Last year, the Golf in Schools curriculum was revised to include a new Life Skills component that placed focus directly on the core values the sport teaches to youth:

With research support from the University of Ottawa, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada carefully integrated Life Skills into the lesson plans provided to teachers delivering the program.

The model includes two core Life Skills (focus and sportspersonship) and six associated skills (perseverance, goal setting, emotional regulation, honesty, teamwork, respect). As outlined in the model, a balance is achieved by ensuring that children are exposed to both intrapersonal and interpersonal skills during the lessons.

Fast forward to 2016, where the success of Life Skills has led to a transition into Canada’s leading junior golf program, CN Future Links.

The Learn to Play program—CN Future Links’ feature offering—will begin to distribute brand new manuals highlighting Life Skills to registered instructors at the end of March. All four stages of the program will incorporate Life Skills throughout the lesson plans, providing instructors with suggested methods to convey the importance of each skill.

The added value of the revised manual is best summarized by its opening introduction from PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard and Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons:

This updated program has been developed with the guidance of experienced golf professionals from a variety of backgrounds and they ensured that it met the highest technical standards and that it aligns with the Long-Term Player Development (LTPD 2.0) guide for golf in Canada. This new program takes into consideration, child development principles, and stages of skill development and articulates benchmarks to be achieved at the appropriate time in the child’s development.

For PGA of Canada instructors looking to further their knowledge of Life Skills, online training sessions will be made available in early May.

Click here to register for CN Future Links.

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Amateur Squad member Hugo Bernard kept up his hot play of late on Tuesday, collecting his second straight Top-5 collegiate finish for Saint Leo at the Southeastern Collegiate.

Bernard, last year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur runner-up, came in at 1-under par (72-71-72) for the tournament to finish tied for fourth. The 21-year-old is making an impact early in his freshman season with the Lions. In three events since joining the squad in February, the Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., product has posted a T20 and fourth place finish to go along with Tuesday’s result.

Overall, Bernard finished two back of co-medalists John Coultas (Valrico, Fla.) of Florida Southern and Mateo Gomez (Colombia) of Lynn University.

Collectively, the Saint Leo Lions slipped one spot in Tuesday’s final at the Kinderlou Forest Golf Club to finish T5. They will tee-it-up next from Mar. 21–22 at the Bobcat Invitational.

Click here for full scoring.

Golf Canada in conjunction with Landmark Sport Group, Inc., announced today the launch of the inaugural RBC Canadian Open 5K.

The five kilometre run or walk along the grounds of 2016 RBC Canadian Open host venue Glen Abbey Golf Club will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2016 beginning at 9:00 am. Open to the general public including golf fans, runners, walkers and recreational enthusiasts of all ages, the RBC Canadian Open 5K will be celebrated as part of the 107^th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Golf Championship.

“We want to celebrate the RBC Canadian Open as a party and launching the RBC Canadian Open 5K has the opportunity to expose the event and Glen Abbey to a potential new audience of running and fitness enthusiasts,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “Health and wellness along with physical fitness align with golf’s impact on a healthy active lifestyle and organizing a run through the golf course brings those elements together. Landmark Sport Group brings tremendous race expertise and we are excited to partner in delivering a truly unique golf and fitness experience leading into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open.”

The RBC Canadian Open 5K route will start near the first tee of the championship course, ultimately finishing alongside the iconic and picturesque 18^th green at Glen Abbey Golf Club. The event is tailored to both the traditional and non-traditional running audience and will provide all participants with the full runner’s experience of a timed event, participant bibs, shirts and medals for all. Although the event will have a predominant running theme to it, it is also designed to entice and encourage golf fans to participate in an experience to run or walk on a PGA Tour ready championship golf course just days prior to challenging the stars of the PGA Tour.

“As an avid golfer and runner, I was thinking of a way to combine both of these sports into one completely different and unique event. That is where this idea was born,” says Elliott Kerr, President of Landmark Sport Group, Inc. “This exclusive experience will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity for both golf and running enthusiasts to have access like never before to a RBC Canadian Open course. We could not be more excited to bring this event to both the golf and running communities.”

