Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is proud to announce the names of 29 amateur athletes named to the 2025 men’s and women’s Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen squads.

Golf Canada’s National Team program supports a group of experienced amateurs on the path towards playing professional golf along with a group of young professional golfers building their careers as touring pros. The program provides individualized training and competition support with a goal to help advance 30 Canadian athletes to the LPGA and PGA TOUR by 2032.

Athletes are selected based on results from the previous season (September 2023-August 2024), with the Team Canada – NextGen program also considering performance at Golf Canada’s annual Selection Camps. Professional players that will be part of the 2025 Team Canada squad will be announced at a later date, upon the completion of Qualifying Tournaments.

“Golf Canada is proud to announce the amateur athletes that will be part of our 2025 Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen squads and we look forward to supporting their continued development in the journey to competing on the LPGA and PGA TOUR,” said Emily Phoenix, Director, High Performance, Golf Canada. “Our collective heartfelt thanks as well to the generous Golf Canada Foundation donors who continue to support the player development program as well as our corporate partners who play a critical role in allowing Canada’s top golfing athletes to compete at the highest levels of our sport.”

National Team coaches work with Team Canada athletes and their personal support teams to develop annual training plans and identify areas to impact athlete growth in all areas of their game. Athletes are also supported by a comprehensive sport science team that includes mental performance, physical conditioning, and mental health supports. Players are brought together regularly for training camps with national team coaches and sport science staff. The Team Canada – NextGen program also supports juniors and young amateurs who are pursuing collegiate golf as a competitive pathway.

The coaching staff for the men’s and women’s Team Canada squads will return in full for the 2025 season. Team Canada – Men will be led by Derek Ingram (Winnipeg, Man.) and Assistant Coaches Louis Melanson (Moncton, N.B.) and Benoit Lemieux (Montréal, Que.). They will be joined by Mental Performance Coach Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood (Winnipeg, Man.) and Strength & Conditioning Coach Greg Redman (Kelowna, B.C.). Team Canada Women will be led by Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach Salimah Mussani (Vancouver, B.C.) along with Associate Coach Jennifer Greggain (Vancouver, B.C.), Strength & Conditioning Coach Andrea Kosa (Calgary, Alta.) and and a mental performance coach that will be added following an ongoing recruitment process. 

The Team Canada – Women’s and Men’s squads provide support to developing professionals and amateur players who are on track to turn professional in the near future. The Women’s Amateur Team is led by 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. Kim won The Peloton Glencoe Invitational as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series this summer, earning a spot in the field at the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. Katie Cranston and Nicole Gal, both of Oakville, Ont. return for their fifth seasons with the program. Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont. returns for her fourth season while there are three newcomers for 2025. Tillie Claggett (Calgary, Alta.) joins the team and is in her Junior year at Vanderbilt University. Making the jump up from Team Canada – NextGen (Girls) are Vanessa Borovilos (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Vanessa Zhang (Vancouver, B.C.). Both Borovilos and Zhang were part of Team Canada’s historical win at the 2023 World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Borovilos is in her first year at Texas A&M University, while Zhang finished T3 at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship this summer and is currently in her first year at Harvard University.

The 2025 Men’s squad will be composed of a group of professionals to be named later in 2024 and features two amateurs, 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. and Hunter Thomson of Calgary, Alta. This past season, McCulloch won the Johnnie-O at Sea Island as well as finishing as runner-up at the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and third at the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational. McCulloch, a Senior at Michigan State University, also competed at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open and the 2024 U.S. Open. Thomson won individual honours at the 2024 Canadian Collegiate Invitational earning an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. Thomson also won the Palmas del Mar Collegiate tournament in February and moves up from the NextGen squad to the Men’s Team for 2025.

Team Canada – Women

Professionals to be added following LPGA Q-Series.

Team Canada – Men

 Professionals to be added following PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

The Team Canada – NextGen coaching staff is led by Boys Head Coach Robert Ratcliffe (Qualicum Beach, B.C.) and Assistant Coach Darcy Dhillon (Calgary, Alta.). They will be joined by Mental Performance Coach Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons (King, Ont.) and Strength & Conditioning Coach Dr. Mike Kay (Phoenix, AZ).

