A s golfers, we’re reminded to enjoy every round as if it were our last. My reminder hit home with the loss of one of my lifelong friends in
January – Rick Sovereign – following his long and courageous battle with prostate cancer.

Rick was an accomplished golfer in both his amateur and professional careers. He worked at his game with relentless passion. Beyond his ball striking ability, I admired the way he treated everyone, as well as the camaraderie he inspired. He mentored countless people and was generous with his time. He made everyone he played with feel welcome and reminded us of the things in golf, and in life, that we too often take for granted.

He was as fierce a competitor as he was a consummate gentleman and exceptional human being. Canadian golf coach Ralph Bauer shared a sentiment with me that defined Rick’s influence: “Outside of my immediate family, I can’t think of anyone who’s had a greater impact on my life.”

The times Rick and I shared golfing are among my fondest memories. Like anyone who’s had the opportunity to play with a professional, I can appreciate those with a mastery of the game. Rick would give me 10 shots, five a side, each time we played. I lost most of those matches, but I gained something much more valuable.

Rick taught me what the game of golf really stood for. He was a far better player than I will ever be, but never arrogant about his ability. He challenged me to enjoy the experience regardless of outcome. He would talk about golf’s intangibles, the memorable moments, the beauty of the setting, and the challenge it represented. Any golfer can relate.

I hope every golfer has someone like Rick in their life. Someone who encourages us to enjoy the game for what it is. Someone who is thankful for the people that golf brings to our lives. Someone who reminds us why we love to play this game.

Before his passing, Rick demanded that his closest friends honour his memory by remembering to love the game for what it is. He challenged us to enjoy each round as if it were our last. Like our $5 matches, I look forward to the challenge.

Pursuit of a Dream

As the crowd followed the youthful champion seeking autographs, an older man stood in solitude against the setting sun.

His gaze into space was one of quiet reflection, leaving one to wonder what paths he had chosen.

His calloused hands were an example of maximum effort, and a symbol of sacrifices made along the way.

Deep wrinkles against a tanned face, were also a testament to the many hours dedicated to the dream.

Ultimately, age and disease would take their toll, on a once able body.

At first glance this was an image of despair, and that of a dying dream.

But upon closer examination there was a subtle smile, the type reserved for the satisfaction of being true to oneself.

One gets the feeling that the outcome didn’t matter, and a dream pursued is a dream fulfilled.

Rick Sovereign – 1991

(Originally published in the April 2014 edition of Golf Canada magazine)

The 2013 flooding of the Greater Calgary Area had the city fighting to get back on its feet. Among the thousands of citizens and local businesses affected include the top-ranked facilities at the Golf Canada Calgary Centre.

Following three days of flooding, insurance agents estimated the damage to the 15 acre property at $2.3 million. The driving range was fully submerged. The mini-putt course was deemed unrecoverable. The 500 square foot irrigation was destroyed. The list goes on.

Much like the rest of the city, the folks at Golf Canada’s Calgary Centre showed their resilience turned this disaster into an opportunity.

With the help of volunteers and CDT International, the Calgary Centre staff focused their efforts towards following an emergency disaster restoration plan.

Chad Rusnak, Director of Golf Operations at the Calgary Centre, is optimistic about the revival process and is eager to begin servicing the golf community again.

“Calgary golfers are flocking to the range to get a jump start in preparation for the 2014 golf season and you cannot put into words how delighted we are to see the return,” said Rusnak. “It truly is exciting to welcome our customers back and share the newly renovated clubhouse and our recent flood diverted traffic of loyal facility patrons.”

Still buried in paperwork, Rusnak and his team are hoping to have the revamped facility fully operational for the summer season. Currently, the driving range and pro shop are open for business, with the 9-hole, par-3 course set to open in the couple weeks.

“The golf centre plans to honour and provide a credit to all 2013 registrants in our leagues and Girls’ Club based on a pro-rated registration fee to off-set the shortened season in 2013,” stated Rusnak. “We intend to address and pay added attention to re-instating the standards and conditions of the golf course.”

As the healing from the 2013 floods continue, the team at the Calgary Centre is planning a  grand re-opening of the facility in early May – another example of Calgarians showing their resilience in what has been an extraordinary past year.

Visit the Golf Canada Calgary Centre online at golfcanadacentre.ca.

Canadian Pacific has named LPGA Tour veteran Lorie Kane as its ambassador for the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Kane will represent CP and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open over the course of the railroad’s three-year partnership with Golf Canada as title sponsor of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Lorie again,” said E. Hunter Harrison, CEO of Canadian Pacific. “Lorie has been an outstanding ambassador for Canadian golf throughout her accomplished career and she will continue to have a positive impact on our sport and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. We are overjoyed to have her join the CP family.”

