News

Spring Seminar

The 2026 Spring Seminar is less than 5 weeks away! It takes place March 2nd & 3rd at The Derrick G&WC. Early Bird pricing ends @4:30pm (Friday, January 30th), so make sure to register your facility to ensure you don’t miss out on this great opportunity.

The full speaker line up has been released on the Education Page with their bio and head shots for your viewing. We will also share additional information on the topics presented by the rest of the speakers, along with the menu across both days in our 2026 Spring Seminar Information Package, which will be released next week.

Our newest addition this year is a refreshed look with a new stage and audiovisual experience, which we are very excited to provide to our members.

North and South Teaching Summit

Shawn Clement is joining us for the Spring Seminar and both the north and south teaching summits this year. These will once again be a full-day event covering various of topics from online lessons, teaching principles, binocular vision, and application with a live demo Q&A.

Registration is set to open on Wednesday, February 5th @10:00am

Shawn Clement

For those of you who do not know yet who I am, please consult my bio and know that I am a lifer in Golf and was put on this planet to help people enjoy a game that is so profound on so many levels. Golf can be played so easily with the right focus and can be so incredibly frustrating and elusive when you are focused on the wrong task.

The most important tool that started me properly on this journey was the experience I had from age 17 (I am now 51) with the Canadian Ski Patrol and their relentless passion in making sure you knew what you were doing when treating a victim with a broken limb on the ski hill before transporting to hospital with vital information for the Emergency MD.

This information helped guide me through the maze of golf instruction that was based purely on opinions that were based on assumptions of how the human body works. To this day, we do not have any documents, seminars, manuals on basic anatomy in the field of golf instruction which is very disturbing considering we are on the front lines of your abilities to learn this game and play for life!

Last 20 years:

Director of Development for Royal Québec Golf Club and Academy
Golf WRX-Regular Instruction contributor to the best golf equipment website
Launched “Golf’s Perfect Imperfections” PODCAST available at www.golfwrx.com (their only instructional podcast)
Former member of the Golf Channel Academy family from 2019 to 2023
Ontario PGA teacher of the year à “nominee for PGA Teacher of the year 2011-2015 “
Director of Instruction at the Richmond Hill Golf Learning Centre 2005 to 2018
Playing and Instruction Editor for Golf Tips Magazine from 2001 to 2004
Director of Instruction at Taboo Resort and Spa (Mike Weir’s Home Course) 2002-2004
Medalist Canadian PGA playing ability test for Class A Member
The only Canadian PGA member to ever play left and right in the same bag
Intrawest Mt Tremblant 1999-2001
Canadian Tour and North Florida PGA mini tour 1997 to 1999
PGA Tour Coach since 2023
Cobra Professional Staff

Hotel Information

Room Block is with the Holiday Inn & Conference Centre

4485 Gateway Boulevard, T6H 5C3

Block Code: "PGA" , Or PGA of Alberta

Double Queen Bed Rooms: $129/night 

Call (780) 431-1100 to book your room

Cut off date is February 6th so please book your rooms before that date!

Assistants’ Board PD Series

The PGA of Alberta Assistants’ Board will be presenting 5 webinars from November - March with the intention of providing professional development for all assistants within the industry. This will produce an avenue for networking and relationship building so members can continue to further their careers. Details for each webinar will be released closer to each date, they will all be from 10:00am-11:30am.

Schedule - Registration Opening October 6, at 10:00am

November 5, 2025 - Optimizing Social Media at the Club and Individual Level: Stephen Yanitski & Nic Longley
Panelists - Taylor Drolet, Tahlon Sweenie, Brandon Cubitt

December, 2025 - Junior Programming: Colin Yarchuk & Elizabeth Stewart

January 14, 2026 - Club Management from the Executive Perspective: Tyler Leicht & Colin Yarchuk

February, 2026 - Superintendent Relations: Amy Popkes & Joey Busetto

March, 2026 - Interpersonal Communication & Well-Being: Matt Bean & Gina Nelson

*Reminder this is free to all members and each participant will receive 2 Top 100 Points/ Webinar up to a maximum of 6*

Take your Buying Show experience to the next level by joining our Education Sessions, each designed to deliver fresh insights and practical takeaways. Led by industry experts, these sessions are a chance to learn, connect, and grow. Separate registration is required (click below), PGA of Alberta members will earn 3 Top 100 points per session. 

Click Below to Register!

• Tuesday, Oct. 21 | 12-1 P.M. – Workplace Culture with Andrew Szewczuk (Banff Springs GC)

• Wednesday, Oct. 22 | 12-1 P.M. – Encouraging Early Season High Margin Sales with Robb James (Stony Plain GC)

• Thursday, Oct. 23 | 12-1 P.M. – Round Table Discussion with Todd Halpen (Golf Fanatics), Nic Longley (Silver Springs G&CC), and Miles Mortensen (Mickelson National GC)

Don’t miss these opportunities to invest in your knowledge and bring new ideas back to your facility.

The Assistants Board is excited to present their PD Series webinars on the road to the 2025 season!

November 27, 2024 - Increasing Your Value & Employment Term At Your Facility – How to WOW Your Upper Management

Panelists: Chris Schatzmann, Sam Kirkness, Robb James, Tyrel Babkirk

This will be the first of five webinars produced by the Assistants Board with the intention of providing professional development for all assistants within the industry. This will produce an avenue for networking and relationship building so members can continue to further their careers.

Registration will be open for all 5 events, with specific dates to be announced soon.

Click here to head to the Education Page!

*Reminder this is free to all members and each participant will receive 2 Top 100 Points/ Webinar up to a maximum of 6*

We are less than a week away from the 2024 Buying Show!

Spots are still available for the Buying Show Education Session on day 3 in meeting room - 224, the Round Table Discussion is a great way to interact with your fellow professionals and gain insights from all aspects of the industry!

October 24th, 10-11:00AM

Round Table Discussion  - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Education Committee has decided to host an open round table discussion session for this year’s Show, presenters are Elizabeth Stewart, Nic Longely, and Stephen Yanitski. Topics covered will include Club Fittings, Ladies Events, and Corperate sales strategies. The Buying Show is the largest event for PGA of Alberta Members to gather and network, and now there is an opportunity to share your ideas and learn what others in the province are doing. Participants will spend 20 minutes at each table with a predetermined topic, please come prepared with questions and information of your own.

Participants will receive Top 100 Points: 3 points/session.

If you have any questions or need any assistance registering please contact the office via Thomas Powley.

The Education Committee is excited to bring you the following education sessions for the 2024 Buying Show!

Registration is open for all members and is filling up fast! Register now to secure your spot in each of the sessions for the Buying Show. Each session will be held in Meeting Room - 224, registration closes the day of each session. Participants will receive Top 100 Points: 3 points/session.

If you have any questions or need any assistance registering please contact the office via Thomas Powley.

October 22nd, 12:00-1:00PM

Buying Strategies - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

With Bob Paley - PGA of Canada Pat Fletcher Retailer Of The Year Award Recipient

Bob will be sharing strategies for buying and running a successful golf shop that will be essential for anyone attending this years Show. Bring any questions you have to make the most out of this session and set your course up for success in 2025.

October 23rd, 2:00-3:00PM

Visual Merchandising - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

We will have a Catherine Cacaoutis from Nike Golf and the retail side of the industry that specializes in store optimizations and visual merchandising to help our professionals understand the importance of setting up your pro shop effectively to increase sales and guest experience. Catherine has a background in apparel, footwear, accessories, product, along with education in fashion business school has worked in the industry for over 20 years. Her passion for business and product is second to none as her previous experience links to brands such as Harry Rosen’s, Sporting Life, Holt Renfew, Levi’s, Golf Town, and now more importantly with Mint Green Group as the Product Manager for Nike Golf. Topics such as fashion trends, story telling within a retail location, branding, and color matching for facilities that will look to optimize their current retail space or develop a new storefront.

October 24th, 10-11:00AM

Round Table Discussion  - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Education Committee has decided to host an open round table discussion session for this year’s Show, presenters are Elizabeth Stewart, Nic Longely, and Stephen Yanitski. Topics covered will include Club Fittings, Ladies Events, and Corperate sales strategies. The Buying Show is the largest event for PGA of Alberta Members to gather and network, and now there is an opportunity to share your ideas and learn what others in the province are doing. Participants will spend 20 minutes at each table with a predetermined topic, please come prepared with questions and information of your own. Check out the bottom of the registration page for more details.

Top 100 Points: Attendees will receive 3 points/session

The PGA of Alberta will be hosting its Summer Teaching Summit on June 5th and 6th  with a location change to Golf Future in Calgary, Alberta. 

Start your golf season by learning from Ryan Dailey, Co-Founder - Operation 36, who will be joining us to facilitate his level 1 coach certification from 8am - 3:30 pm both days. Each event is led by a team of PGA golf professionals who are on staff at Operation 36 HQ. These pros have run the program successfully and have helped thousands of golf pros execute successful programs. This will be the first time the certification has been hosted at a venue in Canada in 15 years.

We have the opportunity to offer the program at 50% off the regular rate at $500 to attend the level 1 certification course with food and beverage scheduled at Golf Future included.

Here is the link to the education portal Operation 36 will use to post updates, schedule, and any other information leading up to the summit: Operation 36 - Education Portal

Registration opens Friday, May 3rd at 10 am 

Only 15 Spots Remaining!

Registration Closes March 1st at 4:00pm

The 2024 Spring Seminar is quickly approaching, join us to learn from the exceptional line-up of speakers, indulge in the amazing food provided by Gordon Food Service and a chance to network with fellow PGA of Alberta Members during the Cocktail Reception at the conclusion of day 1 with beverages provided by Triple Bogey!

Reminders for the Seminar

• Visit the PGA of Alberta table for registration prior to breakfast day 1. Doors will open at 8:00am
• Business Dress Code is required for all participants of the Seminar
• The Annual General Meeting will start at 9:00am on March 4th, all Members are welcome to attend
• Stay and enjoy the cocktail reception at the conclusion of the presentations on March 4th
• All food will be provided at the Seminar for all attendees

Spring Seminar Information Package 

Top 100 Points - Every Member that attends the Spring Seminar will receive 5 Top 100 points per day (10 points total) for this program year

Spring Seminar Early Bird Registration will end tomorrow, February 21st at 4:00pm

The PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar is less than 2 weeks away! There are limited spots remaining, so don’t miss out on a chance to start the season at The Derrick G&WC with our talented line up of speakers. All food will be provided for breakfast and lunch both days, and stick around for the cocktail reception following day 1 to network with other Members throughout the province that are attending.

