Gord’s Alberta Golf Notes: Golf Season In Alberta Is Finally Open With An Update On Protocols

By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf

Sunshine and temps in the mid- to high 20s. Cloud and wind. Rain. Fog. Frost. Snow. More sunshine and warm temps. And then one final winter like blast from Mother Nature means golf season in Alberta is officially open. But not before more rain. And wind. And yes, late May snow. Welcome to springtime golf in Alberta. While the season got off to a strong, early start, the weather has been anything but uniform during these early days. However, golfers and golf courses are persevering through these swings to play the game they love all across the province. And then things got even better this week.

As of Tuesday, June 1, things are back to full speed on courses across Alberta. The government announced on May 26 that foursomes will once again be allowed much to everyone’s relief. In Phase 1 of the government’s Open For Summer plans, it was stated that outdoor recreation was going back to the way it was three weeks ago prior to stricter measures being taken to control the spread of COVID-19. Those measures appear to have paid off so, now it’s back to as normal as things have been this year on golf courses across Alberta. In a release about the return to what-was, NAGA noted:

The following are highlights of Stage 1of the plan (effective June 1st):

Outdoor physical, performance and recreation activities -up to 10 distanced people, all ages.

It is our understanding that golfers as of June 1st can now make multiple tee-time reservations up  to  a maximum  of  10,  plus  outdoor  golf  lessons  can  proceed  up  to  10  people  including professional staff.

It  is  our  understanding  the  previous guidance  for  sport,  fitness  and  recreation will still be applicable  which  means  that  carts can  be  used  by  one  individual  only  or  can  be  shared  by members of the same household. Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect.

Even the club professionals from around Alberta will be back in the swing of things when the calendar shifts to June, as seven different PGA of Alberta competitions are slated to take place. Tournament play had been in a holding pattern for the past three weeks as COVID-19 regulations prohibited large gatherings. Events for the pros kick off on June 7 with the Tournament of Champions at the Willow Park G&CC and (hopefully) run through the month, wrapping up with the entertaining, and usually low-scoring Pro-Pro scramble at the beautiful Edmonton Petroleum G&CC. So, welcome back, boys and play well!

Spruce Grove’s Wilson Bateman not only fired a course record -10 in the final stop on the Outlaw Tour on the TPC Scottsdale track in Arizona to win by seven shots, he was also first on the tour’s money list.