Jeff MacDonald (Chester, N.S.) has been promoted to Team Canada – NextGen Girls Head Coach and will be supported by Assistant Coach Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alta.). Over the past two years, MacDonald has led Team Canada to back-to-back podium finishes at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, winning in 2023 and finishing as runners-up earlier this month. They will be joined by Mental Performance Coach Justin Fredette (Winnipeg, Man.) and Strength and Conditioning Coach Dr. Emily Wiggin (Dartmouth, N.S.). Tristian Mullally of Dundas, Ont. will continue as the Head of National Talent Identification overseeing the national talent identification system that was established in 2022. In this role, Mullally provides support to a promising group of younger junior golfers (11 – 16 years old) and their existing coaching teams to grow the pool of future Team Canada prospects.

Team Canada – NextGen (Boys) features four returning players including 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship winner, Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont., Golf Ontario Men’s Amateur and Golf Ontario Spring Classic winner Matthew Javier of North York, Ont., B.C. Amateur back-to-back winner Cooper Humphreys from Vernon, B.C. and Ethan Wilson of St. Albert, Alta. They will be joined by six newcomers who were all victorious this season including Charlie Gillespie of Calgary, Alta. (NextGen Western Championship), Antoine Jasmin of Blainville, Que. (Golf Performance Center Killington Junior Golf Championship), Austin Krahn of Christina Lake, B.C. (Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp, B.C. Indigenous Championship, B.C. Junior Boys Championship), Braxton Kuntz of Winnipeg, Man. (Manitoba Men’s Amateur Championship), Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. (RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier) and Jager Pain from Woodbridge, Ont. (NextGen Ontario Championship).

Team Canada – NextGen (Girls) features five members of Team Canada from the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Shauna Liu from Maple, Ont., captured the title at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO and the Team Canada -NextGen Selection Camp tournament to secure her place on the 2025 NextGen squad. Liu added a third title of the year at the AJGA’s CDW Girls Junior All-Star Championship. Joining Liu are her World Junior Girls Team Canada teammates Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. and Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. Both Lin and Deng have won twice this season on the AJGA. Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. joins the program after winning ten tournaments this season including the inaugural U15 Canadian Championship and three Ontario provincial titles. Park was part of Team Canada 2 at the WJG Golf Championship. Teammate Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. returns for her second year in the program and won the NextGen Pacific Championship and once on the AJGA. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. returns for her second year and won four times in 2024 including the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series, the NextGen Ontario Championship and two AJGA tournaments. Two other players return this year including Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. and Swetha Sathish of Oakville, Ont. Two new additions include two-time AJGA winner, Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. and Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C. who won once on the AJGA in 2024, and finished T3 at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO.

Team Canada – NextGen (Boys)

Team Canada – NextGen (Girls)

For full Team Canada athlete and coach bios along with additional information, please click here.

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

2024 was a year of evolution and growth for Golf Canada’s She Plays Golf festival and the related Championship Series.

Fuelled by a successful pilot across the city of Calgary in June of 2023, She Plays Golf expanded to two further sites – BC and Ontario – in 2024. June and July saw a total of 23 events at 18 golf facilities across the cities of Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.

When all was said and done, She Plays Golf reached over 800 Women and Girls from coast to coast. This included:

585 direct participants in festival programming, of which 152 were junior girls. 61 volunteers and 28 coaches had the opportunity to make their mark as well, introducing women and girls to the sport and supporting all facets of the operation.

A further 170 female players partook in the She Plays Golf Championship Series, with six being granted exemption into the CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club.

Festival programming was carefully designed to deliver a safe, welcoming and judgment-free environment for female players right from first picking up a club, and the championship series was intended to address gaps in the high-performance area of the participation pathway.

“I was very impressed with the quality of the event – from how well organized it was, to the quality of instruction, to the extent of the volunteers and how friendly and supportive they were” – Tanya Kensington, Vancouver.

While much of the core tenants remained intact from the original 2023 festival, there were a handful of notable additions for 2024.  

