Golf Canada will host its 2025 Annual General Meeting on Thursday, March 6 utilizing a virtual format as the National Sport Federation looks ahead to the 2025 season.

The Annual Meeting brings together Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers as well as representatives from Canada’s provincial golf associations and other industry stakeholders.

The virtual meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. EST and will include the release of the Association’s 2024 Annual Report & Financial Statements. Click here for the Annual Report.

During the Annual Meeting, Golf Canada will introduce its 2025 Board of Directors including Adam Daifallah of Montreal as its 118th President.

Golf Canada will also celebrate outstanding contributions to the game of golf including a presentation of the 2024 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award and the appointment of new Honorary Life Governors. The Association will also announce the 2025 recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

1. Accept That Rust is Normal

Your swing might feel off, and that’s okay! Even the pros take time to get back into rhythm.

Expect some bad shots and inconsistent rounds early on. Focus on shaking off the rust instead of chasing perfect shots.

2. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Set small, realistic goals (e.g., “Hit more fairways” instead of “Shoot my lowest score”).

Track personal improvements rather than comparing yourself to others.

Find one key area to work on each round (e.g., driving accuracy, short game, or course management).

3. Start with Simple Practice Goals

Spend more time on short game (chipping & putting)—it’s the fastest way to lower scores.

Ease into full rounds by playing 9 holes before jumping into 18.

Play fun formats like best ball or scramble to remove pressure.

4. Enjoy the Game & The Outdoors

Appreciate being back on the course after winter. Fresh air, good company, and fun shots matter more than score.

Play with friends or family who help keep the game lighthearted.

Celebrate small wins—a great drive, solid chip, or long putt—even if your score isn’t perfect.

5. Don’t Let One Bad Shot Ruin Your Round

Every golfer, even pros, hits bad shots. Let them go quickly and focus on the next shot.

Try the “10-yard rule”—after 10 yards of walking, forget about the bad shot and move on.

6. Keep Your Expectations Realistic

If you didn’t play all winter, don’t expect mid-season form right away.

Improvement comes from consistent play and practice over time.

Remind yourself: The first few rounds are about getting comfortable, not setting records.

7. Play for Fun, Not Just Score

Try different game formats like match play, skins, or playing against your own past performance.

Use a positive mindset: Instead of thinking, “I have to play well,” think, “I get to play golf today!”

Would you like a printable checklist to help manage expectations and track your early-season progress? ⛳

Wright-Cassan wins Community Leader Award; Crooks wins
Future Leader Award following submission of nominations
from the Canadian golf community

Duo will be honoured during the RBC Hall of Fame Day in August at the CPKC Women’s Open

Oakville, ON – Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are pleased to announce that Susan Wright-Cassan of Thunder Bay, Ont. and Carly Crooks of Scarborough, Ont. have been named the 2024 recipients of the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards.

Following a national call for nominations to the Canadian golf community, Wright-Cassan and Crooks were identified by the selection committee as recipients of the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards. The recognition celebrates a pair of individuals who demonstrated excellence in using golf as a platform to positively impact their communities.

“On behalf of Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation, we are very proud to recognize Susan Wright-Cassan and Carly Crooks as our 2024 Lorie Kane Community Spirt Award recipients,” said David McCarthy, President, Golf Canada. “Nominations were brought forth from across the country highlighting the many contributions of passionate individuals who willingly give their time to inspire others through the game of golf. Congratulations to Susan and to Carly for this deserved honour and we thank them for their continued contributions to the sport in their communities.”

Wright-Cassan has been named the recipient of the 2024 Lorie Kane Community Leader Award, having made a significant impact in her community where she has been volunteering for over 20 years. Wright-Cassan currently serves as the President of Golf Manitoba and is a member of the Emerald Greens Golf Course and Driving Range in Thunder Bay, Ont. Wright-Cassan earned her community coaching certificate from First Tee and has been teaching junior golf and supporting the introductory First Tee – Canada program in Thunder Bay. Among her many contributions to the game, she has organized a variety of programming including “Golf in Schools” for over 1000 students, “Summer Camps for Kids”, the “Thunder Bay Queens”, “Try Golf Day” held in conjunction with the Thunder Bay Multi-Cultural Association and the Superior North Ladies Golf Association which has an outreach of 800 kms. Last year, Golf Manitoba presented Wright-Cassan with her 20-year volunteer certificate in recognition of her involvement with course rating in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

