Golf Canada’s 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place February 25-27 at the Prince George Hotel in Halifax.

The event brought together Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, committee volunteers and staff, as well as representatives from Canada’s provincial golf associations and stakeholders from within the golf industry. The three days included meetings, presentations and discussion in preparation for the upcoming golf season.

In case you missed it, we’re prepared this recap below.

HALIFAX – Roland Deveau of Bedford, N.S., was inducted as Golf Canada’s 113^th president at the conclusion of the National Sport Federation’s Annual General Meeting this past weekend in Halifax.

Deveau succeeds 2015 president Paul McLean of King, Ont., in leading Golf Canada’s Board of Directors.  Calgary’s Leslie Dunning becomes first vice-president while Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que., assumes the role of second vice-president.

“I’m humbled and privileged to assume the presidency of Golf Canada,” said Deveau shortly after his induction. “I’d like to thank and salute Mr. McLean as well as all our previous leaders who have worked tirelessly to grow the game and promote excellence in our sport with grace, dignity and commitment. Our organization has a tremendously rich history. I thank my fellow Board members for enabling me this opportunity to work with our members and industry stakeholders as we write our next chapter.

“We live in an astonishing country who loves golf. We are Canada’s most played sport with nearly 5.7 million Canadians teeing-it-up each year. But, we have and will always face challenges. It’s the responsibility of golf’s leaders to adapt to the modern reality that our society is changing. It’s time for all of us, as an industry, to be positive about golf and work collaboratively. We must target juniors, women and minority groups who haven’t traditionally been involved with our sport. That is how we will continue to be Canada’s most popular sport and I invite all those passionate about golf to join us.”

Deveau, Dunning and Beaulieu will lead Golf Canada’s 2016 Board of Directors which also includes Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont., Dale Jackson of Victoria, Rob MacDonald of Winnipeg, Don MacKay of Bracebridge, Ont., Nick Marrone of Toronto, Pat Thompson of Kelowna, B.C., and Allison Chisholm of Rothesay, N.B., as well as immediate past president Paul McLean.

John Horton, Jim Clark, Allan ‘Bunny’ Dunlop and Brian MacLeod honoured as recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award
Created in 1993, Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service award has been presented annually to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada. This year’s recipients are former Nova Scotia Golf Association (NSGA) president John Horton and long-time volunteer Jim Clark along with a pair of posthumous honourees – former NSGA historian Allan ‘Bunny’ Dunlop and Blind Golf Canada co-founder Brian MacLeod, who both passed away in 2015. Click here for more information on the four honourees.

Pat Irwin named Volunteer of the Year
Pat Irwin of Ladysmith, B.C., was recognized as Golf Canada’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year. This marks the tenth year in which the association has recognized individuals for their tremendous efforts and commitment to grow the game in their community. Click here for more information on Pat Irwin.

Doug Alexander appointed as Honorary Life Governor
Congratulations to Doug Alexander of London, Ont., on being named an Honorary Life Governor with Golf Canada. Alexander served as Golf Canada’s 111^th president in 2014.

Annual Report & Strategic Plan

Click here to read Golf Canada’s 2015 Annual Report, which includes a recap of the past season, as well as the association’s 2015 Financial Statements.

Click here for Golf Canada’s 2016 Strategic Plan, outlining the key activities that Golf Canada is focused on as the National Sport Federation and governing body for golf in the country.

Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting is an important week in the lead up to the 2016 golf season. In addition to appointing its new president and members to the Board of Directors, the association presents details of its strategic plan and gathers with key stakeholders from the provincial golf associations and a number of national association partners.  The AGM also celebrates key accomplishments from the previous year and provides the association with a forum to discuss issues and opportunities facing the Canadian golf industry.

To follow Golf Canada’s 2016 Annual Meeting on Twitter, use #GCAGM16.

HALIFAX – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Ladysmith, B.C., native Pat K. Irwin has been named its 2015 Volunteer of the Year. He will receive the honour at the Saturday, February 27 closing dinner of the 2016 Annual General Meeting at the Prince George Hotel in Halifax.

Individuals’ paths to the game of golf can travel many routes. Golfers often recall early years on the course with parents or grandparents and credit them as sources of inspiration. Pat Irwin’s journey to the game came about in a more unique fashion – he decided to quit smoking.

While the health benefits alone are enough reason to quit, the financial savings from his decision propelled Irwin to take on a new hobby – golf. Urged on by his daughter, Irwin became a member at Mount Brenton Golf Course on Vancouver Island.

