More than 30 girls from local schools and communities were introduced to the game of golf last month during an all-girls clinic at Le Parcours du Cerf, in Longueuil, Q.C.

Hosted by First Tee – Quebec and She Plays Golf, the event was made possible through support from RBC Community Junior Golf, RBC’s national initiative providing underserved youth with inclusive and low-barrier pathways into the sport.

Among the participants were students from École Adrien-Gamache, a school implementing the First Tee School Program within its physical education curriculum this fall. Since the program does not begin until September, the all-girls clinic marked the students’ first experience on a real golf course and their introduction to the life skills the sport promotes.
“What a positive first experience at a real golf club!” said a group of students from École Adrien-Gamache. “We love hitting with the driver – it makes golf feel easy.”

As part of a growing hub of facilities supported by RBC Community Junior Golf, students who attended the clinic can continue their on-course golf journey at no cost. RBC’s initiative opens the door to new opportunities by covering First Tee program registration fees and equipment for participants.
“We were notified by the school about the event,” said the mother of 11-year-old Sarah Boutchich. “Sarah really enjoyed the clinic and having the opportunity to spend time with her friends in a new setting.”

Led by a team of five First Tee coaches, most of whom were women, the clinic offered a welcoming and supportive environment. The girls rotated through putting and full-swing stations, and older players from the Advanced Golf Academy joined as additional mentors.

“Passing on the passion for golf to young people and teaching them values such as discipline and perseverance is extremely gratifying,” said First Tee coach Miguel Garcia.

The day wrapped up with a hotdog lunch and a friendship bracelet activity, giving the girls time to connect and celebrate the start of summer.

First Tee – Quebec and She Plays Golf share a goal of growing girls’ participation in golf. Their programs and initiatives are designed to foster safe, inclusive spaces where girls can build confidence, develop new skills and feel empowered to stay engaged with the game.

“What I find most rewarding is seeing the participants progress,” said First Tee coach Angélique Maire. “Through our coaching, we help them develop not just golf skills, but life values and a positive attitude towards others.”
Following First Tee – Quebec’s spring season that introduced nearly 3,500 girls to golf across the province, the Longueuil clinic helps build momentum by teeing up a summer filled with expanded program offerings.

With continued support from RBC Community Junior Golf, First Tee – Quebec and She Plays Golf remain committed to breaking down barriers and empowering young girls through the sport.

About RBC Community Junior Golf
RBC Community Junior Golf is an initiative led by RBC in partnership with Golf Canada that is building greater inclusion in golf by providing affordable access for youth across Canada.

RBC Community Junior Golf supports the operation of both First Tee and Youth on Course at 36 municipal and publicly accessible golf courses across Canada. Since 2021, RBC Community Junior Golf has engaged over 55,000 participants by offering no-cost First Tee programming, and has provided over 65,000 subsidized rounds of golf to Canadians 18 and under.

Learn more at golfcanada.ca/rbc-community-junior-golf.

About First Tee – Quebec
First Tee – Quebec is one of six regional chapters of First Tee – Canada, Golf Canada’s youth development program providing life-enhancing experiences through golf for children from equity-deserving communities.

Since 2021, First Tee – Quebec has provided over 40,000 youth across the province with low-barrier pathways to golf through programming at schools, community centres, and golf facilities.
Learn more at firstteequebec.ca.

About She Plays Golf
Launched in 2023, She Plays Golf is Golf Canada’s multifaceted women’s participation strategy, leading several key initiatives to grow the game across the country from grassroots participation to professional development. She Plays Golf initiatives include Festivals designed to introduce women and girls to golf in a welcoming, supportive environment; a Championship Series (professional tour) that provides aspiring Canadian women golfers competitive guidance on the path to the LPGA Tour; and a Women in Coaching program aimed at increasing gender diversity among high-performance coaches.

Learn more at golfcanada.ca/sheplaysgolf.

OTTAWA, Ont. – The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) board of directors has announced that Chief Operating Officer Nathalie Lavallée will be promoted to Chief Executive Officer, effective Dec. 31, following the retirement of long-time CEO Jeff Calderwood.

