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.

James Giffen, Capilano Golf & Country Club, Hole #11

I was playing with my Dad, Frank Giffen, Charles Chang a very good friend and my coach, Ronnie McCann from Orlando, who had just flown in. It was awesome to have him here as we have been working together for an a while now and we kept on talking about making an hole-in-one.

I hit a 9 iron from 116 yards. It took one bounce and rolled about five feet into the bottom of the hole.
As soon as the ball hit the bottom of the hole, I threw off my hat and started running around the tee box in circles. Once I managed to settle down, it dawned on me what I had just accomplished.

I realized that this was an incredible milestone in my life and I will never forget this moment. I have been playing since I was five years old and this was one of the biggest achievements in my career so far. I was wearing my Whoop on that day and my heart rate went from 88 to 153 beats per minute during this time period.

Bob Hall, Granite Pointe, Hole #4

It was a rare outing because my daughter was back in Nelson on a break from her studies at the University of Victoria. It was a day that my wife and I were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, so we played an afternoon round before a family dinner with the aforementioned 23 year old daughter and our 25 year old son. All my family loves the sport, so it was a perfect day at Granite Pointe. I had actually been playing rather poorly the week before.

I hover around a five to six index, but wasn’t feeling the game that day. But when I stepped up to the fourth hole which is a slightly elevated green, I pulled out an 8-iron for the 155 yard shot. I struck it well and knew it was good and heading straight for the flag. Because we could not see the putting surface, I was just happy that I’d likely have a birdie putt. When we got up for the green and I didn’t see the ball within 10 feet, I first figured that a gopher must have got it. But then another option occurred to me. When I went to the hole, there was the Titleist!

The family cheered and then we all laughed! That was my fourth hole-in-one in my life, all since 2017. I’m out there a lot, so it seems like math more than anything. This was by far the most memorable one because it was done with my family on a special anniversary day. It was awesome to experience that with them. We all feel fortunate to have our lovely community golf course in such a spectacular mountain location. Every day out there is a gift and a hole-in-one is simply icing on the cake!

Peter Chen, GreenTee Golf Country Club, Hole #8

I was playing with three other Golden Bear teammates of mine in preparation for an upcoming competition on the same course. I wished the hole-in-one had happened during the tournament, but I’ll take it anytime. It was 140 yards into the wind with a 9 iron and it was a one hopper and disappeared. We actually let a twosome play through and they were kind enough to take a group photo for us. 

The hole-in-one was my first and it was 23 years after my wife got hers. I have been waiting for a long time and now I finally have a hole-in-one golf ball right next to hers.

Ken McKenzie, Lora Bay Golf Club, Hole #11

I’ve played golf for close to 60 years and haven’t had an hole-in-one. I’ve holed out several times on par 4’s and have eagled a number of times on par 5’s but this is by far more exciting. I was playing with Dan Kelly and John Strickland. I hit an 8 iron 135 yards and it took one bounce and in. My last goal in golf is shoot my age. One happy relieved golfer.

Aaron Basin, Heron Point Golf Links, Hole #3

It was a great afternoon! I was playing with my son Ryan, and he actually saw it go in! I hit it and thought it was a good shot but, he watched it and said, “dad, I think it went in!” He walked toward the hole and I walked to the back of the green, and heard him scream, “dad it is in the hole!” We then both screamed. I hit an 8 iron with a little wind behind me as the hole was about 145 yards and in the back corner. 

Earle Keatley, Oshawa Golf & Curling Club, Hole #18

On my 78th birthday I was playing with Steve Poots and Rick Baxter. I commented after a poor front nine that the golf gods were not being very nice on my birthday. Things picked up on the back and got to 18th hole much happier. Yardage was 111. Hit a 9 iron landing just short of hole and rolled in. Both partners were yelling that could go in and it did! The club has hole-in-one insurance so a good celebration on the patio followed. The club now presents you with the flag as a keepsake. This was my third hole-in-one. 

Wayne Hein, Cambridge Golf Club Ltd, Hole #5

Cambridge Golf Club. Hole #5 on May 21, 2024. Used a 9 iron from 140 yards. I was playing with Robert Younger, Peter Bedard and Gary McConnell at the time.

Pino Chiappetta, Cedar Brae Golf Club, Hole #11

With fellow members and more like brothers Nick Caggiano and Frank Ieraci. Awesome moment with awesome company!

Maya J, Whistle Bear Golf Club, Hole #5

The story of me getting a hole-in-one happened on the fifth hole, I was 100 yards out using a pitching wedge. I hit the ball and me and my mom heard a very loud click sound and didn’t see the ball anywhere. I started to record me walking up to the flag so I could catch my reaction and turns out the ball really was in the hole. My dad was playing with a few friends and coincidentally he was on the 12th hole which was beside the fifth hole so he managed to see it and celebrate with us. Later in the round my dad told one of the heads at Whistle Bear that I had gotten a hole-in-one, so he was waiting for me and my mom to finish our round. Once he saw us he handed me a bottle with the flag from the 5th hole and 25 drink tickets to give out. Finally the last thing for me to do was go inside the restaurant and ring a bell that is there to ring if you get a hole-in-one.

Laura Thompson, Sturgeon Valley, Hole #7

Hole #7. 110 yards. Club used was a 6 hybrid. Playing with Kim Elliott who was there for my hole-in-one last year too and two other Sturgeon members, Dale and Tony.

Hugh Scarth, Hampton Golf Club, Hole #4

It was a great feeling and only in my third year of playing golf regularly. I managed it with an 8 iron, Kirkland ball and 112 yards. That is what hole #4 is rated as and the flag was in the middle. I was playing with Adam, Steve and 11-year-old Elliot, people who I had not played with before.

Brent Solonenko, Wildwinds Golf Links Inc., Hole #15

Played with a group of friends. Hole #15. Was playing 127 yards to the flag. 

Craig Cyr, Monterra Golf At Blue Mountain Resort, Hole #6

I was golfing with Stefan Trudeau. It was hole #6, approximately 125 yards and I used a 9 iron.

Damien Heinle, Gage Golf Course, Hole #7

Was playing with a buddy of mine. The course was backed up so the group behind us also witnessed it. Hole #7 at Gage Golf Course. A 160 yard par 3. I used a light 9 iron. Due to the shadows on the green, we were unable to tell if the ball went in or not from the tee box. The group behind us believed the ball rolled off the green but upon pulling up the the green it was clear the ball went in the hole.

Dereck Scanie, Grand Centre Golf & Country Club, Hole #7

It was 158 yards with a pitching wedge.

Roger Taylor, Gander Golf Club, Hole #10

My playing partners were, Neil Best, Paul Hitchcock and Lindsey Fraser. That hole is 177 yards. The pin was in the back so I am guessing close to 180 yards. I used a 4 iron.

Wesley Barrett, Royal Colwood Golf Club, Hole #15

I was 137 yards into a a descent wind and I hit a slight knock down 8 iron. Ball mark was about four feet right of the flag and it must have have spun a bit sideways into the hole. The exciting part was because of the flag being tucked behind a bunker we never saw it go in.

Colin Moore, Belvedere Golf Club, Hole #11

It was my first ever hole-in-one. I was playing with my 15-year-old son, Liam. He beat me on the front nine for his first time ever and then I pulled ahead for keeps with my hole-in-one on hole #11! It was 163 yards to the pin and I hit an 8 iron (there was a helping wind). I didn’t hit it flush and it barely covered the trap, kicked towards the hole and went in. It was awesome to share that moment with my son.

CJ McCardle, Andersons Creek Golf Club, Hole #8

The hole-in-one came on Thursday, June 27^th at hole #8 at Andersons Creek in Stanley Bridge, P.E.I. The yardage was 124 with wind behind blowing the storm clouds in. I hit a 56 degree wedge, and it took one bounce, hit the pin and dropped. My playing partners were Brady van der Velden, Grant Grady and Jarrett Mulligan. We just finished hole #9 before the rain hit so unfortunately we weren’t able to finish 18 holes that day.

