Wildstone such a nice layout, it doesn't need any tweaking

Jamie Curistan, a golf professional at Wildstone GC, has been on site since it opened and is in full agreement that this track doesn't have anything that needs to be fixed.

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

CRANBROOK, B.C. — Not much has changed at Wildstone Golf Club in Cranbrook, BC, since it opened six years ago, but then again, considering what a beauty it is, why would they want anything different?

After all, this layout, starting at the first tee and running right through the 18th green is magnificent from the grass on the greens right on up to the mountain vistas in the distance.

But just don't take my word for it. Let the one of the course's pros, Jamie Curiston, fill you in on the details.

"I just think they did such a good job on the design," he said of the Gary Player Black Knight playpen. "Nothing is out there by accident. Every bunker is in the way or is an aiming point. The only thing that has changed is the maturity of the golf course. The greens have become a little more receptive over the past few years, but really,  nothing has changed."

And that, my friends, is why this place is such a great play.

With five different tee boxes and huge greens, its set-up is designed to let everyone from the low handicapper to the most novice of players tee it up here and have a blast. The layout offers everything you want including holes with lies that are either uphill, downhill or level and green complexes that have huge swales on them, where if you get on the wrong side, well, good luck with a 2-putt.

Thankfully though all of those components work together to make this a most enjoyable play even if it's the same now as it was before. Because good never ever gets old.

Asked how the public has responded to this amazing  track, Curiston said word-of-mouth reviews have been nothing but positive.

"When people come off the course I think they're very pleased with the experience and when you step up to the top deck of our driving range, with Mount Fisher in the background, there's really nothing like it," continued Curiston, "That is such a good start to people's days.

In regard to the course itself, the pro said that one of the great features of this layout is the variety one runs into. Sure the course still plays the same as it did on Day 1, but this is a playground that didn't need to be tweaked.

There are long par fours (like No. 3 which plays to 395-yards from the middle tee box) but it is all uphill, making this test a whole heck of a lot sterner. The quiz master then gives you a “gimme:” of sorts with the next hole, a par 4 measuring in at 253-yards that is, for the most part, is all downhill making it play much shorter.

One of the big things here is that there are five tee boxes, ranging from 7,127 yards at the back end all the way down to 4,947 yards, so really, there is the right length of course here for one and all. Thus, everyone has the chance to walk away with a smile on their face at the end of the day because if you start in the right spot the ending has every chance of being a happy one.


"There really is a little bit of everything out here," Curiston noted.
Now if you're perhaps thinking I've gone a bit over the top in my praise for this B.C. beauty, here's some more food for thought. SCORE Golf ranked Wildstone as the 42nd best public golf course in Canada (where there are reportedly over 2,000 golf facilities) and the ninth best for value. It was also listed as Golf Digest's Favorite Round in 2011.

Oh, and speaking of value, Wildstone has realized that golfers like great deals so they have a variety of special rate to help sate the public's appetite for those. Curiston said there are lots, but the most popular ones like the All Inclusive or the Nine 'n Dine with a cart for only $45 (with a $15 food voucher),

So, don’t just take my word for it. See what everyone is talking about when the name “Wildstone” comes into play, because trust me on this one, you won’t be disappointed.

For more on the first Black Knight Design course in Canada, check out their website at wildstonegolf.com or call them toll free at 1-855-565-4653.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his eighth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf.

The driving range at Wildstone is a great place to get your day underway, not only to warm up for your game but also for the spectacular views it provides.

Don't judge a golf couse solely on its length

Simon Jones, the new director of golf at the Kimberley Golf Club, welcomes one and all to a club that used to be home to a huge private membership. Now, anyone is more than welcome to take on the challenge os this scenic B.C. track.

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

KIMBERLEY — At first glance this assignment seems pretty pale in comparison to some other tests you may have undertaken. After all, the first hole at the Kimberley Golf Club is a par 4 measuring out at only 290-yards from the tips. I mean, how hard can that be?