As familiarity became interest and interest grew to passion, Irwin came to realize the benefits of the game reached beyond age and ability. He believed in the benefits that golf could instill in children and wanted to help promote that message. Mount Brenton’s junior membership at that time was eight and Irwin knew he could help to grow those numbers.

Irwin volunteered to take the reins of the junior program in 1988 and grew its membership to 70 within his first year. His hard work and determination continue to drive junior golf programs and inspire young enthusiasts to engage with the sport.

For over a decade, Irwin has served as the Junior Chair of British Columbia Golf’s Zone 6 committee. He has organized and managed competitions, clinics and events in support of junior golf development in the North Vancouver Island area.

In 2011, the inaugural Patty Irwin Junior Tournament was conducted to recognize one of British Columbia’s strongest proponents of junior golf. He received Sport BC’s President’s Award in 2015 for his tremendous efforts in developing the sport in his home province.

Pat Irwin is an extraordinary and passionate volunteer. He is a dedicated individual who has spent countless hours championing the growth of the game. He is a believer in the sport and the values it instills.

Now in its tenth year, Golf Canada’s Volunteer of the Year award is annually presented to individuals who best exemplify the National Sport Federation’s commitment to growing the game.

In his time with the sport, Pat Irwin has consistently and selflessly demonstrated a willingness to serve, share and support the game in B.C. It is for this dedication and devotion that Golf Canada recognizes him as its 2015 Volunteer of the Year.

To follow Golf Canada’s 2016 Annual Meeting on Twitter, use #GCAGM16.

WATERLOO – Golf Canada’s Leslie Dunning will be recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by the University of Waterloo – a recognition presented to alumni who are making significant contributions to the University, their professions and their communities – at an event taking place on the school’s campus March 3, 2016.

Dunning is beginning her 8th year on the Board of Directors of Golf Canada, this year serving as vice president. In 2015, she chaired a working group focused on enhancing Golf Canada’s volunteer services and nominations processes. She was a member of the Amateur Competitions and Professional Championships Committees, as well as the Compensation Committee.

She has previously chaired the Provincial Council and both the Governance and Human Resources Committees. She is a Past President of Alberta Golf and has served on various boards at the local, provincial and national levels. She is a member of Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary and Bigwin Island Golf Club in Muskoka.

She was employed in many parts of the country and in a variety of senior leadership roles for the Canadian Red Cross over 36 years. She is currently focused on family and volunteer commitments, as well as improving her golf game. She holds a BSc. (Geology) from the University of Waterloo; an MBA from Queen’s University and is a Certified Management Accountant.

Leslie lives in Calgary with her husband Neill. They have three children, who are all active golfers. In 2014, they welcomed their first grandchild whom they look forward to introducing to golf in the next few years.

If you would like more information regarding volunteering with Golf Canada, please email volunteers@golfcanada.ca.

Halifax (Golf Canada) – Former Nova Scotia Golf Association (NSGA) President John Horton and long-time golf volunteer Jim Clark as well as a pair of posthumous honourees—former NSGA Historian Allan ‘Bunny’ Dunlop and prolific blind golfer Brian MacLeod—will be acknowledged for their tremendous contributions to the game of golf as 2016 recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

The National Sport Federation’s Distinguished Service Award has been presented annually since 1993 to recognize outstanding individuals who have had an impact on Canadian golf either nationally or within their communities.

The presentation of the 2016 Distinguished Service Awards will take place on Saturday, February 27 as part of Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting at the Prince George Hotel in Halifax. Dunlop and MacLeod, who both passed away in 2015, will also be acknowledged on Friday, February 26 during an informal afternoon ceremony at the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.

“Golf Canada is proud to recognize John Horton and Jim Clark along with the late Allan ‘Bunny’ Dunlop and Brian MacLeod as the recipients of our 2016 Distinguished Service Award,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “Their respective contributions have left a lasting impression on the Canadian golf landscape and it is with great respect that we honour these individuals for their passion and commitment to our sport.”

Recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award are often selected from within the province or region of the organization’s incoming President. On Saturday, February 27, Roland Deveau of Bedford, N.S., will be sworn in as Golf Canada’s 113^th President. As President-elect, Deveau will succeed 2015 President Paul McLean of King, Ont.

Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting and presidential appointment will conclude three days of meetings from February 25-27 in Nova Scotia’s capital.