Lavallée’s appointment follows a 25-year career with NGCOA Canada, where she has held several senior roles including director of membership, director of communications, and most recently COO. She has overseen day-to-day operations, led a national team, and played a key role in the Association’s growth over the past two and a half decades.

Her professional background includes experience in hotel management and work on Parliament Hill for a federal cabinet minister. Fully bilingual, Lavallée is recognized for her strong leadership skills and broad industry perspective.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nathalie as our next CEO,” said NGCOA Canada president Richard Edmonds. “She is a dynamic, forward-thinking leader whose experience aligns perfectly with our ongoing strategic goals serving Canadian golf course operators from coast to coast.”

Lavallée expressed excitement about her new role.

“I am honoured and energized by the opportunity to lead the NGCOA Canada into its next chapter,” she said. “With the strength of our team, the continued support of our dedicated board, and the foundation built over the past 34 years, I’m confident this will be a smooth and seamless transition

“Having had the privilege of working alongside Jeff Calderwood for the past 25 years, I want to express my sincere appreciation for his visionary leadership and mentorship. His passion and dedication have shaped the NGCOA Canada into what it is today, and I am committed to building on that legacy.”

Lavallée will remain based at the NGCOA Canada head office in Ottawa and will travel as needed to lead its national membership and eight regional chapters.

Canadian golfers were busy racking up numbers this summer — and not just on their scorecards.

July 2025 set a new record for scores entered into the Golf Canada Score Centre, with members logging a whopping 2,082,814 rounds for the month.

That’s a 6.6 per cent jump over the previous July high of 1,953,807 set in 2024. Compared with 2019, July score entries are up more than 44 per cent — a sign that more golfers than ever are tracking their play and keeping their Handicap Index® current.

The mid-summer surge came as golfers across the country took advantage of long daylight hours, prime course conditions and a busy stretch of club, provincial and national events. With the Golf Canada app and web platform making score entry quicker than ever, members are keeping their stats up to date from the clubhouse, the parking lot — even right on the 18th green.

July has traditionally been the biggest month for score posting in Canada, but 2025’s total pushes the benchmark to new heights. The upward trend in recent years shows no signs of slowing, with steady growth in score entries across nearly every province.

With August and September still ahead — and plenty of fairways yet to be played — there’s every chance golfers will post another banner stretch before the season wraps.

Download the Golf Canada App

Epson Tour sophomore Leah John drained her final putt on the 18th green at South Bend Country Club to claim the first professional victory of her career. John started the week with a new personal best, posting a 9-under bogey-free 63 on Friday, making the celebratory moment even more meaningful.

Despite having a three-shot lead heading into Championship Sunday, the Canadian felt some nerves after bogeying the first hole. The 25-year-old carded four birdies on the day to hold her 36-hole lead and finish the tournament with a total of 9-under par.

“I was super excited to play with Melanie (Green) and Leo today, so I was just looking forward to the day and learning from her and her experiences, and just prioritizing joy, sticking to my game plan, and just seeing where the day takes me,” said John. “I was ready for anything that came.”

The University of Nevada graduate settled in quickly, making three birdies in a row on holes five, six, and seven, posting a 1-under 36 on her opening nine. The nerves got the best of John as she made a bogey and double-bogey to start out her back nine, but dug deep to find a birdie on 16  in her final stretch to post a 2-over 74.

Melanie Green and Jennifer Chang started the day just three shots back of John, ultimately finishing in a share of second place. Green, the winner of the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber, put an eagle and one birdie on her card during the round but posted an even par 72 and was unable to secure her second victory.

Chang couldn’t get things to fall her way on Sunday, carding an even par 72 and a combined 8-under for the tournament. Despite not being in the final pairing, the 25-year-old made two birdies, posting an even par front side. The University of Southern California alumna, found a birdie and a bogey on her finishing nine to secure her runner-up finish.

John, a first-time Epson Tour champion, jumped 77 spots in the Race for the Card standings after receiving 500 points from her win at the Four Winds Invitational. This is John’s highest rank of the 2025 season, number 22, putting the Canadian in a good spot to climb her way into the top 15 with five tournaments remaining.

