick Golf and Winter Club in Edmonton, host pro Trevor Goplin pocketed the winner’s share of the proceeds, carding an even par 71 to win $625. Second-place money went to Craig McArthur of the Blackhawk Golf Club, just outside of Edmonton, whose score of 74 was good enough for a $530.00 cheque. On the same day a bit further south at the Lacombe Golf and CC, Calgary’s Tyler LeBouthillier from Elbow Springs GC walked away with the top prize of $600 with a stirling 66. He was followed by host pro Jamie Gerlitz and Joel Monk from the Heatherglen GC, who both carded 69s to earn $390 each. A third tournament that was scheduled to take place on May 12 at the Valley Ridge GC was cancelled due to the weather.
First-time event
For the first time ever, one of the Alberta PGA events will be taking place in Edson, about two hours west of Edmonton. The course’s head pro, Tahlon Sweenie, said he decided to take the bold step in putting on an event, which he feels will raise the profile of the club. The event will take place on June 23, with over 50 entries expected in the one day, 18-hole stroke play event.
Unique fundraising idea
The Whitecourt Golf Course is undertaking a major renovation of its clubhouse in a uniqe way – selling of space – sort of.For tax-deductible donations, contributors can help erect a new two-storey, 16,000 square foot building to house all the necessary indoor amenities at a club including new locker rooms, pro shop and restaurant and meeting rooms that can be used year-round. Plus, the building will offer an outstanding visual of four holes on the course. The best part of this is contributors don’t even have to open up their wallet if they so choose — they can donate gifts-in-kind of goods or services to help with the construction process. For more on the on-going plans for the new building, log onto their website at whitecourtgolf.ca and click on the FUNdraising link or contact head pro Mike McSorely at mike@whitecourtgolf.com.
Great playing conditions
Since it finally appears spring has arrived in north-central Alberta, golfers have been flocking to their course of choice in droves. A couple in the Edmonton area, Cougar Creek Golf Resort, just west of Spruce Grove, is one of the tracks that is in unbelievably great shape for this time of year. The greens are rolling quite quickly already and are smooth as glass meaning if you hit your putting line the ball stays on it. Also looking good in the early going are Stony Plain and The Ranch G&CC, a track the Canadian Tour stopped at for a number of years not all that long ago. Other than the green on No. 1 that was slow to fill in, and this was in mid-May so it may well have changed by this time, the course is in excellent shape with what seem to be larger-than-normal holes – I mean how else do you explain yours truly chipping in with a lob wedge on No. 18, from about 70 yards, for an eagle! As for Stony, this public municipally-owned course continues to receive the kudos it deserves under the guidance of superintendent Scott Hiles. Although he said things were slow to begin growing this week, the recent warmth and some much-needed rain have set things on the right path.Until next time, keep ‘em out of the woods and water!
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