Golf is a sport built on history and tradition, yet for centuries it was tied exclusively to fairways, greens and tee times. Since 2020, traditional golf has surged, but the places where Canadians play the game have expanded even faster. Golf is now being enjoyed in city centres, shopping malls, converted warehouses and increasingly in basements and garages.

Around the world, and especially in Canada, off-course formats – from tech-driven driving ranges to cozy indoor simulators and social golf lounges – are lowering the barriers to play, widening the audience, and reshaping what it means to be a golfer.

“We’ll always champion green-grass golf as the purest form of the game, but more specifically, we’re trying to send a message to the market: however and wherever you pick up a golf club, it is great. It’s golf,” says Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Tim McLaughlin. “And if you’ve never picked up a golf club on a course, and only play in simulators, you might not see yourself as a golfer right now. But what we’re trying to tell you is that you are a golfer.”

Off-course golf in Canada offers convenience and entertainment. Driving ranges across the country have evolved from rows of mats into covered, data-rich tech hubs where players of all levels track stats or compete with friends. Indoor simulators have popped up in all kinds of locations, making it possible to fit a full 18 holes into a lunch break. Date nights, kids’ birthday parties or winter weekends can all involve golf, no matter the season.

“If you’re not a golfer, (off-course golf) is probably the right way to get into the game – it’s geographically accessible, it’s likely more affordable, it’s less time-consuming and its less intimidating,” McLaughlin says.

To support this growing entry point, Golf Canada launched its Just Swing campaign to encourage year-round participation. Off-course play is clearly becoming a gateway to the sport. In 2022, about 23 per cent of golfers in Canada participated in simulator golf. Today that number is 41 per cent. In the United States, McLaughlin notes, more people are now playing golf off the course than on it.

While not everyone who plays off-course golf will transition to green-grass facilities, many will. Golf Canada continues to consult with provincial associations, industry partners and the R&A, all of whom see the same opportunity to grow the game through off-course participation.

“The feeling in the industry is that there has not been enough education and awareness about what off-course golf is, how to get involved, and how to participate. We see huge potential for off-course golf to open up new opportunities for people to engage with the sport,” McLaughlin says.

Golf Canada also recognises that the simulator market includes two distinct groups. Commercial facilities are rapidly opening in plazas, strip malls, and office buildings. At the same time many golf clubs have installed simulator bays in curling rinks, banquet spaces, or practice buildings to provide year-round experiences for their members. Golf Canada understands that off-course activity is already happening inside its existing network, while new stand-alone facilities continue to grow.

Off-course golf is not a replacement for classic layouts or modern designs. It complements them. It helps break down preconceptions, introduces the sport to new audiences, and shows Canadians they can enjoy golf in a way that suits their lifestyle.

The future holds great potential. Could there be an indoor Canadian Open someday? A high-performance simulator league? Or a top indoor-golf event? As more Canadians pick up a club wherever they can and simply “Just Swing”, opportunities keep growing.

“Our membership strategy aims to enhance connectivity between off-course golf and on-course play. Many of these facilities are eager to connect with the broader golf landscape, so hopefully, in doing this, we can achieve exactly that,” McLaughlin says.

“All golf is golf, and we need to signal that to the market.”

December 4, 2025 – Golf Canada is proud to announce the names of 34 amateur and junior athletes that have been named to the 2026 Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen squads.

Athletes are selected based on results from the previous season (September 2024-August 2025), with the Team Canada – NextGen program also considering performance at Golf Canada’s annual selection camps. Professional players that will be part of the 2026 Team Canada squad will be announced later, upon the completion of Qualifying Tournaments.

2026 Team Canada Rosters:

Team Canada – Women
Professionals to be selected later in the year

Team Canada – Men
Professionals to be selected later in the year.

Team Canada – NextGen (Boys)

Team Canada – NextGen (Girls)

“Golf Canada is proud to announce the amateur and junior athletes selected to the 2026 Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen teams. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and performances competing on golf’s biggest stages,” said Emily Phoenix, Director, High Performance, Golf Canada. “We are also deeply grateful to the generous donors of the Golf Canada Foundation and our corporate partners whose ongoing commitment to player development is vital in helping our athletes train, compete, and pursue their dreams of success on the PGA and LPGA Tours”.