And then one step further down the scenic fairways, this whole track is compressed into less than 6,300 yards. So basically, it’s a walk in the park, right?

Well, maybe not so much.

This is a case of not letting first impressions fool you. You see, that first hole test is a downhill gem but it leads you into Never-Never Land off the back edge if you muscle up even a bit too much. And after that,  trees seem to jump out of nowhere to get in your way, hole after hole after hole.

So a walk in the park, while a good descripion of this wonderful old layout, established in 1924 as a 9-hole challenge, is anything but reality as to its playability. It is a true case of accuracy over length on the opening nine, and for us distance-challenged types that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Then again, if you also tend to wander around on the grassy slopes, well, good luck out here.

Simon Jones, the affable new director of golf at the Kimberley GC, who moved to this mountain paradise from the Fairmont Banff Springs, agreed golf courses don’t need to be long to offer plenty of challenges.

“The front nine is a little more parkland, a little bit tighter,” he said of the original concept. “It is definitely more challenging off the tee.

“Then, the back nine opens up with some great views,” of the river that sits far below and the incredible vistas in the distance. “You have a great view from almost every tee box with the mountains.”

The one thing the new head  honcho wants to emphasize to the general public is this: You don’t have to be a member to play here. While that was the original case, it’s not so anymore.

“Historically, with the mine here we were very fortunate to have over 800 members but the membership has gone down,” Jones explained. “We are trying to attract people, let them know that we are available. We are definitely surrounded by a lot of good golf courses, so it’s about how we can we get people to come here and enjoy it here.”

Well, once you’ve played here you are likely to become a walking, talking billboard for this track. It’s fun, it’s pretty and it should be on your must-play list.

What may surprise some people is the talent level that has come out of this historic old gem, again showing big, intimidating holes don’t necessarily always make the best golfers in the country. For example, the No. 1 amateur player in Canada called the Kimberley GC home at one time.

“For a small town it’s a fantastic achievement,” Jones said of local product Jarret du Tois held the No. 1 ranking as the best amateur player in the country for several consecutive weeks. “And we’re very fortunate to have a lot of other young golfers here that are taking inspiration from him.”

One of the ways in which the old course is promoting golf is by bringing those youngsters into the fold. Jones has teed up a great junior program which has already met with overwhelming success in its first year and he’s looking to grow that going forward.

“With our membership declining, one of our avenues to try and grow it is the junior program.”

Of course, the venerable old lady of the golf world in this part of the country is also welcoming everyone, of any age, to come and give it a whirl because the membership is willing to share what they have.

“We’ve got some great members here (who like to share their course knowledge with visitors), some great stories, great legends,” Jones said of the open-arms policy for tee time bookings. “We save tee times every day for the public.”

In closing, Jones said he was delighted to make the move to the Kimberley course from the high profile posting he had in Banff.

“Part of my reason for coming here was this is a beautiful golf course and we are going to open it up more to the public. We just try to keep opening those doors a little more,” so all golfers visiting this area can taste the history of the Kimberley Golf Club by simply taking a walk in the park.

For more information on the Kimberley Golf Club, go to their website at kimberleygolfclub.com or for tee times, give them a call toll free at 1-877-427-4161.

The Kimberley GC is a fun place to play, but do be warned: Some of the fairways, especially on the front 9, don't leave you a lot of room to wander.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his eighth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf.

St. Eugene Golf Resort looking to expand portfolio

Barry Zwueste, the new CEO of St. Eugene Golf Resort, which is looking to expand its offerings and become, hopefully, a year-round destination.

CRANBROOK -  As of right now, St. Eugene Golf Resort is seen by many as a two-dimensional recreational area, a golf course and a casino. That's about to change though, thanks to the vision of the property's new CEO, Barry Zwueste.

The new head honcho wants to take this area, set amongst some of nicest backdrops anywhere in B.C. to hew heights by expanding on the services offered and by partnering with other facilities in the area to grow the interest of travellers by building off a great golf course and the popular casino.

