Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue will be leaving the organization as he has accepted the role of General Secretary and CEO of Canada Soccer.

“We are extremely appreciative of what Kevin has achieved for Golf Canada in advancing the sport and our mission during his tenure as Chief Sport Officer and we wish him incredibly well,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Kevin has been a transformational leader for Golf Canada and made fundamental progress to many of our sport priorities, most notably with the High-Performance program and across junior grassroots initiatives, championships, safe sport, and fundraising. His energy and contributions to Canadian golf have been exceptional and he is well positioned as a dynamic sports executive to be successful in this new chapter leading Canada Soccer.”

Since returning to Canada in January of 2021, Blue was a driving force to Golf Canada’s vision and impact on Canadian golf. He was instrumental in many of the areas of Golf Canada’s strategic priorities and helped drive several initiatives including First Tee – Canada, National Golf League (NGL), She Plays Golf, Junior Golf Facility Awards, and the evolution of Golf Canada’s Amateur Championships. 

A strong proponent of municipal and accessible golf, Blue played a key role in Golf Canada’s attention to diversity, equity, inclusion, and safe sport. He also had a significant impact with the Golf Canada Foundation, helping to recruit, build and collaborate with critical program donors.

Professional women’s championship series and regional participation festivals mark the rebirth of an enhanced Canadian Women’s Golf Tour and national qualifying path into CPKC Women’s Open.

Championship series and participation festivals are set for Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto in 2024 with a call for corporate support further expansion in 2025 and beyond.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that She Plays Golf will expand to three markets in 2024. She Plays Golf was successfully piloted across Calgary as part of the Glencoe Invitational in 2023 and new events will also be conducted in Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto this summer.

She Plays Golf is a citywide celebration of women’s golf anchored in each host market by a $60,000 CAD professional golf championship contested over 54-holes for a field of 60 professionals and elite amateurs. These enhanced championships – the Peloton Glencoe Invitational, GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open, and ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada – will be newly linked together in a She Plays Golf Championship Series that marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.

For 2024, the top two finishers in each event from the She Plays Golf Championship Series will qualify for the CPKC Women’s Open on the LPGA Tour, set for Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary from July 23-28, 2024.

Players will earn points for their finishes in the She Plays Golf Championship Series towards a series-long standings. The winner of the point standings following the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada will also earn qualification into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open, if not otherwise qualified, and will be supported by Golf Canada’s Q school bursary program if they enter LPGA Q school in the fall.

Complementing the She Plays Golf Championships Series are concurrently held She Plays Golf Festivals, which feature inclusive programming for women and girls who are recreational golfers or exploring the sport for the first time. She Plays Golf Participation Festival events will take place at golf courses across the host city during the same week as She Plays Golf Championship Series tournaments.

“Increasingly, financial support for women’s sports in Canada is becoming more tangible. She Plays Golf will strengthen women’s golf in Canada in the same manner that PWHL showcases elite women’s hockey talent and Project 8 seeks to transform women’s soccer,” said Laura Wilson, Golf Canada’s Director of Inclusion Programs and Safe Sport. “We are eager for corporate partners and other organizations to invest and align their brands with She Plays Golf to support further expansion. The She Plays Golf Championship Series will provide more playing opportunities for Canada’s best female athletes, filling a void for women’s professional events in Canada, while She Plays Golf Festivals will connect women and girls to golf in a safe, welcoming, and non-intimidating environment.”

The 2024 She Plays Golf Championship Series will begin in Calgary, Alberta with the Peloton Glencoe Invitational from June 12-15 at the Forest Course at Glencoe Golf and Country Club. She Plays Golf Festival events for women and girls will be held concurrently across the city of Calgary at locations such as McCall Lake Golf Course, Blue Devil Golf Club and Golfuture YYC. Additionally, Glencoe will host U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifying following the event on Monday, June 17.

