Located on the shores of Lac St-Jean, Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac has been a proud First Tee – Premier départ Québec location for three consecutive years.

Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac partnered with First Tee – Premier départ Québec in 2021 to provide accessible pathways to golf and make a positive impact on youth in their community. Since launching, Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac has engaged over 140 First Tee participants.

First Tee – Premier départ Québec strives to break down typical barriers of participation such as affordability, transportation and perception or unfamiliarity of golf. By partnering with golf courses, schools, community centres in underrepresented areas across the province, First Tee – Premier départ Québec reaches a diverse range of golfers and provides a welcoming and empowering golf experience.

Special to this location, all participants can put skills they have learned to the test and experience two rounds of golf at a nearby par 3, 9-hole course, for no extra cost. Thanks to the generous support of Canadian Tire Jump Start, First Tee – Premier départ Québec provides transportation from Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac to the par 3 golf course for all participants.

The impact of First Tee would not be possible without the dedication of coaches striving to make a difference in children’s lives. Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac has four First Tee Level II trained coaches who serve as incredible role models.

“I’m passionate about the values First Tee – Premier départ Québec teaches children,” said First Tee – Premier départ Québec Coach, Lucas Dupérré Vanden Hecke, who has been a part of the program for over three years. “They learn how to handle challenges and setbacks, which are valuable lessons both on and off the golf course. I’ve seen kids grow in so many ways — physically, emotionally, and socially.”

First Tee – Premier départ Québec has close to 100 program locations at golf courses, schools and community centres across the province, with a dedicated staff of over 45 coaches and volunteers.

“Our focus is to create an environment where kids can discover the joys of golf, build lasting friendships, and continue to develop valuable life skills that extend far beyond the golf course,” said First Tee – Premier départ Québec Program Coordinator, Giana Veneziano. “It’s about encouraging their excitement for golf while equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in all aspects of life.”

Looking ahead, First Tee – Premier départ Québec and Golf Saint-Prime sur le Lac aim to provide local schools with field trips to the course and host no-cost events to introduce more children to the sport.

The reach of First Tee – Premier départ Québec across the province, and the community of Lac St-Jean, is made possible by a generous network of supporters who believe and share the mission of championing youth and growing the game of golf.

To get involved in your community, or to donate to First Tee – Premier départ Québec, please visit https://firstteequebec.ca/en/giving/.

Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada have launched a new online coaching module, “Introducing Golf to Individuals with Disabilities.”

The development and roll-out of the new coaching module is part of a shared commitment from both organizations to promote a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment across Canadian golf.

As part of this commitment, the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada are also collaborated with EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association) to provide coach training that will demystify adaptive golf.

The “Introducing Golf to Individuals with Disabilities” module will assist PGA of Canada golf instructors and other trained individuals, coaches, and health practitioners in creating inclusive programs that welcome individuals with disabilities into introductory golf experiences. The coaching module will guide instructors in designing adaptive programs, modifying golf equipment and activities to meet participants’ needs, and communicating effectively and respectfully with and about individuals with disabilities.

The module is designed for golf instructors and coaches, healthcare professionals, community leaders, parents, volunteers, and golfers.

“Through this coach training module, Golf and Canada and our partners at the PGA of Canada are eager to increase support for golfers of all abilities and make our sport more inclusive for all Canadians,” said Laura Wilson, Director of Inclusion Programs and Safe Sport for Golf Canada. “The contents of the module have been thoughtfully constructed with objectives and learning outcomes to help provide coach training towards an inclusive golf experience for individuals with disabilities.”

The goal of the module is directed three-fold towards golf instructors, healthcare professionals and volunteers: To increase the inclusivity and adaptiveness of golf programs for individuals with disabilities; utilize adaptive golf opportunities for rehabilitation activities; and provide an introductory pathway for individuals to support at introductory golf clinics and first involvement programs for participant with disabilities. 

Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada wish to recognize the Government of Canada and their support in providing funding for the coaching module through the Community Sport for All Initiative which seeks to remove barriers and increase sport participation rates for underrepresented groups. Its key objective is to support community sport initiatives for equity-deserving groups, particularly Black, Indigenous,  2SLGBTQI+, and newcomers to increase participation and retention in sport.

The module content was written by Katherine Hale, Golf Canada’s Manager of Inclusion Programs, and a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competency. It  was produced in partnership with the PGA of Canada, whose teaching and coaching programs are widely respected around the world.