“I want to thank those that have supported me in my golf endeavors. I am honoured to be the recipient of the 2024 Lori Kane Community Leader Award. I must thank the people with the First Tee Program and Golf in School, those that I’ve met teaching at the junior and adult levels, playing at club and competitive levels and especially to those that without thinking of it, have encouraged myself and others,” said Susan Wright-Cassan. “This is a game that I love both to play and share my passion. It is a game for all ages, juniors through senior. The social aspects at all ages, the discipline, self-imposed applications of the rules, health benefits, friendships developed and maintained over the years, and other countless benefits are a few of the reasons that I and many others are involved with the game. The Lorie Kane Community Leader Award will fuel me to carry on with the programs I’m involved with.”

Crooks has been named the recipient of the 2024 Lorie Kane Future Leader Award. The 21-year-old has dedicated her summers to coaching with First Tee – Canada, both in her community and across Ontario. After completing training as a First Tee – Canada coach in 2023, Crooks has coached in First Tee – Canada programming at the RBC Canadian Open, Golf Ontario’s Indigenous Try it Day, All-Girls First Tee along with programming at Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Scarborough, Ont.

“Winning this award is so exciting, and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing people in my corner,” said Carly Crooks. “Shout out to my coach, Sean Burke, for always pushing me to be better, and to my parents for their endless support. My twin sister has been with me through everything, and I’m especially grateful to the First Tee – Ontario team for getting me involved.”

Wright-Cassan will receive a $5,000 donation from the Golf Canada Foundation to advance a golf program or golf-related initiative of her choice. Crooks will receive a $5,000 donation towards her post-secondary education. Wright-Cassan and Crooks will be honoured during the RBC Hall of Fame Day in August during the CPKC Women’s Open at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

Submissions for the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards were 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 Lorie Kane Community Leader Award celebrates individuals over the age of 19 with a demonstrated ability to lead community initiatives; who have contributed a measurable impact through volunteerism or charity; or have showcased excellence in their involvement with, or support of youth programs such as First Tee – Canada or other junior golf activities.

The Lorie Kane Future Leader Award honours a young individual 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 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards were named to honour the Canadian golf icon for a longstanding commitment to advancing the sport, charitable work and giving back to the game that defined her Hall of Fame career. Kane is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Canada Sports Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Order of Canada.

A call for nominations for the 2025 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards will go out later this year.

Trio will become the 87^th, 88^th and 89^th inductees to receive the highest honour in Canadian golf as part of RBC Hall of Fame Day during the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open

Purchase your tickets for the Hall of Fame day on August 19th below.

Purchase tickets

Oakville, ON – The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame announced today that accomplished amateur golfer Richard Scott, former professional golfer Jerry Anderson and renowned course architect Charles Blair Macdonald have been selected for 2025 induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Scott, 41, of Kingsville, Ont. and Anderson (posthumous) will be inducted into the players category, while Macdonald (posthumous) will be inducted into the builder category. The trio become the 87th, 88th and 89th honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

“The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Richard Scott, Jerry Anderson and Charles Blair Macdonald for election to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame,” said Harry Brotchie, Chair, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee. “Each of these individuals received substantial support in their nominations and full endorsement of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Each of them is unique in the contributions they have made to golf and are very deserving of this honour.”

Scott won the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship three times during his career, the first in 2003 and then back-to-back in 2005 and 2006. A graduate of Golf Canada’s National Team Program (2006), Scott is tied with Brent Franklin with three Canadian Men’s Amateur titles trailing only Doug Roxburgh and Nick Weslock with four, C.Ross (Sandy) Somerville with six and George S. Lyon with eight.

“It is a tremendous honour to be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Being included with the best of the best that Canadian golf has to offer is truly remarkable,” said Richard Scott. “I couldn’t have accomplished this without the love and support of my parents, Rick and Colleen Scott. I look forward to being part of the ceremony in August.”

