With all golf courses across Canada permitted to open, golfers are encouraged to post their scores when they tee it up this season.

Posting your scores is important to maintain a consistent Handicap Index as part of the unified World Handicap System.

As a safety measure under COVID-19 protocols, golfers are not permitted to use kiosks found at local clubs or pro shops until further notice to reduce social touch points.

Login at golfcanada.ca 

• Visit golfcanada.ca
• Click “Post a Score”
• Login using your member credentials
  • If you have forgotten your password, follow the prompts or click here
    

    

Post your score

• Choose the golf course
• Enter all applicable information
• Members are encouraged to post scores hole-by-hole in order to ensure the correct adjustment of Net Double Bogey (your maximum hole score for handicap purposes)

Post using the Golf Canada mobile app 

• Open the mobile app on your Apple or Android device
• Tap the Post a Score button
• Choose the golf course
• Members are encouraged to enter hole-by-hole scores
• Post your score

How do I track my stats?

• Members can enter their statistics for each game by selecting which stats they wish to maintain such as Fairways in Regulation (FIR), Putts, Penalty Strokes, Driving Distance etc.
• Post their score Hole-By-Hole and select “Yes” in the “Track Stats” bar.
• Enter in the statistical fields they wish to track and click “Post Score.”

How do I delete or edit a score?

Members can edit their scores at any time but can only delete an unedited score within 24 hours from the time the score was posted. After 24 hours or if an edit has been made, only the club administrator can delete a score. Scores that are edited will be denoted by a “#” beside the score in the scoring record.

• Click on the “Pencil” icon to the right of the appropriate score.
• Make the adjustment(s) to the score and click “Post Score.”
  • There may be some clubs that have changed their default setting (which may not allow golfers to edit or delete at all).

What if the course I played isn’t found in the directory?

If the club a golfer is looking for is not listed, please notify Golf Canada at members@golfcanada.ca or 1.800.263.0009 x4520. All member courses in Canada will appear in the course directory. Please note that courses that are not current members in Canada do not have valid course and slope ratings and scores from these courses cannot be entered for handicap purposes.

Not a member? Join Canada’s largest golf community here.

MARKHAM, ONT. – With continued public health concerns due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Golf Canada in partnership with Golf Ontario has cancelled the 2020 World Junior Girls Championship, scheduled to take place September 28 to October 3 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

“The well-being of all athletes, international delegates, host club staff and volunteers is our top priority and while we share in the disappointment felt by all, cancelling the 2020 World Junior Girls Championship is the most sensible and safest course of action to take at this time,” said Golf Canada CEO, Laurence Applebaum.

In addition to ongoing health concerns and uncertainty around the pandemic, a number of physical barriers contributed to the cancellation including international travel restrictions, limitations on mass gatherings, the inability for all participants to prepare and train equally, and the financial capacity of participating national golf bodies during this difficult time.

The 2020 event was expected to welcome 78 athletes from 25 countries including two Canadian teams.

“We understand that all of our athletes, coaches and international delegations continue to be impacted by the pandemic and the only course of responsible action was a cancelation,” said Mike Kelly, Golf Ontario Executive Director. “We would like to thank Angus Glen along with all of our proud event partners and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to the championship when it is safe to do so.”

The 2021 World Junior Girls Championship will be contested at Angus Glen Golf Club from September 27 to October 2.

“We share in the disappointment felt by all members of the international golfing community, especially the athletes who have worked so hard to compete at this level of competition,” said Cailey Stollery, Chief Executive Officer of Angus Glen and Kylemore Group of Companies. “Ultimately, the health and safety of everyone involved in the championship is most important and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Angus Glen for the 2021 championship.”

The World Junior Girls Championship is conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with Golf Ontario and supported by the R&A and the International Golf Federation. Recognized as an ‘A’ ranked event by the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), the 2020 World Junior Girls Championship would have marked the 7^th playing of the event.

Golf courses have become a refuge of sorts for British Columbians seeking wide open spaces during the COVID-19 crisis.

In fact, getting a tee time has been almost as tough as finding toilet paper on store shelves was in the early days of the pandemic. Tee sheets at many B.C. golf courses have been filled from dawn to dusk with golfers following strict social distancing protocols as they go in search of birdies.

“I guess the best way to say it is all the tee times we are offering are spoken for, which is great,” says Hal Eremko, head professional of Burnaby Golf Services.

“We have so many customers who are dying to get back with us and play. For every tee time we fill, we are probably annoying four other people right now. It really is too bad, but as things open up, hopefully that will alleviate itself a little bit.”

One of the reasons things have been so busy is due to the fact that courses are offering fewer tee times per hour than they normally do to ensure social distancing. Some opened with tee-time intervals of 15 minutes, meaning they were sending off only four groups per hour.