The “Introducing Golf to Individuals with Disabilities” coaching module can be accessed by clicking here.

PGA TOUR

PGA TOUR

J.T. Poston made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole when he returned to finish his third round Sunday and he never relinquished the lead on his way to winning the Shriners Children’s Open by one shot. It is his third career PGA title but first in two years. Poston made three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the back nine and led by four shots with three to play. But he still needed a four-foot par putt on the final hole to secure the win after Doug Ghim made a late charge, closing with a six-foot birdie putt to bring him to within a shot of Poston. For Ghim it’s his best career result and second top-10 finish of the season, moving him up to No. 70 in the FedExCup Fall standings. He needs to get inside the top 60 to qualify for two Signature Events next year. …Taylor Pendrith picked up his seventh top-10 finish of the year. His opening round 61 equalled a career-low which he set three years ago and was one stroke shy of the best opening-round score in tournament history. …Despite his sixth finish outside the top 50, Nick Taylor remains 58th in the FedExCup Fall standings.

NEXT EVENT: ZOZO Championship (Oct 24)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Ben Silverman, Adam Svensson, Nick Taylor

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Tim O’Neal birdied six of his first 10 holes which helped him erase a three-stroke deficit and go on to win the Dominion Energy Charity Classic by two shots. It is his first career Champions Tour title and more importantly, it qualified him for the second of three

Charles Schwab Cup playoff events. O’Neal started the week as the No. 55-ranked player in the post-season and he needed to get inside the top 54 to advance to the next event. The win moves him up to 13th in the standings. Ricardo Gonzalez finished runner-up, his fifth top-10 result of the season and second in as many starts. David Bransdon was another golfer who started the week outside the top 54 but birdies on his last three holes left him third and lifted him to No. 35. Chris DiMarco, Kirk Triplett and Angel Cabrera all dropped outside the top 54 and have been eliminated from the playoffs. … Only the fifth time in 15 starts Mike Weir has finished outside the top 40. He advances to the next round of the playoffs at No. 30… Stephen Ames recorded his lowest finish since March. He remains No. 3 in the Schwab Cup standings.

NEXT EVENT: Simmons Bank Championship (Oct 25)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Stephen Ames, Mike Weir

EUROPEAN TOUR

Julien Guerrier made an eight-foot par putt on the record-tying ninth playoff hole to defeat Jorge Campillo and win the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters. It is his first European title in his 230th career start. It was the first nine-hole playoff since the 2013 Spanish Open which was won by Guerrier’s coach Raphael Jacquelin. Jose Maria Olazabal also needed nine extra holes to win the 1989 Dutch Open. Guerrier made a 16-foot par putt on the final regulation hole to force the playoff after Campillo, who struggled down the stretch with three bogeys on his final seven holes including on 18. Jon Rahm, who now plays on the LIV Golf Tour, finished sixth in his third European Tour event in the last four weeks. …Aaron Cockerill has played par or better in 13 of his last 14 rounds. With one tournament remaining, he currently sits 46th on Race to Dubai rankings which sees the top 70 qualify for the two-tournament DP World Tour Playoffs

NEXT EVENT: Genesis Championship (Oct 24)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill

LPGA TOUR

Hannah Green went wire-to-wire to defeat a stacked field at the BMW Ladies Championship, claiming the title by one stroke. It is her sixth career LPGA win and third this season, joining Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko as the only three-time winners this season. Green is the first Australian to win three times in a single season since 2006. Celine Boutier of France birdied five of her last seven holes and was the clubhouse leader at 18-under, tied with Green who birdied the penultimate hole to win. It is her second runner-up finish of the season and the second time this year she has lost to Green. Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen finished third, two shots back. The tournament featured eight of the top 10 LPGA players and 17 of 18 winners this season. …Brooke Henderson was making her first start in eight weeks since missing the cut at the Women’s British Open.

NEXT EVENT: Maybank Championship (October 24)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Brooke Henderson, Savannah Grewal (reserve), Alena Sharp (reserve), Maude-Aimee Leblanc (reserve), Maddie Szeryk (reserve)

ASIAN TOUR

Michael Maguire made par on the second playoff hole to win the Black Mountain Championship over John Catlin. It is the first career win for Maguire who is in his second season on the Asian Tour. Maguire birdied four of his final eight holes including on the last hole where he nearly holed his bunker shot for eagle. Catlin, who was looking for his third win of the year, missed a 12-footer for birdie, forcing a playoff. On the first playoff hole, Catlin appeared to have won with a short birdie putt before Maguire extended the playoff by sinking a 20-footer from the fringe. Maguire won the second extra hole after Catlin missed a 15-footer for par.

