Winter Park, Fla. – Global Golf Post today announced its sixth annual All-Amateur teams for men and women.

This annual effort is intended to recognize individual performance during the past 12 months for men and women amateurs, mid-amateurs, and senior amateurs.

All told, 199 players from 24 nations are honoured. And among all those players, two stood out as The Post’s Amateurs of the Year – Matt Parziale, 31, and Jennifer Kupcho, 21.

Nine Canadians were honoured in the 2018 list:

Men’s Mid-Amateur

• Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) – Second team

Women’s Amateur

• Jaclyn Lee (Calgary, Alta.) – Honourable mention

Women’s Mid-Amateur

• Julia Hodgson (Unionville, Ont.) – First team

Women’s Senior

• Mary-Ann Hayward (St. Thomas, Ont.) – First team
• Judith Kyrinis (Thornhill, Ont.) – First team
• Jackie Little (Proctor, B.C.) – First team
• Terrill Samuel (Etobicoke, Ont.) – First team
• Allison Murdoch (Victoria, B.C.) – Second team
• Marie-Thérèse Torti (Candiac, Que.) – Honourable mention

Among the 199 players, there were five golfers to have won Canadian national championships in 2018:

• Zach Bauchou (Forest, Va.) – 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur | Second team
• Joseph Deraney (Lexington, Ky.) – 2018 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur | First team
• Brady Exber (Las Vegas, Nev.) – 2018 Canadian Men’s Senior | First team
• Sue Wooster (Australia) – 2018 Canadian Women’s Mid-Am & Senior | First team
• Atthaya Thirikul (Thailand) – 2018 World Junior Girls Championship medallist – First team
• Yealimi Noh (Concord, Calif.) – 2018 Women’s Amateur Champion – Honourable mention

Click here for the full list.

Will Ghesquire closed out his six years of caddying at Hamilton G&CC (HGCC) in style, winning Caddie of the Year honours at the club’s annual Caddie Banquet earlier this month.

“Caddying at HGCC has been a great experience and I have really enjoyed it,” says Will, who split his time between caddying 98 rounds this year and working in the back shop. “I really like talking with the members and spending time out on the golf course. It’s such an awesome place.”

On good days in the summer, you would find him here at 6 am and carrying for both a morning and afternoon.

The 18-year-old, who l is finishing up at Glendale Secondary School, is planning on returning to HGCC in 2019 to work solely in the back shop. His favourite part of working at HGCC, would have to be golfing here on Mondays, where the nine-handicap played about 20 rounds in 2018.

Caddie Master, Josh Ryglewicz thanked all caddies for their hard work throughout the season with a total of 1,300 caddie rounds for 2018. He also presented awards to individual category winners including: Wyatt Rapson – C Caddie of the Year; Chris Ghesquire – B Caddie of the Year; Nick Kenney – A Caddie of the Year and Lucas Gatto – AA Caddie of the Year.

“There’s no better place to work, it’s a great summer job,” says Lucas Gatto. Caddies at HGCC are paid from $26 to $38 per 18-hole round depending on their category from C to AA.

The Grade 12 Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School student is wrapping up a four-year caddie career this season. Lucas caddied 63 rounds this past season and worked in the back shop for the first time. He’ll return to the back shop in 2019, but his caddying days are done. On the golf course, he’s a six-handicap who had a membership at Flamborough Hills GC this past summer where he played about 25 rounds, plus another 10 rounds here at HGCC.

Both Will, and Lucas have little brothers who are following in their footsteps. Chris Ghesquire concluded his second season at HGCC winning B Caddie of the Year honours after looping 75 rounds in 2018.

“It’s very cool to get the caddie bonus. I worked hard throughout the summer to get more rounds. I wanted to be Caddie of the Year,” the 13-year-old says. At the end of the season caddies with at least 30 rounds in the books earned an $11 bonus per round from the club as a thank-you for their dedication and commitment.

Nicholas Gatto, 13, enjoyed his first-year caddying at HGCC and is looking forward to moving up the caddy ladder after finishing the season as a B Caddie with 41 rounds.

