Athabasca GCC

Format:  18 holes, 9 am shotgun start.

The Course:  Well worth the 90 minute drive NE of Edmonton.  One of the most challenging and best conditioned courses on Tour with a mix of a newer Front 9 designed by Sid Puddicombe Associates, and  back 9 of the original 9-hole layout that has undergone extensive renovations and upgrades.

Yardages: White 6,235 Red 5,370

Key Hole: #1 par 4, 372 yds from the Whites.  Their signature hole is the beautiful and demanding par-3 3rd hole from an elevated tee, but for my money, the key hole on the front is the opener,,this demanding par 4  with heavy bush on both sides and a yawning fairway bunker in the landing area.   It will be interesting to see more of their changes this year on some of the new back 9 holes!

How to find the course and travel times: The town of Athabasca is about 90 minute NE of Edmonton. Go north through St. Albert and turn east at the T-intersection about 5 miles east of Westlock.  The golf course is north of the downtown area on the other side of the Athabasca river from the downtown area.

Barrhead GCC

The Course: Excellent golf course, one of the most challenging on Tour. Host of the Alberta Junior Boys' Championship, where Dale Vallely set the course record with a 9-under par 63.  Always in excellent condition, with a variety of tight, tree-lined holes mixed in with more open parkland holes.  Not overly long, but requires excellent shotmaking.

Format: 18 holes  stroke play. Shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.

Yardages: Boys play Regular tees at 6,065 yards. Girls play Forward tees at 5,351 yards.

Key Hole: #4, Par 4, 405.  One of Alberta's best par-4s, with a water hazard angling diagonally across the fairway in the landing area.  Elevated green is well guarded by bunkers and water. Take 4 and run!

How to find the course and travel times: Barrhead is about 75 miles NW of Edmonton.  West on Hwy 16, north on Hwy. 32 to Gunn, then about 20 miles north to Barrhead. Watch for signs on the south side just as you get to town, as the course is about 3 miles SW of town adjacent to the airport.  Do not get this course confused with the 9-hole Paddle River course right in town.

Black Bull Golf Resort

Format: 18 holes, 9 am shotgun start.

The Course: On the Tour since 2006, Black Bull is possibly the most difficult course of the entire summer. One of the 9s incorporates some open, links-style holes and the other 9 is tree-lined and tighter. Excellent on-site organization!

Yardages: White 6,536 Gold 5,947

Key Hole: #5, par 4, 410 yards. Long dogleg right par 4, with environmentally -sensitive area in the landing area and dense bush on both sides. 

How to find the course and travel times: Black Bull is located at Ma-Me-O Beach, about 20 km west of the QE II.  Map and detailed directions are on their website.

Canmore GCC

Format:  18 holes, 9 am shotgun start.

The Course: Outstanding organization with lots of volunteer help from the club's Senior members.  Leads the Tour in scenery!  Scrolling computer scoring during the meal, which is also always outstanding.  No wonder this event always sells out!

Yardages: Blue 6,240 Red 5,330

Key Hole: #16, Par 4, 393 yds Blues. Hard par 4 dogleg right with trees and lateral water hazard. Par is a great score here.

How to find the course and travel times: The town of Canmore is about an hour west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada. The course is on the west edge of town adjacent to the Bow River. The clubhouse is part of their curling rink and arena recreation complex.

Carstairs GCC

Format: 18 holes, afternoon shotgun start at 1:30 p.m.

The Course: A former site of the Alberta Boys' Junior Championship, Carstairs has been on the Tour since 2005. The course is nicely matured, with many changes over the past decade with added length, new greens, bunkers, etc.  Big hitters can let 'er rip here, with some reachable par 5s and generous fairways.  Go low!

Yardages: White 6,149 Red 5,492

Key Hole: #8, Par 3, 132 yards.  Really good short hole.  Usually only a wedge, but can be trickey with prevailing left to right winds bringing the water in front into play.

