Team Canada members Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Matthew Anderson, Ashton McCulloch and Hunter Thomson along with Richard T. Lee, Wes Heffernan and Roger Sloan join previously announced exemption recipients, three Regional Qualifying medalists and Canadian PGA TOUR members as part of an 18-player Canadian contingent for the 114th playing of Canada’s Men’s National Open Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley

Toronto, ON – Golf Canada and RBC have confirmed the names of 11 Canadians who have accepted exemptions into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, taking place June 4 – 8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.

Leading the way are four members of Team Canada including Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont. Who will be competing at the RBC Canadian Open for the first time in his career. Earlier this season, Yellamaraju earned his first career title on the Korn Ferry Tour, winning The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic in January.

Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. has also earned an exemption after finishing as the top Canadian on PGA TOUR Americas last season and will be competing at Canada’s Men’s National Open Championship for the third time. This season, Anderson is competing on the Korn Ferry Tour and has earned a top five and two top 10 finishes in ten events.

Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. will be competing in his second consecutive RBC Canadian Open, earning his exemption as the top Canadian amateur player on WAGR. McCulloch recently finished his senior year at Michigan State University where he enjoyed a strong three-plus years with the Spartans. Last season, McCulloch also competed in the U.S. Open after earning his spot through qualification. McCulloch won the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and finished as runner-up last year. He will also be competing in The Rocket Classic in Detroit, Mich. in late June after earning a sponsor exemption at his graduation ceremony.

Hunter Thomson of Calgary, Alta. earned his exemption by finishing first on the individual leaderboard at the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational last September at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. He is in his senior year of college at the University of Michigan and has two additional victories this year – the Boilermaker Invitational in April and most recently, the NCAA Urbana Regional which earned him a spot into the NCAA Finals (individual) later this month. Thomson will be making his first appearance at the RBC Canadian Open.

Joining the Team Canada athletes are Richard T. Lee of Toronto, Ont. who will be making his fourth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. Lee competes on the Asian Tour where he is currently ranked 16th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Lee has won three times on the Asian Tour, with his most recent victory coming last November at the BNI Indonesian Masters, helping him finish third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Lee has also won four times on the Korean PGA Tour, with his most recent victory coming last month at the Woori Financial Group Championship.

Wes Heffernan of Calgary, Alta. has also earned an exemption for leading the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit and will be competing in his eighth RBC Canadian Open. Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta. has also accepted an exemption to compete in his ninth RBC Canadian Open.

Three other Canadians earned exemptions through RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying including Team Canada alumnus Cougar Collins of Mono, Ont. (First Ontario Regional Qualifier at Brampton Golf Club), Matt Scobie of Oshawa, Ont. (Second Ontario Regional Qualifying at Cherry Hill Club) and Brett Webster of Chilliwack, B.C. (B.C. Regional Qualifier at Squamish Valley Golf Club). An additional exemption will be award on May 21 at the Quebec Regional Qualifer, taking place at Griffon des Sources – Aigle Lion in Mirabel, Que.

As previously announced, Canadian golf icon Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. will be competing in his 32nd RBC Canadian Open, a feat which ties the record for starts in Canada’s National Open Championship with fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Cumming.

Currently, an 18-player Canadian contingent will challenge for the national championship led by 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and fellow PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Taylor Pendrith of Richmond, Hill, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. Also confirmed is Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont.

“We are pleased to announce these additional exemptions that provide more Canadians with a chance to compete in our National Men’s Open Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “Our home team Canadian contingent has always been part of the tournament’s identity and we look forward to the field continuing to take shape over the final weeks leading into the tournament.”

Three additional exemptions were award to Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island, Fla. for winning the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, John Keefer of Baltimore, Md. for finishing as the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas Season Points winner and Barend Botha of George, South Africa for finishing as runner-up on the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas Season Points standings.

There are five additional exemptions to be awarded by Golf Canada and RBC ahead of the final field announcement on Friday, May 30. Four additional spots will be available during the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 1 at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont.