Burnaby’s two 18-hole layouts, Riverway and Burnaby Mountain, reopened May 1 with 15-minute tee times but quickly dropped to 12 minutes when it became apparent that traffic on the courses was moving smoothly. Both courses normally operate with eight-minute tee-time intervals. “Except for rainy days we pretty much have had each of our tee times spoken for from 6 a.m. until past 7 at night,” Eremko says.

No one has had a busier spring than the three courses owned and operated by the West Coast Golf Group. While most courses in B.C. closed sometime in March, Hazelmere in Surrey, Belmont in Langley and Swaneset Bay in Pitt Meadows were among a handful that remained open.

“We developed our protocols starting with the raised cups and removing the bunker rakes and ball washers,” says Troy Peverley, vice-president of the West Coast Golf Group. “We had our protocols changing daily as we went and we worked with the National Golf Course Owners Association to keep on top of that.”

The WCGC did a record number of rounds in April. “It is definitely busier than normal,” Peverley says. “During that period of time when very few courses were open, we were extremely busy and were turning away as many people as were golfing. But it is still busy.”

It’s the same story throughout British Columbia. Cordova Bay in Victoria has been booked solid since reopening. “There is a fair bit of pent-up demand,” says Brian Hann, lead teaching professional at Cordova Bay. “With most courses going to a little wider interval of tee times we have like 20 per cent less inventory in tee times. Our tee times are booking up right at the booking window which for us is two weeks in advance.”

Cordova Bay reopened its 18-hole public course on May 1, while its par 3 course opened for play on May 18. Tee-time intervals on the 18-hole course are presently 10 minutes, versus the regular eight.
Hann and others in the industry say golfers have been good about following the social distancing protocols that have been put in place. “The support we have gotten has been great,” Hann says. “People are more than happy to support any of the safety protocols we have introduced. They are all over it.”

Golf courses in British Columbia were never ordered to close, although many did in the early days of the pandemic. But with proper social distancing measures in place, it quickly became apparent that golf courses were a safe place to be.

Burnaby Mountain Golf Course – Image Courtesy Burnaby Golf

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has been encouraging British Columbians to spend some time outdoors and golf courses have become a popular way to do that. “Most golf courses are built on areas in excess of 100 acres which provides plenty of spacing and distancing for the golfers to maintain their physical distancing which I think will be with us for a long time,” says Andy Hedley, vice president of operations with the GolfBC Group. “So I think we have a great product that meets all the criteria our provincial health officer is stipulating.

“It is very easy to play golf and maintain at least a six-foot spacing between each player. In fact, that would be an absolute bare minimum. I have played a couple of times this year and most times there’s no need to get within 20 feet of a playing parter. It’s obviously great exercise and great for the mental health to get out, get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.”

GolfBC is Western Canada’s largest golf course operator. Its B.C. holdings include Gallagher’s Canyon and Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna, Olympic View in Victoria, Mayfair Lakes in Richmond and Nicklaus North in Whistler. Dan Matheson is general manager of the 36-hole Okanagan Golf Club facility, which includes the Quail and Bear courses. Both courses have been extremely busy since opening in late April.
“We tracked it right away and it was like, gosh, we are awfully full,” Matheson says.

“It would appear our members are playing about 35 per cent more. For some it may be because they are not working right now, they are absolutely not traveling anywhere else to do it and up until very recently there were no choices. You could go hiking or cycling, or maybe go fishing. Golf was the one thing where you could actually have some activity and it was social. You got to hang out with your buddies. It was allowed. I think the golf course was the one place where you could still have social interaction and get out in the fresh air and sunshine, walk around and feel like you had done something. Those reasons combined have resulted in people playing lots of golf.”

The hope in the industry is that over the long term golf may see some benefits from these challenging COVID-19 times. Many regular golfers are playing more than they have in many years and some who have left the game have come back. Others are giving golf a first try. “We are lucky we are the first sport to open up so we are getting a lot of folks who are just dying to get out and do something,” says Eremko.

“So we are seeing some range customers we have never seen before. They just want to do something and the fact they get a chance to maybe hit one ball on the range that just goes crazy is a real eye-opener. It has been a bit of a sales point for us which is kind of cool. The other opportunity is people are recognizing that if this game is this safe and it is the first to open, here is something that I should maybe be doing more of long term.”

As good as business has been, plenty of challenges remain. Until recently all food and beverage and retail operations at most courses have remained closed. Clubhouses and pro shops are just beginning to reopen at many courses. “Food and beverage is probably bigger than most people realize,” says Hedley. “It’s a huge part of our business. Many of our restaurants are stand-alones in terms of their marketing and branding and they do very well. Obviously now we will have limited numbers, limited seating, but we want to work within the confines of the protocols that are given to us and you just hope to build on that.”

