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.

Arnold Shaw, Holiday Park Golf Club, Hole #2

I was golfing with Gerry Zado, Dr. Bert Ball and Bill Michaluk at Holiday Park in the Seniors golf on Thursday June 30th. The second hole was 110 yards. I used my 50-degree wedge and fortunately hit the perfect shot. I was very high and came down about two feet from the pin and bounced once and into the hole. Gerry birdied the hole and Bert and Bill each had pars. Not bad for four golfers who average over eighty years old. This was my fourth “hole-in-one” so it wasn’t as exciting as the first one. We had beers in the Club House after.

Bill Froehler, Silver Creek Golf Course, Hole #12

Thank you. Yes, a very exciting time!  That was my first one.

I was golfing with three other members of Silver Creek golf course (Jean Bleoo, Ron Brown, Chris Mantai). #3 west is over water to a three tiered green. This was a blue flag and was sitting on the back tier at about 120 yards. My club of choice was an 8 iron.

Chris Schnarr, Credit Valley, Hole #4

The hole-in-one was on #4. It was playing 131 yards. I used a pitching wedge. I was accompanied by club member Patrick Brown and with guests Dale Orlando and John Abdo.

Dan McCaskill, Madawaska Golf, Hole #13

Yes, very exciting indeed! Yardage was 172 yards, and I used a 7 iron. I was playing with my wife, Carole McCaskill, and another couple, Rob Cathcart and Mellisa Lee. Thanks again.

Dave Tuck, River Oaks Golf Club, Hole #7

Thanks so much!

I couldn’t have had a better group on Canada day. I was golfing with my dad (Allan Tuck), my uncle (Gord Tuck Jr) and my son, Ryan Tuck. It was 142 yards, 50-degree wedge, with a good prairie tail wind behind me. 

Thanks again! 

David Walker, Braestone Club, Hole #12

Thanks for your nice note on my hole in one at Braestone Club. Twelfth hole. 125 yards. Adams 9 iron. Wilson50 golf ball. It was my first hole-in-one. After 52 years it was nice to finally get one. I was playing with my wife Kylie and friends Jim and Carolanne Merza. 

Dave Walker

Ed Coulter, Copetown Woods Golf Club, Hole #7

Regular weekend slot at Copetown Woods. Sunday, July 3^rd morning with my son Andrew and two other Golf Canada members – Eric Kivlin and Iain Gardiner. 7^th hole. Par 3. Flag scoped at 123 yds. 9 iron. One bounce and rolled to pin – dropped – the rest was history. 

I had walked to my bag to return my club when my son indicated “it’s right at the hole dad” then he and the other two gents erupted as it dropped into hole – they said they watched it disappear – I never saw it.

Ernie Hawkins, Delta Golf Club, Hole #5

Thanks for the email.

I’ve been playing this game since I was 10 years old (now 50) and never had a hole-in-one. I became one of those guys that just accepted the fact it was never going to happen for me so I was happy to see it go in. 

The hole was 105 yards, pin tuck on the crest of the hill left side with a dramatic slop to front of the green. If you didn’t hit the correct landing area for this pin placement, you’re off the green.

I used my 52 and landed about a foot in front of the pin, hopped about two feet behind the pin and slowly rolled back into the cup. Amazing to see it go in, like slow-motion.

I had been playing pretty well in the weeks leading to Saturday but on this day, I had my worst round of the year but the feeling I had for one shot outweigh the round I had. 

Will Keenlyside and Gary Hemlow were my playing partners that day.

Thanks again,

Ernie

Evan Irla, Twin Willows Golf Club, Hole #12

Thanks for reaching out!

I was out for a casual round on Saturday that was going really well. On hole #12, the back tees were roughly 150 yds from the pin, so I pulled out a 9 iron. I hit the ball a little off the toe, but it drew right in line with the flag, pitched a good 8 foot from the hole and rolled in. Best miss-hit I’ve ever had haha.

Ended up coming back the next day with three guys and drained a huge right to left putt for birdie on the last hole.

Evan

Fred Stoneman, Cedarhurst Golf Club, Hole #16

I was playing with Jordan Strickland and Jack Foran. The hole was 107 yards, and I used a pitching wedge.

Garett Tanner, Darcy Ranch Golf Club, Hole #3

It was Saturday, July 2. I was golfing with three buddy’s: Harry Zipple, Phil Kinney and Dev Padhi. We were on hole #3, 124 yards and I used a pitching wedge. 

Glen Hoffman, Murray Municipal, Hole #7

Thank you for the note and graphic!  This is awesome 🙂

Details – 
Playing with my regular golf group – Mike Merk, Scott Manz, Donny Mah
Yardage – 198 yards
Club – Hybrid
Wind – Cross wind left to right at 30 KM / HR

Thanks,

Glen Hoffman

Glenn Harrison, Dalewood Golf Club, Hole #13

Thanks for the email.

I have attached a picture of my hole in one on the 13th hole at Dalewood Golf club in Port Hope, Ontario on June 29th 2022. I was playing with Jim Horner, Phil Varty and Derek Masters. We were playing from the blue tees and the distance was 167 yards and I used a 6 iron. This is my 4th hole-in-one, my last one was July 16, 2008 on the 17th hole at Dalewood. 

Thank you, 

Glenn Harrison

Grant Froese, Deerhurst Golf Course, Hole #8

Hi, thanks for this. Appreciate it.

The yardage was 128 and I used a pitching wedge. My 22-year-old son was with me and may have been more excited than I was! But you are right, a memory we will have forever. 

Thanks again and you should know the folks at Deerhurst were spectacular!

Cheers,

Grant

Greg Rehberg, Brockville Country Club, Hole #9

Hi, thank you. My playing partners were Klyde Brayton and Robert Arnot fellow BCC members. The yardage was 122 yards to a blue flag on the back right corner of Little Misery the 9th hole at the Brockville Country Club. I struck a high pitching wedge into the middle of the green that released about 12 feet and disappeared into the hole. Hard to describe the feeling after having so many end up close to going in and finally seeing one drop!

John Spearn, Westmount, Hole #17

Thank you, most appreciated.

At age 73 with a 24 handicap, the odds were definitely against me. I will, however, fondly remember Men’s Day League, June 30, 2022. My high handicap League grouping was allocated the “closest-to-the-hole” competition for #17.

I was having a decent back 9-hole competition round (for me); finishing with a 43. On the way to the 17^th tee box, my playing partner, Kerry, reminded me of my #17-hole competition since we were on the same league team. I asked him if I could win if I holed my drive. He understandably was somewhat doubtful but later remarked that I had, in fact, called it.