…Richard T. Lee notched his fourth top-10 finish of the season and second in as many starts.

NEXT EVENT: International Series Thailand (Oct 24)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Mac Boucher, Richard T. Lee, Jared du Toit, Daniel Core (reserve), Richard Dou

Taylor Pendrith took two weeks off after the Presidents Cup and didn’t miss a beat, matching his career-low on the PGA Tour with a 10-under 61 that gave him an early three-shot lead in the Shriners Children’s Open on Thursday.

Pendrith missed only one fairway and one green at the TPC Summerlin, both on the same hole. He pulled his tee shot on the 18th hole — his ninth — had to pitch out sideways, hit wedge to 7 feet and saved his par.

The rest was a steady diet of big drives, a lot of wedges and good putting. His only disappointment was the par-5 ninth, his final hole. He had only 200 yards into the green and knew an eagle would give him a 59.

“Tried to be aggressive and hit a good shot and just didn’t catch all of it, and came up short right in the bunker,” Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., said.

He blasted out to 12 feet and missed the putt, along with a chance to tie the course record at Summerlin last set by Rod Pampling in 2017.

Pendrith also shot a 61 in the Bermuda Championship three years ago.

Fellow Canadian Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., also started strong with an opening round of 7-under 64, joining a group including Bud Cauley and Matti Schmid. 

Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., opened at 4-under 67, a stroke ahead of Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., opened at 1-over 72 while Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford had a later tee time. 

Matt McCarty, who won the inaugural Black Desert Championship last week in Utah, played in the afternoon.

Also playing late was Tom Kim, the two-time defending champion. He is trying to become the first player since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic (2009-11) to win the same PGA Tour event three straight times.

Former UNLV player Ryan Moore was among those at 65, while Rickie Fowler posted a 66 — it felt much higher playing alongside Pendrith.

Schmid was coming off a 62 in the final round in Utah to finish fifth, moving him off the bubble at No. 120 to No. 105 in the FedEx Cup Fall. A big part of this stretch of the PGA Tour is for players to finish in the top 125 to secure a full card for 2025.

Pendrith knows that feeling.

He was at No. 123 in the FedEx Cup last year when he came to Las Vegas, and he tied for third to effectively sew up his card for the following season. He went on to win in Dallas at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson for his first PGA Tour title, and he made it to the Tour Championship.

“I know it’s an important time of year for a lot of guys and I’ve been there for sure,” Pendrith said. “It’s stressful. But it’s a different feeling for me, obviously already locked up for next year. It’s a different feeling I guess out there playing. But I really enjoy this place.”

Pendrith also was picked for the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, posting a 2-3 record and going 2-1 in team play alongside Adam Scott. The plan was to take a short break, but that changed when Hurricane Milton cut across Florida.

“I think I played maybe three times since the Presidents Cup, and then was planning on practising and everything was closed,” Pendrith said. His coach joined him in Las Vegas for some quality work early in the week.

“I feel rested and excited to play,” Pendrith said. “I didn’t really expect a 10 under, I would say. I thought I would be a little bit more rusty than that. Obviously thrilled, just got to keep getting back into the rhythm of things and the next few days.”

The future of golf might be arriving as soon as 2025.

That’s when Tomorrow’s Golf League, an arena-based, team version of the 600-year old sport, will launch at the purpose-built SoFi Center in Palm Beach, Fla. TGL chief executive officer Mike McCarley, who founded the league with golf greats Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, said it’s all about modernizing the sport.

“If we’re creating a version of the game today, in 2024, what would that look like?” said McCarley on Wednesday. “Something that was really important to Tiger, Rory, and myself from the very early days, was we want to keep a foot firmly planted in the traditions of the game, which meant working with the PGA Tour, being in collaboration with the other governing bodies in the game.

“The other foot is planted in bringing that traditional game forward into a more modern approach.”

Although the goal remains the same — get the little white ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible — there are several changes that fans will immediately notice.

The “original six” teams of Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club will all play out of the SoFi Center on the campus of Palm Beach State College. 

All matches will be head-to-head and air live on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+, debuting on Jan. 7.