Schedule

March 4th

March 5th

For more information, CLICK HERE for the Spring Seminar information package. Hotel information available on the Education tab under Spring Seminar.

Top 100 Points - Every Member that attends the Spring Seminar will receive 5 Top 100 points per day (10 points total) for this program year

Join Scott Cowx at The Golf Factory February 24th & 25th

Final days to register for the first Teaching Summit of 2024.

Scott Cowx (2019 PGA of Canada Teacher of the Year). With a career spanning nearly three decades, Cowx, a renowned coach in swing biomechanics, has educated over 3,300 coaches worldwide and uses the innovative HackMotion technology for enhanced golf instruction.

"Having participated in both online and in-person seminars led by Scott Cowx, I’ve experienced firsthand the profound impact he has on coaching and instruction skills. Cowx’s approach, deeply rooted in his expertise in swing mechanics and his effective use of HackMotion, significantly enhances a coach’s ability to prioritize swing adjustments and build rapport with clients. His methods not only improve coaching techniques but also offer practical strategies for generating year-round income through swing mechanics instruction. For coaches looking to retain clients, ensure steady income, and accelerate their professional growth, embracing the insights and technologies shared by Scott Cowx, like HackMotion, is invaluable." - Todd Haplen (Education Committee Chair)

The Golf Factory will play host to Scott from 9:00am-4:00pm both days with lunch provided on site. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your teaching toolbox and learn from one of the worlds top instructors.

Top 100 Points - Every Member that attends the Teaching Summit will receive 5 Top 100 points.

The PGA of Alberta will be hosting it’s first Teaching Summit of 2024 on February 24th & 25th at The Golf Factory in Edmonton. 

Start your golf season by learning from Scott Cowx, 2019 PGA of Canada Teacher of the Year, who will be joining us to share his teaching philosophies and what he has learned working with countless PGA professionals. Scott most recently spoke at the 2023 PGA of America National Conference and is an author & researcher for multiple golf technology companies.

Notable Accomplishments

• Teaching career of nearly 3 decades
• Current professional clients on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Kornferry Tour
• 3300+ Coaches worldwide educated under the Scott Cowx certified methodologies
• 5 Juniors players coached over the past 25 years reaching Canadian national men’s and ladies teams
• Pulpit Club Director of Instruction for the past 4 years

The Golf Factory will play host to Scott from 9:00am-4:00pm both days with lunch provided on site. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your teaching toolbox and learn from one of the worlds top instructors.

In the world of professional hockey, what plays out behind closed doors is just as important as what plays out on the ice itself. Former professional goaltender, Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster and NHL on Sportsnet analyst Kelly Hrudey will take us behind the scenes of his 17-year career with the NHL, sharing stories he lived from both inside and outside the locker room and work life balance while playing in the NHL.

Before launching his broadcast career, Kelly Hrudey spent 17 seasons as an NHL goaltender between Islanders, Kings, and Sharks. In 1987, Hrudey played in a four-overtime Game 7 thriller making 73 saves in a 3-2 Islander win over the Capitals. Prior to joining Sportsnet in 2014, he debuted Hockey Night in Canada radio in 2007. Today, he appears on Hockey Night in Canada and is also a regional colour commentator on the Calgary Flames broadcasts. 

Hrudey joined CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada full-time in 1998-99, following four years of contributing to the show on a part-time basis during his final four seasons in the NHL. In addition to his work as a studio analyst, Hrudey served as a co-host for the post-game show, After Hours, and also worked as a game analyst for western game broadcasts.

In 2007, Hrudey received a Gemini Award for Best Studio Analyst, recognizing his work on Hockey Night in Canada. In addition to his work with the NHL, Hrudey has covered three Olympic Winter Games including Salt Lake 2002, Torino 2006, and Sochi 2014.

Hrudey joined the NHL on Sportsnet team in August 2014, bringing more than 20 years of broadcast experience to his role. He is a studio analyst for NHL on Sportsnet national broadcasts, including Hockey Night in Canada, and is also a game analyst for Sportsnet’s Calgary Flames regional broadcasts.

Kelly resides in Calgary, AB, with his wife Donna. They have three daughters, Kaitlin, Megan, and Jessica Hrudey.

Kaitlin and her Husband, Hayden, started More Good Days Clothing company, with their focus to improve awareness about mental health by sharing stories through art, charity, and positive mental health messages.

Kelly is an advocate for mental health awareness and has multiple foundations he represents to continue to spread the word and end the stigma.

The 2024 Spring Seminar is scheduled for March 4th & 5th at The Derrick G&WC. This will be the second year returning to an in person event and the Education Committee is looking to build off momentum from 2023. Early Bird registration is open Now until February 21st at 4:00pm, don’t miss out on kick starting your 2024 season with the PGA of Alberta Flagship Education Event. 

Speaker Announcements

Chris Dornan

MEDIA MUSCLE WITH CHRIS DORNAN

FINDING YOUR STORY, BUILDING BRAND, UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS, NAVIGATING FOR SUCCESS

Chris Dornan is one of Canada’s most prolific sports PR consultants, providing media and public relations support over the last 20 years to many of Canada’s amateur and professional athletes and sport organizations.

Having represented Canada at nine Olympic and six Paralympic Games, along with countless major international events, Chris opened his own communications consulting company in 2008 — High-Performance Public Relations – where he provides communications support to Own the Podium along with five of Canada’s summer and winter sport organizations. He has played a key role in building brand and media opportunities for many of Canada’s most successful athletes in winter and summer sport. In addition, Chris is also the media director for two of the PGA TOUR’s leading Champions Tour events: Insperity Invitational (The Woodlands, TX) and Shaw Charity Classic (Calgary).

Media Muscle - the media and brand training leveraged by personal experiences with many of Canada’s top athletes 

What Chris will deliver…

• Find Your Story.
• Learn how to Build Your Brand and stay true to your Brand through good and bad days.
• Learn how to create messages and communicate through stories in a compelling way that delivers results

Jeff Hay

VARSITY GOLF RECRUITING: US COLLEGE GOLF RECRUITING SEMINAR

JEFF HAY is a professional consultant who has assisted hundreds of junior golfers and their families navigate the obstacles and challenges of the college golf recruiting process. He has extensive experience in placing golfers in all associations (NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA) and divisions.

Jeff’s knowledge and experience as a college golf advisor was developed over his 16 years as a Director of Golf at three full- time residential junior academies in Florida, including Core Golf Academy (2006-2016), Bishop’s Gate Golf Academy/IJGA (2017- 2019) and Sean Foley Performance (2019- 2022). In his role at each academy, his main focus was to ensure the quality of the golf program and monitor the progress and development of each and every student while assisting them in finding their “best fit” school and golf team at the collegiate level.

A life-long member of the PGA of Canada, Jeff’s passion for assisting junior golfers began when he was the Golf Professional at the National Golf Club of Canada, where he was also the lead instructor for the famed “Elite Junior Program” under the tutelage of former PGA Tour Professional and Canadian Golf Hall-of-fame inductee Ben Kern.

Click For More Info

The PGA of Alberta Assistants’ Board will be presenting 5 webinars from December - April with the intention of providing professional development for all Assistants within the industry. This will provide an avenue for networking and relationship building so members can continue to further their careers. Details for each webinar will be released closer to each date, they will all be from 10:00am-11:15am on Zoom.

December 18th, 2023 - Increasing Employment Term & Building Brand Recognition 

Panelists

• Cameron Cox (Glen Abbey GC)
• David MacComb (Royal Mayfair GC)
• Kim Valleau (Winston GC(The))
• Pat Wilmot (Earl Grey GC)

Mark Your Calendars For Future Webinars!

January 15th, 2024 - Creating and Establishing  Your Own "Business & Brand"

February 6th, 2024 - Industry Trends (Fashion, Purchasing, Event Types, Leagues, etc.)

March 12th, 2024 - Understanding Compensation Structures, Negotiating Contracts, KPI’s and Bonuses

April 9th, 2024 - Work/Life Balance: Mental and Physical Health

*Reminder this is free to all Members and each participant will receive 2 Top 100 Points/ Webinar up to a maximum of 6*

The 2023 Alberta Teaching Summit is approaching quickly and there are a few spots remaining for registration.

This 2-day event, hosted at Golfuture YYC, is designed for golf professionals to learn from some of the zone’s top instructors and network with fellow professionals in the area. This is the only hands-on Education event of the season, so don’t miss out.

Benefits of the Teaching Summit

1. Collaborate and learn from 5 of the zone’s top instructors
2. Network with 15+ golf professionals over 2 full days
3. Expand your teaching repertoire
4. Build your personal business and provide additional value to your club/business
5. Scramble Fun Night – Teams of 2 will play the Par 3 course. 3 holes alternate shot, 3 holes scramble, 3 holes best ball

2023 Teaching Summit Itinerary

The 2023 Alberta Teaching Summit is only 3 weeks away

There are 3 remaining spots available for registration. Don’t miss out on a chance to learn and network with 5 of Alberta’s Top Instructors.

Todd Halpen (Director of Golf Instruction) - Golfuture YYC

Nicola Greaves (Associate Professional) - Willow Park G&CC

Shannon Raina (Associate Professional) - Earl Grey GC

J.R. Hogan (Professional) - GOLFTEC Calgary Blackfoot

Scott Stiles (Head Teaching Professional) - Earl Grey GC

This event will be hosted by Golfuture YYC. Participants will have the opportunity to expand and refine their teaching skills in the areas of;

1. Building group lesson programs to maximize experience and revenues
2. Key elements to ensure success with your junior programs
3. Student retention
4. Short game methods, systems, and best practices

For more information, click the link below to view the full itinerary.

2023 Teaching Summit Itinerary

The 2023 Alberta Teaching Summit is limited to 16 participants and spots are filling up fast. Register now to not miss out on the opportunity to learn and network with some of Alberta’s top instructors. 

• Todd Halpen (Golfuture YYC) 
• Nicola Greaves (Willow Park G&CC)
• Shannon Raina (Earl Grey GC)
• J.R. Hogan (GOLFTEC Calgary Blackfoot)
• Scott Stiles (Earl Grey GC)

Each instructor will be sharing their knowledge and expertise on areas they excel in, including;

1. Building group lesson programs to maximize experience and revenue
2. Key elements to ensure success with your junior program
3. How to access networks that already exist at your course/facility
4. Student retention
5. Short game methods

Participants will enjoy lunch in the banquet room each day, and a team scramble event following Day 1. 