Hole #17 is on an elevated tee box with a front bunker protecting the green and the pin centre back with about a 130-yard distance. My 8-iron was clean, but I did not see it drop. My playing partners, Kerry Gerber, Jim King and Don MacKenzie all saw it go in and shouted the news! My partners offered hearty congratulations.

My wife and I played the back nine the next Sunday and I checked the hole posting of the names of those who had achieved an ace over the years.

My playing partner, Jim, was listed but he said nothing of it following my little celebration; a true gentleman golfer allowing me my very brief moment in the sun. Golf, as in most sports, provides the opportunity for players to demonstrate his/her true nature.

John

Judy Calvert, Chateau Whistler, Hole #16

Well hello Golf Canada!

Word travels!

Yes, it was a super exciting day for sure!

My husband, Doug Anderson, and I, are members at Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Course and we had an 0900 tee time on July 1st. We were with two other corporate guests. Super nice guys that were thrilled that this happened too!

It was hole 16, red tees, 88 yards, and my pitching wedge. That hole’s green has a slant from right to left, so you always aim for the high side (but not in the bunker right there) hoping it will run down to wherever the pin location happens to be that day. I did a full swing, hit it great, we were all watching – it landed perfectly on the high side and started to roll to the left, down towards the pin. I was playing with an orange ball, so you could perfectly see its movement. It was moving along nicely and then it all of a sudden disappears and we all knew what that meant and erupted into “oh my god’s” “hole in one” “sank it”. So exciting!

Back at the club house, I was happy to make the announcement to all the guests on the patio and bought everyone a round – all were thrilled…for me…and for the drink! LOL.

FCWGC is an amazing club (shout out to Padraic O’Rourke – Director of Golf) and the team did a lovely remembrance flag for me (in the photo). Shout out to our Master Instructor, Matt Denzer, (Leadbetter) who we had just started taking lessons from.

Warmest regards, Judy 🙂

Kim Brierley, Wyldewood Golf and Country Club, Hole #11

Many thanks for the recognition of my hole-in-one. This was my sixth and it was just as exciting as my first.  

I was playing with my friend Lori Collinson. The 11th hole is an elevated green with a hidden pin. It was playing about 125 yards into the wind. I used my Callaway 5 wood. As soon as I hit the ball, Lori said, “that’s right at it”, I said, no I think it’s in the bunker”.  Right then, there was a greens keeper who was working on the green, he came running to the edge of the hill and yelled “that ball went in the hole”. We both started jumping and celebrating. It was Ladies Day at Wyldewood Golf and Country Club with many friends to share the event.

Thanks again Golf Canada.

Kim Brierley

Landon Touchette, Metcalfe Golf Club, Hole #17

Thank you for reaching out.

Landon agreed that he would love to have you post his story.

He used a pitching wedge from 115 yards and was playing with me (his father) and his aunt. He is also the youngest member at the Metcalfe Golf and Country Club to record a hole-in-one.

Thanks,

Phil Touchette on behalf of Landon Touchette

Larry Osaka, Henderson Lake Golf Club, Hole #8

Thank you for your recognition of my hole-in-one on Canada Day at Lethbridge’s Henderson Lake Golf Club. On that day, the 8th hole was playing about 140 yards to the flag and the ball went into the hole with the luckiest 6 iron I’ve ever hit in my life.

Thanks again for your interest.

Larry Osaka

Lisa Loewen, Valley Ridge Golf Club, Hole #3

Thank you for the congratulations on my hole-in-one, it was a thrilling moment.

My husband and I were enjoying a quick nine holes at the course where we are members, Valley Ridge Golf Course in Calgary, Alberta. We approached the third hole where there was a front flag. As I remember, my GPS watch said I had 83 yards to the front of the green and approximately 93 to the flag. I teed up my ball and used my nine iron. I hit the ball right on the sweet spot and it flew beautifully high in a lovely arc, landing just on the first cut and rolling toward the hole on the right side. My husband was coaching the ball along, saying “get there, get there, now go in” and it did!

I was stunned – then I started yelling and jumping up and down on the tee box. I was congratulated by public players. Once I calmed down, I realized that we would have to play 18 holes which was going to be a challenge because the weather was not looking good. By 17, there was thunder and on 18, we were really risking it as the lightning was getting very close. My last two strokes were taken during brief stops between sprints toward the green in a downpour! A great chip left me only a one-foot putt. I was wet but exultant! I finished one of the most exciting rounds of my life.

I truly love golf. It is something I enjoy so much I go out most weekdays and most rounds on my own with whomever I can join up with. I started golfing regularly six years ago and now get in about 100 rounds a year! Still working on breaking 90 but hopefully this will be the year. The hole-in-one certainly gives me confidence that I am getting closer to that goal.

Sincerely,

Lisa Loewen

Lorry Greenspan, The Country Club, Hole #9

I was playing with Mathew Sherman and Alex Nayyar. It was hole 9 on the East course at Country Club. The hole was playing 170 yards and I hit an 8 iron.

Take care. 

Lorry Greenspan

Nancy Winn, Knollwood Golf Club, Hole #4

Thank you so much. I was golfing with my husband, Jim, and our good friends, Grace and Erwin Raaber. I used a 7 hybrid and the hole is 107 yards. Hit the pin and dropped in. Had one years ago and never expected to get another one!

Richard Vaughan, Tarandowah Golfers Club, Hole #7

It would be an honour for me, that you want to share my hole-in-one accomplishment on Saturday.

I was playing with two other members of Tarandowah, Terry Duffy and Brad Clothier. The 7th hole at Tarandowah from the gold tees measures 178 on the score card, but Saturday it played 185. I used a Srixon zx7 5 iron with a Srixon Q-Star tour ball for the accomplishment. It was around 9 in the morning. Wind was light and blowing off the right shoulder and a little help, the hole plays north to south, and the front is guarded by four bunkers. In honesty, we thought Terry’s ball was going in the hole, but came up just a bit short. When I hit my shot, we watched it roll up to Terry’s ball which we thought it was going to hit his ball, then rolled pass Terry’s ball, then I said, “well I guess I’m long and then it hit the stick then disappeared, it took a second or two to realize what actually happened.

Ron Runstedler, Sarnia, Hole #12

Thanks for reaching out regarding my recent hole-in-one.

I was playing with my usual Tuesday afternoon group: Dean Edwardson, Albert Pilote, Brian Hurst and Jurgen Kuhwald (by the way, fivesomes are allowed at Sarnia Golf Club).

I used a 9-iron for the 120 yard shot.

All the best.