Anderson was an accomplished professional golfer having won numerous tournaments across Canada and internationally on the European Tour (now DP World Tour). Born in Montreal, Que., Anderson became the first Canadian to win on the European Tour when he won the 1984 Ebel European Masters – Swiss Open. Anderson shot a record 27-under that stood for 19 years. Following his playing career, Anderson spent time as a teaching professional for close to 20 years, until he passed away on March 9, 2018, at the age of 62.

“On behalf of myself, my family and Jerry’s brothers, we are over the moon, happy and very proud Jerry has been selected for this special honour. Jerry was respected by and had close relationships with golfers at home and around the world on various global tours. He opened the door for Canadian golfers to play on tours in countries other than the United States and he was Canada’s Ambassador to golf, in a humble and unassuming manner,” said Barbara Anderson, wife of the late Jerry Anderson. “Thank you so much to the selection committee for bestowing this great honour to Jerry. To be selected and inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame is an elite honour and we are so grateful and proud.”

Born in Niagara Falls, Ont., Macdonald was an accomplished builder who is known for creating the term “golf course architect.” Macdonald designed the first 18-hole golf course in the United States, the Chicago Golf Club. He also helped found the United States Golf Association and won the inaugural U.S. Men’s Amateur Championship in 1895. Macdonald passed away April 21, 1939, at the age of 83.

“Our family is deeply grateful to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame for recognizing CB Macdonald’s pivotal role in bringing the great game of golf to North America and his impact on course design and golf history,” said Cathy Hartley, great-great-granddaughter of CB Macdonald. “His vision and artistry continue to inspire golfers today through the beauty and challenge of his courses. Seeing our great-great-grandfather honoured in this way is profoundly meaningful and we look forward to celebrating his legacy on August 26.”

Scott, Anderson and Macdonald will officially join the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony taking place during the RBC Hall of Fame Day as part of the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open which runs August 20-24 at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

RICHARD SCOTT

Richard Scott enjoyed a successful amateur career with several championships provincially, nationally and at the collegiate level. He was born in Kingsville, Ont. on October 2, 1983, and was a member of Golf Canada’s National Team Program for two years (2005-2006).

Scott’s early days in golf began at his local course, the Kingsville Golf and Country Club. He began his amateur career playing and winning several provincial tournaments with Golf Ontario. Wins included: Golf Ontario’s Club Link Tour (1998), Juvenile Division Championship (1999), Peterborough Tournament of Champions (1999), Junior Masters Championship (2000) and the Junior Tournament of Champions (2002).

On the national stage, Scott won the Juvenile Division to claim the Jack Bailey Trophy at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in 2000 and finished runner-up at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship two years later. In 2003, Scott won his first of three Canadian Men’s Amateur Championships, winning two more back-to-back in 2005 and 2006. Scott is tied with Canadian Golf Hall of Famer member Brent Franklin with three Canadian Men’s Amateur titles. Only fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famers, Doug Roxburgh and Nick Weslock (four), C.Ross Somerville (six) and George S. Lyon (eight) have won more.

Scott later attended the University of Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win two SEC Team Championships and the 2005 NCAA National Championship. Following his collegiate career, Scott turned professional and competed on the Canadian Tour (now PGA TOUR Americas) over four seasons, earning 10 top-10 finishes. He competed on the Web.com Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour) for two seasons and earned five top-10 finishes. Scott also competed in six RBC Canadian Opens during his career including 2006 where he finished T68 as the low amateur.

Scott retired from professional golf in 2013 at the age of 31. He was inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2019.

JERRY ANDERSON

Born in Montreal, Que., Jerry Anderson was one of Canada’s most successful touring professional golfers. His journey in golf began as a caddie in his home city before attending the University of Texas and later turned professional.

Anderson started his professional journey on the Canadian Tour (now PGA TOUR Americas) where he won several titles, including the Players Cup (1979), Manitoba Open (1979), Ontario Open (1979), back-to-back Saskatchewan Opens (1979, 1980) and Quebec Opens (1982, 1983). He also won the PGA of Canada Championship in 1987 and the Canadian Tour Players Championship in 1989. Anderson won the Canadian Tour Order of Merit three times in 1980, 1982 and 1989.

Anderson became the first Canadian to win on the European Tour (now DP World Tour), when he won the 1984 Ebel European – Swiss Masters. Anderson’s 27-under par score was a record on the European Tour that stood for 19 years until Ernie Els shot 29-under at the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic.

