Golf is unique in that everyone can play the game together on a fairly level playing field. You are not likely to play on your kids’ soccer teams, but you can play golf with them and not simply watch from the sidelines. This experience sets golf apart from most other sports because it provides such valuable family time in some of the most amazing environments. It promotes a healthy, active lifestyle to which people of any age can relate.

Beginning July 4, everyone will have the perfect opportunity to experience all that golf has to offer through the NGCOA Canada’s Take A Kid To The Course program. Participating courses will offer a free green fee to kids under-16 with the purchase of an adult green fee. Courses across the nation have adopted the program and with key changes this year, the golfing community will have more opportunities to experience the game. New in 2016, golf facilities have the option to offer the promotion past the program’s traditional week and provide extra days and times as they see fit. Keep checking participating courses’ websites for more information. Also new this year are amazing prizes from TaylorMade Canada and Melia Resorts and Hotels. Instead of a single grand prize nationwide, every chapter will see two grand prize winners – meaning people that participate in B.C. will have the chance to win an all-inclusive Cuba vacation package courtesy Melia Resorts and a golf club package courtesy TaylorMade Canada.

With these exciting changes and close to 700 golf courses participating nationwide, it promises to be a busy year. Now in its 14th year with major support from Coca-Cola, Take a Kid to the Course has provided great golf experiences for over 335,000 youth across Canada. The program provides an excellent opportunity to help create and build family habits and to enjoy the sport together.

For more information on participating courses, contests and prizes, visit www.kidsgolffree.ca.

TROON, Scotland – Royal Troon voted overwhelmingly Friday to admit female members for the first time in the club’s 138-year history.

The vote at a special meeting came less than two weeks before the British Open is held at the Ayrshire links for the ninth time, eliminating what was likely to be a distraction as more of Britain’s top links courses accept women.

“We have said a number of times recently that it is important for golf clubs to reflect the society in which we exist and the modern world that looks to us,” said Martin Cheyne, the captain at Royal Troon. “It is the right decision for the club today and for generations of golfers that will follow.”

The vote leaves Muirfield as the only links on the British Open rotation that has a male-only policy. The R&A said after Muirfield failed to get the two-thirds majority to change that it will not host another Open under its current policy.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns and operates Muirfield, has called a special meeting to ask members for new vote by the end of the year.

The R&A said it welcomed the decision by Royal Troon and recognized “the significance for the club.”

“Our focus today is very much on The 145th Open in just under two week’ time, but we can now look forward to many more great championships at Royal Troon in years to come,” the R&A said in a statement.

Royal Troon is the second all-male club on the British Open rotation to open its membership to women. Royal St. George’s in England voted for women members last year, and that followed a vote by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in September 2014 to have female members for the first time.

The Royal & Ancient, with headquarters at St. Andrews, governs golf everywhere in the world except for the United States and Mexico. Members belong to a club, not a golf course. The Old Course and six other courses at St. Andrews are open to the public.

Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters, was the first to admit female members in 2012.

Cheyne said the vote allows Royal Troon to turn its attention to hosting the Open along with The Ladies Golf Club at Troon, which was founded in 1882.

“We can now all be focused on golf and showcasing this wonderful club and golf course to the huge global audience that this most prestigious championship commands,” Cheyne said in a statement announcing the vote.

Muirfield last hosted the Open in 2013, when Phil Mickelson won the claret jug. In May, only 64 per cent voted in favour of admitting women, falling 14 votes short.

Golf Canada’s women’s participation program, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, has officially opened for registration.

Entering its 13^th season, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru is aiming to pass the $365,000 mark in 2016—setting the bar higher than last year’s target with hopes of furthering support and participation from Canada’s female golf community.

From a participation standpoint, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru had upwards of 10,000 women involved in 2015. For program coordinator Whitney Gorges, the buck doesn’t stop there.

“I’m very proud and impressed with the effort of all ladies involved in Golf Fore the Cure last season, and I’m hoping we can increase our generous impact even further,” said Gorges. “It’s a fantastic way to add value to a club’s already existing ladies night while contributing to a cause that has impacted all of us in some form or another.”

All funds raised by the 145-plus teams across Canada last season were donated to the Canadian Cancer Society and Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation to assist with national research efforts. Since the program’s inception, over $5.4 million has been raised collectively.

Upon (free) registration, Golf Fore the Cure teams will receive a complimentary kit to assist in their event. Site coordinators are encouraged to structure their event in any format that best suits their interests and desires. Formats that accommodate all skill levels tend to be the most popular choice, as the program is ultimately aimed at increasing participation.

In addition, all registrants are given the option to have additional support from presenting partner Subaru at their local event. The top-three fundraising teams will be flown to the Great Toronto Area (GTA) to participate in the 2016 National Event.

Click here to register.

In 2002, a Canadian loonie buried at centre ice galvanized a nation and inspired a pair of gold medal performances. The Olympic winter games in Salt Lake City saw the Canadian men’s and women’s hockey teams top the podium and capture the titles of Olympic champions. In Rio de Janeiro – 14 years later – another lucky loonie awaits the four Canadian Olympians who will take part in golf’s return to international sport’s grandest stage following a 112-year absence.

