2022 Newsletter: The Summer Review
THE 2022 GOLF SEASON REVIEW
A very memorable summer season for Alberta Golf has wrapped up. We crowned worthy champions at all events and the weather was spectacular from July through September. The McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour presented by Crowe MacKay saw another season with high attendance at events all across our province and our new brand UpSwing by Alberta Golf continued to grow and service recreational golfers in Alberta.
Please enjoy the following content on all that Alberta Golf has done this summer as we transition to planning the 2023 golf season.
ALBERTA GOLF HAS SUCCESSFUL SUMMER WITH NEW UPSWING RECREATIONAL BRAND
During the summer Alberta Golf had the debut of our new UpSwing brand and tapped into the vast recreational golfing scene in our province. From its inception in 2020 to its launch in April of this year, we couldn’t have anticipated the success our UpSwing by Alberta Golf platform would have in transforming the landscape of playing opportunities for our members! Our year started in May at the fabulous Fairmont Banff Springs & Stewart Creek Golf Clubs, followed by Crowsnest Pass GC and Paradise Canyon in Lethbridge to name just a few. We concluded our season at Silvertip Resort the first week in September with a year-end wrap up event for everyone who played throughout the summer. A big thank you to those 1100+ members who signed up and found great events and courses to play, and a big shout out to the 150+ courses who became part of the UpSwing community and have opened up even more places to play. Here’s looking at 2023 with an eye on adding even more opportunities to enjoy. Please watch the video below to find out more about UpSwing by Alberta Golf!
ALBERTA GOLF FOUNDATION
The Alberta Golf Association Foundation was established in 1994 and is focused on supporting students on their path to pursue a post-secondary education. In 2022 Alberta Golf distributed $70,500 in scholarships to 57 students.
ALBERTA GOLF IDENTITY VIDEO AND RADIO COMMERCIAL
Please enjoy our Alberta Golf “For Everyone” identity video and 2022 radio commercial.
2022 ALBERTA GOLFER MAGAZINE
Please enjoy the digital version of the 2022 Alberta Golfer Magazine.
ETHAN CHOI WINS ALBERTA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
In mid June Ethan Choi won the rain shortened Alberta Open Championship presented by SVR Lawyers title with his 1-stroke victory at Sundre Golf Club. Stefan Cox collected $8,000 for winning the professional division.
BRADY MCKINLAY DOMINATES TO WIN THE ALBERTA MENS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Lacombe’s Brady McKinlay shot opening rounds of 66-66 and a final round 70 to capture the Alberta Mens Amateur Championship by 5 strokes at The Ranch Golf and Country Club in late June.
KATHERINE HAO WINS ALBERTA LADIES AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
In early July, BC’s Katherine Hao captured the Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship at Canmore Golf and Curling Club. Hao won by 7 strokes on her 15th birthday!
EILEEN PARK AND LOGAN GRAF WIN U19 CHAMPIONSHIPS
In July at Cougar Creek Golf Resort, Eileen Park and Logan Graf were crowned U19 Champions, one with a dominant performance and the other in a dramatic playoff.
JESSE GALVON WINS ALBERTA MENS MID AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER CRAZY SITUATION ON 18TH HOLE
In mid July Jesse Galvon won The 2022 Alberta Mens Mid Amateur Championship held at Highwood Golf in High River. Galvon came to the 18th hole 2 strokes behind leader Ryan Werre who climbed 40 feet up a fairway tree to search for his 2nd shot. Read the story below for an account of the crazy final 20 minutes to this Championship.
BRENDA HEYINK WINS ALBERTA SENIOR LADIES TITLE IN PRIDDIS
By late July the scene shifted to Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club west of Calgary where Brenda Heyink was the surprise winner of The Alberta Senior Ladies Championship.
KELLY RISLING WINS ALBERTA SENIOR MENS CHAMPIONSHIP
In early August, Kelly Risling had an emotional victory at the Alberta Senior Mens Championship held at Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat.
SHIRO MANI DEFENDS TITLE AT ALBERTA MID MASTER CHAMPIONSHIP
In early August at The Winston Golf Club Shiro Mani defended his Alberta Mens Mid Master Championship title in dramatic fashion by chipping in on the 17th hole.
JAKOB CHICOYNE WINS MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Jakob Chicoyne came out on top at Water Valley Golf Club at the Alberta Match Play Championship. Chicoyne outlasted Kye Fisher 5 & 4 in the final match to take the title.
6 PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT U17, U15, U13 CHAMPIONSHIPS
At the U17, U15, U13 Championships held at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, Connor Czirjak, Clara Ding, Peter Hlushak, Eileen Park, Chase Strang and Aleah Shields-Rodipe were crowned champions.
EDIE NICHOLSON AND KOLE KEENAS WIN TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP ON MCLENNAN ROSS ALBERTA JUNOR TOUR
The 25 event McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour presented by Crowe MacKay ended at the Tour Championship held at Wolf Creek Golf and RV Resort. Playing on the “Old Course” Edie Nicholson and Kole Keenas were crowned champions.
TEAM ALBERTA DEFENDS TITLE AT CANADIAN SENIOR MENS CHAMPIONSHIP IN RED DEER
Team Alberta consisting of Ken Griffith, Kelly Risling and Senan Foley won the Inter-Provincial team title at The Canadian Senior Mens Championship at Red Deer Golf and Country Club. Ken Griffith, playing at his home club also finished 3rd in Canada in stroke play.
SIROCCO GOLF CLUB AND THE GLENCOE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB WIN INTERCLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
The Alberta Interclub Championship was sold out this season with Sirocco Golf Club and The Glencoe Golf and Country Club winning out of 51 Men’s and Women’s teams on a sparkling day at Kananaskis Country Golf Course in early September to close out the Alberta Golf championship season.
FIRST ANNUAL TOM BYERS JUNIOR GOLF DAY
On Saturday June 4, Inglewood Golf & Curling Club hosted the first annual Tom Byers Junior Golf Day. 80 kids aged 6-15 discovered the game of golf, got 90 minutes of instruction from PGA of Alberta professionals and then a fun BBQ. Alberta Golf & UpSwing partnered with Kids Up Front, Kidsport and The Calgary Flames Alumni Association to support junior golf all in the name of Lanny McDonald’s brother-in-law who passed away in 2020. Nothing made Tom Byers happier than seeing junior golfers enjoy the game and the event was a great tribute to the former Inglewood member.
GOLF LEGEND MICHELLE WIE DOES CLINIC WITH ALBERTA GOLF HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETES
During Women’s Day at The Shaw Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, superstar Michelle Wie spent time with Alberta Golf’s High Performance Athletes.
REFEREE TOM ZARISKI NAMED 2022 ALBERTA GOLF VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
During the Alberta Golf Volunteer Appreciation event at Edmonton Golf and Country Club on September 19th, Referee Tom Zariski was named Alberta Golf Volunteer of the Year for for 2022.