"In addition to those, we want to expand to more activities by bringing together local businesses," he began in explaining where he wants to take this entire recreation-rich area. "We want to make those opportunities available to our guests so we have more of a family inclusive resort for a broader demographic."

One of the most intriguing ideas proposed in this interview by Zwueste was to incorporate the rich history of the St. Eugene property.  Initially constructed as a residential school, the main building houses a wealth of back stories that until now hasn't been made use of. The new boss though wants to change that by using local First Nation knowledge to inform and educate visitors about the traditions that are still alive but which may have been buried by time passing.

"We want to incorporate more First Nations programming, more hands-on activities to bring more people to the area to educate people on the culture and the school itself, no pun intended."

GOLF

Of course the No. 1 draw for people to head to this area of southern B.C. is the wonderful golf assignment. The 18-hole test is set up to be a fun challenge for anyone thanks to four tee boxes and provides great affordability with some wonderful Stay and Play packages.

Noting the abundance of courses in the area, St. Eugene's head golf pro, Max Sherwood stated, "When you want to stay on a golf property it all adds up that St. Eugene is a great place to come and stay ... and it's nice to just have to walk 80 yards from the hotel to the first tee box."

Over the years, his track has received rave reviews because of its playabiity.

"I have a conversation over and again about that," said Sherwood. "I had one yesterday with a gentleman who said that the course is so playable for his handicap level. He was your 20-plus handicapper and he said to me it was an appropriate challenge for his level of ability. If you want more of a challenge, well, just change up your tee box. And we've got our green speed at an appropriate level that mid-handicap, higher handicap players won't struggle. We don't need to make the game any more challenging than it already is."

One interesting note presented by Sherwood is that they are "seeing more and more groups of women, eight, 12, 16 on a getaway, coming here because of the entire resort, including a golf course with forward tees and bathrooms every three holes. We've tried to make ourselves accessible to everyone."

One other interesting tidbit Sherwood teed up during this interview was the fact that St. Eugene is willing and ready to work with other golf venues and help guests set up times to play them if they so choose.

"We have seven golf courses, five of which are public in the Kimberley/ Cranbrook area, Seven or eight years ago there were only a couple of golf courses down here. Now, once you get down here, people realize the value, the selection of courses, the different layouts have made this a destination," and to add to that, the course will set up tee times for you at any of the neighbouring courses.

SMOKEHOUSE RESTAURANTS

One of the great features at St. Eugene is the food - and this comes from a non-foodie writer. The fare offered in the two restaurants in the main building of the resort is outstanding and local produce is used as much as possible in satisfying the desires of hungry guests.

"We gave an incredible, dedicated culinary team here," the CEO proudly proclaimed of chefs that have come from across the country, and the world, for that matter. "They've made a lifestyle choice to settle here and they've brought their skills with them. They've seen what we have to offer locally in terms of protein, produce, fruits," in putting together a 100 Mile Menu.

"We do all our own smoking here and we are the only ones in the valley that provide in-house smoking. There is nothing that Chef Lonnie or Chef Doug won't smoke. We smoke our own cheese, we smoke our own tomatoes, we smoke our own protein products and it's all down in-house. We have very unique flavours and signature approach preparation," that must be sampled to truly appreciate.

CHANGING THINGS UP

Over the years this resort has been primarily seen as a three-season area starting in spring and ending in fall. Yes, it's a great spot in the spring for early season golf and the fall offers play until late in the season but Zwueste wants to take the seasons here one step further.

"It should be," he commented in relation to being a four-season destination. "We don't have an issue with 150 days of summer," and because of that, he wants to being offering more for resort guests who may not be into golf, or gambling, 24 hours per day, every day.

"There is fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, a trail that connects Cranbrook to Kimberley for cycling. This area has always been known as a good place for skiing, but there is also snowshoeing, ice climbing," and the hopes to open up the trail system to snow biking and this coming winter cross country ski trails will be cut into the golf course in order to add "the 150 days of winter," to the resort's recreational menu.