“I went out with my brother for my first caddie round and he showed me the ropes,” says Nicolas, who is playing Minor Bantam A hockey in Ancaster this winter to keep busy.

He was at the club most Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends by 6:30 am throughout the summer. “I just like being out on the golf course, in the good weather with the members. The member events are very cool and lots of fun. The toughest part of the job is the extreme heat in the summer, especially if you’re trying to caddy twice in a day.”

Over the past two seasons Nick Kenney has caddied 120 rounds at HGCC and that went a long way to earning him A Caddie of the Year honours for 2018.

“It’s a cool job. You come in, walk around the golf course for a few hours with a member and get paid for it,” said the second-year caddie. “It feels good to win the award. I’m surprised. It’s not something I was thinking about while I was walking around the golf course this summer. It’s a lot of fun, a great job.”

The 14-year-old Bishop Tonnos student played high school football, is playing single A Major Bantam travel hockey in Ancaster and is enjoying sleeping in for now!

Wyatt Rapson, 12, is saving up his caddy earnings from his first season at HGCC to buy a laptop. The 12-year-old, Dundas Central PS is off to a good start with nearly 50 rounds this season.

“After the first couple of rounds where you learn a lot, it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. I started pulling and then pushing and mixed in a bit of carrying,” Wyatt says.

Along with receiving their bonus cheques and a prime rib dinner at the dapper jacket and tie Caddie Banquet, members donate prizes to a raffle. Everyone one went home with a prize ranging from Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Hamilton Tiger Cats tickets to movie and SportChek gift cards.

First year caddie Andrew Varrasso had his name selected first in the raffle draw. With little hesitation, and the biggest smile you can imagine, the 12-year-old Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School student walked up to the table with the prizes and picked the HGCC logoed carry bag. What you need to know about Andrew, is that his father, Paul caddied as HGCC as a youngster and now Andrew is following in dad’s footstep – very cool. You should know that Andrew saved all his money from caddying this summer, except for $40 that he used to purchase an HGCC logoed head cover for his driver. He says it was an awesome summer caddying 36 rounds at HGCC as he moved from a C to a B caddie over time. He squeezed in four nine-hole rounds on the course with that head cover and next year he’ll have the HGCC golf bag to go with it!

“Caddies have been an integral part of the history and traditions of HGCC for more than 100 years and we appreciate your efforts,” said Caddie Liaison, David Gilroy. “You play an important part in a program that makes HGCC unique in Canada. Invite your friends to give it a try next year. Tell them how much fun it is, that it’s a really great experience because we would like to see more of you.”

Will Ghesquire, 2018 Caddie of the Year at HGCC, along with Caddie Master,  Josh Ryglewicz.

HAMILTON – The Hamilton Golf & Country Club (HGCC) Foundation lived up to its vision for a better tomorrow, donating $213,000 to six community charity partners for 2018 earlier this month.

There were beautiful smiles all-around as the six local charity partners gathered with the HGCC Foundation Board and other members to celebrate the spirit of giving and recognize the incredible work these charities perform in Hamilton and surrounding areas.

“Our heartfelt thanks too, goes out to the HGCC Foundation and the members at the club,” says Donna Marcaccio, Executive Director, Rygiel Supports for Community Living. “It is wonderful to see people working together to improve the lives of others. This is such a giving community.”

“On behalf of the McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation and more specifically The Pediatric Palliative Care Project, I would like to thank everyone at HGCC for this incredible donation,” added Dr. David Lysecki, Pediatric Palliative Care Specialist. “We have made great strides in our first two years and I’m excited to announce that we are adding two full-time doctors to the program in 2019.”

In its first year 75 per cent of the young cancer patients died in hospital. This past year the number dropped to 40 per cent as more youngsters died at home or in their community surrounded by loved ones. Dr. Lysecki explained that the program gives families/parents/children more options to consider when a child is dying from a terminal disease.

