Although it’s been a strange PGA Tour season with rescheduled events after a three-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Roger Sloan has been grateful for the opportunities it’s presented.

Sloan, from Merritt, B.C., finished last season ranked 93rd in the FedExCup standings but stumbled out of the gate before the suspension of play in March. That layoff gave him more time to work with coach Jeff Barton and help his family settle in to their new home in Houston.

“Before the pandemic hit I’d been struggling quite a bit with my golf game and it was nice to get a three-month break to reset and re-evaluate what I’d been doing,” said Sloan. “It was almost like a second off-season.”

Sloan, his wife Casey, and their two children moved in the scheduled winter off-season. Although they usually travel together when the PGA Tour is in full swing, the three-month layoff gave them a rare chance at some quality time together.

“To really get that sustained three months off where you really didn’t have to worry about a golf tournament or preparing for anything, definitely that first half was so nice just to be at home and really get connected to your family,” said Sloan. “I think it was definitely a benefit for all families that compete on the PGA Tour.”

Although Sloan had an encouraging tie for 13th at the Safeway Open in September, he missed 10 cuts – including six straight from November to February – before the cancellation of the Players’ Championship signalled the beginning of the pandemic break.

However, Sloan’s started to find consistency in his game again. He missed the cut at the RBC Heritage, then finished 66th at the Travelers Championship, before another missed cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Most encouragingly, he tied for 27th at last week’s Workday Charity Open, the best performance of the six Canadians at the event, before taking the week off for the Memorial. That performance elevated him to 173rd in the FedExCup standings.

“I’ve always played very well on Jack Nicklaus golf courses,” said Sloan. “I was actually kind of disappointed because I played a lot better than my result. I left a lot of sloppy mistakes out there with the shorter clubs.

“It was encouraging to really see my game improve. … It really gives you hope that things are trending in the right direction.”

Sloan will be back in the field for next week’s 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., then the Barracuda Championship, and will wrap up the season at the Wyndham Championship if he doesn’t earn his way on to the PGA Championship.

Because of the abbreviated season and the cancellation of the third-tier tours like Canada’s Mackenzie Tour, PGA Tour Series China, and PGA Latinoamerica, the PGA Tour has extended everyone’s tour status to next season. That takes some pressure off Sloan, as he’ll be able to play at the highest level in 2021 once again.

“While I get the opportunity to play on the PGA Tour next year if I don’t keep my card through this season it would be in a different category but I would still get a decent amount of starts. That is a huge luxury that we have,” said Sloan.

“It frees you up a little bit to go back to the basics and focus on what makes you a really good golfer. For me that’s really making it simple and focusing one shot at a time.”

Team Canada alumna and chemical engineer Brittany Marchand gives another STEM lesson on the effects of temperature on the golf ball

It is with sadness and respect that Golf Canada extends sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Ignat “Iggy” Kaneff of Mississauga, Ont. who passed away on July 12, 2020 at the age of 93.

A proud community supporter and champion philanthropist, Mr. Kaneff immigrated to Canada from Bulgaria in 1951. He built a successful legacy as chairman of the Kaneff Group of Companies which included Kaneff Golf – six premium public golf properties across southern Ontario including Lionhead Golf & Conference Centre, Royal Ontario Golf Club, Royal Niagara Golf Club, Carlisle Golf & Country Club, Century Pines Golf Club and Streetsville Glen Golf Club.

Among his countless honours, accolades and professional designations, the real estate magnate was a deserving recipient of the Order of Ontario, a member of the Order of Canada and a respected community leader who was a driving force behind the growth of Peel Region and the development of Mississauga as a world-class city for business, culture and recreation. He helped build schools, hospitals and community centres and established the Ignat Kaneff Charitable Foundation in 1986 to support education, health, the arts, and social services of local communities.