Also on tap is a new spa opening in the resort which will be the perfect way to end a tough day on the greens, on the slopes, or on the water in this wonderful area. On July 3 of this year, a full-service spa will swing open for business, marking the first of many new steps in the future life of St. Eugene.

"We'll offer the typical array of spa activities - massages, manicures, pedicures, but it's owned by two physicians out of Vancouver and they area also doing rejuvenation practices as well, so it is actually beyond a full-service spa. We are hoping to develop some really unique getaways and retreats for people."

In other words, Zwueste wants to make St. Eugene, and its neighbours, into a place where you can get away from it all, all year.

"This will all help our 150 days of winter (grow) and our summer business as well," Zwueste ended.

For more information on the St. Eugene Resort, go to their website at steugene.ca.

The scenic backdrops at St. Eugene GR can help one get over any wayward shots they may hit during the day.

Sadlowski Suggests More to His Golf Game Than Big Shots

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(Gord Montgomery/iG) — Two-time Re/Max World Long Drive champ Jamie Sadlowski has proved he can go deep into the grid when needed. Now he’s showing he can go deep on scorecards as well. Sadlowski, from St. Paul (AB), opened some eyes and got tongues wagging when he played in a U.S. Open local qualifier at The Country Club at DC Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ recently. And he didn’t just play — he won the event, going 7-under par over the 18 hole test.
The thing is, the 27-year-old noted, he hadn’t even planned on playing in the first stage of making a run at landing a spot in the historic U.S. Open tournament.
“This was my first crack at it. The pre-qualifier was right next to me in Scottsdale. My agent planned this for me; I didn’t really want to do it. I had a few days off after being on the road for a couple of weeks doing some (corporate) outings, so I took four or five days to practice, sharpen things up. I went with no expectations.”
Despite being best known for sending golf balls into orbit with anything from a driver to a putter (which he can hit well over 200 yards by the way) Sadlowski is actually a very good all-round player. He’s appeared in web.com Tour events, making three of four cuts in the recent past, so for him, teeing it up in something like the pre-qualfier wasn’t too far from the norm nor too stressful.
“Obviously my world is corporate outings and whatnot but I do enjoy playing,” he said. “Whether I’m at home, or Scottsdale, I love playing good golf so I do work at it but it’s not something I can do every day. I’ve always been able to turn it on and play well. It would be nice to get some rhythm, play four or five events, because I think I could play well for a stretch. But with no card, and nowhere to play, and my focus being on corporate events,” he just isn’t able to make the necessary time commitment.
“I had no expectations at all,” he repeated about what took place. “No matter if I’m playing a web.com event or just a match against someone, I obviously want to play well. I’ve always been able to turn it on under pressure.”
At the local qualifier, Sadlowski had Gary McCord, a former PGA TOUR player as his caddie. The two are friends who play together when they can and as it turned out, the looper helped him immensely, especially with the shortest part of the game.
“I had McCord on the bag and he kept it pretty light. With his knowledge ... I putted pretty well that day. A lot of it comes down to not being able to read greens very well. I’ve never been a great greens’ reader. He was ‘the green’s going this way, right to left. Hit it on this line, 90 per cent speed, and it’s in.’ I think I had 11 putts on the front, or 10. I just got things rolling there.”
Having now moved to the second stage of qualifying for one of the PGA’s biggest major championships, things are going to be a bit tougher. Whereas he was up against good amateur players in the pre-qualifier, Sadlowski will now go head-to-head against PGA TOUR players without an exemption into the big show, plus other nationally- and world-ranked amateur players. He also doesn’t know if he and McCord can again team up, given hectic work schedules.
“I’ll find out Thursday (May 25) or Friday where my sectional is, and if it’s in Columbus (Ohio), Gary said he’d be on my bag for all 36 holes,” Sadlowski continued. “He’s there for the Memorial, and I’m there as well, doing a couple of outings, so hopefully I can get into the sectional in Columbus.”
No matter where this road leads, the big hitter said, his game plan would likely take a turn from what he did in Arizona to what he feels he needs to do to again advance. In the first event he used his driver three times over the 18 holes, preferring to use his 2-iron instead, which he hits in the area of 320 yards and “down Main Street.”
“I don’t have much expectation,” he said of his next stop. “I’m going to be in a big field with PGA players who do this for a living. I don’t. Am I capable of making eight or nine birdies in 18 holes? It’s 36 holes so it’s not like I can go out there and play conservative. I’m going to play aggressive because in these qualifiers, you’ve got to go deep. I think if I make eight or nine (birdies) per 18, I’ve got a good chance. It’s either going to be real low or not. That takes a lot of pressure off and I can just play a real aggressive game. Connect the dots. Obviously you have to play smart but on the holes where you can hit driver, I plan on that and using my length to my advantage. I can’t play complete Small Ball with these guys because that’s not my game. If I can use length to my advantage, I’m obviously going to do so.”
At this point, the conversation took a turn away from attempting to play in the U.S. Open through qualifications to playing full time on one tour or another. While Sadlowski had always stated in past interviews with Inside Golf he wasn’t overly interested in tour life, preferring a steady, guaranteed paycheque thanks to his corporate work as opposed to chasing money at tournaments, things seem to be turning.
“Gary has always been after me to try and play. The successes I’ve had, I honestly think I can play. For me, it would be a three year commitment. If I couldn’t do it in three years I would go back to what I’m doing now.
“Doing the corporate stuff is great and everything but I feel, you know, at one point it was fulfilling, my job, my life. But I’ve had a lot of people who are very successful players, teachers who teach the top players in the world, saying, ‘Hey, you’ve got to give this a try. You’d be stupid not to.’
“So, as of right now, I’m going to go to Q-School this fall and give it a try. That could all change depending on what happens in the near future but I think this will be the fall I spend a lot of time working on my game and getting ready for (web.com) Q-School.”
So, even though he can still rip it and will continue going deep at the Re/Max World Long Drive event, this latest step of hitting more than just drives plus going deep on the scorecard, is now driving the Albertan toward what could be a new adventure in the world of golf.