Ron Runstedler

Steve Sparrow, Olympic View Golf Club, Hole #6

I was playing with my uncle, John Smith, also Dave Macdonald and Ian Birnie. The yardage was 190 and I hit a 6 iron. It is my first hole-in-one and I’ve been playing for nearly 25 years.

Sylvie Robitaille, Blainvillier, Hole #17

Here is the information about my hole-in-one at Le Blainvillier, Royal course.

17th hole. 118 yards. Hit with my driver. My husband, Claude Landry, and my brother, Martin Robitaille, were playing with me. 

I was very happy returning to golf after more than 20 years not playing. It was only my fifth game of the season. ?

Thank you.

Sylvie Robitaille

Toby Symes, Richmond Country Club, Hole #9

On the nineth hole, I used a 5 iron. It was about 125 yards. I played with Bud Moore who birdied, Paul Kim who had a par and Bill Smith who had a sandy par. It was a great hole for all.

Todd Clerkson, Pitt Meadows Golf Club, Hole #16

I was playing with Rob Foot and Curt Bogren, fellow members at PMGC.

The 16th hole at PMGC was playing 155 yds into a fairly stiff breeze. I hit 6 iron.

The best part was that the hole-in-one was in addition to 6 birdies and 2 bogies, leading to a personal best 66 — a score I never dreamed of shooting in my lifetime!

Cheers,

Todd

Tom Pinter, Braeben Golf Course, Hole #7

This was my second career ace and much nicer than the first some 25 years ago which was a topped shot that bounced and rolled some 150 yards into the hole.

This one was on the 138 yard 7th at Braeben with a pitching wedge. The swing felt great, and the ball went high and never left the pin, bounced once and disappeared. 

I was with my friends Wally, Dominic, and Phil.

Thanks,

Tom

Tom Wile, Ashburn Golf Club, Hole #14

138 to the pin, no breeze. No bounce or roll, dunked it. Was playing with Perry Smith, Mark Farrell and Brad Barton. 

Victor Jarjour, Equinelle, Hole #13

Thank you for your interest in my recent hole-in-one. Number 13 hole at Equinelle was playing about 165 yards that day. I used a four hybrid. It was somewhat anticlimactic as my partners and I did not see the ball roll in. We knew it was on a good line but lost sight of it coming down and on the green. I thought it had rolled through the green so that is where we looked for the ball. Eventually, we walked back to the hole and discovered it there! I was playing with other Equinelle members, Hugh Craig, Howard Spaulding and Erin Coyne.

That was my third hole-in-one. The previous two, also at Equinelle, were on number 16.

Again, thanks for your interest.

Best regards,

Victor

Wayne Fenemore, Heron Point Golf Links, Hole #16

Thanks for your email.  I was playing with my buddies; Terry Derouhe, Wayne Vanhorne and Ken Anderson. The hole was 133 yards. I used a six iron. The course was beautiful, and the service was excellent. We all enjoyed our time there.

Wayne Fenemore

Wilson Doornekamp, Landings Golf Course, Hole #4

4^th hole. Two older gentlemen (don’t know their names). 170 yards. 3 wood.

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Adam Svensson had two eagles in a 10-under 62 to take a two-stroke lead Thursday in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship.

Playing through temperatures in the 90s at Keene Trace, the Canadian eagled the par-5 15th and eighth holes. The first eagle came after his lone bogey on No. 14, and the second – on a 31-foot putt – gave him the lead.

“I had a couple of top 25s the last few events and I’ve always had, not issues, but just kind of struggled a little with the putter,” said Svennson, whose best finish this season was a tie for seventh at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

“I’ve been working more on putting than I have ball-striking, usually it’s the other way around for me. The extra work and extra time spending with putting has helped my game even more than just hitting balls.”

Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal and Robin Roussel of France each shot 64.

The Barbasol Championship is the European tour’s first co-sanctioned event in the U.S. and features 50 players from the European tour among 156 competitors. The winner will get the final spot next week in the British Open at St. Andrews.

Gouveia is making his second PGA Tour start.

“It was a great round, really solid off the tee, hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens, holed some good putts,” said Gouveia, who overcame a back issue that forced him to withdraw from the pro-am Wednesday. “Just a very solid round.

Roussel eagled the par-5 11th in a bogey-free round that included six birdies.

Trey Mullinax was at 65 with Matti Schmid, Camilo Villegas, Max McGreevy, Michael Kim, David Skinns, Mark Hubbard and Bo Van Pelt.

Two back-to-back wins has Sarah-Eve Rheaume’s confidence at an all-time high.

The amateur golfer from Quebec City won the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary on June 18 with a tournament-best 65 in the third and final round. Rheaume then almost duplicated the feat on July 1, firing a tournament-best 66 on the final day of the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.

That victory earned Rheaume a berth into the CP Women’s Open, Canada’s national women’s golf championship. It will be her first-ever LPGA Tour event.

“I just had a lot of confidence heading into the final day (of the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada),” said the 22-year-old Rheaume. “I’ve been confident over most of the shots, I’m chipping well around the greens.

“Last round of the Glencoe I played really well to get that going, just seeing the putts rolling in.”

Rheaume finished the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at 12-under 207, three shots ahead of Min-G Kim and eight shots better than Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Markham, Ont., who finished third.

The 22-year-old Rheaume said Wednesday that she wasn’t intimidated by some of the big names at the event.

“There’s a bunch of good players everywhere, so I just kind of stay focused on my game plan and do my thing and then see how it goes at the end,” said Rheaume.

She intends to play in the North & South Women’s Amateur Championship on July 12 and then the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship the week after that.

English philosopher Thomas Hobbes famously wrote that, without rules, the game of golf would be “nasty, brutish and short.”

(Or maybe he was referring to society without laws. Whatever. I spent more time on the golf course than in my philosophy class in university.)

One thing I am very clear about is that Mary Beth McKenna is Golf Canada’s Director of Amateur Championships and Rules. With so many new and returning golfers hitting the links these days, she wants to remind everyone that, without rules, the game would be … well, you know.

This doesn’t mean you have to commit the 200 or so pages of the Rules of Golf book to memory or familiarize yourself with the almost 600-page Official Guide to the Rules of Golf (formerly called “Decisions on the Rules of Golf”). We will leave that to the dedicated Rules referees who incessantly study both volumes to ensure that Rules situations in competitions are adjudicated correctly.

For the most part, all we as recreational golfers need to know are the basics. In fact, Rule 1 sums up a lot of what we must understand if we are to respect the game, our fellow golfers and the course.

It is titled “The Game, Player Conduct and the Rules.” The first two sentences go to the core of the sport: “Play the course as you find it and play the ball as it lies. Play by the Rules and in the spirit of the game.” A little later, players are advised to “play in the spirit of the game by acting with integrity …, showing consideration of others …, and taking good care of the course.”