Tickets for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

PUMA continues its support as Official Headwear and Apparel sponsor of
Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen

Toronto, ON – Golf Canada and PUMA Canada are proud to announce a long-term extension of their existing partnership with Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

The new four-year agreement sees PUMA continue as the Official Apparel and Headwear partner of Golf Canada’s National Team Program (Team Canada men’s and women’s teams and Team Canada – NextGen boy’s and girl’s teams). Team Canada players, coaches and support staff will continue to exclusively wear PUMA’s premium golf apparel and headwear when representing Team Canada.

The extension also confirms that the athletes and coaches named to Team Canada will wear PUMA’s Golf apparel and headwear as part of the field-of-play uniform for all domestic (Golf Canada amateur championships) and international events including the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, World Amateur Team Championship, Pan American Games and the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles.

“We are very happy to extend our partnership with PUMA and to ensure our Team Canada athletes and staff continue to be outfitted by the iconic brand,” Mark Palmer, Chief Commercial Officer, Golf Canada. “PUMA shares our vision for being a world leader in the game of golf and investing in the growth of our sport in Canada.”

The extension builds on a strong relationship between PUMA Canada and Golf Canada that was first announced in November 2021. The partnership ensured all members of the Team Canada program were outfitted with PUMA Golf apparel and headwear.

“We are proud to extend our partnership with Golf Canada and set the stage for even greater success ahead,” said Dwayne Boecker, Vice President of COBRA PUMA GOLF. “The strong values and commitment we share in promoting golf and supporting the country’s next generation of great players and coaches are an excellent fit for our global brand. We look forward to continuing to outfit Team Canada and delivering high-performance products that empower athletes to reach their full potential on and off the course.”

Team Canada athletes, coaches and support staff will continue to wear official PUMA Golf apparel and headwear this season through to the end of 2028. For more information on the Team Canada High Performance Program, including athlete and coaches bios please click here. For more on PUMA Golf or to view the extensive collection for men and women and purchase items, 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.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Taylor Pendrith delivered a standout performance at the 2025 PGA Championship, finishing tied for fifth at Quail Hollow Club to record his best result in a major championship.

The Richmond Hill, Ont., native carded rounds of 69, 70, 72, and a final-round 68 to close at 5-under-par 279. His Sunday surge vaulted him into a tie with J.T. Poston and Jhonattan Vegas, earning Pendrith a payday of $694,700.

Pendrith was the top Canadian finisher in the field, edging out compatriot Corey Conners, who tied for 19th at 2-under. The result marks a significant milestone for Pendrith, whose previous best at the PGA Championship was a tie for 29th in 2023.

“It feels great to put together four solid rounds on a major stage,” Pendrith said. “I’ve been working hard on my game, and to see it pay off here is really satisfying.”

Pendrith’s top-five finish places him among a select group of Canadian male golfers who have achieved similar feats in major championships. Notably, Mike Weir won the Masters in 2003, and George Knudson tied for second at the 1969 Masters. Stephen Ames also tied for fifth at the 1997 Open Championship.

The tournament was won by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who captured his third major title with a commanding five-shot victory. Scheffler finished at 11-under 273, holding off challenges from Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, and Davis Riley, who all tied for second at 6-under.

Scheffler’s win adds the Wanamaker Trophy to his growing collection and further cements his status as one of golf’s premier talents. The victory also came with a record-breaking $3.42 million prize from the $19 million purse, the highest in tournament history.

For Pendrith, the strong showing at Quail Hollow provides momentum as he continues his 2025 season—with sights set firmly on a home-soil appearance June 4-8 at the upcoming RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto.

The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) is one of the many tools that make the World Handicap System more dynamic and equitable. While largely invisible to the casual golfer, it plays a crucial role behind the scenes, ensuring your handicap truly reflects your ability—not just the luck of the weather.  The PCC is a statistical adjustment designed to account for unusual playing conditions. But what exactly is the PCC, and how does it work?