Golf Canada’s National Team program aims to help more Canadian athletes achieve success on the world’s leading professional tours, including the PGA TOUR and the LPGA Tour. The Team Canada program supports a group of experienced amateurs on the pathway to playing professional golf along with a group of young professional golfers building their careers as touring pros. Complementing this, the Team Canada – NextGen squad focuses on developing Canada’s top junior golfers, providing training and competition experiences needed to build a strong foundation for future success at the amateur and professional levels.

Team Canada Coaches…

The coaching staff for the men’s and women’s Team Canada squads will return in full for the 2026 season. Team Canada – Men will be led by head coach Derek Ingram (Winnipeg, Man.) supported by coaches Louis Melanson (Moncton, N.B.) and Benoit Lemieux (Montréal, Que.). Lemieux will assume an expanded role as Lead Coach of Team Canada – Men (Amateur), taking direct responsibility for guiding and supporting the group of seven amateur prospects. Lemieux has been with the Team Canada program since 2021 and is a two-time recipient of the PGA of Quebec Coach of the Year award. In his time at Golf Canada, Lemieux has coached players to the Korn Ferry Tour and supported several top amateurs in their transition from amateur to professional golf. The coaching staff will be supported by mental performance coach, Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood (Winnipeg, Man.) along with strength and conditioning coach Greg Redman (Kelowna, B.C.). Team Canada – Women will be led by Stollery Family Women’s head coach Salimah Mussani (Vancouver, B.C.) along with associate coach Jennifer Greggain (Vancouver, B.C.), strength and conditioning coach Andrea Kosa (Calgary, Alta.) and mental performance coach Judy Goss (Toronto, Ont.).

Team Canada coaches work with athletes and their personal support teams to develop annual training plans and identify areas to impact athlete growth in all areas of their game. Athletes are also supported by a comprehensive sport science team that includes physical conditioning along with mental performance and mental health supports. Players are brought together regularly for training camps with national team coaches and sport science staff. The Team Canada – NextGen program also supports juniors and young amateurs across a range of pathways, including those who elect to pursue collegiate golf.

Team Canada Athletes….

The Women’s Amateur Team will have seven returning players, led by Lauren Kim (WAGR No. 19) of Surrey, B.C., who is currently in her junior year at the University of Texas. Kim earned her second collegiate win at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and added a pair of third place finishes as well as a top five. Kim also competed in her second consecutive Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament in April. Kim represented Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship alongside returning teammate, Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. Also returning in 2026 are: Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont., Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta., Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont., Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver, B.C. and Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont. Borovilos (Chevron Collegiate), Claggett (PGA of Canada Women’s Championship), Gal (Women’s Porter Cup) and Zhang (Ivy League Women’s Golf Championship and Quinnipiac Classic) were all victorious in 2025.

The 2026 Men’s squad will feature seven amateurs led by the lowest ranked Canadian male on WAGR (No. 92), Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. McCulloch is a fifth year student-athlete at Michigan State University and recently represented Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship. This past season McCulloch competed in both the RBC Canadian Open and the Rocket Classic on the PGA TOUR. Collegiate players Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont., Ethan Wilson of St. Alberta, Alta., Cooper Humphreys of Vernon, B.C. and Matthew Javier of North York, Ont. are all returning to the program and will move up from the NextGen team for 2026. Eric Zhao of North York, Ont., a freshman at Princeton University will be the lone new addition to the program. Zhao earned two titles this season, winning the 2025 NextGen Ontario Championship and the 2025 Ontario Men’s Amateur.

Team Canada – NextGen Coaches…

Matt Wilson (Toronto, Ont.) has been hired as the head coach for the Team Canada – NextGen Boys team. Wilson re-joins Golf Canada after serving the past five years as the director of instruction at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. Prior to his time at Baltusrol, Wilson was the head coach of Team Canada’s Junior Girls team and director of NextGen performance from 2017 to 2020. Earlier this month, Wilson was named to the latest edition of the Top 100 Teachers in America by GOLF Magazine. Wilson will be joined by mental performance coach Dr. Jonathan Lasnier (Ottawa, Ont.) along with strength and conditioning coaches Andrew Hoermann (Milton, Ont.) and Iordan Krouchev (Montreal, Que.).

