Even the dating web site eHarmony recognizes that, listing “15 reasons to date a golfer.” Among them, “golfers strive for emotional balance,” “they know how to make conversation,” “golfers understand they must forget mistakes and move on,” and “committed golfers are in it for the long haul.” Finally, these relationship experts point out, “you’ll be spending countless hours together in pristine park-like settings. Not a bad way to nurture romance.”

They might have mentioned etiquette, balance, equity and all those other fundamental values in the game. As well, the rules would be worth mentioning. Not the new Modernized Rules of Golf, although those certainly have their place in the actual playing of the game.

If you want golf to help forge and strengthen a romantic bond, you would be well advised to follow these guidelines which I have learned (often the hard way, particularly No. 1) over three decades of golfing with my beloved.

1. Be mindful

If you’re not asked, resist the urge to offer your well-intentioned opinion if your partner is having an off day. You most likely don’t have the instruction credentials to rectify the situation. Second, even though they love you, it is more likely that you will only add to the frustration.. If you are going to follow only one rule, make it this one.

2. Go on vacation

Take a golf vacation together. Sitting on the beach is all fine and good, but getting out on the course and sharing some conversation and laughs is far better.

3. Nine and dine

Whether it’s an organized weekly couples’ league or just an impromptu outing for just the two of you, nine holes followed by a leisurely dinner and drinks is a wonderful way to unwind and catch up.

4. Don’t take it too seriously

Sure, you want to play your best but the object of the exercise is to enjoy each other’s company.

5. Include family

If you have kids or grandkids, invite them to play a few holes with you. Or maybe it’s your brother and sister-in-law or other relatives you love but don’t get to see often enough. Golf is a great excuse to reinforce those family ties.

I speak from experience, as I mentioned earlier. My wife took up golf after I did and fell for it as hard, or maybe harder, than she fell for me. We’ve done all things listed above, from golf vacations to couples’ nights to including family. And while the pure meaning of Valentine’s Day is focused on your one and only, and my wife and I have spent many delightful hours golfing together, I can tell you that one of my everlasting memories is the sight of our son and his grandfather golfing together. That’s something else I truly love.

Select tickets now available for 113th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada, in partnership with RBC is pleased to announce that select tickets are now available for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open taking place May 28 – June 2 at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont.

Leading the charge for the 113th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship will be defending champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. along with two-time RBC Canadian Open champion and world no.2 Rory McIlroy.

Taylor, a three-time PGA TOUR winner will become the first Canadian in nearly 70 years to compete as defending champion coming off a historic four-hole playoff victory over Tommy Fleetwood this past June at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

Last week, Golf Canada and RBC also announced a revised brand identity for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open logo that pays tribute to Taylor’s iconic 72-foot putt that secured the first Canadian win at the RBC Canadian Open in 69 years.

McIlroy won his first of two Canadian Open titles by a convincing seven shots at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open hosted at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The 24-time PGA TOUR winner went on to successfully defend his RBC Canadian Open title in 2022 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club. McIlroy will be looking to claim his third Canadian Open title in 2024 and join three-time champions Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, and Lee Trevino.

“There is incredible momentum for the RBC Canadian Open’s return to Hamilton with our historic defending champion Nick Taylor and our previous two-time winner in Rory (McIlroy) leading the early charge,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Hamilton has been an exceptional host venue for the championship, and we are looking forward to delivering another exciting festival experience for golf fans next summer.”

The 2024 RBC Canadian Open returns to the storied Hamilton layout for the seventh time and first since 2019. It will be the first opportunity for the stars of the PGA TOUR to experience the newly renovated Harry Colt design led by Martin Ebert. The two-year renovation project, which saw the return of key Colt design elements from the course’s past, including the complete rebuild of all 27 greens and bunkers, was named the “Best New Restoration” by Golf Digest for 2022.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the 2024 RBC Canadian Open offers three select ticket options now on sale for golf fans to experience the thrill of live professional golf at Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. The advance ticket options include:

• Any Day Ticket: Access to the RBC Canadian Open on any one day, Tuesday through Sunday (on-sale for a limited time, while supplies last.)

• Weekly Grounds Ticket: Access to the full week of the tournament, Tuesday through Sunday.

• 1904 Club Weekly Ticket: Access for all four days of Championship play from Thursday through Sunday.

The official charitable beneficiary of the RBC Canadian Open is First Tee – Canada. As part of the championship’s commitment to junior golf, admission all week is free for youth aged 12-and-under.

Volunteer, sponsorship, and corporate hospitality opportunities are also available. To purchase tickets or for more information on the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, please visit rbccanadianopen.com.

DECEMBER 21, 2022 – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the names of the 57 athletes and eight coaches named to Team Canada as major enhancements to Golf Canada’s national team program continue to take effect.

Golf Canada’s 2023 national team system now features three program tiers: Team Canada (both amateur and professionals); Team Canada – NextGen (U21 amateurs); and a national talent identification system aimed at growing the pool of future national team prospects.