Ian Andrew, a course architect based in Brantford, Ont., who worked on the Campo Olimpico de Golf in Rio de Janeiro, stashed the Canadian $1 coin at the heart of the 18^th green.

The hope: to once again rally Canadians from coast-to-coast behind their Olympians to successfully defend the Olympic gold medal won by Canadian George S. Lyon in 1904, the last time golf was part of the Olympic Games.

Click here to read the full story from Garry McKay in the Hamilton Spectator.

The quartet comprising Team Canada for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be celebrated onsite at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., on Tuesday, July 19 during the 2016 RBC Canadian Open. Admission onto the grounds of Glen Abbey that day for spectators looking to join in the celebration of Team Canada’s Olympic golfers is FREE.

In 2015, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada partnered with the University of Ottawa to develop a Life Skills model for junior programming, designed to place added focus on core values learned through golf, and their relevance to social and peer-to-peer environments.

An important feature of the Life Skills model is the philosophy that youth should be provided with opportunities to develop both intrapersonal and interpersonal life skills through golf. Intrapersonal skills refer to skills that are more internal in nature whereas interpersonal skills refer to skills that are more useful during social interactions. In the model, four intrapersonal skills and four interpersonal skills are included to ensure a balance between these two areas of focus.

The eight Life Skills in the model are focus, sportspersonship, perseverance, goal setting, emotional regulation, honesty, teamwork and respect.

The Life Skills were first integrated into the Golf in Schools teacher-friendly learning resource, and have since been added to Canada’s junior golf program, CN Future Links, through its feature Learn to Play offering.

Lesson plans include relevant life examples, learning outcomes, and specific skill-related drills.

To find a junior opportunity in your area at golfcanada.ca/juniors

GULLANE, Scotland – Muirfield intends to stage another vote on whether to admit female members after being stripped of its right to host the British Open.

The Scottish club failed in May to get the two-thirds majority required of its membership to change its policy, drawing disapproval from across golf.

Now the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns Muirfield, will seek approval from its membership to hold a fresh postal vote before the end of the year which could lead to the club returning to the British Open rota.

“A substantial majority of our members voted for change and many have voiced their disappointment with the ballot result and with subsequent events,” Henry Fairweather, captain of the HCEG, said on Monday.

“The club committee believes that a clear and decisive vote in favour of admitting women as members is required to enable us to begin the task of restoring the reputation of the club that has been damaged by the earlier ballot outcome.”

Muirfield has staged the British Open 16 times dating to 1892, most recently in 2013 when Phil Mickelson won.

The Royal and Ancient, which runs the British Open, said in May that Muirfield was off the list of 10 courses that can host golf’s oldest major championship while female members were not allowed.

“We welcome this development,” the R&A said.

BRAMPTON, Ont. – Local and international amateur golfers gathered at the Brampton Golf Club to compete for three available exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., from August 1-7. Kelsey Murphy of Plymouth, Mich., claimed medallist honours with a 4-under 67 showing.

The 21-year-old sunk five birdies and was bogey-free until her final hole to secure a four-stroke victory.

“I played really consistent throughout the day, and when I did get in trouble, I was able to get myself out of it,” she said. “I really like the golf course. I’ve played it a couple times before so I was really excited to be able to compete here.”

Team Canada National Team member Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.) and Jessica Ip (Richmond Hill, Ont.) earned the remaining two exemptions with matching 71s.

“It’s awesome that they’re putting this in Canada because we all get a very good opportunity to compete now,” said Szeryk. “It’s always amazing when you get to represent your country, especially at such a big event.”

This tournament marks the first time a Canadian club has played host to a U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier. Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver will host a U.S. Men’s Amateur qualifier on July 18.

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club will host a field of 109 junior golfers from July 4-6 for the 2016 CN Future Links Western Championship. The fifth of six CN Future Links Championships is conducted in partnership with CN to promote and develop the game of golf among the nation’s junior-aged athletes.

The host club of the 54-hole competition was first established in 1913 at the top of Porter Hill, just east of the city. In 1934, the club relocated to its current location, perched atop scenic cliffs overlooking the South Saskatchewan River.

“Golf Canada is thrilled to bring this year’s CN Future Links Western Championship to the city of Medicine Hat and its golfing community. Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club is in fantastic shape and will serve as a great backdrop for this event, while drawing out the best from our competitors,” said Tournament Director Dan Hyatt.

Team Canada Development Squad member Alexander Smith of Calgary and Kade Johnson from Yorkton, Sask., will attempt to improve upon the shares of fourth they claimed at the 2015 edition of this tournament at Goose Hummock Golf Course in Gibbons, Alta. They will be joined by Chris Horton (Calgary), Max Sekulic (Rycroft, Alta.), and Ethan Choi (Pincher Creek, Alta.) who look to best their Top-10 results from one year ago.