Gary Benezra, Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

Playing partners were Jeremy Faria and Dr. Neil Moss. Hole #3. Blue tees. 148 yards with an 8 iron.

 

Martin Langlois, Wildstone Golf Course, Hole #16

On June 22nd at Wildstone Golf Course in B.C., I had my first hole-in-one from the blue tees, 169 yards playing 172 yards with my 6 iron. The sunset was coming down so we knew it was a nice shot but couldn’t see it getting in the hole. When we got there we couldn’t see my ball so my golf partner Evan Begeman ran to see in the hole and start yelling, “it’s in the hole!” There was another couple playing with us, Dale and Diane if I remember their names correctly.

Greg Kostandoff, Brantford Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

After 35 years of playing golf, I had my first hole-in-one on Thursday, June 27th at Brantford Golf and Country Club. It was on the third hole with a nice 9 iron from around 140 yards. Landed just behind the pin, took one bounce and spun back off a slope into the hole. We all watched it drop! Amazing feeling that I was able to share with my close friends Abe, Chris and Jeff.

David Wilson, Victoria Park East, Hole #4

Hole #4, yardage was 157 and I hit a 9 iron. I was playing with my cousin Craig Martini, friend Chris Bell and Shiek B. I also shot my career low round of 66, and had another eagle on hole #16. It was a memorable Canada Day for me. It was also my third hole-in-one. Got two in 2022 both in October, two weeks apart. I only started golfing in 2019, and have been apart of Golf Canada since 2020. 

Joey Gibbons, Fort Langley Golf Course, Hole #17

My name is Len Gibbons and I am Joey’s husband. This was an amazing accomplishment for her as she is a stroke victim and was advised after her stroke that she would probably not be able to golf again. Joey is a very strong willed person so she would not accept that. Joey never golfed for two years after her stroke but then decided it was time. She has her limitations but still manages. This was her fifth hole-in-one as she had four of them before her stroke. On this occasion Joey and I were just golfing together however her hole-in-one was witnessed by two gentlemen ahead of us. The hole #17 has an elevated tee and on this occasion the middle of the green white flag was directly over a pot bunker that was protecting the green. Joey used a Callaway Rogue 7 wood which flew over the pot bunker bounced once on the green and rolled into the hole without touching the flag. The red forward tees on this date made the hole play 115 yards downhill.

– Len Gibbons, on behalf of Joey

Robert Walsh, GlenDenning Golf Course, Hole #6

On that day I played with my brother Paul Walsh, and two buddies Wayne Fowler and John Wheeler. Hole #6, 158 yards and club was an 8 iron.

Jim Kay, Two Eagles Golf Course & Academy, Hole #10

It occurred on June 20th at Two Eagles Golf Course in West Kelowna, B.C. It was 153 yards and I used a 7-iron. I was golfing with Murray Sadler and two visitors from out of town. 

Rhodri Rees-Jones, University Golf Club, Hole #2

I’ve been having lessons last few years with Aaron Moody from Golftech, North Vancouver and been improving. On this day the sun was out and the course was immaculate. Came to hole #2, a 145 yard par 3 with the pin on the front left and a slight breeze against. I flushed my 7 iron, looked close but couldn’t see over the front of green. Halfway walking up the fairway I started to ponder, “could this really be my first hole-in-one?” Reaching the green not seeing any ball close I walked to the hole and amazingly ball was in the hole. One bounce pitch mark. I played with professor Paul Evans from University of British Columbia and a delightful young couple. 

Brandon Arnett, Cold Lake Golf Club, Hole #11

This is my first hole-in-one. I have hit the pin twice before but luck wasn’t on my side those times. This day was the earliest tee time I’ve ever started on at 6:40 am. I was with my friend, Mike Ansell, who is also a member of Golf Canada. I made the shot with a three quarter swing 9 iron with a slight draw at 141 yards. It landed 10 feet short of the hole, two bounces and it was in. 

Peter Labor, Landings Golf Course, Hole #11

I was playing with my friends Nate, Brooke and Josh. It was hole #11 at The Landings Golf Course. Short par 3, maybe less than 100 yards. I struck my pitching wedge pure and the ball landed about 15 feet away from the hole. The ball then bounced once and in the hole. We all doubted it went in so Josh and Nate rushed to check and they couldn’t believe that the ball was in the hole. I checked for myself and there it was my Kirkland ball staring back at me. Such a surreal moment.

Samuel Stadnyk, Speargrass Golf Course, Hole #11

I was golfing with my brother Josh and a friend Dale Cleghorn. The hole was 160 yards downhill. Decided to hit a pitching wedge and ended up dunking the ball in the hole. I had no idea the ball went in until I walked up to the green and saw the massive divot the ball made on the edge of the hole.

Kevin Woods, Oaks of Cobden Golf Club, Hole #9

Hole #9 on Monday was 138 yards to the pin from the white tees. I used my 48 degree wedge and was playing with Jake Powers and Rebekah Kiezebrink (also Golf Canada members).

Arden Semper, Rattlesnake Point, Hole #13

It was 137 yards to the pin from the blue tees as pinged by one of my playing partners Brad Trussler. I was playing with two friends, Brad, Andrew Savaglio and their neighbour Brett “The Vet” as they called him, I’m really not even sure what his last name is as I had just met him that afternoon. Shot was holed with a Titleist T200, 43 degree pitching wedge using a Taylormade Speedsoft golf ball. I had just started playing that ball that day as I had found one in the woods at a scramble a couple weeks back and liked how it felt off the club. It was actually my second hole-in-one but oddly enough, my first one was recorded at Rattlesnake as well on Sidewinder hole #2 – exactly 52 weeks (to the day) on Thursday June 22, 2023. Now, that’s just crazy! I can’t wait to see which hole it will be on next year?

Dale Kurta, Trestle Creek Golf Resort, Hole #3

We were attending a snowbirds tournament that day organized by Bob Rodda with people attending from Alta., B.C. and the U.S. There were actually two of us that had our first ever hole-in-one’s that day on the same hole. The hole was 117 yards and I hit an 8 iron into the wind over the water on hole #3 at Trestle Creek. I was golfing with my wife Dorothy Kurta, Colleen and Bob Wenger from Cardiff, Alta. and Hazel Watson from Qualicum Beach, B.C. The other individual that had a hole-in-one was Mike Ferris from Edmonton, Alta.

Nola Seaman-Lively, Wintergreen Golf & Country Club, Hole #15

While golfing at Wintergreen Golf Course, I made a hole-in-one on hole #15. Using a pitching wedge on the 120 yard hole, I hit a clean shot. The ball landed about ten feet from the pin, rolled steadily towards the hole, and then dropped in. It felt like destiny as I watched the ball roll in. Witnessing this remarkable feat was my husband, Terry Lively, who shared in the excitement of my first-ever hole-in-one.

Joan Rallison, Sunnydale Golf Course Courtenay, Hole #4

Ladies day, playing with Judy Berkeley, Brenda DeGagne and Becky Kenner. Used a 6 hybrid from 114 yards and hit a yellow Titleist TruFeel #4.

Roman Wojcik, The Track Golf Course, Hole #17

I was golfing with my playing buddies Dale and Ron. We got to hole #17 and it was quite windy. From the black tees it was 148 yards. I hit a 8 iron, it was a good hit going straight at the flag but I couldn’t see the bottom of the hole as it was behind a little rise in front of the green. After we all hit we walk up to the green and I don’t see my ball. It wasn’t short, I look in the bunker just beyond the green and nothing was there. Then Dale walks and says, “let’s check the hole.” He reaches in and pulls out the ball. My first hole-in-one after over 40 years of golfing.

Steve Wilson, Saugeen Golf Club, Hole #5

It took place on Saturday, June 29th on Sunrise hole #5. The club was a 6 iron and distance was 152 yards from the blue tees. My wife Bonnie witnessed this exciting occurrence. We happened to be playing in misty rain. It was the second time I aced this hole. August 25th, 2022 in a four man scramble tourney was the other time. This must be my lucky hole!