The updated program tiers for 2023 including a record-breaking number of athletes and coaches reflect the enhancements to the high-performance program announced last year to accelerate Canada’s position in the global professional golf landscape with a goal to increase the number of Canadians on the LPGA and PGA Tours to 30 by 2032.

The Team Canada tier (formerly the Young Pro Squad and Amateur Squad) now includes both professionals and amateurs with training focused on helping players reach the major tours. Feeding into Team Canada is a new tier called Team Canada – NextGen (formerly the Junior Squad) focused on supporting top juniors and bridging the gap for players transitioning into amateur golf and the U.S. college system.

“Thanks to the Golf Canada Foundation as well as our generous donors and partners, the enhanced Team Canada program structure is well positioned to support more of this country’s top athletes towards our goal of getting 30 Canadians to the major tours over the next decade,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “We have continued to evaluate and analyze the current player development system, have made refinements to competition and training environments, and are working collaboratively with athletes, parents and PGA of Canada coaches toward a shared goal of enhanced Canadian excellence on the global golf stage. Canada has made significant progress in the development of world-class golfers and is poised to take another step forward.”

The enhancements to Golf Canada’s high-performance program, which were outlined in a detailed update authored by Blue in 2022, were made possible through major gift funding support from the Golf Canada Foundation’s network of Trustee donors.

TEAM CANADA – MEN                                                  

A.J. Ewart (23)	Coquitlam, BC	Barry University (Sr.)	The Vancouver GC [AM]
Ashton McCulloch (20)	Kingston, ON	Michigan St. (So.)	Cataraqui G&CC [AM]
Johnny Travale (22)	Hamilton, ON	UCF (5th Yr.)	Hamilton G&CC [AM]
Laurent Desmarchais (21)	Bromont, QC	Tennessee (So.)	Vallée Du Richelieu Golf Club [AM]
Matt Anderson (22)	Mississauga, ON	San Francisco (5th Yr.)	Credit Valley G&CC [AM]
Piercen Hunt (21)	Hartland, WI	Illinois (Jr.)	The Club at Lac la Belle [AM]
Remi Chartier (21)	Naples, FL	East Tennessee State (Sr.)	Royal Montreal GC [AM]
Brendan MacDougall (25)	Calgary, AB	High Point/Nevada (’21)	The Glencoe C&CC [PRO]
Chris Crisologo (27)	Richmond, BC	Simon Fraser (’18)	Marine Drive GC [PRO]
Chris R. Wilson (27)	Toronto, ON	Colgate University (’17)	|N/A| [PRO]
Etienne Papineau (26)	Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC	West Virginia (’21)	Pinegrove CC [PRO]
Henry Lee (24)	Coquitlam, BC	University of Washington (’21) [PRO]
Jared du Toit (27)	Kimberley, BC	ASU (’17)	The Glencoe G&CC
Jeevan Sihota (18)	Victoria, BC	turned pro after high school [PRO]
Joey Savoie (28)	La Prairie, QC	MTSU (’17) [PRO]
Max Sekulic (23)	Rycroft, AB	Washington State (’22)	The Glencoe G&CC [PRO]
Myles Creighton (27)	Digby, NS	Radford (’18)	Banyan GC [PRO]
Noah Steele (25)	Kingston, ON	Sam Houston State (’20)	Cataraqui G&CC [PRO]
Stuart Macdonald (28)	Vancouver, BC	Purdue (’16)	[PRO]
Sudarshan Yellamaraju (21)	Mississauga, ON	turned pro after high school [PRO]

TEAM CANADA – WOMEN                                                        

Angela Arora (18)	Surrey, BC	Tennessee (Jan 2023)	Marine Drive GC [AM]
Brooke Rivers (17)	Brampton, ON	Wake Forest (2023)	Brampton GC [AM]
Celeste Dao (21)	Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, QC	Georgia (Sr.)	Summerlea G&CC [AM]
Katie Cranston (18)	Oakville, ON	Auburn (Jan 2023)	Oakville GC [AM]
Lauren Kim (17)	Surrey, BC	Texas (2023)	Morgan Creek GC [AM]
Lauren Zaretsky (18)	Thornhill, ON	Texas Tech (Fr.)	Maple Downs G&CC [AM]
Leah John (22)	Vancouver, BC	Nevada (Sr.)	Marine Drive GC [AM]
Michelle Liu (16)	Vancouver, BC	High School (grade 11)	Shaugnessy GC [AM]
Monet Chun (21)	Richmond Hill, ON	Michigan (Jr.)	Summit GC [AM]
Nicole Gal (18)	Oakville, ON	Ole Miss (Fr.)	Oakville GC [AM]
Sarah-Eve Rhéaume (22)	Boischatel, QC	Furman (5th Yr.)	Royal Quebec [AM]
Savannah Grewal (21)	Mississauga, ON	Clemson (Sr.)	Piper’s Heath GC [AM]
Brigitte Thibault (24)	Rosemere, QC	Fresno/Texas (’22)	Rosemère Golf Club [PRO]
Maddie Szeryk (26)	London, ON	Texas A&M (’18) [PRO]
Selena Costabile (24)	Thornhill, ON	turned pro after high school	Ladies GC of Toronto [PRO]

The 2023 Team Canada roster is comprised of 35 players who are competing at the highest levels of amateur golf and refining their games on developmental professional tours. The program provides individualized training and competition support by collaborating with players’ support teams, including personal and college coaches, and adding value where gaps are identified. Members of Team Canada have access to The Legacy Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz. where players can live and train in the winter months.

