With colder weather well underway and many courses across the country shifting into winter routines, it’s a great time to brush up on a few Handicapping terms. Whether you’re still playing, travelling south for a round or two, or simply preparing for next season, understanding these concepts will help you get the most out of your Handicap Index all year round.

1. Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)

The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) becomes especially relevant during Canadian winter and shoulder seasons. PCC automatically recalibrates Score Differentials on days when course conditions are notably harder or easier than usual. If the scores posted that day show that players, as a group, performed worse than expected, the PCC may adjust by +1, +2, or +3. Conversely, if scoring was better than anticipated, it may adjust by -1.

The best part? PCC is fully automatic. Golfers and clubs don’t need to do anything. The system reviews results at the end of each day, helping to keep your Handicap Index accurate and fair, even with unpredictable conditions.

2. Active Season

Canada’s Active Seasons vary by province. The Active Season is the period during which course conditions are suitable for generating acceptable scores for handicapping purposes. Any score recorded within a specific province during its Active Season will be included in your Handicap Index.

To simplify this process, the Golf Canada Score Centre automatically recognizes the Active Season of the course being played. Golfers simply post their round, and the system handles the rest. For more information on Active Seasons, please click here.

3. Most Likely Score

The most likely score is used when a golfer begins a hole but doesn’t finish it. This is especially common during cold weather rounds when players pick up more often.

To determine your most likely score, take:

· The strokes you have already taken (including penalties), plus

· The estimated number of extra strokes you would likely require to complete the hole from your current position.

The Rules of Handicapping include recommended guidelines. For example, if you’re within 5 feet, add 1 stroke; if you’re between 5 and 20 feet, add 2 or 3 strokes.

For more details on the most likely score, see Rule 3.3 in the Rules of Handicapping.

4. Scoring Record

A common misconception is that rounds played during your home province’s inactive season shouldn’t be posted because they won’t count toward your Handicap Index. While it’s true that inactive season rounds don’t factor into your Index, you should still post them, especially if you’re travelling somewhere that is in an active season.

So even if your course is open but not in its active season, or you’re playing somewhere that is in their active season, be sure to post all your scores. This helps you maintain a complete scoring record, even if some rounds don’t directly impact your Handicap Index.

5. Simulator Golf

Simulator golf continues to expand across Canada as winter leagues and indoor facilities become more prevalent. While excellent for skill development, competition, and enjoyment, simulator rounds cannot be posted for handicap purposes.

Why not?

· Simulators don’t have official ratings

· Playing conditions are controlled rather than natural

· Although simulators can be highly accurate, it’s tough to replicate variables such as elevation change, firmness, wind, rough length, etc.

Though simulator scores do not count toward your Handicap Index, we strongly encourage golfers to use these facilities during the winter. For more information on the benefits of simulator golf and how to find a facility near you, please visit the homepage for our new Just Swing initiative.

Golf Canada members can now relive their 2025 golf season with #MyGolfYear, the annual personalized recap of rounds played, milestones and achievements, presented by BDO.

#MyGolfYear gives golfers a snapshot of their season, including total rounds played, best score, distance walked, number of birdies and other key stats, all in a custom graphic that members can download or share across social media. Since launching after the 2021 season, it has become a favourite way for golfers across Canada to reflect on their performance and share their progress with friends and fellow members.

“#MyGolfYear is a fun and engaging way for golfers to reflect on their season and celebrate their achievements,” said Tim McLaughlin, Chief Marketing Officer at Golf Canada. “It’s about more than scores; it’s about inspiring members to stay active, connect with the community, and continue enjoying the game year-round.”

What’s New for 2025?

The 2025 edition of #MyGolfYear offers more detailed personalization, including new scoring statistics such as total pars, birdies and eagles, as well as your average 18-hole score. In the achievements section, golfers who recorded a hole-in-one will see a dedicated HIO badge, alongside highlights for those who played in multiple provinces or completed a milestone number of rounds this past season (i.e. 50 or 100). A year-over-year comparison of your handicap is also included.

How to Access Your #MyGolfYear

Members who logged their rounds online, in the Golf Canada App or at club kiosks during 2025 can access their personalized recap via e-mail or the Golf Canada App.

Celebrate Your Golf Season

Whether you played once or logged multiple rounds, achieved personal bests or simply enjoyed time on the course with friends, #MyGolfYear is a way to look back and celebrate your year in golf.

Thank you to all members for making 2025 a memorable season. Download your #MyGolfYear, share your story, and get ready for another great season in 2026.

MOBILE, Ala. – Leah John is heading to the LPGA Tour, while Maude-Aimee LeBlanc will be returning after finishing inside the top 25 at the LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying Stage at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala. on Tuesday.