CANADA – DECEMBER 18: Medal of devotion: Developer Ignat Kaneff shows off the commemorative medal received from the federal government for his community service. (Photo by Andrew Stawicki/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

“Iggy Kaneff and the Kaneff family have been passionate builders, operators and supporters of the game of golf,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “As a young professional in the golf industry in the early 90’s, I had the great fortune of getting to know and playing golf with Iggy at his signature golf courses during a very exciting time of growth for the game he loved.  He was kind, entertaining and had an aura of energy that surrounded everything he was involved with.

The Kaneff Golf collection of signature courses have contributed greatly to the golf experience across southern Ontario and those facilities have hosted countless charity tournaments and fundraisers that have supported so many important and worthwhile causes. What is most inspiring about Iggy’s legacy is that he was a philanthropic champion celebrated for his generosity and tireless efforts in giving back to his community. He will be sorely missed.”

The 118th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship later this month is going to be missing a very familiar face. After playing in the event for 53 straight years – and winning it 13 times – Doug Roxburgh will not be there.

The date for this year’s B.C. Amateur, which is being played at the Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear course in Kelowna, was recently moved from mid-July to July 28-30. That created a problem for Roxburgh, whose son James is getting married on Aug. 1.

“It absolutely was a tough decision,” Roxburgh said. If the date hadn’t been changed, it would have worked out. James is still going ahead with his wedding, on a much much smaller basis, on Aug. 1.”

Roxburgh also said all the COVID-19 protocols for the tournament, which he completely understands and supports, played a minor role in his decision. Roxburgh’s wife, Lorna, always caddies for him at the B.C. Amateur and she would not have been able to do so at this summer’s event.

“I just think it was the right time to make this decision,” he said. “I would have loved to keep it going, but these are very strange and difficult times right now and I certainly understand all the policies and things that B.C. Golf has had to put in place. It is great that they are going to be able to pull off an event.”

image credit: Bryan Outram/BC Golf

Doug’s Wife Lorna Has Been His Caddy At Many B.C. Amateur And Men’s Senior Championships

Roxburgh played in his first B.C. Amateur as a 15-year-old in 1967 at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club. He hasn’t missed one since. His first win came in 1969 at Richmond Country Club where he beat John Morgan 4&3 in the 36-hole match play final. A couple of weeks later, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.

Roxburgh has only missed three cuts in his 53 B.C. Amateur appearances. Over the years, the tournament became a big part of his summer. “I always looked forward to the B.C. Am,” he said. “I always tried to get my game ready so I could have a good performance and try and make the cut and what not. I still had that in my mindset this year until they changed the date. I was looking forward to it and would have played, but it’s just not in the cards this year.”

Roxburgh said he particularly enjoyed seeing so many parts of British Columbia while travelling to and from the event. “When I first started way back it was basically Vancouver two years, Victoria one year, Vancouver two years, Victoria one year,” he said. “And we were always at a private club back then. But they started to move it around the province and it was great. We have travelled all around the province, to the Kootenays, up to Golden, to Fort St. John, all over the place. It has been a lot of fun that way for sure. It has given myself and my family the opportunity to see the province.”

The 68-year-old Roxburgh, a longtime member of Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, said his game is in fairly good shape. “It comes and goes,” he said. “I have had some good games. I have been able to shoot my age twice in the last month which to be honest was my only goal this year.”

Kris Jonasson, chief executive officer of British Columbia Golf, said he fully understands Roxburgh’s decision not to play this year’s B.C. Amateur. “What a wonderful way to end a streak with your son’s wedding,” Jonasson said. “It’s not ending because he is not competitive. It’s ending because he made a commitment to his family a long time ago and that commitment remains the most important thing in his world.”

Roxburgh, whose resumé also includes four Canadian Amateur championships and a Canadian Seniors title, has a lifetime exemption into the B.C. Amateur. The hope is he begins another streak in 2021.

There is a good chance he will play in the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship in mid-September at Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club, where he would be the three-time defending champion.