How to find the course and travel times: Carstairs is about a half hour north of Calgary on Hwy 2A, 5 km. west of the QE II. The course is on the north edge of town on Hwy. 2A.  See the website for map.

Drayton Valley GCC

Format: 18 holes stroke play.  Shotgun start at 10:00 a.m.

The Course:  The course has been almost completely rebuilt over the past 5 years, with several new holes in a re-routing of the front 9 along with expanded tees on the back 9. Excellent support from the Drayton Valley business community, resulting in excellent prizes and value for the players.

Yardages: Boys play Whites at 6,255 yards.  Girls play Yellow tees at 5,591 yards.

Par 71 for boys, Par 72 for Girls.

Key Hole: #14, Par 5, 505 from Whites. Water hazard and bush left, more trees to the right.  Can be reached in two by big hitters willing to challenge the water hazard on the left with their tee shots.  Lots of slope and breaks in the green.

How to find the course and travel times: West from Edmonton on Hwy. 16 about 100 km. to Entwistle, then about 45 km. south on Hwy.22.  Abouit an hour north of Rocky Mountain House on Hwy. 22.  Course is located on northern outskirts of the town.

Golden, BC

Format: 18 holes stroke play. In 2007, we had tee times off #1 starting at 10:30 a.m. 2008 start times will be the same schedule.

Head Professional: Bob Forshner

Yardages:  Tournament played from White Tees for Boys 6,276 and Red for Girls 5,391

Key Hole: #11, par 4, 428 yards

Sweeping downhill left to right dogleg with a creek crossing diagonally in front of the green. Requires two excellent shots to reach the putting surface.

How to find the course and travel times:

Golden is about 3 hours west of Calgary via the TransCanada highway.  New bridge that opened in 2007 over the Kicking Horse Pass near the town is spectacular and greatly improves safety and travel times through the area.  Golf course is just west of the town.

Grande Prairie GCC

Format: One of two 36-hole events on Tour. Check with the course for your tee times each day.

The Course: Perhaps the best course in the Peace Country, the Grande Prairie GCC has hosted the Alberta Mens' Amateur. Plenty of activities for the kids, including a long drive contest and Horse Race after the first round. One of the longer courses on Tour,even though the event is not played from the tips.

Yardages: White 6,472 Red 5,813

Key Hole: #16, Par 5, 512 yds. Excellent risk/reward hole. Reachable in two shots for big hitters, but you have to navigate OB left, trees right and water near the green and THEN a tricky, two-tier green.

How to find the course and travel times: Course is about 4 miles SE of the downtown business core on Resources Road.  Good map on their website.

Henderson Lake GC

Format: 36 holes stroke play, Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, 2008. Tees times off #1 starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and Noon on Sunday.

The Course:Parkland setting with large mature trees, several water hazards and some severely sloped greens making putting difficult. One of only two 36-hole events on the Tour, Henderson Lake's tournament always attracts a strong field of players from Central and Southern Alberta, prepping for the upcoming Alberta Junior Championships.

Yardages:  Boys play the tips at 6,512 with younger boys and girls playing the Reds at 5,740.

Key Hole: #6, 447 yard Par 4. Long dogleg right with OB right and large mature trees left to  a severely sloped green.

How to find the course and travel times: Golf course is just off Mayor Magrath Drive east of the downtown core of Lethbridge. Good selection of motels and restaurants in the area for out of town competitors and their families.

Indian Lakes GCC

Format: 18 holes stroke play.  9:00 a.m.shotgun start.

The Course: Has undergone massive improvements and renovations over the last 5 years.  Much improved course conditioning under current management. 

Key Hole: #8, Par 3, 188 yards from Whites. Their signature hole, with water guarding the green and prevailing northwest winds making club selection difficult.

How to find the course and travel times: Located on the Enoch Indian Reservation about 10 minutes west of the Edmonton City LImits.