John, a Team Canada member from Vancouver, B.C. finished T10 with total score of 8-under. John led following an opening round of 8-under 64 and followed up with rounds of 72-69-73 to earn her card for the 2026 season.

John has competed in two LPGA Tour events in her career including the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta. and the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills in Hartford, Wis.

This past season on the Epson Tour, John earned her first professional win at the Four Winds Invitational in South Bend, Ind. in August. Jaohn finished 22nd in the Race for the Card points rankings just outside the top 15.

LeBlanc from Sherbrooke, Que. finished T17 at 6-under following rounds of 70-68-72-70 to retain her tour card for 2026.

This past season, LeBlanc competed in 10 events on the LPGA Tour, and her best finish was T20 at the CPKC Women’s Open at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. LeBlanc first joined the LPGA Tour in 2012.

The field of 115 faced delays throughout the final stage of qualifying. Opening round play was delayed and eventually suspended for the day due to unplayable course conditions on Friday. Weather played a factor again on Sunday forcing the third round to resume Monday morning, followed by the start of round four. The tour decided to reduce the LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying to a 72-hole event, finishing on Tuesday afternoon.

For the final standings from the 2025 LPGA Q-Series, final qualifying stage, please click here.

PGA TOUR

Hideki Matsuyama erased a three-shot deficit and made a two-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Alex Noren and win the Hero World Challenge. It is the second time he has won the Tiger Woods-hosted event, and it is his second win of the year – the first coming almost exactly 12 months ago in the season-opening The Sentry in Hawaii. Noren, who led the field with 27 birdies, made an 18-footer on the final hole to force the playoff. Third round leader Sepp Straka birdied the final hole to finish solo third for his second top-five finish at this event. J.J. Spaun and two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler finished tied for fourth. …Corey Conners, making his inaugural debut at the event, recorded his eighth top-10 result of the year

NEXT EVENT: PGA Tour Q-School (Dec. 11)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Peyton Callens, Myles Creighton, A.J. Ewart, Adam Hadwin, Stuart Macdonald, Drew Nesbitt, Ben Silverman, Roger Sloan, Adam Svensson

NEXT EVENT: Grant Thornton Invitational (Dec. 12)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Corey Conners, Brooke Henderson

EUROPEAN TOUR

Kristoffer Reitan watched a five-stroke lead evaporate as the Norwegian held off two other golfers to complete a wire-to-wire victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. It is his second European Tour title of the year, and it also assured him of an invitation to the 2026 Masters as he moves up to No. 30 in the world rankings with one tournament left in the year. The top 50 qualify for a trip to Augusta. Jayden Schaper of South Africa and Dan Bradbury of England both finished one stroke back. Schaper had four birdies through the first 12 holes but could not make another the rest of the way, while Bradbury had six birdies through 14 holes but pars over the final four. …This was Nick Taylor‘s best finish at a European Tour-sanctioned event since 2018.

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen scrambled to make par on the final hole and win the Crown Australian Open by a single stroke. It is his first European Tour win, and it also earned him an invitation to the 2026 Masters. The Dane was tied with hometown favourite Cam Smith as they played the 18th hole. After missing the green, Neergaard-Petersen flopped his third shot to within 10 feet and made the par putt. Smith had a five-footer for par to force a playoff but missed it to the left, ending his chances of snapping his two-year winless drought. Si Woo Kim finished third, with Michael Hollick fourth and former Masters champion Adam Scott in fifth. All three earned a spot in next year’s British Open. …Aaron Cockerill notched his first top-25 European Tour finish since June.

NEXT EVENT: Alfred Dunhill Championship (Dec. 11)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill (alternate)

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Team Europe captured the Skechers World Champions Cup over the International and American teams. After two days of nine-hole matches in modified alternate shot and better ball, Europe led by a slim 1.5 points entering the final day. Colin Montgomerie kicked things off by winning 10.5 points in his Sunday singles match to pace the attack as European players were the leading scorers in four of the six morning groupings. The International team’s Steven Alker was the leading scorer in the morning session, collecting 13.5 points. In the afternoon session, Team International captain Mike Weir led the way with 12 points, but it was not enough to blunt the European surge, which was led by Bernhard Langer and Soren Kjeldsen, who each scored 12 points. Europe finished with 230 points to win the title by 16.5 points over the defending champion United States. The Internationals finished with 204.5 points. Team USA’s Jason Caron was the leading point scorer for the event with 60.5 points, scoring double-digit points in each of the last four sessions.

NEXT EVENT: PNC Championship (Dec. 20)

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.

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!