“The program is really just getting going and HGCC is at the ground floor of starting this,” Dr. Lysecki says, noting the end goal is to develop/build a children’s hospice in Hamilton.

The HGCC Foundation’s six primary (key) charities partners for 2018 included; Ancaster Community Services ($20,000) , Rygiel Supports for Community Living ($40,000), McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation – The Pediatric Palliative Care Project ($40,000), De Mazenod Door Outreach ($33,000), The Hamilton Community Food Centre, a program of the Neighbour 2 Neighbour Centre ($40,000) and the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton ($40,000).

Funding for the Foundation comes primarily from two charity golf tournaments – The Borthwick Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by Turkstra Lumber and the women’s Golf for a Cause Golf Tournament sponsored by ONE for Freight. Funding for these charity partners traditionally lasts for a three-year period and then different charities are chosen to take their place, although ACS receives an on-going annual donation.

“I’d like to thank the HGCC Foundation for the generous donation to Neighbour to Neighbour’s Hamilton Community Food Centre that operates in the Rolston neighbourhood of Hamilton, an area with high rates of poverty, food insecurity and new immigrant populations,” says Shane Farraway, Communications & Events Coordinator at N2N.

“The $40,000 will go towards the various preventative programs and initiatives we’re are undertaking at the centre including; teaching families how to create inexpensive, fresh and healthy meals; helping end senior isolation and assisting new families in Canada gain a sense of community in new surroundings. We are just getting started building a broader, more inclusive community in Hamilton. So once again thank you. Your support means the world to us as we reach out to others.”

Since making its first disbursements in 2013, the HGCC Foundation has distributed more than $1.3 million to local charities over the past six years. The HGCC Foundation Board of Directors operates at arms length from the club’s Board of Directors. Foundation Board members include; Foundation President; Brian Short, Foundation Vice-President; Al Scott, Pat Collins, Donna Calder-Louth and Chris Bellefeuille, plus HGCC Directors; Scott Shannon, Sean McDonough and Chris Hamel.

“We just want to say thank-you. With this new funding we’re going to be able to launch a new and much needed program – Diverse Communities Outreach in north Hamilton. It will focus on building partnerships to under-served communities in our city, including newcomers to Canada, those of diverse communities and/or lower socio-economic groups,” says Aileen Bradshaw, Executive Director for the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton.

“In delivering the program, families living with dementia in the target communities will be better able to prepare for the dementia journey and manage the day-to-day realities this brings.  At a community level, the program will help families better connect with existing community supports which will encourage their participation in their community and reduce the social isolation that often accompanies a family living with dementia,” Bradshaw added.

At Ancaster Community Services, the $20,000 will be directed at youth support. “We have a lot of new faces. There are issues in growing communities. Youth in our community need support. There is poverty in this community,” says Melanie Barlow, Executive Director, ACS. “We’re thankful to all those people who work so hard and give through The Borthwick Tournament. I’d like to express our heart felt gratitude to HGCC members and the HGCC Foundation. We are so grateful for the support and hopefully next year we will have sunny skies for the tournament.”

HGCC member Cathy Sullivan, who volunteers at De Mazenod Door Community Outreach at King Street and Victoria Avenue in downtown, accepted the cheque on behalf of the organization. Her co-chair for Golf for a Cause, Deb Cacioppo, shared a few personal thoughts on being part of a team working for the greater good.

“I would like to begin by thanking all of the Foundation Executive lead by the capable and generous team of friends – Alan Scott and Brian Short. Gentleman, you have been precisely that – Gentlemen leading others towards the common goal of helping those in need by our club.

May history record your generosity of spirit and kindness passed along to those in tremendous need,” Deb says, noting her team was greatly assisted by Lori Serafini, Christine Heagle, Jill Winch and Marg Chapman.

Today, she reflects on the 400-plus street people who depend daily on De Mazenod Door for breakfast and lunch – knowing that many of them suffer from mental illness and have nowhere else to turn at this moment in time in their lives. 365 days of the year, De Mazenod Door is there for them.