In addition to the already unique and exclusive nature of RBC Canadian Open 5K, participants will also be invited to watch live the third-round coverage of The British Open Championship both on the big screens located along the race-route and within the Molson Canadian 67 Beer Gardens, where all participants can relax and cool down post-race.

Every registered participant in the RBC Canadian Open 5K will also receive a free ‘anyday’ ticket to the 2016 RBC Canadian Open. The RBC Canadian Open 5K will provide runners, golfers, and sport fans an opportunity they will never forget!

Early bird participant registration begins at $60. Enthusiasts interested in registering or finding more information about the RBC Canadian Open 5K including parking or volunteer opportunities can visit www.golfrun.ca.

VICTORIA – Three members of Golf Canada’s Development Squad shone through dark clouds and falling rain at the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) Junior at Cordova Bay to capture their respective divisions. Despite strong winds which gusted to 50km, Charles-Éric Bélanger, Grace St-Germain and Hannah Lee emerged victorious at the two-day event held at Cordova Bay Golf Course. The tournament marked the second event of the season on the CJGA national schedule.

Charles-Éric Bélanger of Québec, claimed the Junior Boys (U19) Division with a second straight 2-over 73 performance. The 16-year-old began the day in fifth, trailing fellow Development Squad member A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., by three strokes. Ewart succumbed to the difficult conditions, finishing in fourth at 9-over 150. Aurora, Ont., native Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson shot 5-over 76 on the day to claim second. Fellow Ontarian Tony Gil of Vaughan – the final male member of the Squad at the event – finished fifth at a combined 7-over 152.

Orleans, Ont., native and Development Squad member Grace St-Germain secured a four-stroke victory atop the Junior Girls (U19) Division with a second-round 8-over 80. The 17-year-old held off Megan Ratcliffe of Bowser, B.C., who notched three birdies on the day en route to a 4-over 76 to match St-Germain’s opening round.

Hannah Lee of Surrey, B.C., did not relinquish her first-round lead and earned a six-stroke victory in the Juvenile Girls (U17) Division following rounds of 75-76–151. Lee, 16, led the Development Squad contingent to a sweep atop the division. Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont., finished 13-over 157 to claim runner-up, while British Columbians Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) and Kathrine Chan (Richmond) were T3, one-stroke back of Currie.

Complete results from the CJGA Junior at Cordova Bay are available here.

Here’s the winners @CJGA @TheGolfCanada @lee_hannahh @gracestgermain @chloe_currie27 #toughconditions pic.twitter.com/sfLGavxSNf

— ann carroll (@AnnAnncarroll) March 14, 2016

DELTONA, Fla. – Augusta James finished runner-up at the National Women’s Golf Association (NWGA) event at The Deltona Club. The member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad shot a final-round 73 to finish 5-under 211 and claim second – one-shot back of winner Erica Popson of Davenport, Fla.

James, a former standout at N.C. State, began the day knotted with Popson at 6-under after identical opening rounds of 69. The pair went back-and-forth throughout the day, but an eagle on the par-5 16^th propelled Popson to victory.

The 22-year-old from Bath, Ont., earned a victory on the NWGA earlier in the season, capturing a two-stroke win at Soboba Springs Golf Club in San Jacinto, Calif.

Full tournament results can be found here.

Listen to the announcement by clicking below.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to announce that Canadian LPGA Tour legend Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Warren Sye of London, Ont., and renowned golf journalist Bob Weeks, of Toronto, Ont., have been elected as 2016 inductees into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Kane and Sye are being inducted under the player category, while Weeks will be inducted as a builder. With their inductions, the trio will become the 75^th, 76^th and 77^th honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

“For over 40 years, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame has recognized the accomplishments of outstanding individuals and their tremendous impact on the game of golf in Canada,” said Sandra Post, Chair of the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee. “Each member of our 2016 class of inductees has demonstrated passion, dedication and excellence in shaping the place of golf within the Canadian sporting landscape. It is with great pride that we welcome them to stand alongside the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame’s honoured members.”

LORIE KANE

Lorie Kane started playing the game of golf at the age of five. As her interest and talent grew, she came under the tutelage of Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member Jack McLaughlin, whom she still credits as an inspiration and major influence in her career.