---

About the Writer
Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his eighth year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf.

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Major Manufacturers Roll Out New Products For Edmonton, Calgary Golf Shows

Be advised swing-starved Albertans in Edmonton and Calgary — help is on the way.

On March 5 - 6 in the capital city and then March 19 - 20 in its southern sister, six major club manufacturers will be strutting their stuff at the indoor ranges set up at the PGA of Alberta Consumer Golf Shows. And believe me, there will be plenty of new products to test drive. And chip. And putt.

Rick Lea, the Territory and Key Accounts Manager for Cobra Puma Golf in southern Alberta said these shows are a big deal for product demonstrations and roll-outs. And yes, this is all brand new, right-out-of-the-box gear we hackers get to lay our hands upon.

“Absolutely. We set up on the range with all our new product and people are welcome to hit it,” Lea confirmed. “We don’t sell product on the floor at the shows. Rather, we refer people to the golf courses, or retailers. Typically, in the case of the (Alberta) PGA, we point them toward their own clubs. We don’t do any sales off the floor though. We are just demoing product, informing people what they might need or what they’re looking at.”

Cobra Puma will have all their new lines on display at both shows.

“All the new KING product line will be there. It’s the re-launch of KING after many years and this is, honestly, the best technical product in the industry,” said Lea of the new F6 adjustable driver. “It’s had rave reviews since being introduced. The R&D behind it is really unsurpassed in the industry.”

As well, the KING LTD and  MAX fairway woods will make an appearance along with the FLY-Z Hybrids. To top all that off, the new KING Forged CB/MB and the KING Forged TEC irons will also be waiting to be put through their paces.

So why give this technology a go? Well the answer to that, said Lea, is simple. “Cobra is significantly and easier to hit, and more accurate than any brand on the market.”

One of the distributors that goes above and beyond when it comes to serving possible clients is Callaway, sales rep Jim McCulley explained as he teed off on what he has to offer at both shows.