JOHN HORTON

Even before becoming the 60^th President of the Nova Scotia Golf Association in 2013-14, John Horton had spent more than 40 years promoting the game he loved. After serving on the Board of Directors and chairing the Junior Development of Golf at Ken-Wo Golf Club in the 1970s, the native of Wolfville, N.S., turned his passion for golf into an active volunteer role at the provincial level. In addition to championing the growth of Nova Scotia’s Junior Development program, the former school teacher familiarized himself with the Rules of Golf and became a Rules Official – a role that has allowed him to officiate at numerous local, regional, provincial and national championships. He has been active in Handicapping and Course Rating and currently serves as director of Course Rating with the NSGA. In addition to Rules, Handicapping and Course Rating, Horton has also served the NSGA as its Tournament Director and Junior Director. Despite ascending the volunteer ranks provincially, Horton remains committed to the home club at which he began his journey with the game, still serving as Ken-Wo’s Handicap chair.

JIM CLARK

Jim Clark began working as a volunteer with Golf Canada at the 1984 Canadian Open as part of the Caddie Committee. Over the next 15 years, the native of Midland, Ont., would serve as vice-chair and then chair of numerous committees which work tirelessly to organize Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. Clark was appointed chair of the Canadian Women’s Open in 2001 and one year later became tournament chair for the RBC Canadian Open, a post he has held on seven occasions including most recently in 2015.  Clark was also selected to serve as tournament chairman for the inaugural World Junior Girls Championship in 2014 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont., and then this past year, he also served as the organizing committee chair for the 2015 Pan-Am Games golf competition conducted at Angus Glen. Over three decades, Clark has worked in various capacities and on several volunteer committees with Golf Canada – including past chair of the Championships Committee – where he readily demonstrates generosity and the spirit of volunteerism in giving back to the game of golf.

ALLAN ‘BUNNY’ DUNLOP (1944 – 2015)

Allan ‘Bunny’ Dunlop joined the Public Archives of Nova Scotia in 1970. For 27 years, the native of Halifax plied his craft and applied his extensive knowledge before retiring as Associate Provincial Archivist. Dunlop’s wealth of experience as an archivist and his love of the game brought him to the Nova Scotia Golf Association (NSGA) in 1997 where he served as the association’s Historian. The 39-year member of Ashburn Golf Club amassed, catalogued and maintained detailed records of golf – both in his home province and throughout the country. His 18-year tenure (1997 to 2015) as the NSGA’s Historian concluded with his passing in May of 2015. A golf competitor in his younger days, Dunlop was considered by many to be a true scholar of the game, having contributed historical information to national golf-related historical groups and societies. He compiled and documented the history of the sport as a volunteer with the NSGA and his legacy has allowed the association to maintain and preserve golf’s rich heritage in Nova Scotia.

BRIAN MACLEOD (1959 – 2015)

Brian MacLeod was not only a blind golf champion, but also a steadfast advocate for the game off the course. The native of Truro, N.S., traveled the world and amassed a golfing legacy that includes three victories at the Canadian Blind Open, two wins at the U.S. Blind Open, championship titles at the Italian Blind Open and the Australian Blind Open and two runner-up finishes at the World Blind Open. Despite those impressive accomplishments and his 67 total wins in 100 career national and international blind golf tournaments, it is MacLeod’s commitment as a life-long proponent of the sport for which he will be best remembered. Alongside friend and fellow blind golf champion Gerry Nelson, MacLeod founded Blind Golf Canada to promote the sport and provide competitive golf opportunities to the nation’s blind and visually impaired golfers. A proud ambassador for golf in Nova Scotia, Canada and internationally, Macleod passed away in December of 2015.

To follow Golf Canada’s 2016 Annual Meeting on Twitter, use #GCAGM16.

HALIFAX – Golf Canada’s 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) is set for this week (February 25-27) at the Prince George Hotel in Halifax.

The event will bring together Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, committee volunteers and staff, as well as representatives from Canada’s provincial golf associations and stakeholders from within the golf industry. The group will assemble for three days of meetings, presentations and discussion in preparation for the upcoming golf season.

The Annual General Meeting will culminate with the appointment of Roland Deveau of Bedford, N.S., as the National Sport Federation’s 113^th President. His induction will take place during an official ceremony on Saturday, February 27 at the Prince George Hotel. Deveau will succeed 2015 President Paul McLean of King Township, Ont., in leading Golf Canada’s Board of Directors.