Geoff Gulevich, Bear Mountain Golf Course, Hole #4

Saturday, June 22 myself and 11 friends were participating in our fourth annual “Big Honch Invitational” at Bear Mountain, in Victoria B.C. As we got to hole #4 of the Mountain course it was playing 148 yards with about 30 feet of elevation gain, front left pin on a shrub and brush filled valley between the tee box and green. Normally I would hit a smooth and easy 8 iron, only to fly the pin and be able to putt back. There was a heavy head wind so I clubbed up to a 7 iron.

I squared up to the flag and opened the club face a touch to cut the ball right of the pin onto a safe shelf. I had a clean strike and the ball flew to my desired location. It bounced and settled and then it began rolling slowly down left towards the pin. I thought it was going to roll off what appeared to be a false front of the green but rolled directly across and ever so slowly towards the pin and as it should have passed, it dropped. I dropped my club and was met with a roar of cheer, hugs and high fives from my friends. It was perfect, to be able to share that with my crew.

Yar Kolomijchuk, Willow Park Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

I finally made my first hole-in-one at age 54. I was playing with my buddy Rod Pocza. I had a tough front nine and on hole #12 that was playing 189 yards, I hit a 6 iron which was definitely my best shot of the day. I feel relieved that I can finally say I have a hole-in-one.

Kevin Oates, Rivershore Golf Links, Hole #2

Hole #2 at Rivershore Golf Links playing 154 yards with an 8 iron and it took one hop and dropped. Playing with Kamloops Golf and Country Club Member Ken Hartt (University Teammate at TRU in 1994 – 1996), Kamloops Golf and Country Club Member Tim Rodgers and Tobiano Member Paul Manhas. Weather was perfect and course conditions were perfect. Great day by all.

April Walls, Northview Golf & Country Club, Hole #9

I was playing from the white tees, it was about 165 yards. Used my Taylormade rescue hybrid 4 club. I was playing with Taylor Lee, she hosted a tournament for Fidelity. I thought it hit the flag and didn’t know it went in until I got up to the green!

Valerie Dry, Serenity Golf Club, Hole #14

I used an alternate wedge on hole #14, distance was 91 yards. Playing partners were Judy Johnson, Brian Loschuk and Cory Neuman. As a side note this was my 14th hole-in-one which occurred on hole #14.

Dave Lundquist, Shuswap National, Hole #3

It was on hole #3 at Shuswap National. Hole was playing 116 yards downhill. Played my gap wedge and landed 8 inches left of the pin, one hop and spun back right and into the cup!

Todd Ellis, West Hills Golf Course, Hole #5

It was on Wednesday June 26th. I was playing with my good friends Nancy and Steve Gilliland, and my wife Barbara Wishart. It was on hole #5 at West Hills Golf Club. It’s a short par three measuring a mere 105 yards but it is almost all over a pond. The pin was in a difficult front right location, with a cross wind going from right to left. I used a pitching wedge landing the ball about a foot from the hole and watched as it slowly rolled toward the pin and dropped in. Every Sunday my 95 year old mother calls to chat. At some point she gets around to asking whether I played golf that week. As usual she would ask, “did you get a hole-in-one?” I’d always have to say, “no not this week.” She would remind me that my father had one, but not to worry, “you will get one some day.” Well it was nice on this past Sunday that I was able to respond to the question with, “yes I did get a hole-in-one.” Of course my mother congratulated me and then quickly reminded me that I still had a ways to go as my wife Barbara has two hole-in-ones.

Shane Barker, Legacy Ridge Golf Club, Hole #2

This hole-in-one was my fifth one, all at Legacy Ridge, I have now aced all the different par 3 holes. I have the plaques/flags for all the five aces, I have the dates, I have playing partner names, I have the distance and I have even what club that I used. 

August 20th 2004, hole #17
September 28th 2014, hole #14
July 27th 2019, 2019, hole #8
October 14th, 2021, hole #12

I have been thinking about making an ace on hole #2 every time I teed off on that hole for the next two years, five months and 23 days. I even think I could go back through all the golf canada scores over that time frame and figure out how many actual attempts it took at Legacy Ridge (formerly Owen Sound Golf and Country).

I can not tell you how excited I was to score the fifth ace to complete the cycle of all five of the par 3 hole on
May 23rd, 2024, hole #2.

Fun fact, my wife, Deborah Barker, also has two hole-in-one’s, September 23rd, 2020 and June 13th, 2022. It has been a happy household competition about who was going to get the next one.

I have been told by folks in the golf industry that acing all the par 3’s at your home course is unusual, and it has never been done at Legacy Ridge (a Stanley Thompson course over 100 years old). In fact someone did some research and the only close story was about a chap down in the states who aced all four of his courses par 3 holes.

Stouffer completes clean sweep winning Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Inter-Provincial Team titles at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community

Courtenay, B.C. – It was quite the battle during Saturday’s final round between Shelly Stouffer and Catherine Matranga, but in the end, Stouffer pulled ahead to win the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, presented by BDO at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C.

Stouffer and Matranga were tied at 2-over heading to the 17th at Crown Isle, and that is where Stouffer grabbed the lead with a birdie to move ahead of Matranga, who pared. On 18, Stouffer secured the victory in convincing fashion with another birdie to finish the tournament at even par, two shots clear of Matranga of Fort Worth, Texas.

“Yeah, it’s amazing, really happy about it,” said Stouffer with a smile. “I was just keeping track of it, thinking she’ll make that and then she did and now it’s a two-shot game and I had to make some long putts too, some long par saves that I made which was good. I just go through my routine and do the same thing and you lean on your routine and hope that gets you through it and was able to make a birdie-birdie finish,” said Stouffer following her round on Saturday.

“17 is a double fairway where you can go right or left and in the middle is a bunker and group of trees so I am trying to go right and I hit a terrible tee shot that went left and went over the bunker and bounced into the fairway leaving me 85 yards to the hole, I hit that shot pin high to 12 feet and left of the hole and made birdie,” said Stouffer.

On 18, Stouffer hit her drive right down the middle of the fairway, leaving herself 93 yards to the pin. She put her second shot to within five feet of the hole to close with a birdie and the national championship.

This marks the second Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title for Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. who was triumphant in 2022 in Manitoba, prior to the Women’s Mid-Amateur becoming a standalone event last year.

Stouffer finished with rounds of 75-68-73-216 and also claimed the Mid-Master title by nine shots over Taya Battistella of Bellingham, Wash. She was also part of Team British Columbia, who earned the Margaret Todd Trophy as Inter-Provincial Team champions on Friday. Team British Columbia finished with a combined score of 8-over, to beat Alberta by ten shots. In addition to Stouffer, the host province was represented by Jamie Oleksiew of Vancouver, B.C. and Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C.

Stouffer enjoyed the week at Crown Isle, “it was awesome, the course was great and before this year I hadn’t played it in probably 25 years but I knew the tournament was here so I came up and played five times beforehand, so I got to see the golf course a number of times which was great.”

With her victory, Stouffer has earned exemptions into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, taking place from September 7-12 at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass., as well as an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

In addition to winning all three trophies at Crown Isle, Stouffer has also won the B.C. Women’s Mid-Master Championship and the B.C. Women’s Senior Championship this season. Saturday was extra special as her son, Brett caddied the final nine holes for her. Following the trophy presentation, Stouffer reflected on her season to date.

“It’s going well so far,” she said with a laugh. “I am liking the way the direction is going. My son is playing golf too and it’s been hard to organize because he was over at Ledgeview this week playing in the B.C. Amateur so that’s why he was here for the last nine holes and finished caddying for me. It’s been a good ride so far and I’m just going to try to keep going.”

For the final standings from the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, click here.