2023 Teaching Summit Itinerary

The 2023 Alberta Teaching Summit is a two-day event at Golfuture YYC, where PGA of Alberta Golf Professionals congregate to share ideas and improve their standing as teachers of the game. The Teaching Summit is open to all PGA of Alberta members looking to improve their abilities, strategies, and methods, especially those who are looking to find their strengths and pathway as instructors and coaches. 

This year’s edition of the Alberta Teaching Summit will feature 5 leading professionals from within The Association to facilitate the event over both days, leading participants through different themes and topics. Participants will also enjoy lunch in the banquet room each day, and a team scramble event following Day 1. In 2024, the Education Committee will look to move the Summit to a premier Edmonton facility.

2023 Teaching Summit Itinerary

Registration will open at 10:00am on April 10th, 2023. 

The PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar is scheduled for March 6th and 7th at The Derrick G&WC. There are currently 4 spots available for anyone who wants to join the kick off event of the season. 

Reminders for the Seminar

• Visit the PGA of Alberta table for registration prior to breakfast day 1. Doors will open at 8:00am
• Business Dress Code is required for all participants of the Seminar
• The Annual General Meeting will start at 9:00am on March 6th
• Stay and enjoy the cocktail reception at the conclusion of the presentations on March 6th
• All food will be provided at the Seminar for all attendees

Click here for the Seminar schedule

Click here to register for the AGM

Thank You To Our Spring Seminar Sponsors...

Thank You To Our Cocktail Reception Sponsors...           

Early Bird Pricing will end this Friday, February 17th at 4:00pm.

This year capacity is limited to 140 so don’t miss out on a chance to learn and network with our talented line-up of speakers. 

March 6th

March 7th

Webinar #3 has been confirmed and will cover all topics and questions on "Increasing Your Employment Term"

The panelists will include;

Brice MacDermott (Windermere G&CC)

Sheryle Rowland (Silver Spring G&CC)

Todd Halpen (Golfuture YYC)

Matt Johnson (Royal Mayfair GC)

This will be the third of five webinars produced by the assistants board with the intention of providing professional development for all assistants within the industry. This will produce an avenue for networking and relationship building so members can continue to further their careers.

*Reminder this is free to all members and each participant will receive 2 Top 100 Points/ Webinar*

Andy Hilts is a recognized expert in the business of golf instruction and a leader in the growing field of revenue optimization for golf academies. Through his consultancy, Hilts Golf, he trains and advises prominent instructors on business development and profit enhancement, via seminars and workshops that top coaches have praised for their technical detail and motivational force. From 2005 to 2013 Hilts oversaw teacher training for GOLFTEC, guiding and mentoring some 2,000 GOLFTEC coaches worldwide. Prior to that he was a full-time golf coach, giving 12,000-plus lessons. Hilts achieved the status of PGA Master Professional in Instruction just six years after his 1999 graduation from the Professional Golf Management program at Mississippi State University.

Andy was honored in 2005 as the Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year. In both 2008 and 2015 he received the Colorado PGA Horton Smith Award. From 2009-2013 Hilts was listed by Golf Digest as one “America’s Best Young Teachers,” ranking No. 3 on the magazine’s list of Best Teachers in Colorado. In 2012 the Golf Range Association of America named him one of the “Top 50 Growth of the Game Teachers.” Hilts has been a member of the Colorado PGA Education Committee since 2014. He has also served on the Instruction Committee of the PGA of America. From 2017 through 2019, Hilts handled day-to-day operations for Proponent Group, a GOLF Channel-owned membership organization comprising 700 of the industry’s top coaches.

Hotel Reservations

The Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre has a room block available for all participants of this years Spring Seminar.

To book your reservation, call the Sawridge (780)438-1222 and use code "PGA" 

Early Bird Registration is now open until February 17th

It will be back in person at The Derrick G&WC for the first time since 2020. There will be a limited capacity of 140 participants so make sure to register yourself and employees before the spots are filled. 

The first speaker announcement includes;

Jennifer Morton (Association of Golf Merchandisers) -  She is the Director of Marketing and Sales for the Association of Golf Merchandisers, a business strategist, and international speaker who has more than 30 years of marketing and golf retail experience. Her presentation will be on "How to elevate your sales and social media strategies: boost engagement and maximize success"

There is also an exciting, new opportunity for every member of the association to apply to be a presenter at this years Seminar. If there is an area of your job that you excel in and feel the membership would benefit from hearing, prepare a 5-10 minute video and send it to [email protected] by February 10th. The top 3-4 ideas chosen by the Education Committee will be asked to present at this years seminar.

Click here for more details on both presentations

The date for webinar #2 from the Assistants’ Board has been confirmed for January 31st from 10:00am-11:15am. 

They will be focusing on various topics of the PGA of Canada Training Academy.

The panelists for this webinar will be ;

Tiffany Gordon (Carnmoney GC and PGA of Canada)

Matt Allen (PGA of Canada)

Michael Nutt (Kananaskis Country GC)

Robbie Johnson (Banff Springs GC)

If you haven’t registered for webinar #1, it is this Friday, January 13th, from 10:00am-11:15am. The topic will be Planning and Implementing Successful Leagues and Events at Your Facility. 

*Reminder this is free to all members and each participant will receive 2 Top 100 Points/ Webinar*

The Assistants Board is excited to present their first webinar of 2023 on;

"Planning and Implementing Successful Leagues and Events at Your Facility".

This will be the first of four webinars produced by the assistants board with the intention of providing professional development for all assistants within the industry. This will produce an avenue for networking and relationship building so members can continue to further their careers.

Stay tuned for the panelist announcement

*Reminder this is free to all members*

The 2023 Spring Seminar has been scheduled for March 6th & 7th at the Derrick G&WC. 

The Education Committee has been working hard to compile a list of speakers for this years seminar and will provide updates as they are available along with the opening of registration coming soon. This years event will also be back in person for the first time since 2020 so don’t miss the opportunity to network and learn from some of the best in the industry.

Top 100 Points - Every Member that attends the Spring Seminar will receive 5 Top 100 points per day (10 points total) for this program year.

Spring Seminar Sponsors...

                                
   

October 18th, 12:00-1:00PM

Retail Q&A with Bob Paley (Kananaskis Country GC)

Bob will holding an open Q&A on day one to help everyone make the most out of the show. Troy Mills (Jasper Park Lodge GC) will be moderating and starting off the session with some of the most frequently asked questions about the retail side of the business. All attendees are welcomed to bring their own questions which Bob will answer on the spot.

October 19th, 2:00-3:00PM

Junior Programming Panel

Chris Paskin (Valley Ridge GC) will be moderating a panel of Alberta’s top Junior leaders and Instructors. The panelists will be discussing their different approaches when coaching juniors as well as how they have all built successful junior programs. The panel will consist of;

Chad Feener (Leduc GC)

Stephen Yanitski (Valley Ridge GC)

Shannon Raina (Earl Grey GC)

Lyndon King (Collicutt Siding GC)

Adam Werbicki ( The Derrick G&WC)

October 20th, 12:00-1:00PM

Winter Programming and Building a Book of Business with Josh Fleming (365 GOLF)

If you want to succeed as a year-round Instructor and Coach this session is for you.  With 7 years of experience at GOLFTEC and now having successfully opened his own instruction and coaching business, 365 GOLF, Josh is excited to share with you his thoughts on winter programming and building a book of business.  There are some key components that are needed to succeed as a year-round Coach and Josh will share some of those with you.  He will speak for 30-45 minutes and spend the remainder of the time fielding questions from the audience. Todd Halpen (Golfutre YYC) will kick off the Q&A with some thought provoking questions.

Top 100 Points: Attendees will receive 3 points/session

The Education Committee is excited to announce the return of in-person education, presented by TaylorMade Golf Canada, at the Buying Show. There will be a session each day of the show focusing on all aspects of Retail, Junior Programming, and Winter Coaching & Business. 

These sessions are open to all Members and Non-members attending the show, please note the date and time of each when registering. All three will be held in Arabian Room B and there is limited capacity so check the details right away. 

Top 100 Points: Attendees will receive 3 points/session

Click Here for more details and how to register

Also, for those looking to further their education after the Buying Show, there are currently 3 spots open for the Arizona Teaching Summit at Grayhawk GC, Scottsdale, AZ from November 28th-30th. Attendees will get to learn from Peter and John Kostis who are two of the top instructors in the world. 

Click Here for more details and how to register

The Education Committee is excited to announce the return of the Arizona Teaching Summit. This year’s event will be held and Grayhawk GC with facilitators Peter and John Kostis. See below for all details;

Location: Grayhawk GC, Scottsdale, AZ

Dates: November 28th & 29th, 2022

Facilitators: Peter & John Kostis

Participants: 16 max

Cost: $1200 CAD

The cost for this event will cover the two full days of instruction from Peter and John Kostis along with a round of golf at a premier facility. Once registration has been completed, details for other possible enjoyment opportunities will released such as an NFL game, a BBQ and golf at other courses.

The 2022 Alberta Teaching Summit is scheduled for June 13th/14th at The Glencoe G&CC. The goal of this program itself, is to elevate the collective skills of PGA of Alberta Golf Professionals as instructors and coaches. This Teaching Summit is open to all PGA of Alberta members looking to improve their abilities, strategies, and methods, especially those who are looking to find their strengths and pathway as instructors and coaches. This year’s edition of the Alberta Teaching Summit will feature 4 leading professionals from within our association to facilitate the event over both days, leading participants through different themes and topics.

Instructors

Day 1 - Full Swing/ Technology

Josh Fleming - 365 Golf

Todd Halpen - Golfuture YYC

Day 2 - Short Game/ Aim Point

Scott Stiles - Earl Grey GC

Paul Horton - Golf Channel Academy at Cottonwood G&CC

*Click on name to see member profile

The Assistants Board is excited to present their fourth webinar on "How To Structure Lessons and Maximize Teaching Revenue". The Panelists joining us will be;

Scott Stiles - Earl Grey GC

Riley Fleming - Lynx Ridge GC

Josh Fleming - 365 Golf

Chad Feener - Leduc GC

This will be the last of four webinars produced by the assistants board with the intention of providing professional development for all assistants within the industry. This will produce an avenue for networking and relationship building so members can continue to further their careers.