Innisfail GCC

Format: 18 holes, will be part of a cross-over start in 2008, with first tees times approximately 11:30 a.m.  Check with the course for tee times and which two of their three 9s will be used for the 2008 tournament.

The Course: One of Alberta's best courses, Innisfail now offers a 27-hole facility and all three 9s are outstanding. Lots of hills, lots of trees and water, and lots of fun!

Yardages:  Aspen 3,131 Blue 2,497 Gold

Hazelwood 3,170 Blue 2,703 Gold

Spruce 3,087 Blue 2,548 Gold

Key Hole: Will depend on which rotation the course decides to use in 2008. Watch this space!

How to find the course and travel times: Innisfail is about 30 km south of Red Deer on the QE II. Construction of a new interchange into town may lead to travel delays. Drive west through the business district, and the course is on the northewest edge of town.

Lacombe GCC

Format: 18 holes, shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.

The Course: One of the charter members of the Tour. Not overly long, but some of the slickest and trickiest greens in Central Alberta. Mature trees line most of the fairways, and they have a very strong set of Par-3s.  Put the driver away, keep the ball in play and below the hole, and you can score well here.

Yardages: Blues 6,344 Whites 6,062 Yellow 5,255   par 72

Key Hole: #10, Par 4, 429 (Blue).  Excellent dogleg right Par 4, with heavy trees both left and right. Small green slopes away from the player, often requiring an approach shot that lands well short and rolls on.

How to find the course and travel times:  Course is located on the west edge of the town.  Take the Hwy. 2 exit at Lacombe coming north from Red Deer or south from Edmonton.  Lacombe is about 120 km. south of Edmonton and 50 km. north of Red Deer.

Leduc GCC

Format: 18 holes, shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.

The Course: Added to the Tour in 2006, they have made several improvements to the course in recent years.  Well organized, and a great meal after the event!

Yardages: Blue 6,434  Gold 5,689  Par 71 for boys, Par 73 for girls

Key Hole: #7, par 4, 408 yards. Generally downwind, but OB very close on the right and a lateral water hazard left bring trouble into play. Plays longer than the yardage because you often have to lay up off the tee to avoid the trouble.

How to find the course and travel times: A little tricky to find the first time. Turn west from the QE II coming south from Edmonton onto 50th Ave at the Leduc Common shopping center. Turn south into the residential area at the first set of lights west of the shopping center.  Watch for the signs in the residential area, as provincial regulations do not permit the course to have signage on the highway.

McKenzie Meadows GC

Format: 18 holes, 8 am shotgun start.

The Course: Excellent daily fee course located in Fish Creek Park on the southeast edge of Calgary.  Links style, fairly open holes but lots of water!  Always in excellent condition.

Yardages: Blue 6,333 Red 5,132

Key Hole: #11, par 5, 490  yds. Blue. Good risk/reward hole that challenges you to go for the green in two! Environmentally sensitive hazard all the way down the right side to an elevated green.

How to find the course and travel times: Located  in Fish Creek Park east of Mcleod Trail and west of the Deerfoot Trail in SE Calgary. Map on their website.

Montgomery Glen GC

Format: 18 holes, shotgun start 9 a.m.

The Course: On Tour since 1997 and always have had a well-run event. Not overly long or overly tight, but smallish greens demand good iron play to score well. Under new management in 2007, they really improved course conditioning last year.

Yardages: Whites 6,312 Reds 5,598

Key Hole: #12, par 4, 405 yds.  Accurate tee shot needed to avoid water hazard right and trees that sneak up on you on the left.

How to find the course and travel times: Players coming from Edmonton can take Hwy 2A south from Leduc and turn west as you get to the north outskirts of town.  Players coming north on Hwy 2 should turn north in Wetaskiwin on their main business street and then turn west at the golf course, which is visible on the west side at the north edge of town.

Nanton GC

Format: 18 holes, 9 am shotgun start.