Now in her 19^th season on the LPGA Tour, Kane has established a reputation as one of the most well-liked and consistent players in the game. She has four career victories, accumulated 99 Top-10 finishes, and currently sits 23^rd on the Career Money List with nearly $7-million in earnings. Off the course, she was named a recipient of the Order of Canada in 2006 and was selected as a torch bearer for the 2010 Winter Olympic Torch Relay – both honours in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Canadian sport and the community.

“It is truly a privilege to be chosen as the golf ambassador for Canadian Pacific,” said Kane. “I look forward to working with Hunter and everyone at CP to promote golf in Canada and raise important funds in communities across our great country.”

The inaugural Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is scheduled for August 18-24, 2014 at the London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont. For tickets, corporate hospitality and volunteer information visit www.cpwomensopen.com or call 1-866-571-5742.

ORLANDO, Florida – Forty-four players earned PGA Tour Canada status at the first of three Qualifying Tournaments last week in Beaumont, Calif., with another field of 132 players looking to do the same this week in Orlando.

Once again, the 72-hole, no cut competition will see the top 18 players earn exempt status on PGA Tour Canada for 2014, with the rest of the top 40 plus ties earning conditional status. After an official practice round on Monday, the official competition gets underway April 15 and runs until the 18 at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Reunion Golf Resort.

Last week, University of Oregon alum Daniel Miernicki earned medalist honours and will look to join former teammate and All-American Eugene Wong as a winner on PGA Tour Canada this season.

Baddeck, N.S.’s Peter Campbell comes to Q-School this week hoping to build off strong play on the NEC Series – PGA Tour Latinoamérica, where he earned medalist honours at the Sebring Qualifying Tournament and recently posted a runner up finish at the Mundo Maya Open, the best-ever finish by a Canadian on that Tour. Campbell made three cuts on PGA Tour Canada in 2014, finishing tied for 21st at the Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial and sharing the first round lead at The Players Cup.

Nine members of PGA Tour Canada in 2013 are in the field this week, looking to regain status for the upcoming season. Among the notables are Evan Harmeling, who won the 2013 Massachusetts Open and donated the entire winner’s check to One Fund Boston in support of the Boston Marathon Bombings, as well as Big Break Indian Wells champion David Byrne of Windsor, Ont. Shelburne, Ont.’s David Markle, Texas’ Creighton Honeck and Toronto’s Matt and Mark Hoffman are also in the field.

A total of 26 Canadians from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Manitoba are in the field this week. They are:

CARLSBAD, Calif. – TaylorMade has announced the release of its highly anticipated Tour Preferred wedges – the Classic Grind will be available at retail on April 18 and the ATV Grind will hit stores June 15.

TaylorMade sought the input of PGA Tour players as well as renowned club designer Clay Long to artfully craft the classically designed Tour Preferred wedges.

“We dedicated three years to meticulously dialing in all shapes and dimensions,” said Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s Director of Product Creation for Irons, Putters and Wedges. “The outcome is two extremely versatile sole grinds in the Tour Preferred category. We combined that with a raw Micro Texture face to make this wedge truly worthy of the Tour Preferred name.”

The first sole option is a new Classic Grind for the player who prefers a clean, classically designed wedge with a very traditional shape. This model is offered in lofts of 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees with tour-proven bounce options. The design is clean with slight progressive camber (more in the higher lofts) and generous heel relief. The heel relief allows for the versatility of a C-grind on open-faced shots but retains the main sole surface for better performance on full swings and shots from the bunker.

The second option is a refined ATV Grind, inspired by the popular All Terrain Versatility design. The new ATV Grind boasts a reshaped sole that’s slightly narrower. This allows better performance on open-faced shots and on tight lies. The ATV Grind promotes less bounce on full shots, chip shots and out of the sand, while maintaining higher bounce on open-face shots that are crucial around the green. The ATV grind will be available in lofts of 54, 56, 58 and 60.

Other highlights of Tour Preferred wedges include an optimized Micro Texture face that helps enhance ball speed and greenside control. In addition, the most aggressive groove design TaylorMade has ever created promotes exceptional spin and greenside control. The KBS Tour V is the standard shaft in all models of Tour Preferred wedges.

The week after Tour Preferred Wedges were introduced on the PGA Tour, 25 were in play at the 2014 Valero Texas Open. Players who elected to put the new wedges in the bag included two-time U.S. Open Champion Retief Goosen, Camilo Villegas, Sean O’Hair and Carl Pettersson.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – He plays a sexy game of golf, owns two green jackets and – in what constitutes a show of major respect in these parts -Bubba Watson made rabid Georgia Bulldog fans take a break from spring football to watch some golf this weekend.