What is the PCC?

The Playing Conditions Calculation is a daily statistical analysis conducted based on golfers’ scores to reflect how much easier or harder the course played on a specific day. It recognizes that factors like weather, course conditions and course setup can influence scoring, and changes the players’ Score Differentials accordingly to reflect that the course played differently from how the Course & Slope Ratings were determined.

How Does the PCC Work? The PCC is automatically calculated in the Golf Canada Score Centre at the end of each day using all the scores posted at a given course. It analyzes how players performed relative to their expected performance based on their handicaps and the Course & Slope Ratings.

Here’s a breakdown of how it functions:

• It is applied automatically— the only thing that golfers need to do is post their score before midnight!
• The system gathers all scores posted to the course (for all sets of tees) on a given day.
• A minimum of 8 acceptable scores (by golfers with a Handicap Index of 36.0 or less) must be posted for the day.
• It calculates how those scores compare to what would normally be expected.
• If a statistically significant difference is observed (suggesting the course played much harder or easier), a PCC value is determined and included in the Score Differential calculation for that day.
• The adjustment can range from -1.0 to +3.0 strokes.
  • A minus PCC value (-1.0) indicates that the course played easier than normal

A positive PCC value (+1.0, +2.0, + 3.0) indicates that the course played more difficult than normal.

If a PCC value is determined, it is factored into the Score Differential calculation.  When a PCC value applies, you will see a hat (“^”) beside the Score Differential in your Golf Canada Scoring Record.  For a detailed explanation of how a Score Differential is calculated, you can also click on the value under the “Diff” column.

Why Is the PCC Important?

The goal of the PCC is to recognize that playing conditions impact the relative quality of a score.  Without this adjustment, scores recorded in especially tough conditions could unfairly inflate a player’s handicap, while scores in ideal conditions could deflate it.

For example:  A score of 85 made in challenging conditions might be a better demonstration of ability compared to a score of 85 made in good conditions.

Belleville, Ont., – NextGen Team Canada member Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. secured a come-from-behind victory while Eric Zhao of North York, Ont. went on to win by four strokes on Saturday to each claim the NextGen Ontario Championship at Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort in Belleville, Ont.  

Playing 54 holes at even par helped keep Park in contention throughout, and leading up to Saturday’s final round. Starting the day in a tie for second and just a stroke behind solo leader Maggie Zhang of Richmond, B.C., the ten-time winner in 2024 birdied the seventh to stay within striking distance and match Zhang’s steady start to her round.  

Struggling to find the elusive birdie to bring her on level ground with Zhang atop the leaderboards, Park’s scoring pursuit took a major blow after her approach shot went long of the tenth green and forced her to come away with a double bogey on the par-four.  

“Making the double was really sad because I flew the green, it wasn’t a good play,” commented Park on her lone blunder of the afternoon. “I was only three strokes back, it’s not like I was a ton back and we still had a whole bunch of holes still to play, so I knew I could make a comeback somehow,” she added.  

Fortunately for Park, she wasn’t the only one to card a costly six on her back nine, with Zhang walking off the 14th hole with a double bogey of her own but still leading by one. Her advantage continued to dwindle over the final four holes, however, heightening in the closing stages of her round after bogeying the 15th and 17th to tumble out of the lead and trail Park by a stroke.  

With the tournament lead narrowly in her favour, Park avoided another mistake after her setback at the tenth, stringing together five consecutive pars and collecting just her second birdie of the round on the final hole to secure a two-stroke win over Zhang and claim the NextGen Ontario title. She had finished in a tie for third a year ago.  

“[The win] helps build my confidence, especially early in the season,” said Park. “I know I can win and score well, so going forward I’ll use this as momentum into another good season.” 

In the Junior Boys division, Zhao, who carded consecutive rounds of 70 to position himself in a tie for first place on Saturday, rapidly reeled in on the tournament’s top spot with birdies at the first and third to get to six-under par.  

