For many Canadians, golf is a family affair. For the Bishop brothers, it’s become a family business.

The parallels between playing the game and becoming an entrepreneur are not lost on the Nova Scotia-based Bishops, the brains behind startup Dormie Workshop, whose custom-designed, handmade leather headcovers have been taking the golf world by storm since their debut in 2014.

Like golf, running a small business can be demanding, time-consuming and downright maddening – but also deeply rewarding, so long as you put in the work, stick together, try to have fun and know when to seize the moment.

“The one thing that our family has always done is that whatever we’ve done, we’ve done together,” says Todd Bishop, 46, who runs Dormie Workshop out of a 1,500-square-foot facility in Halifax with his brothers Jeff, 36, and Alex, 34.

“Jeff was really the one that had the passion to say, ‘Oh, man, I really like these leather headcovers … that’s how it all came about, because he saw an opportunity.”

Serious golfers know a thing or two about the old-school bag-candy revolution of recent years, be it the knitted pom-pom argyles or rugby stripes of Rocket Tour Golf or Jan Craig, or the boutique leather creations of U.S. upstarts like Headgear, Stitch Golf or Cru.

If you’ve been to Cabot Links, the 36-hole coastal links sensation on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, you’ve probably seen Dormie Workshop’s handiwork. The white leather putter cover with the simple Cabot logo and tartan liner is the flagship of the fleet.

Cabot has come to represent the singular Canadian golf experience, precisely the sort of brand identity to which Dormie Workshop aspired, Bishop says. The fact the company was based in Nova Scotia made the partnership a match made in heaven.

“We got this gigantic map of Canada, and got the top 100 courses, and mapped it all out, and we just drew circles,” Bishop recalls. “We had a couple of triple circles around ones that we knew we had to become partners with, and Cabot was Number 1.”

So what’s behind all the headcover hoopla?

First and foremost, consider camouflage: a premium driver can run $600 and a 3-wood $275, while high-end collectible putters can easily run into the thousands of dollars. Advertising the contents of a golf bag with a manufacturer’s headcovers can be an open invitation to thieves.

Then there’s the fact that until recently, those spandex-and-vinyl sock covers could be all but impossible to pull over a massive 460 cubic-centimetre driver head. The vintage boxing-glove style favoured by leatherheads is the hot thing now – perfect timing for the Bishop boys.

What’s more, golf is in the throes of a full-blown customizing craze.

Drivers have swappable weights and shafts. PGA Tour players stamp their wedges with personal symbols or inspirational sayings. Fans of marquee putter designer Scotty Cameron spend thousands to trick out their flat sticks with special finishes, colour accents and aftermarket grips. Ball manufacturers are boosting sales with custom logos, stamps and play numbers.

“Our Dad used to get our last names put on pretty much anything and everything, so it was always in us anyway to kind of just mark your gear,” says Bishop. “It’s an opportunity to reflect who you are and kind of express yourself … something to keep you happy when you’re on the golf course.”

That’s not always easy, something Bishop knows from experience: he and Jeff are both PGA professionals who tried their hand at playing the game for a living before their entrepreneurial spirits took over. Today, they coach elite juniors out of Grandview Golf and Country Club in Dartmouth, N.S., when they’re not hunched over sewing machines or elbows-deep in swatches of rawhide.

For nerve-racked golfers, a soft swath of leather can be like a fidget spinner on the fairway.

“When I’m walking, I’ve always got my hands just resting on those covers,” Bishop says. “That leather feel, that’s basically the oldest technical fabric known to man, and it has been around forever and it never will go away. And there’s a reason: it just feels amazing.”

Dormie sets itself apart from an increasingly crowded marketplace, says Bishop, thanks to exceptional craftsmanship, unmatched customer service and a sky’s-the-limit approach to customization that owes a lot to youngest brother Alex’s talents as a graphic designer.

Prices for Dormie Workshop’s current offerings vary from about $70 for a basic putter cover to $150 for a driver model that features more elaborate designs and multiple colours and leathers.

Custom orders can go up from there, like the guy from California who paid more than US$1,000 for a set of four covers that featured family emblems, sayings and an array of custom artwork.

“I would be surprised if his clubs are equal in value,” Bishop chuckles.

In their first year of operation, Dormie Workshop moved about 1,500 units. The following year they set up shop at the four-day PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, ground zero for a golf-themed equipment startup. They matched the previous year’s sales in just those four days.