Tournament play has also been virtually eliminated, at least for the immediate future. “With no gatherings of more than 50 people allowed, that pretty much puts every tournament out of commission for the foreseeable future,” Eremko says. “That’s tough on charities.” That 50-person limit has also hit the wedding business of many courses. “That’s a huge part of our business at Swaneset,” says Peverley. “We are booked up to two years in advance and every week we have multiple weddings.”

For now, those wedding aisles are empty. The fairways, on the other hand, have plenty of traffic.

Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, have announced the easing of public health restrictions around COVID-19 to support physical and mental well-being of Nova Scotians.

Restrictions being loosened include the ability for golf courses to open beginning Saturday, May 16, 2020, provided social distancing, adequate cleaning and other safety measures can be maintained.

Previously, only driving ranges had been allowed to open, with courses being told to prepare to open.

“It’s been two weeks since we eased some restrictions. What we’ve all been doing is working and I thank all Nova Scotians for continuing to follow public health advice,” said Premier McNeil. “We know people need a break from being shut in. That’s why we’re easing a few more restrictions, while keeping our public health directives in place to fight the virus.”

A phased plan to further lift public health restrictions is under development by the province. The timing of each phase will be determined by the result of the easing of restrictions.

Click here for the province’s return to activity plan.

Premier Doug Ford has announced Ontario’s golf courses can open their tees to golfers starting Saturday, May 16.

During a much-anticipated press conference, Ford stated golf courses, among other select retailers and services, would be permitted to open in time for the Victoria Day long weekend, as key public health indicators continue to show progress.

“During the last several weeks, the people of Ontario have been called on to make incredible sacrifices to help us stop the spread of COVID-19, including staying home from work, closing down businesses and going without a regular paycheque,” said Premier Ford. “However, we are reopening even more of our businesses beginning this long weekend. We are taking a cautious, balanced approach to our economic reopening, to protect the health and safety of everyone.”

Golf courses will be able to open, with clubhouses open only for washrooms and restaurants open only for take-out. Golfers must adhere to social distancing measures, such as staying at least two metres apart.

• THE PROVINCE’S GUIDANCE FOR GOLF COURSES DURING COVID-19

• WE ARE GOLF ONTARIO BEST PRACTICES DURING COVID-19

Two weeks ago, the Ford government said Ontario golf courses should prepare to open.

Golf facilities with questions about potential impact to their business operations or employment can call the province’s Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.

The Government of Quebec, through senior Minister Isabelle Charest, has authorized on Wednesday the official opening of golf courses starting on May 20.

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the Quebec Golf Industry Standing Committee, a lobbying group including main institutional and facility stakeholders in the province, had initiated discussions with Public Health authorities in view of creating standardized operating procedures, resulting in a protocol for operators and golfers that would allow the sport to resume its activities. This protocol, which focuses on the health and safety of patrons and employees, has received Public Health approval and can now be deployed at the facility level. All golf facilities in Quebec have had the opportunity to review this protocol and are now working towards implementing the recommended guidelines as they prepare to welcome golfers on May 20.

With this announcement, golf courses will be allowed to make their playing facilities accessible to their eager clientele – albeit under close supervision and rigourous monitoring from course operators.

Ongoing industry and government discussions throughout the lockdown have established that the practice of golf procures mental and physical health benefits to its participants. The utmost cooperation of golfers will be essential in order to apply the prescribed guidelines that are being implemented province-wide following the announcement.

Quebec golfers that are members of Golf Canada will be able to resume the tracking of their handicap and scores through the national association’s online and mobile scoring tools as Golf Canada recently issued updated guidance regarding  COVID-19 Rules of Golf & Rules of Handicapping

The Quebec Golf Industry Standing Committee is eager to demonstrate that the return of the game of golf will contribute greatly to another of the government’s objectives, which is to get workers back to work and help local economies recover.

“Golf has a great opportunity to be a leader in the sport. We are going to operate according to the criteria established by the provincial health and safety authorities so that the green light stays in place, ”said Dominic Racine, General Manager of the PGA of Quebec, who chaired the golf industry committee in its efforts.

The golf industry in Quebec is estimated to contribute 52,000 jobs and add $2.4 billion annually to the gross domestic product of the Belle Province.

The Government of Saskatchewan has worked extensively with the National Allied Golf Association – Saskatchewan branch when it comes to playing golf in a safe manner amid COVID-19.

Golf in Saskatchewan was announced in the “Re-Open Saskatchewan” plan back in March with restrictions. The government has made alterations to the rules last Friday and released additional updates this afternoon including.