“We put a large amount of effort into this to whet the public’s interest,” including lots of hitting bays and a large putting area. Because of the amount of people at the shows, and those wanting to test out what’s new with Callaway, folks must be patient and not overstay their welcome once they get the green light to swing away, even despite the extra space afforded, McCulley said.

“We spend a little more money with the PGA to get extra stalls, so we’ve doubled up there. We’ll have a 10 by 10 Odyssey tent (with two mats) as well as a 10 by 10 Callaway (spot) with two hitting mats.”

The hitting/putting areas will be staffed by four people including a tech rep and two CPGA pros. “We try to limit guys. We won’t tear them off the mat. We try to give everyone five to 10 swings just to give everyone a chance,” to taste what’s new for the upcoming year, McCulley explained about sharing.

As for the lineup of hard goods Callaway is carting into both shows, it’s a lot.

“I’ll definitely have a full complement of the new XR16 products, the drivers and fairway woods as well as the XR over-size irons and hybrids. We launched the Great Big Bertha last September as well as the 816 Double Black Diamond and over the winter we launched the new Apex and Apex Pro forged irons, wedges and a new product (putter) we unveiled in Orlando from Odyssey called Toe Up,” so to say there are lots of clubs to waggle and flail is an understatement.

Another plus for stopping by the Callaway booth is the fact they’ll be giving away mini-sleeves of their new Chrome Soft golf balls to those who let fly with the new line of gear, /nd really, who’s going to argue with free stuff, no matter how long you might have to wait to take a few cuts.

Meanwhile, Ryan Bathgate from PING said his company is also rolling out the new hardware this year with high hopes the public likes what they see in their brand.

“I pretty much bring everything that we have to offer this year. That includes our new drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and a new, exciting line of clubs that’s new to the industry called a crossover.”

Pressed on what that line is all about, Bathgate explained it like this: “It’s a blend between a hybrid with characteristics of an iron but it’s not a driving iron. Our new product line is called the “G”.

"In terms of how it fits in, it is between an iron and a hybrid with the materials we’re using and the hollow body design where we’re seeing ball speeds and launch angles similar to a hybrid but because it has a flat face, you’re getting characteristics and control closer to an iron.”

Shows like this are key to getting new products into the public’s hands, said Bathgate.

“I think they get a fair opportunity to try the product, absolutely. It’s not like they’re coming for a fitting. Hopefully, the main goal is to get the exposure,” so the public player will seek out that line at a pro shop during the upcoming season.

TaylorMade will be well represented at both shows, Brian Howard, a sales rep with that company said. Their line includes several new models which will all be sitting and waiting for folks to whale away on the indoor ranges.

“Absolutely,” he said about the public having full access to the new gear. “We launched M1 back in September and we just launched the M2 family, so the M family is now complete.

"We have the M1 driver, fairway and rescue all with adjustibility. When you look at the M2, it’s all about forgiveness. The club’s designed slightly different with an adjustability component on the driver but with the fairway and rescue there’s not any adjustability, so it’s a little more cost effective.”

In the iron lineup, PSI and PSI Tour were released last fall and they are now joined by the M2 iron set. “I hate to use the term “game improvement,” Howard said of that line, “but these are definitely designed for the higher handicap player given their lower centre of gravity.”

As to his brand’s continued success in the golfing world, Howard said Philip Public likes to play the same gear as Peter Pro does.

“For sure. They like it quite a bit because with some of the other vendors it’s not the same product you see at retail. With our guys, it is the same product you see at retail,” other than for the fact the pros can tweak their clubs a bit more than the general public.

As for what the club reps think about taking part in these two-day golf extravaganzas, perhaps the Callaway guy summed it up best.

“These shows help drive consumer interest and they are an unofficial kickoff to the season. The whole purpose of the shows is to kind of whet your whistle. Give people the chance to see, touch, feel and hear,” the new offerings all the major club manufacturers have as a new season begins to draw near.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his eighth year of writing for Inside Golf.
He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf.