Asked which of those last two was the bigger accomplishment, Watson didn’t hesitate.

“Well, obviously,” he smiled, “you always say, `Go Dawgs!'”

As he was fighting for the lead at Augusta National on Saturday, the giant screen at Sanford Stadium cut to a shot of Watson, and the local fans went wild. Watson left Georgia a year early to turn pro, but made sure to credit everyone there who prepped him for life out on tour.

“I’ve done quite well since then,” he said. “We can share it.”

Watson might seem like the guy to carry golf’s flag in the coming months, especially with the two most popular players of this era nearing the end of their careers. Tiger Woods, 38, is on the disabled list until late this summer and Phil Mickelson, 42, missed the cut here and has already curtailed his schedule to focus on the biggest events.

The absence of both over the weekend sliced a third off the Masters’ traditionally hefty television ratings, and left center stage wide open.

In stepped Watson, who taught himself how to play, hits the ball a long way and likes to take risks.

“No one plays the way he does,” said Rickie Fowler. “Hitting it as far is a big challenge, I can’t shape it the way he does and his attitude is something else. He’s always out there enjoying himself.”

Watson is just as quirky off the golf course. He owns a hovercraft customized to look like a golf cart, he’s a member of the first – and thankfully, only – rap group on the PGA Tour, and between his tweets and the memes he’s inspired, he’s built out a nice little online space.

But will he ever be more than a local hero?

The short answer: Maybe.

Watson sealed his 2012 win with one of the most dramatic shots in the history of the tournament, a high, hooking wedge from out of the trees on the right of the 10th fairway. Instead of cashing in on every opportunity, Watson laid relatively low. He and wife Angie had just adopted a baby boy, Caleb, and he acknowledged being a new father and a celebrity was tougher than expected.

“Golf was the farthest thing from my mind,” Watson recalled. “So I took off some tournaments. Trying to be a good husband, a good dad at that moment was the most important thing.”

Like more than a few major winners, Watson suffered a “championship hangover.” He went 22 months without a victory and fell to 50th place on the money-winning list.

“Last year was rough with the pressure of trying to prove yourself,” said Ted Scott, Watson’s caddie. “But that’s one of the neat things about him; at the end of every year he sits down and evaluates how he can get better.”

Perhaps more important, Watson plans to hang onto the hunger that drove “a small town guy named Bubba” to collect two green jackets.

“We’re trying to make the Ryder Cup team. We’re trying to win the next tournament, the next tournament we play in, trying to make the next cut,” he said. “So it’s a lot different situation now than it was back then.”

But Watson is already 35, and he’s won just six times since turning pro in 2003. He’s always been pegged as a “courses-for-horses” player, someone who needs a venue that fits his long, erratic ball-striking style to come out on top.

Jordan Spieth, the 20-year-old Masters rookie who was paired with Watson for the final round, might be the next guy to step up. Watson pulled away from the youngster down the stretch at Augusta, exposing some flaws in Spieth’s game along the way.

“It stings right now, and the only thing I’m thinking about is when am I getting back next year,” Spieth said afterward.

Spieth said he accomplished one of his goals, to contend in a major, and, “there’s still three more this year.”

But if Watson is serious about extending this run, Spieth may have to go through him again.

A day earlier, when Spieth came into the interview room as co-leader and said he planned to call Watson “Mr. Watson” when they went out Sunday in the final group, Bubba broke into a wide grin.

“That’s fine,” Watson said, “when I’m hitting it past him.”

He did when it mattered most.

UXBRIDGE, Ontario – It is going to be a family affair for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) entry in the 2014 combined event in Lima, Peru – The Manuel Prado Cup (Team) and Carlos Raffo A. Cup (Individual), April 20-26.

This year the GAO will be represented by Dave Bunker, who will be playing in this event for the sixth time, and his son-in-law Michael Rutgers, who will make his first appearance.

Bunker, 47, who ranked second in the GAO’s Mid-Am Order of Merit standings for 2013, resides in Woodbridge and is a member at Brampton Golf Club. He has won many Ontario Championships including: the 2008 Amateur; 2003 and 2010 Match Play; 2007 and 2010 Mid-Amateur; 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012 Mid-Master; and 2009 and 2010 Public Player. His best finish in Peru was in 2007 when he finished second in the individual competition and in 2010 when his team finished seventh. He will no doubt be looking to atone for last year when he was disqualified for signing a wrong scorecard.