Anderson competed in 66 PGA TOUR events during his career and spent two full seasons on Tour in 1990 and 1992. He made 18 cuts and earned three top 25 finishes on the PGA TOUR. He competed in the RBC Canadian Open 12 times, making the cut in three tournaments, including a T15 finish in 1982. That same year, Anderson claimed the Rivermead Cup, finishing as the low Canadian, and he would earn that honour again in 1992 in his final RBC Canadian Open. He also won once on the Ben Hogan Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour), winning the 1991 Ben Hogan Texarkana Open. He finished fourth on the money list that year re-earning his PGA TOUR card for 1992.

Anderson also represented Canada on four occasions, in 1985 at the Alfred Dunhill Cup and at the World Cup in 1983, 1987 and 1989.

Following his playing career, Anderson moved to Cambridge, Ont. and became a PGA of Canada Class A Professional. He worked at Cambridge Golf Club, Ingersoll Golf and Country Club and finally with Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

Anderson passed away on March 9, 2018, at the age of 62. He was inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2002. He was later inducted into the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame in 2016 and posthumously into the PGA of Ontario Hall of Fame in 2020.

CHARLES BLAIR MACDONALD

Charles Blair Macdonald often referred to as the “Father of American Golf Course Architecture” was born in Niagara Falls, Ont. before moving with his family to Chicago. He later attended school in Scotland at the University of St. Andrews where he studied the game under the guidance of Old Tom Morris.

Macdonald later returned to North America and is credited with designing the first 18-hole golf course in the United States, the Chicago Golf Club following the addition of nine holes in 1893. Macdonald is also credited with designing the Old White Course at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, Mid-Ocean Club in Bermuda, the National Golf Links and Sleepy Hollow both in New York and the Yale University Golf Club amongst others.

As a player, Macdonald won the inaugural U.S. Amateur in 1895 at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island by a score of 12&11. Alongside Charles Hunter, Macdonald is credited with organizing the first Canada vs. United States tournament held at Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club in 1895. In addition, he authored the book, Scotland’s Gift: Golf, discussing golf in America, course designs and more.

Macdonald passed away April 21, 1939, at the age of 83. He has been inducted posthumously into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame (1989), the World Golf Hall of Fame (2007) and the Metropolitan Golf Association Hall of Fame (2020).

Netflix’s hit docuseries Full Swing returns for its third season, and this time, Canadian golf fans have even more reason to tune in. The show follows the journeys of some of the biggest names in the sport, and among them are two of Canada’s own—Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin.

The pair, both hailing from Abbotsford, B.C., have been linked throughout their careers, from their early junior golf days to their rise on the PGA Tour. The new season delves into their long-standing friendship, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their bond both on and off the course.

Their episode captures a mix of competitive spirit and camaraderie, with moments ranging from high-stakes tournament play to lighthearted scenes—like an attempt to track down a Vancouver Canucks game while on the road. The series showcases Taylor’s incredible success, including his unforgettable RBC Canadian Open victory, while also highlighting Hadwin’s pursuit of his own breakthrough moments.

Executive producer Chad Mumm describes this season as deeply character-driven, aiming to appeal not just to golf enthusiasts but to a broader audience as well. The inclusion of Taylor and Hadwin adds a unique Canadian angle to the show, emphasizing their journey, challenges, and the mutual support that has defined their careers.

While the season builds towards the drama of the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, the journey itself is what makes their story compelling. Whether it’s the thrill of competition or the shared moments along the way, Full Swing provides an intimate look at what it takes to succeed at the highest level—while never forgetting where it all began.

Elegant, modern classics. Pick whatever description you’d like, but FootJoy continues to knock it out of the park – for everything from feet on the fairway to all-weather wearables – every year.

For 2025, look for FootJoy gear from top to bottom to provide golfers with shoes, outerwear, polos, and even socks and belts that boast tour-proven performance.

No matter the weather conditions, you’ll be able to trust FootJoy to keep you dry and comfortable, and of course, very stylish.

As 2025 chugs along, be sure to keep an eye out for limited edition pieces and special collabs (like 2024’s alongside menswear designer Todd Snyder) to be sprinkled in throughout the spring and summer, while a brand-new Canada Collection will be coming in June – set to be FootJoy’s best ever.