The She Plays Golf Championship series was a compelling introduction in 2024. Like with the Glencoe Invitational in the 2023 pilot, each festival was anchored by a 54-hole women’s golf championship, with a field of 60 professionals and elite amateurs. They included the GOLFBC Group BC Women’s Open at Pitt Meadows Golf Club and the Ororo Women’s Championship of Canada at TPC Toronto. These two championships, along with the 2024 Glencoe Invitational, formed the inaugural She Plays Golf Championship series and constituted the high-performance portion of the festival. She Plays Golf festival participants at each site were extended invitations to the final round of their local tournament, allowing them to witness the skill level of the women competing.

The top two finishers at each of the series stops received an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. All six were Team Canada members– Lauren Kim (A) and Anna Huang (A) at the Calgary event, Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers in Vancouver and Michelle Xing (A) and Katie Cranston (A) in Toronto.

Also new for 2024 was the introduction of the RBC Women’s Leadership Networking Series. Each event was held at an indoor golf facility within the three festival regions, providing participants with an opportunity to gain insight from fellow female leaders via panel discussions and to build connections through golf in an enjoyable, low-pressure environment. The overarching theme was networking through the sport and instilling confidence to participate in future corporate golf events. 250 female leaders participated across the three sites, along with an impressive selection of moderators and panelists throughout the Canadian sport industry. 

After a successful scramble event during the 2023 pilot, the Learn to Scramble events were also implemented in 2024 at all three festival sites. The initiative was designed to allow female golfers to transition from the Try Golf stage to the golf course in a low-pressure, 9-hole team scramble. Each Learn to Scramble session took place on a Par-3 Course with volunteers on each hole to support participants with rules and course etiquette, and encourage skill and confidence building alongside peers at a similar golf level.

“This event was absolutely First Class. I’m so happy I got the opportunity to attend, and wouldn’t hesitate to attend a future event. Loved it” – Julie Ingram, Vancouver.

For the second consecutive year, the Calgary festival hosted a Women in Golf Leadership Luncheon, bringing together industry leaders for an afternoon of networking, brainstorming and community-building.

Following the lead of the pilot festival in 2023, each 2024 site featured 2-3 Jr. Girls Tee it Up and Women’s Try Golf clinics. Each beginner golf clinic. included programming tailored to junior girls and adult women respectively, introducing the fundamental skills of putting, chipping and full swing in a fun and social setting. Community partners such as Girls in Sport and Fast and Female were brought into Jr. Girls Tee it Up sessions to focus on the importance of participation in sport as a means of building confidence and self esteem.

“This was a very fun experience for my daughter and great for her to play golf with other girls!” – Jennifer Klinger, Calgary.

The first multi-festival season brought forth an influx of positive feedback and takeaways. Post event survey results indicated that clinics were successful in terms of creating a welcoming, judgment free environment where participants were able to give the sport a try and connect with other women. 98% of participants polled stated that they felt comfortable and welcome at She Plays Golf events.

In addition to providing a positive experience, the festival was also successful in terms of securing future interest in the sport. 76% of respondents indicated that they would be very likely to participate in golf post-event, while 77% would be very likely to attend a future She Plays Golf festival. A further 60% of participants felt they connected with other participants during or after the event they attended, speaking to the effectiveness of the community building element of She Plays Golf.

“This was truly a special event. Golf has been so insular and exclusionary for so long that seeing events like this to change the narrative and expand the game is so important in developing the growth of the game and the world in general. So I thank you so much for putting this together, I can see how much this means to these women,” Jamaal Edwards, Ontario.

Looking ahead to 2025, the program rollout in 2024 opens the door to continued growth, including opportunities to add festival sites, engage provincial golf associations and member clubs, introduce merchandise and continuing to build a community of female golfers and industry leaders in Canada.

Be sure to follow Golf Canada socials to remain up to date on exciting announcements for 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Shaun Denholm, Cornwall Golf and Country Club, Hole #18

I was playing with Kibby Lutz, Tilton Donahee and Andre Poirier. It happened on hole #18 at Cornwall Golf and Country Club, a 135 yard, par 3 with a 7 iron. Pitched on front of green and rolled 12 feet into the hole.