Jeff MacDonald (Chester, N.S.) returns as Team Canada – NextGen Girls head coach and will be supported by assistant coach Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alta.). Over the past three years, MacDonald has led Team Canada to a gold and back-to-back silvers at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship. They will be joined by mental performance coach Justin Fredette (Winnipeg, Man.) and strength and conditioning coach Dr. Emily Wiggin (Dartmouth, N.S.).

Tristan Mullally of Dundas, Ont. will continue as the head of National Talent Identification, overseeing the national talent identification system that was established in 2022. In this role, Mullally provides support to a promising group of young junior golfers and their existing coaching teams to grow the pool of future Team Canada prospects. In 2026, six players have transitioned from Talent ID to Team Canada – NextGen.

Team Canada – NextGen Athletes…

Team Canada – NextGen (Boys) features two returning players including 2025 Canada Summer Games winner, Austin Krahn of Christina Lake, B.C. Krahn added two additional provincial wins in 2025 winning the B.C. Amateur and B.C. Junior Championship. Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. returns and has committed to the University of Virginia for 2026. They will be joined by eight newcomers led by 2025 Canadian Junior Boys champion, Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont. Lew added four additional individual wins in 2025 and two inter-provincial team titles for Ontario at the Canadian Men’s Amateur and Canadian Junior Boys. Joining Lew are six in-year winners including (wins in brackets): Alexis Rouleau of Montreal, Que. (NextGen Selection Camp, Golf Quebec Junior Provincial Match Play Championship, Marathan Petroleum Preview at Findlay), Spencer Shropshire of Ramara, Ont. (Ontario Junior Boys Championship,), Emile Lebrun of Laval, Que. (Golf Quebec Men’s Amateur Championship), Thomas Grenier of Thetford Mines, Que. (Golf Quebec Boys Junior Championship, NB3 Elite), Maxim McKenzie of Chilliwack, B.C. (NextGen Pacific Championship), Eddie Gu of Aurora, Ont. (AM Technical Solutions Junior at Southpointe, Florida Junior Tour Labor Day Major). Also joining the team is Chase Jerome of Ottawa, Ont. Jerome earned 10 top 10 finishes across a number of tournaments this season.

Team Canada – NextGen (Girls) features eight returning members led by Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. In July, Deng won the 76th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship becoming the first Canadian to win the title in tournament history. One month later, Deng followed up her historic performance with a T20 finish at the CPKC Women’s Open, earning the Marlene Stewart Streit Award, given to the low amateur. Deng also won twice on the AJGA taking the Junior Invitational and Mizuho Americas Open and was recently named junior player of the year by the AJGA. Deng is currently the lowest ranked Canadian amateur player part of the national team program, currently No. 14 on WAGR. The 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship winner Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. also headlines as a returnee. Liu added four additional wins in 2025, including the Peloton Glencoe Invitational and was part of Team Canada 1 that earned silver medal honours at the 2025 World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. returns after winning the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO in July. Xing was also part of Team Canada 1’s silver medal team and represented Canada with Borovilos and Kim at the World Amateur Team Championship. Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. won two AJGA events and added two runner-up finishes. Lin finished solo third at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship and at the World Junior Girls and was the third member of the silver medal side. Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C., Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. and Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C. all represented Team Canada 2 at the World Junior Girls Championship, leading the team to a sixth-place finish. In addition, Ding won the Women’s Orlando International Amateur Championship and the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open to earn an exemption into the CPKC Women’s Open. Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. returns after earning five wins this season on the provincial and AJGA circuits. Park has won 15 events over the past two seasons. Joining the returning members are new members Ann-Sophie Bourgault of Gatineau, Que. and Jodie Han of Vancouver, B.C. Bourgault earned three runner-up finishes as well as a third-place finish and two top 10’s on the AJGA this season. She added one win at the 54 Hole Fort Myers Junior Open. Han finished as runner-up at the Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp tournament in September and won the adidas Junior All-Star and added two runner-up finishes and a top five finish on AJGA this year.

For full Team Canada athlete and coach bios along with tournament results and additional information, please click here. Team Canada is proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Hilton, Puma, Foresight, Golf Canada Foundation and Sport Canada.

National Sport Organization welcomes former USC Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director to advance Canadian golf participation and competitive excellence.