FootJoy will also launch its new Premiere Series Packard and Packard LX, along with FIELD LX footwear (the Premiere Series is a tasty nod to the past, looks-wise, while chalk full of new tech for modern golfers), new FUEL and Traditions footwear, plus elite HydroSeries rainwear – for the ultimate protection and performance, no matter the weather – and a new Sci-Flex glove, engineered to provide golfers the ultimate in feel and performance with unmatched flexibility, comfort, and breathability.

But the big story for FootJoy in 2025 is the launch of its new HyperFlex golf shoes.

FootJoy has been the No. 1 shoe on the PGA Tour for 80 consecutive years because of its singular dedication to the game of golf – and its relentless commitment to style, comfort, performance innovation, and quality. For 2025, FootJoy is introducing what it calls “radical updates” to the HyperFlex line of golf shoes.

“I’ve worn a classic, structured shoe for pretty much my entire career – Classics, Icon, Premiere, etc. – but I had to make a switch when I tried this HyperFlex,” said 15-time PGA Tour winner, Justin Thomas. “This shoe is perfect – super comfortable and flexible in the right areas but also gives me all the support I need to make a strong, confident move on the ball.”

The new HyperFlex is powered by FootJoy’s own TruFit system, providing easy-on flexibility and wrap-around-heel support for a locked in, secure fit, while FootJoy’s StratoFOAM cushioning delivers support and comfort specifically designed for golfers.

The OptiFlex outsole design helps to promote stability where needed, with strategically placed angles of traction devised, again, with the golfer in mind.

For 2025, the HyperFlex boasts a new outsole PowerPlate which transfers energy to the ground to help maximize speed by resisting twisting through the golf swing.

“We wanted to ensure that Hyperflex represented the pinnacle expression in athletic golf performance,” said Dan Buonomo, Product Manager, FJ Footwear. “Our focus remains on the discerning golfer and understanding what their needs are from a styling, comfort and golf specific performance perspective, which you’ll see in the new HyperFlex.”

So, no matter how you play – or the conditions you’re playing in – there is going to be some great-performing FootJoy gear for you in 2025.

24 professionals join the previously announced 28 amateur golfers to complete the Team Canada roster for the 2025 season

Emerging Professional Players of the Year Award,
presented by Andrew Cook announced

OAKVILLE, ON – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the names of 24 professional athletes that will be part of the 2025 men’s and women’s Team Canada squads.

The Team Canada program supports a group of experienced amateur golfers on the path towards professional golf along with a group of young professional golfers who are building their careers as touring pros. Athletes are selected based on results from the previous calendar year. The professional players will join the seven women and two men previously selected to Team Canada as amateurs in addition to the Team Canada – NextGen members that were announced last fall.

With players choosing to turn professional at different points in the season, an athlete’s involvement in the Team Canada program including financial support continues during their transition from amateur to professional golf. 

“We are proud to announce our full roster of professional and amateur players for the upcoming season and look forward to supporting their development and journeys to the LPGA and PGA TOUR,” said Emily Phoenix, Director of High Performance, Golf Canada. “The continued success of Canadian golf would not be possible without our generous donors and corporate partners who share our passion for supporting our nation’s developing talent.”

The women’s professional team features eight returning players including: Brigitte Thibault, Brooke Rivers, Ellie Szeryk, Leah John, Maddie Szeryk, Monet Chun, Savannah Grewal and Yeji Kwon. Also joining the pro group this season is Anna Huang who announced her decision to turn pro last month. Huang will remain on the Team Canada – NextGen squad this season.

Four team members won last season, two of which before they turned professional. John won three times in her senior year at the University of Nevada. Chun was the co-medalist in the Big Ten Championship and added one additional win to close her collegiate career at the University of Michigan. Ellie Szeryk won her first professional event, claiming the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series which also earned her an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open, where she made the cut. Kwon was also victorious, winning the Genesis of Conway Central Arkansas Open as part of the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour. Thibault, Rivers, John, Maddie Szeryk, and Chun will all be competing on the Epson Tour this season while Grewal re-earned her LPGA Tour card for 2025.