And if you just want to bat the ball around with some friends, that may be all you need. But if you’re playing more competitively, then your knowledge of the Rules must expand proportionately.

McKenna says, at minimum, you must understand at least these three seminal Rules:

Rule 6 (Playing a Hole)

This Rule covers how to play a hole—such as the specific Rules for teeing off to start a hole, the requirement to use the same ball for an entire hole except when substitution is allowed, the order of play (which matters more in match play than stroke play) and completing a hole.

Rule 8 (Course Played as It is Found)

This Rule covers a central principle of the game: “play the course as you find it.” When the player’s ball comes to rest, he or she normally has to accept the conditions affecting the stroke and not improve them before playing the ball.

Rule 9 (Ball Played as It Lies; Ball at Rest Lifted or Moved)

This Rule covers a central principle of the game: “play the ball as it lies.” Even if you land in a fairway divot.

“In addition to these three Rules, understanding the definitions is critical to fully understanding the Rules,” says McKenna. The standard Rules book ($5), written in the third person, is available for purchase on the Golf Canada website as is the “Player’s Edition” ($4) which is an abridged, user-friendly set of the Rules with shorter sentences, commonly used phrases and diagrams. Written in the second person, this is intended to the primary publication for golfers.

No doubt the Player’s Edition would help us better comprehend what McKenna suggests are the three most misunderstood Rules of golf: 16, 17 and 18.

Rule 16: Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions

(Including Immovable Obstructions), Dangerous Animal Conditions, Embedded Ball. “Most golfers don’t grasp the concept of nearest point of complete relief and relief area,” McKenna says.

Rule 17: Penalty Areas.

This is a specific Rule for penalty areas which are bodies of water or other areas … where the ball is often lost or unable to be played. For one penalty stroke, players may use specific relief options to play a ball from outside the penalty area. “It is important to know the difference between what red and yellow markings mean as they provide different relief options,” she says.

Rule 18: Stroke-And-Distance Relief; Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball.

This Rule covers taking relief under penalty of stroke and distance. When a ball is lost outside a penalty area or comes to rest out of bounds, the required progression of playing from the teeing area is broken; the player must resume that progression by playing again from where the previous stroke was made. It also covers how and when a provisional ball may be played to save time when the ball in play might have gone out of bounds or be lost outside a penalty area. McKenna points out that a local Rule may provide an alternative whereby, with a two-stroke penalty, the player may drop a ball “in a large area between the point where the ball is estimated to have come to rest or gone out of bounds and the edge of the fairway of the hole being played that is not nearer the hole.” But, she cautions, this local Rule must be implemented by the course to be in effect.

While most of us only hear about the Rules when there is a controversial situation on the PGA or LPGA tours, they exist for all golfers. Knowing them, even the basics, can save you strokes and help you better understand and appreciate the game and how it is to be properly played. Visit the Golf Canada website today to order your copy of the Player’s Edition of the Rules or view the Rules online. You can even sign up to take the free Online Rules Academy. If you have any questions about the Rules of Golf, you can Ask An Expert at www.golfcanada.ca/ask-an-expert/.

Want to learn more? Here are 20 Rules you should know.

Knowing the Rules can save you strokes, even for the best players in the world.

(BROMONT, QC) – On Friday morning, ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at Bromont co-leaders Sarah-Eve Rhéaume, a 22-year-old amateur from Quebec City, and Min-G Kim, an Epson Tour veteran with nearly $120,000 in career earnings, battled back-and-forth with hopes of lifting the Lorie Kane trophy and assuring themselves a spot in August’s CP Women’s Open. 

By late Friday afternoon, Rhéaume pulled away – making nine birdies over the course of her final 14 holes, including four in her last five holes – to win by three strokes with a tournament-best final-round 66. The winning margin would have been higher had Kim not dropped a 60-footer on the last hole for her second eagle of the day. 

Shortly after Kim got the large Golf Chateau Bromont crowd warmed up, Rhéaume tapped in a short birdie look to set the crowd ablaze, with her mom waiting greenside to be the first one to give her daughter a bear hug. 

“It feels great, I had a great day, and it feels good to get the win,” said Rhéaume. “I had a good birdie putt on 5 and had a good look at eagle on 6 but just tapped in for birdie. Then I birdied three in and row and back nine shot 31, that was solid.”

“My mom coming down was nice and fun, my friend Matt caddied for me this week, this was the second time we’ve worked together and both times we’ve won, so we have a pretty good thing going,” said Rhéaume.

The first event they won together was the Glencoe Invitational – also comprised of both amateurs and professionals. Today she bested Kim, who ended up going home with the low professional cheque, while the first time it was Caroline Ciot, who ended this week in a tie for fifth and earned low PGA of Canada member honours. 

Somebody else holding the big cheque at Chateau Bromont didn’t bother Rhéaume, likely because she will make her LPGA debut in August in Ottawa alongside Brooke Henderson – the last amateur prior to Rhéaume to win the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship.

“Any time you can be compared to Brooke it’s a good thing,” said Rhéaume. “She has accomplished so many great things. I’m just lucky to have my name along with hers on this trophy.”

Members of the Golf Canada Amateur Squad, including Rhéaume, put on quite the show on Friday. In addition to Rhéaume’s 7-under par 66, Brooke Rivers shot 69 and Celeste Doa shot 68 – which would have been the low-round of the tournament if not for her teammate’s spectacular day. 

Following Rhéaume’s LPGA debut in Ottawa, she says the plan is to return to Furham University for her fifth and final season. 

The next PGA of Canada National Championship is the GOLFTEC Senior Men’s Championship of Canada, set for August 23-26 at Connaught Golf Club in Medicine Hat, AB. 

HEMMINGFORD, Que. – Cameron Pero wasn’t driving four hours from his hometown of Bloomfield, Ont., to Hemmingford, Que., for any other reason but to win the NextGen Quebec Championship. And that he did.

The Team Ontario member had already secured his spot at the Canadian Junior Boys Championships later this summer with a T2 finish at the NextGen Ontario Championship and took his game one step further this week in Quebec, finishing atop the leaderboard.  

Pero joined Yasmine Qureshi – champion of the Junior Girls division – in the winner’s circle at Club de Golf Hemmingford on Thursday afternoon after each mounting comebacks of their own in the final round of the regional junior event south of Montreal.

Matthew Javier took a 36-hole two-stroke lead into day three of the 54-hole tournament, but the advantage was short lived when the final pairing set sail on Thursday. Momentum swung in Pero’s favour in the early stages of the round and after just four holes, he held the outright lead.