“Every guest is treated kindly and respectfully and with dignity. Despite what the volunteers see before them or even what they hear. They feed all races, religions, they feed the young, the old, men, women, addicts, alcoholics, the handicapped and the homeless. They ask for nothing of them, but their first name so that they can say . . . “Have a nice day Mary or Barb.”

Hamilton Golf & Country Club is proud host the 2019 & 2023 RBC Canadian Opens. Click here to learn more about the RBC Canadian Open.

The USGA and The R&A will administer a global ranking for golfers with disabilities, which will help to grow participation and competition around the world and to promote inclusivity within the sport.

The World Ranking for Golfers with Disability will launch on Jan. 1, 2019 and will be administered in tandem with the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) for both men and women via www.WAGR.com.

The USGA and The R&A will assume responsibility for the ranking following agreement with EDGA, which created the comprehensive and independent Ranking for Golfers with Disability in 2014.

Further information for golfers and tournament organizers wishing to register their details with the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability will be made available later this year.

“One of golf’s best benefits is that it can be played by everyone, and it can be played for a lifetime,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA Senior Managing Director of Championships.

“We are pleased to administer this ranking in partnership with The R&A, as it elevates an important population of the golf community that clearly loves the game and enables a variety of competitive opportunities around the world. Together with the modifications to the Rules of Golf for golfers with disabilities and the USGA’s work to make golf courses more accessible, we are working to create meaningful and lasting change to make golf more welcoming.”

Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Events at The R&A, said, “There is an accelerating growth in the number of events around the world for golfers with disabilities to compete in so it makes absolute sense that there is a global ranking to provide a robust measurement of an individual’s skill and ability.
“It is another important step towards ensuring that golf is more inclusive of people of all ages and abilities. Along with our colleagues at the USGA we will continue to support EDGA’s drive to grow participation and competition in the sport among all disability groups.”

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA and Director of Education for the PGAs of Europe, said, “This is a crucial step forward for the growth and development of the sport for golfers with disabilities and we believe it will act as a catalyst for encouraging more people into playing golf, both competitively and recreationally, around the world.”

The announcement of the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability coincides with the playing of the Australian All Abilities Championship, which is being organized by Golf Australia and will see 12 golfers compete at The Lakes in Sydney this week alongside the professionals at the Emirates Australian Open.

TORONTO – On Tuesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee launched their new series of Canadian Olympic School Program resources for the 2018-19 school year.

Titled the “Pursue” series, the new resources are a multimedia experience, featuring video interviews from eleven athletes who competed at PyeongChang 2018 in addition to classroom activities focused on reading and writing. The modules, entitled “The Dream”, “The Journey”, “The Performance”, “The Joy”, and “The Passion” use athlete experiences to promote the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect, and Friendship. The five new resources join the over 100 free resources available to educators, athletes, coaches, and community groups at olympic.ca/education.

Founded in 1987, in advance of the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games, the Canadian Olympic School Program is one of the enduring legacies of the Calgary Olympic Games. In over 30 years since its launch, the school program has been used in thousands of classrooms nationwide. With resources developed by teachers, for teachers, the program encourages physical activity and healthy lifestyle, helps to promote safer and more inclusive sport environments, and inspires the application of Olympic values.

“For over thirty years the Canadian Olympic School Program has helped bring lessons from the Olympic Movement into classrooms across our country,” said Tricia Smith, president of COC. “This new selection of pedagogical resources will build on that tradition and help inspire students to learn from and live by the Olympic values demonstrated by our Canadian athletes.”

The golf competitions at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will be held at the Kasumigaseki Country Club with the men’s competition beginning on July 30 and the women’s on Aug. 5.

TORONTO – Sporting Life Inc. and Golf Town Limited  have announced they will merge to become Sporting Life Group Limited (“SLG”).

Sporting Life is a premium sports and lifestyle retailer that provides an assortment of high-end sport and lifestyle brands coupled with a focus on premium customer service. It currently has 11 locations operating in Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, following the recent opening of a 27, 500 square foot store last week. In 2019, it will open another flagship store in the new “Amazing Brentwood” Mall in Vancouver.