The men’s professional team features 15 returning players for the upcoming season including: AJ Ewart, Brady McKinlay, Brendan MacDougall, Chris Crisologo, Étienne Papineau, Jared du Toit, Joey Savoie, Johnny Travale, Matthew Anderson, Myles Creighton, Noah Steele, Piercen Hunt, Stuart Macdonald, Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Thomas Giroux.

Last season, Anderson won the ECP Brazil Open, Macdonald won the Diners Club Peru Open and Ewart won the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open, all on PGA TOUR Americas. Ewart added another win at the Sandpiper Open as part of the Vancouver Golf Tour. The 2025 season got off to a strong start for Yellamaraju, who won The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour. Yellamaraju along with Papineau, Anderson, Creighton and Macdonald will be competing on the Korn Ferry Tour this season. Ewart, Macdougall, Crisologo, Savoie, Steele and Giroux all have status on PGA TOUR Americas for 2025.

Team Canada – Women

(In addition to the seven players selected during the amateur selection process in the fall)

Team Canada – Men

(In addition to the two players selected during the amateur selection process in the fall)

As previously announced, the coaching staff for the men’s and women’s Team Canada squads will return in full for the 2025 season. Team Canada – Women will be led by Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach Salimah Mussani (Vancouver, B.C.) and Associate Coach Jennifer Greggain (Deep Bay, B.C.). The Women’s Team is supported by Mental Performance Coach Judy Goss (Toronto, Ont.) as well as Strength and Conditioning Coach Andrea Kosa (Calgary, Alta.).

Team Canada – Men will be led by Head Coach Derek Ingram (Winnipeg, Man.) and Assistant Coaches Louis Melanson (Moncton, N.B.) and Benoit Lemieux (Montréal, Que.), along with Mental Performance Coach Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood (Winnipeg, Man.) and Strength and Conditioning Coach Greg Redman (Kelowna, B.C.).

For full Team Canada bios and additional information, please click here.

For the Team Canada – NextGen and Team Canada amateur squad announcement, please click here.

Golf Canada’s player development program provides individualized training and competition support to athletes on their journey to the LPGA and PGA TOUR. National team coaches work with athletes and their personal support teams to develop annual training plans and identify areas where impact can be made to help athletes improve in all areas of their game. Athletes are also supported by a comprehensive sport science team that includes mental performance, physical conditioning, and mental health supports. The players are brought together regularly for training camps where they receive support from national team coaches and sport science staff, and train with their peers. Team Canada members also receive access to training hubs in Phoenix, Ariz. and the recently opened facility at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville, Fla. where they can train and live during the winter months.

Team Canada is proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Hilton, Puma, Foresight, Golf Canada Foundation and Sport Canada.

EMERGING PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Golf Canada Foundation is also proud to announce Savannah Grewal and Matthew Anderson as the recipients of the Emerging Professional Players of the Year Award, presented by Andrew Cook for the 2024 season. In 2020, Andrew Cook, a proud trustee of the Golf Canada Foundation, and past president of Golf Canada, established a $20,000 annual fund to recognize a top male and top female emerging Canadian professional golfer. Past recipients include current PGA TOUR member Taylor Pendrith, Korn Ferry Tour members Wil Bateman and Stuart Macdonald, and LPGA Tour members Maude-Aimee Leblanc and Maddie Szeryk.

“We are pleased to name Savannah and Matthew as the Emerging Professional Players of the Year,” said Martin Barnard, CEO of the Golf Canada Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to Andrew Cook for his continued support of the Team Canada program and this annual award. It makes a huge difference to help our players on their journey to the highest levels of professional golf.”

Grewal, who has now won the award in back-to-back years, competed in 21 events on the LPGA Tour in 2024, making 10 cuts and earning a T4 finish at the Blue Bay LPGA in March. Grewal retained her LPGA Tour card for 2025 after finishing in the top 100 in the Race to CME Globe standings.

Anderson enjoyed a successful season on PGA TOUR Americas, earning six top-10 finishes including one win along with a runner-up and two third place finishes, while making 14 cuts in 16 events. Anderson was the top Canadian on PGA TOUR Americas and finished third on the season-long points race to earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2025.

It’s funny to think that a container that has a singular purpose – holding liquid – could have differing levels of measured success.

