SOUTHERN ALBERTA✦GOLF GUIDE

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010 ✦ Lethbridge Herald – Medicine Hat News – 7

MJT events focus on teaching

young players

◆ CONTINUED from page 6

OnMay 1-2 the tour comes to

Lethbridge. The Lethbridge College Classic takes place at the Paradise Canyon Golf Resort. “It’s a unique event sponsored in

part by the Lethbridge College Kodiaks,” saidMatson. “Whatwe’ve done iswe’ve incorporated a college component into it. There’s theUniversity of Alberta, theUniversity of Calgary, Lethbridge College and Grant MacEwan. There’s going to be four boys teams and three girls teams that will play in the event. “OnDay 1 the MJT kids are going

to play with the college players and see what their games need to be at to go to the college level (aswell as) maybe be a bit of a recruiting tournament. “On the second daywe’ll break

into the MJT portion and the college portion.” While there will more emphasis on

northern Alberta events, there will still be a strong southern Alberta element on tour this year aswell. “There are probably going to be 15

or 20 kids from southern Alberta that are going to be playing from all the different courses,” saidMatson. “I don’t knowif anyone stands out

as the kid to beat this year. But I think after a couple of events you’ll know. “Locally there are somany talented kids.” Matson enters into his second year

at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort. “It’s spectacular,” he said. “We’ve

got the heated indoor box with all the mirrors and space heaters.We can hit balls all winter. It gives the kids I teach an opportunity to go out and play a little bit.We haven’t yet because theweather has been so brutal. Butwe’re going to go out and play the full putting green to work on the short game and pitching.”

Maple Leaf Junior Tour events

Listed are some Maple Leaf Junior

Tour events, including the national championship. Events which winners and top finishers can qualify are listed in parentheses.

April 17-18

1st Choice Savings Series at Coaldale Land-O-Lakes Golf Club (Qualifier for FCWT National Championship)

May 1-2

Lethbridge College Classic presented

by 1st Choice Savings at Paradise Canyon Resort (Qualifier for East Au- rora International Junior Masters)

May 8-9

Alberta Series at Desert Blume Golf

Club in Medicine Hat (Qualifier for Srixon International Junior Classic - Australia)

May 22-23

Alberta Series at Lacombe Golf Club (Qualifier for Teens on the GreenWorld Championship / Pepsi Little People's Championship)

June 12-13

Alberta Series at Olds Central High-

lands Golf Club (Qualifier for Open In- vite - USA Event/TPC Sawgrass/Doral)

June 26-27

Grove

Alberta Series at The Links at Spruce

July 26-27

1st Choice Savings Series at Picture

Butte Golf Club (Qualifier for Singha World Junior Championship - Thailand)

August 3-5

MJT-PGA of Alberta Junior Champi-

onship at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club (Qualifier for TJGT Barton Creek)

Aug 23-24

Macleod Savings & Credit Union Golf

Classic at Nanton Golf Club (Qualifier for Open US Event)

Nov 19-21

National Championship at TheWig-

wam Golf Resort and SpaBy Invitation at Litchfield Park in Phoenix, AZ

Change is coming to Country Club

Dale Woodard

LETHBRIDGE HERALD

sports@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Golf and

Country Club is getting a facelift and a little more friendly as a result.

While that will mean shutting

down three holes after the September long weekend, head pro Rick Gross said the club is looking long term. “The membership is really

Herald file photo

excited about. It was a good scenario that way. It’s just something that if we did have to change, this is a good time to do it. We’re always trying to evolve and be better. Whether it’s a new tee box or a new sand trap or whatever the case may be.”

The first phase of change involves a new tee box on hole five. “Which is exciting, it’s going to lengthen the hole out a little bit more,” said Gross.

Then comes the big project later in the season. “We have a big project that’s going to

start sometime during the summer, as much as we can do internally without affecting the regular play,” said Gross. “After the September long weekend

we’re shutting three holes down to revamp the 12th, 13th and 14th holes. It’s going to be a lot more friendly for our members. It’s going to be a bit longer, but it’s going to be friendlier than the coulee holes we had before.” Hole number 12 will be converted to a par 3, said Gross. “There are going to be four tee boxes,

so it’s it’s going to play a variety of lengths. From the back tee it’s going to be about 209 yards. It’s basically going to go from north to south,” said Gross. “Hole 13 is going to run along the edge of our property line on top of the coulee. They’re going shave it and flatten it out

The Lethbridge Country Club – seen here getting some attention from Jim Isaac – has a reputation as one of southern Alberta’s top courses, and it should be even better after renovating a number of long-time problem holes.

and that’s going to run approximately 415 yards, slightly uphill.”

The 14th hole can be tough to play when conditions are bad, said Gross. “We’re going to flatten it out and move the tee box over to the other side for the back tees and make the hill a bit more flat so you can see your tee shot instead of it being a blind shot all the time,” said Gross. “Right now the fairways are kind of bowl-shaped. So the balls kind of funnel into the middle. It takes a lot of wear and tear on certain sections of the fairway, plus the power carts can’t get down into them.” Gross said the club hopes to have all

three holes operational by June 15, 2011. The changes aside, the club will be the sight to a host of events this summer. “We have a lot of internal types of of

events that are member oriented,” said Gross. “The biggest one we have is our annual member/guest scramble, which is a good event. We host some corporate tournaments throughout the year. The Italian Open is a good event. We’re excited about those corporate events we’ve had over the years. “The biggest tournament we have is

the Ladies Open, which is June 5-6, and our Davis Pontiac Men’s Invitational, which is on the August long weekend.”

Only 1 hour 20 mins from

Lethbridge

Located in the beautifulWaterton Lakes National Park

Enjoy a great meal on the patio or in the clubhouse!!

We cater to tournaments and weddings!

The Raymond and District Golf Club operate a challenging and scenic nine-hole course and driving range. Grass greens, restaurant and pro shop await you. Phone and inquire about league play and youth lessons. The Season operates from the beginning of April to the middle of October

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18 Hole Cart 9 Hole Cart

$47.00 $31.00 $33.00 $23.00

Twilight Golf 3:00 pm to closing Mon - Fri $31.00

403-859-2114

Monday Nights

Cheap Golf, Cheap Wings, Cheap Beer

Tuesdays 55+ 2 for 1

Membership Fees

Single .....................................$480 Couple ...................................$765 Senior (55+)...........................$455 Senior Couple (55+) .............$695 Family....................................$830 Student (under 25) ................$230 Junior (18 and under)............$125 Price includes Junior Instruction and League Bronze Pass (50 rounds)........$505 Silver Pass (80 rounds) ..........$755 Gold Pass (110 rounds) .......$1005

There is an additional $5 Society Fee included in the above memberships

Driving Range

Season Pass (2 large buckets/day) .............$100 Punch Card (10 Lrg Buckets) ..$35 Large Bucket ..............................$5 Small Bucket..............................$3

Green Fees

Weekdays (9 Holes) .................$16 Weekdays (18 Holes) ...............$20 Weekends (9 Holes).................$19 Weekends (18 Holes)...............$25 Punch Card (10 rounds of 9 Holes). ................................$125

Cart Rentals

9 Holes.....................................$15 18 Holes...................................$25 Season....................................$500 Electric Shed Storage ............$280 Gas Shed Storage...................$220 Trail Fees.............................$5/day Trail Fees......................$75/season

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For Tee Times and

Information Please Call:

403-752-3743

323241

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