“I wasn’t very happy last year, having to DQ myself after the first round. It was a long way to travel for that to happen. So, I’m looking forward to having some good things happen this year,” said Bunker. “This event is a really nice way to begin the competitive season. The golf course is a very strong test and the players are treated first class in every aspect during the tournament week.”

With the late start to the season, Bunker knows it is difficult to establish performance goals for the event, but he still has an idea of what he would like to achieve. “I’d like us to string together as many quality shots as possible and see where that takes our rounds. If both of us could manage to finish in the top 15 and we could get the team into the top five, then I think that would be a good week.”

As for Rutgers, 29, he was selected for the competition after top-ranked Mid-Am Garrett Rank declined the invitation. Rutgers was the third ranked 2013 Mid-Am in the province. He resides in Windsor and is a member of Erie Shores Golf and Country Club. Rutgers is a former pro that got his amateur status back before the 2013 season and went on to finish second at the Mid-Am last season. For Rutgers, it is all about taking advantage of the opportunity.

“I consider the opportunity to represent Ontario in Peru a privilege and am very excited to head to South America for the first time,” said Rutgers. “It will be a fun and great experience not only to visit a foreign country but also to compete against some of the best amateurs in the world.”

Rutgers is not only excited about the opportunity but also with the fact that he will be playing with his father-in-law.

“Playing with Dave is always a great experience. We always enjoy playing together, competitive rounds included. Dave has prepped me for Peru as best he can, offering his own personal experiences, hints and tips for managing the course. He is an excellent resource and always ready to help me prepare. Also, knowing that he has been there before is comforting, being that this will be my first time playing in this particular tournament.”

“I think we’ll make a great team,” said Bunker. “We have played together many, many times and know each others’ games as well as we know our own.”

The event, sanctioned by the Peruvian Golf Federation, is hosted by the Lima Golf Club and has been running since 1988. The tournament is open to players with three or less handicaps and draws amateur golfers from all across the Americas and Europe. The players will have two practice rounds (April 21-22) before the first of the four rounds begins on April 23.

The team competition takes the two members scores over the four days and the lowest aggregate is the winner. For the individual competition, the lowest score after 72 holes is declared the winner.

For more information on the event or for round by round results, visit www.limagolfclub.ore.pe.

In partnership with CN, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada are pleased to announce some exciting revisions to the CN Future Links Learn To Play program.

Learn To Play is changing from seven levels to four stages and refocusing its programming to target a smaller age range.

This spring, PGA of Canada professionals will receive new lesson guides to help in the delivery of the program. Glenn Cundari, the PGA of Canada’s Technical Director, explained the reasoning for the change after five strong years.

“The changes to the Learn to Play program were needed to ensure that it remains relevant to PGA of Canada members, parents and junior golfers”, he said. The changes we have made have created much more meaningful benchmarks for every program module.”

Also new to the program is a revised progression system. Previously, CN Future Links participants were tracked through a numbered level system (Level 1, 2, 3, etc), but will now belong to one of four specific colour groups, much like the popular martial arts ‘black belt’ method. As a result, juniors will be able to clearly identify with one another in a friendly group atmosphere.

“The change from the traditional number level system to a colour-based system is not unique to golf – sports such as the martial arts have used it with great success for years,” explained Cundari. “We believe that the new colour system will be more appealing to junior golfer and will allow us to be more innovative with our incentive rewards.”

The target age group of 6-12 year-olds will now be rewarded with  colour-coded hats and gear provided by the program’s new apparel sponsor, Puma Golf. CN Future Links instructors will benefit by enticing juniors with the popular, vibrant Puma colours that have been made famous by PGA Tour stars Rickie Fowler and Canadian Graham DeLaet.

Teenagers outside of the Learn to Play age range will be encouraged to register for the new “Learn to Compete” program, which is being piloted this summer. Learn to Compete will feature programming that is tailored towards those looking to take their game to the competitive level.

Learn to Play is one of several programs offered under the CN Future Links umbrella, which includes a variety of options to appeal to every junior golf enthusiast.

For more information on CN Future Links, visit the website.

When Jim Clark began volunteering for Golf Canada over 25 years ago he never expected it would lead him to being the tournament chair of the RBC Canadian Open seven times.

While he may not be the longest standing volunteer for Golf Canada, Clark’s dedication and passion for volunteering is truly evident.

“I was about 25 years old the first year I volunteered and I thought this is cool – I just kept going back and haven’t missed since,” Clark said. “It’s such a wonderful touchpoint and conversation starter. It makes me light up when I talk about it and it gives me energy.”

Clark’s volunteer history started out in the 1980’s at Glen Abbey Golf Club when he signed up as a volunteer and picked up his blue shirt.