SAN ANTONIO – Canadian golfer Taylor Pendrith posted his second straight career-best finish on the Korn Ferry Tour on Sunday, finishing second at the TPC San Antonio Challenge at the Canyons.

Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., shot a 6-under 66 in the fourth round to finish 21 under for the tournament, four strokes behind winner David Lipsky of the United States.

Pendrith, who tied for third at last week’s TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes, is projected to jump to 12th from 26th in the tour standings after this week’s result.

The top 25 in the standings next fall earn PGA Tour cards for the following season.

Pendrith, a member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad, has shot in the 60s in 14 of his past 16 rounds.

France’s Paul Barjon, who edged out Pendrith for top spot on the Canadian-based Mackenzie Tour’s order of merit last year, and Paul Haley II of the U.S., tied for third at 20 under.

Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., posted his second straight top-10 result, finishing in a tie for eighth at 17 under.

Svensson is projected to be 37th in the standings this week.

The Korn Ferry Tour remains in San Antonio for another event next week.

In golf, there is no such thing as “one size fits all.”

That’s why there are different sets of tees to accommodate all types of players. That’s a good thing.

That’s also why there are so many options when it comes to equipment. That could be a good thing but, for the vast majority of you reading this, it’s not. And it’s your fault.

You’re probably thinking, “I’m not good enough to get fitted for golf clubs.” Interestingly, this is the most common excuse you likely cite when asked why you don’t have a Handicap Index. And, in both cases, you are wrong.

It’s not about your ability, says Rick Young. It’s about your level of commitment.

“It makes zero sense to buy golf clubs without getting fitted,” says Young, SCOREGolf’s longtime equipment expert. He warns against purchasing new clubs off the rack as well as new or used clubs online.

His point is repeated by every expert in the field. Many compare buying a standard set of clubs to purchasing apparel. While that might be a touch trite, it is undeniably accurate.

The average Canadian man is 5’8” tall and weighs 182 pounds. The average woman is just over 5’3” and about 153 pounds. Chances are that doesn’t describe you so the odds that the clothing that fits those “average” Canadians wouldn’t fit you either.

So why are you playing their golf clubs? Essentially, that is what you are doing when you buy a standard set off the rack.

I’m 6’2” and weigh 220. Not average, by any means. So my clubs are a little longer than standard, the lie is a touch upright and the grips are slightly larger. As I get older, I’ve switched to regular shafts in my irons from the stiff version I played for years. There’s no chance my 5’4” wife (about the national average) was fitted for the same clubs as our 6’1” daughter. Thank goodness she got her looks from her mom and her height from me and not the other way around.

Like our dimensions and ages, our Handicap Indexes vary but we all saw getting fitted for clubs as an investment in our enjoyment of the game, not just an expense. Playing the wrong clubs can be discouraging, infuriating, and can dissuade you from playing more golf.

“Do you want to get better? Then get fitted, even if you’re terrible,” says Tony Covey, managing editor of My Golf Spy, an independent online reviewer and evaluator of all things golf.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money right out of the gate. As you improve and your scores go down, you can get re-fitted and either get your clubs adjusted or invest in a new set and sell the old ones or trade them in.”

Covey also cautions against some of the misconceptions that may influence your equipment choice.

“Don’t get sucked in by brand bias and some of the other mythology that’s out there. Do some research and then find a reputable expert and listen to them.”

Ian Fraser is the founder and CEO of TxG (Tour Experience Golf) with locations in Toronto and, soon, Mississauga, Ont. With a background in club fitting, he worked with beginners as well as superstars like Colin Montgomerie, Gary Woodland and Eduardo Molinari before coming to Canada to start Modern Golf, a leading-edge club-fitting company. In 2015, he left Modern Golf to found TxG.

As a nod to his expertise, GOLF Magazine named TxG No. 2 on their 2020 list of the top club fitters in North America.

Fraser points out that the proliferation of golf club technology has made getting properly fitted more essential than ever. There are more than 30,000 potential combinations to ensure the client gets the correct “prescription,” as he calls it, for 14 optimized clubs to maximize their enjoyment and lower their scores.