The 24 players that have committed to playing in the league are some of the biggest on the PGA Tour, including Woods, McIlroy, world No. 2 Xander Schauffele and world Nos. 4-7 Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark, and Hideki Matsuyama. The schedule will be set in collaboration with the PGA Tour, with TGL matches happening on Mondays and Tuesdays so the golfers can get to their in-person tournaments Wednesday through Sunday.

All drives and approach shots hit at SoFi Center will be hit into a giant Imax-sized simulator from 35 yards out. The short game — 50 yards and in — will be done on the so-called greenzone inside the arena, a changeable turf golf hole that can rotate 360 degrees.
Each match will be 15 holes, starting with nine holes of triples playing alternating shots. The second session will be singles matchups for the remaining six holes.

TGL will have a shot clock, the players will be mic’d up, there will be no caddies, and each team will have four timeouts to consult with each other.
“The idea of borrowing elements from other sports that are familiar to sports fans and bringing them into golf in a way that resonates with a sports fan and is not necessarily going to alienate the traditional golf fan, is a balance,” said McCarley. “We think all of those attributes, starting with two hours in prime time and coming all the way down to the competitive elements (..) keeps the fan front of mind as we continue to build, test and iterate.”

Although there are no Canadian players signed up for the league yet, there is hope that there will be an expansion team representing a Canadian market in the near future that would include “hometown” golfers.

PGA TOUR — There are six Canadians in the field at this week’s Shriners Children’s Open, with four of them looking to move up in the PGA Tour’s rankings during its fall season. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is 58th in the FedExCup Fall standings, Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is 77th, Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is 97th, and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., is 172nd. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford both finished inside the top 50 of the regular season but will still play at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., will both be in the field at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. Ames is third in the Schwab Cup standings and Weir is 25th heading into play on Friday at The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Va.

LPGA TOUR — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is the lone Canadian in the field at the BMW Ladies Championship at Seowon-gil, Gwangtan-meyo, in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. She’s 15th in the CME Race to the Globe standings.

Four skilled competitors represented First Tee – Atlantic and Canada at the third annual Ernie Els #GameON Autism® International Golf Tournament.

The global tournament is for individuals with autism to benefit from competition, physical activity, and social connection. Participants as young as five and up to 18 compete alongside their teammates in a six-hole match at their Official Program Provider (OPP) in their respective countries, and scores are submitted.

This year, the Canadian squad was made up of four First Tee – Atlantic participants from Newfoundland.

Joseph Tobin, eight years old, Gabe Spence, nine years old, and Theo Jenkins, nine years old, from Corner Brook, NL and Jackson Pink, 11 years old, of Pasadena, NL faced off against the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ghana.

Pink shot the lowest team score, with a 43, and Tobin was not far behind, with a 49. The team was supported throughout the day by head coach Wayne Allen as well as his two daughters, assistant coaches Rosie and Paige Allen.

The players competed at First Tee – Atlantic program location, Humber Valley Resort, where Coach Wayne ran registered First Tee programming out of this year.

The partnership between First Tee – Atlantic, Els for Autism Foundation and Humber Valley is exemplary of First Tee’s mission to provide more inclusive pathways to golf for children from all backgrounds. By collaborating with the Els Foundation, First Tee – Atlantic provided a life-enhancing opportunity for its participants and helped children with autism feel more included in the culture of sports and recreation.

First Tee – Atlantic’s Program Manager, Colin Gillis, and dedicated First Tee coach, Wayne Allen, completed additional training through the Els Foundation to provide an ideal learning environment for participants with autism.

The #GameOn Autism Golf Program is infused with evidence-based practices for teaching golf to people with autism. Coaches take a deeper dive into helping participants learn golf skills while practicing specific autism learning concepts, including communication, emotional regulation, motor, and social skills.

First Tee – Atlantic and Coach Wayne have also been working with the Autism Network of Newfoundland since 2023.

“This is what First Tee is all about,” said Gillis. “When locations like Humber Valley Resort open their doors so any child can participate in golf, we break down those barriers of entry to our sport and ensure that all children feel included, welcomed and celebrated. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to play golf and reap the benefits the sport has to offer on and off the course.”

First Tee – Atlantic launched across the Atlantic provinces in 2022 and now offers programming at over 17 locations through partnerships with golf courses, schools, and community organizations.

“We will continue to provide a safe and empowering environment for children with autism at First Tee – Atlantic,” said Gillis. “We look forward to competing again next year at the Ernie Els International tournament and hope to bring home the championship title!”

To learn more about the Els Autism Foundation, click here. To get involved with First Tee – Atlantic, click here.

Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).

Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.

Steve Smith, Tarandowah Golfers Club, Hole #3

The hole was playing at 145 yards that day (according to Garmin). I used my 7 iron. I was playing with Bryan Gast, Barry Kennedy and Doug Campbell with Ron McLeod also witnessing. This was first hole-in-one!

Jadyn Lit, Chateau Whistler Golf Club, Hole #8

I was playing with Bill Lit who is also a Golf Canada member, along with Amar Paddam and Parb Rehal. The official yardage I got was 152 and I used a 9 iron (Ping i530) and Taylormade Project A ball.

Nancy Wynter, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #7

I was playing in the third and final round of our Senior Intersectional Qualifier event that also happened to coincide with our weekly women’s league.

It was a 91 yard shot and I used an 8 iron. It wasn’t pretty as I just barely got over the green side bunker and was so lucky that the rough slowed it up enough as it rolled on the green and went into the hole.

I was one of the earlier tee times so I took my time to come into the clubhouse to give the women a chance to partake in a hole-in-one drink. At our club, everyone will get a free drink for up to an hour after the person getting the hole-in-one enters the bar.

It sure helped that there was a thunderstorm in the area and they sounded the horn which forced everyone to come back to the clubhouse.

This is my third hole-in-one. All have been at GreyHawk. I’ve had a hole-in-one on hole’s #7 and #17 on Talon and hole #11 on Predator.

I was golfing with Sylvie Goulard and Elaine Willcock that day.

Bruce Liski, Murray Municipal, Hole #4

I was playing golf with Hal Wilkie, Joe Bladyko and Shawn Koroluk.

The fourth hole at the Murray Golf Course that day was playing 187 yards. I used a 4 hybrid.

It took 51 years of playing golf to finally get a hole-in-one!

Starting playing golf as a unattached junior at one of the local country clubs at age 13. I am now 64 years old and the wait is officially over.

Shawn Woolls, Forest Heights Golf Course, Hole #5

It’s been a good year of golf for me so far. Put in some solid work over the winter and it seems to be paying off. The women in my wife’s family have had the upper hand over the men in the hole-in-one department.

Wife has one, mother-in-law has one and sister-in-law has two! Two years ago my brother-in-law ended the drought with two of his own. I’ve been close a few times in the past. Inches away a few times and once I damaged the hole by hitting pin and cup at same time.

This year I was close twice. Just missing by inches, until I got to hole #5 at Forest Heights Golf Course in Sundre, Alta. The hole was 164 yards, back pin. I used my Titleist 8 iron and Pro-V1x combo. Hit a nice tight fade, landed about 10 feet from the pin, rolled up and disappeared! We weren’t sure until we got up to the green. The guys at the next tee box seen it and waited for us as they figured we didn’t know it went in because we weren’t hollering and cheering. Sent them four beers when the cart came by! 

Now the monkey is off my back and the women have been in a drought for a couple years now, although I suspect they won’t let that last long!

Kristin Lewis, Ponoka Community Golf Course, Hole #15

I got my hole-in-one on hole #15 at the Ponoka Community Golf Course on the last round of an eleven day golf trip with my husband (Gary Sandberg), my dad (Dale Lewis) and my dad’s significant other (Susan Johnston). This is our third annual golf trip, how lucky am I that I get to golf with both my dad and my husband! We often colour match our golf outfits (my dad started it), and we were all in our matching blue “hammer time” shirts for our last day, it’s lots of fun.

This trip, in particular, was a special one, as it was the start of my recovery and my return to golf as I tried to get my game back and just enjoyed every day loving life on the course. I received the all clear in May of this year after spending the last year in treatment (surgery, chemo and radiation) after being diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2023.

The hole-in-one is my first, and likely only! I’ve been golfing pretty regularly for over 30 years! When I stepped up to the 102 yard hole from the forward tee boxes, I certainly didn’t have any big expectations, to the point where when I hit the ball with my pitching wedge, I was very excited just to see it clear the front sand trap (it wasn’t my best shot). And then it bounced and started rolling toward the pin and disappeared! I didn’t really believe it. I looked over to my husband and he nodded and threw his arms up, and then I lost my mind! I started cheering and screaming, threw my club down, ran a lap around the tee box like I’d just won the World Series and proceeded to give hugs all around! Everyone within a three hole radius had a pretty good idea what happened.

Some of my friends and family have speculated that this is my consolation prize for the last year of what I’ve been through. I’ll take it! So many reasons to keep smiling!

