Drupal 7 module hook_preprocess_page &$vars In my module I have verified this function is being called, but when I try to edit page--golfguide--alias.tpl.php it doesn't have the variables available.

In module:

function dc_branding_preprocess_page(&amp;$vars) 
{
    $vars['branded_header'] = dc_branding_header_contents();
    $vars['branded_footer'] = dc_branding_footer_contents();
}


In template.php for theme:

function golfguide_preprocess_page(&amp;$vars, $hook) 
{
    global $user, $is_mobile;
    if (isset($vars['node'])) 
    {
      // If the node type is "blog" the template suggestion will be "page--blog.tpl.php".
       $vars['theme_hook_suggestions'][] = 'page__'.$vars['node']-&gt;type;

      // If the node id is "33" the template suggestion will be "page--33.tpl.php".
       $vars['theme_hook_suggestions'][] = 'page__'.$vars['node']-&gt;nid;    
    }
    //Create page suggestion for first part of url-alias
    $url_alias = drupal_get_path_alias($_GET['q']);
    $parts = explode('/', $url_alias);
    $parts[0] = str_replace('-', '', $parts[0]);
    $vars['theme_hook_suggestions'][] = 'page__'.$parts[0].'__alias'; 

    if($is_mobile)
    {
        $vars['theme_hook_suggestions'][] = 'page__'.$parts[0].'__mobile';  
    }
}


In page--golfguide--alias.tpl.php

&lt;?php print render($page['branded_footer']); ?&gt;


NOTHING outputs and the key branded_footer does not exist.
You are trying to render $page['branded_footer'], but the module preprocess function is setting $vars['branded_footer'], which would be accessible as $branded_footer in the template file.

$page['branded_footer'] would be set if the theme defines a branded_footer region. In that case, you should follow what How do I create custom regions in a theme? says.