PGA of Alberta Pro Tournament Proves Stony Plain GC Is Back
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2020-07-21
By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf
STONY PLAIN, Alberta — If you haven’t had the opportunity to venture out to Stony Plain to test your golfing skills on their course because you wondered if it had come back to life after a couple of tough years, wonder no more. It’s back and it’s in fine form.
That fact was more than proven by the assistant golf professionals in the PGA of Alberta’s annual championship tournament. Of the 57 pros who teed it up at the municipally-owned track for their 36-hole event in mid-July, only one players, Riley Fleming managed to finish under par.
Speaking to the ‘new’ greens that are now just over a year old and how they’ve brought this course back to its former glory, Stony’s executive professional, Jeff Cuthbertson said, “It’s unique in the sense we had to start over with greens’ construction, all new turf. To get people out and understand and realize, Stony Plain is back. The golf course is in great shape. The greens are in great shape. We’re back where we should be.”
Stony’s head pro, Robb James, took much the same line about the importance of hosting this major PGA of Alberta event said abput the shape this course is now in and what that should tell the public player.
“We were excited to see what sort of numbers we’d get posted in a two-day event. The greens wintered fantastic and we’ve had a great start to the season. The conditions were fantastic. The greens were as firm and as fast as last May.”
Fleming attested to that fact after his win, noting the greens offered all the pros plenty of challenges, not only because of some strong winds but also the breaks in the surfaces that are tough to gauge. That being said, he carded six birdies on his final day, to shoot a 4-under 68 which propelled him to the victory.
James said the reaction of the pros that took part in the tournament was solid. The course did host a one-day event two years ago, in the midst of their grass problems.
“Then, we were just trying our best to find an eight-foot circle on the greens that was reasonably healthy and that was a struggle to do on a lot of the greens,” said James about pin placements. “Now,” he continued, “you can find a 48-yard green without a blemish on it.”
Given the turf at Stony is new James said there was no hesitation in having the pros come and test the challenges at Stony, especially on those new putting surfaces.
“No. There was a 100 per cent commitment right out of the gate. The greens came through the winter healthy. As soon as the tarps came off the greens, we knew we were in for a great season.”
What this means is that the famed greens at the Stony Plain Golf Course are back and in play, although for those of us with shaky putting strokes know the 3-whack fears are back given their speed and subtle breaks. But then again, that’s what this track has always been known for.
For tee times, call the pro shop at 780-963-2133 or go to their website at stonyplaingolfcourse.com to book online times.