Alberta Golf Shows just around the corner

It's February and it's snowing - again - in the Edmonton area. So what else is new?

Well, truth be told it's been a pretty nice winter temperature- and snow-wise, thus one's early golf expectations begin to bounce around right about now. And with the two golf shows on the horizon, it's only right that we golfers begin to get the itch.

I've spent the last few days chatting with folks who will be displaying product or showcasing their travel destinations and needless to say, my appetite has been whetted for what to come.

Yeah, the Edmonton show is still three weeks away (March 5 - 6) and Calgary's goes later than that (March 19 - 20) but just talking golf gives one the itch.

While the Edmonton show is always smaller than its counterpart, there should still be some interesting things going on there.

All the big club manufacturers will be there and it sounds to me like Callaway is perhaps the one that is most prepared to handle the onslaught of the curious public. Their sales rep for the northern part of Alberta, Jim McCulley, told me they'd likely have double the space of any other distributor there in order to let everyone whale away with this brand's newest gear. That means two hitting bays and two putting areas and to top that off, after you've finished the test drive with any club, you'll receive a two-pack of the new Chrome Soft golf balls, something McCulley feels will be a benefit to the mid- to high-handicap player.

The brand with the most new products to show off appears, not surprisingly, to be TaylorMade. Their rep, Brian Howard out of the Calgary area, said they'd have all their new M1 and M2 family on hand, along with some other product they've released in the recent past.

Besides that, the biggest draw for the show may well be the wildly popular Clearance Centre set-up. Gary Christenson, the head pro from the Sturgeon Valley GC told me that this area usually houses upwards of $1 million worth of out-dated merchandise. That simply means it's last year's gear, not brand new stuff and as such golf clubs are looking to deplete their stock of "old" merchandise in order to bring in more new toys.

Christenson did say during our conversation that he feels the "best buys" in the centres at both shows are full sets of clubs. The reason for that is twofold with the most important factor being these sets won't have seen the price increases that are hitting the Canadian marketplace today given the weakened dollar.

Topping that off is these 2015 brands are reduced in price, so the savings are immense. Of course, to get the best deal you have to be at the show(s) early and ready to dig through all kinds of goodies in this area.

Besides full sets there are all kinds of clothing, shoes, balls, accessories and on and on. The only real prerequisite for taking advantage of this, as far as I can tell, is perhaps being ready to patiently wait to make it to the cash register to pay for your purchases because the lines can be long.

There area slso lots of prize giveaways, particularly in Calgary, but Edmonton likely has several as well although they aren't listed as of yet. The biggest one of the bunch seems to be a 6-day vacation to Vancouver Island with six rounds of golf which will be awarded at both shows.

In order to attend, you will need an entry ticket but those can be had online at albertagolfshows.ca or at the door. General admission is $10 for those 13 and over; $8 for seniors over 65; and kids 12 and under are freeThe first 50 people in the door at each show will receive a free Canada Golf card.

The Edmonton show takes place in Hall H at the Edmonton Expo Centre; in Calgary it's in Hall B at the BMO Centre.

Maui's Plantation Course a true test of game management

It was, as they say, an offer too good to pass up.

After all, if you're a golf fanatic/lowly paid media type and the chance comes to play one of the top golf courses in Hawaii the day after the PGA TOUR left the premises, with the same tee boxes and pin placements, believe me you're going to jump on it with both feet - regardless of the time you have to roll out of bed.

I had the opportunity to play the wonderful, spacious, intimidating Plantation Course on Maui less than 18 hours after Patrick Reed defeated Jimmy Walker in a playoff for the 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions title. While it's now over a year since then, I'm still on a high from the experience.
Oh, did I mention it was free? That's a win/win in my books.

Now don't get me wrong. I know I'm nowhere good enough to play this track from the tips which sit at 7,411 yards. Believe me, the tees anywhere in front of that are challenging enough.

