Calgary-area teaching Academy on Golf Channel
The camera crews and commentators arrive for the RBC Canadian Open, for the CP Canadian Women’s Open and, of course, for the Shaw Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows. There’s only place in the country, though, where you’ll find Golf Channel’s logo on permanent fixture.
That would be just south of Calgary at Heritage Pointe, home since earlier this summer to the first Golf Channel Academy in Canada.
“It may be the most recognized brand in golf, in terms of instruction,” said Paul Horton, one of three coaches at the now-first-ofits-kind facility — officially dubbed the Golf Channel Academy at Heritage Pointe. “It was pretty much a no-brainer from our end, to have this relationship.”
It was likely an easy sell for both sides.
Horton and his cohorts, Bob McArthur and Tiffany Gordon, have considerable experience, each with 25-plus years under their spikes in the business of teaching the golf swing.
All three are past national award winners, with Horton honoured in 2017 as the PGA of Canada’s Coach of the Year.
There are several top-notch practice and instructional facilities in the Calgary area, but Heritage Pointe has the added attraction of a three-hole hoot known as ‘The Loop.’
With a full-length Par-3, Par-4 and Par-5, it’s a perfect place to try to translate an altered grip, adjusted stance or other swing tweak from the range to the real deal.
(The Loop is not just for students or members. In fact, its play-forthe-day rate is among the best values in the Calgary area, although you should also try Heritage Pointe’s other 27 holes.)
“It’s a really cool thing to see the NBC peacock and the Golf Channel logo up there. It just gives us a bigger punch, I guess, in the teaching world,” said McArthur, who’s been offering pointers on the practice range at Heritage Pointe since the late ’90s. “Everyone you talk to, they think it’s a great alliance. We’re aligning ourselves with a recognizable worldwide brand and just that part alone, it gives you a lot of credibility. So the reaction has been really great from everybody.”
The buzz is justified. There are nearly 100 Golf Channel Academy locations, but only two outside of the United States — one in the Czech Republic and now one at the semi-private setup on Dunbow Road.
Pretty cool.
“What an amazing opportunity, and I look at it just as that,” Gordon said. “I mean, we’re just starting to scratch the surface with getting the flag in the ground and getting the signage up and getting everything going. I see so many great things we can do, industry-wise — for teaching, instructing, coaching, mentoring, bringing more people to Heritage Pointe. Just our opportunity and reach is huge.
“We have a fantastic road ahead of us here. It’s all what we’re going to make of it.”
CHIP SHOTS: Stephen Ames, a longtime Calgary resident now based in Vancouver, tied for third in an impressive showing at the Senior British Open at St. Andrews. The 54-year-old finished at 10-under 278, two back of eventual winner Miguel Angel Jimenez … Brian Brown cashed in on home-course advantage as he romped to victory at the Calgary Golf Association’s City Senior at Heritage Pointe. Brown completed two laps in 4-under 140, 10 shots clear of the competition … Kendall McBean (Lakeside) sizzled to a 31 on the front nine during the final round of the Calgary Junior Ladies Amateur at Lynx Ridge, climbing to the top of the leaderboard and then accepting the trophy after the tournament had to be shortened due to foul weather … Crossfield’s Patrick Murphy (Glencoe) qualified for the 2018 U.S. Amateur Championship. Pretty decent venue, too — some place called Pebble Beach … Sherwood Park’s Barbara Flaman shrugged off a quadruple-bogey during the final round to scratch out a oneshot victory at the Alberta Senior Ladies Championship at Woodside. Flaman signed for a threeday score of 4-over 217. The gents are next on tee, with the Alberta Senior Men’s Championship being contested this week at Turner Valley … The PGA of Alberta’s Club Professional Championship is on tap Monday-Tuesday at Innisfail.