Shelly Stouffer leads both the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master
divisions following play on Friday

Courtenay, B.C. – The Margaret Todd Trophy won’t have to travel far, as the host province, Team British Columbia have claimed the team championship beating out Team Alberta at the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, presented by BDO at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C.

Team British Columbia finished with a combined score of 8-over, to beat Alberta by ten shots in the 36-hole event. The host province was represented by Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C., Jamie Oleksiew of Vancouver, B.C. and Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C.

On Friday, Stouffer led the charge firing a 4-under 68, while Oleksiew recorded a 7-over 79 to have their scores count toward the team total. The two lowest scores from the three team members are recorded towards the team’s combined score for the day.

“It’s nice to finish on top, it doesn’t feel good to come in second and we came in second both at the Mid-Am and the Senior last year, so I am pretty happy to get back to winning and with a different team. It’s always fun to win the gold for sure,” said Stouffer on her team’s win on Friday.

Along with firing the low round of the day, Stouffer has found herself back in familiar territory as she now sits atop the leaderboard in both the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions. Stouffer is currently at 1-under for the tournament and holds a three-shot lead on round one leader Catherine Matranga of Fort Worth, Texas, heading into the final round at Crown Isle.

Stouffer credited her strong round to hitting 16 greens coupled with strong putting on Friday.

“My putting and distance control was really good, so I didn’t really have a lot of stressful pars. I made one key sand save on number six and had to make a 12-footer there and that kept me going because I had just birdied five and was nice to not have a birdie then a bogey right after, so it was awesome to make that putt,” added Stouffer.

Stouffer noted that one of the two holes that she three-putted on Thursday happened to be the 6th after finding a bunker. She went on to double bogey the hole in the opening round but made up for it with par on Friday. The back nine is where Stouffer really took charge, birding three of her final four holes to record a 68.

“I just kept hitting greens and two-putting and getting close to birdies and I thought I’m going to make one here or there. I made a long one on 15 and then about a 15-footer on 16 and then I made a 30-footer on 18, so I rolled in some long ones at the end,” said Stouffer.

Stouffer admitted that she didn’t do any scoreboard watching on Friday, and that the course felt a bit shorter during her round although some pin placements made for some trickier shot making. This is familiar territory for Stouffer, who won the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Inter-Provincial Team Championship in 2022, she will rely on that experience heading into tomorrow’s final round.

“All the experiences you go through definitely help to prepare for any tournament. The more tournament experience you have the better and also being able to know how to win is a definite plus.

“So, I will just do the same thing as I have the past two days. Just keeping in the present and just be calm and hit fairways and greens that’s all I’m going to try to do and make some putts like I did today,” she added following her round on Friday.

In addition, Stouffer also holds a five-shot lead in the Mid-Master division over Taya Battistella of Bellingham, Wash. Battistella also sits alone in third in the Mid- Amateur division.

The tournament began with a field of 64 golfers (aged 25-and-over as of July 11, 2024), with a handicap index of 12.0. The individual winner of the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, taking place from September 7-12 at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass. In addition, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

For leaderboard following Friday’s second round at the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, click here.

Holyrood, Nfld. – The 2024 NextGen Championship season reaches its final stop at The Wilds Resort in Holyrood, Nfld. with the NextGen Atlantic Championship, July 15-18. 

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Monday, July 15, and championship rounds begin on Tuesday, July 16. With a field of fewer than 80 players, the Junior Boys and Junior Girls divisions will play on without a cut line after 36 holes. All competitors will have a chance to make their mark on the championship, with the entire field advancing to the final day of play, which concludes on Thursday, July 18. 

The starting field will feature 62 male and female competitors – 47 Junior Boys and 15 Junior Girls – vying for exemptions into their respective Canadian Junior Championships later this summer.  

The top six players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemption into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, August 13-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta. The top six players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, July 22-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver. 

The Wilds Resort opened in 1998 and is designed by Robert Heaslip. The Wilds Resort features serene creeks, captivating sky views and an environmentally friendly connection with nature. This golf course’s hilly terrain and rolling fairways will challenge NextGen competitors to think critically, demanding a high level of accuracy and testing variety of shot selection.   

“As one of the premier resorts in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is an honour to host the NextGen Atlantic Championship here at The Wilds Resort. We believe competition brings out the best in individuals and provides an opportunity for growth and self-improvement,” states Kelly Finlay, General Manager at The Wilds Resort. “We take pride in supporting and helping to facilitate Golf Canada’s goal of encouraging our youth in being the best they can be and to have fun while doing it. We look forward to welcoming our athletes and their families to The Wilds Resort. We are excited to showcase our beautiful resort and province.” 

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Atlantic 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 exemption 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. 

Shelly Stouffer leads Mid-Master division and Team British Columbia lead
Inter-Provincial team championship following Thursday

Courtenay, B.C. – Catherine Matranga fired a 1-under 71 on Thursday to take the lead following the opening round of the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, presented by BDO at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C.

Matranga of Fort Worth, Texas was the only player to shoot under par at Crown Isle on Thursday. She began her round with nine consecutive pars to start, followed by back-to-back birdies to open the back nine. Matranga said her solid round was due to playing simple golf on Thursday.

“I got off to a pretty good start, felt like I was hitting my irons well, drove the ball well and just felt very comfortable out there today.

“Gave myself a lot of good looks for birdie but made easy pars to start off the round and continued that through the back nine and just overall felt really comfortable and kept it simple today,” said Matranga following her round.

Matranga also credited her consistent play and ability to recover well. She highlighted two shots on the front nine which allowed her to save pars after finding trouble. First from the bunker on three and then putting a wedge shot close on the seventh hole.

Matranga holds a three-shot lead in the mid-amateur division over Jamie Oleksiew of Vancouver, B.C. and is ahead by four shots over 2022 champion, Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. Matranga said she intends to stick to her game plan on Friday.

“Being committed to each shot. I have a plan and just making sure I am picking good targets and being committed to everything and each decision I make out there and see what happens in the end,” added Matranga.

Stouffer leads the Women’s Mid-Master division by one shot over Taya Battistella of Bellingham, Wash. Stouffer shot a 3-over 75 on Thursday. Tina Papatolis of Issaquah, Wash. And Marie-Thérèse Torti of Candiac, Que. are tied for third at 6-over, three back of Stouffer. The Women’s Mid-Master Championship is contested concurrently with the Mid-Amateur Championship for players aged 40-and-over as of July 11, 2024.

In the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, Team British Columbia sits atop the leaderboard after shooting a combined 5-over to lead by seven shots over Team Ontario and Team Alberta who are both 12-over. Team British Columbia consists of Stouffer and Oleksiew along with Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C. The two lowest scores from the three team members count towards the team’s combined score for the day. The inter-provincial competition is contested over the first 36-holes of the tournament.

The field consisting of 64 golfers (aged 25-and-over as of July 11, 2024), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less began play on Thursday. The individual winner of the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, taking place from September 7-12 at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass. In addition, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

For leaderboard following Thursday’s opening round at the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, click here.

Brooke Henderson is geared up for the most important four weeks of her year.

The winningest professional golfer in Canadian history will tee it up in the featured group of the Amundi Evian Championship on Thursday, the fourth major of the women’s season. She’ll then play in the CPKC Women’s Open — the Canadian national championship — at Calgary’s Earl Grey Golf Club before heading back to France for the Paris Olympics, all in the span of a month.

“It’s definitely a huge stretch, so it would be a great time for the game to really show up and be in a good spot,” said Henderson, who last played at the Dow Championship where she tied for eighth with partner Lexi Thompson of the United States. “I feel like it’s definitely trending in the right direction.

“It was a lot of fun playing with Lexi a couple weeks ago, and she is playing so well and has a lot of confidence right now. I was trying to feed off that and add some of that to my game as well.”

She’ll be playing alongside reigning champion Celine Boutier of France and 2021 winner Minjee Lee of Australia in the tournament’s first and second rounds on Thursday and Friday. Henderson won the fourth major of the season in 2022 and was runner-up to Boutier last year.