(December 3, 2025) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Paul Perrier has joined the National Sport Federation as its new Chief Sport Officer (CSO).

Born in Sherbrooke, Que. and raised in Aurora, Ont., Perrier is an accomplished and dynamic sports administration executive who brings more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in NCAA Division I athletics, most recently serving as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Southern California (USC).

As Chief Sport Officer, Perrier will oversee Golf Canada’s sport portfolio, including Team Canada high-performance and athlete development, National Amateur Championships, grassroots participation programs such as First Tee – Canada and She Plays Golf, and Safe Sport compliance. Reporting to CEO Laurence Applebaum as a member of Golf Canada’s Executive Team, Perrier will play a pivotal role in advancing Canadian golf participation and competitive excellence for the National Sport Organization.

“Paul is a dynamic sport executive and former high-level athlete with extensive leadership experience across sport including golf, coach development, compliance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, revenue generation and fundraising within both elite and public NCAA Division I athletic departments,” said Applebaum. “His experience managing complex sport organizations and building high-performance programs will help to further advance the sport and elevate Canadian golf on the global stage.”

During his tenure at USC (2019–2025), Perrier was a member of the Executive Leadership Team, with oversight and support for 23 varsity programs and 600 athletes. He led strategic planning, resource allocation, and performance initiatives and fostered inclusive, collaborative cultures that drove innovation and excellence. Perrier also managed the men’s and women’s golf programs, guiding them to multiple NCAA championship appearances and supporting elite athletes who advanced to the LPGA and PGA Tours.

Perrier, who will work collaboratively with the Golf Canada Foundation, also brings experience in fundraising and donor relations, having helped drive capital campaigns at USC and Rutgers. He also oversaw a $750,000 renovation of USC’s golf training facility and served as Tournament Director for the Trojan Golf Classic. His ability to build trust-based relationships with donors, alumni, and corporate partners has been a hallmark of his leadership.

Perrier joins Golf Canada at a time where the organization is experiencing strong momentum with a rise in participation and rounds played, Canadian continued success on the global stage and increased investment in the game from donors and corporate partners.

The opportunity to return to Canada to champion further growth is an opportunity for Perrier to apply his executive leadership experiences across a sport that has been a longtime passion.

“Joining Golf Canada is an incredible honour, and I’m inspired to help accelerate the sport’s growth and impact across the country,” said Perrier. “Together with our athletes, coaches, donors, and partners, we will continue to build pathways that drive participation and elevate Canada’s success on the world stage.”

Previously, Perrier served as Senior Associate Athletic Director at Rutgers University (2015–2019), where he helped develop a five-year strategic plan, oversaw sport programs, and led compliance and governance during a critical transition to the Big Ten Conference.  Prior to joining Rutgers, Perrier held several progressive leadership roles with USC including Associate Vice President for Athletic Compliance.

Perrier also co-founded the NACDA Sport Administrator Leadership Institute, served on the Big Ten Olympic Sports Oversight Committee, and was selected for the NCAA Pathway Program, a national initiative preparing senior administrators for CEO roles.

He holds a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Oswego State, where he was also a student-athlete (hockey) and co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

A proud Canadian who is married with two sons, Perrier has started in the CSO role and will be relocating back to Canada in the coming months.

The 2026 PGA TOUR Americas schedule will feature a strong Canadian presence, with six tournaments staged coast-to-coast as part of the 15-event season announced by the PGA TOUR.

Running April through October and visiting nine countries, the tour’s third campaign again offers a direct pathway to the Korn Ferry Tour, with the top 10 players on the year-end points list earning membership for 2027. The season will conclude Oct. 15–18 at the PGA Oceans 4 Tour Championship in the Dominican Republic.

Canadian golf fans will see the circuit in full force during a nearly two-month stretch beginning in July, marking the largest national footprint on the schedule.

The Explore NB Open in Fredericton, N.B., opens the Canadian swing from July 9–12 at Mactaquac Golf Course. The tour then moves into Ontario for back-to-back weeks: the Commissionaires Ottawa Open presented by Lépine Apartments at The Marshes Golf Club (July 16–19), followed by the Osprey Valley Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley’s Heathlands course (July 23–26).