Provincially, she won the P.E.I. Junior Girls Championship twice and was the P.E.I. Women’s Amateur Champion nine times between 1983 and 1992. Her extraordinary amateur career saw her represent Canada on several occasions, including as a member of the Canadian Commonwealth Team and the Canadian World Amateur Team, as well as taking part in the World Cup. In 2015, Kane represented Canada in the first-ever golf competition at the Pan Am Games.

Kane turned professional in 1993 and three years later earned exempt status on the LPGA Tour. Over the next several years, she accumulated 34 Top-10 finishes, nine of which were runner-up results. In 2000, Kane captured her first professional win at the Michelob Light Classic in St. Louis and also won three more times on the LPGA Tour that same year. Nationally, she captured the Canadian PGA Women’s Championship from 1996-1999 and again in 2001.

Throughout her career, Kane established herself as one of the most popular LPGA Tour players with players and spectators. Her accomplishments garnered her the Heather Farr Player Award in 1998 and the Mousie Powell Award in 2000. In 2006, Kane was presented with the Order of Canada.

She is known for her generosity and dedication to charitable organizations, having been the Kidsport P.E.I. official spokesperson since its inception in 1997 and currently serves as the ambassador for the CP Has Heart charity campaign.

With her induction, Kane becomes the first native of P.E.I. to be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

WARREN SYE

Warren Sye’s outstanding amateur career took off in 1986 when he represented Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship; that year, Canada captured the World Amateur title and won the Canadian Sport Council (formerly known as the Sports Federation of Canada) “Sport Team of the Year” award. Sye went on to represent Canada three more times at the World Amateur Championship.

Sye excelled provincially, capturing the Ontario Amateur Championship five times between 1988 and 1996. He also claimed the Ontario Champion of Champions title in 1983 and again in 1991.

His success nationally includes a pair of victories at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship (1990 and 1994). During that time, he was also a member of four Willingdon Cup teams representing Ontario. He captured the Ontario Senior Championship title in 2012.

His extraordinary accomplishments as an amateur golfer were recognized by SCOREGolf Magazine, winning their “Male Athlete of the Year” award in 1985, 1990, 1994 and 1996. In 2003, Warren Sye was inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame and the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.

BOB WEEKS

Bob Weeks is a golf analyst and senior reporter for TSN, where he provides coverage of the sport from across the globe. During his time as a journalist, he has covered more than 60 major golf championships, as well as hundreds of top Canadian and international championships.

Weeks began his career in golf media with SCOREGolf in 1987 and rose to the position of editorial director in 2012, overseeing all content at the media company. He hosted SCOREGolf TV for 16 years and spent 20 years as the voice of the SCOREGolf Show – a daily 90-second golf radio program heard in more than 70 markets across the country.

In 2009, he was recognized on the National Post’s list of the most influential people in Canadian golf and ranked sixth overall. An award-winning writer, Weeks has written for GOLF Magazine, Golf Digest, Golfweek, the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, as well as countless other publications throughout the world.

Weeks, who began playing golf at the age of 11 in P.E.I., has been a proud member of Weston Golf and Country Club in Toronto for more than 40 years.

He is a member of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame and a winner of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada’s Dick Grimm Award. In 2015, Weeks was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by Golf Canada for outstanding contributions to the game. In addition to golf, Weeks is a respected curling journalist who in 2016 will also be inducted to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.

It’s no surprise when chatting with Roland Deveau, Golf Canada’s newly installed president, that maritime references keep cropping up in conversation. Like “let’s all row in the same direction,” and “a rising tide raises all boats.”

Deveau was named Golf Canada’s 113^th president at the association’s recent annual general meeting in the harbour city of Halifax, not far from the home he shares with wife Jacqueline in suburban Bedford. He is a longtime member of Clare Golf and Country Club in Comeauville, about Bubba Watson driver distance from the Bay of Fundy.

Given that geography, it is inevitable that seafaring phrases come to mind when he lists his priorities for his year in office.

Continuing to improve collaboration and cooperation with the provincial associations, other national associations and related industry partners is key, he says. Although Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation for the game, everyone concerned—course owners, pros, club managers, superintendents and manufacturers included—has to work together and focus on the end goal.