A full-bag (driver through putter) fitting session takes 4 ½ hours. Don’t panic. Much of that time is spent discussing, analyzing and advising. It’s not a ball-beating marathon.

Not surprisingly, that philosophy is echoed at Fraser’s former hangout, Modern Golf, which has locations in Mississauga and Vaughan in Ontario, two in Calgary and one in Vancouver.

At Modern Golf, TxG and other sophisticated fitting facilities, the technology, such as ForeSight and other high-tech aids, is on par with the expertise of the humans doing the hands-on fitting. For example, Modern Golf has a “coach/build” concept that places a fitter and a coach in the fitting bay with you. That combination doesn’t come cheap but, remember, this is an investment.

At Modern Golf, the $400 full-bag fitting fee is waived if you purchase a new set of clubs. The fee is also waived for any of their other fitting options ranging from single clubs like the driver or putter to irons and wedges.

Once you’ve committed to a fitting, go all the way, Young recommends.

“One thing people don’t realize is that 42 per cent of your shots are on the green but people will walk into a golf store, try two or three putters and when they make a couple of putts, they fork over two or three hundred dollars for a putter that most likely is wrong for them. Do you need a mallet or blade, toe-balanced or face-balanced, what loft, what length, what grip, what kind of putting stroke do you have … these are all questions you need expert advice on.

“And how about your wedges? Do you have the right gapping between your wedges? Are the lofts right for you? How about the bounce?”

Young believes not getting fitted can discourage new golfers who want to enjoy the game but have the wrong equipment. If, for example, the lie angle on those used irons you bought for a song is too upright, you’ll likely be hitting pull hooks. Or if the lie is OK but the shaft is too stiff, get used to hitting a bunch of low-right screamers.

“The worst mistake you can make, at any level, is buying clubs that work against you,” says Matthew Sim, Modern Golf’s Director of Operations.

If getting to some of the facilities mentioned here is inconvenient, there are lots of other options. If you’re really out in the boondocks, major manufacturers have online fitting apps for everything from clubs to balls.

Fittings are easy to arrange with many PGA of Canada members across the country offering fitting services. If you decide to purchase new clubs, the fitting fee is waived in most cases.

Alternatively, many courses have “demo days” during the golf season where one or more of the major club manufacturers set up shop on the range. “This is one of the best ways for novice golfers to get a baseline for fitting if they’re unsure of what they want for free,” says Young.

Just as there is a fitting option suitable for every budget, so too is there one for the clubs themselves, even at places like TxG.

“If the client says, for example, that their budget is $900, then we give them the very best value we can for that budget,” says Fraser. “We treat every client the same whether they’re a pro or a beginner. It’s in our best interest to make sure they not only get better but have more fun.”

TORONTO —With the official Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada sidelined this season due to issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tour announced Friday that it will hold a series of four tournaments for players residing in Canada. The tournaments are set for Langford, British Columbia, and Caledon, Ontario, in August and September, all events contested under the direction of the Mackenzie Tour and its staff.

The Canada Life Series will feature two 54-hole events at Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort Community in Langford on Vancouver Island and two more at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. Fields will consist of Canadian professionals and elite amateurs, as well as Mackenzie Tour members, regardless of citizenship, who are already in Canada. Officials anticipate field sizes between 90 and 120 players, with purses set at $50,000 (CAD) per event.

Exempt players for the Canada Life Series will include any Canadian professional who has held status on any of the PGA TOUR’s International Tours since 2018 (Mackenzie Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Series-China). In addition, six sponsor exemptions will be used by Golf Canada for its national team members. Canada Life will receive two sponsor exemptions, while both host facilities will have two sponsor exemptions each. The Tour will fill the fields on a first-come-first-served basis if the exempt categories don’t reach their limits.