Competition returns Aug. 20–23 with the Manitoba Open at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club in Winnipeg, one of the longest-running tournaments in Canadian golf. The western portion of the schedule begins Sept. 10–13 as the Digital Commerce Group Open is played at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria. The Canadian segment wraps up Sept. 17–20 in Edmonton, where Blackhawk Golf Club hosts the ATB Classic presented by Building Trades of Alberta.

“The quality of golf courses, sponsors and community support on PGA TOUR Americas continues to rise,” said Alex Baldwin, president of PGA TOUR Americas and the Korn Ferry Tour, in a statement. “We have 15 great tournaments on our 2026 schedule, and each one provides a chance for the future stars of the PGA TOUR to develop the skills needed to succeed at the next level.”

The season opens April 16–19 with the 71st ECP Brazil Open at the Rio Olympic Golf Course, followed by stops in Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia and the United States before the tour shifts north into Canada.

The top 60 players following the ATB Classic will qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship in the Dominican Republic. Beyond Korn Ferry Tour status for the top 10, all 10 will also earn US$15,000 through the Pathways Player Achievement Grant.

PGA TOUR Americas membership for 2026 will be finalized after Q-School, held in March across five U.S. sites. Eligibility includes tournament winners, returning members, top finishers from the 2025 points list and graduates of PGA TOUR University.

EUROPEAN TOUR

David Puig birdied three of his first four holes and four of the first eight on the way to winning the Australian PGA Championship by two shots. It is his third professional win but first on the European Tour, and the Spaniard became only the ninth international winner of the event and only the second since 1998. He joins fellow countryman Seve Ballesteros as the only Spaniards to win the tournament. China’s Wenyi Ding finished runner-up for his best career tour result. Local favourite Marc Leishman finished in a tie for third with New Zealander Nick Voke. Former world No. 1 and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott finished tied for seventh. The tournament, which is co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour of Australia, marked the first event of the 2026 European Tour season, which only concluded its 2025 campaign two weeks ago. …Sudarshan Yellamaraju, who earned his PGA Tour card earlier this year, was making his European Tour debut. He carded the same score over four consecutive rounds for the first time in his professional career.

NEXT EVENT:  Crown Australian Open (Dec. 4)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill

NEXT EVENT: Nedbank Golf Challenge (Dec. 4)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Nick Taylor, Aaron Cockerill (alternate)

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

France’s Nastasia Nadaud overcame a five-stroke deficit to win the season-ending Open de Espana by four shots. It is her first professional victory. Nadaud had three birdies and an eagle over her first five holes to move to the top of the leaderboard and added three straight birdies after the turn to solidify her lead. Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley finished runner-up. Four players finished in a tie for third, including Olivia Cowan, who moved into the top 70 of the Order of Merit to secure her tour card for next season. …Anna Huang notched her sixth individual top-15 finish of the season. She finished 11th in the Order of Merit, just 2.59 points out of a top-10 spot, which would have secured a place in the final round of the Final Stage of LPGA Q-Series. In her first season on the tour, the Golf Canada Team Canada member finished with a pair of wins and was second in Rookie of the Year rankings. 

NEXT EVENT: LET Q-School-Qualifying Stage (Dec. 10)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Yeji Kwon, Ashley Chow

TORONTO – Longtime golf executive Scott Pritchard will join One Eleven Management Group as a vice-president and partner beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

The move follows Pritchard’s departure from the PGA TOUR, where he spent more than a decade in leadership roles with its Canadian and international development tours. Pritchard is concluding his tenure as vice-president of PGA TOUR Americas, a position that included oversight of tournament operations and the continued development of the PGA TOUR pathways system across North and South America.

Pritchard began his career with the PGA of Canada in 2003 before joining the Canadian Tour in 2011. After the PGA TOUR acquired the Canadian Tour, he was appointed director of tournament business affairs in 2013 and promoted to vice-president in 2017.

His work with the development tours included building partnerships and improving visibility for emerging professional players.

“We worked together early in our careers, so it will be interesting to see that come full circle,” said Jeff Dykeman, founder and CEO of One Eleven Management Group, who confirmed Pritchard’s appointment.

In a statement, Pritchard said the new role will allow him to continue working closely with athletes and properties across the industry.

One Eleven Management Group represents and manages athletes, media personalities and golf-related properties in Canada.