“I think it’s going to be really fun for all of us in the group to feed off (French fans cheering for Boutier) and be in a really amazing atmosphere,” said Henderson. “The show that she put on last year was incredible. Nobody was going to catch her. I tried, but I couldn’t keep up.

“She’s been playing some great golf and as everyone knows she’s a great person as well, so I’m looking forward to seeing how she does here this week.”

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., is the other Canadian in the field at the Evian. The LPGA Tour rookie said “it still feels surreal” that she’s playing in her third major after turning professional in November.

“It’s still crazy to me that you know, I’m out on tour now and I get to play in major championships that I grew up watching on TV,” said Grewal.

“I remember watching Celine Boutier win this tournament last year and now I’m here, playing the holes that I watched on TV. 

“Every major I can check off it’s just another unreal opportunity to get to go do what I love.”

Both Henderson and Grewal remarked on the unique Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, just by the Swiss border in the Alps.

“This course being built on a mountain, a slope, it’s very challenging,” said Henderson. “You never have a flat lie. You’re always compensating for something and always having to think your way around, which I think is really cool and very unique to this area.”

Grewal agreed.

“I’ve definitely noticed that there’s a lot more side slope lies in the fairway than what I’m used to,” said Grewal, after spending the day in Switzerland. “Even hilly courses that are in the mountains in North America, they tend to be more so hilly in the sense of up and down. 

“Whereas here, everything’s leaning toward one side. The front nine, I think everything’s kind of leaning left to right and then you have the back nine, where everything’s right to left.”

EPSON TOUR — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is the lone Canadian in the field at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship. She’s 128th on the Race for the Card points list. The tournament at the Great River Golf Club in Milford, Conn., begins Friday.

PGA TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., the only Canadian player on the European-base DP World Tour, will make a rare PGA Tour appearance at this week’s Genesis Scottish Open. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., is the highest-ranked Canadian in the lead-up event to the British Open. He’s 33rd on the FedEx Cup standings. Corey Conners (35th) of Listowel, Ont., Nick Taylor (43rd) of Abbotsford, and Mackenzie Hughes (51st) of Dundas, Ont., are also in the field.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., is No. 23 on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour’s points list heading into this week’s The Ascendant. Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (35th), Etienne Papineau (53rd) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Sudarshan Yellamaraju (106th) of Mississauga, Ont., and Jared du Toit (122nd) of Kimberley, B.C., are also in the field at TPC Colorado in Berthoud, Colo.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames is still No. 1 overall on the Champions Tour. He hopes to build his lead on the senior tour at this week’s Kaulig Companies Championship starting Friday. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., is No. 25 on the Schwab Cup points list heading into play at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

PGA TOUR AMERICAS — Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., is second on the third-tier tour’s points list heading into the Explore NB Open. There are 18 Canadians in the field at Mactaquac Golf Course in Fredericton, N.B.

Four past champions are in the field that will compete for the
national championship

Courtenay, B.C. – The 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO is set for July 11-13 at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C.

The field of 65 golfers will feature four past champions set to compete over 54-holes, beginning with practice rounds on Wednesday, July 10 followed by three rounds of tournament play.

Among the previous winners set to compete in Courtenay are 2022 champion Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C., 2010 champion Marie-Thérèse Torti of Candiac, Que., Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and 2008 champion Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ont. and six-time champion Christina Spence Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C. (2009, 2011-14, 2021). Defending champion and three-time winner, Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. will not be in the field as she will be competing in The R&A Women’s Senior Amateur, July 9 -12 at the Saunton Golf Club in North Devon, England.

Last year’s championship marked the first time that the women’s mid-amateur division was held as a stand-alone competition. Kyrinis won both the mid-amateur and mid-master divisions, finishing the tournament at 6-over, ten shots clear of Dawn Woodard of Greer, S.C. in both divisions. Stouffer finished in a tie for third with three other competitors.

In the inter-provincial team championship, Team Quebec, consisting of Natacha Brossard and Suzanne Ricard of Montreal, Que. along with Marie-Thérèse Torti, edged out the then defending champions, Team British Columbia by three shots.

“We have a great field with a mix of past national champions, American competitors, and some very experienced and skilled players ready to take on Crown Isle this week,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Daniel Suppa. “The staff and volunteers at Crown Isle have been exceptional to work with in the lead up to the tournament. We are all looking forward to a very competitive tournament at a beautiful golf course.”

Crown Isle is a residential golf community located in the heart of Comox Valley in Courtenay. The championship course was designed by Graham Cooke & Associates and opened in 1992. The course offers a memorable test for golfers featuring 12 lakes, lush fairways and views of the Beaufort Mountain range and Comox glacier. The greens team at Crown Isle plants over 10,000 annuals each year and has successfully reduced water usage while still being able to maintain the course and surrounding areas to pristine conditions.

“Our Golf Operations Team and our outstanding volunteer committee have been working hard to get everything ready for the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships this week. We are so excited to host this great event, and to work closely with the Golf Canada team to execute a phenomenal championship,” said Jamie Moran, Director of Golf, Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community. “Crown Isle will serve as a great test of golf for all the players, and we know they will all enjoy our beautiful course and facilities. We can’t wait for the players and staff to experience everything Crown Isle has to offer, and we wish all the players well this week.”

In addition, the championship will also feature two additional competitions running concurrently at Crown Isle. The Women’s Mid-Master Championship (players aged 40-and-over as of July 11, 2024) will be contested over three championship rounds and the Women’s Mid-Amateur Inter-Provincial Team Championship will take place over the first 36-holes of the tournament. Six provinces will be represented with three-player teams competing for the Margaret Todd Trophy.

Female golfers (aged 25-and-over as of July 11, 2024), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less are eligible to compete in the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The individual winner of the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, taking place from September 7-12 at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass. In addition, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

For the full field and tee times for the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, click here.

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – The International Golf Federation (IGF) today announced the fields for the men’s and women’s Olympic golf competitions at Paris 2024. The men’s Olympic golf competition will take place 1-4 August, while the women will compete 7-10 August. The Olympic golf competitions will be contested at Le Golf National, which annually hosts the FedEx Open de France on the DP World Tour and was the site of the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Once the Olympic Golf Rankings were finalised on 18 June and 25 June for the men’s and women’s Olympic golf competitions, respectively, each National Olympic Committee (NOC) then began the process of confirming their qualifiers for the competitions by 27 June (5 p.m. US Eastern Time). Past this deadline, all unused quota places were then reallocated as per the Qualification System for golf.

With 32 countries represented in the men’s Olympic golf competition and 33 in the women’s field, the composition of the Olympic fields highlights the broad global interest in golf and the opportunity to reach new audiences across all six different continents. Golf is looking to continue building upon the success of the previous two Olympic golf competitions at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Paris 2024 will mark the fifth occasion in which golf has been featured as an Olympic sport, and just the third time since 1904.

In total, 38 different NOCs will be represented across both the men’s and women’s Olympic golf competitions, with the United States of America sending the most athletes: seven (four men, three women). The following is the full list of NOCs represented in the fields for the men’s and women’s Olympic golf competitions: Australia, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States of America.

In the men’s field, 10 of the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, as of this week, are competing in the Olympic golf competition, including all of the top-5 ranked players. In the women’s field, all 15 of the top-15 ranked women in the Rolex Rankings, as of this week, are competing in the Olympic golf competition.

FIELD FOR THE MEN’S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

Listed in alphabetical order of the NOCs

FIELD FOR THE WOMEN’S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

Listed in alphabetical order of the NOCs

Mississauga, Ont.  The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA), in conjunction with other global superintendent groups, is recognizing those who are essential to golf’s success with an international “Thank a Golf Course Superintendent Day,” encouraging all golfers, those who are in the golf business or anyone who benefits from the game to thank superintendents for their hard work and dedication to the game. 