“It was certainly disappointing when circumstances surrounding COVID-19 required us to cancel the 2020 Mackenzie Tour season. We were poised for a great summer of golf, but we never lost sight of the purpose for this Tour, which is to give players opportunities to play tournaments on quality golf courses,” said Scott Pritchard, Mackenzie Tour Executive Director. “Canada Life has been an incredible partner in helping us put this together, and with two terrific venues—Bear Mountain and TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley—we will stage four exceptional tournaments.

“To be able to promise the top player from the Canada Life Series additional playing opportunities next season on the Mackenzie Tour only enhances what we’re trying to do, and we’re extremely pleased that will happen,” Pritchard continued.

The player who earns the most points during the four tournaments will be granted conditional Mackenzie Tour status and guaranteed six tournament starts on the 2021 Mackenzie Tour. In addition to those playing opportunities, Golf Canada will also award the top player a spot in the 2021 RBC Canadian Open. The players finishing in the second-through-fifth positions on the final points standings earn conditional 2021 Mackenzie Tour status along with two guaranteed Mackenzie Tour tournament starts. The players finishing between Nos. 6-10 earn a discounted rate into one of the 2021 Mackenzie Tour Qualifying Tournaments.

“At Canada Life, we believe in helping Canadians achieve their potential. The Canada Life Series is one way we can do that,” said Jeff Macoun, President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada, at Canada Life. “We’re very proud to be able to provide Canadian-based players the opportunity to advance their careers.”

The first two Canada Life Series tournaments will be at Bear Mountain’s two courses, both designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve. The Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain: Mountain Course is from August 10-12, while The Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain: Valley Course is August 17-19.

The Mountain Course has twice hosted PGA TOUR-affiliated golf, the PGA TOUR Champions’ 2016 and 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship. Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie won the 2016 event, while American Jerry Kelly prevailed a year later.

“Bear Mountain’s two courses are quite diverse, and Jack and Steve designed them in such a way that we think the tournaments will certainly have different feels to them while at the same time providing excellent tests of golf,” said Rob Larocque, Bear Mountain Director of Golf.

The Series will observe a one-week break, allowing players to travel to the other side of the country for the final two events, outside Toronto. The Canada Life Series at TPC Toronto’s links-style Heathlands course is set for September 2-4. The following week, September 9-11, the players will once again tackle the Heathlands, one of three signature Doug Carrick courses at TPC Toronto, for the Series’ closing event, the Canada Life Series Championship.

TPC Toronto is also no stranger to PGA TOUR-affiliated tournament golf. It has been home to the Mackenzie Tour’s Osprey Valley Open presented by Votarantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates since 2018, with the eventual Mackenzie Tour Player of the Year in each season winning both editions of the tournament—Tyler McCumber in 2018 followed by Paul Barjon in 2019. McCumber is currently a PGA TOUR member, and Barjon is playing on the Korn Ferry Tour.

“The Mackenzie Tour is a familiar and important partner of ours, and we’re thrilled to be hosting two Canada Life Series tournaments here in September. We look forward to seeing some outstanding players compete on the Heathlands and follow in the footsteps of Tyler, Paul and the other champions who have played here over the last two years,” said TPC Toronto President Chris Humeniuk.

“It was gratifying to see TPC Toronto enthusiastically embrace this concept. We planned to play the Heathlands for the 2020 Osprey Valley Open, and we will now use the Canada Life Series events as a chance to showcase this spectacular course to these players,” Pritchard added.

DUBLIN, Ohio –

A trio of Canadians are near the top of the leaderboard following the opening round of the PGA Tour’s Workday Charity Open on Thursday.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., posted the highest score among Canadian golfers with a 6-under 66. He’s one stroke behind leader Collin Morikawa who shot a 7-under 65.

Nick Taylor, also of Abbotsford, was in a group of four golfers two shots behind back at 5 under, while Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. shot a 4-under 68 Thursday. He is in an 11-way tie for seventh place.

