Alberta Open gets underway at Desert Blume Golf Club starting Tuesday

The first time the prestigious three day event has been held at the course.

Trevor Ellerman, head golf professional and general manager at the club, will also play in the three-day tournament

“We have two full crossovers with all the players. Then after Wednesday, there is a cut down to the low 60 in ties,” Ellerman said.

“Thursday morning they’ll tee off with the low 60 guys, and Thursday afternoon we’ll crown a champion.”

Close to 15 locals will be in the mix at the Open, with Dillon Batsel included as a favourite.

An assistant golf pro at Desert Blume, who has shot a number of the lowest scores on record at the course.

Batsel said he’s really looking forward to the tournament, and will look to keep the pressure in check.

“Keeping the focus on treating it just like every other tournament. It’s at my home course,” Batsel said.

“I’d like to think there are a few things, whether it’s the break of the green, or certain lies to take. That might give me a slight advantage, but at the end of the day you still have to execute the shots. Hopefully that’s the case this week,” he added.

“It’s the most excited I’ll be all year. It’s Christmas for me times 500. I’m looking forward to it.”

With a lot of skilled golfers coming in, Ellerman expects to see some low scores.

“Our course plays around 6,900 yards, which is in comparison, probably a little short to some of the courses in Alberta. But we also have five par fives,” Ellerman said.

“Some of these guys hit the ball so far, they’ll have a great opportunity to get some good scores. When they do miss, there is obviously a lot of trouble out there, a lot of high rough to take care of that,” he added.

“I think we’ll see some great scores. There’s some really good players playing this week. The conditions, the greens are going to be perfect. They’re going to be rolling around 11 to 12 every day, which good players of this caliber, they enjoy that.”

Ellerman does expect the course to be a bit more challenging.

“The rough is growing out, the greens are sped up, the mowed areas are cut a little shorter,” Ellerman said.

“The biggest change we’ve had is we’ve grown out a lot of our fescues and our main rough to be a little bit higher,” he added.

“The members and public that have played the course have seen the difference and sometimes not to the best for them. A lot of lost golf balls.”

Ellerman says the public is welcome to come watch and follow the players, who will be walking the course.

“On the final day, they have leaderboards, walking leaderboards and all that type of stuff,” Ellerman said.

“It’s a big event. I think people would enjoy seeing some great golf. Some of the guys I know, like Wes Heffernan, who’s played in the U.S. Open.”

The first group tees off Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.

Thursday the final 60 golfers will start tee times as early as 7:30 a.m.

Ellerman said they look forward to showcasing the course to some of the top golfers in the province.

by Jesse Gill

Alberta Open gets underway at Desert Blume Golf Club starting Tuesday

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