Salimah Mussani returns as the Stollery Family Team Canada Women’s Head Coach supported by Associate Coach and fellow PGA of Canada professional Jennifer Greggain. Derek Ingram returns as Men’s Team Head Coach and will be supported by Assistant Coaches Louis Melanson and Benoit Lemieux.

The Team Canada coaching staff will be joined by an integrated support team that includes Greg Redman (Strength, Conditioning & Physio, Men’s Team), Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood (Mental Performance & Psychologist, Men’s Team), Andrea Kosa (Strength, Conditioning & Physio, Women’s Team), Lindsay Berard (Mental Performance & Psychologist, Women’s Team), and Kelly Anne Erdman (Performance Dietician).

TEAM CANADA – NEXTGEN (BOYS)                                                    

Alex Zhang (14)	Richmond, BC	High School (grade 9)	Marine Drive GC
Ben MacLean (18)	Niagara Falls, ON	Kent St. (Fr.)	Cherry Hill Club
Cooper Humphreys (17)	Vernon, BC	Oregon St. (2023)	The Harvest Golf Club
Eric Zhao (15)	Toronto, ON	High School (grade 10)	Bayview G&CC
Ethan Wilson (18)	St. Albert, AB	University of Illinois (2023)	Glendale G&CC
Félix Bouchard (19)	Otterburn Park, QC	Univ. of Kansas (2024)	La Vallée du Richelieu GC
Gavyn Knight (18)	Parksville, BC	Boise St. (Fr.)	Morningstar GC
Hunter Thomson (19)	Calgary, AB	University of Michigan (So.)	Calgary G&CC
James Newton (19)	Ottawa, ON	Rutgers (Fr.)	Royal Ottawa
JP Parr (18)	Saint-Celestin, QC	University of Tennessee (2023)	Club de Golf Ki-8-Eb
Owen Kim (18)	Oakville, ON	Coastal Carolina University (Fr.)	Hamilton G&CC
Owen Mullen (19)	Shortts Lake, NS	University of Notre Dame (So.)	Truro Golf Club

TEAM CANADA – NEXTGEN (GIRLS)

Alissa Xu (17)	Richmond Hill, ON	Dartmouth (2023)	Station Creek GC
Anna Huang (14)	Coto de Caza, CA	Junior High (grade 8)	Coto De Caza G&RC
Carlee Meilleur (14)	Lansdowne, ON	High school (grade 9)	Loyalist G&CC
Lindsay McGrath (15)	Oakville, ON	High School (grade 10)	RattleSnake Point GC
Luna Lu (15)	Burnaby, BC	High School (grade 10)	Pitt Meadows GC
Martina Yu (16)	Coquitlam, BC	High School (grade 11)
Michelle Xing (14)	Richmond Hill, ON	High School (grade 9)	Station Creek GC
Vanessa Borovilos (16)	Etobicoke, ON	High School (grade 11)	Weston G&CC
Vanessa Zhang (16)	Vancouver, BC	High School (grade 11)	Marine Drive GC
Yeji Kwon (16)	Port Coquitlam, BC	High School (grade 11)	Swaneset Bay Resort & CC

The 22-player Team Canada – NextGen roster will include both top junior golfers and U21 amateurs in a program to support their transition from junior competition to high-level amateur golf.

The NextGen coaching staff will be led by Head Coach Robert Ratcliffe with support from Assistant Coaches Jennifer Ha and Jeff MacDonald.  The coaches will be joined by an integrated support team that includes Dr. Emily Wiggin (Strength & Conditioning) and Dr. Adam Kingsbury (Mental Performance & Psychologist).

Supporting the overall growth of elite golf in Canada is the national talent identification system, established in 2022 and led by Tristan Mullally, Head of National Talent Identification. The talent identification system provides assistance to younger juniors (11-16 years old) and their existing coaching support teams to grow the pool of future Team Canada prospects.

A key activity within the talent identification system will be the engagement of the National Talent ID Network, a group of more than 80 coaches across Canada working towards collaborative player development initiatives. Additionally, 2023 will see a broader introduction of talent ID camps across the country led by network members to deliver educational and skill-building opportunities to players, parents, and coaches.

The strategic enhancements for Golf Canada’s player development program were shaped by in-depth feedback from numerous stakeholders in Canadian high-performance golf and a global comparative analysis of other countries’ efficiency success in producing world top-200 players. The analysis considered factors such as participation base, culture, and financial investment into high-performance golf, with a particular focus on countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Australia, and England that are geopolitically and culturally similar to Canada.

“The opportunities provided by golf facilities across Canada are transformative for junior golfers. We want to recognize, celebrate, and publicly thank those facilities who are supporting junior golf in Canada in extraordinary ways.”