Javier, who earned a runner-up finish at the NextGen Prairie Championship earlier in June, got back on level terms with his counterpart with a birdie on no. 5 but that was as close as the Toronto, Ont. native would get. Pero regained full control of the lead with a birdie on no. 6 and after bogeys on no. 9 and no. 11, the Miami University commit steadied the ship en route to a final round one-under par 71.

The Picton Golf & Country Club member’s win in Quebec is his second career NextGen title after taking home the honours at the NextGen Fall Series East Championship in 2021.

Qureshi fired the low round of the week, a four-under 68 in the second round of the competition but still needed every one of her seven birdies on Wednesday to earn victory. The Ville de Québec native dug herself a deep hole with an opening round 10-over par 82, but climbed her way back to the surface in round two, and then leaped onto the podium with a final round 76 to win by one stroke over Shauna Liu (Maple, Ont.)

Qureshi, out of Club de golf de Lorette, trailed Keira Hou (Richmond Hill, Ont.) by three strokes when making the turn on Thursday but finished strong with an even-par 36 coming in, to capture the title. Hou, who lead or co-lead throughout the entire tournament, dropped four strokes on her final three holes and fell into third place.

Hou’s younger sister Katherine was also in the field in Hemmingford and posted a T7 finish to book her ticket to the Canadian Junior Girls Championship later this summer, alongside her sister Keira.

Click here for full results of the 2022 NextGen Quebec Championship.

Including Qureshi, the top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship taking place July 25-29 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

From the Junior Boys division, the top eight players have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 6-10, at Rivershore Estates & Golf Links in Kamloops, British Columbia.

About the NextGen Championships series, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

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.

Bill Embree, Dalewood Golf Club, Hole #11

This was my fourth hole-in-one (all at Dalewood) and my second on Dalewood’s eleventh hole. The hole was playing about 125 yards, and we were into a bit of wind. The club was a 9 iron. The irons were new to me (Taylor Made Stealth). I had used them for about a week. My playing partners that day were P J Lennon, Fred Hopkins and Paul Hryciw.

My first two holes-in-one were in 2014 and were 27 holes apart. My last one, before this one, was in 2019 and also on the eleventh hole at Dalewood.

Regards,

Bill Embree

Bryan Bodell, Mission Golf and Country Club, Hole #12

Thank you for this opportunity to showcase my ace.

It was our Thursday Seniors Golf and as noted, it was on the 12th hole of our Mission Golf and Country Club. We are playing a temporary green for the 12th as our signature 12th was damaged in the November rain storms. The hole was playing 102 yards uphill. I used a 54-degree gap wedge. The ball landed within a yard of the pin, one hop into the hole.

Of my three aces, this is the first one I have witnessed.  The beer drinking members were happier than I.  All in all, it was a memorable shot. 

Bryan

Arnold Shaw, Holiday Park Golf Club, Hole #2

I was golfing with Gerry Zado, Dr. Bert Ball and Bill Michaluk at Holiday Park in the Seniors golf on Thursday June 30th. The second hole was 110 yards. I used my 50-degree wedge and fortunately hit the perfect shot. I was very high and came down about two feet from the pin and bounced once and into the hole. Gerry birdied the hole and Bert and Bill each had pars. Not bad for four golfers who average over eighty years old. This was my fourth “hole-in-one” so it wasn’t as exciting as the first one. We had beers in the Club House after.

Bill Froehler, Silver Creek Golf Course, Hole #12

Thank you. Yes, a very exciting time!  That was my first one.

I was golfing with three other members of Silver Creek golf course (Jean Bleoo, Ron Brown, Chris Mantai). #3 west is over water to a three tiered green. This was a blue flag and was sitting on the back tier at about 120 yards. My club of choice was an 8 iron.

Chris Schnarr, Credit Valley, Hole #4

The hole-in-one was on #4. It was playing 131 yards. I used a pitching wedge. I was accompanied by club member Patrick Brown and with guests Dale Orlando and John Abdo.

Dan McCaskill, Madawaska Golf, Hole #13

Yes, very exciting indeed! Yardage was 172 yards, and I used a 7 iron. I was playing with my wife, Carole McCaskill, and another couple, Rob Cathcart and Mellisa Lee. Thanks again.

Dave Tuck, River Oaks Golf Club, Hole #7

Thanks so much!

I couldn’t have had a better group on Canada day. I was golfing with my dad (Allan Tuck), my uncle (Gord Tuck Jr) and my son, Ryan Tuck. It was 142 yards, 50-degree wedge, with a good prairie tail wind behind me. 

Thanks again! 

David Walker, Braestone Club, Hole #12

Thanks for your nice note on my hole in one at Braestone Club. Twelfth hole. 125 yards. Adams 9 iron. Wilson50 golf ball. It was my first hole-in-one. After 52 years it was nice to finally get one. I was playing with my wife Kylie and friends Jim and Carolanne Merza. 

Dave Walker

Ed Coulter, Copetown Woods Golf Club, Hole #7

Regular weekend slot at Copetown Woods. Sunday, July 3^rd morning with my son Andrew and two other Golf Canada members – Eric Kivlin and Iain Gardiner. 7^th hole. Par 3. Flag scoped at 123 yds. 9 iron. One bounce and rolled to pin – dropped – the rest was history. 

I had walked to my bag to return my club when my son indicated “it’s right at the hole dad” then he and the other two gents erupted as it dropped into hole – they said they watched it disappear – I never saw it.

David Shorey, The Landings Golf Course, Hole #13

Hello, 

Playing in a high school alumni golf tournament at The Landings Golf Course in Kingston ON. I hit my first hole-in-one playing in a scramble event with Craig Shorey, Mark Witheridge and Jordan Tekenos-Levy on the 13^th hole, Par 3, 148 yards. The wind was heavy that day and directly at my back when I hit my 50 degree wedge. The ball landed on the green with one bounce at the front pin placement and disappeared into the hole. We all knew it was in from the tee box and started yelling in excitement. Of course, it being a tournament made for quite the expensive round at the 19^th hole, but it was worth every penny to finally get my first ace after playing golf for 23 years!

Thanks Golf Canada!

Dave Shorey

Ernie Hawkins, Delta Golf Club, Hole #5

Thanks for the email.

I’ve been playing this game since I was 10 years old (now 50) and never had a hole-in-one. I became one of those guys that just accepted the fact it was never going to happen for me so I was happy to see it go in. 

The hole was 105 yards, pin tuck on the crest of the hill left side with a dramatic slop to front of the green. If you didn’t hit the correct landing area for this pin placement, you’re off the green.