Golf Canada will also present both its Volunteer of the Year Award, as well as its Distinguished Service Award(s) to honour and acknowledge a collection of individuals for their outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada.

A full itinerary of presentations taking place during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting is available here.

A copy of Golf Canada’s 2016 Strategic Plan is available here.

To follow Golf Canada’s 2016 Annual Meeting on Twitter, use #GCAGM16.

The Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) and The R&A have agreed to proceed with a merger of the two organizations.

Following an extensive consultation exercise, agreement has been reached on the merger of the two St. Andrews-based bodies with the process due to be completed in the coming months.

The LGU organizes a series of prestigious championships and international matches including the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the Curtis Cup.

An announcement was made in February 2015 that a potential merger between the LGU and The R&A was under consideration. Since then discussions have taken place between the respective Boards and the LGU’s shareholders – England Golf, Scottish Golf, the Golf Union of Wales and the Irish Ladies Golf Union – and there has been unanimous support for the proposal.

“The LGU has a long and proud tradition of supporting women’s and girls’ golf,” said Trish Wilson, the Chairman of the LGU. “Funded by the lady golfers of Great Britain and Ireland, the LGU has positioned golf as a game for all women and girls.  My gratitude is due to our shareholders for their foresight and support in this move.

“I would like to thank the Chief Executive of The R&A and his team, and the foresight of his predecessor, for their initiative and conviction in achieving this outcome. Building on the strong relationship it already enjoys with The R&A, the LGU looks forward to realising the potential of this merger.”

“The LGU and The R&A have a wealth of experience in running successful championships and we have a shared focus on supporting the development of golf,” said Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A. “The merger will enable us to capitalize on the strengths of the two organizations for the wider benefit of the sport, including the development of golf for women and girls.

“This is a historic move and an important step forward for golf on these islands. I would like to thank the LGU Board for their commitment and enthusiasm throughout this process and their stakeholders, including Ricoh and IMG, for their tremendous support.”

Planning is underway to integrate the staff from both organizations and to implement the agreed governance structure. The LGU’s championships and international matches will run as normal this year with the existing LGU team managing those events.  The business operations of the LGU will be brought into The R&A group of companies taking effect January 1, 2017.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce its competition schedule including host clubs and dates for the 2016 championship season.

A total of 24 professional and amateur championships, as well as qualifying events into Canada’s two National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open – will be conducted in 2016.

“Each year, nearly 3,000 talented Canadian and international golfers come together at many of Canada’s premier golf facilities in the spirit of competition and camaraderie to challenge for a Canadian national golf championship,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “It is Golf Canada’s privilege to conduct these championships in partnership with our host venues, committed sponsors and thousands of dedicated volunteers from coast to coast. We are proud that these championships are providing athletes with an opportunity for meaningful competition and the chance to add their names to Canada’s storied golf history.”

Golf Canada’s complete 2016 championship schedule as well as registration information can be found here.

Championship Notes:

Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off with the CN Future Links Pacific Championship, May 13-15, at The Dunes at Kamloops Golf Club in Kamloops, B.C. The event is the first in a series of six regional junior competitions presented by CN that in 2016 will see tournament fields expanded to include 120 players – 87 boys and 33 girls.

The 14^th playing of the Canadian University/College Championship will be conducted from May 31 to June 3 at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C. The championship will be the first of eight national amateur competitions being contested in 2016.

Beginning in late July, Atlantic Canada will host a trio of competitions: the 103^rd Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship (Ken-Wo Golf Club in New Minas, N.S.), as well as the 78^th Canadian Junior Boys (Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L.) and 62^nd Junior Girls Championships (The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S.).

The 2016 edition of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will return to its roots for its 112^th playing. The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que. – which staged the competition’s first playing in 1895 – will host the world’s third oldest amateur championship from August 8-11 alongside co-host Eagle Creek Golf Club located in Dunrobin, Ont. This will mark the first occasion on which one of Canada’s national amateur championships will be played concurrently in two provinces.

A two-stage qualifying procedure for the 2016 RBC Canadian Open will feature a trio of regional qualifying competitions in British Columbia (Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria on May 30), Ontario (DiamondBack Golf Club in Richmond Hill on June 6) and Quebec (Club de golf de la Vallée du Richelieu in Sainte-Julie on June 6). The final qualifying event will be held at Heron Point Golf Links in Ancaster, Ont., on July 18.