“I found that I got hooked and it was so much different than my real job,” said Clark who’s made his career in computer software sales. “The tournament came to life for one week with 1,500 volunteers and 24 committees; it was like a division of a corporation that has life for a week.”

After his inaugural experience he’s never looked back, serving on numerous committees and chairing Canada’s National Open Championship seven times – something he never expected he’d do.

Clark has fond memories of being in the mix at the championship with Golf Canada’s CEO Scott Simmons, whom he’s known since they were both in their 20s.

“Volunteering has given me opportunity to meet people who work in the golf industry that make their living in it, fascinating people that I’ve known for 25 years,” Clark said.

“I remember one time Scott Simmons and I were in an elevator at the Canadian Open and he said to me ‘when are you going to be the chairman of this thing?’ and I responded ‘oh I’ll never be the chairman of the Canadian Open’ and now by geez, I’ve been the chairman of it seven times,” he said with a laugh.

Every volunteer’s story is different but what makes the experience unique at Canada’s National Open Championships is that together volunteers have one goal in mind.

“We come together and work together to deliver the best event we can,” he said. “Whether it’s walking scoring, corporate hospitality or course maintenance and sanitation, everyone works together with a common goal and it’s a really happy place to be.”

Having come full circle from his first blue volunteer shirt, Clark was most recently the co-tournament chairman for the 2013 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club. In addition, he is currently serving as the chairman for golf’s organizing committee at the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games and can’t stress the importance of saying thank you to volunteers enough.

“Make sure to thank the volunteers all the time at every turn and appreciate them because they are giving up their time,” he said. “Volunteers are driving in traffic, burning gas and leaving their families because they want to and we always need to appreciate them for all that they do.”

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Canada’s National Open Championships need your help.

The RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open are seeking volunteers to assist with running their championships.

The 2014 RBC Canadian Open takes place July 21-27 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club just outside Montreal, while the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open runs August 18-24 at London Hunt & Country Club in London, Ont.

Click here for info on volunteering for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.
Click here for info on volunteering for the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – No cellphones. No video screens. No electronic scoreboards.

Outside the ropes that line the fairways and tees, the Masters is a throwback to a different golf era.

And few people seem to mind.

Unlike the other three majors, or any other tournament for that matter, the Masters forces patrons to leave technology behind for hours upon hours every day. They can’t take advantage of high-tech phone applications. They don’t get to see any replays or action that’s not going on in front of their eyes. And they have to decipher large scoreboards, some of which don’t even show who’s leading the tournament.

It’s been that way forever at Augusta National.

And no one expects it to change, either.

“You’ve really got to dig out the information,” John Winkelman, of Irvine, Calif., said Sunday as he stared at the huge scoreboard next to the first fairway. “But I like not having my phone here. I don’t think any of the tournaments should do it. It’s too potentially distracting.”

The Masters strictly prohibits cellphones, PDAs (hand-held devices), beepers, electronic devices, cameras, radios, televisions, tape recorders and walkie-talkies. Violators are warned they will be subject to ejection and forfeiture of their tickets, and the policy is closely enforced by security and the endless sea of workers around the course.

“I love it,” said Ashley Kamrath of Austin, Texas. “Our lives today are inundated with technology. It’s refreshing to be out here without it for a while, to have real conversations, real interaction. It reminds me of yesteryear.”

Augusta is steeped in tradition, from the green jacket presented to winners, to the champions dinner where the menu is chosen by last year’s winner, to the picturesque entrance at Magnolia Lane, to attendants in washrooms, to caddies still wearing white coveralls.

Food and drinks are sold at prices close to those seen decades ago.

Patrons revere Augusta’s traditions and respect the rules.

So walking around without the use of technology barely bothers the masses.

“It’s a neat part of the tournament,” patron James Williamson said. “You have to listen to the roars to know what’s going on out here.”

There are a few huge scoreboards and leaderboards around the course, most of them located at popular viewing spots like the 18th green and famed Amen Corner. They have volunteers putting up scores by hand, the old-fashioned way.

But in a social media-hungry world and with state-of-the-art technology expanding every year, it’s easy to think the Masters would eventually relent and start allowing it on course.

After all, after years of discrimination, the exclusive club now has black and female members.

But until that time comes, patrons contently adjust to the rules.

“This place forces you to figure everything out,” Winkelman said.

That includes getting separated from your friends.

“We try not to let that happen,” said Winkelman, who arrived at the course a little after 7 a.m. to set up folding chairs behind the 18th green. “You just have to have a plan. For us, we’d just meet back at the chairs.”