“Thank a Golf Course Superintendent Day” will be celebrated September 10, 2024.

In addition to CGSA, other groups taking part in the global event include the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), the Australia Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA), and The Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations (FEGGA). All together the groups represent more than 31,000 golf course management professionals in 78 countries around the world.

The celebration will include commercials that will appear on the Golf Channel, print advertisements and social media messages sharing the many ways that superintendents benefit the game and their communities.

Golfers and others are encouraged to join in the conversation on social media using the hashtags “#ThankASuper” or “#ThankAGreenkeeper” depending on their country’s nomenclature. In addition, golf courses and other groups are encouraged to provide special recognition for their superintendent and course maintenance staff on Sept. 10. A social media tool kit will be available on golfsupers.com with materials to aid in the celebration. 

During the 2023 Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day, social media messages reached more than 14.7 million followers around the world while broadcast media reached an additional 18 million people.

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.

David Morrow, Riverbend Golf Community, Hole #12

I first put my hands on a golf club at age 11, 73 years ago and have loved the game every since. The people we meet and share time with make it special. So I would like to share a memory of the 12th hole from the fall of 2012 that connects with this year’s hole-in-one.

Playing a foursome match with a tooney on the line, I hit a 6 iron, 165 yards from the gold tee for an amazing hole-in-one. Earlier this year I was shocked to learn of the passing of Randy McCurdy at age 69 from dengue fever while in Asia. Randy was playing with me when I had my hole-in-one. Although I hadn’t seen Randy for a few years my wonderful memories of our playing days welled up on opening day this year as we were approaching the 12th tee. My wife Joan and I were playing with our friends Werner and Diane. I told Werner that I was going to hit a shot from the gold tee in memory of Randy. Rather than the 6 iron from 12 years ago I had to go with my 5 wood. The shot had to go over a large pond in front of the green. I mishit the shot and it went into the water 30 yards short of the green. When I got back to the golf cart at the white tee Werner asked, “did your friend like swimming?” Randy would have loved the humour in that. When we got to the 17th hole the yardage from the white tees was the same 165 yards that I had hit into the water on hole #12. I pulled the same 5 wood. This time it went into the hole for a hole-in-one. What do you think of that Randy!

Yes, so the hole-in-one on #12 was the second hole-in-one this year! From the white tees it was an 8 iron from 125 yards. The good news we were playing a foursome match game. Surprise, we won the hole. The bad news, I needed more holes-in-one because my partner and I lost the match on #18.

I love that you never know which shot you hit is going in and that every hole starts from zero.

Steve Gallacher, Heron Point Golf Links, Hole #13

When I shot it, I thought it rolled off the back but my group standing as the side of the tee said it rolled in!
When we got across the bridge and didn’t see it we thought, “oh boy this might be in” and there it was in the cup! So exciting.

Jonah Sohmer, Rideau View Country Club, Hole #4

I was playing with my uncle on a Wednesday evening. The hole was #4 at Rideau View Golf Club playing around 150 yards. I used an 8 iron! 

Willie Bruce, Amherstview Golf Club, Hole #5

It was a back pin and the yardage was 157 yards. I used a Ping G30 7 iron. Playing partners for that day were club members: Tom Murphy, Terry Shea and Ken Roulston. It was early morning and a rare light fog which prevented us from seeing the ball drop in. When I hit it, the guys said it looks really good. Upon arrival at the green, I took out my putter and went looking for the ball behind the green. When I said to Tom, “I can not see my ball,” he replied, “check the hole” and bingo, it was there. Needless to say we all enjoyed a “pop” after the round.

Ruth Chapman, Crown Isle Golf Resort, Hole #4

My hole-in-one was on June 16, 2024, hole #4, 118 yards and used an 8 iron. I was playing with Sue Spate, Rhonda and Eamon Ryan, all members at Crown Isle. This is my fourth hole-in-one, three at Crown Isle on holes #7, #12 and now on #4. First one was at Westwood Plateau.

Luke Carnevale, Inglewood Golf & Curling Club, Hole #7

I was with a few buddies Terry, Gord and John. The hole was 144 yards from the white tees and I used a Taylormade 7 iron and a Titleist golf ball. It landed a few yards short of the green with a red pin location. It bounced once and then rolled in on beautiful Calgary windless evening – which so far this year has been rare. I have been fortunate as this was my fourth ace.

Candace Heinz, Poppy Estate Golf Club, Hole #6

As you know it happened at Poppy Estates on hole #6. It is a 140 yard par 3 and I chose my trusty 7 iron. It was during the Poppy Ladies Tournament during the women’s club. I was grouped with a fabulous group of ladies which included Debora McLellan, Michelle Pringle and our Captain Lynda-Lee Saunier. What was even more exciting that my mother Kathryn Heinz was in the group behind us and saw it as well with her group. It was a very exciting moment with all the share. Once the round was over the club house was filled with excitement too, such a great group of ladies at our course.

 

William Mitchell, Science Hill Country Club, Hole #12

I was with my friends from left to right Bob Frayne, Jared Frayne, myself and Phil Roth. I used a 22 degree Ping rescue club and the yardage was 169 yards from the blue tees.

Art McKay, Pakenham Highlands Golf Club, Hole #2

My playing partner Reg Gutz and I were on our second hole in the Pakenham Tuesday Morning Senior Men’s League playing the Lake Course. Hole #2 was playing 114 yards against a bit of a headwind. I nailed my 8 iron, landing just short of the pin. I knew it was a good shot, somewhat tight to the white flag stick. The ball was stuck between the pin and lip of the cup with just a portion of the ball visible. At the green, Reg said, “it’s in” and just touched the pin to let the ball drop to the bottom of the cup. I had my first hole-in-one in 2007. The guys are saying I have the same schedule as the cicadas – every 17 years!

Corrina Johnstone, Deer Valley Golf Course, Hole #4

I am a new golfer and only started playing last year. I began taking consistent lessons this spring. My husband and I were golfing in Deer Valley with two friends. Hole #4 is a par 3 over water. This hole has always been a mental game for me, as the water has claimed many of my balls from previous rounds. My husband had found a TP5 ball on the previous hole and gave it to me. I always use the worst balls in my bag when teeing off on hole #4 since I’m sure to lose them in the water. This time I decided to take a chance and use that TP5. It was 102 yards from the pin. I made the perfect swing with my 9 iron. I remember seeing the ball land close to the pin and start rolling. At that moment, it never occurred to me how close the ball was. Then the ball disappeared into the hole. Our whole party erupted with excitement. The adrenaline was so intense I thought I was going to pass out. It was a surreal moment that I will always be thankful for. Although slightly jealous, my husband proudly tells anyone who will listen of his wife’s hole-in-one. Special thanks to the person who lost their TP5 ball on the previous hole, your ball allowed me to make one of my most exciting memories. It now sits on our mantle.

Cheri Janzen, The Okanagen Golf Club, Hole #11

Silver tees. 111 yards. Used a 9 iron. Was playing with Vicki Redding and Sebastian Nyeste. Sebastian was as excited as me, he is a new golfer and this was the first hole-in-one he ever witnessed. My friend Vicki said as soon as the ball was in the air that the golf shot was looking really good. That got all of our attention. We started yelling already as the ball travelled towards the hole. When the ball landed on the green it hit left of the flag on the exact break it needed and went right into the hole; we all saw it perfectly. If I must say it, was a really great shot! It was a great golf day, I managed to get the hole-in-one on #11, a birdie on hole #15 and a par on hole #18. 

Gordon He, University Golf Club, Hole #2

I had a hole-in-one at University Golf Club while playing in the BCGA Zone 4 Junior Championship. The second hole was a 170-yard par 3 and 155 yards to the pin (front pin). I hit a light 7 iron. My group and I watched the ball as it flew at the hole. It landed a couple yards short of the hole and then rolled in! I was super excited and happy about my first ever hole-in-one during a tournament! Thanks to the Zone 4 team and Golf Canada for the support.