*Reminder this is free to all members*

Episode 7 brings Golf Architect, Riley Johns from Canmore, AB, to the podcast where he will be discussing the wonderful world of golf architecture. Riley will be sharing:

• Where he sees the industry moving after Covid-19

• The journey from designing a facility from start to finish

• What he has learned working with Tom Doak and Ben Crenshaw

• What courses he has worked on and designed

For any professional with an interest in golf course design, this is a must listen. Thank you to Troy Mills (Jasper Park Lodge GC) for hosting Riley Johns.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks Josh Fleming (365 Golf) will be hosting the final 2 podcasts for this season.

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 7 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3 Episode 7 on Apple

The Education Committee will be hosting 2 teaching summits this year. These events are a great opportunity to learn from some of the great teaching pros in Alberta and down south. Spots will be limited for both events so make sure you mark the registration dates on your calendars.

The 2022 Alberta Teaching Summit is a two day event at a premier local facility, where PGA of Alberta Golf Professionals congregate to share ideas and improve their standing as teachers of the game. The goal of this program itself, is to elevate the collective skills of PGA of Alberta Golf Professionals as instructors and coaches. This Teaching Summit is open to all PGA of Alberta members looking to improve their abilities, strategies, and methods, especially those who are looking to find their strengths and pathway as instructors and coaches. This year’s edition of the Alberta Teaching Summit will feature 4 leading professionals from within our association to facilitate the event over both days, leading participants through different themes and topics. Participants will also enjoy lunch in the clubhouse each day, and a round of golf following Day 1. ​

The goal of the committee is to rotate this event to a central and north location over the next 2 years. 

South Teaching Summit

The Education Committee is working to bring back a teaching summit to a south USA destination. Stay tuned as we get closer to the season for more details regarding this event.

There are still a few education opportunities to take advantage of before the season starts.

Spring Seminar

Today is the last day to register. Make sure you don’t miss out on a fantastic 2 days of speakers and networking.

Info Package

Teaching Summit

The Education committee will be hosting one teaching summit in the province on June 13th and 14th at The Glencoe. Registration for the event will open on March 7th at 10am. Mark your calendars as this event is limited to 14 spots. 

Assistants Board PD Series #4

"How to Structure Lessons and Maximize Teaching Revenue"

The last webinar for the assistants board will be held March 24th at 10am. These are a great way to learn from your fellow golf professionals, as well as build a network within the membership. This webinar is offered free to all PGA of Alberta Members so take advantage. 

The PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar is now live via the Whova App. If you have registered, make sure to log into the app to view the whole line up of speakers and agenda for the 2 day event. A speaker spotlight for March 3rd;

Photo of Scott Fawcett and Will Zalatoris at the US Junior he won

Scott Fawcett

DECADE Course Management System
The DECADE Course Management System, has solved golf strategy by combining shot distribution patterns and PGA Tour scoring statistics. DECADE quickly generates the optimal target that will produce the lowest score based on distance, hazards, and hole locations.

Bio

Scott undertook this project for his own game, but injury sidelined him in 2014. As a result, he reached out to a junior golfer at his home course in Dallas to caddie for him in the Texas Amateur, Will Zalatoris. Will won by THREE which was his first victory in anything other than a high school event! Three weeks later Scott caddied for Zalatoris at the U.S. Junior Amateur where he won again. College coaches began calling. Since Scott lives in Dallas, SMU was one of the first college programs he worked with. Bryson DeChambeau was ranked 50th in the world when he attended Scott’s seminar. Six months later he had won both the NCAA Championships and the U.S. Amateur! In addition to those two USGA wins, TEN other players have won USGA titles in the first five years Scott has taught his DECADE Course Management System. Female members of the DECADE App have won the Women’s British Open, Women’s U.S. Amateur, Women’s NCAA Individual Title, and Augusta Women’s Amateur.

Registration Closes March 1st at 4:00pm

Info Package

Reminder that registration for th PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar closes Tuesday, March 1st at 4pm. Thank you to everyone who has already registered. Join us March 2nd and 3rd  to engage with our talented line-up of speakers including;

James Jackson

Marketing & Tourism Alberta-James will explain how Tourism Jasper shifted its marketing strategy in light of COVID-19 from a predominantly international audience to an Albertan summer focus and share some marketing best practices and industry trends along the way.

Bio

A born and raised Edmontonian, James Jackson began his career in event management. After getting a feel for the operational side of the business, he joined Edmonton Tourism to learn the production side, overseeing the Sport Tourism file working with international sports organizations like: FIFA, ITU, and Red Bull. He later led the Tourism Development portfolio, managing several major hotel and real estate development projects with Edmonton Economic Development. In 2017 he moved to Jasper to lead Tourism Jasper as President & CEO.

 James has a BA from the University of Alberta in Recreation Sport and Tourism, a certificate from Harvard Business School Online in finance and economics, and a professional designation from Destinations International as a Certified Destination Marketing Executive.

Info Package

**Reminder Registration Open Until March 1st at 4PM MST**

The PGA of Alberta Education Committee has partnered with Par Six Golf to present a webinar on "Social Media Strategy". 

Social media can be confusing and frustrating not knowing—what to post, what to
say, when to say it, where to say it, who to say it to…it makes it a daunting project to
take on. I’m going to demonstrate how to develop a clearly defined social media
strategy. This 10 step process is going to provide clarity and a defined roadmap
enabling you to produce a fully developed social media strategy. More importantly, it’s
going to help you deliver a clear and consistent message in your social media
marketing. This webinar is full of practical and actionable advice that you can apply to
your own brand. - Colby Johannson (co-founder Par Six Golf)

Click HERE for more information

Click HERE to Register

Episode 6 brings Tour Striker inventor, Martin Chuck, to the podcast where he will be sharing where his passion for teaching golf arose. Martin will discuss:

• His journey from inventing the tour striker to running a successful golf academy

• How to make use of social media to grow your business

• Learning how to be selective and to communicate effectively 

• How to get out of your comfort zone

For any professional looking to build or retain their client base, Martin provides a ton of insight on simple tips and tricks to teach at any level. Thank you to Craig Vogel (GOLFTEC Calgary Beacon Heights) for hosting Martin.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as Troy Mills hosts Riley Johns and Thomas McBroom on Course Design

Also:

Dean Ingalls hosts Ron Laugher on Golf Operations

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 6 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3 Episode 6 on Apple

Registration for the 2022 PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar is now open to all PGA of Canada members and non-members. Join us March 2nd and 3rd  to engage with our talented line-up of speakers including;

Iain Highfield

Effective Golf Practice - How to make swing changes stick and transfer your range game to the course.

Bio

• Passionate and professional Mental Performance Coach calling upon expertise gained from studying, playing and working within numerous sports institutions and facilities.
• Promoting over 10 years of expertise educating and inspiring children, professional athletes and business people to create psychological habits of excellence.
• A world leader in performance improvement through creating effective training environments that lead to higher skill retention and increased transfer of skill.
• A very grateful individual who loves to share his knowledge, passion and live his dream helping others strive towards their goals and create positive change.
• Extensive coaching background in Golf supporting elite juniors, college, international, European Tour & LPGA Tour golfers.

Info Package

**Reminder Registration Open Until March 1st at 4PM MST**

Program At A Glance

March 2nd

March 3rd

**Click Speaker Name For More Information**

**Reminder Each Person Must Register Individually**

Click here for Registration

The Assistants Board is excited to present their third webinar on "Keys to Transitioning to a Head Golf Professional". The talented panelists will be sharing their experiences and keys to excelling within the golf industry which will include;

Eric Porter- Lethbridge CC

Mathew MacDonald- Innisfail GC

Michael Graham- Cottonwood G&CC

Samuel Kirkness- Inglewood G&CC

This will be the third of four webinars produced by the assistants board with the intention of providing professional development for all assistants within the industry. This will produce an avenue for networking and relationship building so members can continue to further their careers.

Click Here For Registration

The Education  Committee is excited to announce this panel of fantastic ladies will be joining The Spring Seminar- Erika Larkin, Gia Liwski and Trillium Rose. These three ladies are the top female influencers in golf right now. All three have a passion about women in golf and will be sharing their experiences of how they navigated their way to the top of a male dominated industry. During the presentation they will be providing guidance on growing your brand and developing an approach to impact golfers of all levels. 

Join them March 3rd from 10:00-11:30am 

Click on their name to visit their website

Spring Seminar Info Package

Click here for Registration

Episode 5 focuses on Barrett Jarosch’s journey from playing professional to club president at Windermere G&CC, hosted by Brice MacDermott (Windermere G&CC). Barrett will discuss:

• His experiences getting in to golf

• Playing collegiately and then on tour

• His journey to a private club, becoming involved with the Windermere Board of Directors, Club Governance and now as Club President.

This is a great listen for any golf pro looking to get more involved in their club.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as Craig Vogel hosts Martin Chuck on Effective Golf Instruction

Also:

Troy Mills hosts Riley Johns and Thomas McBroom on Course Design

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 5 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3 Episode 5 on Apple

Registration for the 2022 PGA of Alberta Virtual Spring Seminar is now OPEN! 

The seminar will be held March 2nd & 3rd as a digital Education Conference via the Whova App/Platform - which allows video integration with a variety of video hosting platforms, sharing of agendas with attendees for presentations, sharing of any presentation related documents the Speakers provide. Click here for a YouTube video on Whova.

The Education Committee has put together another exciting line-up of speakers to provide a top tier event focused on development and networking. Please note that discussions to confirm speakers is still on going and will be announced in the coming weeks. Speakers already confirmed will be highlighted in the news article section and education events tab of the website. 

Please note that we are offering Early Bird Pricing to all our Members until February 11th! Mark these dates in your calendar now, we hope you plan on attending this annual kick-off to the golf season in an albeit different but still exciting capacity this year!

Click here for Registration

Episode 4 is hosted by one of the education committee chairs Josh Fleming (Golftec Calgary Beacon Heights). Josh will sit down with the President of the PGA of Alberta Assistants Board Bryce Halverson (Carnmoney GC).  Bryce talks about his career in golf, where he predicts the industry is going, and what being a golf professional means to him.  Bryce is an amazing professional and this podcast is worth a listen.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as Brice McDermott hosts Barrett Jarosch on Training&Development/ Leadership

Also:

Craig Vogel hosts Martin Chuck on Effective Golf Instruction

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 4 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3 Episode 4 on Apple

The Education Committee is excited to announce that it will be hosting a webinar on all facets of the Golf Genius Software which will be available to all members. This day will consist of a morning and afternoon session where members can choose to educate themselves on a topic most relevant to their club.