– Kevin Blue, Chief Sport Officer

Award Categories

Junior Golf Opportunity Award
Awarded to a facility that provides exceptional access and membership opportunities for junior golfers. Special consideration is given to facilities with strong non-family sponsored junior programs and facilities with fundraising programs to help athletes compete at provincial, national, and international competitions.

Competitive Junior Program of the Year
Awarded to a facility or academy program with many junior athletes competing in provincial and national championships and earning strong results in those championships.

Grassroots Junior Program of the Year
Awarded to a facility or academy program that is excelling at creating new junior golfers through local programming.

Tournament Host of the Year
Awarded to a facility that gives back to junior golf by embracing the opportunity to host junior competitions. The facility creates an excellent tournament experience for players and involves the local community through volunteers and fundraising support.

First Tee Program Location of the Year
Awarded to a First Tee Program Location that demonstrates excellent enrollment in First Tee programming and makes a significant impact on growing participation among new juniors within its community.

Youth on Course Program Location of the Year
Awarded to the facility that provides the largest number of Youth on Course green fee subsidies to junior golfers in the calendar year.

Nomination and Selection process

• July 28 – Applications open to all individual Golf Canada members and member facilities to nominate worthy facilities for each award category. Facilities are encouraged to apply themselves.
• October 16^th – Deadline for Golf Canada to receive all nominations using the online nomination portal.
• October – November – Nominations are reviewed by Golf Canada staff, the Golf Industry Advisory Council, Sport Committee, and Amateur Championships Committee. Members from these groups will be asked to rank nominees using the template provided by the Golf Services department. Committee or Council members with an affiliation to a nominated facility will be recused from discussions relating to that facility.
• January 2024 – February 2024 – Staff from Golf Canada’s Golf Services, Amateur Championships, and High-Performance departments will work together to review all feedback and determine a finalists within each category. Staff with an affiliation to a nominated facility will be recused from discussions relating to that facility. A short list of finalists will be published in each category.
• February 2024 – Award winners will be announced and recognized at Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting.
• March 2024 – Awards will be shipped to each recipient and a press release will be created for all award winners.

OTTAWA, Ont. – When Michelle Liu qualified for the 2019 CP Women’s Open at 12 years, 9 months and 6 days old, it was a record that many thought would last for the foreseeable future.

Then came Lucy Lin.

On Monday, Lin earned a spot in the 2022 CP Women’s Open via a 3-for-1 playoff in the Final Qualifier at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont. and when she tees it up at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club on Thursday at the age of 12 years, 7 months and 12 days, she will become the youngest female ever to qualify for Canada’s National Women’s Open.

“I feel like super excited right now – I have no words to describe it.”

LUCY LIN

The Vancouver, B.C., native scrambled out the gates, making two bogeys and a double on her opening four holes. Five pars followed as she steadied the ship before shifting it into high gear. On the back nine, Lin, who finished as the runner-up in this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, rolled in four birdies to get into a playoff.

 “Honestly, I was just trying to hit every shot the best I can. [I] was a bit nervous, but I tried to just stay patient,” said Lin. “I had a rough start, but I had to come back.”

In the playoff, the 12-year-old made par on No. 7 at The Marshes to advance to her first ever LPGA Tour event.

“I had driver and then like a 128-yard shot and it was dark out, so I couldn’t see really well, but I just tried to do my swing and I tried to make my putt, but it was close,” said Lin.

In the end it didn’t matter. The champion of the NextGen Western Championship’s tap in par booked her ticket to the CP Women’s Open.

Lin says she thinks her mom, who follows her at every tournament, will be on the bag come Thursday and says she looks forward to “seeing those great players and having a great experience.”

The aforementioned Liu also advanced to her second CP Women’s Open with an even-par 72, author of the lowest score of the day along with Gianna Clemente, a 14-year-old from Estero, Florida. Canadian Vanessa Zhang posted a one-over par 71 to clinch her spot at the national championship.

“Just knowing how the overall experience works, I know that’s definitely something that will make the environment a little less foreign to me,” said Liu, who previously held the record as the youngest female to ever qualify for the tournament. “Having the experience of playing in an event where there are spectators and there are camera people, it not being the first time I’ve been in this situation will definitely, I hope, be advantageous to me.”

At the mere age of 12 in 2019, Liu, for obvious reason, found herself far back in the fairway from her older competitors. That is something she figures will change this time around.

“Over the three years from 2019 to today, you know, I hit my driver further, I think I’ve had a lot of experience because I’ve played in other events that really mattered, so I hope that can all coalesce into something that will help me play better.”

The CP Women’s Open takes place August 25-28 at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

The 13th edition of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event wrapped up today in Ottawa after 30 of the top Canadian junior golfers showcased their skills in one of Golf Canada’s signature junior events.

The event took place at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club which will also play host to the CP Women’s Open from August 22-28^th. The National Event culminates a year-long process, which consisted of over 80 qualifying events across Canada and 1,500 junior golfers. 