“It’s super special,” John said of the win. “I said earlier that I love golf because of the game, but I think I love it more because of the people in it. It’s just nice to have a day like this, to represent all the hard work and the communities that have helped me along the way.”

As the final week of the Northeast stretch comes to a close, the Epson Tour will enjoy a well-deserved week off before traveling to Pendleton, Oregon, for the fourth playing of the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic at Wildhorse Golf Course from August 15-17.

The leaderboard was stacked with red numbers and ties after the first round of the 14th annual Four Winds Invitational. The field of 144 athletes took advantage of the cooler temperatures and pure conditions at South Bend Country Club in round one of the final leg in the Northeast Stretch.

Kaitlyn Papp Budde was the first leader in the clubhouse of the day, posting a 5-under 67. Papp Budde started off strong, sinking four birdies on her opening nine. The Texas native settled into her round carding a 1-under 34 on the back nine to tie her low round of the 2025 Epson Tour season.

Monet Chun followed closely behind Papp Budde, tying her 5-under round of 67 to start off the morning wave. Chun made six birdies and was bogey-free until her 16th hole, breaking her record for the lowest round in her professional career. The University of Michigan alumna is finding her spark at no better venue than in rival territory of South Bend, Ind., as she looks forward to continuing a weekend of solid golf in hopes of securing the best finish of her young professional career.

Epson Tour sophomore Leah John had a number to chase by the time she teed off in the afternoon and started off strong with three consecutive birdies on holes one, two, and three. The Canadian continued her string with birdies on holes five, six, seven, and nine to shoot a 7-under 30 on her front nine.

“I had a very unexpected beginning to my round,” said John. “I made a couple of putts in the beginning, and I was like, ‘Hey, this is great.’ And then it just kept happening and sort of felt like it was out of my control a little bit, but it was pretty exciting. The girls I was playing with were super nice, so I could keep myself distracted just chatting, but it was a pretty epic day.”

John rounded the turn, making two pars before sinking a birdie putt on the par-5 12th hole. The 25-year-old settled into her back nine with five pars before hitting the green on the par-5 18 in two to finish off her round with a birdie. The University of Nevada alumna carded a bogey-free round of 63, finding herself at the top of the leaderboard and leaving round one having tied the 18-hole tournament record along with her new career low round.

“I think that’s the coolest part about golf, it’s about playing against yourself and the golf course, so you’re always striving for more,” said John. “It’s just hard. You never really see yourself as good or a record person, so it’ll be just a nice thing to have in my pocket to remember.”

BRIDGEND, Wales — Canadian amateur Anna Huang shot a four-under-par 67 on Monday to top the leaderboard at final qualifying for the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, securing her spot in the championship field at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.

Huang, 16, was the youngest player in the 107-competitor field at Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club and emerged as the outright leader among 17 qualifiers for the major championship, which begins Thursday in Wales.

“I’m delighted with my score,” said Huang, who will make her second major appearance after competing in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. “On the front nine, I just stayed really patient. I didn’t miss any fairways and the putts were dropping.”

While the Vancouver-area golfer is relatively new to links golf, she showed no signs of inexperience.

“I don’t play links golf, so it took a couple of practice rounds to get used to it, but I think I handled it pretty well,” she said. “I learned a lot from the U.S. Open earlier this year and bringing more patience into this week was really helpful.”

Huang’s score placed her ahead of Ireland’s Anna Foster and Thailand’s Aripichaya Yubol, who each carded rounds of 68. A group at 69 included Hira Naveed (Australia), Soo Bin Joo (Korea), Morgan Metraux (Switzerland) and Alessandra Fanali (Italy).

Also among the qualifiers were Brianna Do of the United States, who shot 70, and Lydia Hall of Wales, a member at nearby Southerndown Golf Club.

The AIG Women’s Open, conducted by The R&A, is one of five major championships in women’s golf. The 2025 edition will be played July 30–Aug. 3. Future host venues include Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2026.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Corey Conners delivered a composed, confident performance at the 153rd Open Championship, finishing tied for 10th at Royal Portrush and once again asserting himself as Canada’s most reliable presence in major championship golf.