The Course: One of the charter members of the Tour. They have almost completely rebuilt the tees and greens on the older front 9, to complement the newer back 9. The back is longer, with more water coming into play. Last chance to qualify for the Tour Championship!

Key Hole: #11, Par 4, 402 yds. Dogleg left par 4, with water left and OB right. Creek comes up close to the left side of the green, making an accurate approach shot a necessity.

How to find the course and travel times: Nanton is about 90 km. from the south edge of Calgary on the QE II.  The golf course is on the north side of the town. Watch for the signs.  Morning traffic leaving Calgary may be heavy so please leave adequate travel time.

Northern Bear

Olds Central Highlands GC

Format:  18 holes stroke play, Shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.  Tournament featured a separate 9-hole 'fun' event along with the main tournament for younger kids in the 6-10 age group with adult supervision.  The kids had a blast!

The Course: Fairly flat, but some well positioned water hazards and numerous bunkers.  The inaugural Olds Junior Open as part of the Tour in 2007 was a big success.

Yardages: Boys played white tees at 6,354 yards, girls from Reds at 5,886 yards.

Key Hole: #8, par 4, 320 yards.  Trickly 'risk/reward' hole. Slight dogleg right with a well-bunkered sloping green.  Big hitters may want to challenge the dogleg to drive the green but will need to thread the needle between trees and sand to do so.

How to find the course and travel times: Olds is about 100 km, north of Calgary just west of the QE II. Golf course is about 3 km NW of the town, just north of Hwy, 27 leading into Olds from the QE II.

Pine Hills GCC

Format: 18 holes, shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.

The Course: One of the more scenic courses on Tour.  Pine Hills GC in Rocky Mountain House is a mix of the original 9 holes at the club, which have somewhat smaller greens, and a newer 9 winding through the pine trees.  Terrific new clubhouse was built in 2005.

Yardages:  Boys tournament tees 6,132, Girls play at 5,511 yards

Key Hole: #6, par 5, 529 from the Whites. One of the toughest Par 5s on the Tour, requires 3 excellent shots to an elevated green with water hazards and trees lining both sides of the fairway.

How to find the course and travel times: Rocky Mountain House is about 45 minutes west of Red Deer on Hwy. 11. Course is located about 5 miles west of the town.  See their website for maps.

Pinebrook GCC

Format: 18 holes, 8 am shotgun start.

The Course: Pinebrook is the only fully private course on the Tour. They have hosted the Kevin Hipple Memorial Tournament for about 25 years in honor of one of their former junior members.  It is a very prestigious event, always sells out and attracts a strong field, especially with junior girls. The course is always in immaculate condition featuring perhaps the fastest greens of the Tour season.

Yardages: White 6,126 Red 5,663  Par 71 (M) 73 (W)

Key Hole: #17, par 4, 412 yrds Whites. Long drive required to set up as short a 2nd shot as possible over a water hazard fronting the green that slopes from back to front.

How to find the course and travel times: About 5 km. west of the intersection of Glenmore  and Sarcee Trails in SE Calgary. Excellent map and written directions on their website. Morning travel in Calgary can be hectic, so leave plenty of time.

Ponoka Community Golf Club

Format: 18 holes, shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.

The Course: Another charter member of the Tour. Another course going through renovations and improvements with new greens and tees on several holes in recent years.  Some tight holes and some where you can let out the shaft.

Yardages: Silver 6,027 White 5.148

Key Hole: #17, par 3, 195 yards Silver.  One of the best par 3s in Alberta. Elevated Tee. Long iron or fairway metal to an elevated green with trees and bunkers guarding the putting surface.

How to find the course and travel times: Ponoka is about an hour south of Edmonton on the QE II. The golf course is in the SE part of town adjacent to the Alberta Hospital property.  See website for map.

Stony Plain GC

Format: 18 holes.  2007 event was an afternoon shotgun but 2008 start times yet to be determined.