Turns out, when you’re Yeti, you take that particular job very seriously.

And for years, Yeti has been doing that better than anyone.

For 2025, Yeti has a collection of top-tier vessels that are perfect for the golf course, the gym, the office, the pool party, the backyard, travelling, and more.

No matter what you need or what you’re doing this year, be sure to bring a Yeti along for the ride.

RAMBLER COLSTER CAN INSULATOR

The 473 ml size is the perfect fit for beer cans (like a tall Sleeman Clear 2.0) keeping each sip just as good as the first. A new Load-and-Lock gasket requires just an easy quarter-turn to secure your drink in place while the double-wall vacuum insulation keeps drinks cold, always. Available in seven colours and three different sizes.

RAMBLER POUR OVER

For the coffee lovers, there’s nothing better than a hot, smooth cup – no matter the setting. Yeti combined the classic pour over shape with its stainless steel insulation for an ultra-durable base camp brewer that keeps your coffee hot pour after pour. Available in four colours.

YONDER WATER BOTTLE

The new Yonder water bottle was specifically designed to be both lightweight and shatter resistant. The Yonder is BPA-free and crafted from 50 percent recycled plastic. It’s 100 percent leakproof, meaning no matter how far you’re going, you can trust the Yonder to come along, too. Available in four sizes and four colours.

YETI SHOT GLASSES

Stack, pack, and knock one back! The Yeti shot glasses come in a package of four that are packable together in its portable carrying container and are double-wall insulated. Whether it’s a post-birdie toast or a match-winning celebration, go bottoms up with Yeti. Available in six colours. 

YETI FLASK

Made for pocket-sized adventures, the Yeti flask is tough, portable, and stealthy so then you can sneak in a sip of the good stuff. Available in six colours and all include a funnel to make sure you avoid a mess of the liquid love.

HOPPER FLIP SOFT COOLER

Leakproof, tough-as-nails yet soft. The wide-mouth opening means it’s never been easy to load and access your food and drinks. The compact, cubed body means you can take it on the water, to the camp site, or the backyard putting green while the extreme insulation means ice stays ice cold. Available in three sizes and four colours.

Filmmakers Brittney Gavin and Amy Mielke’s documentary, “Apex: The Black Masters” features interviews with 44 people. But Gavin says the main character of the film does not have a speaking role.

It’s the community itself.

The Apex Invitational Golf Tournament was the first Black golf tournament in Nova Scotia and began as a small affair in Truro. It’s grown considerably, having celebrated its 50th anniversary last summer after starting with just 10 participants.

Gavin and Mielke and a camera crew were along for the ride.

“I’m happy it came through that we wanted to make the community the main character. So many people have added their little piece, and that’s the reason why (the tournament) has been able to exist for 50 years,” Gavin says.

In Truro, there are three Black communities that are geographically different but socially intertwined – the Island, the Hill, and the Marsh. The film focuses on the Island, as the golf course is in the backyard of the people who live there. The district got its nickname, the Island (not to be confused with Prince Edward Island, as was affirmed and re-affirmed in the film) because it was often isolated by flooding during periods of heavy rain. 

“Golf is intertwined into their lives and the community and in the film there are shots that will show (that). The film is about that relationship between the golf course and the community that has evolved quite a bit over time,” Gavin says.

Gavin has a personal connection to the two-day event, having known about it for her entire life. Her birthday is Aug. 9, and says her mother was, at nine months pregnant, at the golf tournament the weekend before Gavin’s birth – since it’s always the first weekend of August. Filming the documentary Gavin was eight months pregnant herself, she said in a recent interview with the CBC, so it was a full circle moment for her.

Gavin, a Halifax-based filmmaker, doesn’t golf. And while the documentary’s main thread is about the golf tournament itself – and it even weaves in results from the 50th playing of the event – the focus is really on the people involved.

With a laugh, Gavin says she “for sure” thought there would be plenty of conversations with golf enthusiasts. But one of the first people she spoke with, Jude Clyke (who is one of the tournament committee members) said – and it is repeated on camera – that he doesn’t “give a damn” about golf.

“That had to make the film, of course,” Gavin says, smiling. “There are people who go to the tournament who have never played golf, don’t care about golf. But for them, and the folks that attend year after year, it really is about that community homecoming.”