This year, Bishop says they’re on pace to sell upwards of 14,000 units. Impressive, yes, he notes. But taxing nonetheless.

“There’s been times where I’ve been looking at Jeff at 4:30 in the morning as we’re sitting on sewing machines, going, ‘This is a 911 order. And we have no other way to get this to where it needs to go, other than by you buying a ticket tomorrow morning and flying this sucker out there.’

“And that’s what happened.”

Which, of course, is ultimately what makes Dormie Workshop a true golf business, and its founders well-suited to use the spirit of the game to navigate even the most daunting challenges: focus on the process, take it one step at a time, and let the outcome take care of itself.

“There’s all kinds of different ways this thing could go,” Bishop says, a trill of excitement in his voice.

“It’s kind of fun.”

Click here to visit the Golf Canada estore and purchase one of the three Team Canada Dormie workshop headcovers for sale.

FERNIE, B.C. – Logan Carver retained his lead in the boys division while Claire Lovan leaped to the top of the girls division at the Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship at Fernie Golf Club on Wednesday.

Carver shot a one-over-par 71 and maintained his lead by one stroke heading into the final round. Early on it looked as if the Calgary, Alta., native was going to extend his lead after he made the turn 3 under par with three birdies on his card, but the 18-year-old faltered on the back nine with a double bogey on the 12th hole and two bogeys in his final three holes.

Ty Steinbring of Barrhead Alta., played his way into second place at the end of round two. The 17-year-old carded five birdies and a single bogey en route to a 4-under-par 66 to bring him to 3 under on the tournament.

Sitting two strokes back of Carver is the Pincher Creek, Alta., product Ethan Choi who shot a bogey-free 68. Through two rounds, the only blemish on his scorecard is a double bogey on the eighth hole from round one.

Zander Park of Calgary, Alta., recorded the low round of the day. The 18-year-old shot a 65 – the same score Carver carded in round one – propelled five birdies and an eagle. He sits at T12, seven strokes back of the leader.

In the girls division, Claire Lovan from Surrey, B.C., shot a 3-under-par 69 to move her one stroke ahead of Tuesday’s leader Angela Zhang. Lovan enjoyed a rollercoaster-like round that included one eagle, five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey and moved her to even par on the tournament.

“After I made the turn onto the back nine I was even par, which rarely happens for me,” she said, after her round. “Then I was able to really start making birdies after I made the turn and the eagle on hole 15 was huge for me.”

Zhang got off to a slow start and carded three bogeys in her first six holes, but the 15-year-old from Vancouver, B.C., managed to head to the back nine at 2 over par and recorded an important eagle on the final hole to keep her at 1 over for the tournament.

Rounding out the top three is Sydney Scraba from Calgary, Atla., who carded six birdies and seven bogeys to move her to three over on the tournament, three strokes back of Lovan.

The top six finishers in the Boys Division will earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club in Kingston, Ont. The top six in the Girls Division will earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.

Full results can be found here.

Mississauga, Ont., native Chloe Currie carded a 4-over-par 76 in the second round of the Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur to sit T4 through 36 holes at Galt Country Club in Cambridge, Ont.

The 17-year-old had had a triple bogey on hole No. 3 but rebounded well with three birdies and four bogeys in the rest of her round to finish at 5 over par, seven shots back of leader Madeline Marck-Sherk (Ridgeway, Ont.).

Marck-Sherk carded a 1-under-par 71 in round two – the only under par round of the day – to move into first place at 2 under par.

Currie, 17, is in her second year on the Team Canada Development Squad. She was T5 at the 2017 Future Links driven by Acura Ontario Championship earlier this year.

Mitchell, Ont., native Courtney Tolton is in solo second at 2 over par after carding a 1-over-par 73 for the second consecutive round.

First round leader Kelsey Sear, from Unionville, Ont., is third at 3 over par after a second round 78 (+6).

Rounding out the top-five is another Mississauga resident Michelle Ruiz who is tied for fourth with Currie at 5 over par (75-74).

Currie’s Development Squad teammate Monet Chun is T9 at 8 over par (71-80).

Click here for the full leaderboard.

Over the past several years, the USGA and The R&A have been working with golf’s handicapping authorities to develop a single World Handicap System (WHS) for the sport.