The second stop in the 2024 She Plays Golf Championship Series will be the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open, June 19-22 at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C. She Plays Golf Festival events will take place at select courses throughout the lower mainland. In addition, U.S. Junior Girls Qualifying will take place June 19 at Riverway Golf Course in Burnaby, on the date of the official practice round for the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open. Juniors entered in the U.S. Junior Qualifier and the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open may play their practice round on an alternate date.

The third and final event of the 2024 She Plays Golf Championship Series will be the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, July 2-5 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. PGA of Canada members and touring professionals along with Canada’s top amateurs and juniors will compete for a national championship. She Plays Golf Participation Festival events will be held at various golf facilities throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Open to professionals and amateurs from Canada and abroad, all three events in the She Plays Golf Championship Series are played over 54 holes with a cut after 36 holes. Each championship will see players compete for a $60,000 purse, WAGR points, and two qualifying spots into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open.

Golf Canada is also creating turnkey resources to enable all 1600+ member facilities to run their own She Plays Golf Festival events. The resources will help local course operators attract new participants and ensure a fun and positive first golf experience for women and girls. The resources will draw inspiration from successful existing women’s programs from various parts of Canada, including Golf Ontario’s Women’s Try Golf program and Golf and Tacos in Western Canada.

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Golf Canada and its partners will work to further expand the footprint of She Plays Golf to establish a nationwide series of professional championships and accompanying participation festivals. Canadian companies and organizations interested in further strengthening women’s golf across Canada – from grass roots participation all the way up to entry-level professional golf – are invited to get involved with She Plays Golf. 

Additional information about championship entry and festival schedule for each She Plays Golf event will be available in the coming weeks.

113^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship is headlined by
defending champion Nick Taylor and world no.2 Rory McIlroy

Golf Canada, in partnership with RBC is pleased to release the full selection of ticket options for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open taking place May 28 – June 2 at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont.

Defending champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. and world no.2 Rory McIlroy are early headliners for the 113th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship that returns to Hamilton Golf and Country Club for the seventh time in tournament history and first since 2019.

CLICK HERE TO SECURE YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THEY SELL OUT!

Taylor, a three-time PGA TOUR winner will be the first Canadian in nearly 70 years to compete as defending champion. Taylor secured victory with his iconic 72-foot putt on the fourth playoff hole over Tommy Fleetwood last June at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

McIlroy returns to the award-winning newly renovated Hamilton Golf and Country Club where he won his first of two Canadian Open titles at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open. 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 career Canadian Open title and join three-time champions Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, and Lee Trevino.

“We are really pleased with the early response from the Hamilton community and really golf fans from coast to coast. There is real excitement in returning to Hamilton Golf and Country Club and its quite clear that golf fans are ready to get behind the 2024 RBC Canadian Open in a major way,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Hamilton has been an exceptional host venue for the championship, and we are really looking forward to connecting with the community. We encourage families to take advantage of our free admission for youth 12-and-under to come and watch world class golf and enjoy the exciting festival experience in Hamilton.”

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the 2024 RBC Canadian Open offers golf fans the thrill and excitement of live professional golf with a world-class field competing for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.

Fans of all ages will once again be able to experience the week-long festival atmosphere highlighted by The Rink on the 13th hole at Hamilton, and a variety of food and patio experiences at The Fare Way featuring the Keg. Announcements related to live music entertainment will be forthcoming.

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.

General admission tickets provide access to the golf course and enjoy fan activations throughout the property and experience the thrill of major professional golf.

Upgraded ticket experiences including corporate hospitality packages and premium guest hosting are also available.

Click here to sign up for the RBC Canadian Open newsletter and be among the first notified for future announcements and updates.

Make sure you are part of the action in Hamilton!

Visit www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets/ to secure your tickets before they sell out!

Calgary – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is proud to announce that Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open, to be held at the historic Earl Grey Golf Club from July 23 – 28, 2024.

“CPKC is pleased to once again partner with the Alberta Children’s Hospital through the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “By building on our first Women’s Open partnership with Alberta Children’s Hospital in 2016, we will leverage our community investment program, CPKC Has Heart, to help the youngest hearts across Alberta.”