Peyton Gripper, Jasper Park Golf Club, Hole #15

I was playing with my friend Hayden Kelly. We both work here at the Jasper Park Golf Club. The yardage was 138 and I hit my gap wedge.

Leslie King, St. Andrews Golf and Country Club, Hole #14

My recent hole-in-one on May 21, 2024 was during regular league play at Larters Golf Club with other Ladies League members Sandy Eggertson, Shirley Babaluk and Karen Kearney. On hole #14, 123 yard par 3, I watched the other players hit towards the green against big wind gusts, over a soggy fairway and come up short. So I changed my club decision and grabbed my driver. I hit my ball, saw it land on the green beyond a small rise beside the sand trap and was hoping for a birdie. Karen, who was watching from a different angle said she saw it go into the cup. I walked up to the green with my putter just as Karen pointed down at my ball in the cup. Our foursome was busy keeping pace so there were no photos taken and no major celebrations that day when we finished our round. But it was also my second hole-in-one.

I got my first on July 31, 2020 at Kingswood Golf and Country Club in LaSalle, Manitoba. Hole #3, a 122 yard par 3. I was using my driver as I needed to get my ball over a pond in front of the green. My golf pals, Betty Wilson and Lynn Crocker Loat and I all stood on the elevated tee box, watched and cheered as my ball cleared the pond, landed on the top of the green, rolled down and dropped into the hole. My brother, Jamie, a lifelong low handicap golfer with two hole-in-one’s, now says he needs to get another hole-in-one as soon as possible to beat his older sister. Our sister Cheryl, who took up golf when she retired and plays socially in Ontario, already got a hole-in-one. The last sibling, Michele, who is turning 70 next month, just took up golf last summer, so now we are all bugging her, as well as my son Everett and son-in-law Marty, to join the family hole-in-one club!

Tom Kingston, The Club at North Halton, Hole #13

Hole #13, 176 yards with a 4 hybrid. Playing with Henry Barber, a 20-year-old in a flighted match play. Two weeks before my 85th birthday. This now makes five hole-in-one’s and I also have a double eagle. That hole-in-one helped me to win the match over a longer and stronger young player. Fairways and greens still counts in this game.

Peter Andrews, Predator Ridge Golf Resort, Hole #6

I’ve only been golfing seriously since 2020 when I bought my first set of clubs and I recognize what a super cool thing it is to get a hole-in-one. Many golfers go their whole life without getting one and I am still in wonder of the whole accomplishment.

I was golfing that week with a group of seven guys on our annual golf trip. This year we played rounds at Predator Ridge (Vernon), Shuswap National (Salmon Arm), Harvest in Kelowna and Hillview (Vernon). That day, my golfing group consisted of myself, Peter Andrews, Mike Forsyth and Phil Denno, the other foursome was one hole ahead of us and was made up of Gerry Rempel, Murray Hedlin, Bill Scott and John Ydenberg.

On Tuesday, June 11th we teed off at 8:30 am into a beautiful warm morning from the blue tee box. On hole #6, the card yardage was 195, but the hole posted 187 yards. I used my Cobra King #4 hybrid and a Callaway Chrome soft ball and it flew straight at the flag, dropped and rolled into the hole. One of my partners said he heard it hit the flag so I thought it would at least be a close putt but was elated to approach the hole and not see my ball at all and hurried over to the flag to confirm my ball was indeed in there!

Danny Cook, Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club, Hole #8

Nothing amazing, other than I took an 8 iron and hit a ball, 143 yards on to a 500 square foot piece of property with a 4.25″ hole and put it in and yet can’t make a 4-foot putt. Haha!

Mark Jones, Island Brae (Club de golf), Hole #2

I was playing with my dad, Steve Jones; my uncle, Jerry Muldoon, and my cousin, Matthew Muldoon. The yardage was 160 and I used a 6 iron.

Eric Chen, Legends on the Niagara, Hole #8

Had a tee time on 9:40 am in a hot and muggy Thursday, June 20, 2024. Paired with Sean who lives nearby as twosome following a foursome in Battlefield course at Legends on the Niagara. Both of us are the full access pass holders, good casual talks during the round.

Hole #8 is a short par 3 over water hazard with back pin location, playing 135 yards from white tee deck. I hit a lazy 8 iron with baby draw to the centre of the green, then the ball rolled towards to the pin and disappeared. I felt a chance in the cup but could be long rolled over. Lucky enough, the ball sat inside the cup. That’s unbelievable of my very first hole-in-one in more than twenty years of golfing.

Scott Fraser, Williams Lake Golf & Tennis Club, Hole #8

It was men’s night and I was playing with the same group of guys that I play with most weeks, John Pickard, Robert Lyons and Scott Mezonic. Anyway, after cruising along even par into hole #7, I took a double bogey and was very mad! I walked to the 8th tee box, threw my ball down and said to myself, “I’m going to ace this hole!” I hit my 8 iron and it felt perfect! It flew approximately 153 yards, landed just shy of the green, took one hop and I said, “get in!” It rolled about 15 feet and plunk. First one at my home course in which I grew up playing and first one in over 38 years! I was extremely elated. I also won low gross that night and bought a few drinks for the men’s club. I think I won long drive too in the Senior’s division, so all in all, it was a perfect night.

 

Blake Chandler, Chester Golf Club, Hole #16

It was on June 9th at hole #16 of Chester Golf Course 156 yards. The club used was a 3 hybrid. Playing partners were, Holly Chandler, Jo-Ann Ravlo and John Ravlo.

Al Cue, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #4

June 19th, while playing with Ken Volk, Jock Hawkey and Frank Kratzer, I had a hole-in-one on the hole #4 at the Harvest Golf Club, Kelowna. It was 165 yards to the hole, the ball hit the front of the green and rolled toward the middle pin. You could hear the ball hit the pin from the tee box, then it fell into the hole. It is quite a surreal experience and I was happy to share it with my good friends.

Claude Joannette, Club de Golf Miner, Hole #8

At the Club de Golf Miner in Granby, Quebec. Small municipal nine hole golf course, on the Sunday, May 26, 2024. With my son Bruno, my partner Rejean (81) and his friend. The day, at the age of 77 years young, with a 7 wood, nice breeze and sunny, the ball flew in a straight line and my son started to shout, “it is going in and it is in,” What a moment of joy, in all the years that I have been practicing golf. Hole #8, 142 yards long between high level trees and a sand trap along the right side. Now I can relax and say, “I did it.” Boy what a memory, wish everyone to have one and see the feeling inside you. Now the ball and the score card placed in a transparent cube in my office, right in my view!

Peter Whitlock, Eagles Glenn Golf Course, Hole #17

The hole-in-one was a long time in the making. My playing partners were Edwin Callaghan and Reg Boudreau. The hole was playing about 135 yards and I played a 6 iron to make sure I carried the water hazard and bunker in front. A pretty cool moment.

Ron Hudon, Glencairn Golf Course, Hole #12

The hole was 160 yards and I used an 8 iron.

Cuong (Curtis) Ly, Station Creek Golf Club, Hole #17

I played with Patrick Lee, Nick Vitantonio and David Lee. It was Station Creek North, hole #17 and 176 yards. I use a 6 iron.

Carmen Saumure, Equinelle Golf Course, Hole #13

It was Saturday, June 8th and I was playing with our weekend warriors. I was actually having a pretty decent game that day. But just before my hole-in-one, I shot a three over on a par 4! I remember telling my friends I need to erase that bad hole.

Move onto hole #13, a 122-yard par 3, the green slopes to the right. Two of my friends had already hit, I took out my 4 hybrid and hit and I remember thinking just aim a bit left (since I’m a lefty and have tendency to pull right). I felt it was a good shot but thought that it had rolled behind the pin. I said it’s probably lined up and we can’t see it. My friend who is last to hit yells out at me, “great shot!” It’s going for the hole! Then she yells out, “it disappeared!” I was putting away my club so did not actually see it go in. We all ran to go see how close I was only to find it in the hole! Needless to say we all yelled and jumped with excitement!