More than 15 million golfers in over 80 countries presently have a handicap, a numerical index long used as a reference to gauge a golfer’s potential skill level. Handicaps are currently delivered through six different systems around the world. The aim of the proposed handicap system is to adopt a universal set of principles and procedures that will apply all over the world.

As an important step towards the development of a World Handicap System, The R&A and USGA have created a survey to gather insights from golfers, club managers, course owners, PGA of Canada professionals and various other handicap administrators at the club, provincial and national level.

The purpose of this survey (which is open until the end of July) is to learn more about what golfers and those individuals involved in golf administration think about the potential World Handicap System and its core principles.

Golf’s governing bodies will use the feedback from this international study towards the formation a globally aligned system for handicapping.

Click here to participate in the study.

Amateur Squad’s Jaclyn Lee def. Kennedy Swann (Austin, Tex.) 4 and 3 to advance to the round of 16 at the North and South Women’s Amateur Championship at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C.

The Calgary product never trailed in the match jumping out to an early lead on the second hole and leading 1-up through nine. Lee went on to win holes No. 11, 12, 14, and 15 to knock off Swann.

A four-year veteran of Team Canada, Lee is the No. 2 seed in the 32-player match play draw after finishing T2 in the two rounds of stroke play qualifying.

The Ohio State Buckeye will face Australia’s Julienne Soo in the second round later today. Soo def. Elle Nachmenn  in 19 holes in the round of 32.

Round of 32 action @PinehurstResort North & South for @JaclynLee57 this morning #warm up #107′ pic.twitter.com/NH10q5DCeY

— Tristan Mullally (@tmullallygolf) July 12, 2017

Click here for match-play bracket.

21-year-old Dustin Barr will play in the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel. He is one of the two final exemptions announced today for the fifth Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada event of the season that starts on Thursday at Whitewater Golf Club.

For Barr, the opportunity means a new swing at life and golf after being diagnosed with Sarcoma Cancer in 2013.

“I’ve gone through hell and back to be here. Four surgeries, 15 rounds of chemotherapy. I am still struggling and battling to this day. My dreams of becoming a professional golfer have helped me get through this. When you’re told you have cancer, you really put your life in perspective. You start to embrace the things that are important in your life and golf is one of the most important things in my life,” said Barr.

Swinging a club since he was two years old, Barr attributes much of his success in golf and surviving cancer to his father, Jim Barr, who will be by his side during the tournament as his caddy. “My challenge is keeping my nerves calm. My Dad as my caddy will help me do that. I couldn’t imagine anyone else to walk with me,” continues Barr.

Barr recently completely his first year at Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga., receiving a scholarship as a member of its golf team.

“After my surgery I wasn’t able to play golf for six months, so every surgery really set me back and I had to put my life on hold. I’ve been trying to get my game back. My dreams of becoming a professional golfer are still here and I will get the opportunity to live them this week and it means so much to me. I have worked really hard to get to where I am today and to be here,” said Barr.

Barr anticipates more surgeries within the year but remains positive. Over the years, his battle with cancer has been support by the Northern Cancer Fund and the Staal Family Foundation. He joins Thunder Bay locals, Evan DeGrazia, Chris Gardner, Walter Keating Jr., and Brett Shewchuck in the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel.

For more information on the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel click here.

FERNIE, B.C. – Logan Carver shot a 5-under-par 65 and Angela Zhang shot a 1-over-par 73 to lead their respective divisions at the Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship on Tuesday at Fernie Golf and Country Club.

Carver propelled himself to the top of the leaderboard after an incredible back nine where he carded five of his seven birdies, including the final three holes.

“It was just the last three holes when it all came together,” he said, after his opening round. “Standing on the 16th tee I was only 2 under and was coming off a hole where I three-putted from seven feet so I didn’t know how I was going to finish.

“But I hit some good iron shots those last three holes and they managed to go in, so it all worked out.”

The 18-year-old from Calgary, Alta., birdied four of his last five holes and carded just two bogeys during his impressive start to the tournament.

Sitting in solo-second behind Carver is Bradley McKeating, also from Calgary, Alta. He made the turn at even par after registering two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine before he managed to play bogey-free on the back and finish three strokes off the leader.

Jammed up in a four-way tie for third place at 1 under par are Jace Ouellette (Red Deer, Alta.), Dylan Henderson (Waterloo, Ont.), Hunter Thompson (Calgary, Alta.) and Brodie Shields-Tyler (Calgary, Alta.).