This year’s goal is to raise more than $2.75 million for Alberta Children’s Hospital. Those funds will be dedicated to support researchers at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute who believe there is potential to develop a routine blood test to provide earlier detection of congenital heart defects or other anomalies at birth so parents and caregivers can be prepared before the baby is born.

“Every year in Alberta, there are approximately 550 babies born with a congenital heart defect,” says Saifa Koonar, President and CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. “With this incredible support from the CPKC Women’s Open, our researchers are working to develop a new, non-invasive test to identify these problems sooner, leading to better prenatal care and opportunities for critical life-saving interventions.”

“It has been inspiring to share in the impact of CPKC Has Heart on the lives of countless youth and families in the host communities of the CPKC Women’s Open,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada. “Bringing the 50^th playing of our National Women’s Open Championship back to Calgary and now to Earl Grey Golf Club for the first time will be special. I know that golf fans and event enthusiasts will celebrate the CPKC Women’s Open as a week-long festival experience that will leave a meaningful community legacy in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.”

The LPGA awarded the CPKC Women’s Open, hosted Aug. 22-27 at Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, with Tournament of the Year in 2023 for the second consecutive year. Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022 and 2023 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in 2017, 2019 and 2022. 

About Canadian Pacific Kansas City

With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC.

About CPKC Has Heart

At CPKC, we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a nation, but at its heart is community. That’s why, through CPKC Has Heart, we’ve already helped raise more than $35 million to help improve the heart health of adults and children across North America. And along the way, we’re showing heart whenever we can. Find out more on www.cpkcr.com

About Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation

The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation inspires our community to invest in excellence in child health, research, and family centred care. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation provides funding for innovative programs, state-of-the-art equipment, advanced medical training and internationally recognized pediatric research. The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation is a founding partner of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, as well as the primary funder. www.childrenshospital.ab.ca 

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the addition of the Canadian U15 Championship and player development educational summit to its 2024 Amateur Championship schedule. The event will take place August 27-30 at the Elmira Golf Club in Elmira, Ont.

The Canadian U15 Championship, presented by BDO will bring together a field of 78 girls and boys, aged 14 and under from across the country to compete over 36-holes, followed by a player development educational summit.

“We are excited to add the Canadian U15 Championship, presented by BDO and its associated player development educational summit to our amateur tournament schedule this season,” said Golf Canada’s National Head of Talent Identification, Tristan Mullally. “This event is an opportunity for Canada’s top young players to compete for a national championship and also receive important education about the high-performance journey.”

The half-day player development educational summit scheduled for August 30 is required for all participants in the Canadian U15 Championship, presented by BDO. Players, along with their families and coaches, will participate in various interactive clinics to learn about navigating the modern pathway in high-performance golf. Topics will include sport psychology, physical training for young golfers, parenting high-performance athletes, and talent development research. Players will also participate in select Team Canada skills tests and learn about the structure of the national team system.

Elmira Golf Club will play host to the inaugural championship. Founded in 1963, the picturesque 18-hole, par 70 course is situated in a country setting just west of Elmira. The clubhouse, also home to “The Grill on the Green” restaurant, sits perched above the 18^th green and provides panoramic views of the golf course below as it flows through the “Eldale Valley” below. Gently winding through the valley and rolling hills is Larches Creek, offering players interesting shots through the unique mixture of finishing holes. Elmira Golf Club celebrated it’s 60^th anniversary in 2023 and recently underwent renovations that saw the addition of 20 new tee decks along with a complete white sand bunker restoration.

“Elmira Golf Club is thrilled to be hosting the inaugural Canadian U15 Championship. After celebrating our 60^th anniversary this past season at EGC, this special event will certainly create the momentum for the next 60 years in the Club’s history. We are looking forward to welcoming Canada’s best U15’s, their families, and Golf Canada to Elmira this August,” said Jeremy Logel, General Manager and Executive Professional, Elmira Golf Club.

