Golf Canada and Golf Québec are deeply saddened by the passing of Diane Barabé of Granby, Qué., one of Canada’s most respected volunteers and a pioneering leader in the game.
Diane passed away on November 8, 2026, at age of 77 following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
For more than three decades, Diane dedicated her time, expertise, and passion to advancing golf in Québec, across Canada and on the international stage. Her involvement with the former Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association (CLGA) as well as Golf Québec began in the early 1990s and she became an active Golf Canada volunteer in 1997, embarking on a remarkable legacy of service to the sport.
Diane served on Golf Canada’s Rules and Amateur Status Committee for more than 20 years made history as the first woman to serve as Chair of Golf Canada’s Rules and Amateur Status Committee (2018-2021). She represented Canada on the Joint Rules of Golf Committee, working alongside The R&A and the United States Golf Association on the body responsible for governing the Rules of Golf worldwide.
Provincially, she was involved as Captain of the Eastern Township section of the CLGA (1994-2001) and later became Chair of the Québec branch of the CLGA Rules Committee (2003-2005). She served as a former chair of the Golf Québec’s Rules Committee (2008-2012 and 2014) and support of golf in her community never wavered, having served as president of the Eastern Township Regional Golf Association where her volunteer career began 30 years prior.
An internationally respected referee, Diane officiated at many of the game’s most prestigious championships, including the Masters Tournament, The Open Championship, the U.S. Open, the U.S. Women’s Open, THE PLAYERS Championship and the World Amateur Team Championships. She also officiated at countless provincial and Canadian national championships including the CPKC Women’s Open and RBC Canadian Open. In 2014, she became the first woman from Québec to serve as a Rules Official at the RBC Canadian Open, and three years later, became the first Canadian woman to officiate at The Masters Tournament.
Her knowledge, experience and dedication helped form close links on behalf of Canada with golf associations throughout the world, particularly the R&A, the USGA, the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. She was equally enthusiastic about education and mentorship, dedicating countless hours to teaching rules workshops, training officials, and advancing rules education across Canada.
Diane also played a critical role in ensuring access to the game in both official languages, serving as Chair of Golf Canada’s Rules Translation Sub-Committee, and leading the translation of the Rules of Golf and the Official Guide into French.
Diane was named the 2011 Golf Québec Volunteer of the Year, the 2015 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year, and in 2024 became an Honorary Life Governor with Golf Canada. She is a past recipient of the prestigious Pierre-Nadon Prize for her exceptional contribution to the development of golf in Québec and was recently inducted into the Mauricie Sports Hall of Fame, crowning an extraordinary career defined by excellence and an unwavering commitment to the sport.
“Diane’s impact on Canadian golf is immeasurable,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “She was a trailblazer, an internationally respected rules official, a passionate educator and a generous mentor. Her expertise and unwavering commitment helped advance the sport, but it was her personality, energy, and zest for life that left such wonderful impact on her many friends across the sport.”
While Diane’s accomplishments were extraordinary, she will be remembered most for her humility, kindness, and dedication to helping others. Her legacy lives on through the countless golfers, officials, and volunteers she inspired throughout her lifetime of service.
On behalf of Golf Canada, Golf Québec, and the entire Canadian golf community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Diane’s family, friends and all those whose lives she touched.