The Junior Girls division will welcome back five players from last year’s Top-10. Kenna Hughes will defend her 2015 title alongside fellow Calgarians Kehler Koss (2nd), Sharmaine Rapisura (4th), and Annabelle Ackroyd (T10). Redcliffe, Alta., product Lauren Koenig will play in hopes of building upon her T7 result.

The host city of Medicine Hat will be well-represented with five local players in contention. Matt Bering and Michael Valk will have a chance to win on home soil, while Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club members Ronnie Postnikoff, Ryan Hodgins and Sam Bratvold hope to hold home-course advantage.

The CN Future Links Atlantic Championship – the junior series’ final event of the 2016 season – will be conducted at Countryview Golf Club in Fairview, P.E.I., from July 12-14.

The top six finishers in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship to be contested August 1-4 at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L. In the case of ties, exemptions will be decided via hole-by-hole playoff. All players in the Top-6, including ties, in the Junior Girls division will earn entry into this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, hosted by The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S., from August 2-5.

Additional information regarding the 2016 CN Future Links Western Championship, including participants, start times and up-to-date results can be found here.

EDMONTON – Jack Wood, a Banff Springs Golf Club phenom, needed one extra hole in the final match to claim victory at the 2016 Alberta Match Play Championship. The UBC Thunderbird and No. 10 seeded player took down the No. 1 seed University of Houston Cougar, Matt Williams.

Williams held a 1-up advantage on the final hole when play was suspended due to dangerous weather conditions with players in the fairway. When play resumed, Wood was able to save par while Williams bogeyed, sending the match to extra holes. Wood made a solid par three on the extra hole while Williams again bogeyed, leaving Wood victorious after four gruelling matches over the past two days at RedTail Landing Golf Club.

Wood went 1 up, 2-and-1, 3-and-1, 1 up (19 holes) in his victories over Max Sekulic, Brett Pasula, Jared Nicolls, and Matt Williams, respectively.

By virtue of competing in the final match both Wood and Williams have earned quota positions into the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship taking place at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, August 8-11th. Wood has also punched his ticket into the 2017 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship. He becomes the second member selected to Team Alberta after Emmett Oh of Calgary earned the first spot last week at The Glencoe Invitational where he finished as the low Albertan.

TORONTO – It was a dramatic finish to the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, on June 23 at Lambton Golf & Country Club. After 54-holes, a champion was yet to be crowned. First and second round leader, Ryan Kings, and Matthew Sim were all tied at two-over and needed a playoff to determine a winner. On the first playoff hole, it was Sim who brought the crowd surrounding the 18th green, to their feet by sinking a nearly 20-foot birdie putt to capture the title.

Heading into the day, Sim, from Oakville and the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, sat in a tie for fourth at three-over for the championship. The 29-year-old got off to a great start with birdies on the fifth, sixth, and seventh holes and was two-under at the turn. He continued to lower his score on the back nine with three more birdies on 10, 12 and 14 and was four-under for the day, one-under for the tournament, with three holes to go. However, after a bogey on 16, he found the trees on 17 leading to a double bogey. He pared the 18th but was watching the final group to see where he would finish.

The final group included Kitchener’s Kings and Brooklin’s Ashley Chinner, who began the round in first and second place respectively. Kings, a Deer Ridge Golf Club member, started the day with a four-shot lead but gave it back as he finished six-over on the front nine. He would get one back with a birdie on 11, but still found himself tied for the lead at two-over heading to the 18th. On 18, Kings drained a lengthy par putt to force the playoff with Sim. Kings managed to par the playoff hole but there was nothing he could do except watch as Sim sank the winner for the title. Sim finished the tournament at two-over (75-72-71-218), Kings went (69-72-77-218).

After the win, Sim talked about how he felt during the week. “Coming into the week I felt great and things just came together for me. I struggled a bit down the stretch but I held it together. Today my putting was my strong point, I definitely made some key putts.”

The most key putt for Sim came on the playoff hole. He remembers what he was thinking as he stared down the shot for the win. “It was a double breaker over a slope and I thought it was going to straighten out. It got about two feet from the hole and I could see it going right in the middle. I couldn’t believe it when it dropped. It still hasn’t sunk in yet. This win feels fantastic, it is above everything else by a long shot!”

As for Chinner, a member of Coppinwood Golf Club, he too had a chance to join the playoff for the title. However, it all came down to 18 where he settled for a bogey dropping him to a share of the bronze medal. Chinner finished the tournament at three-over (71-74-74-219) and won the Mid-Masters Championship.

He shared the bronze medal with North York’s Charles Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons, from Thornhill Golf & Country Club, began the day in a tie for seventh at four-over. He finished the round at one-under to end the tournament at three-over (73-75-71-219).

Fitzsimmons and Chinner played off for the third Team Ontario spot for the team competition at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Aug 23 – 26 at Golf Château-Bromont in Bromont, Quebec. Fitzsimmons claimed the spot in the second playoff hole.

Golf Ontario would like to thank Lambton Golf & Country Club along with their staff and volunteers for hosting the event. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers and to title sponsor Investors Group for their continued support of golf in the province.

For full tournament information, including the final leaderboard, see the tournament site.