I used my 52 and landed about a foot in front of the pin, hopped about two feet behind the pin and slowly rolled back into the cup. Amazing to see it go in, like slow-motion.

I had been playing pretty well in the weeks leading to Saturday but on this day, I had my worst round of the year but the feeling I had for one shot outweigh the round I had. 

Will Keenlyside and Gary Hemlow were my playing partners that day.

Thanks again,

Ernie

Evan Irla, Twin Willows Golf Club, Hole #12

Thanks for reaching out!

I was out for a casual round on Saturday that was going really well. On hole #12, the back tees were roughly 150 yds from the pin, so I pulled out a 9 iron. I hit the ball a little off the toe, but it drew right in line with the flag, pitched a good 8 foot from the hole and rolled in. Best miss-hit I’ve ever had haha.

Ended up coming back the next day with three guys and drained a huge right to left putt for birdie on the last hole.

Evan

Fred Stoneman, Cedarhurst Golf Club, Hole #16

I was playing with Jordan Strickland and Jack Foran. The hole was 107 yards, and I used a pitching wedge.

Garett Tanner, Darcy Ranch Golf Club, Hole #3

It was Saturday, July 2. I was golfing with three buddy’s: Harry Zipple, Phil Kinney and Dev Padhi. We were on hole #3, 124 yards and I used a pitching wedge. 

Glen Hoffman, Murray Municipal, Hole #7

Thank you for the note and graphic!  This is awesome 🙂

Details – 
Playing with my regular golf group – Mike Merk, Scott Manz, Donny Mah
Yardage – 198 yards
Club – Hybrid
Wind – Cross wind left to right at 30 KM / HR

Thanks,

Glen Hoffman

Glenn Harrison, Dalewood Golf Club, Hole #13

Thanks for the email.

I have attached a picture of my hole in one on the 13th hole at Dalewood Golf club in Port Hope, Ontario on June 29th 2022. I was playing with Jim Horner, Phil Varty and Derek Masters. We were playing from the blue tees and the distance was 167 yards and I used a 6 iron. This is my 4th hole-in-one, my last one was July 16, 2008 on the 17th hole at Dalewood. 

Thank you, 

Glenn Harrison

Grant Froese, Deerhurst Golf Course, Hole #8

Hi, thanks for this. Appreciate it.

The yardage was 128 and I used a pitching wedge. My 22-year-old son was with me and may have been more excited than I was! But you are right, a memory we will have forever. 

Thanks again and you should know the folks at Deerhurst were spectacular!

Cheers,

Grant

Greg Rehberg, Brockville Country Club, Hole #9

Hi, thank you. My playing partners were Klyde Brayton and Robert Arnot fellow BCC members. The yardage was 122 yards to a blue flag on the back right corner of Little Misery the 9th hole at the Brockville Country Club. I struck a high pitching wedge into the middle of the green that released about 12 feet and disappeared into the hole. Hard to describe the feeling after having so many end up close to going in and finally seeing one drop!

Judith Rash, Rockland, Hole #3

Thanks Golf Canada for recognizing this exciting event! It occurred on the Rockland West course, Hole #3. I used my 7 iron for the hole was playing 130 yards that day. My long time Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day Tournament partners were Jan Meyer, Bob Price and Ole Sorensen. All of us watched as my shot landed on the green and rolled straight into the cup. My first ace after 30 years of close calls. Sharing it with good friends made it all the sweeter.

John Spearn, Westmount, Hole #17

Thank you, most appreciated.

At age 73 with a 24 handicap, the odds were definitely against me. I will, however, fondly remember Men’s Day League, June 30, 2022. My high handicap League grouping was allocated the “closest-to-the-hole” competition for #17.

I was having a decent back 9-hole competition round (for me); finishing with a 43. On the way to the 17^th tee box, my playing partner, Kerry, reminded me of my #17-hole competition since we were on the same league team. I asked him if I could win if I holed my drive. He understandably was somewhat doubtful but later remarked that I had, in fact, called it.

Hole #17 is on an elevated tee box with a front bunker protecting the green and the pin centre back with about a 130-yard distance. My 8-iron was clean, but I did not see it drop. My playing partners, Kerry Gerber, Jim King and Don MacKenzie all saw it go in and shouted the news! My partners offered hearty congratulations.

My wife and I played the back nine the next Sunday and I checked the hole posting of the names of those who had achieved an ace over the years.

My playing partner, Jim, was listed but he said nothing of it following my little celebration; a true gentleman golfer allowing me my very brief moment in the sun. Golf, as in most sports, provides the opportunity for players to demonstrate his/her true nature.

John

Judy Calvert, Chateau Whistler, Hole #16

Well hello Golf Canada!

Word travels!

Yes, it was a super exciting day for sure!

My husband, Doug Anderson, and I, are members at Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Course and we had an 0900 tee time on July 1st. We were with two other corporate guests. Super nice guys that were thrilled that this happened too!

It was hole 16, red tees, 88 yards, and my pitching wedge. That hole’s green has a slant from right to left, so you always aim for the high side (but not in the bunker right there) hoping it will run down to wherever the pin location happens to be that day. I did a full swing, hit it great, we were all watching – it landed perfectly on the high side and started to roll to the left, down towards the pin. I was playing with an orange ball, so you could perfectly see its movement. It was moving along nicely and then it all of a sudden disappears and we all knew what that meant and erupted into “oh my god’s” “hole in one” “sank it”. So exciting!

Back at the club house, I was happy to make the announcement to all the guests on the patio and bought everyone a round – all were thrilled…for me…and for the drink! LOL.

FCWGC is an amazing club (shout out to Padraic O’Rourke – Director of Golf) and the team did a lovely remembrance flag for me (in the photo). Shout out to our Master Instructor, Matt Denzer, (Leadbetter) who we had just started taking lessons from.

Warmest regards, Judy 🙂

Kim Brierley, Wyldewood Golf and Country Club, Hole #11

Many thanks for the recognition of my hole-in-one. This was my sixth and it was just as exciting as my first.  

I was playing with my friend Lori Collinson. The 11th hole is an elevated green with a hidden pin. It was playing about 125 yards into the wind. I used my Callaway 5 wood. As soon as I hit the ball, Lori said, “that’s right at it”, I said, no I think it’s in the bunker”.  Right then, there was a greens keeper who was working on the green, he came running to the edge of the hill and yelled “that ball went in the hole”. We both started jumping and celebrating. It was Ladies Day at Wyldewood Golf and Country Club with many friends to share the event.

Thanks again Golf Canada.

Kim Brierley

Landon Touchette, Metcalfe Golf Club, Hole #17

Thank you for reaching out.

Landon agreed that he would love to have you post his story.