Aided by a slew of his competitors falling out of contention for the title, Zhao was able to put his hot start into gear and add back-to-back birdies at holes seven and eight to raise his early lead to four strokes.  

His dominance on the front nine over the final 36 holes played a vital role in securing him victory on Saturday. He played the tamer portion of the property at a combined eight-under-par to lap the rest of the field and seize control of the tournament.  

“A lot of easy holes in the front, especially seven, I knew I had good opportunities to birdie those holes, so I just stayed patient and let my game take advantage of those shots,” said Zhao. 

The day’s hottest hitter put the finishing touches on a round of 67 with birdies on the 10th – playing as the hardest hole on the property – and 18th to kickstart the procession on his maiden win in the NextGen Championship series.  

“It gives me a lot of confidence,” said Zhao following his round. “I haven’t won in a while, so it feels really great just getting back and knowing that I’m able to compete with the rest of the players.” 

NextGen Ontario Championship – Advancing to 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship 

*Top 8 qualify  

NextGen Ontario Championship – Advancing to 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship 

*Top 8 plus ties qualify 

The 2025 NextGen Championship season resumes on Friday, May 30 for the playing of the NextGen Western Championship at Trestle Creek Golf Resort in Entwistle, Alta. The 54-hole event will run until Sunday, June 1 where a winner will be crowned and exemptions for respective national championships will be awarded.  

For the final leaderboards from the NextGen Ontario Championship, please click here.   

About the NextGen Championships   
The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.   

Oakville, ON – Golf Canada and Chartright Air Group (Chartright) are proud to announce today a new partnership with the Canadian company becoming the exclusive Private Aviation Partner of Golf Canada and the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. The partnership will also see Chartright be a supporting partner of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open’s Wednesday Championship Pro-Am.

“We are proud to partner with a Canadian company that brings a longstanding legacy in the private aviation industry and shares our commitment to growing the game of golf in Canada,” said Mark Palmer, Chief Commercial Officer, Golf Canada. “Chartright’s proven experience and alignment with our values make this collaboration a natural fit as we continue to elevate our men’s National Open Championship.”

Chartright is a leading Canadian aviation services provider, offering a full range of solutions including private jet charter, JetClub memberships, empty leg opportunities, aircraft management, FBO operations, maintenance, and aircraft sales and acquisition. Renowned for its unwavering commitment to safety, service excellence, and operational integrity, Chartright continues to set the standard in Canada’s private aviation industry. To learn more about Chartright Air Group, visit Chartright.com

“This partnership brings together two established Canadian organizations with a shared commitment to excellence,” said Adam Keller, President of Chartright. “Private aviation and golf both serve as platforms for connection, performance, and meaningful engagement. We’re proud to support the continued growth of the sport in Canada and to contribute to the success of such a prestigious event.”

The 2025 RBC Canadian Open takes place June 4-8 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. For more information, please visit rbccanadianopen.com.

Squamish, B.C. – Brett Webster of Chilliwack, B.C. birdied the first hole of a playoff to edge out Sukhraj Gill of Surrey, B.C. to earn a direct exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, following the B.C. Regional Qualifier at Squamish Valley Golf Club in Squamish, B.C. on Thursday.

Webster, a six-time winner on the Vancouver Golf Tour admitted he hadn’t had much success in playoffs as of late but emerged victorious on Thursday evening to earn his first ever appearance at the RBC Canadian Open and on the PGA TOUR.

“I told my caddie, this is my Rory McIlroy moment. I bogeyed the last hole, let’s make up for it here,” said an excited Webster following the playoff win.

“I feel like it hasn’t quite sunk in. I can’t wait to call my wife and facetime my kids, they’re down in Chilliwack and tell them I’m coming home. We have a two-and-a-half-year-old and six-week-old so my wife is probably ready for me to come home, but she will be really excited about this,” added Webster.