“As the NSF, we have important responsibilities, to be a leader in the sport from increasing participation and enjoyment for all enthusiasts to improving success at the elite level. But, ultimately, everyone with a stake in the game, we’re all serving the same person, the golfer, creating quality golf experiences for everyone who plays. If we do that collectively, then everyone wins.”

A lawyer who is the vice-chair of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, Deveau first got involved in golf at the committee level at his club and rose to become the president of the Nova Scotia Golf Association. Although his first love is the Rules of Golf (he has been a Rules official at more than 75 national, regional and provincial championships at the junior, amateur and professional levels), he worked on various NSGA committees and was a founding member of the Nova Scotia Golf Marketing Council. He became a Golf Canada Governor in 2009 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2012.

With that resume comes perspective, he says. “I would like to think I understand a number of important viewpoints: the golfer, the club, the provincial association and the national association. I appreciate what their respective concerns and expectations might be and, yes, their frustrations and skepticism as well. It’s a challenge, to be sure, but we recognize that and we are determined to find a solution.”

Part of that solution may be tied to an innovative new membership initiative introduced with limited rollout as a pilot project in 2015. “We’re refining the concept,” says Deveau. “It’s definitely not just about increasing revenue. It is more about getting everyone involved in the game to be more engaged in the game. We are trying to be more welcoming, more inclusive.”

Deveau well knows the power of inclusiveness. At his modest rural golf club, there are no restrictions on who plays and when. He is justifiably proud of the fact that two national champions and “countless” provincial winners have come from his club.

“That makes me see the power of accessibility at the grassroots level and how that can, eventually, translate into success at a higher level. We need to provide that kind of accessibility and inclusiveness and diversity to everyone who wants to play, no matter where they live.”

One unique opportunity to promote the game will come in August when Canada “defends” its Olympic gold medal in Rio (George Lyon won the last championship in 1904).

“It goes much, much further than just sending our best golfers to the Olympics. It’s a splendid showcase for the game that, hopefully, we can utilize to engage all golfers across Canada.”

Engaging all golfers across Canada. Now that’s casting the net far and wide.

• Golf Canada’s AGM culminates with induction of Roland Deveau as 113th president
• A word from our 113th president, Roland Deveau
• Golf Canada’s 2016 Strategic Plan

HOUSTON – Team Canada member and University of Houston Men’s Golf senior Blair Hamilton was honoured Thursday morning as the 2015-16 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Hamilton will receive a $4,000 scholarship, which may be applied to graduate or professional studies. His selection was made by the Conference’s Academic Affairs Committee.

A four-year member of the Men’s Golf program, led the Cougars with a 72.03 scoring average as a junior during the 2014-15 season. The Burlington, Ontario, Canada, native earned eight top-20 finishes in 12 tournaments with three top-10 showings.

With scores of 68-69-68, he captured a share of the individual title at the NCAA Lubbock Regional a year ago, becoming the third Cougar to earn medalist honors at an NCAA Regional and the first to record three straight rounds in the 60s in the NCAA postseason.

Hamilton drained a birdie on the 17th hole of the NCAA Lubbock Regional and led the Cougars into a tie with Purdue for the fifth and final sport to advance to the NCAA Championships. On the first playoff hole, the Cougars broke the tie and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the second straight season..

Competing at the nation’s top collegiate event, Hamilton tied for 27th with a score of 292 and received PING All-America Honorable Mention after being named to the All-Central Region Team.

He qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship last summer after advancing to the Round of 32 in match play in 2013. In addition, he received the Gary Cowan Award – given to the top amateur player – at the 2015 Canadian Open, where he finished in a tie for 71st.

In 2015-16, Hamilton has picked up where he left off a year ago. He ranks second among the Cougars with a 72.43 scoring average and nine rounds of par or better. Hamilton has posted six top-20 finishes in seven tournaments to date and enjoyed three top-10 finishes in a 4-tournament stretch at the end of the fall and start of the spring seasons.

Hamilton was named to the Dean’s List twice in seven semesters and earned a place on the American Athletic Conference All-Academic in each of the last two seasons. Holding a 3.25 grade-point average, he will graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, he has volunteered for several service projects at Houston, including the annual Canned Food Drive, the Generation One Volunteer program (an elementary school program for underprivileged children), the Halton Women’s Place Shelter (for victims of domestic violence) and the annual Christmas Charity fundraiser.