In partnership with the PGA of Canada and Cobra-Puma Golf, participants went head-to-head in putting, chipping, and driving competitions:

Putting: each competitor received one putt from each distance of 5, 10, and 20 feet with points awarded for holing the putt and proximity to the hole.

Chipping: each competitor received three shots for chipping with points awarded on distance of the chip from the target.

Driving: each competitor received three drives with points awarded for distance and aim of the drive.  

The winners for each division of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event will receive prizing courtesy of Cobra-Puma Golf, with the winners of the 15 to 18 age groups receiving exemptions into their local NextGen Championship in 2023.

Below are the winners in each of the age groups: 

Boys 8 and under:  

Bosco Yang (Angus Glen Golf Club) captured the Boys 8 and under title honours following a climactic three-player tiebreaker. The Aurora, Ont., native recorded a score of 155 in the main competition and earned a score of 80 after going wire to wire in a very close three-way playoff competition. The winner was determined by a repeat of the putting skill challenge.

Bennett Thibideau of Cole Harbour, N.S. and Albert Cui (Angus Glen Golf Club) of Aurora, Ont. also recorded a score of 155 in the competition. After the tiebreaker, Thibideau clinched the runner-up spot with a score of 70, with Cui finishing the day at 60. Coompetition in this division was extremely tight with Newmarket, Ont. native Gianni D’Ambrosio coming in at only 5 points shy off the pace with a score of 150.

Girls 8 and under: 

Four participants competed in the Girls 8 and under division including Amelia Huang (Angus Glen Golf Club) and Angela Qi (Angus Glen Golf Club) of Markham, Ont., Emily Joy (The Glencoe Golf & Country Club) of Calgary, Alb., and Sophia Noh (Summit Golf Club of Richmond Hill, Ont.

Successfully defending her division title earned in 2021, Joy finished in first place with a score of 185. The Calgary native posted impressive scores in both the chipping challenge (multiple 30 scores), and driving challenge (20 points on all three shots), which greatly contributed to her victory.

Noh placed second, with a total score of 160. Noh, like Joy, had a strong driving performance, posting 20 points on each shot.

Boys 9 to 11: 

Competing in the Boys 9 to 11 division included Hunter Burke (Belvedere Golf Club) of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Grady Gouett (Georgian Bay Club) of Meaford, Ont., Pierce Mackenzie (Antigonish Golf Club) of Antigonish, N.S. and Luke Nickerson (KenWo Golf Club) of Kentville, N.S. with the latter taking the division title.

The Boys 9-11 division came down to the wire, with all four golfers separated by 25 points leading into the final skill, putting.  Nickerson dominated on the putting green sinking both the 5-feet and 10-feet putts and coming within inches on the 20-feet for a total score of 220 to earn the title for this division.

Girls 9 to 11: 

Four participants competed in the Girls 9-11 division including Kaeleigh Chung (Meadowbrook Golf Club), Andrea Lai (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club) of St. Thomas, Ont. and Phoebe Lin (DiamondBack Golf Club) and Oceana Sun (Angus Glen Golf Club) of Toronto, Ont..

At just 10 years of age, Chung posted the second-highest score of the day at 265, earning herself the Girls 9 to 11 division title. The Richmond Hill, Ont. native shined throughout the competition posting consistent scores across all skills and holing two of her three putts.

Andrea Lai (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club) of also shined throughout the competition earning 25 points on all her driving shots, finishing in second place (235).

Boys 12-14: 

In the Boys 12-14 division, Justin Chu (Beacon Hall Golf Club) of North York, Ont., Sam Dixon (River Hills Golf & Country Club) of Barrington, N.S., Jordan Hodgins (Rideau View Golf Club) of Ottawa, ON and Spencer Shropshire (Orr Lake Golf Club) of Orillia, ON competed against one another.

Chu started the competition strong with two drives earning 40 points each, and kept one step ahead of the other competitors through chipping and putting for a final score of 255 to earn the division title.

Girls 12-14: 

Rosie Allen (Blomidon Golf Club) of Corner Brook, NFLD., Olivia Johnson (Silver Springs Golf & Country Club) of Calgary, Alb., Tatum Lohnes (Osprey Ridge Golf Club) of Bridgewater, N.S. and Sierra Kowalyshyn (Sawmill Golf Course) of Stoney Creek, Ont., competed for the Girls 12-14 division title.

Olivia Johnson (Silver Spring Golf & Country Club) of Calgary, Alb. came out on top with a standout performance and score of 245, which included earning 40 points on both the 5-feet and 20-feet putting shots.

Boys 15-18: 

Matthew Brooks (Oakfield Golf & Country Club) had multiple 40 scores en route to winning the Boys 15-18 competition. The Halifax, N.S. native recorded scores of 40 in two of the driving events and 10-feet putting competition for a total competition score of 235.

Finishing second in the division was Ryan Cornacchia (Beacon Hall Golf Club) of Aurora, Ont., and placing third, Félix Fontaine (Club Sports Belvédère) from Val d’Or, QC.