Continually seen as the No. 1 course in all of Hawaii, not only is the golf great on this track designed by the team of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, but the ocean views from up high on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains are magnificent.

Off the Regular blocks, you're faced with almost 6,700 yards of challenges starting on the opening hole, a 434-yard downhill, right to left sloping beauty where your second shot is the key. By the way, if you want to play it like the pros, this becomes a 520-yard par 4 behemoth.

Things don't necessarily get much easier from that point on, but the second, third and fourth holes, again from the Regular tees, do give you a bit of a break, playing to 196, 352 and 317 yards respectively. After that though, the real test of both your game, and your composure, begins in earnest.

The par 5 fifth is one of the narrower fairways at Plantation - although it is still wide - but if you stray too far sideways you're in big trouble with jungle left and a huge canyon right. The third shot is decision time on this hole, especially if you find yourself on the right-hand side of the fairway as you need to fly the edge of the canyon into a large green guarded by steep walls.

The sixth is perhaps the neatest hole on the front nine, another par 4 and "only" 378 yards (398 from the tips; 362 from the Resort tees) with a blind tee shot and approach into a green that slopes severely from left to right. The trick here is to hit and stick because if your ball is rolling when it gets to the green, chances are it is going to scoot right off and bury itself on a steep slope in some nasty Bermuda grass up to 50 feet below the putting surface.

When you swing over to the back nine, you again get a bit of a break with the relatively easy par 4 10th, the dramatic par 3 11th where you hit directly at the ocean in the background and the par 4 12th where as long as you don't get a downhill lie off your drive, you can set yourself up for a good run at birdie.

Turning back into the mountains after that hole, you come to the short par 4 14th, an uphill hole where  the pros like to let it rip as they attempt to reach the putting surface in one. Again though, any kind of wayward shot here puts you in a world of trouble from deep, steep-faced bunkers to OB areas.

The 15th hole, the par 5 510 yard assignment from the Regular blocks is all about club selection. The third shot on the hole is uphill and if you choose the wrong club, and catch the false front, your ball is coming to rest right from where it started if not even farther back.

Then you hit the two big holes on this track, Nos. 17 and 18, where good games can go astray in a big hurry.

The 17th is a big par 4 that for the pros plays anywhere from 508 to 549 yards. While there's plenty of room to drop your opening salvo into, again it's the approach shot where you earn your money. From the Regular tees the hole tops out at 467 yards while from the Resort blocks it's a challenge at 428 yards.

Unless you choose to play cautious and lay up, your approach shot is again key to the hole. You must clear yet another huge canyon, this one protecting the left side of this green and truthfully that hazard is likely the graveyard for thousands of golf balls. Convert on that shot though and you'll walk away with par and be in the right frame of mind for the final test of the day - the dramatic, jaw-dropping par 5 18th.

From the back deck - and really, if you're here you've got to play from the spot where the pros do - your duty is to let out all the shaft you can. Aim at the chimney on the clubhouse and let 'er fly. If you judge properly, the trajectory of your ball, combined with the right to left downhill slope of the fairway will undoubtedly give you one of the longest, if not the longest drives of your life and one that you'll be talking about for years to come.

This hole isn't just all about the drive though. You need to play smart to stay out of yet another canyon down the left side that is definitely in play on the second  shot. Coming into the green you need to stay above the hole as anything below it is going to roll off and into a bunker.

The keys to scoring well here are relatively simple - play the right tee box; learn how to read the greens and don't step outside your comfort zone by attempting to make impossible shots. The thing is, no matter what you score this is one golf course you'll relive playing and once a year can compare your results on each and every hole with those carded by the pros. Also, remember you're playing at close to sea level so club distances can vary greatly.

Overall, no matter how you fare in your round and where you play from, a round on the Plantation Course is one you'll always remember given its challenges and beautiful ocean views.

So even if you don't put on your big boy pants to take on this monster, do give it a go. It's definitely one of those bucket list courses and one you'll truly enjoy - even if unlike this lucky guy, you do have to pay the going rate for admission.