Claire Chanyi, Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club, Hole #8

The day I got my hole-in-one I was playing with my two friends, it was our second round of the day. The yardage was 108 and I used my 54 degree wedge.

Kate Pascal, Greystone Golf Club, Hole #11

That day was absolutely amazing! I am still processing what happened. I was in a disbelief at first, then shock and finally, a crazy state of happiness. Getting the hole-in-one is such an incredible feeling! From the red tees and I’m not sure what the exact distance was but for me to use 6 hybrid must’ve been 112-115 yards. Kirkland ball used. I was playing with my boss Craig H., Jeremy R. and Steve B. It was our team golf day.

Lindsey Hermer-Bell, Georgian Bay Club, Hole #3

I was playing with my friends Sue and John Chippendale. Approaching hole #3, I selected a 7 wood to hit the ball 138 yards into the wind. I walked up to the hole and just hit the ball. It bounced about two times in front of the hole and disappeared. I thought it may have gone past the hole but we didn’t see the ball. It was in direct line to the hole so my playing friends were convinced it dropped in the hole. Sure enough, there it was. I guess I was in a state of shock! It was my first!

Norm Piche, Osprey Links Golf Club, Hole #15

The funny thing is that I detest this hole because for years golfing this hole I have a terrible time hitting the green from my tee shot. While I had a pretty good front nine, I had struggled on holes #12, #13, and had a triple bogey on #14. I was walking up the hill to the 15th tee and told my buddy, Darryl, that we should have quit playing after nine holes. Anyways, as we prepared to tee off on #15, my nemesis hole, I finally hit a shot that was actually going to stay on the green. Little did I know it would fall two inches past the hole and back spin into the hole. I was in disbelief at first then realized what had happened.

VINS, Utah — Adam Svensson made a 35-foot eagle putt he thought he had missed and closed with a birdie from the bunker for a career-best 11-under 60, giving him a two-shot lead Thursday in the Black Desert Championship as the PGA Tour returned to Utah for the first time in 61 years.

Black Desert Resort had a gorgeous day to make its debut with a Tom Weiskopf design cut through an ancient field of black lava and surrounded by the red rock mountains some 30 miles from Zion National Park.

Svensson and so many others made short work of the course in ideal scoring conditions.

Henrik Norlander hit all 14 fairways and all 18 greens in posting his career-low of 62. He was joined by Korn Ferry Tour grad Matt McCarty, who had an eagle on the reachable par-4 fifth.

And then Svensson, from Surrey, B.C., came through in the afternoon and made seven birdies through 10 holes before he finished with a flourish. 

The Canadian chose to lay up on the fifth — reachable par 4s are a signature of the late Weiskopf in his golf course designs — and made an 8-footer. Then came his 35-foot eagle on the par-5 seventh to move into the lead.

“I thought it was going to go left and it went right and went in,” Svensson said. “You’ve got to get a little bit lucky here and there. But overall I played very well.”

He saved par from 8 feet on the par-3 eighth and then got up-and-down from a bunker by making a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth.

“It’s just one of those rounds where everything just comes together,” Svensson said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada)

It was the second straight week during the FedEx Cup Fall portion of the PGA Tour that a player shot 60. David Skinns missed a 10-foot putt for a chance at 59 in the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Svensson would have needed an eagle on his final hole for a sub-60 round, but found a bunker. He wasn’t even aware a 59 was in play because he thought Black Desert Resort was a par 72.

“I didn’t even think about it, really,” he said.

Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., was tied for 16th after a 5-under 66, Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., was tied for 42nd at 3 under, and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was tied for 62nd after shooting 69.

The opening round could not finish before darkness in southwestern Utah. Among those who didn’t finish was 65-year-old Jay Don Blake, the Utah native and one-time PGA Tour winner given an exemption to play in his 500th career PGA Tour event.

Blake grew up about a half-mile away from the resort when it was just an ancient lava field. He was 3-over par through 15 holes.

Norlander couldn’t have asked for much more. He hit all 14 fairways and every green in posting his best round on the PGA Tour.

“I think everybody out on this tour when they play well, every course is going to be fine for them, and vice versa,” Norlander said. “I really like it here. It’s a fun course, a lot of opportunities, but you’ve got to hit good shots because the greens are somewhat severe, and you’ve got to get it in the right portions to play well.”