• A maximum of four players per group is permitted.
• Tee times must be a minimum of 12 minutes apart to avoid congestion on the course.
• Flags must remain in place and measures must be taken to prevent the ball from dropping in the hole, eliminating the need for players to contact the pin or cup. This may include such measures as leveling the cup, elevating the cup or installing a touch-free ball removal mechanism.
• Driving ranges and practice putting/chipping greens can open if physical distancing (minimum of two metres) is maintained. Range balls must be cleaned and disinfected between customers. For the practice putting/chipping greens, flags must remain in place and measures must be taken to prevent the ball from dropping in the hole. This may include such measures as leveling the cup, elevating the cup or installing a touch-free ball removal mechanism.
• Retail sales must follow the Clothing and Retail Guidelines on P. 35.
• Group lessons and tournaments are prohibited. League play and one-on-one lessons may occur if all other criteria are met.

More details can be found in the government’s announcement today. Golf course guidelines are now located on page 42.

Golf Saskatchewan, along with the Canadian Society of Club Managers Saskatchewan Branch, National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, Professional Golfers Association of Canada Saskatchewan Branch, and Saskatchewan Turfgrass Association want to thank the Province of Saskatchewan for their cooperation through the COVID-19 pandemic.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The International Golf Federation announced today that the 2020 World Amateur Team Championships scheduled for October have been cancelled due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision follows the IGF’s announcement in February that the biennial event for men and women, originally to be held in Hong Kong, was moving to Singapore due to ongoing social unrest in Hong Kong.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IGF continued to work with the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) to host both competitions at Tanah Merah Country Club and Sentosa Golf Club on the same dates as planned, with the Espirito Santo Trophy for women scheduled from October 14-17 and the Eisenhower Trophy for men from October 21-24.

“This unprecedented decision was due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty that this has caused to ensuring that the 2020 WATC could be staged successfully,” said IGF Executive Director Antony Scanlon. “But most importantly, it was made to safeguard the health and safety of all athletes, officials and volunteers at the 2020 WATC, to which there was no certainty that this risk could be mitigated to an acceptable level.”

“I would also note that we gave thoughtful consideration to postponing the Championships to 2021,” Scanlon continued. “However, this would have created considerable scheduling and logistical issues that were insurmountable, plus we still could not say with absolute certainty that we could hold it without risk next year. Therefore, it is preferred that the IGF look forward to focusing on and delivering a wonderful 2022 event in France.”

Dating back to 1958, the World Amateur Team Championships include up to 72 countries competing in 72 holes of stroke play competition. Each country fields two or three players with the two lowest scores counting per round.

TORONTO ― The Ontario government has announced it is allowing certain businesses and workplaces to reopen as long as they comply with strict public health measures and operate safely during the COVID-19 outbreak.

As part of the announcement which took place this afternoon, Ontario golf courses were granted the ability to  prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public. The resolution takes effect Monday, May 4 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Prior to the announcement, golf facilities could complete essential work that allowed them to preserve  their courses, such as mowing and brush clearing. As pointed out in this article by TSN’s Bob Weeks, additional work such as bunker preparation, gardening, stump removal, hiring of seasonal staff and more, will now be permitted.

There is no specific timeline set for Ontario courses to open their doors for play.

On April 27, the government released A Framework for Reopening the Province, which outlines the criteria Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts are using to advise the government on the loosening of emergency measures, as well as guiding principles for the safe, gradual reopening of businesses, services and public spaces.

Alberta Golf (Calgary) – Alberta’s Covid-19 relaunch strategy will see golf courses open across the province as early as Saturday, May 2nd. The news delivered by Alberta Premier Jason Kenny during a Thursday afternoon briefing.

Courses will operate under the NAGA-AB protocol document created over the past month. NAGA-AB consists of Alberta Golf, The PGA of Alberta, along with golf course General Managers, Owners and Superintendents.

NAGA-AB President Robert Rousselle said the hard work this past month of the entire golf course industry led to the good news.

“We are excited and support the Government of Alberta position on this afternoon’s announcement. The National Allied Golf Association of Alberta (NAGA-AB’s) role from day one was to be part of the solution at all levels.” Rousselle said.

“We worked closely with all segments of our industry and government to support them with the proper tools to be successful with the prevention of COVID-19 challenges. The opening of the Golf Industry is a positive step forward in helping Albertans with mental health, physical activity and the recovery of our provincial economy. I have to congratulate the NAGA-AB team for the determination and accomplishment for the past month of hard work to develop a robust document to protect our guests, members and industry employees.”

Click here to view the NAGA-AB Protocol Document.