In the girls division, Zhang holds onto her spot at the top of the leaderboard by just one stroke. The 15-year-old from Vancouver, B.C., headed into the final eight holes at 3 under par but stumbled down the stretch with two bogeys and a double-bogey.

“The course was in really good condition today,” she said. “The chances were definitely there so if you could just hit it solid and be patient and you could get a really low score.”

Sydney Scraba, from Calgary, Alta., sits one stroke back of Zhang after she managed to card four birdies in her opening round, but four bogeys and a double-bogey found her settling into solo-second with a 2-over-par 74.

Taylor Stone (Calgary, Alta.), Claire Lovan (Surrey, B.C.) and Jennifer Gu (West Vancouver, B.C.) all shot 3 over par and sit in a three-way tie, two strokes behind Zhang after round one.

The top six finishers in the Boys Division will earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club in Kingston, Ont. The top six in the Girls Division will earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.

Full results can be found here.

Development Squad’s Monet Chun carded a 1-under-par 71 in the opening round of the Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur to sit T2 at Galt Country Club in Cambridge, Ont.

Unionville, Ont., native Kelsey Sear is leading the way at 3 under par after opening-round 69 powered by five birdies.

Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.) recorded five birdies, two bogeys, and a double-bogey in Tuesday’s first round to sit two shots back of Sear alongside Madeline Marck-Sherk (Ridgeway, Ont.).

The 16-year-old Chun is enjoying a successful season rookie year on the Team Canada Development Squad.

Chun won the 2017 Future Links driven by Acura Ontario Championship at Brockville Country Club in May, and the Summit Golf and Country Club member recorded an impressive ninth place finish at the Ladies Porter Cup in June.

Chun’s Development Squad teammate Chloe Currie is T4 at 1 over par. Currie, 17, carded a 73 in round one to sit four shots back of Sear alongside Sarah Beqaj (Toronto), Victoria Zheng (Markham, Ont.) Courtney Tolton (Mitchell, Ont.) and Danielle Sawyer (Grafton, Ont.).

Currie, from Mississauga, Ont., was T5 at the 2017 Future Links driven by Acura Ontario Championship and is the defending Ontario Junior Girls champion.

Click here for the full leaderboard.

Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee carded a 1-over-par 72 in Wednesday’s second round of the Women’s North and South Championship to finish T2 in stroke play, advancing to the match play portion of the tournament.

The famed Pinehurst No. 2 lived up to its reputation as one of the stiffest tests in golf on Tuesday with every golfer in the field—except medallist Kristen Gillman (Austin, Tex.)—finishing over par for the day.

Lee, a Team Canada Amateur Squad member, recorded two birdies and three bogeys to finish tied for second at 4 over par with Norman, Okla., native Yujeong Son—two shots back of Gillman who was 2 over par for the championship (73-71).

At the Women’s Western Amateur Championship in June, Lee was the No. 3 seed after 36 holes of stroke play but lost in the first round of match play to Maddie Rayner (Southlake, Tex.) in 23 holes.

Amateur Squad’s Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.) and teammate Grace St-Germain (Ottawa) failed to qualify for the match play, finishing T56 (+19) and T70 (+22), respectively.

Valerie Tangauy from Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., finished T33 at 13 over par (71-84) missing a spot in match play by one stroke.

Development Squad rookie and Delta, B.C., product Mary Parsons will also be heading home after two rounds with a T75 finish at 24 over par.

The fourth member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad, Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.), withdrew from the tournament after being notified she had gained entry into the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open as an alternate.

For the full leaderboard click here.

As Canada comes together to celebrate 150 years since the birth of our nation, it is a time of reflection on all the things that have made our country what it is today—including the golf landscape, which holds the second-largest amount of courses per capita in the world.

Canada’s rich golf history dates back to the first golf club in 1873 and spans from to coast-to-coast, playing an important role in the early development of many communities.

Golf clubs are also a source of many stories and memories that bring us together as family and friends, as highlighted in Golf Canada’s latest family-themed magazine issue.

In honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, we are celebrating the 150 oldest active golf courses in the nation—Click here to view the full list.

Clubs are listed by their open year, so in some cases there are several courses which opened during the same year. If you are interested in learning more about a facility or sharing a story with the golf community, click on the name of the course and you can use the Golf Canada Course History map to do so. The map in its entirety can be found at golfcanada.ca/coursehistory