Golf Genius Software has many benefits which include;

• Overall learning about Golf Genius Software
• Tools and features for tournament and league set up
• Tools and features to enhance the golf shop
• Member knowledge can provide value to their club

Objective:

To educate current PGA of Alberta members about the features of Golf Genius Tournament Management Software (GGTM) and Golf Shop Software (GGGS).

Date / Time:

February 1, 2022

We will offer an AM session and a PM session.  Each session will cover the same material.  If a participant chooses to attend the AM session, they are not required to attend the PM session but you may attend a different session in the PM.

9:30AM to 10:30AM – Session 1, 2, 3, or 4

10:30AM to 10:45AM – Break

10:45AM to 12:00PM – Continue session

12:00PM to 1:00PM - LUNCH

1:00PM to 2: 30PM – Session 1, 2, 3, or 4

2:30PM to 2:45PM – Break

2:45PM to 4:00PM – Continue session

Please click down below to learn more about what will be offered during the webinar. 

Session #1 : Learn More- Golf Genius Software

Session #2 : Golf Genius TM Club

Session #3 : Golf Genius TM Club Premium

Session #4 : Golf Genius Golf Shop

Click To Register Now

Episode 3 is brought to you by Judy Forshner and Shannon Raina of The Glencoe G&CC. They will be sharing their thoughts and experiences on how they have built their careers as a female in the golf industry. They will be discussing;

How Judy started and has remained at The Glencoe G&CC for 35 years

Pro/Cons of being a female golf pro

Career challenges

The importance of learning/listening to every member of the team

Thank you to Judy and Shannon for sharing some insight into their successful careers

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as Josh Fleming hosts Bryce Halverson on Growing As A Professional

Also:

Brice McDermott hosts Barrett Jarosch on Training & Development/ Leadership

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 3 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3 Episode 3 on Apple

Episode 2 is focused on the relationship between a golf professional and the head superintendent. Matt Johnson and Wade Peckham discuss how they have worked together over the past 8 years to improve and progress The Royal Mayfair GC. Topics discussed will include;

Renovations and facility upgrades

Taking care of the course in the early/off seasons

What they look for when hiring

How they both entered the industry

Thank you to Troy Mills (Jasper Park Lodger GC) for hosting this episode of the podcast. Stay tuned for future episodes of this season going live every 2 weeks.

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 2 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3 Episode 2 on Apple

Kicking off Season 3 of the PGA of Alberta Podcast Series is Paul Horton discussing his journey of becoming a premier golf instructor. During this episode topics that will be discussed are;

How Paul got into golf?

Stories working with Stephen Ames

Keys to success besides just technique

How important the relationship is with the student

Technologies role in coaching

Craig Vogel from GOLFTEC Beacon Heights will be joining Paul to be our first host of the season.

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 3 Episode 1 on Spotify

Click here for Season 3  Episode 1 on Apple

The Assistants Board is excited to present their second webinar on "Increasing Employment Term at Your Facility & Building Brand Recognition". The talented panelists will be sharing their experiences and keys to excelling within the golf industry which will include;

Kevin Chow- Blackhawk GC

Tyler Willner- Lakeside GC

Jae Maegaard- Paradise Canyon GR

Marsha Rogers- The Derrick G&WC

This will be the second of four webinars produced by the assistants board with the intention of providing professional development for all assistants within the industry. This will produce an avenue for networking and relationship building so members can continue to further their careers.

 Click Here To Register 

The Assistants Board is excited to present a webinar on "Understanding Differences in Facility Types & How to Choose Your Career Path". This will give knowledge on how to select a successful golf career based on aspirations and environment. The members of the panel will be;

Bob Paley- Kananaskis GC

Murray McCourt- The Ranch G&CC

Tahlon Sweenie- Jasper Park Lodge GC

Shelley Charlton- Pinebrook G&CC

They will be discussing pros and cons of a facility type, public vs private, is there value of having experience in multiple facilities, and many more topics.

The date is set for November 10th, 2021 from 10:00am-11:00am with a question period to follow.

Click Here To Register

THE BUYING SHOW EDUCATION SERIES STARTS TOMORROW 

THERE IS STILL TIME TO SIGN UP

Registration will remain open until 4pm the day prior to the session. Everyday to be held virtually to allow for unlimited capacity with the ZOOM link being sent out a day in advance. Take advantage of all 3 days to learn from some of Alberta’s top professionals.

Click Here to see Dean Ingalls

Click Here to see Alberta’s First- Class Instructors

Click Here to see Dr. David Legg

The PGA of Alberta’s Education Committee is excited to announce the 2021 Buying Show Education Sessions are moving virtual. Sessions will be conducted within a Zoom webinar, which allows for an unlimited number of participants to attend. This year’s aim was to highlight the local knowledge we have within the association, but also learn from what other professionals are doing in the province. Each of the 3 days, there will be an education session covering a different relevant topic related to the golf industry that will help to continue to grow the game.

October 19, 2021

Dean Ingalls is excited to be sharing some of his knowledge of merchandising within a Golf Shop.  This will include different philosophies as well as techniques used recently to achieve great member communication and success within his shop. Further to this he will be discussing some keys to being hired year-round at golf facilities for Assistant and Associate Golf Professionals.

October 20, 2021

An open discussion on growing the game of golf and promoting your book of business. Todd Halpen, Randy Robb, Luke Workman and Paul Horton will be sharing their experiences as golf instructors to give insight on what has made them successful over many years. Josh Fleming has graciously agreed to mediate the event.

October 21, 2021

In this presentation Dr. Legg will discuss the importance of adapted programming for persons experiencing disability. David will review practical steps your club and staff can start doing immediately to be more inclusive, welcoming and diverse.

Registration Is Now Open

Click Here to see Dean Ingalls

Click Here to see Alberta’s First- Class Instructors

Click Here to see Dr. David Legg

The PGA of Alberta’s Education Committee is excited to announce its 2021 Buying Show Education Sessions. This year’s aim was to highlight the local knowledge we have within the association, but also learn from what other professionals are doing in the province. Each of the 3 days, there will be an education session covering a different relevant topic related to the golf industry that will help to continue to grow the game. 

 October 19, 2021

 Dean Ingalls is excited to be sharing some of his knowledge of merchandising within a Golf Shop.  This will include different philosophies as well as techniques used recently to achieve great member communication and success within his shop. Further to this he will be discussing some keys to being hired year-round at golf facilities for Assistant and Associate Golf Professionals.

October 20, 2021

An open discussion on growing the game of golf and promoting your book of business. Todd Halpen, Randy Robb, Luke Workman and Paul Horton will be sharing their experiences as golf instructors to give insight on what has made them successful over many years. Josh Fleming has graciously agreed to mediate the event. 

October 21, 2021

In this presentation Dr. Legg will discuss the importance of adapted programming for persons experiencing disability. David will review practical steps your club and staff can start doing immediately to be more inclusive, welcoming and diverse. 

Registration Is Now Open

Click Here to see Dean Ingalls

Click Here to see Alberta’s First- Class Instructors

Click Here to see Dr. David Legg

The Education Committee is thrilled to continue season 2 of our Podcast series featuring various PGA of Alberta members. Our next guest will be Mr. Bob Weeks of TSN who is a renowned reporter and analyst  in the sporting world. He will be giving some insight on a variety of topics including; the retention of the golf boom from the past year, how golf as adapted for the average person, his thoughts on a fun/social approach to golf, and the most recent Olympics in Tokyo. Troy Mills has graciously agreed to host Bob as he also shares his golf experiences not only as a reporter but a player as well. 

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 2 Episode 2 on Spotify

Click here for Season 2  Episode 2 on Apple

The Education Committee is thrilled to kick off season 2 of our Podcast series featuring various PGA of Alberta members. Our first guests will be Mr. Jim McCulley and Mr. Tory Nilson of Callaway Golf. They will be discussing a variety of topics including; how they both arrived at Callaway, demand vs inventory in the past year, and Callaway’s sponsorship of the Pro-Assistant Championship. Josh Fleming of GOLFTEC Beacon Heights is back to host Jim and Tory who also shed some light on what the future holds for the golf industry.

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Season 2 Episode 1 on Spotify

Click here for Season 2  Episode 1 on Apple

The Summer Teaching Summit initiatives open for registration next M O N D A Y, June 7th  @ 10:00 AM sharp! Make sure to be ready to sign-up as there are only 10 Member spots available for each event. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and you may only register yourself. Don’t miss out on this great & affordable opportunity to improve yourself, your game and teaching skills, all whilst having a first-class experience with your peers, networking and lastly having some much-needed fun!

 
Click either image above to go to the event page....

We are happy to be announcing today the respective Instructors for each event!

Our South Instructors will be....

• Mr. Stefan Cox of Calgary G&CC 
  and....
• Mr. Josh Fleming of GOLFTEC Calgary Beacon Heights

Please click here or on any Instructors’ names for the Information Package
*Edmonton Instructor Bio’s and Deeper Look coming next week* 

Our North Instructors will be....  

• Mr. Cam Martens of Windermere G&CC
  and....
• Mr. Blair Buttar of GOLFTEC Edmonton West Point

Both events will consist of 4-hours of instruction, 1 hour of lunch & networking and to finish a round of golf with your peers. Registered attendees will be polled for their preferences on topics of instruction. Participants will get a chance to work on their own game as well as develop their coaching skills by observing the other participants with the instructors; always with the ability to ask questions in real time to both student and teacher to create an open learning atmosphere for all.

Important details:

• Both events will have a wait-list due to capacity restraints 
• Payments for each event will processed at minimum 3 weeks prior to event date to ensure ample time for wait-listed persons to balance schedules as needed
• Registered attendees will be polled 2-4 weeks prior to the event for their "Instructional Wish-List" and what they hope to improve on 
• TOP 100 POINTS – Each member will receive 5 Top 100 points for attending the Teaching Summit (5 points max). Click here to view standings.

Please contact me at ([email protected]) with any questions.

The PGA of Alberta’s Education Committee and its Teaching Summit Sub-Committee are happy to present our annual “Teaching Summit” initiative with a slightly different look, feel & summer dates after a brief hiatus from the ongoing pandemic. With the ongoing uncertainty associated with international travel, the decision was made to keep the respective events local this year, take advantage of some of the incredible local talent we have within our Association for the Instructors’ and make use of some of the many top-notch facilities we are lucky to have in our Zone. 