Webster was part of the afternoon wave and players were faced with a change in the weather as the winds had picked up. He admitted he did not play in a practice round prior to the qualifier, making his task a little taller. He carded seven birdies in his round, including a strong finish with birdies on holes 14, 16 and 17, which put him into the lead. However, a bogey on 18 would bring him back into a tie with Gill at 5-under (67), who had finished his round hours prior.

Webster has gone back and forth in his career on whether or not to check the leaderboard, after his tee shot on 18 he wanted to know.

“I asked my caddie what he thought I needed, and he said to try and make par, so I thought I may have had the lead,” he added.

The pressure built for Webster as Gill connected on his drive to begin the playoff. Webster found the cart path off his drive for the third consecutive hole, having done so on holes 17 and 18. He was able to take relief in the rough and hit a 3-iron into the green.

“When I hit it, I thought I smoked it over the green, but it slowed down on the edge of the rough and trickled down. My hands were shaking as much as they ever shook on the first putt and once it got to two feet I was like ok, I think I can handle this,” said Webster.

Webster admitted that while he is a little older in golf terms, and competing with many up and comers on the Vancouver Golf Tour, earning this qualification is special.

“Winning on the Vancouver Golf Tour is amazing and you beat a lot of good pros and all that, but this was 139 guys playing for the opportunity to play on the PGA TOUR and where I’m at in my career, I feel like this is the last thing I want to do and I feel like I could be satisfied if I didn’t play after that and just get to play with my kids,” he added.

In addition to Webster’s exemption, the top 10 per cent of the 139-player field, 8th place plus ties (20 players total) from the B.C. Regional Qualifier have advanced to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 1 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.

RBC Canadian Open – B.C. Regional Qualifier Results:

*won in playoff

For the full leaderboard, click here.

The B.C. Regional Qualifier at Squamish Valley Golf Club was the third of five 2025 RBC Canadian Open Qualifiers. There are two qualifiers remaining, both taking place on Wednesday, May 21 at Sundre Golf Club in Sundre, Alta. and at Griffon des Sources – Aigle Lion in Mirabel, Que.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.— Mackenzie Hughes of Canada birdied his last four holes Friday for an 8-under 63, giving him a one-shot lead after the first round of the Myrtle Beach Classic.

The winner of the PGA Tour event — held opposite a signature event at the Truist Championship this week — gets a spot in the PGA Championship if not already eligible.

That’s not the case for Hughes or two of the players one shot behind him — Seamus Power and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark — both already in the field next week at Quail Hollow.

Will Chandler also shot 64. He has yet to qualify for the PGA Championship.

Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., finished with a flurry, making five birdies over the last six holes. He is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, though it has been more than two years since his last title.

He felt like his putting has let him down in recent week, so he changed up his routine by being quicker and more instinctive on the greens.

“Putted nicely today,” he said. “Then at the end there I kind of caught fire. I can’t remember the last time I birdied the last four holes. But it’s definitely a nice finish.”

The group at 66 included 44-year-old Nick Watney, who hasn’t won in 13 years, and 17-year-old Blades Brown in his first year as a pro.

With golf season officially starting nearly everywhere across Canada, it’s a good time to brush up on some rules.

No matter if you’re a once-a-week golfer, a competition chaser, or even a weekend warrior, the rules of the game are part of what makes golf so special.

Enter – thankfully – Mary Beth McKenna, the director of rules and amateur championships at Golf Canada.

McKenna not only oversees things from a rules perspective at Golf Canada, but she’s also been part of the rules team at the RBC Canadian Open (even getting some special TV time when a Rory McIlroy tee shot in 2022 headed right down the middle, and directly into Justin Thomas’ ball).

She’s also here to help!

We asked McKenna for some common situations you might find yourself in this year and what rules could help out.