For the 28^th time in the 107-year history of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship, Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., will play host to the RBC Canadian Open from July 18-24. In 2015, Australian Jason Day was crowned champion, edging out Brantford, Ont., native David Hearn, who held the 54-hole head before finishing third.

On Saturday, July 16, prior to the start of the 2016 RBC Canadian Open, Glen Abbey will also open its fairways to junior competitors for the 8^th annual CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event.

Late August will see the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur and Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championships hosted at Golf Château-Bromont in Bromont, Que., and Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka, Alta., respectively.

The 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, set for August 22-28 at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Priddis, Alta., will be conducted the week following golf’s return to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Three-time winner and defending champion Lydia Ko will lead the stars of the LPGA Tour back to the Calgary area as Priddis Greens plays host to the championship for the third time (1999 and 2009). The tournament’s Monday Qualifier will take place at The Hamptons Golf Club in Calgary on August 22.

Golf Canada has also confirmed that the Canadian Women’s Tour events will not be played in 2016 and that the Tour has been put on an indeterminate hiatus due to a lack of title or presenting sponsor. The player exemptions into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open that have traditionally been awarded via the Tour will be reallocated by Golf Canada at a later date. The champion of the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada will continue to earn an exemption into Canada’s premier LPGA event.

Grand Niagara Golf Club in Niagara Falls, Ont., will host the 54^th Canadian Men’s Senior Championship from September 6-9 with the addition of a Sunday Qualifier this season. The minimum age of eligibility for the Super Senior division has been lowered from 70 to 65.

The Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru National Event will take to Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont., on September 12.  The one day event is a celebration of the success of all Golf Fore the Cure events held nationwide during the 2016 season. To date, the program’s fundraising efforts have totaled more than $5.4 million towards breast cancer research.

Highland Country Club in London, Ont., will set the stage for the 2016 Freedom 55 Financial Championship from September 12-18. Golf Canada is proud to serve as the organizing body for the season-ending event on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada.

As the National Sports Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships as part of its mandate to promote the sport and aid in the development of the nation’s world-class talent.

TALAHASSEE, Fla. – Team Canada Amateur Squad member Maddie Szeryk fired a final round 70 (-2) on Sunday to capture medalist honours at the Florida State Match-Up at the Don Veller Seminole Golf Course.

Szeryk, a 19-year-old dual citizen from Allen, Tex., posted six birdies on Sunday en route to a four-stroke victory over Florida State’s Kim Metraux and South Carolina’s Katelyn Dambaugh. The win marks Szeryk’s first collegiate victory and the fifth time she finished a 54-hole tournament at 5-under or better—the only Texas A&M golfer to accomplish that feat.

Collectively, the Aggies finished with a score of 898 (+34) to finish fifth. Florida State took home the title with a final score of 871 (+7).

Szeryk, last year’s Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year, will tee-it-up again with the Aggies on Mar. 11–13 at the Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., for the 3M Augusta Invitational.

Click here for full scoring.

Richmond, B.C. – British Columbia Golf has announced the addition of Matthew Steinbach to their staff as Manager, Golf Participation, effective immediately.

Steinbach will be responsible for managing current ‘grow the game’ initiatives within British Columbia Golf such as Future Links, Playground 2 Fairway (P2F), SOAR, Golf In Schools and SNAG and will also be working with the Allied Golf Association to promote all grow the game initiatives.

“It’s a pleasure to join the team and support British Columbia Golf as leaders in growing golf as a sport for life,”” Steinbach said.

Steinbach comes to British Columbia Golf with a strong background in the golf industry including roles as Golf School Assistant, Guest Services Manager and Pro Shop Assistant at the Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka, Alta.

In addition, after obtaining his Bachelor of Arts Degree as a Communications Major while a member of the Men’s Varsity Golf Team at Simon Fraser University, he gained more valuable experience in the golf industry as a Pro Shop Assistant at the Memorial Golf Club in Qualicum Beach, BC and later with the Copper Point Golf Club in Windermere, BC.

Steinbach also has over 8 years of sales and customer development experience in the food industry. Most recently he held the position of Key Account Manager with the General Mills Canada Corporation.

“I look forward to combining my corporate experience with my passion for the game of golf to help grow the game in British Columbia,” added Steinbach.

“We are looking to utilize Matthew’s proven business skills to help us determine where we are with recreational golf in B.C. and once we determine that, how we can continue to grow the sport.”

British Columbia Golf Executive Director Kris Jonasson welcomed Steinbach to his new role with the organization, saying,