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Annual Awards Night Recognizes Outstanding Achievement in 10 categories within Alberta’s Golf Industry, champions on the field of play, bursary winners and Lifetime Achievement

CALGARY—The PGA of Alberta doled out the hardware to a group of members who made significant contributions to the game of golf, and a commitment to growing the industry, during its annual Awards Night on Wednesday in Calgary.

“The PGA of Alberta Awards program is a critical pillar for recognizing and celebrating the efforts of our members’ exceptional contributions to golf in our communities,” said Chris Paskin, Chair of the PGA of Alberta Awards Committee and head golf professional at Valley Ridge Golf Club.

“The role of the local golf professional extends far beyond playing competitively or helping others with their games. Golf professionals are community leaders who are crucial to nurturing the sport’s growth and sharing the life skills the game presents within the community. It is so great to see the tireless efforts of these professionals, regardless of the role they are playing, being recognized by their peers here in Alberta.”

The PGA of Alberta received a record number of nominations to recognize individuals demonstrating outstanding achievement in each of the 10 award categories.

And the 2024 winners are…

Apprentice Professional of the Year
Nic Longley (Silver Springs Golf and Country Club)

Class "A" Professional of the Year 
Bryce Halverson (Carnmoney Golf Club)

Club Professional of the Year
Jeff MacGregor (Glendale Golf and Country Club)

Coach of the Year
Luke Workman (Glencoe Golf and Country Club Teaching Centre)

Executive Professional of the Year
Curtis Robertson (Valley Ridge Golf Club)

Junior Leader of the Year
Matt Seifert (Golf Future)

Retailer of the Year (Annual Gross Merchandise Sales Over $500,000) 
Banff Springs Golf Club (Andrew Szewczuk)

Retailer of the Year (Annual Gross Merchandise Sales Up To $500,000)
Stony Plain Golf Club (Robb James)

Sales Rep of the Year 
Kristi Larson (KL Agency)

Teacher of the Year 
Scott Stiles (Earl Grey Golf Club)

Each of the award winners will automatically have their names submitted for nomination for the PGA of Canada awards which will be handed out on Canada Night during the PGA Show in Orlando. 

The PGA of Alberta Awards process began July 21 with a nomination period in Alberta. Once the nomination period closed, August 27, individuals were notified they had been nominated for an award. Nominees were then required to complete an application to move forward in the provincial awards process.

A sub-committee comprised of awards committee members and past winners of the respective award was then created to review all of the nominations. Using a platform called SmarterSelect, a ranking system was used to determine the five finalists in each category.

A main awards committee was formed of past Club Professional of the Year recipients to rank each of the finalists and determine a winner.

The PGA of Alberta also used the celebration ceremony to present the following awards and bursaries:

Jack Skellern Patron of the Year
G&G Brands (Brad German)

Top 100 Winner
Greg Johnson (Golf Future)

Top 100 Rookie of the Year
Joel Griffith (Valley Ridge Golf Course)

The PGA of Alberta presented four bursaries of $1,000 each to the following deserving Apprentice Professionals/Class “A” Assistant Professionals:

Year Round

• Bryce Halverson (Carmoney Golf and Country Club)
• Nathan Barendregt (Nevada Bob’s Grande Prairie)

9-Months or Less

• Shannon Raina (Earl Grey Golf Club)
• Daniel Humbke (Lacombe Golf and Country Club)

The PGA of Alberta also created the Jim Jempson Bursary of $2,500, in collaboration with the Jempson family, for a deserving Apprentice Professional.

Jim Jempson Bursary:
Chris Horton (Golf Channel Academy at Cottonwood Golf and Country Club)

Winners of the PGA of Alberta Championship events were also recognized during the gala evening.

Championship Winners:

Player of the Year
Mitchell Fox (Speargrass Golf Course)

Order of Merit Champions:

• Head Pro Category - Samuel Kirkness (Inglewood Golf and Curling Club)
• Ladies Category - Gina Nelson (Highlands Golf Club)
• Assistants’ Category - Mitchell Fox (Speargrass Golf Course)

Our Srixon / Cleveland Golf Team Match Play Champions (North Bracket)
Phil McClusky and Logan Hill (River Bend Golf and Recreation Area)

Cobra PUMA Golf PGA of Alberta Assistants’ Champion  
Mitchell Fox (Speargrass Golf Course)

PING Canada Club Professional Champion  
Michael Harrison (Coal Creek Golf Resort)

Cobra Puma and Mobilicab (Club Car) PGA of Alberta Champion
Eric Locke (Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club)

Ladies’ Champion
Gina Nelson (Highlands Golf Club)

Seniors’ Champion
Scott Allred (Elbow Springs Golf Club)

Bill Carrington (Leadership Pillar) and Clarence Semrau (Industry Leader) were honoured as the 2024 recipients of the PGA of Alberta’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Carrington was a club professional for more than a half century, the bulk of that in the Wild Rose province. That includes 20 years as the head pro at Windermere Golf and Country Club.

He would later work at Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club, Pine Hills Golf Club, Wolf Creek Golf Resort and Speargrass Golf Course. He was voted the PGA of Alberta’s Club Professional of the Year in 1988. 

Semrau made his mark in the industry as the longtime owner and operator of Golf Supply House. While Semrau wasn’t a PGA of Alberta member, he enjoyed a strong relationship with countless pros and earned a reputation for superb customer service.

When Semrau wasn’t working, he loved to spend his free time on the fairways and greens. He and his wife, Shirl, were members at Silver Springs Golf & Country Club and would take their clubs to Arizona during the winter months.

Under Semrau’s leadership, Golf Supply House stepped in as title sponsor for the PGA of Alberta Assistants Championship, something that continued even after he sold the company in 2010.