This year’s North and South events will only be 1-day sessions and will be contingent on restrictions being eased in terms of  allowable instruction & allowable group sizing. Due to the ongoing restrictions and concern for even inter-provincial travel - a North & South event have been set with the clearly stated aim that - Members will try to attend their local event before trying for the other option.

Registration for each event opens at 10:0AM on Monday, June 7th. Registration’s will capped at 1 solo entry per Member and it will be on a First-Come-First-Served basis so make sure to mark the date in your calendar! 

Both events will consist of 4-hours of instruction, 1 hour of lunch & networking and to finish a round of golf with your peers. Registered attendees will be polled for their preferences on topics of instruction. Participants will get a chance to work on their own game as well as develop their coaching skills by observing the other participants with the instructors; always with the ability to ask questions in real time to both student and teacher to create an open learning atmosphere for all.

TOP 100 POINTS – Each member will receive 5 Top 100 points for attending the Teaching Summit (5 points max). Click here to view standings.

South Teaching Summit Details & Dates

North Teaching Summit Details & Dates

Click here for the South event page

Click here for the North event page

The Education Committee is happy to present the sixth and final episode in Season 1 of our new Podcast series featuring various PGA of Alberta Members. Our final guests will be two incredible Ladies’ from our Association: Ms. Gina Nelson of Magrath GC and Ms. Nicola Jeffries of Willow Park G&CC. They will be discussing a variety of topics which include, their life, dreams, journey in the golf industry, what makes them tick, inspires and motivates themselves with today’s Host, Ashley Van Kroonenburg of our Association & PGA of Alberta Staff Member.

This new opportunity allows us to provide our members with more relevant topics from our industry leaders. The episodes are an easy listen, and we are confident that you will be able to extract some information that will help you professionally and personally. Our committee has enlisted the following guests for season 1 of the show; Dean Ingalls, Bob Paley, Riley Fleming, Tahlon Sweenie, Adam Werbicki and last but not least, Gina Nelson & Nicola Jeffries. Each episode will be unique and cover specific topics that are relevant to our industry. 

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Episode 6 on Spotify

Click here for Episode 6 on Apple

The Education Committee is happy to present the fifth episode in our new Podcast series featuring various PGA of Alberta Members. Our fifth guest will be Mr. Adam Werbicki of The Derrick Golf & Winter Club. He will be discussing a variety of topics which include, his life, journey in the golf industry & the plethora of experiences that come from running a highly regarded & well recognized national junior program with our Host, Chris Ward of The Edmonton Petroleum Club  & PGA of Alberta Education Committee Member. 

This new opportunity allows us to provide our members with more relevant topics from our industry leaders. The episodes are an easy listen, and we are confident that you will be able to extract some information that will help you professionally and personally. Our committee has enlisted the following guests for season 1 of the show; Dean Ingalls, Bob Paley, Riley Fleming, Tahlon Sweenie and Adam Werbicki. Each episode will be unique and cover specific topics that are relevant to our industry. 

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Episode 5 on Spotify

Click here for Episode 5 on Apple

The Education Committee is happy to present the fourth episode in our new Podcast series featuring various PGA of Alberta Members. Our fourth guest will be Mr. Tahlon Sweenie of Jasper Park Lodge GC. He will be discussing a variety of topics which include, his life, journey in the golf industry and what it’s like working at, operating and bringing success to a highly renowned resort course. with our Host, Troy Mills of Jasper Park Lodge GC & PGA of Alberta Education Committee Member. 

This new opportunity allows us to provide our members with more relevant topics from our industry leaders. The episodes are an easy listen, and we are confident that you will be able to extract some information that will help you professionally and personally. Our committee has enlisted the following guests for season 1 of the show; Dean Ingalls, Adam Werbicki, Riley Fleming, Bob Paley and Tahlon Sweenie. Each episode will be unique and cover specific topics that are relevant to our industry. 

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Episode 4 on Spotify

Click here for Episode 4 on Apple

The Education Committee is happy to present the third episode in our new Podcast series featuring various PGA of Alberta Members. Our third guest will be Mr. Riley Fleming of Lynx Ridge GC. He will be discussing a variety of topics which include, his life, journey and all the highs and lows that can come in golf with our Host, Josh Fleming of GOLFTEC Beacon Heights & PGA of Alberta Education Committee Member. In this week’s episode, Riley will share some insight on what it was like being a touring pro and also his love for teaching golf & where that has taken him now.

This new opportunity allows us to provide our members with more relevant topics from our industry leaders. The episodes are an easy listen, and we are confident that you will be able to extract some information that will help you professionally and personally. Our committee has enlisted the following guests for season 1 of the show; Dean Ingalls, Adam Werbicki, Riley Fleming, Bob Paley and Tahlon Sweenie. Each episode will be unique and cover specific topics that are relevant to our industry. 

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Episode 3 on Spotify

Click here for Episode 3 on Apple

In our third Keynote Speaker reveal for the 2021 Digital Spring Seminar on Feb. 22^nd & 23^rd presented by Gordon Food Service & E-Z-GO, we will take a look at Graham DeLaet!!

Graham DeLaet Bio
Known to be one of the game’s best ball strikers, Graham had a milestone year on the PGA TOUR in 2013, placing 8th in the FedExCup Playoffs, and ending the year with a breakthrough performance in his first Presidents Cup International team appearance.

2017 saw Graham record 6 Top 10’s, including a personal Major’s best with T7 at the PGA Championship, where he made a huge move in round 3 posting 6-under through four holes.

In 2016, Graham had the honour of representing Canada in the Olympics, as Golf returned to the Games for the first time since 1904. So far this season, Graham has recorded four top ten finishes.

Graham was born in Weyburn, SK with a passion for hockey, fishing and, of course, golf. He attended Boise State University and is very passionate about Broncos football. He is also a huge hockey fan – and an avid Calgary Flames fan.

Graham and his wife Ruby are dedicated to supporting children’s causes, and in 2014 launched the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation. Since launching the Foundation, Graham and Ruby have raised over $1 million for their charitable initiatives.
Click here to learn more about Graham DeLaet on his website or follow him on social media >   

Click Here to Register for the Spring Seminar

In our second Keynote Speaker reveal for the forthcoming 2021 Digital Spring Seminar on Feb. 22^nd & 23^rd presented by Gordon Food Service & E-Z-GO, we will take a look at... Kraig Kann!!

Kraig Kann Bio
As former lead anchor and studio host for NBC Sports’ Golf Channel, Kraig attained his lifelong dream of becoming a network broadcaster.  He then progressed to Chief Communications Officer for the LPGA where he was part of a dynamic leadership team that raised the organization to new levels of prosperity.  Today, he is a successful entrepreneur mastering his own brand.

Kraig founded Kann Advisory Group in 2016, making good on a goal of managing his own business on a belief that his definition of success would be realized by sharing his experience and delivering value to others.  The unique combination of C-suite strategist and media entertainment has positioned him as a unique voice delivering custom workshops, seminars and keynotes focused on leadership, message delivery and personal and professional brand development.

Thought leadership offered in his blog has contributed to attention from PR News, Sports PR Summit and Forbes, who have identified him as a keynote speaker, featured industry panelist, communications council member and content contributor in areas of public relations, brand marketing, public speaking and strategic communications.  He remains relevant in broadcasting, hosting weekly shows on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, hosting his podcast “Tracks To Success” and serving as a faculty member in the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.

Click here to learn more about Kraig Kann on his website or follow him on social media >     

Click Here to Register for the Spring Seminar

In our first Keynote Speaker reveal for the forthcoming 2021 Digital Spring Seminar on Feb. 22^nd & 23^rd presented by Gordon Food Service & E-Z-GO, we will take a look at... Dr. Kimberley Amirault-Ryan!!

Performance Consultant to the NHL, NBA and Olympians 
Dr. Kimberley Amirault-Ryan lives by her philosophy of embracing challenges and pushing boundaries to achieve your highest potential. She was the first female performance consultant for the New York Rangers, the New York Knicks, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Edmonton Oilers. Her passion for motivating audiences to reach their fullest potential has received praise from international corporations and sports organizations alike, including Visa, Johnson & Johnson, the NHL, and the NBA.

Amirault-Ryan has worked at five Olympic Games with the gold medal winning teams of the Women’s Hockey Team, Cross Country Ski Team, and Speedskating Team. The Canadian Olympic Committee appointed her as the lead of sport psychology for the entire Olympic team at the 2010 Vancouver, 2012 London, and 2014 Sochi Olympics.

For her ground-breaking work, Amirault-Ryan has received awards such as the Globe and Mail’s Top Power 50 List, WXN Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, and Avenue magazine’s Top 40 Under 40. Companies worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies Walmart, VISA, Johnson & Johnson, General Mills, and Royal Dutch Shell, have hired her to motivate them to achieve sustained high performance.

Click Here to Register for the Spring Seminar

Click here to learn more about Dr. Kimberley Amirault-Ryan on her website or follow her on social media below:

   @DrKAmirault          @drkimberleya

The Education Committee is happy to present the second episode of our new Podcast series featuring various PGA of Alberta Members. Our second guest will be Mr. Bob Paley of Kananaskis Country Golf Course. He will be discussing Growing Culture and Authenticity Both Personally and Professionally with our Host, Bryce Halverson of Valley Ridge GC & PGA of Alberta Education Committee Member. In this week’s episode, Bob will help us understand the importance of authenticity & culture in his operation, and everyday life, while also sharing his journey through the industry and some humorous stories.

This new opportunity allows us to provide our members with more relevant topics from our industry leaders. The episodes are an easy listen, and we are confident that you will be able to extract some information that will help you professionally and personally. Our committee has enlisted the following guests for season 1 of the show; Dean Ingalls, Adam Werbicki, Riley Fleming, Bob Paley and Tahlon Sweenie. Each episode will be unique and cover specific topics that are relevant to our industry. 

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Episode 2 on Spotify

Click here for Episode 2 on Apple

The Education Committee is excited to launch our new Professional Development Podcast series. With the impact of COVID-19 our committee agreed that we would not be able to provide our familiar educational offerings throughout the off-season. Like everything else, we were forced to adapt to the circumstances of the world. As you have seen we have moved our Spring Education Conference to an on-line format and now we are thrilled to launch our PGA of Alberta Podcast Series to replace our Professional Development seminars that are typically offered throughout the off-season.