He used a pitching wedge from 115 yards and was playing with me (his father) and his aunt. He is also the youngest member at the Metcalfe Golf and Country Club to record a hole-in-one.

Thanks,

Phil Touchette on behalf of Landon Touchette

Larry Osaka, Henderson Lake Golf Club, Hole #8

Thank you for your recognition of my hole-in-one on Canada Day at Lethbridge’s Henderson Lake Golf Club. On that day, the 8th hole was playing about 140 yards to the flag and the ball went into the hole with the luckiest 6 iron I’ve ever hit in my life.

Thanks again for your interest.

Larry Osaka

Lisa Loewen, Valley Ridge Golf Club, Hole #3

Thank you for the congratulations on my hole-in-one, it was a thrilling moment.

My husband and I were enjoying a quick nine holes at the course where we are members, Valley Ridge Golf Course in Calgary, Alberta. We approached the third hole where there was a front flag. As I remember, my GPS watch said I had 83 yards to the front of the green and approximately 93 to the flag. I teed up my ball and used my nine iron. I hit the ball right on the sweet spot and it flew beautifully high in a lovely arc, landing just on the first cut and rolling toward the hole on the right side. My husband was coaching the ball along, saying “get there, get there, now go in” and it did!

I was stunned – then I started yelling and jumping up and down on the tee box. I was congratulated by public players. Once I calmed down, I realized that we would have to play 18 holes which was going to be a challenge because the weather was not looking good. By 17, there was thunder and on 18, we were really risking it as the lightning was getting very close. My last two strokes were taken during brief stops between sprints toward the green in a downpour! A great chip left me only a one-foot putt. I was wet but exultant! I finished one of the most exciting rounds of my life.

I truly love golf. It is something I enjoy so much I go out most weekdays and most rounds on my own with whomever I can join up with. I started golfing regularly six years ago and now get in about 100 rounds a year! Still working on breaking 90 but hopefully this will be the year. The hole-in-one certainly gives me confidence that I am getting closer to that goal.

Sincerely,

Lisa Loewen

Lorry Greenspan, The Country Club, Hole #9

I was playing with Mathew Sherman and Alex Nayyar. It was hole 9 on the East course at Country Club. The hole was playing 170 yards and I hit an 8 iron.

Take care. 

Lorry Greenspan

Nancy Winn, Knollwood Golf Club, Hole #4

Thank you so much. I was golfing with my husband, Jim, and our good friends, Grace and Erwin Raaber. I used a 7 hybrid and the hole is 107 yards. Hit the pin and dropped in. Had one years ago and never expected to get another one!

Richard Vaughan, Tarandowah Golfers Club, Hole #7

It would be an honour for me, that you want to share my hole-in-one accomplishment on Saturday.

I was playing with two other members of Tarandowah, Terry Duffy and Brad Clothier. The 7th hole at Tarandowah from the gold tees measures 178 on the score card, but Saturday it played 185. I used a Srixon zx7 5 iron with a Srixon Q-Star tour ball for the accomplishment. It was around 9 in the morning. Wind was light and blowing off the right shoulder and a little help, the hole plays north to south, and the front is guarded by four bunkers. In honesty, we thought Terry’s ball was going in the hole, but came up just a bit short. When I hit my shot, we watched it roll up to Terry’s ball which we thought it was going to hit his ball, then rolled pass Terry’s ball, then I said, “well I guess I’m long and then it hit the stick then disappeared, it took a second or two to realize what actually happened.

Ron Runstedler, Sarnia, Hole #12

Thanks for reaching out regarding my recent hole-in-one.

I was playing with my usual Tuesday afternoon group: Dean Edwardson, Albert Pilote, Brian Hurst and Jurgen Kuhwald (by the way, fivesomes are allowed at Sarnia Golf Club).

I used a 9-iron for the 120 yard shot.

All the best.

Ron Runstedler

Steve Sparrow, Olympic View Golf Club, Hole #6

I was playing with my uncle, John Smith, also Dave Macdonald and Ian Birnie. The yardage was 190 and I hit a 6 iron. It is my first hole-in-one and I’ve been playing for nearly 25 years.

Sylvie Robitaille, Blainvillier, Hole #17

Here is the information about my hole-in-one at Le Blainvillier, Royal course.

17th hole. 118 yards. Hit with my driver. My husband, Claude Landry, and my brother, Martin Robitaille, were playing with me. 

I was very happy returning to golf after more than 20 years not playing. It was only my fifth game of the season. ?

Thank you.

Sylvie Robitaille

Tom Pinter, Braeben Golf Course, Hole #7

This was my second career ace and much nicer than the first some 25 years ago which was a topped shot that bounced and rolled some 150 yards into the hole.

This one was on the 138 yard 7th at Braeben with a pitching wedge. The swing felt great, and the ball went high and never left the pin, bounced once and disappeared. 

I was with my friends Wally, Dominic, and Phil.

Thanks,

Tom

Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are pleased to announce the creation of a new honour of recognition—the Community Spirit Awards—to acknowledge and celebrate the commitment of individual leaders who are using golf as a platform to positively impact their communities.

The inaugural Community Spirit Awards will recognize a pair of remarkable individuals under two separate categories – the Community Leader Award and the Future Leader Award.  

The Community Leader Award will celebrate an individual over the age of 19 with a demonstrated ability to lead community initiatives; someone who has contributed a measurable impact through volunteerism or charity; or an individual who has showcased excellence in their involvement with, or support of youth programs such as First Tee – Canada or other junior golf activities.

The recipient of the Community Leader Award will receive a $5,000 donation from the Golf Canada Foundation to advance a golf program or golf-related initiative of their choice.

To recognize youth who are making an impact in their community, the Future Leader Award will honour an individual 19 years of age or younger who embodies community leadership; has a history of sportsmanship or demonstrated activities to make the game more inclusive; or an individual who has used golf to create a meaningful impact in their community.

The recipient of the Future Leader Award will be awarded a $5,000 donation towards their post-secondary education and will also be offered a paid work internship with Golf Canada.

Beginning today, the Canadian golf community is invited to submit individual nominations for the Community Spirit Awards through an online nomination form. The nomination period will close at 11:59 pm EST on August 31, 2022.

Click here to nominate an individual for the Community Leader Award.

Click here to nominate an individual for the Future Leader Award.

“There are so many incredible people using golf to contribute to their community and we are extremely proud to celebrate the spirit and unwavering commitment of these community leaders through the Community Spirit Awards,” said Golf Canada President Liz Hoffman. “To be nominated for recognition by your peers is a special accomplishment, and we look forward to presenting these two awards to deserving members of the golf community.”