The 32-year-old from Listowel, Ontario, closed with back-to-back rounds of 66, finishing at 9-under-par (275) — just seven shots off the winning mark set by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

A Weekend Surge at Royal Portrush

After a steady start with rounds of 71 and 72, Conners vaulted up the leaderboard with a clinical 66 on Saturday — then matched it Sunday with another six-birdie performance, capped by a confident up-and-down on the final hole.

“It feels great to play well on this stage,” said Conners after his round. “Portrush is a tough test. I stuck to my game plan, stayed patient, and made the most of my chances over the weekend.”

Conners’ score tied for the lowest combined weekend total among the top 15 finishers.

Lone Canadian to Make the Cut

Conners was the only Canadian to reach the weekend, as Mackenzie Hughes, Nick Taylor, and Taylor Pendrith missed the cut.

This marks Conners’ third top-10 at a major and his best finish at The Open. Known for his steady ball-striking and calm under pressure, he continues to lead the charge for Canada in golf’s biggest events.

What’s Next for Conners?

With the FedEx Cup Playoffs fast approaching and an eye toward potential Presidents Cup selection, Conners’ showing at Portrush may prove to be a momentum builder. The performance will also provide a boost in the Official World Golf Ranking, where he remains the top-ranked Canadian on the men’s side.

His summer schedule will continue with PGA TOUR stops at the 3M Open and Wyndham Championship before heading into playoff season.

Canadian Golf on the Rise

While this year’s Open didn’t feature multiple Canadians in contention, Conners’ steady play reaffirmed his place as one of the most dependable performers in Canadian golf — a player whose best may still be ahead.

As the country celebrates recent successes across both the PGA and LPGA Tours, Conners’ latest showing reminds fans that Canada continues to earn its place among the world’s elite golf nations.

As a long-time supporter of professional golf, RBC deepened its commitment to the sport in 2021 with the launch of RBC Community Junior Golf and continues to support this initiative, which provides affordable access to golf for youth across Canada.

In partnership with Golf Canada, RBC supports the national delivery of two junior golf programs, First Tee – Canada and Youth on Course.

First Tee – Canada, launched in 2021 by Golf Canada in partnership with First Tee, is a youth development program that offers life-enhancing experiences through accessible golf programming for young people from low socio-economic communities. Youth on Course is a complimentary program to First Tee – Canada that provides youth aged six to 18 with subsidized rounds of golf for five dollars or less.

Since 2022, RBC Community Junior Golf has engaged over 55,000 youth through providing First Tee – Canada programming at no cost and subsidizing green fees for junior golfers through Youth on Course.

“The growth of our programs and the ability to introduce thousands of young people to golf every year would not be possible without the steadfast support of RBC,” said Adam Hunter, Executive Director, First Tee – Canada. “RBC Community Junior Golf has expanded our reach and has played a pivotal role in providing communities across Canada with inclusive and affordable access to golf.”

All RBC Community Junior Golf sites across Canada, including municipal or publicly accessible golf courses, offer no-cost First Tee – Canada programming to participants with all necessary equipment, and provide participants with a complimentary Youth on Course membership to play affordable rounds of golf at participating golf courses.

At RBC Community Junior golf sites, youth in surrounding low socio-economic communities are prioritized access to the First Tee program.

Private, no cost registration links are shared with select schools and community groups, and RBC covers transportation costs to the golf course, to encourage participation from families who may not have considered golf as a sport for them.

RBC also covers the cost of First Tee coach certification, helping to onboard more dedicated coaches, increase program offerings, and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for participants.

Partnered schools and youth centres are also able to run First Tee programming in-house at no cost, with provided curriculum, training modules and equipment kits.

“We believe young people from all communities deserve the chance to play golf and reap the benefits the sport has to offer,” said RBC’s Chief Brand Officer, Shannon Cole. “Together with Golf Canada, we are breaking down barriers of entry to the game and bringing golf directly to communities in a meaningful and engaging way.”

Last year, in addition to the 36 established RBC Community Junior Golf sites, nearly 165 elementary schools, community centers, and youth organizations across the country partnered with RBC Community Junior Golf to further expand the benefits of First Tee programming. This expansion resulted in nearly 3,500 subsidized Youth on Course rounds being played at RBC Community Junior Golf sites alone.