Golf Town is the largest retailer for golf apparel and equipment in Canada, with a national footprint of 47 stores. Golf Town has been incredibly successful since its acquisition by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”) (TSX: FFH and FFH.U) and certain funds managed by Signature Global Asset Management, a division of CI Investments Inc., in 2016.

Fairfax, and founders David Russell and Patti Russell, were the owners of Sporting Life and both continue to be invested in Sporting Life Group.

The merger will see the two brands continue to maintain their brand identities and operate separately, but they will jointly invest in key people, technology and supply chain to enhance future profitable growth and synergies.

“Sporting Life experiences its strongest sales in the winter months, while Golf Town experiences its strongest sales in the summer months,” said David Russell, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Sporting Life. “We believe this to be a natural ‘hedge’ allowing both companies strong profitable performance throughout the year.”

“Enhancing our people, technology and supply chain while obtaining synergies will allow for a streamlined, profitable roll out of our expansion plans. We intend to add stores in B.C beyond Brentwood, more in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and to enter Manitoba,” added Russell.

Golf Town continues to invest in its brand and network of stores with a next generation store concept launching in March 2019 in Richmond, B.C.

“Since the acquisition of Golf Town in 2016, we have invested in Canada on people, technology and our stores,” said Chad McKinnon, President of Golf Town. “This merger will accelerate that investment and open up new opportunities for our brand and our people, while maintaining the separate identity and teams of both brands.”

On the final day of competition at the 2018 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Golf National Championships, hosted by Medicine Hat College (MHC), four national champions were crowned.

The Red Deer College (RDC) Queens were the first Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) school to win a golf national championship.

“To take home gold at a national championship is incredible, not only for RDC but for Alberta golf,” says Scott Bergdahl, head coach for RDC Queens. “We have put a lot of resources into developing both the men and ladies teams in the last few years. So to be rewarded like this, in such a short period of time, is really outstanding. I think it’s really going to benefit the team and the program moving forward.”

On the men’s side the 2019 CCAA Golf National Championship Hosts, Cégep André-Laurendeau, secured a nine-stroke victory to raise a championship banner.

Individually, Emily Romancew from the John Abbott Islanders and Laurent Desmarchais from André-Laurendeau won their respective individual titles.

“Winning a national award and being able to say we have a national title for John Abbott is amazing. I think I played really well and I’m really satisfied with my overall week,” says Romancew.

The women’s team event was dominated by the ACAC.

RDC pulled away from the field with a four-day total of 625 to claim a gold medal. The MHC Rattlers fired a four-day total of 641 to earn the silver medal and the bronze medal went to the University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan Heat who had a four-day score of 666.

On the men’s side, the Boomerang d’André-Laurendeau had a dominating performance on their way to a national title. Their four-day total of 1138 was 14 under par and placed them nine strokes ahead of silver medalists Humber College who had a four-day total of 1147. The bronze medal went to the University of Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades who tied with Champlain St. Lawrence but won the bronze on a count back. Both teams closed with four-day scores of 1171.

Thank you to @MHC_Rattlers @MHCollege @hpdesertblume and @TheGolfCanada for an incredible 2018 CCAA Golf National Championship Presented by @PingTour.

Final Round Recap available here: https://t.co/pMoj7IXS3a pic.twitter.com/W0XWwBUURr

— CCAA ?? ACSC (@CCAAsportsACSC) October 20, 2018

Romancew, led the women’s individual race from wire to wire. Her final total of 298 left her six strokes ahead of runner-up Shaye Leidenius from RDC. Alyssa Stoddart from the Fanshawe Falcons shot a four-day total of 305 to claim the bronze medal.

In men’s individual action, Laurent Desmarchais from André-Laurendeau shot an amazing 13 under par over four days to win gold. Cobber Watt had a solid week and earned the silver medal with a total eight under par 280. Desmarchais’ teammate Olivier Ménard took home the bronze with a four-day score of seven under par 281.