Over five decades the tournament itself has evolved, of course, and now includes a very important scholarship portion to the weekend’s festivities. Local community members have raised $113,000 for students in the area to help with post-secondary education. More than 140 scholarships have been given out.

“If nothing else, knowing that your community backs you in your future endeavors is just so important. The committee is very proud of the scholarship fund. It’s very much a priority of the tournament now and has become a piece (that has made it) more than about golf.”

The film intertwines stories of the past with a lookahead to the future. But, perhaps, the most poignant of all is a full-circle moment when the club – founded in 1905 – holds a reconciliation ceremony with the community and makes Darrell Maxwell, the founder of the tournament and who is now 74, just the 16th honorary member in its history.

The Black community was originally barred from playing the course. That could have held them back, but Maxwell – and so many others – would, for example, just go to the course and play as many holes as they could starting at 5 a.m. before it opened officially. Even now, Gavin says, some of the older-generation golfers drive right-handed but putt left-handed – because a left-handed putter was all that was available to them to use.

“I can’t even imagine how long overdue that must have felt. Just from my perspective as a filmmaker we weren’t sure if the golf course would be interested in telling the story as it happened. It was obviously unflattering. The president had to take accountability for policies he obviously wasn’t a part of. I was just happy that the golf course wanted to tell the same story as us, and the golf course wanted to tell the history as it happened,” Gavin says. “With the Black community, we’re often used to those topics being skirted around. For someone to affirm it, that was incredibly positive.

“For a lot of folks from the Island, it felt long overdue.”

The documentary, which is now streaming on CBC Gem, was both a passion project and an important piece of history for Gavin. And she’s so thrilled that the main character, the community, got its most-deserving spotlight.

“We did those 44 interviews […] I’ve never experienced that in the film world and people who were able to speak so naturally to the camera,” Gavin says. “But when you really care about something and you’re passionate about something it just comes easy.”

How does the No. 1 Ball in Golf continue to get better year-after-year?

Well, 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the iconic Titleist Pro V1 (with its sibling product, the Pro V1x not far behind) and it’s a product that continues to out-perform itself with each passing season – in the most impressive of ways.

A quarter-century of breakthrough ball innovation came with the new Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x (which was introduced in 2003) golf ball launch in October. The balls have, over the last 25 years, been played in competition on the PGA Tour more than six times the nearest competitor. The challenge for the Titleist R&D department over the last two-plus decades, however, has remained constant: How do you make the best performing, most consistent golf balls in the game even better?

The team works through a collaborative process that has no beginning or end – it’s rooted in continuous feedback, rigorous testing, world-class manufacturing, and then performance validation.

“The Pro V1 responded to the changing nature of the game,” says Mary Lou Bohn, President, Titleist Golf Balls, of the initial launch in 2000.

“If you look at the early success of players who achieved record-setting performances, the results spoke for themselves.” 

The new Pro V1 and Pro V1x is the big equipment story for Titleist, a long-time Golf Canada partner, in 2025 and the new golf balls are chalk full of little improvements to help golfers – no matter their skill level.

They’re both engineered to deliver more speed off the tee, more spin with the wedges, and more control with the irons. All the new models boast a faster high gradient core – re-worked to maintain low long-game spin, increase ball speed, and add spin on shots into and around the greens.

Both the Pro V1 and Pro V1x have similar durability (and are very similar off the tee) but the Pro V1x spins more on iron and wedge shots into the green and the Pro V1 has a softer overall compression (Pro V1x is firmer because of its dual core construction).

“The golf ball has to do everything,” says Frederick Waddell, Titleist’s Director of Golf Ball Product Management. “Each of our golf ball models is optimized for distance off the tee, and with 2025 Pro V1 and Pro V1x in particular, we’ve realized a speed gain while unlocking even better iron and wedge performance. All of which will help players shoot lower scores.”

Other new products from Titleist in the early part of 2025 include new Scotty Cameron Studio Style putters (12 models available and dubbed the, “most significant re-design” of the Scotty Cameron blade putter offering in recent history) and the launch of the all-new GT1 driver, fairway wood, and hybrid (an ultra-lightweight configuration designed to deliver fast ball speeds, high launch, and increased stability), while new Titleist irons are set to come out in August.