This new opportunity allows us to provide our members with more relevant topics from our industry leaders. The episodes are an easy listen, and we are confident that you will be able to extract some information that will help you professionally and personally. Our committee has enlisted the following guests for season 1 of the show; Dean Ingalls, Adam Werbicki, Riley Fleming, Bob Paley and Tahlon Sweenie. Each episode will be unique and cover specific topics that are relevant to our industry.

We hope you take the time to enjoy learning from each other. Happy New Year!

Click here for the website for our Podcast

Click here for Episode 1 on Spotify

Click here for Episode 1 on Apple

Spring Seminar 2021...
The Education Committee is excited to announce that the 2021 Spring Seminar has been green-lit for operating as a digital education conference due to the ongoing uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Switching to a digital conference will allow us to provide a safe education alternative for our Members and provide the opportunity to try some new things in terms of format and technology which will benefit the show for years to come.

The Seminar will be held Monday, February 22^nd & Tuesday, February 23^rd 2021 via Zoom and supported by a digital app/platform to be determined. The Education Committee has diligently been working through the survey results from last year’s seminar, proposals received from various speakers on relevant industry topics and are looking forward to this year’s line-up. Mark these dates in your calendar now, we hope you plan on attending this annual kick-off to the golf season in an albeit different but still exciting capacity this year!

Introducing: The PGA of Alberta Podcast...
We are equally excited to announce that preliminary work has begun on a new Education initiative for the winter off-season, introducing The PGA of Alberta Podcast which is being spearheaded by the PD Series sub-committee. Topics and Speakers are currently being researched and developed and once they have been decided upon, recording and editing will commence.

The Podcast will have a strong local flavour to it, as we have so many amazing professionals in our Zone that can offer insight and expertise covering a wide range of relevant topics to their peers. Stay tuned for more updates as we progress on this initiative and please feel free to share any help, thoughts or suggestions with any Education Committee member or Aaron McKay ([email protected]).

Come join The Education Committee - PD Series sub-committee over the lunch hour this Friday, July 10th from 12:00PM - 1:00PM for our weekly offering of: Open Forum Friday,  for up to 100 of our Members’ to have a chance to get together and discuss a variety of topics including:

• Tee Sheet Management during this time of elevated demand.  Lottery Draws, Ballots, 5-balls, intervals, Double Tee Starts, Limited Guest play at private clubs. For example, last week for Troy and the team up in Jasper, how to manage a 273 guest/member tee sheet, with main arteries into Jasper backed up 10-15km with delays of up to 6-8 hours 
• Corporate Operations and how they have been impacted throughout COVID-19. Group Events? Outings? Etc.
• Retail Buying Plans for the 2021 season and beyond. What does this look like?
• How to Build (continue to build) successful relationships at Public/Resort facilities, and understanding retention is a huge aspect of this side of the Golf Industry

The fourth session will be moderated by Education Committee Member - Troy Mills. There will be an agenda shared the day prior with related info. Please feel free to send in any questions/comments/issues that are coming up or being dealt with at your respective facility that you’d like to see some discussion about. We hope to have a variety of members that will be attending that can offer some differing perspectives from Public, Semi-Private & Private courses. This week we are continuing with a R.S.V.P. based model for this session, if you want to attend please email  [email protected] to receive the meeting link. All members encouraged to attend!

*Please email R.S.V.P & all topics/questions/concerns to [email protected]*

Come join The Education Committee - PD Series sub-committee over the lunch hour this Friday, July 3rd from 12:00PM - 1:00PM for our weekly offering of: Open Forum Friday,  for up to 100 of our Members’ to have a chance to get together and discuss a variety of topics like: Corporate Events & Sales, Lesson Protocols & Procedures, Managing Member & Guest Expectations, Work/Life Balance  & discussing the "Covid-19 Response Protocol for Suspected Case" document from the PGA of Canada.

The third session will be moderated by Education Committee Member - Bryce Halverson. There will be an agenda shared the day prior with related info. Please feel free to send in any questions/comments/issues that are coming up or being dealt with at your respective facility that you’d like to see some discussion about. We hope to have a variety of members that will be attending that can offer some differing perspectives from Public, Semi-Private & Private courses. This week we are moving to a R.S.V.P. based model for this session, if you want to attend please email  [email protected] to receive the meeting link. All members encouraged to attend!

*Please email R.S.V.P & all topics/questions/concerns to [email protected]*

**Check out the video from our first  Session here ---> https://bit.ly/3evBVfI

After last week’s success of our inaugural "Open Forum Discussion", the PGA of Alberta has decided to run a second “Open Forum Discussion” Webinar session on Zoom on Friday, May 1st at 11:00AM for up to 25 members . Furthermore, planning has begun to run an Assistants’ specific Zoom discussion next week, so, stay tuned for updates to come on this new initiative. 

Lack of communication and socializing with your peers’ are just but a few of the side results of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The PGA of Alberta would like to help with that by trying to incorporate a little more normalcy and socialization into our daily lives. This initiatives purpose is to share ideas and bring members together that are separated by social distancing, work closures, geography & other restrictions and organically generate some authentic conversation.

This second session will continue with the open discussion on "best practices on managing COVID-19 issues at your facility". After last week’s session, a follow up survey was sent out to participants to gather input on topics of value moving forward and this process will be repeated. The max capacity for this discussion will be 25 members to try and encourage an atmosphere of inclusivity that everyone is able to participate within comfortably. 

Thank you all 140+ members and guests for attending the 2020 edition of the PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar sponsored by E-Z-GO and hosted at the world-class facility The Derrick G&WC. A special thank you goes out to our sponsor Gordon Food Service for providing all attendees first class food and beverage throughout the two-day event.

Lastly, thank you to our lineup of talented Speakers for motivating our members heading into the 2020 season; Michael Breed (presented by Titleist/FootJoy), Matt Ginella, Nick Clearwater, Gia Bocra Liwski, Jason Glass and Darren Lexa.

We hope to see everyone back next year in 2021! Click here to view some pictures taken from the event.

       

The Education Committee is happy to offer 3 additional Education Events ran on the sidelines of the Spring Seminar this year! This is the final week to REGISTER. Click the links below to sign up NOW. Time is still subject to change. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

We will be partnering with Alberta Golf who will  be providing a certification seminar on the new World Handicap System.

Session #1 - Alberta Golf Seminar Registration - Sunday, March 1 - CLICK HERE

Jason Glass will be doing a practical hands-on live evaluation session which will be possible to attend as either a participant or as an observer at a reduced rate.

Session #2 - Jason Glass Live Session Registration - Monday, March 2 - CLICK HERE

Last but not least, we are excited to have Nick Clearwater of GOLFTEC who will be running a live instruction seminar with the ability to attend and receive instruction or just observe at a reduced rate. 

Session # 3 - Nick Clearwater Live Session Registration - Tuesday, March 3 - CLICK HERE

Registration is now open for the 2020 PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar, presented by E-Z-GO and SuperSpeed Golf on March 2nd and 3rd at the Derrick G&WC! We have an incredible couple of days lined up with some exceptional speakers to Educate, Motivate and Inspire! We are extremely excited to also announce that Gordon Food Service (GFS) will be  providing all food and beverage services throughout the duration of the Seminar. After rocking the Buying Show last fall we are very excited to see what they have in store for us. We are again offering Early Bird pricing - register before February 9th, 2020 to take advantage of great savings.

2020 Confirmed Speakers

> Michael Breed - Host of "A New Breed of Golf" on Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio, Chief Digital Instructor for Golf Digest

> Matt Ginella - Golf Advisor’s Editor-at-Large & Host of Golf Advisor Round Trip travel series on Golf Channel

> Nick Clearwater - Vice President of Instruction for GOLFTEC

> Gia Bocra Liwski - Founder of Golf Experiences For Her, LPGA Top 50 Instructor and Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers in America
 
> Jason Glass - Owns and operates Tour Performance Lab and Kinetica Golf Performance, Consultant for many teams and professional athletes from PGA Tour, NFL and NHL, Head of the Titleist Performance Institutes Fitness Advisory Board

Click here for Speaker Biographies. 
S H O W  S C H E D U L E and Speaker topics coming soon!!

 

**Withdrawal policy: Withdraw before the early bird deadline of February 9th to get a full refund and any withdrawal after will incur a 25$ penalty.**    

Click here for PARTNER HOTEL INFO.

Click here or the logo below for Gordon Food Service Info.



Contact [email protected] with any questions or comments.

We are happy to announce that another Keynote Speaker for the forthcoming 2020 Spring Seminar (March 2nd - 3rd) sponsored by EZ-GO & SuperSpeed Golf and hosted by The Derrick G&WC has been secured!

This Speaker is proudly  presented by the PGA of Canada Training Academy, Titleist and FootJoy.

It will be none other than..... Michael Breed!! 

Michael Breed is among the most dynamic, engaging and entertaining teachers in the game. He hosts “A New Breed of Golf “ on Sirius XM PGA TOUR Radio weekdays from 8-10 AM, and the digital series, “A New Breed of Golf,” which is available on Facebook Watch and YouTube.

Michael leads the way in digital golf instruction, and previously hosted the highest rated golf instruction series on Golf Channel, The Golf Fix. He is a member of the PGA of America’s digital broadcast team for the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup. He serves as the Chief Digital Instructor for Golf Digest, focused on innovating golf instruction and overseeing the “Best Young Teachers” program.

Named The PGA of America’s National Teacher of the Year in 2012, he operates the Michael Breed Golf Academy at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top instructors by Golf Digest and GOLF magazines. The Metropolitan PGA Section has recognized Michael for a number of awards, including Teacher of the Year (2000, 2009) - the only two-time winner – and the Horton Smith Award (2006, 2007, 2017).

Follow Michael on  at @MichaelBreed OR on  at @michaelbreed

We are happy to announce that a Keynote Speaker for the forthcoming 2020 Spring Seminar sponsored by E-Z-GO & SuperSpeed Golf and hosted by The Derrick G&WC has been secured!

It will be none other than..... Matt Ginella!!



Matt Ginella is Golf Advisor’s Editor-at-Large and host of Golf Advisor Round Trip travel series on Golf Channel. Matt serves as resident buddy trip expert and captains a collection of VIP trips called Golf Advisor Getaways.

Before the Golf Channel, Ginella was a senior travel editor for Golf Digest and Golf World from 2007-2012 and covered courses, resorts and the avid amateur golfer’s annual buddy trips to over 60 destinations around the country.

Mr. Ginella graduated from St. Mary’s College (Calif.) in 1995 and earned a masters degree in journalism from Columbia University in 2003.