Tournament all-stars were also awarded. Winners for the women included Romancew, Leidenius and Stoddart. The men were represented by: Desmarchais, Menard and Philip Isabelle from Cégep André-Laurendeau, along with Watt from Humber College and Daniel Campbell from UFV.

Exemplary leadership awards, given out to the athletes who uphold the highest integrity of the game, and who show leadership and fair play both on and off the course, were given to Nicole Schultz of the Rattlers and Brad Byers from the Fanshawe Falcons.

On the last day of competition, the male athlete of the day was Kyle Claggett from the Cascades. Clagget was personable and polite throughout the week and always had a smile on his face.

The female athlete of the day was Stoddart. She was a strong competitor all week and her third round 69 was the tournament low on the ladies side. She was always friendly and supported her teammates and the other golfers throughout the week.

Our final team of the day was awarded to the UBC Okanagan Heat for their friendly and positive attitude. They battled hard each day and were rewarded with a bronze medal.

Men’s Team Results
Women’s Team Results
Men’s Individuals Results
Women’s Individuals Results

The world’s best junior golfers faced off this week at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games contested at Buenos Aires’ Hurlingham Golf Club.

In the women’s individual competition, Grace Kim of Australia won the gold medal, topping the 32-player field at 1 over par (211). Italy’s Alessia Nobilio, who was part of the gold medal winning team at the 2018 World Junior Girls Championship this past September in Ottawa, took home silver with a total score of 214 (+4). Nobilio, Emma Spitz of Austria and Yuka Saso of the Philippines squared off in an extra hole playoff with Nobilio making birdie and Spitz getting par to claim the bronze medal.

Canada’s Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Qué. — who entered the final round with share of 7^th position — finished the tournament in a tie for 13^th with rounds of 75-72-76 (223).

On the men’s side, Australia’s Karl Vilips topped the field of 32 to win the gold medal with a total score of 4 under 206 (69-68-69), besting American Akshay Bhatia by two strokes. Bhatia was awarded the silver medal with a total score of 208 (69-69-70) while the bronze medal was won by the Netherlands’ Jerry Ji who scored 211 (+1) for the tourney.

William Duquette of Laval, Qué., finished the competition in 28^th spot with rounds of 80-79-82 for a total score of 241 (+31).

The Youth Olympic Games golf competition resumes Oct. 14-15 with the mixed team tournament, which will see the Québec duo of Dao and Duquette team up to represent the maple leaf.

Golf Canada’s Director of Next Generation and Women’s Junior Squad coach Matt Wilson is accompanying Team Canada in Buenos Aires.

As well, Golf Canada’s Mary-Beth McKenna, who is assistant tournament director for the RBC Canadian Open, is working as a rules official for the Youth Olympic Games golf competition.

Click here for the full results.

Lara Tennant of Portland, Ore., won 1-up against Samuel to move on to Thursday’s final round against Sue Wooster of Australia.

Tennant defeated a Senior Women’s Amateur runner-up in the semifinals, edging Terrill Samuel, 57, of Canada, 1 up. The match went to the 18th hole all square after Samuel, who lost in the championship match in 2017, birdied No. 17 with a 7-foot putt. Both players had birdie putts on No. 18, with Samuel hitting her 50-footer 6 feet past the hole. Tennant, who was co-medalist in last year’s championship before bowing out in the Round of 64, rolled in her birdie try from 25 feet to seal victory and earn a spot in Thursday’s final.

The match had its share of dramatic moments. All square on No. 11, it looked like Tennant would regain the lead after hitting her approach shot on the par 4 to less than a foot from the hole, but Samuel chipped in from just off the green to halve the hole with birdies. Tennant would then trail for the only time in the match after hitting her tee shot on the par-3 12th in the water, but she squared the match again with a birdie on the par-5 13th.

While she fell short in her bid to get to a second straight final, Samuel did gain a bit of redemption on Wednesday morning, defeating countrywoman Judith Kyrinis, 54, in the quarterfinals, 1 up. Kyrinis, the reigning champion, had defeated Samuel in the championship match a year ago.

