Jack and Chris Wilson, 2024 Alberta Golf Volunteers of the Year

Every year Alberta Golf runs two core services throughout the summer months: course rating and amateur golf championships. These two items have been some of Alberta Golf’s core offerings since its inception in 1912. The smooth operation and running of these two offerings come from the dedication and commitment of our 60 volunteers, as either course raters or referees.

After the dust has settled from another busy golf season, Alberta Golf runs its Volunteer Wind-Up, which is a thank you event for all our volunteers, who spend their summers in the field either lending their expertise of the rules of golf to our championship team, or leading a team of volunteers as they rate the courses in Alberta to ensure accurate handicap indexes for all players. As part of the Volunteer Wind-Up, the Volunteer Of The Year is named for Alberta Golf and their name is sent to Golf Canada to be considered for the national Volunteer Award.

On Monday September 23, the 2024 iteration of the Wind-Up took place out at the famous Banff Springs Golf Club. Volunteers from all over the province made their way out to the course for a day of fun, and the chance to meet the other volunteers at Alberta Golf. A buffet lunch was served, and a set of short presentations followed recapping the year from both the competitions and the handicap/course rating teams. After the presentations the 2024 Volunteer of The Year was named as Jack and Chris Wilson, a husband and wife that help lead the southern Course rating team out of the Lethbridge Country Club.

Jack and Chris have been volunteering with Alberta Golf as course raters since 2011 and have graduated from the newbies to the southern team leads and have rated every course in the province south of Strathmore! They even got the once-in-a-lifetime experience to travel to the Northwest Territories, which falls under the Alberta Golf umbrella, to rate four courses up north. After a short speech and award ceremony, it was time for golf!

As part of the appreciation event, all volunteers are given the opportunity to play golf at the hosting course!

Click here for photos from the event

 Chris and Jack’s Story

 Jack got into the course rating game after working at Paradise Canyon as a marshal where he found the enjoyment of being in the field. He got his wife involved and the two learned and worked their way up, quickly realizing that their superpower as a team was Jack’s love for being in the field, and Chris’s passion for learning the rules and procedures of course rating.

 Over 13 years, the pair have had plenty of highlights from their time as volunteers including introducing their friends to course rating! The two did have varying accounts on their favourite memory from their time, with Jack enjoying rating Crowsnest Pass Golf Club after their renovations were finished. Chris loved their experience and time rating the Northwest Territories courses this summer, to which Jack added that was high on his list of experiences with Alberta Golf.

 Looking to become a Volunteer?

 Alberta Golf is always on the lookout for more volunteers to add to our team of referees and course raters. If you’re looking for a new and exciting challenge in the world of golf, this might be the right opportunity for you!

For more information on our volunteer process, click here

For additional questions, please email stephen@albertagolf.org.