When the first flakes of snow fall, many Canadians from coast to coast realize that, as unfortunate as it may be, golf season is ending. Or is it?

From downtown lounges with craft beer taps to makeshift setups in basements or garages, golf simulators are reshaping how people practice, play, and socialize around the sport.

What began as a high-end training tool for elite players has rippled into a consumer wave that’s expanding access and changing perceptions of golf across the country.

Market numbers show there’s no slowing down¹: the simulator sector is expanding quickly, and revenue projections show the golf simulator market in Canada is set to almost double over the next half-decade or so as both commercial venues and in-home installs increase.

At the heart of the exciting expansion is the technology of it all – evolving faster than most realize. Modern systems pair radar and camera-based launch monitors with physics engines and ultra-realistic course mapping, such as from Foresight and TrackMan.

Coaches routinely use simulator data for swing diagnosis and club-fitting, while recreational players can instantly compare numbers and replay shots in slow motion.

And, well, the virtual golf course designs these days? They just look really cool.

On the commercial side, indoor golf lounges and training centers are popping up in downtown cores and suburban plazas across the country.

Ottawa is a perfect example of this as Canada’s capital city boasts a golf simulator bar about two blocks away from Parliament Hill where, yes, you can even hit balls on a virtual driving range set up on Parliament’s front lawn, plus plenty others in its growing suburbs, like Silverwood’s Golf and Lounge where menu bites like braised beef crostini and the Augusta wrap (featuring pimento cheese, obviously) are on offer. 

“We knew that golf was always going to flourish in something like this, but the thing that tops you up is providing the top-notch service,” says Eric Glynn, the owner and director of operations of Silverwood’s. “The first position I hired was the general manager, who had tons of food and beverage experience and a passion for golf. Kitchen manager and head chef also have a passion for golf.”

These spaces market themselves as more than places to bang balls – they are social destinations as well. Friends can play Pebble Beach in 60 minutes, companies can host team-building events, beginners can swing sticks for the first time in a low-pressure setting, and even young kids can try to ‘destroy’ cars and trucks.

Silverwood’s has this something-for-everyone set up perfected. They have bays with regular bar-stool seating, VIP rooms that are fully glassed in where golfers can play their own music and watch what they want on TV, and then even quieter private rooms for the more serious player.

“We figured out how to amalgamate that and put things together and create a series of classes within our facility,” says Glynn, whose facility is celebrating its two-year anniversary in 2025. “It’s an entertainment place where people would be happy to come and escape from whatever the case may be.

“You can come in for an hour, book your real estate, and enjoy yourself. There are women with babies and strollers. There are ladies who just want to socialize. It morphed into more than just golf.”

Operators are quick to emphasize the convenience: full rounds of golf on iconic courses are condensed into tight time blocks, reservations are easy via apps or online booking portals, and the environments are climate-controlled. It’s a mix of social entertainment and serious practice time for low-handicap players. The same technology on the range at a PGA TOUR event is what these simulator facilities also use.

Indoor simulator facilities are drawing in younger and more diverse crowds who, well, appreciate a place for a good hang. It’s simple, really, simulator facilities remove the biggest obstacle for golf in Canada – weather – while also making the experience shorter and less intimidating.

That accessibility is nudging new demographics toward the game — women, younger urban residents, and busy professionals who want a post-work social hour of sport. Operators and national bodies are starting to see simulators not as a threat to traditional clubs, but as a funnel that can introduce players to outdoor golf when the season allows.

On the consumer side, basements, spare rooms, and garages are being converted into multi-purpose entertainment hubs. While big-time Tour tech can get up there in price, there has never been more affordable technology than there is now. Entry-level systems mean even weekend warriors can get meaningful feedback or have virtual fun without breaking the bank.

While the calendar limits golf outdoors to certain times of year, the simulator now does more than extend the season — it’s helping reshape golf into something even more social and accessible, one (virtual) shot at a time.

Just Swing!

Montreal Municipal Golf Club may not boast the grandeur of Canada’s most historic private clubs, but its legacy is undeniable.

Nestled in the heart of the city, this public course was a symbol of accessibility—a place where everyday golfers could share fairways once graced by champions. For decades, it stood as a community hub, offering an accessible space in a sport often perceived as exclusive. In a province that introduced golf to North America, Montreal Municipal embodied the game’s grassroots spirit.