“I’m not good enough to keep track of my handicap.”

Craig Loughry, Golf Canada’s Director of Handicap and Course Rating, is tired of hearing that.

“The purpose of the Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis,” the Golf Canada Handicap Manual states.

“If you’re playing golf regularly, you’re keeping track of your scores in some fashion,” he points out. “You’re golfing for a reason or reasons, whether it’s for the competition against yourself or others, recreation, socializing, whatever. It obviously is a significant part of your activity schedule, so why not keep track on an ongoing basis?

“If golfers didn’t care about keeping score, then courses wouldn’t need scorecards, but they seem to have to replace thousands every year.”

Loughry is right. Everyone tracks their progress in just about every other facet of their lives, so why not in their golf games? In business or other pursuits, you expect a level playing field, right? A Golf Canada handicap factor provides both for your golf life.

Additionally, you never know when not having a Golf Canada handicap factor will come back to haunt you.

Knowing zero about your handicap can find you playing off a zero handicap.

A couple of personal anecdotes…

Years ago, I was invited to play in a pro-am. When I showed up at registration, I was asked for my handicap. When I said I didn’t have one, I was told I would have to play off scratch, from the pro tees. Some of my drives barely made the tee block from where my fellow amateurs (the ones with official handicaps) were playing from. Needless to say, I started posting every score after that humiliation.

My wife (who faithfully maintains an accurate handicap factor) plays in the member-guest tournament at a friend’s club every summer. The club sends out a friendly note leading up to the event.  It says, “it is the member’s responsibility to provide a handicap factor from an accredited golf association for their guest(s). Failure to do so will result in your guest(s) playing from scratch. Please note that scorecards, letters or ‘she shoots about an 85’ are unacceptable.”

If you have a Golf Canada Gold-level membership, the lengthy list of benefits includes an official handicap factor. It’s easy to post your adjusted scores online or at any Golf Canada member course and there’s even an app for your phone. It’s easy to join online even if you’re not already a member of a club and start tracking your scores right away.

Now that I’ve persuaded those of you who haven’t maintained a current and accurate factor (you must post all scores using the easy-to-understand Equitable Stroke Control system) to get on the bandwagon, here are some other handicapping notes.

Active Seasons

Regrettably, the end of the Canadian golf season is approaching. Each provincial golf association decides on what is called the “active season” for handicap posting purposes.

By province, the active seasons are:

• British Columbia March 1-Nov. 15
• Alberta March 1-Oct. 31
• Saskatchewan April 15-Oct. 31
• Manitoba April 15-Oct. 31
• Ontario April 15-Oct. 31
• Quebec April 15-Oct. 31
• Nova Scotia April 15-Oct. 31
• New Brunswick May 1-Oct. 31
• Prince Edward Island April 16-Nov. 14
• Newfoundland and Labrador April 1-Nov. 30

Going South This Winter?

It’s never been easier to post out-of-country scores if you’re lucky enough to play in a warmer clime this winter.

“Essentially, all you have to do is simply change the Canadian flag icon to the international one and then start typing in the most unique part of the club/course name,” says Taylor Stevenson, Golf Canada’s manager of member services.

As well, says Loughry, the International Golf Network (IGN) allows Golf Canada members to link their golf membership (handicap record) from Canada to their U.S. club(s). What’s the advantage of that?

“You only need to post your score once and that score automatically gets posted into the other record. This is not only important now for our many members who travel and golf outside the country, but will be more so when the World Handicap System is implemented.”

We Are The World

In 2020, the new unified World Handicap System will be implemented to make handicaps truly consistent and equitable around the globe. The new system will feature more flexibility and reflect the changes in how the game is played worldwide.

For example, both competitive and recreational rounds will count for handicap purposes, the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap will be reduced and, perhaps most importantly, the result will be a consistent handicap that is portable from courses to course and country to country.

There is even a calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions affected your score.

Click here for more on handicapping.