Looking ahead, RBC Community Junior Golf will continue to grow the game, inspire the next generation of golfers and help make a positive impact in their lives, on and off the course.

For the third year in a row, First Tee – Premier départ Québec has partnered with FitSpirit to introduce more young girls to sport — and to golf, for the first time.

Between May 6 and May 27, First Tee coaches were on site at all five of FitSpirit’s Celebration events, which brought together thousands of girls aged 12 to 17 from secondary schools across Québec. The events — held at community parks in various regions — featured a mix of physical activities, social connection and leadership-building workshops in an inclusive, all-girls setting.

FitSpirit, a Québec-based non-profit, focuses on promoting physical activity and wellness among teenage girls. Its Celebration events aim to help girls build confidence, try new things and experience the joy of movement.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with First Tee – Premier départ Québec to offer golf discovery at FitSpirit Celebrations,” said Élisabeth Lagacé, program advisor at FitSpirit. “A welcoming, non-judgemental introduction to golf shows teenage girls that they belong in this sport and that trying something new can be exciting, rather than intimidating.”

Each participant was given a card to collect hole punches by completing different activities. The First Tee stations — each led by one of four female coaches — offered a welcoming space where girls could learn golf fundamentals and develop life skills through sport. Activities included a chipping target practice and a distance control putting challenge, all rooted in First Tee’s emphasis on confidence, respect and perseverance.

The Celebration events were held at Parc Maisonneuve (Montréal), Parc de la Pointe-aux- Lièvres (Québec City), Parc de la Terre-des-Loisirs (Trois-Rivières), Parc Beauséjour (Rimouski), and Centre de plein air Hélène-Larochelle (Gatineau).

Across the five events, nearly 3,350 girls participated — many experiencing golf for the first time.

“Over 95 per cent of FitSpirit participants were discovering golf for the first time,” said Marie-Michèle Richer, program manager for First Tee – Premier départ Québec. “It was incredible to see them focus on their tee shots and celebrate hitting the target. The more they played, the more they connected — with the game and with each other. We’re grateful to FitSpirit for welcoming us and making it possible to share golf with so many girls.”

At the conclusion of this year’s FitSpirit Celebrations, participation at the First Tee – Premier départ Québec stations rose by 55 per cent compared to 2024.

First Tee – Premier départ Québec aims to continue working with FitSpirit each season, using golf to empower more girls across the province to be active, confident and brave with anything that comes their way.

Learn more at firstteequebec.ca/en/register or fitspirit.ca.

New features include group score posting, smartwatch support, GPS upgrades, referrals and achievements. 

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is enhancing how Canadians experience the game with new features now live in its free mobile app. 

The latest update to the Golf Canada app — the No. 1 golf app in the country — has launched with version 7.3.0, bringing a range of tools designed to make it easier for golfers to track scores, connect with playing partners and get more out of every round. 

Among the key upgrades is a feature that allows users to post scores for their playing partners, simplifying scorekeeping during group rounds. 

Android users can now access the app from select smartwatches, including Fossil, TicWatch, Skagen, Tag Heuer Connected, Montblanc Summit, Samsung Galaxy Watch (Watch 4 and newer), and Google Pixel Watch. The integration enables on-wrist GPS yardages and digital scoring, allowing players to stay focused on the game. 

To encourage community growth, a referral feature has been added. Members can share a unique referral code and earn entries into a season-long prize draw when new users sign up. 

An achievements system lets golfers unlock digital milestones based on rounds played, courses visited, hole-by-hole entries, provinces played and more. Friends’ achievements are also visible, adding a social layer to performance tracking. 

Also new is advanced GPS yardage functionality. The app now provides front, middle and back green distances to support more accurate club selection and course strategy. 

Privacy controls have also been improved. Users can now choose whether their scores appear in their friends’ feeds, giving them more control over how their information is shared. 

The Golf Canada app is available as a free download from the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android. Golfers can log in with an existing Golf Canada account or create one in-app to begin tracking their game. 

For a full list of Golf Canada app features, visit golfcanada.ca/app.