For the first time in its history, the Town of Innisfail is hosting a national championship event.
Beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 13 through Friday the Innisfail Golf Club will host the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship which features the best young golfers from across Canada and a few from the United States.
It’s been a big year for the club after celebrating their 100th anniversary as one of the most storied courses in the province.
At the kickoff event on Monday evening, interim general manager of Innisfail Golf Club Dale Tomlinson said it’s exciting to host such a prestigious tournament.
“It’s pretty fantastic because it’s more widespread than just the club. It influences the town, all of our supporters, sponsors, hotels, restaurants, and everything else,” he said.
“We love showing off our town and our golf club. We want to show we’re one of the top clubs and so far the boys seem to be really enjoying the course. It’s a huge feather in our cap to host it on our 100th anniversary.”
A month ago, the club held its 100th-year celebration with approximately 250 people in attendance including welcoming back staff who worked there many years ago.
The Canadian Junior Boys Championship has been a staple in Canada for the past 86 years since the first tournament was held in 1938 in London, Ont.
In addition to the junior boy’s title, the participants are also playing for the juvenile boy’s title awarded to the top 16 and under player of the tournament and the inter-provincial team championship.
The junior and juvenile titles are determined through 72 holes whereas the team championship is crowned after day two of the tournament. The winner of the junior boy’s championship title earns an exemption into the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Tournament chair Brett Kelly said their bid for the tournament was accepted by Golf Canada because of their 100th-anniversary celebration but also due to the exceptional quality of the course.
“I think it’s the perfect venue for junior golf,” Kelly said. “It’s not particularly long but it’s really difficult. It’s widely accepted as one of the best public courses in the country.”
Preparation to host an event of this magnitude began around Christmas time but Kelly said the organizing committee has made it a smooth process. He can’t wait for the tournament to officially begin on Tuesday morning.
“It’s an all-star committee and it’s been really easy to do just because of the people around me,” he added.
Among the local talent in the tournament are Michael Song from the Red Deer Golf & Country Club and Sean Kelly from the Innisfail Golf Club. Sean also happens to be Brett’s son.
The 16-year-old said this will be the biggest tournament he’s been a part of and is looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s my first Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship so I’ve been counting down the days since March when I got invited,” he said. “I’ve got to wake up tomorrow and eat well and sleep well to prepare for the tournament.”
Kelly recently won a Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour event at the Innisfail Golf Club which he admitted gives him some confidence heading into the tournament. He’s also won the club championship in back-to-back years.
He earned a spot at the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship after competing at the Alberta U19 Championship in Olds, Alta. where he shot 21 over par.
“I’m super excited to get started. Just to go out there and play golf with some of the best there is in Canada it’s definitely exciting,” Kelly said. The nerves are there but the excitement kind of overrides it.”
Kelly has played on his home golf course since he’s been old enough to swing a club. His dad would take him out on the driving range as a youngster and has been a member of the club ever since.
That should give him a slight advantage this week.
“I’m just going to try and keep the ball in play. It’s a tight course as it is already and as long as I keep the ball in the short stuff I should be able to score from there as I know the greens really well,” he added.
“It’s a straightforward course. The greens break a lot but it’s very closed so if you miss a fairway you’re probably going to lose a ball, which has taught me a lot.”
Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday and competitors will be on the course for most of the week until the final round on Friday. The award ceremony on Friday is expected to be held at approximately 3 p.m. but it depends on when the final group wraps up.