The American Athletic Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is one of a number of scholarships presented by the conference during the 2015-16 academic year. One male and one female from each of the conference’s 11 member institutions may be named as the winners of the conference’s Institutional Scholar-Athlete Scholarships. The conference also names male and female Basketball Scholar-Athletes of the Year and a Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

For the second straight year, the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event will be held at Glen Abbey Golf Club—site of the 2016 RBC Canadian Open.

The top-24 qualifiers (12 male, 12 female) from the National Leaderboard will look to be crowned a national champion come Jul. 16—the Saturday prior to RBC Canadian Open tournament week. Competing in putting, chipping, driving and iron play, the boys and girls will vie for the title of their respective age group (9–11; 12–14; 15–18).

The event will be conducted in the same format as the qualifying events held across the country at CN Future Links facilities.

PGA of Canada instructors are encouraged to submit scores by this season’s cut-off date of June 14^th.

Click here to learn more about the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge.

Click here to view pictures from last year’s National Event.

This past January, I had the opportunity to attend the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

This is where some of the new products are launched by various companies and where PGA of America professionals purchase clothing, equipment, teaching aids, etc. for their golf shops and academies.

Many Canadian pros attend as well and buy products, although this year with the exchange rate, they certainly bought less than usual.

The first day of the show is a demo day that is held at Orange County National golf club. This humongous 360 degree driving range is the perfect place for companies to showcase their products and have potential buyers try them on the driving range. Golfers can try clubs, shafts, gloves, teaching aids, shoes, GPS systems, ball fitting, and more. Professionals can also attend seminars from some of the leading teachers in the game like David Leadbetter.

I even attended a clinic by Bubba Watson where he hit a few amazing shots, but unfortunately the MC’s lengthy commentary did not leave enough time for Bubba to hit all the shots that everyone wanted to see! When one of the top players in the world gives an exhibition, people want to see him hit balls, not necessarily have a discussion with the company rep! Bubba is such an extraordinary ball striker, it would have been nice to see him hit more!

Bubba’s demeanor and sometimes odd personality remind me somewhat of Moe Norman.
He is a completely natural talent with a non-traditional swing and a demeanor outside the golf course which can sometimes be misunderstood.

My next two days (where it rained) were spent indoors at the Orange County Convention Center.
I had a great time looking at all the products and even had a chance to witness the new shoe fitting from FootJoy with a teaching device called Bodytrack! Did you know that wearing the right shoe can increase your clubhead speed by 3 to 5 km per hour?

I also had a chance to interview a number of golf celebrities for the French TV show Au 19e that will air on RDS this Spring and Summer. I interviewed Justin Thomas and his dad – a great young player who is currently 6^th on the FedEx Cup standings. His dad is a PGA pro and a great example of what parents should do with young talented golfers – let them play golf and have fun!

I interviewed Jim Nantz, the television commentator for The Masters and the Superbowl  He’s a class act! I spoke with Lee Trevino who at 76, recalled his three Canadian Open wins (1971 at Vallée du Richelieu and 1977, 1979 at Glen Abbey) as if they happened last month!

I spoke as well with David Leadbetter and Dave Pelz about their teaching philosophies; to Annika Sorenstam about her future plans and the upcoming Olympics; and to Johnny Miller about the PGA Tour and his dislike of slow play!

Many of the pros that attend the show embrace the opportunity to polish their knowledge about club fitting, pro-shop management, equipment and rules through different workshops and seminars provided by the PGA of America and some show exhibitors.

The PGA of Canada took advantage of the fact that many Canadians from across the Country attended to present its yearly awards at the PGA of Canada Night cocktail and celebration. Serge Savard, the former Montreal Canadians star, received the George Cumming Distinguished Service Award for 2015.

All in all, it was a great week for the North American industry to get together and celebrate the game we all love. The attendance this year seemed on the rise which hopefully bodes well for the upcoming golf season!

After five years at Golf Canada, I am leaving to take on a Head Professional job at Pinegrove Country Club in Québec. I’m looking forward to this great opportunity and I leave Golf Canada and my colleagues at every Provincial Association with the sentiment of satisfaction that the industry is moving in the right direction. I will keep some great memories of my time at Golf Canada!

Great season to all!