Taylor is playing in his first tournament on tour since the PGA restarted last month during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hadwin, who shot his eighth consecutive round in the 60s, is coming off a tie for fourth last week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., shot 2-under 70, while David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., carded a 71.

Hadwin bogeyed his first hole before reeling off seven birdies.

“Even the first two weeks back, I felt like I played some pretty decent golf. I just kind of made some rusty mistakes,” Hadwin said.

“I’d hit a ball out of bounds or in the water where I shouldn’t have or maybe try to get too much out of a shot, whereas I think last week it kind of came together. I was doing a lot of the similar things, but I didn’t make any of the mistakes. I felt like there were times where last week where I probably could have gotten a few more shots, but I really didn’t have any risk. It was kind of a free-flowing easy type round and just not a lot of stress. When you can do that through multiple weeks, it helps a lot.”

Taylor took time off as the tour restarted to be with his eight-month-old son.

“Obviously the break was great timing for a lot of reasons … Have a bit of a cushion, take some more time off, I just really enjoyed being home, so just waiting an extra few weeks, (it) was great to be home,” Taylor said. “Yeah, I’m excited to get back out here and play, but it was nice to be home.”

Chemical Engineering major and Canadian LPGA Tour golfer Brittany Marchand offers up a home schooling lesson on the science behind the golf swing.

Stuart Macdonald wasn’t quite sure what Golf Canada’s Derek Ingram wanted to talk about when he was called up to his hotel room in early January, but the men’s head coach was direct as soon as the conversation got going.

Ingram told Macdonald that he should fly out of Golf Canada’s training camp in Phoenix for the Monday qualifier at The Club at Weston Hills in Miami to try and enter the field for the Korn Ferry Tour’s Panama Championship, a sentiment echoed by fellow Canadian golfer Taylor Pendrith.

Macdonald made the trip and earned one of the two spots to play in Panama. He tied for 42nd in that tournament and has since played in the El Bosque Mexico Championship, the Utah Championship and last week’s TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes.

“If I didn’t Monday qualify for Panama and then get in and make a cut there who knows where I’d be right now,” said Macdonald, who will be playing in this week’s TPC San Antonio Challenge at the Canyons in Texas. “I’d probably be playing some mini-tour somewhere.”

Macdonald’s original plan for the season, before being redirected by Ingram, was to return to the PGA Tour China, which was scheduled to begin in March but has had its season derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ingram said Macdonald’s plans for 2020 had been on his mind for days before he actual sat the 25-year-old from Vancouver down for that fateful talk.

“I was thinking to myself ‘here’s a guy who can do it, he’s good enough,’ and yeah, there’s only four guys that can make the tournament out of 150 but, why not you?” said Ingram.

“I just sat him in my hotel room at our training camp in January and said ‘I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t be playing in that.”’

Macdonald is currently ranked 139th on the Korn Ferry Tour and was encouraged when he tied for 28th at the Utah Championship at the end of June. He’ll be joined by Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., in San Antonio this week and next – the TPC San Antonio club will host back-to-back tournaments on different courses.

Because of the golf season being suspended for several months by the global pandemic, the PGA Tour has determined that all players’ statuses, including Macdonald’s conditional status, will carry over until 2021, effectively giving him 18 months to qualify for either a full Korn Ferry Tour card or even make the PGA Tour.

`It’s really nice to think that I’ve got another 20-something events to do what I want to do and have a chance to work hard.” said Macdonald. “It’s a bit of relief because there’s so many guys right now that may be playing great golf but if you’re not playing on a PGA Tour sanctioned tour it’s not really getting you anywhere.”

As far as Ingram is concerned, there’s no reason why Macdonald won’t be able to succeed at the highest levels of professional golf.

“Ultimately, I see Stuart Macdonald as a PGA Tour player,” said Ingram, recalling the conversation in the hotel room. “You’re good enough to Monday qualify, to make cuts, and reshuffle, and make this tour full time.”