The Course: Owned and operated by the Town of Stony Plain. Several new tees and bunkering in recent years to lengthen and toughen the golf course. Big, rolling greens!  Always one of the better organized events on Tour, with an excellent Junior Comittee at the club.

Yardages: Blue 6,473 Red 5,601 Par 72

Key Hole: #7, Par 3, 209 yards (Blue) One of the best par 3s  on Tour.  Usually into the prevailing west wind to an elevated green with water hazard right and OB left.

How to find the course and travel times: Stony Plain is about 20 minutes west of Edmonton on Hwy. 16. Turn south at the Safeway store, right at the lights by the Hospital, and watch for the signs. The Golf Course's website is part of the Town of Stony Plain's website.

Strathmore GCC

Format: 18 holes, 9:00 a.m.shotgun start.

The Course: Mix of two quite different 9s,,,the original course (front) and a new back 9 built in the 1990s.  Front 9 features smaller, flatter greens and winds its way around a large wetlands that comes into play often.  Back 9 is more a links-style with fescue grasses, mounding, and waste bunkers.  They also always put on one of the best meals on Tour!  YUMMY~!

Yardages: Blue 6,195 Red 5,262

Key Hole: #18, Par 3, 190 from the Blues.  Not many finishing par-3s around , but this one is a beauty!  Water right , OB left into the range, and a really tough mounded green. 

How to find the course and travel times: Strathmore is about 25 minutes east of Calgary on Hwy. 16. Turn north at the Husky station on Wheatland Trail. The course is about 2 km north.  Map on their website.

Sturgeon Valley GCC

Format: 18 holes , shotgun start , morning.  Exact time TBA

The Course: Sturgeon Valley GCC is  a semi-private club in St. Albert.  Director of Golf Neal Connell has long been an excellent supporter of junior golf and runs an excellent junior program at the club.  He has offered the use of Sturgeon Valley for a 2008 Tour event.  The course is on rolling parkland along the Sturgeon River on the eastern outskirts of St. Albert.

Yardages: Whites 6,267 Reds 5,860  Par 72

Key Hole: #18 par 4, 429 yards .  Excellent finishing hole, uphill with a well bunkered green. 

How to find the course and travel times: Good map on their website.  Can go east through St. Albert on Sturgeon Road, or north through Edmonton on 127 St.

Whitecourt GCC

Format: 18 holes, start times will either be a shotgun start or tee times off #1, depending on the number of entrants. Morning start.  Check with the course for start times.

The Course: One of the best layouts on Tour, host of the 2005 Alberta Junior Boys' Championship, won by Mitchell Fox at -7 for 72 holes.  Word is that the course may soon host the Junior Boys' Championship again, so this would be an excellent opportunity to gain tournament experience on this course.

Yardages: White 6,285 Yellow 5,346

Key Hole: #16, Par 4. Plays about 390 from the Whites. Water hazard left off the tee,with a creek disecting the fairway in the landing area.  Requires an accurate tee shot and a precise iron to a tightly guarded green.

How to find the course and travel times: Whitecourt is about 90 minutes NW of Edmonton on Hwy. 43. When you arrive in town, turn right at the McDonald's, go down the hill, north past the Extra Foods, and watch for the signs.

Wolf Creek Golf Resort

Format: 18 holes for players who have qualified.  Noon shotgun start.

The Course: Site of the Tour Championship since the Tour's inception in 1996, Wolf Creek is annually ranked in Canada's Top 25 courses. A wonderful mixture of Scottish links-style holes mixed in with some tree-lined beauties. Has 27 holes with another 9 under construction, but the Tour Championship is contested on the original East/West configuration.

Key Hole: #4 West. par 4, 336 yards Silver.  The Wolf's signature hole, a scary but playable par 4 to an island green.  Demands precise iron off the tee and an accurate wedge to the green with no bailout area. 

How to find the course and travel times: Wolf Creek Golf Resort is located adjacent to the QE II highway,about 110 km south of Edmonton.