Kelly Bleau, Storey Creek Golf Club, Hole #13

My first ever hole-in-one at Storey Creek Golf Course. Hole #13 from about 108 yards out and I used an 8 iron. I was playing with Shelly Boates and Laurel Scott. As the ball hit the fringe of the green and started to roll toward the pin we started yelling for it to go in, and it did, prompting a fair amount of celebration on the tee box!

Jacob Robinson, Sturgeon Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

I was playing in the final of our season long match with my partner Stu Murphy. It was on hole #12 from 169 yards. I hit an 8 iron and was lucky enough to see it one hop into the hole.

Anthony Squarciotta, Scarlett Woods Golf Club, Hole #5

It was truly an astonishing day. Played 36 holes that day. My first 18 holes was at Don Valley, finished around 1:20 pm and decided to check the tee sheet at Scarlett Woods (haven’t played any city courses up to this point, other than Dentonia). I got the 2:40 pm tee time and headed on down to Scarlett Woods. Joined as a single, played with three others. Walking up to the fifth, the wind was pretty calm. 97 yards to the pin from the back tees, hit a perfect 58 degree wedge, one hopped, side spin and the ball disappeared. A lot of disbelief but it was amazing. My group were mostly beginners so they thought they had to buy me drinks, sadly I had to treat!

Paul Leslie, Cordova Bay Golf Course, Hole #4

Hole #4 at Cordova Bay Golf Course is a moderately downhill par 3. On this day it was playing 176 yards to a pin cut in the centre right side of the green. I hit a 5 iron well but not pure directly at the pin. It took two hops on the front of the green and tracked directly into the hole. I saw the ball disappear but refused to believe it was in the hole until I confirmed it was in the bottom of the cup. I’m only a tiny bit superstitious but what a day to score my first hole-in-one! My playing parters on the day were Lindsay Hall and Owen Taylor.

Bilal Haffejee, Lake Joseph Golf Club, Hole #15

Hole #15, scoped at 176 yards and used a 6 iron. Played with and witnessed by Paul Laverne and Bob Mongia.

Chris Wheaton, Memramcook (Parc de la Vallee de), Hole #17

I was golfing with my 13-year-old son Liam. It was on hole #17 at the Memramcook Valley Golf Course. I hit an 8 iron from 165 yards, a slight draw that slammed into the hole on the second bounce. Liam was so excited that he sprinted to the green to make sure it was in the hole! What made it even cooler is that it helped me play my best round of the year, a two under 70. It was also the first time this year I beat Liam, who shot 72. Super special moment to have him witness it.

Matthew Abrahams, Bayview Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

The hole was 204 yards and I used a 5 iron. I was playing with my dad and Riley O’Brien. The crazy coincidence is that my dad, who has been playing golf for 30+ years, got his first hole-in-one a few months ago on the same hole! 

Jess Murray, CFB Borden Golf Club, Hole #11

I was playing as part of the LPGA Amateur – Barrie Chapter league. This round was our final round of the season, so it was well timed to get a hole-in-one and with a great group of women. Hole #11 at Borden was playing about 134 yards from the red tees and I played my Titliest 8 iron. While we thought the ball went in the hole, we weren’t sure until we walked up (it was very sunny). I had a few spectators, including a group of men that came over from the 14th green, which was fun. We had peach schnapps to celebrate (not my drink of choice but Kim my playing partner had some, so thanks Kim!)

Fraser MacKenzie, Islington Golf Club, Hole #10

My first hole-in-one was on hole #10 at Islington Golf Club which just so happens to be the club I work at as an assistant professional! I was playing with my best friend who moved to Florida about two years ago to become a commercial pilot. We grew up playing golf together which made this moment even more special. Hole #10 at Islington, in my opinion, is one of the best par three’s in the Greater Toronto Area. It was playing 225 yards which is a perfect number for my 4 iron, sure enough it was the perfect shot and ended up dropping in the cup with my boss on the patio hearing the whole thing. Very surreal experience and a moment I will remember forever!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pendrith knows that feeling.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Karen Storwick, The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

My hole-in-one was on the sixth hole, Bridges course, it was 60 yards and I used a utility club. I was playing with my husband, Jason Magnan, and another couple, “The Smiths”.