That spirit made it the perfect stage for history in June 1973. The inaugural La Canadienne, Canada’s first LPGA Tour event, unfolded on its fairways, attracting a world-class field and thousands of fans. At the heart of it all was the legendary Jocelyne Bourassa, then a 26-year-old from Shawinigan who had already garnered national attention as LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1972. Injuries had sidelined her for much of the season, but returning home to Quebec, she carried the hopes of a nation.

The final round was pure drama. With renowned Montreal golf writer Mario Brisebois as her caddie, Bourassa drained a 28-foot putt on the last hole to force a playoff against legends Judy Rankin and Sandra Haynie. Under the gaze of 11,000 spectators, she held her nerve, sinking a three-foot par putt on the third playoff hole to claim victory—and the $10,000 winner’s prize. The roar that erupted wasn’t just for a golf champion; it was for a Quebec hero making history on home soil.

That win at Montreal Municipal was transformative. Bourassa became the first—and for 45 years, the only—Canadian woman to win Canada’s National Women’s Open, until Brooke Henderson’s triumph in 2018. Her victory elevated La Canadienne, which later rebranded and earned major championship status in 1979, eventually becoming what is now the CPKC Women’s Open and inspiring generations of Canadian golfers.

Though the course has faded from prominence – now existing as a 9-hole par 3 – its legacy endures. Montreal Municipal was more than a venue; it was a proving ground, a place where accessibility met excellence. It reminds us that golf history isn’t only written on the manicured grounds of private facilities—it thrives in the public spaces that welcome every player.

Watch the video below (credit: CBC News) to relive this iconic moment and celebrate a course that helped shape Canadian golf history.

‘Team Golfplay’ from Kitchener and Waterloo square off with ‘Tee Times’ from Detroit
in Los Angeles this weekend

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Team Golfplay from Kitchener and Waterloo will be playing for the GOLFZON Tour Championship and a $300,000 USD prize purse on Saturday, November 22 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Team Golfplay is represented by Victor Ciesielski, David French, Natalie Gleadall and Luke Moser and they will be competing with Tee Times, a team from Detroit, Mich. in Saturday’s GOLFZON Tour Championship Match. The finals will be aired on GOLFZON’s YouTube channel, beginning at 6 p.m., EDT, click here to watch.

Ciesielski from Cambridge, Ont. currently works as a director of instruction at Deer Ridge Golf Club in Kitchener, Ont. The PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional has won over 40 professional tournaments and was a two-time PGA of Ontario, Player of the Year. Ciesielski competed in three RBC Canadian Opens in 2006, 2007 and a T72 finish in 2012. He was also part of Team Canada’s Men’s National Amateur Team in 2007.

French from Kitchener is a PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional and is the lead teaching professional at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont. French is a former member of the University of Waterloo Men’s Golf team.

Gleadall from Stratford, Ont. is also a PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional and teaches at three different facilities in Waterloo, Ont. Gleadall played collegiately at the University of Mississippi and competed for three years on the Epson Tour. She also made three consecutive appearances at the CPKC Women’s Open from 2012-14. In addition to her teaching, Gleadall served as coordinator of Golf Fore Life, a dementia-friendly program piloted by the City of Kitchener.

Moser from Cambridge, Ont. currently works as a club fitting technician and assistant golf professional at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge. Moser played collegiately at Troy University and competed in the 2016 U.S. Amateur. Since turning professional in 2018, Moser has competed on the Mackenzie Tour, East Coast Tour, Great Lakes Tour and the Toronto Players Tour.

“We’re absolutely thrilled that Golfplay will be representing Canada in the finals of the GOLFZON Tour. The success of this Tour highlights the incredible accuracy and playability of the GOLFZON simulators,” said Steve Harris, CEO, Golfplay. “It’s exciting to see competitive indoor golf emerge as a true professional sport, and I’m extremely proud of how our team of local pros has performed. We can’t wait to cheer them on in the final match!”

The second season of the GOLFZON Tour began with round robin play following individual and team qualifying. In round robin play, Team Golfplay finished with a record of three wins, one tie and one loss for seven points, putting them second in the North Division.