McCarty started his year on the Korn Ferry Tour and won three times, earning an instant promotion to the PGA Tour. He had to wait until the FedEx Cup Fall to get started, and this is his second tournament.

Kevin Streelman had a 64, while the group at 65 included Ben Kohles, who had a hole-in-one on the 17th hole, which was playing 130 yards with a front pin and a backstop. Several other players came within inches of an ace.

Others at 65 from the early side of the draw included Houston Open winner Stephen Jaeger and Harry Hall, who won the ISCO Championship in Kentucky. That win didn’t get Hall into the Masters because it was held the same week as the Scottish Open.

The Black Desert Championship comes with a Masters invitation. Most of the focus this time of the year is on finishing in the top 125 to retain a full PGA Tour card for 2025.

Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).

Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.

Tyler Reil, Twin Willows Golf Club, Hole #7

That day, hole #7 was 174 yards to the pin. I used my 7 iron and landed approximately five yards short, it rolled up and dropped in.

It’s an interesting story on what lead up to this day. My grandfather was a golf pro and owned a golf shop here in Edmonton. As a kid, I golfed quite a bit, but totally stopped at 14 years old. Four years ago I thought I should get back at it and have been getting in 50 – 70 rounds per year since then.

This March, my wife and I were in a serious head on collision at highway speed which put an end to all sporting activities, as we focused on physiotherapy and recovery. July 13th, we receive a call that one of our golf partners (Dale) had a heart attack and sadly passed away on the course. The following day I golfed the first round of the year in his spot, with the foursome that had been together for 20 years, a group that I had spared with for three years.

The next weekend, I played my second round of the year, and the following weekend was when I was lucky enough to get my first hole-in-one. That day I was golfing with my friends Marcel, Doug and Billy, but I’m sure there was a fifth riding along with us.

Becki Ross, Cedar Hill Golf Club, Hole #4

Marsha Mallow, Angela Lucia, Erin Duhaime Yuen and Becki Ross were playing the July – Cloud Series four game (stableford). On hole #4 at the Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria, B.C., Becki Ross had a hole-in-one. She hit her M2 Senior Men’s Taylormade 9-iron the distance of 121 yards, and with two bounces, her Titleist Pro V1 golf ball was in the cup! This was the first hole-in-one for Becki. She has been golfing for 54 years and thought she was never going to get a hole-in-one. As we all watched it go in, there was much cheering, screaming and excitement for all, especially for Becki.

– Written by Marsha Mallow, Becki’s playing mate

Ryan Kahro, Cutten Fields, Hole #17

I was playing in our weekly mens league. I usually only play nine on Thursdays, but this time, we decided to play 18. We had just finished playing through a group on hole #16 so I hurried to the tee with an 8 iron. I then realized it was too much club as it was playing 148 yards. So I hit a knock down. It was just a bit right of the flag but landed softly and rolled down the hill and disappeared. I had my first ace on hole #17 at Cutten in 1999, but the hole has been completely remodelled, so it was kind of extra special to get one on the newer hole. Thanks to my long time playing partner Greg Hosker who witnessed the shot. Unfortunately, Tyler Campagnolo had left after hole 14, but made sure to make it back to the patio to enjoy a cocktail! 

Steve Siriska, Calerin Golf Club, Hole #11

It was my first one and yes, what a feeling. I was playing with James Aston, Dean Morgan and Andy McClure who are all Golf North members as well. Yardage was 145. Used my trusted 7 iron. 

Jacey Kennedy, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #8

My hole-in-one was on Predator #8 at my home club of GreyHawk. The best part, it all went down during our Ladies League, with my golf besties Shari Cooper, Diane Roscoe and Christine Sabourin right there to witness it! The sound of excited screams and cheering carried across the course, echoing through the nearby fairways and greens. The distance was 135 yards and I used my 5 iron, the very same club that brought me my first hole-in-one at Islesmere Golf Club.

Dwight Christensen, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #15

I was golfing in the Greyhawk Hopwood League for senior golfers with the regular foursome of my wife, Nancy Christensen along with our friends Brian Veinot and Phyllis O’Brien. On hole #15 of Predator, which is nominally 197 yards as the pin was at the back of the green and according to my Garmin GPS was 204 yards from the tee. With some headwind, I decided to go with a choked-up driver rather than my usual three wood. I was able to hit the ball low against the wind such that it hit the front of the green with little bounce and then tracked straight to the pin. I did not see the ball drop and since I have never had a hole-in-one, I expected that the ball had just rolled through and over the back of the green. Upon reaching the green, I looked for a few minutes in the rough at the back of the green before I approached the hole and was quite shocked to see the ball nestled at the bottom of the hole with the pin. 