Speaking of – be sure to download the Golf Canada app as you’ll have access to the Player’s Rule Finder, boasting nearly 30 diagrams and over 50 how-to videos so then golfers can reduce confusion and uncertainty by learning the ins-and-outs of the game directly from the R&A.

“Golfers will be able to determine the specific rule-related situations they encounter on the course more easily through the Player’s Rules Finder interface,” McKenna says. “The integration into the Golf Canada Mobile App allows more straightforward access to the rules of golf.”

Be sure to bookmark this page for your 2025 season and you’ll be able to have quick access to some common rules right at your fingertips, too.

“THAT’S ONE”

We’ve all seen the joke about tapping the ball with your driver accidentally and it falling off the tee. Alas, McKenna says that’s just a joke and not a real situation to get your pencil out for.  

You have to have an intent to hit the ball. So ‘intent,’ meaning you have to make a stroke at the ball. All you do is put it back on the tee and replay it. You can also move the tee to a new location as long as you’re still on the teeing ground. There is no penalty because there has been no intent to hit the ball.

McKenna says there’s actually something cool to note and file away as well.

If you hit your ball and it still (ends up) within the teeing area, you’re able to re-tee your ball. Let’s say you hit it, and it hits a tree and comes back into the teeing area? You can re-tee your ball.

IDENTIFYING YOUR BALL

When you have your ball out in the general area or on the course, it’s important to make sure you’re identifying your ball. You need to make sure you are playing the correct ball.

Identifying the ball can be done by the player, or anyone who has seen that ball come to rest in that area.

You should try to properly identify it with a mark on the ball. That’s a good recommendation for players. If you don’t, you can’t appropriately identify it you would have to declare it lost and go back to the tee.

Recalling the exact same model, brand, condition […] is hard.

You can lift the ball to identify it but you have to mark the spot of the ball, and it can’t be cleaned more than just enough to identify it.

FREQUENT SITUATION – FINDING THE PENALTY AREA

Differentiate what the relief options are between yellow (stakes) versus red (stakes).

More often than not, golf courses are marked with red penalty areas because it gives you an additional option. That’s how we mark it in competitions.

With yellow, you’re mostly going over the water or close to the green which is the main difference. The relief options are, well, you can play is at is lies in the penalty area, but then you can take relief back on a line (at the point of entry as far back as you possibly want to go.

The red stakes means an additional two club-lengths from point of entry which is the commonly used relief option. That’s important to note as a difference between the two. 

DIFFERENT RELIEF SITUATIONS

Golfers often end up looking for relief from their environment.

Typically, there is natural things like a leaf or a pinecone. Sometimes there is a man-made movable obstruction like a pop can. You are permitted to remove a loose impediment on or off the golf course and you can do it by any means necessary. But if the ball moves when you remove a loose impediment it is a one stroke penalty, and you have to replace the ball. If you are moving a removeable obstruction like a pop can and the ball moves you can replace it no penalty.

ABNORMAL COURSE RESTRICTIONS

Like a bench or a cart path – if there is interference in the ball area of the intended stance and intended swing you can take relief anywhere on course, except for when the ball is in the penalty area or when relief is clearly unreasonable.

Say your ball is against a tree but you’re standing on a cart path. If you’re not actually able to make a shot, you can’t get relief from the path because your shot is unreasonable. It’s commonly encountered out there. Relief from a cart path is ‘complete’ relief and you have one club length from that point and drop in that area.

If you end up needing to declare an unplayable ball – anywhere but in the penalty area – you can take stroke-and-distance relief, go back on a line relief, or lateral relief (two club lengths, no nearer to the hole). That’s when there’s just no way you could make a shot at your ball.

NEGOTIATING BUNKERS

You can move loose impediments and objects. There are restrictions on touching the sand in the bunker – you can’t take a practice swing, but you can smooth a bunker for care of the course. You can bring your whole bag in and put them beside your ball if you wanted to, which is interesting.