At the conclusion of the nomination period, all Community Spirit Award submissions will be compiled and evaluated by a selection committee that includes representatives from Golf Canada, the Golf Canada Foundation, Honoured Members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, industry representatives and the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.

The inaugural Community Spirit Awards recipients will be announced at the 2022 World Junior Girls Championship.

CALGARY—The Shaw Charity Classic presented by Suncor is kicking off the nation’s birthday celebrations by announcing the two Canadians on the PGA TOUR Champions, along with four of golf’s greats who are also Canadian Open winners, will be back in Calgary this summer.

Canada’s Mike Weir and Stephen Ames will be joined by World Golf Hall of Fame members, Vijay Singh and Mark O’Meara, along with Billy Andrade and Scott Verplank at the Shaw Charity Classic, August 1-7.

“It’s always good to get back up and play in Canada. I had a chance to play last year and the golf course was very good. Whenever we play the RBC Canadian Open, or here, and then back in the day at the Air Canada Championship, the fans have always been just so wonderful to me and rallied behind me. Having that kind of support and the crowd cheering for you like that is incredible,” said Weir. “I’m still motivated and I still like to push myself. I’d love to be in contention and try to win again.”

The 52-year-old gave Calgary golf fans something to cheer about in the opening round of his Shaw Charity Classic debut last year where he was one-shot off the lead. 

Life has been good on the PGA TOUR Champions for the 2003 Masters champion and winner of eight events on the PGA TOUR. Since turning 50 two years ago, the five-time member of the International squad at the Presidents Cup has been a frontrunner on the senior circuit with multiple top-five finishes including his lone victory at the 2021 Insperity Invitational.

Fellow Canadian Stephen Ames — one of the key players behind bringing the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Suncor to Calgary — has confirmed he will tee it up for the eighth time in his own backyard at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.

The former Calgary resident is coming into this year’s event on a hot streak, and sits fourth on the Charles Schwab Cup Money List thanks to his five top-10 finishes this season including a second-place finish at the Senior PGA Championship. The 57-year-old, who was one shot back of the leaders heading into Sunday’s final round one year ago, had his best finish at the Shaw Charity Classic in 2015 when he was T5.

The four-time winner on the PGA TOUR is part of a seven-person philanthropic Patron Group backing the award-winning tournament in Calgary since its inception in 2013. To date, the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Suncor has raised more than $76 million for youth-based charities in Alberta – largely through the tournament’s Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink charitable program.

“Many of us worked very hard to bring an event of this calibre to this market,” said Ames. “One thing that never leaves any of us on this Tour is that we still want to play well so it has been nice for me to be able to be doing that again this year. The real winner of the event is obviously going to be the charities again, and that’s what the tournament was made for, more than anything else.” 

Calgarians will also have an opportunity to watch four former RBC Canadian Open winners tee it up at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, including Vijay Singh. The 59-year-old Fijian has won 63 times worldwide including 34 wins on the PGA TOUR, 13 European Tour titles and five victories on the Asian Tour.

Singh was the World Number 1 for 32 weeks between 2004 and 2005. He racked up 13 of his PGA TOUR victories during that two-year period — none more memorable for golf fans north of the border than when he topped Canada’s Mike Weir in a dramatic playoff duel at the Canadian Open, denying fans a celebration they had been waiting to have for 50 years. Capturing more wins than anyone after the age of 40, the “Big Fijian” has three Major titles throughout his illustrious career. He won the 2004 and 1998 PGA Championships, and put on a Green Jacket after winning the 2000 Masters.

“I have fond memories of playing in Canada. The fans share my passion for the game and have always treated me with great respect. I am excited to have the opportunity to try and win another title up north,” said Singh, who won the 2008 FedEx Cup and has played on eight President Cup Teams for the International squad.

Mark O’Meara, who won the 1995 Canadian Open before capturing his two majors by winning the 1998 British Open, just three months after claiming the Masters, has also added his name to the Shaw Charity Classic tee sheet. One of five World Golf Hall of Famers confirmed to battle it out at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, O’Meara is a 16-time winner on the PGA TOUR.

“Calgary and the Shaw Charity Classic is obviously one of the best on Tour. It is a wonderful place, an incredible city. I love the golf course. I love the Rockies and I’m a huge fisherman. Floating the Bow River is a beautiful experience so I can’t wait to get back to Calgary for both the golf and to get back onto the Bow again,” said O’Meara, who also has two PGA TOUR Champions victories.

O’Meara will be joined by two other golf legends who have a special place in their hearts for Canada – Billy Andrade and Scott Verplank.

Andrade fired his way into the winner’s circle four times on the PGA TOUR. One of his triumphs came in Canada after a thrilling playoff against Bob Friend at the 1998 Canadian Open. He came up on the short end of a thrilling head-to-head playoff with Fred Couples at the 2014 Shaw Charity Classic that ended on the first extra hole. Both players made eagles on the 54th hole to finish in a tie.

“I have always enjoyed coming to Canada to play the Open and obviously have fond memories of winning,” said Andrade. “I remember I hadn’t won in a while in 1998, and when that happens, sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever win again, but that day I had a good feeling and kept telling myself ‘I’m going to win.’ It is very difficult to win on the PGA TOUR Champions with so many great players in the field. Hopefully some of those good vibes will return in Calgary.”

Scott Verplank has also found success north of the border, winning the 2001 Canadian Open. A member of two U.S.A. Ryder Cup Teams, and two President Cup Teams, Verplank won five times on the PGA TOUR en route to racking up more than $25 million in career earnings.

“Canada has been a good country for me over the years. I have great memories of winning the Canadian Open so I’m excited about playing in Calgary,” said Verplank, who was elgible to play the PGA TOUR Champions with Andrade in 2014.

The six players will join previously announced major winner winners, Fred Couples, John Daly, Retief Goosen,  Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Corey Pavin and David Toms.

OTTAWA – Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced 85 new appointments to the Order of Canada and four promotions within the Order on Wednesday.

Among the list of appointees was renowned sports photographer and Golf Canada veteran Bernard Brault of Longueuil, Que. Read more on his journey in golf here.

Click here for the full list of appointees.

All appointees will be presented with their insignia at future investiture ceremonies (dates to be determined).

“The Order of Canada celebrates the lives, endeavours and successes of people from coast to coast to coast and from all walks of life. Those being appointed today come from a variety of sectors, have achieved national and international success, and have shown ingenuity, innovation and generosity. What’s more, they have made a difference in their communities and for Canada with their outstanding dedication and commitment. Congratulations to the new Order of Canada appointees, as well as those celebrating a promotion within the Order.”

The Order of Canada was created in 1967, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to honour people whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities.

More details to come…