Follow Matt on at @mattginellagc OR on  at @Matt_Ginella

The PGA of Alberta invites you to attend the Buying Show Education Series Seminars during the 3-day Show. There will be three separate Education Seminars throughout the course of the Show. See the below details for more information on topics, dates and times.

Registration is now live for the Day 1 Seminar - The Body/Swing Connection by Presenter Shannon Heffernan (Dynamic Motion Golf Performance Centre). 

Click here to learn more about the Day 1 Seminar and to register now! 

Registration is now live for the Day 2 Seminar -  Buying and Inventory Management Strategies by Presenter Kristi Larson. 

Click here to learn more about the Day 2 Seminar and to register now!

Registration is now live for the Day 3 Seminar - World Handicap System Seminar by Alberta Golf.

Click here to learn more about the Day 3 Seminar and to register now!

*Buying Show Education Series Information Package *

The PGA of Alberta’s Education Committee is proud to present the third annual 2019 winter “Teaching Summit” hosted in the Arizona area. This 3-day educational event will give a select group of PGA of Alberta members (16 participant’s max.) a chance to observe and participate in interactive lessons with three of the most sought-after instructors in North America – Lynn Marriott, Pia Nilsson (VISION54) and Gabriel Hjertstedt (Gabe Golf). During the 8-hours of instruction each day, participants will take a 60-minute lesson to work on their own game as well as develop their coaching skills by observing the other participants take their lessons, always with the ability to ask questions in real time to both student and teacher.

The combined cost of taking a single lesson with each instructor would normally cost in excess of $1000 CAD but PGA of Alberta members will have access to 16 hours of instruction at a fraction of that cost. Full details of the PGA of Alberta “Arizona Teaching Summit” and biographies of the three instructors can be found below.

*Please note that there are limited spots available and will be given on a first come first serve basis.

Click here for full Teaching Summit details and to Register!

Did you know that more Canadians participate in golf than any other sport? 5.7 million Canadian golfers play over 60 million rounds of golf annually. Golf is especially popular with middle-aged and older Canadians.

Canadian physical activity guidelines recommend adults over 18 should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity per week in bouts of at least 10 minutes.

Many people assume golf is a leisure activity and that golfers do not reach a high enough level of intensity to be counted toward their weekly activity goals. However, although not as intense as some sports, a golfer who walks a 9 or 18 hole course expends enough energy to classify golf in the moderate intensity group, meeting the physical activity guidelines.

Walking 18 holes carrying or pushing your clubs takes around four hours, requires 11,000 to 17,000 steps, covers 4-8 miles and expends 500 to 2,400 calories. If you add in a few hills, take more strokes, cover more ground between shots or are a little less fit, the numbers are more likely to be in the higher ranges. Using a cart decreases the overall numbers by 50% but it’s still better than sitting at home.

Click here to read the full article from Physiotherapy Alberta to learn more about the benefits of golfing and how to prevent injury.

We have extended the registration deadline until Sunday - Don’t be the one that misses out!  With an incredible line up that includes Theo Fleury, David Orr, Will Robins, Luke Elvy and many more, it’s this years must attend event!  Don’t miss a great opportunity to spend of couple of days networking with your peers and get motivated for the upcoming season.  Every Member that attends the Spring Seminar will receive 5 Top 100 Program Points per day, 10 points total if you attend both days!

The Seminar will be held at The Carriage House Inn in Calgary on March 4^th and 5^th.  Register now to save your spot!

Issues with registration or payment?  Contact Zak Lucas at [email protected]

Click here for Seminar Information Package

Just a reminder that the 2019 Spring Seminar is less than a week away.  With an incredible line up that includes Theo Fleury, David Orr, Will Robins, Luke Elvy and many more, it’s this years must attend event!  Don’t miss a great opportunity to spend of couple of days networking with your peers and get motivated for the upcoming season.  Every Member that attends the Spring Seminar will receive 5 Professional Development Points per day, 10 points total if you attend both days!

The Seminar will be held at The Carriage House Inn in Calgary on March 4^th and 5^th.  Register now to save your spot!

Click here for Seminar Information Package

On top of an already incredible line up for the 2019 Spring Seminar, we are thrilled to announce that Luke Elvy will be joining us on Monday March 4th.   Originally from Australia, Luke is a PGA Tour Commentator now living in Canmore, AB. 

A veteran broadcaster of almost 20 years, Luke can be seen and heard across 15-20 events per year on the PGA Tour with CBS, Sky Sports and PGA Tour Live.  Luke is also an amazing story teller, and will help us finish off Day 1 of the Spring Seminar, then take us over to Schanks Sports Grill from 5pm to 8pm, where he will be sharing stories from the Tour and his experiences growing up around the game of golf. 
See Luke on Twitter @Luke_Elvy

REGISTER NOW

Click here to view Spring Seminar Package

 The PGA of Alberta’s Education Committee is thrilled to announce the 2019 Calgary Teaching Summit, hosted at Earl Grey Golf Club with world renowned putting specialist David Orr. This will take place on Monday, March 4th @ 5pm, immediately following Day 1 of the 2019 Spring Seminar. 

The Calgary Teaching Summit will provide PGA of Alberta members with two choices to enhance their professional skills. Option one gives 4 attendees the opportunity to have a 1-on-1 session (50 minute lesson) to refine their own game, and develop their coaching skills by observing the other participants taking their lessons.  There will be endless opportunities for questions and discussions throughout the sessions with David.   Option two gives an additional 6 attendees with the opportunity to attend as an observer - which gives you access to all 4 sessions with the same opportunity to discuss with David Orr and your peers. 

Click here for more information  

Registration is now open for the 2019 PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar, presented by E-Z-GO and SuperSpeed Golf on March 4th and 5th at the Carriage House Inn.  We have an incredible couple of days lined up with some exceptional speakers to Educate, Motivate and Inspire!

This year we are offering Early Bird pricing - register before February 1st, 2019 to take advantage of great savings. 

Guest speakers include David Orr, Will Robins, Theoren Fleury, James Beebe, George Pinches and many more talented professionals.   For more information on speakers, topics and accommodation - CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE to register

The Education Committee is pleased to announce three very exciting headliners for the 2019 Spring Seminar - David Orr, Will Robins and Theoren Fleury.

David Orr is a PGA Tour coach and world-renowned putting specialist.    David has worked with over 50 touring professionals worldwide including: Justin Rose, Hunter Mahan, Cameron Percy, DA Points, Daniel Berger and Cheyenne Woods.   The Director of Instruction at Campbell University and a name on the 2019 Golf magazine Top 100 Instructor list, David loves to share his experiences, information and insight with other golf instructors through his "Flatstick Academy Certified Instructor Program".

Will Robins, a certified PGA Professional, is helping revolutionize golf instruction worldwide by helping golf professionals guarantee results with their players.   Through his companies, WRGolf and Robins Golf Logistix, Will trains over 80 coaches worldwide on how to implement programs that accellerate and guarantee results for students while doubling their teaching and coaching revenue.   He is an engaging speaker with a mission to motivate.   With an incredible story, his journey from surviving the 2004 Tsunami to his passion for coaching the game of golf, Will is committed to changing lives.

Theoren Fleury - Stanley Cup Winner.   Olympic Gold Medallist.   Country Musician.   Best Selling Author.   For some people that’s enough, but Theoren Fleury is passionate about helping people overcome obstacles by igniting leadership, action and resilience from within.   Fleury is a dynamic speaker and not only entertains, but empowers everyone to tackle issues from a fresh perspective.   Motivating to confront obstacles head on and truly understanding that change is possible and quitting is never an option is just one thing Theoren will be diving into.

Stay tuned for more information on speakers and topics. Registration will be opening next week for the 2019 PGA of Alberta Spring Seminar - March 4th and 5th at the Carriage House Inn, Calgary AB.

Click here for more information including all confirmed speakers.

The PGA of Alberta invites you to attend the Buying Show Education Series during the 3-day Show.  There will be three separate Buying Show Education Series Workshops throughout the course of the show. See the below details for more information on topics, dates and times. Registration is now live for all Buying Show Education components.

Click here for to learn more about each Education component and to register.

The PGA of Alberta’s Education Committee is proud to present the second annual 2018 winter “Teaching Summit” hosted in the Arizona area. This 3-day educational event will give a select group of PGA of Alberta members (16 participant’s max.) to observe interactive lessons with two of the most sought-after instructors in North America – Gabriel Hjertstedt and Martin Chuck. During the 8-hours of instruction each day, participants will take a 60-minute lesson to work on their own game as well as develop their coaching skills by observing the other participants take their lessons, always with the ability to ask questions in real time to both student and teacher.

The combined cost of taking a single lesson with each instructor would normally cost in excess of $800 CAD but PGA of Alberta members will have access to 16 hours of instruction at a fraction of that cost. Full details of the PGA of Alberta “Arizona Teaching Summit” and biographies of the both instructors can be found below.

*Please note that their are limited spots available and will be given on a first come first serve basis.

Click here for full Teaching Summit details and to Register!

Registration is now live for the TrackMan Education Courses for the PGA of Alberta membership and non-members. Cody Miller and Ryan Cunningham will be hosting two separate TrackMan Level 1 Education Courses in Alberta in the month of September. These courses will be consistent with the Level 1 certification test through TrackMan University. All attendees will be equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to pass this test online and begin working towards their level two certification.

Takeaways from this course; all attendees will be fully equipped to take the TrackMan Level 1 Certification test, note this is not required. Attendees will also have the ability to schedule time with both Ryan and Cody to come to your facility to provide further information.

Click here for more information on the Calgary Course and to Register - September 24th @ the Glencoe G&CC

Click here for more information on the Edmonton Course and to Register - September 25th @ the Royal Mayfair GC

Tracy Moffatt will be hosting a live Webinar for the PGA of Alberta on September 12th. This Webinar is available for all PGA of Alberta Members as well as Non-Members. 

The Buying Show in Edmonton is fast approaching! Building off her 2018 Spring Seminar presentations, this Webinar session will help you develop a buying plan for the 2018 Buying Show. During this hands on two-way interactive Webinar, Tracy will look at key numbers you need to review and forecast for next year and then take those numbers and develop a simple buying plan for the upcoming season.  Additionally, vendor analysis and planning for the upcoming season will also be discussed. This Webinar is designed for anyone from your facility that has any involvement with the Buying Show process. General Managers, Head Pro’s, Teaching Pro’s and Assistant Professionals are all encouraged to participate.

Click Here to Learn More and Register!