ON THE PUTTING GREEN

We all aspire to get there. Just focus on the positives on the putting green – you are allowed to improve a lot of things on the putting green that are in the line of your putt, including the removal of sand and loose soil. You can’t, of course, do that in general areas on the course. In 2019 there was also the new rule install about leaving the flagstick in that helps with pace of play.

DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT

How a ball must be dropped, well, it must be done the right way. The player him or herself must drop the ball (you can’t have a caddie or someone else drop it). It must be dropped from knee height without touching a player or equipment.

If a ball is dropped in the wrong way, a player can drop again the right way and there is no limit to the number that player may re-drop.

There is usually the ‘drop, drop, place’ rule. But an incorrect drop does not count as one of the two ‘drops’ in this case. If you’ve done it the wrong way, you are permitted to adjust.

Golf Canada is pleased to provide assistance in any questions that you might have regarding The Rules of Golf and Rules of Handicapping. Have a rules question that needs an answer? Ask An Expert!

156 of Canada’s top junior golfers to compete over 54 holes in Belleville with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships up for grabs 

The road to the 2025 national junior championships continues with the NextGen Ontario Championship set to kick off on Thursday, May 8 at Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort in Belleville, Ont.  

156 players – 111 boys and 45 girls – will make up the starting field and have the option of participating in a practice round ahead of the tournament on Wednesday, May 7. The 54-hole stroke play event will get started on Thursday and run until Saturday, May 10 – where the field will be reduced to approximately 70 players. The top eight players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, taking place August 12-15, at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B. The top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, August 13-16, at Sainte-Marie Club de golf in Sainte-Marie, Que. If a tie for eighth place in the Junior Boys division occurs, appropriate players will enter a playoff to determine the tournament’s final exemption.  

Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. carded rounds of 67 and 70 through his final 36 holes to clinch last season’s NextGen Ontario Championship at Firerock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont., and will begin his title defence on Thursday as the lone NextGen Team Canada member in the Junior Boys division. Bode Stephen of Kingston, Ont., who took home the NextGen Atlantic Championship last summer in a playoff will also compete in the Junior Boys division. 

Team Canada NextGen member Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. highlights the field from the Junior Girls division competing in Belleville. Park enjoyed a successful 2024 campaign, with 10 wins that included the top spot of the podium at the Canadian U15 National Championship last August at the Elmira Golf Club in Elmira, Ont. 

Opening its doors in 2005, Black Bear Ridge Golf Course has hosted professional championships on the PGA Tour Canada and several provincial amateur events including the 101st playing of Golf Ontario’s Men’s Amateur Championship in 2023. Originally envisioned to be the home for his family hunting lodge, builder and designer Brian Magee was encouraged to transform the land’s rolling acreage into a golf hotbed by 18-time major champion and family friend, Jack Nicklaus.  

“Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort is honoured to host the NextGen Ontario Championship as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting junior golf and nurturing the next generation of Canadian talent,” said Cale Flair, Vice President of Black Bear Golf & Resort. “We’re proud to welcome these elite young players to experience everything that makes Black Bear Ridge special—from our championship-calibre layout to the warm, inclusive atmosphere our guests, members, and team help create.” 

Featuring a 628-yard par-5 and a terrain exceeding 5,100 yards in length, Black Bear Ridge demands length from players while rewarding the longest and most patient hitters able to navigate the neighboring bunkers and hazards on selective greens. Combining sport with outdoor recreation and luxury living options, the course provides an exceptional test of golf while serving to restore and inspire its guests on and off the tee box.  

“Our beautiful parkland layout with a tighter tree-lined front nine and more open back nine, with ample elevation changes and challenging water features, demands thoughtful strategy and discipline. Players will need to bring precision off the tee, a sharp short game, and steady composure across all three days to find success here. We’ve seen how Black Bear Ridge shapes strong, competitive golfers—and we’re excited to see who rises to the occasion this week,” added Flair.  

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Ontario Championship, click here  

About the NextGen Championships  

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2025 national junior championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.