Girls 15-18: 

Olivia Seaman (KenWo Golf Club) captured top honours in the Girls 15-18 event at the Junior Skills Challenge National Event. The Kentville, N.S. native recorded the best score out of any golfer at the Junior Skills Challenge on Sunday, posting a score of 270. Seaman delivered impressive scores in all three skills, recording 30 and above in driving and chipping, and holing out from 10-feet during the putting competition.

Edie Nicholson (Willow Park Golf & Country Club) and Payton Sheehan (Willow Park Golf & Country Club) finished second and third respectively in the competition.

For more information on the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, click here.

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont – Team British Columbia did it again, completing the three division sweep at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games at Legends-on-the-Niagara (Battlefield Course) in Niagara Falls, Ont.

For the third time in four attempts since the inaugural golf tournament in 2009, B.C. took home all the gold that was at stake. A 27-stroke victory earned them top honours in the newly introduced mixed team division, while Cooper Humphreys of Vernon, B.C. and Tina Jiang of Richmond B.C. claimed the gold medals in their respective individual divisions.

The hardware didn’t end there for the west coast champions. Surrey B.C.’s Lauren Kim earned silver medalist honours as the runner-up in the individual female division, finishing three strokes back of her teammate Jiang. B.C.’s 18 medals are the most out of any province since golf was introduced at the multi-sport event.

Ontario medaled in each of the three divisions: Carlee Meilleur of Landsdowne, Ont. captured the bronze in the individual female competition, Peter Blazevic won bronze in the individual male division and as a team, the province was awarded bronze in the mixed gender division.

Québec’s streak of medals in golf at the Games remained intact with a pair of runner-up finishes: the four-player team was awarded silver in the mixed team division, while Guillaume Paquette seized second place honours in the individual male category. La Belle Province’s medal count in golf at the Games improved to 14.

It was a record-breaking week in Niagara; in each of the four rounds, a record was broken, and new ones were set. The low single-round score for a female at the Games was snapped twice, first by Lauren Kim and then by her teammate Tina Jiang just two days later. Logan Graf rewrote history by posting a 7-under-par 65 to set the new low single-round score ever at the Canada Summer Games. To cap off the historic week, Jiang planted her seed as the new low 72-hole tournament score record holder.

Both the men’s and women’s individual divisions were deadlocked entering Saturday’s final round. Early into the spectacle, Jiang established herself alone at the top and didn’t budge. The 17-year-old played the final 36 holes to near perfection, making only one bogey on her final hole of the tournament. During that stretch, she rolled in 11 birdies to storm past Kim, who she trailed by five strokes after the opening two rounds of competition. Rounds of 69-71-68-66 (-14) earned the B.C. native the gold medal.

“I had so much fun; that’s the most fun I had in a while,” said Tiang. “The other teammates are so amazing, the coaches are amazing too, [it] was such a great experience.”

Humphreys and Paquette’s final round showdown felt more like a boxing match than it did golf. All day, the pair went pound for pound, shot for shot. Naturally, it came down to the wire. With a one-stroke lead on the 72^nd hole, Humphreys got up-and-down from a greenside bunker to save par and win the gold medal. After an opening round 73, the Team Canada member recomposed himself and fired rounds of 67-67-70 for a total score of 11-under.

“It feels good. I haven’t been playing the greatest lately so it’s nice to get this one,” said Humphreys. “I love competition, I love the pressure and the crowds were awesome; the more people the better for me – I love it.”

Speaking to his poise and calm demeanor on the course, the 16-year-old says he just tries to be himself out there.

“I’ve tried experimenting in different ways, being super serious and not so serious. Now I’ve just found the right middle, just being Coop is the way I play the best.”

The next edition of the Canada Games will take place from Feb. 15 – March 5 when Prince Edward Island hosts the 2023 Canada Winter Games. The next golf tournament will surface at the 2025 Canada Summer Games which are scheduled to take place in Newfoundland and Labrador.

For full results click here.

QUOTES FROM THE WEEK

“I kind of want to break that (record) tomorrow; I know I can definitely go lower,” – Lauren Kim on her record-breaking opening round.

“I remember my buddy Ethan yesterday telling me – I missed an eagle putt like 20 feet, it just lipped out – and he was like, ‘You’re going to get that one back.’ So, there it is,” – Ryan Holwell on his eagle on no. 18.

“I’m hitting the ball better than I ever have so that’s motivating week in and week out, [it] still keeps me coming out here and excited to play. And especially being at this event, Canada Games, that’s something every athlete dreams about all their life so there’s a lot of motivation there and a lot of energy all around the course and the facility, so [I’m] feeling pretty good.” – Ethan Efford on a busy last two weeks that saw him go to B.C. for nationals, back to N.L. for two days and straight to the Games.

“I just hit my tee shot to like 20 feet and I handed him my putter on the green and he set up, looked at it and just drained it. Even just right as he hit it, I was like, “No way, no way,” because it was just on line the whole way – it was just awesome!” – Cooper Humphreys on his experience with a First Tee participant who sank a 20-foot putt for him during the ‘walk with a player’ portion of the activation.

“On the back nine, I was in the zone. I made two eagles, two birds, I lost count of how many under I was today. It was a lot of fun out there today and meeting two new players was a lot of fun.” – Peter Blazevic on his round today.