In the quarterfinals, they won their match in 20 holes over Jackson’s Golf (Webster, N.Y.) and followed that up with a 6&5 win over Mulligan’s Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico) in the semifinals on November 8.

Team Golfplay and Tee Times met previously during the second week of round robin play, with the team from Detroit emerging victorious, 6&4, eventually finishing atop the North Division standings.

The GOLFZON Tour is an inclusive platform that welcomes golfers 18 years and older, of all skill levels, starting with open qualifiers before moving into team play, where golfers represent their local GOLFZON facility.

The Tour originated following the long-time success of the GTOUR in South Korea which is operated by GOLFZON. The North American and European Tour is currently in its second season. Individual Qualifiers took place in June and July and Team Qualifying followed in August.

24 teams later competed in round robin play over September and into October. Teams competed in a three-on-three aggregate strokes, hole-by-hole team match play format against opposing teams in their division. Each division played five matches to determine seeding with the top two teams from each division advancing into the playoffs. Two points were awarded for a win and one point for a tie.

The top eight teams began playoffs in late October, with the semifinals taking place on November 8, ahead of the final match this weekend.

In total, 72 facilities across five countries (Canada, United States, Mexico, England, Sweden) hosted qualifying matches. Nine facilities in Canada hosted qualifying including, Ace Golfzone (Winnipeg, Man.), Albatross Indoor Golf Centre (Ancaster, Ont.), Gimme Virtual Golf (Edmonton, Alta.), Golfplay (Kitchener and Waterloo, Ont.), Invictus Golf (Winnipeg, Man.), Mulligans Indoor Golf (Whitby, Ont.), Muni Golf Club (Montreal, Que.) and Shanks Driving Range and Grill (Cornwallis, Man.).

For more information on the GOLFZON Tour, click here. For more information on Golfplay and it’s two locations, click here.

Golf Canada and it’s Provincial Associations celebrate and support all forms of golf. Off-course experiences like simulators, driving ranges and indoor golf create fun, accessible opportunities to engage with the sport throughout the year.

For more information on Golf Canada’s off-course golf strategy and to find a member facility in your area, click here.

Golf doesn’t always have to mean 18 holes, a four-hour round, and perfect weather. Across Canada, golfers are discovering new ways to play — from simulators and driving ranges to mini-golf and virtual reality. Off-course golf is making the game more accessible, social, and fun for everyone, year-round. Here’s why it’s catching on faster than a long putt dropping for birdie.

1. It’s accessible to everyone

Not everyone has easy access to a golf course, but off-course options make the game possible almost anywhere. Whether you’re in a downtown condo, a northern town, or somewhere between, there’s likely a simulator, driving range, or mini-golf course within reach. These spaces open the door for new players, families, and seasoned golfers who just want to swing without needing a tee time.

2. Less time, same thrill

Can’t carve out half a day for a round? Off-course golf suits busy schedules. A session on a simulator or a quick stop at the driving range allows you to play, practice, or compete in as little as 30 minutes. You get the same satisfaction — minus the lost afternoon.

3. Lower costs, higher value

Golf can be expensive, but off-course options help stretch your budget. Many facilities charge hourly or per-bucket rates, making it easier to play more often without the hefty course fees. It’s golf without the green-fee guilt.

4. Perfect for game improvement

Off-course golf is a secret weapon for skill development. Many simulators track data such as swing speed, launch angle, and ball spin, allowing you to fine-tune your game with instant feedback. Even mini-golf helps sharpen putting accuracy and focus — skills that pay off when you’re back on the course.

5. Convenience is key

Weather, daylight, and distance don’t always cooperate in Canada. Off-course golf cuts through all that. Play indoors during winter, after dark, or even on your lunch break. It’s the game on your schedule — not the other way around.

6. A social hole-in-one

Golf has always been about connection, and off-course formats make it even more so. Simulators and entertainment venues blend sport with food, music, and friendly competition. Whether it’s a night out with friends or a team-building event, it’s an easy way to combine golf with good company.

7. Good for you

Golf — in any form — gets you moving, thinking, and socializing. Off-course play keeps both body and mind active, offering light exercise, mental focus, and stress relief. It’s wellness disguised as fun, and it’s accessible 12 months a year!

Learn more