Gord’s Alberta Golf Notes: Danny Sahl Finds Success; PGA of Alberta Playing Ability Test; Alberta Golf Rec Series; Ladies Amateur Date Change
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2021-04-28
By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf
While Alberta’s Danny Sahl may have never found the fame and fortune he sought as a professional golfer, he’s finding great success as a professional caddie. And maybe a bit of fortune as well. Sahl, from Sherwood Park, has toted the sticks for a number of high-end players, including Vijay Singh, Ben Curtis and Mike Weir in the past. But it’s his recent work, on the bag for Canadian Corey Conners, that sees him gaining notoriety as well as a fatter wallet. Sahl’s playing career started when he was recognized as one of the top junior-aged players in Alberta, especially with his showings on the McLennan Ross - Sun Junior Tour. From there he headed off to Kent State, the same school that his new boss attended, before jumping to the Mackenzie Tour where he took home top prize money at the 2011 Boreal Open in Fort McMurray. While he never got any higher than that level as a player, Sahl’s certainly succeeded as a player’s right-hand man, especially with Conners, who in the 2021 season, with Sahl as his caddie, had won over US$1.7M of which Sahl receives a percentage (it’s rumoured most caddies collect 7% of winnings). Not bad work if you can get it!
If your son, or daughter, is looking at the golf industry as a career, especially in the pro end, then the PGA of Alberta is offering them lots of opportunities to take the must-have Playing Ability Test (PAT) in 2021. Events will be held this year at the Cardiff G&CC; then at the Highwood GC; the Links at Spruce Grove; and finally a pair at Alberta Springs to wrap up the qualifying season. The PAT is a standardized testing of all applicants and they must pass this in order to be eligible for membership in the PGA of Canada and Alberta. Prospective members must be at least 18 years old; have a high school diploma or higher; work at a golf facility a minimum of 400 hours a year; have two reference letters; and complete a police check. The playing test is 18 holes and can be taken an unlimited number of times, provided a fee is paid prior to each event, as necessary. Hopefuls must register through the PGA of Canada and the cost is $325 which includes the first playing fee. For more information, and dates, please check online at pgaofalberta.com.
For a somewhat less stressful time on the course, but still with a competitive nature, take a swing at the Alberta Golf Recreational Series hosted by Alberta Golf. The tournament locations and dates are as follows: Fairmont Banff Springs – Sunday, May 30; Highwood Golf Club – Saturday, June 12; Stewart Creek Golf Club – Tuesday, June 29; Sundre Golf Club – Monday, July 12; Northern Bear Golf Club – Monday, July 26; Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge – Thursday, August 19; and Pine Hills Golf Club – Thursday, September 2. For registration information, please go to albertagolf.org.
And finally, a date change has been announced for a major amateur golf event in Alberta. The Ladies Amateur will now be held on July 13 to 15 at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Sherwood Park. For registration info, go to albertagolf.org and look under Provincial Championships.