University Place, WA – Displaying superb ball striking, near-flawless putting and a killer competitive instinct, Saki Baba put on a clinic at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. The 17-year-old from Japan defeated 21-year-old Monet Chun of Canada (Richmond, Hill, Ont.), 11 and 9, at Chambers Bay. With the victory, Baba becomes just the second player from Japan to win a USGA championship, after Michiko Hattori won this title in 1985.

“It’s just amazing. I just can’t believe it,” said an emotional Baba through a translator. “I was able to [play] my kind of golf. Yeah, everything just went smoothly.”

Baba’s kind of golf was very effective at Chambers Bay. She won the first hole with a par after Chun, a junior at the University of Michigan, hit into the dunes to the right and struggled to get back into play. After the two finalists tied the second hole with birdies, Baba won the next three in a row to build a 4-up lead that quickly felt much larger.

Baba, who relentlessly hits fairways and greens and seems to make just about every putt inside 10 feet, increased her lead to 5 up through eight holes. Chun, a steady player in her own right, was not able to mount a sustained comeback even when she hit quality shots. 

“Honestly, I was trying to match it up, but it was pretty amazing just to watch,” said Chun. “She was going for every pin, making every putt, and that’s hard to match up.

A prime example was the scenic, downhill par-4 14th hole. After both players split the fairway with their drives, Chun, who was 6 down at the time, played first and hit her approach to 15 feet. Baba, unfazed, struck a near-perfect iron shot that nestled just 7 feet from the hole. Chun missed her birdie, Baba made hers, and the lead was 7 up, which was where it stood at the midway point of the 36-hole final.

I’m extremely proud. I couldn’t have imagined making it this far, and being here, it’s an incredible honor and also just great to represent [the University of] Michigan and Canada, as well.”

2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up Monet Chun

Chun will tee-it-up next at the 2022 CP Women’s Open taking place August 22-28 at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club.

During a lengthy break for lunch and warm-up, Baba received ice and heat treatment for her lower back. She held her lower-left back as she walked off two teeing grounds just after the start of the second 18. Perhaps sensing an opportunity, Chun rolled in a birdie putt on the par-4 second hole and won the par-3 third with a par to trim Baba’s lead to 5 up. 

The par-5 fourth hole proved to be a turning point. Chun, playing first, hit a wedge approach to 6 feet behind the hole. Baba was just in front of the green in two but faced a difficult path to get her ball close. She played an exquisite high pitch that rolled up 7 feet below the hole. Showing the feel for the greens that helped her defeat five previous opponents, Baba rolled in the birdie putt to put the pressure on Chun, who missed. What looked like a hole that could have gone Chun’s way instead went for Baba, and the historic rout was back on.

Baba won the next four holes, three of them with birdies, to cap off the final margin of victory and put herself into the USGA annals as one of the most dominant victors in championship history.

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Results from Sunday’s championship match at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, played at 6,542-yard, par-73 Chambers Bay

Saki Baba, Japan (147) def. Monet Chun, Canada (149), 11 and 9

Prior to today, there were only seven players who could boast back-to-back Canadian Junior Boys Championship titles. Now, Jean-Philippe Parr from St-Célestin, Qué. adds his name to the list as the eighth.

During the week at Rivershore Estates and Golf Links, the weather reached upwards of 40 degrees. Hot, but not as hot as JP’s putter. The 18-year-old University of Tennessee commit fired a final round of 3-under-par 69 today to clinch his victory, finishing three shots ahead of the competition.

“It’s always been a tournament I’ve wanted to win so to go back-to-back is really cool,” said Parr of the consecutive titles. “It was a lot of fun to play with all of the Team Canada guys. It’s great to have fun too.”  

The back-to-back title and a spot on the Silver Cup with his name on it aren’t the only avenues in which Parr has etched his name into Canadian golf history this week. On Monday, JP shot a second round of 62 which tied the low Canadian Junior Boys Championship single-scoring record set by Calvin Ross in 2017 and matched by Christopher Vandette in 2019.

“Obviously my second round was really cool, but then today I hit a really good shot on eleven and it just really gave me a good confidence boost to finish the round,” the Team Canada National Junior Squad member noted of his memorable tournament moments.

Team Québec takes home the Inter-Provincial title 🏆🎉https://t.co/xHd3nAHlr9

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) August 9, 2022

Parr’s name is in good company on the Canadian Junior Boys trophy. He adds his handle to a list of notable previous champions including PGA TOUR player Nick Taylor (2006) and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member George Knudson (1955).

The victory adds yet another accolade to Parr’s resume including victories at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in 2021, Quebec Junior and Juvenile Boys Championship in 2020 and both the AJGA Junior at Southpointe and the Future Links Fall Series East in 2019.

With the victory, Parr receives exemptions into both the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., as well as a spot in 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The exemption awarded from his 2021 Canadian Junior Boys Championship win led to a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship which was contested last week at Point Grey Golf and Country Club and Seymour Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, B.C.