Entry into the Canadian U15 Championship, presented by BDO, can be gained through the following avenues:

1. Top 10 U15-aged players from the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship and Canadian Junior Girls Championship (players must make the cut)

• 2024 Provincial U15 Boys and U15 Girls Champions
• Top 2 U15-aged finishers per gender in the 2024 NextGen Championships
• Host Club exemption(s)                                 
• The remainder of the field will be determined by selection.

The boys and girls individual champions will earn exemptions into their respective 2024 Team Canada NextGen Selection Camp as well as their 2025 Canadian Junior Championship, presented by BDO. The top five finishers in each division will earn spots into two 2025 NextGen Championships.

In addition, the Canadian Junior Financial Assistance Program supported by the Gary Cowan Heritage Fund and the Canadian Seniors Golf Association will extend to this championship. The Canadian Junior Financial Assistance Program provides travel grants to qualifying families to mitigate the costs of participating in Golf Canada national championships. For more information, click here.

The full 2024 Canadian Amateur Championship schedule is expected to be announced next month. Registration for all National Amateur Championships will be open on Wednesday, March 6.

Together with the PGA of Canada, Golf Canada is pleased to announce the continuation of the Women in Coaching program and formally open applications for the 2024 cohort.

Now entering its fourth year, the Women in Coaching program improves the balance of female high-performance coaches to better reflect the Canadian golfing community. To date, the program has supported 25 coaches and aims to increase the number of trained female high-performance coaches through intentional delivery of professional development opportunities.

The year-long program is focused on four main areas: virtual learning sessions, individualized learning plans with monthly check-ins led by coach developer Beth Barz, coach shadowing opportunities, and an in-person technical development session.

The program is financially supported through the Jocelyne Bourassa Legacy Fund (JBLF), a fund created to provide critical educational opportunities for women who are developing their careers as professional coaches, thereby helping to increase the number of Canadian women who are prominent leaders and role models for golf in our country.

“We are excited to partner with the PGA of Canada to continue to deliver professional development opportunities to female coaches as we work collaboratively to address the gender gap in high-performance coaching.” said Emily Phoenix, Golf Canada’s Manager of High-Performance Sport. “We are very grateful to the donors of the Jocelyne Bourassa Legacy Fund who continue to make this program possible through their generous support.”

The Women in Coaching program is led by Phoenix, Jennifer Greggain (Associate Coach, Team Canada – Women), Salimah Mussani (Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach), and Beth Barz (Master Coach Developer).

“The Women in Coaching Program has accelerated the development of my coaching skills by providing valuable knowledge and offering high-level coaching experiences,.” said Kat Kennedy, 2023 program participant. “Thanks to the incredible support I received from Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada, Team Canada coaches and the women’s golf professional community, the program has significantly boosted my confidence in coaching.”

The 2024 cohort will kick off with an in-person session February 24-27 in Phoenix, Ariz., where participants will shadow national team coaches during a training camp and engage in two days of technical skill development education.

Coaches interested in the Women in Coaching program can click here to apply and are encouraged to reach out to Emily Phoenix (ephoenix@golfcanada.ca) with any questions.

Applications close on Sunday, January 7 at 11:00 p.m. ET.

Twenty years ago, Mike Weir won The Masters to become the first Canadian male to win a major championship. The Green Jacket came north of the border – to borrow a line from Jim Nantz.

The impact of Weir’s Masters triumph has been long felt. And in 2023, two decades on, there were more Canadians who won on the PGA TOUR than in any other 12-month timeframe. Emphasized, of course, by Nick Taylor’s dramatic playoff victory at the RBC Canadian Open in June.

“I think it’s a tournament that we’ve circled on our calendar since probably junior golf. But ever since I’ve been on the PGA TOUR, this is one that we want to do as well as we can in, and the crowd support was the most unbelievable thing I will probably ever experience in my life,” Taylor said. “To, kind of, break that curse – I’m pretty speechless.”

“I don’t think it’s going to sink in for quite some time what happened today.”

Along with Taylor’s win at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, Mackenzie Hughes captured the Sanderson Farms Championship, Adam Svensson broke through for his first PGA TOUR title at The RSM Classic, and Corey Conners won the Valero Texas Open for the second time. Adam Hadwin also added three runner-up finishes this past season.