Bruce Knight, Camelot Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

135 yards and used a 9 iron. Pin was in the swell so I hit it past and it backed into the hole. The unfortunate thing was I was the first tee time. So there was no one in the clubhouse to enjoy my beer with. The tab remained open after I left.

Bernie Haines, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club, Hole #4

150 yards and used a 7 iron. Pin was in the front right corner. Base of the pin blocked by a small mount in front of the green. We knew it was close, but never seen it actually roll into the hole. As we approach the green Janet and I did not see the ball. My immediate thought was that I went long into the bunker on the left side of the green. Janet then pointed out a ball mark on the green just in front of the pin. I walked over to the hole and notice my ball in the hole with my capital “h” marking. It was my fifth hole-in-one. I’ve had an Albatross back in the 90’s at a different course. Group was Shane Davis, Janet Laus and Celine Parent.

I would like to mention that St. Catharine’s Golf and Country Club are very good at recognizing their members who get a hole-in-one. You are invited to their year end banquet and awards night and presented with an award. Very classy.

Ken Robertson, Prince George Golf Club, Hole #10

I was playing with a random couple that had room in their group. I used an 8 iron from 159 yards.

Rob Davis, Cardinal Lakes Golf Club, Hole #16

I was playing in the Niagara area pro-am at Cardinal Lakes. My pro was Chuck Gates from Willodell Golf Club of Niagara and my other playing partners were Frank Girhiny and John Juhlke. I got the hole-in-one on hole #16, a par 3 playing 148 yards and I hit an 8 iron.

Todd Pearson, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #7

It was 161 yards slight uphill to a back pin. My Callaway Apex MB 7 iron is my 165 club. I backed it up two club lengths on the tee box to take going over the green out of play. The way the pin was sitting, uphill and in the shadow, I couldn’t be sure it went in but I figured it was close. As we approached the green and couldn’t see the ball on the surface, I said to Glenn, “I’m pretty sure it’s in as the back of the green should be un reachable from where I hit from. It all depends on the pitch mark. If it’s hole high, then I’m over, but if it’s ten 10 feet short, then it’s in.” It was 10 feet short, I went to the hole and snapped a picture!

Mike MacMillan, Upper Canada Golf Course, Hole #7

I was playing with Dale Swerdfeger and Jim Brown, both members at Upper Canada golf course. The hole was a 184 yard, par 3 and I used my Callaway #3 Heavenwood. I witnessed Dale’s hole-in-one on the same hole a year previously.

Bill Macarthur, Fairwinds Golf Course, Hole #2

I have been a member of Fairwinds Golf course for a number of years and every Sunday (weather permitting, a hearty group of guys), “the cockroaches” as we are known by play, some friendly competition. I was joined by two fellow golfers, we were on the second hole, a 176 yard, par 3. It was playing shorter than this yardage as the tee was at the front of the box to a red flag, for a 154 yard distance, I chose a 7 iron. I hit the shot, it hit in front of the green and bounced on to the collar and slowly trickled towards the hole with me giving the narrative, “its going, going, it’s in hole!” I personally feel that Fairwinds greens are playing better right now than they have in many years, thanks to their new greens keeper Ken. I’ve been blessed with a few aces in my golf experience but you know that feeling you get never gets old! 

Nolan Searles, The Pulpit Club, Hole #16

I was playing with my dad, the distance was about 150 yards and I hit a 9 iron with wind blowing behind and off the right, the pin was in the bowl so I didn’t see it drop and didn’t know it was in the hole until I was by the green. The hole landed at the back of the bowl and started rolling back.

Anthony Domenici, Port Carling Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

It is very exciting. It’s my first hole-in-one. Seems like I am the last of the group. Some have two or three. I was playing with Dr. Louis Roddy, Murray Silverberg and Kent Rennie. These guys are real gentlemen. Yardage was 149 and club was a 7 iron. Weather was freezing cold so I was wearing my down pull over.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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