The final pairing saw Parr chased by Andre Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Ethan Wilson (St. Albert, Alta.), and Gavyn Knight (Parksville, B.C) who tied for second at 16-under.

Andre Zhu also secured the title in the 16-and-under Juvenile Boys Division with a score of 272 for the tournament. Matthew Javier, who landed an impressive chip shot on 18 for eagle finished two strokes back of Zhu’s lead.

Click here for full results.

With the new Canadian golf campus announced for construction on the property of TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont., I know that buildings and structures will not advance our great sport. Collaboration will.

A home for Canadian golf. A national point of convergence for players, coaches, facilitators, administrators, donors, and enthusiasts of the game.

Embarking on this exciting multi-phase journey with partners to share facilities and ideas, drive programs, celebrate heritage and work collectively for the betterment of golf in this country. To collaborate in an environment that supports rules education, handicap and course rating, tournament administration, education, and so many other functions of Canadian golf.

Golf Canada’s vision to be a world leader in golf contemplates more than a physical building—culture, collaboration, and innovation are critical elements. 

Establishing a campus environment for the golf community to meet, work, play, train, plan, celebrate and collaborate will be a transformative moment for our sport.

The vision that the Humeniuk family and the leadership group at Osprey Valley have invited us to be a part of with this world-class property is progressive and incredibly exciting. Chris Humeniuk and his team have welcomed Golf Canada to align with their vision for this wonderful property—a facility and a family that wants to give back to the game. 

Similar to the 54-holes of golf at TPC Toronto, every touchpoint on the new Canadian golf campus will be welcoming and publicly accessible. This aligns with our commitment as the National Sport Federation to create a safe, diverse, and welcoming environment within our organization and across our sport.

In addition to Golf Canada’s new base of operation, a reimagined Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate the storied history of the game. With thoughtful consideration, we will highlight the rich history of the game represented through archives, artifact collections, and the country’s foremost golf library and research resource.

To the honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, the new home for Canadian golf will proudly celebrate your outstanding legacies and stories woven throughout the entire property, celebrating the artifacts and treasures for Canadian golf enthusiasts to engage with.

The vision for phase one of the Canadian golf campus will also include a 30,000 sq. foot community putting green that pays homage to the R&A’s Himalayas putting course at St Andrews in Scotland. A place for youth, families, new enthusiasts, and the community to come out and experience the game at no cost. 

Phase two will feature a new national headquarters for First Tee – Canada that will support coaching education and program development for First Tee chapters across Canada. First Tee fosters inclusivity with affordable access and curriculum that empowers young people to build character through the game of golf. First Tee uses golf as the amazing medium in teaching life skills and this national centre will be both a headquarters for the entire program but also a community hub for Caledon and Peel Region.

In 2021, the Humeniuk Family Foundation and TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley made a major chapter-founding gift to Golf Canada Foundation that aligns with the property serving as the national headquarters for First Tee – Canada.

First Tee – Canada headquarters will house an indoor short game complex that will double as a national talent identification centre for the next generation of Canadian players, bolstering Golf Canada’s goal to advance 30 Canadians to the LPGA and PGA Tours by 2032.

Phase two aligns with a multi-million-dollar Drive Campaign launched by the Golf Canada Foundation to fund the First Tee – Canada headquarters, chapters, and programming along with enhancements to Team Canada’s high-performance program. To date, $39.3M of the $70M fundraising goal has been secured through major gift donations. The Golf Canada Foundation, its Board, and their network of donors and trustees has become the most impactful fundraising body in Canadian golf. Visionaries and true champions for the sport.

Before breaking ground on a new home, it is important to recognize where we came from. Since 1976, Glen Abbey Golf Club, the town of Oakville, and Golf Canada have shared a special connection—nearly 50 years of partnership that contributed to the success of our respective operations. Glen Abbey and our friends at Clublink will always hold a special place in Golf Canada’s history. 

Now we begin a new chapter.

Caledon, Ont. will become a must-visit destination in Canadian golf. The town and the Region of Peel has welcomed this project with fervour, and we invite the community to be a part of our journey.

To Golf Ontario and the Club Management Association of Canada, thank you for joining us in this exciting project. As well, to the PGA of Canada and its members, your expertise will create an environment to learn, develop programs and share ideas.

We will also invite our global friends and affiliates in the game—the R&A, PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, and others – to feel welcomed on campus with their deep-rooted Canadian interests.

I am encouraged by the success experienced by Golf Australia, the USGA, the PGA TOUR, PGA of America and other organizations that have taken similar progressive paths to create collaborative home bases.

While a project of this significance requires adjustment, it will not change Golf Canada’s commitment to support the needs of more than 305,000 members at 1444 member clubs nationwide.

The home for Canadian golf is an enterprise we share with our talented staff and committed volunteers who embrace Golf Canada’s mission to increase participation and excellence in the sport.

This is an exciting time for golf.

Participation, investment, and levels of play have been bolstered by a global pandemic that brought golfers together. Working through the pandemic has challenged every business to be innovative and be open to charting new operational paths.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the power of collaboration—something we can all look forward to with the new home for Canadian golf.