Conners and Taylor would advance to the TOUR Championship in August, marking the first time that there has been more than one Canadian in the final-event field on Tour during the FedExCup-era. There were excellent major-championship efforts, in-the-mix weeks at almost every tournament, and plenty of momentum behind the mid-30s group on the top of their games on the biggest stage in men’s golf.

And that’s just what happened on the PGA TOUR over the last 12 months.

Add in Brooke Henderson’s season-opening triumph on the LPGA Tour along with a handful more impressive results on the professional and amateur circuit, it’s been a magical time in Canadian golf – one that could be the pillar for even more big-time inspiration to come.

“Our specific goal is to help heroes grow the game,” says Tristan Mullally, Golf Canada’s Head of National Talent Identification. “There’s a Canadian from a small town and if they can do it, I can too.”

Taylor and Henderson are the only golfers in this country’s history to win the Canadian Junior Championship, Canadian Amateur Championship, and Canadian Open on their respective Tours. Henderson won the Canadian Junior Girls in 2012, the Canadian Women’s Amateur in 2013 and the CPKC Women’s Open in 2018. Taylor won the Canadian Junior Boys in 2006 and the Canadian Men’s Amateur in 2007.

“When (junior golfers) see these guys winning and when they see Brooke doing well… they have to see it to know they can do it,” says Kevin Blue, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “The success the players are having, they have earned over their own hard work and their achievements. It shows up-and-coming players that Canadians can and are doing it on the world stage.”

While the impressive victories – and seasons overall – by those on the PGA and LPGA Tour are the world-beating newsmakers, it doesn’t take long to see how incredible the results have been by so many other Canadians on planet golf.

Alena Sharp earned Canada’s second ever medal in golf at the PanAm Games, winning bronze in Santiago, Chile in early November. Sharp, who once again earned LPGA Tour for 2024 status through final qualifying, also enjoyed success this past season on the Epson Tour, winning one tournament in June and adding five top-10 results while not missing a cut in 14 tournaments played.

Two Canadians, won on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 – Ben Silverman and Roger Sloan. Both Silverman and Sloan have locked up their PGA TOUR cards for next season.

Another two won on PGA TOUR Canada this season. Long-time Golf Canada National Team members Etienne Papineau (Royal Beach Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist) and Stuart Macdonald (Commissionaires Ottawa Open) each found the winners’ circle in Canada in 2023, with Papineau finishing fourth on the season-long points list to earn conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour. He also, as the top Canadian on PGA TOUR Canada, earned an exemption into the 2024 RBC Canadian Open. Papineau also had an impressive run at the PanAm Games coming up just short of the podium, finishing tied for fourth.

Kudos, too, to Myles Creighton, a winner on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica. And of course, Stephen Ames, who won a remarkable four times on PGA TOUR Champions this season.

Canadian amateurs also gave us impressive moments throughout 2023.

Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. captured the 109th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. won the 118th Canadian Men’s Amateur, marking only the third time both tournaments were won by Canadians in the same year since 2011. Even more impressive for Kim, she played in the U.S. Junior Girls, U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Open in addition to the Canadian Women’s Amateur and CPKC Women’s Open, a checklist that very few players have crossed off in a single season.

A pair of 14-year-olds won their respective Canadian Junior Championships with Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. winning the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, and Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. taking home the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. had another great season, highlighted by winning the Canadian Women’s Mid-Am for a third time. Kyrinis also earned the best finish by an amateur at the U.S. Women’s Senior Open, finishing tied for sixth in August. Another Canadian golf icon, Mary-Ann Hayward, won the Canadian Women’s Senior Amateur in a thrilling final round by one over Kyrinis.

Monet Chun, a senior at the University of Michigan, became the first Canadian to make the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She finished tied for 14th after her final round at Augusta National and made the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.

Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. won her third straight Canadian All Abilities Championship, while Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. won the men’s championship for his first national title.