Mike Appleyard, Mountain Woods Golf Club, Hole #15

It was hole #15 and the yardage was 115. We were playing in the Arrow Construction Products Dave Boyle Memorial Tournament to honour a friend. I used a pitching wedge and the ball landed 16 inches from the flagstick and rolled right in. I was playing with Adrian Thompson, Shawn Arsenault and Michael Mooney. The timing and the event couldn’t have been more special.

Jenna Brooks, Royal Woodbine Golf Club, Hole #8

It was good fun and very surreal. I was playing with a few friends from my Tuesday night Iron Lady Golf League, Ainsley, Agnes and another woman who’s name was Julie that joined us that night. It was roughly a 120 yard, downhill par 3 and I used a 7 iron. The pin was forward, it bounced off the fringe and rolled in!

Ron Rhode, Mount Brenton Golf Course, Hole #14

It was the first one for me on that hole, and given the length at 160 yards, I was happy to get it. I hit a 5-iron with a draw, starting it at the right bunker, and I think it landed short and rang into the hole (white pin in the center of the green).

This is the third one this year for me, and I’m hoping for more. I guess playing almost every day of the week does have some advantages.

Bruce Dussault, Mount Brenton Golf Course, Hole #16

Amazingly, I finally got my first hole-in-one on the 124 yard, hole #16. Gap wedge to the green and rolled in. Promptly lost the ball on the next hole!

Dylan Wotton, Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club, Hole #5

I was playing with my Mother, Denise Snow and 2 other fellow club members. Thursday, August 29th,  I got a hole-in-one at Hartlen Point Forces Golf Course. It was hole #5, par 4, 291 yards and I used a 3 wood. I play the white tees. The hole has a blind hill you hit over that is straight out. My shot was struck well, high in the air and dead straight over the hill towards the green. I saw it land and bounce once on the other side of the hill, high and straight at the green knowing it was a safe shot. The group in front of us were on the green when I hit. After our foursome teed off, one of the gentleman that were on the green started driving back towards us. We all at that point thought my ball might have landed really close to them. The golfer driving towards us asked who hit over the hill? My group pointed to myself, the gentleman then got out of the golf cart and I was starting to apologize for the shot as I thought it may have hit one or was to close for comfort but he cut me off saying, “congratulations, your ball is in the hole!” We could not believe it. I heard from the three witnesses that they were getting ready to putt when a ball bounced and rolled up to the green and proceeded to drop in the hole. They thought to themselves who is putting before us. As we approached the green the other men congratulated myself and signed the score card as witnesses because i would never have seen it go in from the tee box.

The full leaderboard is available here.

The team comprised of PGA of Canada professional Devon Schade and amateurs Ethan Hunter, Kayle Tosh, William Middleton and Tanner Chamberlin, who originally qualified from Larters at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in Manitoba, were dominant the past three days at Cabot Cape Breton, firing net -64.1 (gross rounds of 58-55-56) to win by 4.1 strokes over the team from Niagara National Golf Club at the RBC PGA Scramble National Final.

With the win, the full team wins special Cabot Cape Breton RBC PGA Scramble headcovers produced by Dormie, as well as a trip to the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto.

The runner-up was the team from Niagara National Golf & Country Club which included PGA of Canada professional Keaton Jones and amateurs Ryan Nagy, Mike Formica, Shane Belanger and Mike Maloney, while the team from Pinegrove Country Club featuring PGA of Canada professional Louis-Alexandre Pitre and amateurs Luc Guevremont, Laurence Guevremont, Amelia Guevremont and Charles Guevremont rounded out the top 3.

For the second-straight day, the roar of a team who made an ace could be heard across the property. Darcy Myers made an ace on the 7^th hole of the Links, joining Jason Sikrtanc who aced the 12^th hole on the Cliffs on Monday.

In total, the 2024 RBC PGA Scramble featured over 12,000 players from across the country looking to earn a spot at Cabot Cape Breton at over 180 local qualifiers hosted by PGA of Canada professionals. The tournament also set a record with over 1,200 women participants.

If you are a PGA of Canada professional interested in hosting a local qualifier next season, email RBC PGA Scramble Manager Wayne MacPhee at Wayne@PGAofCanada.com.

2025 RBC PGA Scramble qualifying information will be available in the coming months.