Within five minutes I must of gotten over a dozen texts congratulating me. I was the talk on the veranda among the warriors that day! Because I had “insurance” everyone on the veranda got a free beverage! Fantastic moment I will never forget.

Steve Kisil, Monterra Golf At Blue Mountain Resort, Hole #2

This was our annual guy’s golf getaway and yes it was so exciting getting a hole-in-one on Montera’s second hole. I used my 9 iron from the grey tees around 129 yards to the pin in the back left corner of the green.

This was actually my third hole-in-one! My first two came two weeks apart about 20 years ago. My buddies in the picture are Chris Belton, me, Peter Lachance and Chris Love.

Sharon Zarowny, Quilchena Golf & Country Club, Hole #8

My playing partners that day were Alec Keylock, Mike Matthews and Bert Bonin. The hole was 161 yards but played 170 that day as it was a back pin placement. There was a strong headwind so I used my 4 wood. I struck the ball well and it hit the front of the green and rolled all the way into the bottom of the cup. Pretty cool or what!

Zachary Burlon, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hole #17

Hole #17, 145 yards with an 8 iron. I played with Jonathan Dikih and his friend Anthony. It is kind of a funny story how the round got started. I was supposed to play with a friend and unfortunately at last minute they had to cancel on me, leaving me to play solo. I was actually looking forward to a solo round and didn’t even plan to play all 18 holes! Well, right before I was going to tee off two guys came down to the first tee and said “hey, are you Zach?” We got told to jump in with you since you’re playing alone. They were not familiar with the lay of the land, so as a member at Black Mountain, I was able to give them some pointers along the way.

Nearing the end of the round, we get up to hole #17, I put my ball on the tee and get ready to hit. I took my shot and bounced to the right of the hole. I didn’t see the ball roll across the green so I thought to myself, “Hmm, I must have just gotten caught up just before the green.” Not thinking much of it, I walk up to the green with the guys and I don’t see my ball on the green, nothing on the fringe just short of the green, I walk up to the pin and there it is, my Kirkland ball is in the cup!

I yelled, “I just got a hole-in-one!” Jonathan was right there and started cheering with me. It’s an awesome accomplishment to get a hole-in-one. It’s funny how it happened on a day where my usual crew wasn’t there and I almost didn’t have a witness! My usual group couldn’t believe they missed it! This is only my second year as a member at Black Mountain and now my group and I get to see my name on the plaque in the clubhouse everyday. This is actually my second hole-in-one. First one was at Tower Ranch Golf course in Kelowna, B.C. as well. October 20, 2017 on hole #5. I just found out my name is now on the wall there too.

Gwen Cargill, Castlegar Golf Club, Hole #4

Miracles do happen! It was wet and cold for our Tuesday morning ladies golf club. I didn’t think I would stay but was talked into playing nine holes at least as we were going to celebrate a member’s 70th birthday with cupcakes. The weather improved and we completed 18 holes. I played with Candis Bomak, Verna Chernoff and Marg McKenzie. The yardage on hole #4 from the red tees is listed at 116 yards and it was a red flag. I used a 3 wood. My first thought on seeing I had a close shot was that I hadn’t put in for the KP pot and then Verna said, “it went in.”

Laura Baydala, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club, Hole #13

I was using my new Callaway smoke 9 wood when I hit 148 yards uphill for my hole-in-one. Due to the elevation of the green, we did not see the ball go into the hole. In fact, we thought I had gone over the green and were looking for the ball behind the green. When we could not find it, I asked one of the gals to check the hole and there it was! It was a regular Tuesday woman’s day at Gallagher’s, so after the round all the women who were staying for lunch were treated to a beverage of their choice. We even celebrated with a champagne toast!

Cassandra Dass-Pearce, Nottawasaga Inn Golf Club, Hole #8

I was playing in a foursome with my husband and a couple who also happened to be my next-door neighbours. The club used was a Taylormade M2 #4 hybrid. The yardage was 114.6.

Jo-Anne Belcher, Georgetown Golf Club, Hole #14

It was both shocking and exciting. I didn’t believe it was in the hole because it was hard to see as we have to shoot over a ravine. My ball bounced once and right into the hole. It was 124 yards and I used my 3 wood. I was playing with Deb Pincivero and Kathy Kearney.

Jamie Paradis, Connaught Golf Club, Hole #12

It was a 122 yard hole and I used my 8 iron.

Karen Paul, Vernon Golf & Country Club, Hole #5

We played a nine and dine with some friends and it was on hole #5, Vernon, B.C., Vernon Golf and Country Club 113 yards, with my 5 wood using a Taylormade ball. It was an elevated green so of course we couldn’t see where the ball landed.

Took my shot and moved to the green where we saw only three balls. Thinking my ball had gone off the bank and over the hill, I started to search for it. One of our party said, “look in the hole!” Lo and behold my ball was there! I couldn’t believe it! My second hole-in-one! Just as exciting as my first!

Dale Roberts, Mystic Golf Club, Hole #11

My first hole-in-one was 58 years in the making. I am 66 years old and began playing this game at the age of eight. The hole-in-one happened at Mystic Golf Course on hole #11 from 120 yards using an 8 iron. I was playing with three of my friends. It was a very special moment in my very long golfing life.

Brent Mason, Landings Golf Course, Hole #11

The hole is one of the shortest it came in at 95 yards to pin. Pin was on left side of green about five paces and ten feet from the front. I hit my Mizuno 52° gap wedge with seven bounce with a slight draw that took a big bounce on green then a small with a little check on it and disappeared with no roll. I was there that day with two friends and one single player who joined named Amir. I apologize if that’s not the proper spelling of his name, I have never seen him before but was a great addition to the day.

The friends I was with are also my clients Andrew Laird and Tristan Perry. Andrew is very new to golf and I started using my love for golf and helping people together.

I myself suffer from different mental and physical disabilities and use golf as therapy. Next thing I know I’m helping a whole bunch of people by using golf to cope with life and improve or learn the game. The reason I wanted to let you know all of this is because I think of my hole-in-one as karma for trying to help so many people struggling.

Alastair Ferguson, Amherstview Golf Club, Hole #13

3 wood on 184 yard par 3, hole #13 at Amherstview golf course.

Wayne Livingstone, Collicutt Siding Golf Club, Hole #7

Pat my wife and I were playing with two guys from Calgary. It was on the seventh hole. It was 156 yards with a wind coming cross ways at our backs. I used an eight iron as I didn’t want it to go over the green as it drops off at the back. The flag was in the center. I wanted to hit it short and let it run up to the hole. After it hit the green the guys said I think it went in the hole. I didn’t think it did I thought it was behind the pin I moved to the side of the tee box, that’s when I realized it had gone in. This hole-in-one was my fifth. 

Marlene Jolie, Glacier Greens Hole #4

On Wednesday, June 12, 2024 my playing partner Linda Sowerby and I were playing a match against Sue Fulkerth and Lorelei Banford at beautiful Glacier Greens golf course in Comox, B.C. On hole #4 I hit my 6 hybrid approximately 112 yards directly at the flag but we weren’t sure if it went in or rolled by, but it was in the cup!

Todd Downey, Copetown Woods Golf Club, Hole #17

My first ever hole-in-one! This was a 158 yard par 3 with my 7 iron. I was playing with my amazing friends Enes, Dave and Dwayne.

Nancy Dezotell, Murray Municipal Course, Hole #9

I had my first hole-in one on Monday, June 24, 2024 at the Murray Municipal Course in Regina during regular league play, using my Taylormade Driver.

James Meyer, Innerkip Hylands Golf Course, Hole #2

Innerkip Hylands Golf Course. 128 yards into a strong wind. I used a Callaway Rogue 9 iron and a Titliest velocity golf ball. It was almost a year to the day that I got my first one at Dundee Golf and Country Club.