The UBC Thunderbirds Women’s team continued their dominance by winning a sixth straight national title at the Canadian University/College Championship. Sonja Tang of Victoria, B.C. not only helped lead her team to victory but also won back-to-back Women’s individual titles and made her first appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Canada added its fourth Tailhade Cup in November as Felix Bouchard of Otterburn Park, Que. and Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta. led Canada to victory by four strokes over Denmark and Switzerland.

The most successful season in Canadian golf history added another exciting chapter in early October as Team Canada won its first-ever team title at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

The Canada 1 Team comprised of 14-year-old Anna Huang of Vancouver, Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto and Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver shot a team-total 138 at Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont. to finish a single shot clear of the Republic of Korea. Huang’s runner-up finish was the best Canadian individual result since Brooke Henderson’s finished fourth in 2014.

“The excitement level for results we’re seeing is fantastic and it rubs off on the young players,” says Blue. “The younger players will see this and think, ‘why not me?’ and that’s great.”

While there were several milestones that deserved recognition on the golf course, there were many off it as well this year.

Golf Canada celebrated two successful launches this year with the creation of the BDO National Golf League and the She Plays Golf Festival.

The BDO National Golf League is a nationwide, season-long competition that was created to enhance the league experience for men, women, and junior players. In its inaugural season, 11,000 golfers and 107 leagues competed coast-to-coast for a spot in the Regional Playoffs. Through the Regional Playoffs, 51 teams qualified for the BDO National Golf League Championship, which will be taking place during tournament week at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The 51 teams will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime, all expense paid trip to compete for the championship.

The She Plays Golf Festival was a week-long women’s golf celebration that took place this June in Calgary in partnership with The Glencoe Golf and Country Club. The festival was designed to celebrate women’s golf at all levels and address gaps in the participation pathway for women and girls; the festival ran concurrently with the Digital Commerce Bank Glencoe Invitational. Events during the week included try-golf clinics for women and girls, a team nine-hole scramble along with a networking event for women in sport and professional development events for women leaders in golf. Following the successful pilot this summer, the She Plays Golf Festival is set to expand to more cities across the country in 2024.

First Tee – Canada welcomed over 57,000 participants at 240 locations with programming delivered at golf courses, schools, and community centres across the country in 2023. This past year saw a 151% increase in participants and a 114% increase in locations offering programming. First Tee – Canada expanded to six chapters with the addition of Alberta, joining British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. All chapters provide children life-enhancing experiences through the game of golf.

The growth of First Tee – Canada, and success of our athletes in our high-performance programs reflects the sustained impact of champion donors driving the philanthropic excellence of the Golf Canada Foundation which experienced another banner year, raising over $8 million dollars in support of the game.

Creating a safe and welcoming sport environment continued to be a focus for the National Sport Federation, as Golf Canada became a Program Signatory of Abuse-Free Sport, the new national independent mechanism to prevent and address maltreatment in sport. All high-performance athletes, coaches, employees and athletes support personnel are under the jurisdiction of the new mechanism. As a program signatory, all participants have access to the Abuse-Free Sport Helpline where operators with expertise in counselling, psychology and sport will listen, offer support and refer individuals to appropriate reporting mechanisms..  Golf Canada was proud to launch a new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Safe Sport Resource to support its member clubs in this critical mandate.

The success of 2023 for Golf Canada’s two National Open Championships was rightfully recognized by the LPGA and PGA Tours in their season-ending tournament recognition. The RBC Canadian Open took home “Best Marketing Initiative” and “Best Tournament Sales” while the CPKC Women’s Open was once again awarded the LPGA Tour Tournament of the Year Award (the second consecutive year taking home the Tour’s top honour), in addition to recognition for “Best Sponsor Activation” and “Best Volunteer Appreciation.”

The year ends with another celebrated milestone—the first time ever that Golf Canada members surpassed the 10 million mark for scores posted to the Golf Canada Score Centre for handicap tracking. Let that sink in—10M scores—an increase from the previous record 9.7M scores posted a year prior as the resurgence of golf continues. Be part of the celebration and share your own #MyGolfYear achievements to wrap the year!

From Weir’s win to Henderson’s heroics, Taylor’s triumph and the many milestones celebrated through the season, there’s never been a more exciting time in Canadian golf, and this year has been a shining example.

Be sure to follow our social channels over the coming weeks as we continue to celebrate 2023, a momentous year in Canadian golf.

The 50th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open is set for
July 23-28, 2024 in Calgary

Golf Canada, in partnership with the title sponsor Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), is pleased to announce that select tickets for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open are now on sale.

The 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open will take place at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary from July 23-28, 2024. It will mark the seventh time that the province of Alberta has hosted Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship, the fourth time for the City of Calgary and first time ever at Earl Grey.

Originally founded in 1919 as a five-hole layout and now on its current site overlooking the picturesque Glenmore Reservoir since 1932, Earl Grey is world-class championship facility located in the heart of Calgary. The club, which features an 18-hole championship course as well as a nine-hole Par 3, has hosted numerous major provincial, national and international competitions. Earl Grey underwent an extensive renovation project in 2018 that included construction of a brand-new clubhouse along with extensive on-course renovations, featuring new greens and an enhanced irrigation system along with a full bunker renovation.

“We are excited to return to Calgary and welcome the world’s best golfers to Earl Grey Golf Club for the 50th playing of our National Open Championship,” said Ryan Paul, CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director. “The stars of the LPGA Tour love our event and we are looking forward to delivering an incredible experience for golf fans next summer in Calgary.”

Canada’s National Women’s Open heads to Calgary riding the momentum of being named the LPGA Tour’s 2023 Tournament of the Year, the second consecutive year that the CPKC Women’s Open has taken home top honour at the LPGA Tour’s season-end tournament awards celebration last month. The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open hosted this past summer at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver also won additional awards for the Best Sponsor Activation and Best Volunteer Appreciation.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CPKC Women’s Open marks the only Canadian stop on the LPGA Tour schedule. The week-long celebration of golf attracts the world’s best players, including 13-time LPGA Tour winner and CPKC Ambassador Brooke Henderson along with defending champion Megan Khang who defeated 2019 champion Jin Young Ko on the first hole of a playoff to earn her first LPGA Tour win.

CPKC will once again leave a meaningful legacy in the host community through its CPKC Has Heart campaign. This past year, CPKC raised nearly $3.5 million for children’s heart health with donations of $2.9 million to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and $580,000 to the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) Foundation.

The 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey offers three select ticket options now on sale for golf fans to experience the thrill of live professional golf at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. The advance ticket options include:

• Any Day Ticket: Access to the CPKC Women’s 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.

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

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. For more information on the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open and to purchase tickets, please visit cpkcwomensopen.com.

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.

The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) announced Keith Lyall of the Sun Peaks Resort Golf Course in Sun Peaks, B.C. as the CGSA Gordon Witteveen Award winner for 2023.

The Gordon Witteveen Award is presented annually by the CGSA to the superintendent or assistant superintendent who has authored the best article for publication in the CGSA GreenMaster magazine during the past year. Keith’s article entitled “Steps to An Effective Management System”, which was published in the Winter 2023 issue of GreenMaster, was judged by a panel of peers and Keith was unanimously chosen as the winner.

“It was an absolute privilege to be able to reach out to Keith to inform him of his article winning the Gordon Witteveen Award,” said Cameron Kusiek, Chair, Communications and Editorial Committee. “Keith’s article was a great read and discussed a topic quite different compared to what we traditionally read in GreenMaster, which is what we strive for. When I first read the article, I thought that Keith is simply superhuman, being responsible for the entire Sunset Peaks ISO Program. This just goes to show how diverse individuals in our industry are as Keith’s article further illustrates the multi-talents so many have beyond taking care of turf. Congratulation Keith on a very well written article.”

In 2004 Keith was introduced to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14001 Environmental Steward. In his article Keith shares steps to an effective management system: (GreenMaster Winter Issue). Keith has been a CGSA member since 2005 and sits on CGSA’s Environment Committee.

Mr. Lyall will be presented with the Gordon Witteveen Award during the Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, February 27 as part of The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference.