Joly, Que. – Justine Emond and Henry Dao have won the NextGen Quebec Championship at Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly in Joly, Que. 

The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the fifth tournament in the NextGen championship series and featured a starting field of 153 players (125 junior boys, 28 junior girls). After 36 holes, the field was reduced to the low 57 Junior Boys and 13 Junior Girls, including ties. 

In the Junior Girls Division, Justine Emond of St-Jerome, Que. fired a 3-over 74 on Friday to wrap up the tournament at 2-over to claim the championship. 

“It means a lot because it’s the last NextGen Tournament I will be able to play since its my last junior year and being able to qualify for the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship is an amazing feeling,” said Emond. 

Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver B.C who finished as runner up at 6-over par with Avery Nordman of Ottawa, Ont. finishing in third at 7-over. 

In the Junior Boys division, Henry Dao of Laprairie Que. ended the tournament on a high-note, with a 5-under 66 on Friday to secure the championship and finish five shots clear of Antoine Jasmin of Blainville Que. who closed the tournament at 1-under. With consistent play to begin the week, Dao grabbed the co-lead in the second round and held on, finishing 6-under par for the tournament with rounds of 70-71-66. 

“I really love this tournament because it brings out all the best junior golfers in Quebec. The reason why I won is my putting was on fire all week. I was making a lot of birdies and that’s why I carded the score I did,” said Dao. 

Rounding out the podium were Zach Bourgeois of Ste-Agathe-des-Monts Que. and Milan Abrieu of Bromont Que. who finished tied third at 1-over. 

The top eight players, including ties in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 21-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C.  

NextGen Quebec Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Girls Championship   

In the Junior Boys division, the top eight players earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys championship, August 12-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.   

NextGen Quebec Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Boys Championship  

  About the NextGen Championships  

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

Xing and Cranston join Team Canada teammates Lauren Kim, Anna Huang, Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers in earning exemptions through
She Plays Golf Championship Series

Caledon, Ont. – Team Canada athletes Michelle Xing (a) and Katie Cranston (a) earned exemptions into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open after finishing atop the leaderboard at the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (Heathlands Course) in Caledon, Ont. as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series on Friday.

Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. carded a 1-under 70 on Friday to finish the tournament at 9-under and two shots ahead of Cranston to win the championship, becoming the youngest champion in tournament history. The lead changed hands a couple times through the back nine on Friday, but Xing held strong for her fourth win of the season.

“First day I played well but I left some shots out there and made up for it in the second round and just tried to do what I did the previous day and keep a cool head,” said Xing following her round.

The 15-year-old began the week in a tie for fourth but moved atop the leaderboard following a 7-under 64 on Thursday, where she recorded an eagle and six birdies for the lowest score in her young career. Xing’s solid play on Friday was rewarded with a birdie on the 18th to secure victory and with it her first appearance in the CPKC Women’s Open and on the LPGA Tour.

“It’s really exciting and I look forward to it, it means the world to me, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and now that I got an exemption, I am really looking forward to it,” said Xing.

Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the tournament at 7-under and rebounded from an opening round of 77 to post, a career low 8-under 63 on Thursday and finished with a 5-under 66 on Friday to earn the second exemption spot.

“My start was a little bit shaky, just hard coming off a career low but back nine I really got it going today,” said Cranston who carded four birdies on the back nine Friday. By finishing as runner-up, Cranston has booked her third consecutive appearance into the CPKC Women’s Open.

“It’s an amazing stepping stone to experience the life of a pro golfer for a week and see how they do it,” added Cranston when asked about competing in Calgary later this month.

The ORORO PGA Women’s Championship saw a field of 62 golfers (amateur and professional) with 12 members of the Team Canada program competing in Caledon. The tournament was the third and final stop in the She Plays Golf Championship Series.

Last month, Team Canada athletes Lauren Kim (a) and Anna Huang (a) finished first and second respectively at the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary, Alta., which was the first tournament in the She Plays Golf Championship Series. They were joined by fellow Team Canada athletes Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers who finished atop the leaderboard at the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in qualifying for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. In addition to winning in Pitt Meadows, Szeryk also finished atop the She Plays Golf Order of Merit for 2024, with Rivers and Xing rounding out the top three.

She Plays Golf is a citywide celebration of women’s golf anchored in each host market by a $60,000 CAD professional golf championship contested over 54-holes for a field of professionals and elite amateurs. The tournaments are played with a cut after 36-holes and each championship sees players compete for WAGR points and two qualifying spots into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. The She Plays Golf Championship Series marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.

Players earned points for their finishes in the She Plays Golf Championship Series towards a series-long standings. The golfer with the most points following the final championship will also earn qualification into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open, if not otherwise qualified and will be supported by Golf Canada’s Q School bursary program if they enter LPGA Q School in the fall.

She Plays Golf Festivals feature inclusive programming for women and girls, addressing gaps in the participation pathway and introducing new women and girls to the game in a safe, fun, and judgment-free environment. Festival activities take place at golf courses across the host city during the same week as the She Plays Golf Championship Series event with activities including introductory “Try Golf” events for women and girls new to golf, professional development for women in coaching, networking socials for women in business and leadership, and more.

For the final standings from the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship, please click here.

For more information on She Plays Golf Festivals and Championship Series, please click here.

St Andrews, Scotland: The ticket ballot for The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush is now open. Fans can submit ticket applications from today until 3pm BST on Wednesday 31 July 2024, with the results being announced in stages during August and September.

Apply for tickets to TheOpen

The ballot approach ensures all fans will have a fair opportunity to attend the Championship, which is taking place in Northern Ireland from 13-20 July 2025.

The ticket ballot is available exclusively to members of One Club, the free-to-join digital membership platform, designed to bring golf fans closer to the game. Fans can also upgrade to One Club Advantage, presented by Mastercard, for an enhanced chance of success in the ticket ballot.

Ticket prices for The 153rd Open will start from £100 for an adult on Championship Days and from £25 on Practice Days. The R&A is fully committed to encouraging more children and young adults to attend The Open and free tickets will be available to children through the successful “Kids go Free” programme, while half-price youth tickets are available for 16-24-year-olds. These tickets must also be applied for using the ticket ballot.

A range of premium hospitality experiences are available to purchase now when fans can guarantee their place at the Championship in luxurious surroundings with a fully inclusive dining and drinks package. Premium Experiences are selling fast, with some already sold out. A Ticket Plus option is also available, offering fans an elevated experience in which they can enjoy The Open in a relaxed environment with access to a private bar and gourmet food trucks.

The Open is returning to Royal Portrush for the first time since 2019, when Irishman Shane Lowry lifted the famous Claret Jug to the delight of a jubilant home crowd. Tickets for the 2019 Championship sold out in record-breaking fashion and, at the time, set a record attendance for The Open outside of St Andrews with 237,750 fans attending throughout the week. It generated more than £100 million for the economy of Northern Ireland.

Visit TheOpen.com for further information or to enter the ticket ballot.

Corey Conners has been one of the most consistent Canadians on the PGA TOUR over the past couple of years. It’s that consistency that has earned him a spot on the Canadian Olympic team heading to the upcoming summer Olympics.

Golf Canada recently announced the two spots reserved for the men’s team will go to Conners and 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor. On the women’s side, Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp will be representing Canada at the upcoming summer Olympics in Paris, France.

When the decision on the men’s team was announced on June 17^th, Taylor was 35^th and Conners was 37^th on the official World Golf rankings – they were the top two ranked Canadians.

After winning the RBC Canadian Open last June, Taylor carried that momentum towards another victory earlier this year at the TPC Scottsdale in February.

“The opportunity to represent my country at the Olympics has been a huge goal of mine for many years,” Taylor pointed out after the official announcement on June 17^th.

“To see the news become official is quite humbling and surreal. I’m excited to get to Paris to compete, proudly wear the Maple Leaf, and soak in what I know will be an incredible experience.”

Joining Taylor at the Paris Olympics on the men’s golf team is Conners – who has been posting some strong results recently also.  At the RBC Canadian Open in early June, he finished as the top Canadian in sixth spot.

“Definitely something to be proud of,” said Conners at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club about earning the distinction as the top Canadian. “Obviously disappointing not to win the big trophy but yeah it’s a cool honour (to be top Canadian in the field).”

Conners was again the top Canadian on the leaderboard at the U.S. Open – where he finished in a tie for 9^th spot.

“It was a solid week overall. I was certainly motivated to improve on my record at the U.S. Open. I feel like the challenging golf courses set up well for me, and I was comfortable with the course, and I felt good about my game,” said the long-time Canadian National Team member from Listowel, Ont.

“It would have been nice to get a little higher up the leaderboard, but it was a really solid week.”

While his last PGA TOUR victory came back in April of 2023 at the Valero Texas Open, consistency has been a key factor to Conners’ success since then. An example of this remarkable consistency is the fact that he has not missed a cut in over a year – the last time Conners missed a cut was at the 2023 U.S. Open in Los Angeles.

Conners’ consistency combined with his recent top 10 results at the U.S. Open and the Canadian Open allowed him to edge out Adam Hadwin, who was ranked one spot behind at 38^th in the world golf rankings when the Olympic team announcement was made.

“Huge honor to represent Canada at the Olympics again. It was a big goal of mine, since playing in Tokyo three years ago, that I really wanted to represent Canada again. I feel for Adam Hadwin, he was playing some really good golf as well and I was able to just sneak by him,” said the 32-year-old Conners at the recent Travellers Championship.

“Really happy and excited to get to go to Paris and it will be a lot of fun playing alongside Nick.

This marks the second time Conners will be representing Canada at the summer Olympics. The long-time Canadian National Team member from Listowel, Ont., will look to build on his strong performance at the Toyko Olympics in 2020 where he finished in 13^th spot.

It is interesting to note that the last Canadian to win a medal in golf at the Olympics is George Lyon, who captured a gold medal way back in 1904.

Conners and Taylor – along with Henderson and Sharp – will look put their names into the history books later this summer in Paris, France. The men’s Olympic golf tournament will take place from August 1^st to August 4^th at Le Golf National.  The women’s golf tournament will take place at the same venue from August 7^th to August 10^th.

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.

Ken Tomalty, Turtle Creek Golf Club, Hole #2

This hole-in-one was a par 3 on the second hole which measured 112 yards. This was done with a pitching wedge and the ball struck the green with one bounce and rolled into the cup. The witness to this was Bob Handley who is a golfing buddy with me at Turtle Creek who is a member also. Quite the excitement.

Thomas Free, Crowsnest Pass Golf & Country Club, Hole #8

I was playing with Julia Free and Sheldon Steiner. The hole was 143 yards and the club was a 7 iron.

Anna Johnstad-Moller, Hope Golf & Country Club, Hole #9

It happened on hole #9, a 103 yard shot. It was witnessed by Ruth Bangay. We played early morning, so not a big celebration as most people were still in bed but it was a great experience.

Mary Rizok, Metcalfe Golf Club, Hole #5

On May 24, 2024, I was playing at our home course Metcalfe Golf Club with my husband and two other male friends. We got to hole #5 on the 18 hole course which is 124 yards from the red tee box. I was the last player to step up to the red tee with my driver and hit a Pinnacle gold ball, unfortunately no one saw the ball go in. Once on the green, we were all looking around and then my friend says that it may be in the hole.

Lo and behold there it was. Such a great feeling as I never thought that it could happen. As they say, “what are the chances.”

Mikael Arsenault, Dunes (Club de golf Les), Hole #3

I am still very shocked and happy because I never even thought it would happen as I started golfing only last year. For the specifications of the shot it was a 158 yard par 3 and I used a 7 iron. I was playing with Gabriel Parent and Fabrice Gagnon.

Diane McArthur-Rodgers, Thornhill Country Club, Hole #7

Best part was my golf buddy and I could see it land on green and continue to roll and disappear, might have been a few cheers from the tee deck. It was on the Valley course hole #7 and distance was 119 yards. I used a 7 wood and found Callaway ball. My partner was Kim MacBride who got her own hole-in-one on hole #5 at Valley on May 31.

Ken Evanecz, Red Deer Golf and Country Club, Hole #17

My hole-in-one was on hole #17 at Red Deer Golf and Country Club. Nine iron from 152 yards.

Sandy Debolt, Country Hills Golf Club, Hole #6

I was excited to get my third hole-in-one at Country Hills Golf Course in Calgary on Talons hole #6. It was a reasonably nice day, given the cold, rainy and windy spring we have been having. It was a beautiful morning on our regular Tuesday Ladies Day. I was golfing with three great friends: Carol Lamb, Deb Peacock and Lorraine Templeton, all of whom have also been members at Country Hills for many years. I used my 25 degree rescue hybrid and hit an easy shot to a front pin, about 100 yards. The key thing about this shot is that I actually saw it go in! I never saw the first two hole-in-one’s go in. All three hole-in-one’s have been on my home course, Country Hills, Talons (hole #4, hole #14 and now hole #6). Now my goal is to get one on Talons hole #16 and I can call it a “grand slam!”

Glen Dyrda, Westmount Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

I have been golfing for about 50 years, and had never had an ace. I have had an albatross and several eagles on par 4’s and 5’s but never an ace. It seems silly, but every time I stepped on the tee on a par 3 at my home course, Westmount Golf & Country Club in Kitchener-Waterloo, I thought to myself, “maybe this will be the one.” As it turns out the 17th hole was the one on May 26th, a beautiful Sunday morning. The 17th is a beautiful hole, at 149 yards to the middle of the green. It was playing a bit shorter that day, and I had 137 yards to the pin, which was tucked just over the front bunkers that protect the full front of the green. It can be a tricky shot to get close, because the back of the bunkers kick the ball forward and a shot of about 130 yards might just clear the front bunkers and bounce into the back bunker. I chose my 8 iron, which I hit about 140 yards and it was a pure shot right off the face. It landed about three yards short of the pin, on the left, took one hop and then rolled the last three or four feet into the hole. I was playing with my buddies Rick Findlay, Steve Knipping and Dave Castell, and we had a great view of it from the elevated tee. I was so glad it hadn’t been a skull, or hadn’t bounced in off a rake. After that it was pretty much a blur! The best part of it all was when we came up to the 18th green, someone on the patio yelled out, “who got the hole-in-one?” They could hear the roar from about 400 yards away. That was very special. A wonderful memory with my friends, and for some strange reason I now expect to make another one every time I step onto one of the par 3 tee boxes.

Linda Roberts, Red Deer Golf & Country Club

I was playing in a ladies league with three other lady members, Lois McPherson, Sheila Engert and Tina Ladd. I hit a nine iron on this 114 yard hole and in it went!

Gerard Macneil, Mill River Golf Club, Hole #3

Hole #3 at Mill River. 150 yards. 7 iron. With playing partners Ray Cameron and Mike LePage.

Derek Pollard, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #4

I was golfing at the beautiful Harvest Golf Course in Kelowna with my wife Courtney and another friendly older couple we got paired with. Chilly morning, but the sun was out. Playing from the white tees, no judging! Hole #4, 136 yards away with the pin tucked to the right behind an elevated front, I used a full pitching wedge. The line looked great the whole way, but we couldn’t see the hole from the tee box so we had no idea where it ended up. As I am usually long on this hole and I didn’t see my ball on the green when we walked by, I started searching in the rough at the back. The older man then said, “let me just check the cup just in case, it’s in the hole!” First one for me! The rest of the round was a mess, but that’s golf for ya. We celebrated at the turn with a round of drinks and then a few after. 

Paul Ives, Glacier Greens Golf Club, Hole #4

I was playing with Richard Kanigan and another nice couple – it was about 135 yards and I used my trusty 7 iron, hit a baby draw, bounced 12 feet in front of hole, and rolled in! My second hole-in-one on that hole, and third overall, the other being on hole #9 at Comox Golf Club.

Mike Rocca, Sarnia Golf & Curling Club, Hole #3

This hole-in-one has a story just like its two predecessors. When opportunity knocks to go out and play 18 holes after dinner, I rarely don’t take advantage of the weather when it presents itself and last Tuesday was no different. I believe it was around 6:45 pm when I arrived at Sarnia Golf and Curling Club and hurriedly I tried to get to the first tee with the hopes of playing a complete round of 18 holes. Right out of the gate an obstruction to get my round started. My Stewart Vertx trolley had slid in the back of my truck deep towards the direction passenger cabin requiring me to retrieve it with my 5 iron to pull it out. I placed my 5 iron on top of the tonneau cover and unknowingly until I needed it later during my round I forgot I had left it there. So, I’m down in my compliment of clubs to 13 clubs, which by chance wasn’t so unlucky that evening after all. Like I said before, I already had two hole-in-one’s on my resume and much to my wife’s chagrin my moniker is, “things always happen in three’s!”

I arrived on hole #3 and from the blue tees at a measured distance with my range finder of 193 yards, struck my Titleist TSi2 hybrid 4 iron into the sun and actually despite it being a lower but straight shot, couldn’t discern it’s finally resting place. I was actually disappointed with the ball trajectory despite it being struck squarely and on my target line. For those who have never played Sarnia Golf & Curling Club, hole #3 runs in an east to west direction and during that time of the day the sun hovers directly behind the backdrop of trees found at the rear of the green and most of the time you can’t see the ball flight in its entirety. The cart path for the the #4 tee deck is a common area for players to leave their clubs on their way to the hole #3 green. On my way to the green, I saw a foursome in two carts consisting of two couples and the male playing partners had just finished teeing off at the moment I was leaving my trolley there. I grabbed my putter, my 52 and 56 degree Vokey SM8 wedges in preparation to either chip the ball on to the green or to putt. The greens have been running rather fast of late, so my thought process was a low struck ball likely traversed to the back of the green and a chip shot was likely going to be in order, as it was nowhere to be seen at the front of the green. As I walked past the pin, more out of some misplaced optimism I looked glancing look inside the hole and frankly was shocked to see the ball resting in the cup. Never heard it hit the pin nor saw it go in. I raised my arms and yelled, “hole-in-one,” problem being though I was playing myself. However, like I said there was a group on hole #4 and the ladies were teeing off from the advance yellow tees off to the south side of the green at the time and looked at my direction after my emphatic exclamation of just having aced the third hole.

The group of Pat Brennan and Matt Bailey with their better halves witnessed me retrieve the ball from the cup. This was a hole-in-one nightmare scenario that has always run through my mind, “what if I ever got a hole-in-one playing solo,” as it’s not uncommon for me to play solo in the evening to get in 18 holes in just over two hours time.

Back to the three’s. So, I got my third hole-in-one, on a hole numbered three with a Callway Chrome Soft 360 Triple Track ball numbered with the number three. All the while and unknown to me at the time with just 13 (which is supposed to be an unlucky number) clubs in my bag. However; 13 did prove to be unlucky as somewhere along the way from the parking lot after my round and my way home that evening I lost my trolley remote and have searched everywhere for it and can’t find it. No one has turned it into the ProShop yet either since. Also, my mood was further dampened when I failed to break 80 on the last hole because of a three putt in the near darkness conditions. Perhaps threes come in fours? A hole-in-one with a round in the 70’s would have been the dream round of my life. Guess I’ll have to start playing rounds with golf balls numbered with the number four and get to the course 15 minutes earlier!

Brian MacLean, Glen Arbour Golf Club, Hole #7

It was my first career hole-in-one. Hole was playing 155 yards. I hit 9 a iron. The ball landed about three feet from the pin and hopped forward to find the hole. Was playing with Jay MacIntyre, Chris Clarke and Jason Shears. 

Sherri Nichol, Country Meadows Members Club, Hole #12

I used my Cobra Air x 7 wood. The shot was approximately 140 yards. I was golfing with a good friend Jennifer Lee and her friend Romi. Romi watched my drive and saw it hit the ground and roll into the hole. There was lots of cheering. I really didn’t believe it until I went to the green and found my ball in the hole. Country Meadows was great; they presented me with a trophy and were very excited for me. 

 

Brandon Cole, Kingsville Golf and Country Club, Hole #8

June 9th, Kingsville Golf and Country Club, hole #8, gold tees, 155 yards with a 9 iron. Witnesses were Jeff Cole, Dylan Weston and Griffin Robinson.

Jason Perry, Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club, Hole #15

It was a moment of a lifetime. I was playing with four members. The hole was 119 yards adjusted to 108 yards and the club was a 52 degree wedge!

Neil Gelowitz, Deer Valley Golf Course, Hole #4

The moment was shared with two great friends on hole #4 at Deer Valley, 112 yards. A 52-degree wedge landed a touch past the pin and went in with backspin. A 40-year gap between this and my first ace in my youth. Fantastic memory.

Chris Ramsay, Quilchena Golf & Country Club, Hole #11

It was on hole #11 at Quilchena, my home course. I used a 6 iron from 160 yards (the blue tees at my course). I was playing with fellow Quilchena members Porter Yang and Liquan Tian. This is actually my third hole-in-one. The other two were at the Oaks in Komoka, Ontario. Interestingly, my second and third holes in one were with a 6 iron! Also, fun fact, my first was in April 2018, my second was in May 2019 and my third was in June 2024. My guess is July is next!

 

Riley Marshall, Gander Golf Club, Hole #4

On Tuesday, June 11 my parents were going to play golf with a group of their co-workers. They had an open spot so invited me to go with them. We were the second of two foursomes to tee off with the group. The foursome consisted of my mom, dad and one of their coworkers. I hadn’t been playing well through the first three holes and when we got to the fourth hole at the Gander Golf Club, a 149-yard par 3, I decided to use my 7 iron off the tee instead of my usual 8 iron. My dad and I are both members of the Gander Golf Club and golf there regularly. This is my fourth year golfing. I was the second one to tee off and I felt like I made good contact. The ball landed in the green and disappeared on the second bounce. Both my mom and dad said they thought it went in and my dad started jumping up and down. The foursome in front of us, more of my parent’s co-workers, having just left the green heard us and also came back to see it. It was my first hole-in-one, having only been golfing for four years but I have been close hitting the flag stick on another hole last year. 

Howard Cooper, Whitevale Golf Club, Hole #12

I played with Larry Valianes and Tom Monroe, which was a good thing because they saw the ball go in the hole but I didn’t! It was 157 yards, down hill, right into about a two and a half club wind. I grabbed my 7 iron and said to Larry and Tom, “I’m going to start it on the right edge of the bunker and bring it left to the hole,” and surprisingly that’s exactly what I did. The ball actually damaged the edge of the hole. It took me 65 years, but I finally got my first ace!

Karen Brown, Summerland Golf & Country Club, Hole #14

I’ve been an avid golfer always hoping for a hole-in-one but thinking it will never come, but now I say never say never as it really does happen. We were golfing with my husband Marty and Jill and Danny Lunge. The hole was 151 yards, I used my 5 wood shot short of the flag and my signature happy face ball rolled in! 

Alex Woitas, Sandpiper Golf & Country Club, Hole #4

It was my first hole-in-one so I’m very excited! Was a wild round. Hole-in-one on hole #4. Started pouring on us hole #7 and then hailed on us for all of hole #9 and hole #10. Played through rain again until hole #12 and then had sun to finish off the round. I was playing with my girlfriend, Sarah Morin. 160 yards and used an 8 iron.

Marcus Decotiis, Whirlpool Golf Course, Hole #17

I was playing with Tim Dorish and Kyzer Troy Auger who are both members. The hole was playing 137 yards that day. This picture was taken by Tim just a couple of minutes after I made the shot. We had a favourable wind that day on that particular hole and I was not sure if I should hit my pitching wedge or my nine iron. I chose the nine iron and hit it super clean as soon as the ball left the club I said, “oh be the club be the club be the club?” All three of us saw it the whole way. The ball landed about 13 inches in front of the hole took one more small bounce and then in. I started playing golf 42 years ago and this is my first hole-in-one.

Steve McCauley, Cambridge Golf Club Ltd., Hole #15

Thank you so much for recognizing a feat that took me 59 years and two days to accomplish! We were actually playing with a twosome they matched us up with – and my boss! The actual date was Friday, June 14th. Cambridge Golf Club hole #15, white tees playing about 167 yards. I teed up my Callaway Hex Tour ball, took out my Taylormade 5 hybrid , I know, I’m getting oldish. I hit a cut to the right side of the green it rolled toward the flag, I thought it went over a mound at the back of the green. One of the guys in our foursome said, “that might go in,” I didn’t even give it a second thought. It was my boss who looked in the cup and told me it was in the cup. It was a delayed but nonetheless exhilarating celebration!

Daniel Hrabowych, Pine Ridge Golf Club, Hole #16

Pine Ridge Golf Club. Hole #16. 142 yards. Pitching wedge. I was playing with my golf league partner, Josh Loewen and our opponents Ryan Levesque and Chris Dersken.

Edward Kwok, Fairview Mountain Golf Club, Hole #7

I was playing with my son Alex, Darren and Neil. I had 154 yards. I hit my 8 iron to about six feet and it rolled in the hole. It was a great memory for sure.

Jason Yao, The Hamptons Golf Club, Hole #15

I was playing with Sherry Han and 139 yards from the blue tee with a 5 wood.

Peter Dykstra, Coppinwood, Hole #16

Was with my brother-in-law Danny Cioffi. Felt guilty as kids had sports and we were out on the courses. Couldn’t hit a shot on the front nine and then with a little coaching Danny said my alignment is off so once I reset went on a good stretch of par until a triple bogey (fescue got me), par, birdie, par, eagle, bogey and bogey. 53 and 39, the true amateur story. Once the ball went in I said, “I guess this is where I am supposed to be in the world.” Truly a special moment and so glad I was able to share it with Danny. The club I joined this year is exceptional and is making a frame with all the details so I am truly spoiled. 

Sarah Hurst, Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #11

The story is that my husband Jim Hurst and I were playing a second round match against Brad and Anita Taylor in Credit Valley’s Weston Cup, the mixed match-play league. It was unseasonably cold that day, Jim and I were not playing well and were down four by the time we reached our signature hole #11. We were starting to count how many more holes were needed to warm up at the 19th hole. It was 126 yards from the yellow tees, over the Credit River and over a bunker to the flag, a nasty pin placement. I used my 9 iron, it landed about five feet in front of the flag, rolled and dropped out of view. Did it go in the hole or roll behind the stick? We weren’t sure but you can tell from the attached photos that we couldn’t have been happier to discover it was a hole-in-one. I’d never come close before. Did we end up winning the match to round out the good news story? Of course not, we rallied a little but Anita and Brad were declared the winners of the match. Oh well, much more to celebrate. This is my 13th season at Credit Valley, our beautiful home away from home.

Ken De Decker, Fox Hollow Golf Course, Hole #13

I was playing with a friend Jeff Syvret. Hit the 7 iron sweet right at the pin, bounced on the green, two hops and rolled in! 37 years of golfing and finally made one. Lots of fun with the guys and learned a new phrase, “holy shot!” Hole #13. 137 yards. 7 iron. TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe.

Tony Paluzzi, Beacon Hall Golf Club, Hole #8

The hole-in-one was on hole #8, approximately 145 yards, using my 8 iron. It was an extra special hole-in-one, given it was on Father’s Day weekend, the first one without my dad, who had passed in November. When it went in, it was like someone had hand placed it in the cup!

Greg Lawlor, Moncton Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

134 yards and club was 8 iron. Playing partners were Ralph Chambers, Bill Sloan and Rob Middlemiss.

Chris Oliver, Whispering Pines Golf & Country Club Resort, Hole #11

This is my second hole-in-one. However my first hole-in-one was while on vacation so no one saw it other than the caddie I was with. To be fortunate to get a second one with a witness is truly special. I was with my wife Jody and two other members. One of which had gotten a hole-in-one on the very same hole. This particular hole the gold and the blue tee boxes are the same distance but different elevations. So usual I just tee off from the gold so I don’t have to walk down to the lower tee box. However the couple that my wife and I were playing with went to the blue tee box. So I went down to the blue tee box and tee’d off. It was 141 yards and I used a 9 iron. Again to have my wife present made it all the more special.

Peter Fitzgerald, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Hole #4

Date May 27, 2024. Real Club De Golf Sotogrande, Spain. Hole #4, 190 yards with a three wood. Playing partners were Susan Fitzgerald, Jim Livermore and Ginny Parks.

Kevin Jones, Sturgeon Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #5

I was playing with Lorne Wight, Hugh Hindle and Daryl Nixon. Yardage 139 yards. Club was a 7 iron. 

Randy Franks, Brookfield Golf Club, Hole #1

Golfed with Scot Foster. First swing of the day, easy 7 iron for 141 yard distance. I am a member at Rebel Creek, Golf North.

Dale Ivanchuk, Forest Heights Golf Course, Hole #5

I recently aced a hole at Forest Heights Golf Course. It was on hole #5. 151 yards to the pin and stroked a six iron. Ball did one bounce on to the green, a left to right roll and it found the cup! I was with two long time friends and we shared some high fives!

Gaston Derepentigny, Iroqouis Golf Course, Hole #4

Golfed with Larry, Dale and Jimmy at Iroqouis Golf Course on June 12th. Did the hole-in-one on hole #4 used an easy 7 iron about 143 yards.

Neil Skelding, Lake Joseph Golf Club, Hole #8

I was playing with our Head Pro, Director of Operations and our Men’s Captain. The yardage was 155 and I used a 9 iron.

Rick Kingston, Westmount Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

I was playing with my regular golf group at Westmount Golf & Country Club on Saturday June 1, 2024. As I prepared to hit my 5-wood on the 175 yard hole #6 I mentioned to the guys that I was due since almost exactly three years before that date I had another hole-in-one on that hole. I also shared that, since I hadn’t hit a green in regulation in the round yet, I would settle for just hitting the green. The pin was about half way back on the right and as soon as the ball left my club I said, “well that’s on the green.” As soon as the ball landed we all started calling for it to get in. It just rolled up like a putt and dropped in the middle without even touching the pin. This was my fourth hole-in-one, but definitely my favourite since we had such a good view and we had a chance to “talk it into the hole”.

Beth McDougall, Maplewood Golf and Country Club, Hole #9

Knocked off a bucket list item by getting my first hole-in-one, on a beautiful sunny Monday morning, June 17, 2024. Witnessed by Claudette Landry, Trevor and Joanne Wallace. From the red tee box (120 yards) I hit a beautiful shot to the pin that hit the green and rolled into the cup. I looked at Joanne and said, “I think it went in the hole,” and she said “I think it did too,” then we started screaming. Once it was verified we screamed some more. What a tremendous feat to have a hole-in-one. I am still smiling!

Shane Dyck, Pine Ridge Golf Club, Hole #14

It was a 177-yard par 3 with a 6 iron. I became an adaptive golfer after I was initially paralyzed from below the neck and given a one percent chance to walk again. My whole spine was fused with metal after a 12-hour surgery and doctors said I would be in a power chair for the rest of my life. Needless to say, I am beyond grateful for how the game of golf has helped me throughout my injury, both mentally and physically.

Mark Darbon has been appointed Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Darbon will succeed Martin Slumbers in the role leading the governing body and the organisation, which runs The Open and AIG Women’s Open and invests in developing golf around the world in November. He will also become Secretary of the 270 year-old Club which has a global membership of more than 2,400.

A former senior member of the team leading the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012, Mr Darbon is leaving his role as CEO of Northampton Saints, the Premiership Rugby club, to take up the St Andrews-based position.

Darbon (45) led Northampton Saints to their first Premiership title since 2014 last month and implemented a commercial strategy which enabled the rugby union club to bounce back from the pandemic to achieve record revenues in consecutive seasons.

“I am thrilled and honoured to be taking up these positions with The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and to be moving into golf, a sport I have always loved,” he said. “The R&A is a globally renowned organisation and does so much to ensure that golf prospers from grassroots through to the professional game. I am looking forward to working with a hugely talented team of staff, the Club membership and such an impressive array of partner organisations to achieve even more success in the years to come.”

Darbon started his career as a management consultant at Marakon Associates, before joining Diageo plc where he held a number of strategic and commercial roles, living and working in markets all over the world, including the USA, Russia, China and Australia.

“Golf Canada proudly welcomes Mark Darbon as the new Chief Executive and Secretary of the R&A, said Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada’s CEO. “We look forward to our continued great work between our organizations growing and developing the game of golf.”

Having transitioned into sport event organisation in 2009, Darbon held several senior roles with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and was latterly Head of Olympic Park Operations, overseeing the Olympic Park which housed nine competition venues with 20,000 employees and welcomed 250,000 spectators a day throughout the 2012 games. He went on to serve as an Expert Adviser to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2013 to 2018.

Following London 2012, Darbon was Senior Vice President of Tough Mudder Inc in New York and was involved in planning, promoting and staging mass participation events in North America, Latin America, Europe and Australasia.

Before joining Northampton Saints as CEO in 2017, Darbon served as CEO of Madison Sports Group, a sports events and content company which created an award-winning international series of professional track cycling events and, in doing so, brought a series of new sponsorship arrangements and media rights deals to the sport.

Darbon is a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford University, where he read geography.

As well as being a keen golfer, playing to a Handicap Index of 3.1 as a member of Northamptonshire County Golf Club and Saunton Golf Club, Darbon is a former Under-21 England hockey international and a Full Blue for hockey at Oxford University. He is a non-executive director of England Hockey and Women’s Premiership Rugby.

Darbon is married with two children and plans to move his family to St Andrews when he takes up his new role.

Joly, Que. – A field of 156 of Canada’s top junior golfers will compete over 54 holes at an immaculate and strategic layout at Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly in Joly, Que. with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships on the line in the NextGen Quebec Championship, July 2-5. 

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Tuesday, July 2 with championship rounds beginning on Wednesday, July 3. After 36 holes, the field will be reduced to the low 57 Junior Boys and 13 Junior Girls, including ties, for the final round which wraps up on Friday, July 5.  

The starting field will feature 127 Junior Boys and 29 Junior Girls – vying for spots into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer. 

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

Established as a beautiful 18-hole public course in the greater Quebec City area, the Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly was built in 2011. With a length of 6,662 yards, the course will deliver a test for NextGen competitors, while presenting views of towering trees, sparkling lakes and rolling hills. With its demanding layout and impeccable conditioning, golfers will encounter strategically placed bunkers, and tricky water features, all set against a stunning backdrop of woodlands and wildlife.   

“The NextGen tournament represents for us the pride of welcoming the young talents of tomorrow and promoting junior golf in the Quebec City area. We have the ideal facilities and golf course to host this type of event. We will do our best to ensure that all participants have a great experience,” said Director and Professional teacher of Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly, Martin Trudel. 

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Quebec 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 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. 

As Ellie Szeryk lined up her final putt to seal the win at the B.C. Women’s Open, she spied longtime friend Brooke Rivers lurking around the green with a bottle of water.

Sure enough, when Szeryk made the putt, the chase was on with Rivers trying to douse her with water.

“I ran as far as I could, but she still got me quite good,” Szeryk said with a laugh. “But it was fun. In golf you usually do that to your really good friends when they win. 

“So it was really sweet that she did that. It’s like an unspoken honour.”

Szeryk beat Rivers by four strokes at Pitt Meadows Golf Club on Sunday in their professional debuts. Both golfers also earned berths at the CPKC Women’s Open, July 25-28 at Calgary’s Earl Grey Golf Club.

“It was just really nice to be able to have followed through on something that I had been thinking about,” said Szeryk. “It’s not always easy to golf. It’s just three rounds and you have no idea what the course is like and how it’s going to play.”

Earning their way into the national women’s championship, rather than relying on a sponsor’s exemption, was a relief to both players.

“I knew that there’d be a good opportunity for that,” said Szeryk, from London, Ont. “It’s been on my mind the last couple of months, like since I signed up. 

“I knew I needed to make sure I had my game right so I could take advantage of it because I knew that they weren’t going to be a lot of sponsored exemptions for this Canadian Open.”

Rivers agreed.

“It does feel really good to earn the exemption spot on my own through good play,” said Rivers, from Brampton, Ont. “It also feels a little more rewarding while being there because you feel like you had done everything in order to put yourself there.”

Rivers added with a laugh: “It’s a little bit easier when booking travel that you don’t have to do it the week before.”

Both Szeryk and Rivers turned pro after the conclusion of the NCAA golf season. They’re both spending time with family and practising before the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada tees off at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont., on July 2.

“I’m really excited to turn pro, and it’s something that I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” said Rivers, who played one season at Wake Forest University. “It’s something I’ve been working toward my whole life. 

“I just felt that I was in a position where I was ready to turn pro and I was ready to start competing.”

Golf Canada announced the early commitments to the 50th playing of the Women’s Open on Monday, with eight of the current top-10 and 83 of the top-100 players on the Race to the CME Globe Standings entered in the national women’s championship.

The 156-player field will be competing at Earl Grey Golf Club for the first time in tournament history. It will be the seventh time that Alberta hosts the Women’s Open and first time since 2016.

LPGA TOUR — Hamilton’s Alena Sharp is in the Dow Championship three days after making Canada’s Olympic golf team for a third time. Maddie Szeryk, Ellie’s older sister, just missed out on beating Sharp to the Olympics by 1.41 points in the women’s world golf rankings. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., No. 14 in the world, is also in the field at the Midland Country Club in Midland, Mich. They will be joined by Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., and amateur Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto.

EPSON TOUR — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is the top-ranked Canadian playing in the Dream First Bank Charity Classic. She’s 120th on the second-tier Epson Tour’s points list. She’ll be joined at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kan., by Vancouver’s Leah John (160th), as well as Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., and Kate Johnston of Ayr, Ont., who are unranked.

PGA TOUR — Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is the top ranked Canadian at No. 30 on the FedEx Cup standings. He will be in the field at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club, where he finished tied for second in 2022. Adam Svensson (76th) of Surrey, B.C., Ben Silverman (113th) of Thornhill, Ont., and Roger Sloan (194th) of Merritt, B.C., are also in the field.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., is No. 23 on the Tour’s points list heading into the Memorial Health Championship. Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (33rd), Etienne Papineau (50th) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Sudarshan Yellamaraju (100th) of Mississauga, Ont., and Jared du Toit (118th) of Kimberley, B.C., are also in the field at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames leads the Canadian contingent into the U.S. Senior Open Championship. He’s No. 1 on the Charles Schwab Cup money list with two victories so far this year. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., is 25th on the list and also in the field at Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I. David Morland IV of Aurora, Ont., is also playing the event.

AMERICAS TOUR — Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., remains the atop the points list of the third-tier Americas Tour heading into this week’s ATB Classic. He’s one of 18 Canadians playing Northern Bear Golf Club in Strathcona County, Alta.

CALGARY – The CPKC Women’s Open has been given the LPGA Tour’s top award the last two seasons. Being named ‘Tournament of the Year’ is something that encompasses so much – from ticketing to marketing to fan experience and more.

And now Canada’s National Open is back to try to do it all again.

“Golf fans in Calgary are in for a very memorable week at a beautiful golf course where the world’s best will compete for our National Open Championship,” Tournament Director Ryan Paul said. “The CPKC Women’s Open is one of the top three women’s sporting events in Canada and this year is shaping up to be a special one.”

This year’s CPKC Women’s Open marks the 50th playing of the storied event, which last year’s winner Megan Khang says feels like the sixth major on the LPGA Tour.

There are plenty of notable highlights for this year. Firstly – and perhaps most importantly – the tournament has set an ambitious fundraising goal of $2.75 million, the highest number in recent history. Since 2014, the tournament (which is the marquee event for the CPKC Has Heart community investment program) has helped to raise over $19 million for cardiac research, equipment, and care across North America.

The fan experience is set to be the biggest and most impressive, too. Paul says the build-out on site at first-time venue Earl Grey Golf Club will be 95,000 square feet – far and away the most of any event on the LPGA Tour.

The impressive effort from the entire CPKC Women’s Open management team means there is plenty of momentum behind doing things bigger and better. There’s been lots of good recognition for their work – not only is it the two-time Tournament of the Year on the LPGA Tour, but also the back-to-back winner of Best Sponsor Activation and it won Best Charity & Community Engagement in 2022.

The support from Earl Grey, just minutes from downtown Calgary, has also been overwhelmingly positive.

The targeted number of volunteers (which was 1,200 for 2024) was hit all the way back in March – and the event was named ‘Best Volunteer Program’ by the LPGA Tour in 2023. The support of the Calgary community, too, has been incredible. Ticket sales to this point in 2024 up 30 percent as compared to this point a year ago. This is the first time the tournament has returned to Calgary since 2016, with Priddis Golf and Country Club playing host that year along with 1999 and 2009.

Speaking of fans – ‘The Rink,’ the incredibly popular viewing experience, will make its return to the CPKC Women’s Open at the par-3 17th hole at Earl Grey.

Khang, who broke through for her first LPGA Tour title a year ago at Shaughnessy, recalled with a smile a nice moment with the crowds late in her day that is the exact one-of-a-kind interaction attendees get with LPGA Tour athletes.

“I walked off the green on 16 and I looked at the leaderboard and I was like, of course it’s (former world No. 1) Jin Young Ko (making a charge). I was so concerned about Sei Young Kim in my group but of course Jin Young was right there. I’m looking at the guys all around the boards and I’m like, ‘I need me a drink too guys,’” she said with a laugh.

For all the awards and fan opportunities and exciting new things to see and do, there’s no event without players – and the CPKC Women’s Open once again will boast almost all the world’s best.

Early commitments include eight of the top 10 in this year’s Race to CME Globe standings plus 83 of the top 100. There will be nine in-season winners and upwards of 30 Olympians.

The star of the show will of course be Canada’s own Brooke Henderson. Henderson won this championship in 2018 and it’s not lost on her how special, or important, that win has been on her resume.

“It’s a huge highlight of my career being able to win this event back in 2018,” said Henderson. “I’ve always dreamt of winning this event. It’s always played an important role in my life.”

Henderson will once again lead a hearty Canadian contingent at the CPKC Women’s Open which also includes fellow three-time Olympian Alena Sharp. Sharp finished fourth when the CPKC Women’s Open was last in Calgary, her best career LPGA Tour result.

“It’s good vibes only there,” Sharp said.

Ah, yes – good vibes.

If you ask Henderson about what she’s hoping for the most come July, it’s a lot of that exact thing. For the fans, for herself, for the community, and for charity.

“It’s so exciting to be able to be home and compete on home soil and to have the love and support of all the fans and everyone that comes out to watch, it’s pretty incredible,” said Henderson. “It’s kind of hard to put into words how grateful I am to everyone when they come out year after year and as we move across the country the crowds are always still huge and so much fun to be able to play in front of.

“I just hope I can put on a good show and give them something to cheer about.”

And if the current momentum of the CPKC Women’s Open is any indication, winning another set of big-time year-end awards may be something to cheer about, too.

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.

Donna Turner, Coppinwood, Hole #7

It was a very exciting day! It actually happened on May 30th on hole #7 at Coppinwood which was 118 yards. It was into the wind so I used an 8 iron and it dropped right next to the hole and rolled in. I saw it but still couldn’t believe it! I was golfing with my partner Lara Shewchuk. The interesting thing is my friend Carol Cooper had come to Coppinwood as a guest two years ago and got a hole-in-one on the same hole! As I approached the tee on the 30th I said, “that’s the same pin placement as when Coop got her hole-in-one.” There you have it!

Brady Lush, Seaview Golf & Country Club, Hole #14

It was the par 3, 14th hole at Seaview Golf and Country Club. Me and a group of good friends were out for an afternoon/evening round. The hole was around 160 yards downhill playing about 140 yards. I hit an 8 iron.

Grant Holcomb, Rattlesnake Point, Hole #5

I was playing with Jamie King and Rahul Mehta from ClubLink and got the hole-in-one on the fifth hole on the Copperhead course, at Rattlesnake Point GC. The yardage was 175 and I hit a 5 iron. 

Clark Davis, St. Andrew’s East, Hole #4

I was playing with fellow members Glen Taylor, Wayne Fillmore and Mike Davis. The hole was 142 yards, playing about 130 yards. I hit a full 50 degree gap wedge, spun back and trickled in.

Christine Farrell, Rivendell Golf Club, Hole #14

Hole #14, Rivendell Golf Club, par 3, 141 yards and used a 3 wood.

Mel Maitlitz, Club Golf Les Legendre’s, Hole #3

On the morning of Saturday, June 15th, 2024. Par 3, hole #3 and 169 yards. The others in his foursome visually witnessed his hole-in-one and attested his score card.

Ritchie McFadyen, Maple Ridge Golf Club, Hole #6

What a feeling to finally achieve my first hole-in-one. I played with my good friend Sandy Lorrain who has had bragging rights for her own hole-in-one on June 7, 2021. I scored it on June 8, 2024. Now were even!

Maple Ridge Golf Course in Calgary. Hole #6 was playing 167 yards downhill into a stiff breeze and I used a 7 iron. A slight cut, two hops and it rolled out of sight.

Sid Green, Avon Valley, Hole #5

Avon Valley. Hole #5. 127 yards and used a 9 iron. Playing with Mike Goss and Paul Marriott. 

James Ross, 14 Wing Greenwood, Hole #8

I was playing that day with my father, Paul Ross, and his good friend, Al Slack. It was a 158 yard par 3, back blue flag. I hit an 8 iron.

Benson Lily, Picton, Hole #14

It was certainly exciting to get my first hole-in-one at the age of 76. My playing partners were Picton Golf Club members, Bob Fujiki, Jean Theoret and Brian Lackey. The hole was #14, a par 3 and playing 163 yards into the wind. I used a Taylor Made R-7 rescue 4 and crushed the ball high into the wind. It appeared to be headed for the flag but I thought that I had hit it long so I approached with a wedge and putter. There was no ball just off the back of the green so I sheepishly walked back to the hole and looked in. Voila! There was my ball. 

Brian Prentice, Peterborough Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

The distance was 175 yards and I used 7 wood. The other three members of our usual Wednesday foursome, Ivan McCully, Davy Boyle and Bill Rogers shared in my lucky accomplishment.

Noah Simon, Whitecourt, Hole #4

It was an 8 iron from 165 yards out and windy conditions. The pin location was tucked in the back behind a bunker. I shot it in front of the hole then spun it back in. 

Mark Smith, Club at North Halton, Hole #17

I was playing with Phil Jones, Andrew Smith and Ian Mcgucken, all from North Halton. It was 132 yards long and I used a 9 iron. Its uphill so we kind of saw it go in, but were not 100% positive, that’s why my putter is in my hand.

Karen Lavoie, Stewart Creek Golf Club, Hole #12

I was playing in an Alberta Golf Upswing event at Stewart Creek on Thursday, May 30^th. In my group were friends Akemi Rodgers, Marcia Wong and Joan Hopgood. The yardage on my watch was 162. I chose a fairway wood because of the cool, overcast conditions. The tee shot was headed a little right of the hole, I was yelling for it to kick left which it did and we all saw it go into the hole. This is my second hole-in-one and Akemi has seen both of them! 

David Barker, Mississippi Golf Club, Hole #16

My hole-in-one was made on a 155 yard par 3 which I hit with my 7 iron. I was playing with my favourite golf buddies Ron and Al.

Chad Smith, Fort McMurray, Hole #6

It was a pretty surreal feeling. I was playing golf with my girlfriend, Charyle Eddy that day. Fresh off making a birdie on the last hole, I stepped onto the tee box on hole #6, Black Bear at the Fort McMurray Golf Club. The hole was playing 143 yards with a blue pin (back pin placement). The air was heavy so I decided to hit a 9 iron. After I hit the shot, I watched the ball take dead aim at the flag stick. The pin was tucked behind the bunker and I could only see the top half of the flag stick. I told Charyle that it would close to the hole. Charyle hit her tee shot and then we headed for the green. As we approached the green, I did not see my ball and assumed it was over the back of the green and laying down in the rough. I started to walk towards the hole and Charyle asked me to wait so that she could record it if it had gone in the hole. She started recording and I walked towards the hole and sure enough there it was laying in the bottom of the cup for an ace! I was super excited for the hole-in-one! Can’t wait for the next one to happen. 

 

Jill Howard, Uplands Golf Club, Hole #4

I had a hole-in-one on hole #4, 148 yards, using a driver with my partners Susan Morriss and Rita Seigo on Sunday, June 16.

Travis Teevens, Greensmere Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

I was playing with my buddies Jesse, Taylor and Matt. We were on the 12th hole of Greensmere Golf and Country Club’s Premiere Course. It was a front pin at 150 yards playing about 130 straight downhill. Shot a pitching wedge and asked right away if it was short. It landed on the fringe then rolled up and in. We were all a little shocked and surprised!

Nathalie Pearsall, Beaconsfield Golf Club, Hole #8

I was playing with my mom (Sue), dad (Doug) and my friend (Phil) whom I met through the game of golf over 15 years ago. I went out on Tuesday, June 4^th to play nine holes and have dinner, the classic nine and dine and ended up with more than I bargained for. Coming to the end of the round on hole #8, I pulled out my 7 iron and aimed for the front right-hand side of the green. The ball landed on the front right and rolled as it curved towards the hole and ultimately disappeared, I was in shock. I started running to the hole with my push cart bouncing along as I almost tripped on my own feet. My friend Phil filmed me and as we got to the hole, I peaked in to see my ball staring back at me. It was a moment full of excitement and I really couldn’t believe it. I’ve been golfing since I was 12 years old and I am now 29. As much as I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve often found it more and more challenging to make time for the game. Late last year I moved to an area that is closer to the course and I’ve made it my mission to schedule in as much golf as possible. The next day, following my hole-in-one, my dad sent me a text saying, “I thought you had given up on golf but golf hasn’t given up on you!” It was a great start to the season and once again, golf has found its way to suck me back in. I look forward to the 2024 season and many more to come. 

Mike Porter, The Dunes at Kamloops, Hole #13

The club I hit was an 8 iron from 164 yards. I was playing with my good friends Matt, Art and Terry.

 

Tyler Heimpel, Rebel Creek Golf Club, Hole #7

I was playing with two of my best friends Kevin Trussler and Chris Bruyn. Rebel Creek hole #7 was playing 153 yards into the wind to a front pin location off the gold tees. The plan was to hit a good 9 iron about 160 yards. It had eyes right of the club face. It hit the green and released about ten feet, right in the hole! The boys went nuts! It was my sixth career ace, third at Rebel Creek. My dad passed away in January of 2022, so to do on Father’s Day, this is my favourite one!

Edward Murphy, Sundre Golf Club, Hole #17

We played the blue tees at Sundre, #17 was 105 yards. I used a 54-degree wedge. My friends Lee Raine and Tracy Beamer were playing with me.

James Mosakos, St. George’s Golf & Country Club, Hole #8

My hole-in-one happened on Sunday June 2, 2024. I was playing with my wife and our two sons (aged 12 and 16). Hole #8 was playing 122 yards (red tees) and I hit 9 iron. This was my second hole-in-one at St. George’s which I got in July 2003 while playing with my father, uncle and best friend. So happy to get this one with my boys there to watch. We got to the play the entire 18 holes thanks to the time of year and I ended up shooting 76 which is very good for me. So exciting all around!

Tony Wilson, Aberdeen Glen Golf Club, Hole #14

I was playing with Tim Dorish and Kyzer Troy Auger who are both members. The hole was playing 137 yards that day. This picture was taken by Tim just a couple of minutes after I made the shot. We had a favourable wind that day on that particular hole and I was not sure if I should hit my pitching wedge or my nine iron. I chose the nine iron and hit it super clean as soon as the ball left the club I said, “oh be the club, be the club, be the club?” All three of us saw it the whole way. The ball landed about 13 inches in front of the hole took one more small bounce and then in. I started playing golf 42 years ago and this is my first hole-in-one.

David Montoya, Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club, Hole #17

It was 136 yards and blustery conditions. Hit with a 7 iron. Playing partners were Mr. Ken Evans Esq. and Dr. Chris Carruthers. It was the par 3 on hole #8 North at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club, my 17th hole that day.

Nicko Lucas, South Muskoka Curling & Golf Club, Hole #8

I was playing with three members of South Muskoka Curling & Golf Club, Ryan Anderson, Lane Robinson and Steve Clairmont. We played the blue tees which was measuring 159 yards. I hit a 9-iron.

Mark McDonough, Norfolk Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

The Norfolk Golf Club Pro Shop employee took my photo after I finished my 9 hole round in the men’s league called “Carter’s.” I used a pitching wedge from 140 yards on hole #2. The green is elevated so I did not see my ball go in the hole. My playing partner, Brian Taylor, confirmed the hole-in-one. The ball carried over the front right green side bunker and landed on the right side and kicked left. That is all we saw from the tee. When we got to the green, we did not see any ball on the surface of the green. My friend, Brian, said the ball is in the hole. I did not believe him and thought my ball went over the green on the left. Sure enough, the ball was in the hole.

Nancy Chen, Hautes Plaines, Hole #7

This was the sixth hole-in-one in my life so far. On Wednesday, June 12, 2024 which was ladies night, I played with another three Chinese ladies, they were Xiaoyin Qiu, Ruixue Huang and Jenny Yan. On hole #7, the flag was on the front, the distance was 107 yards, a bit uphill, between the tee box and the green, there was a big ravine and the wind was on our face. I used the 9 iron club, it was very solid and straight. We saw the ball jump once and disappear. We couldn’t see the ball go in, because it’s uphill, but the direction was good. Jenny shouted, “maybe a hole-in-one.” Ruixue went to green first, she wanted to confirm if it’s a hole-in-one. She waved her hand and told me it’s in.

Last year, July 8, 2023 was my fifth hole-in-one at Hautes Plaines. That day, we played our second round match play. Ruixue Huang and I vs. Manon Lamache and Carole Vachon. We won one hole on hole #16. Last two holes they still had a chance to win. Hole #17, 78 yards, on this green, the right side was higher than the left side. The flag was on the front. I used the 54 degree club, aimed a little bit right of the flag and hit it solid. We all saw the ball landed on the right of the flag and rolled into the hole. We won our match solidly.

My first hole-in-one was on June 18, 2016, at Meadows Country Club East Course hole #7. My second hole-in-one was on July 28th, 2019. It was the intersectional qualifier tournament second round at Hautes Plaines hole #13. My third hole-in-one was on September 8, 2022 at Cloverdale Links Golf Course hole #8. My fourth hole-in-one was on March 2023, I played on a simulator at Carleton Golf and Yacht Club.

Michael Vettese, Cedar Brae Golf Club, Hole #11

It was my first one. I was playing with Jared Geboers and Jonathan Lee. I hit an 8 iron from 150 yards to a front pin at the 11th hole at Cedar Brae.

Bruce Douglas, Gleneagles Golf Course, Hole #5

Hole #5 at Gleneagles is a 115 yard par 3. We were at the hole around nine in the morning on a beautiful sunny day here in West Vancouver, B.C. The green was in the shadows so it was difficult to see the balls land on the green. I hit my gap wedge and it felt and looked great in the air. Tracking straight for the pin. When we walked up to the green there was only one ball on the green. My playing partner said, “maybe your ball is in the hole?” For a moment I thought maybe I hit it so well it somehow went over the green? It was in the hole! I just about broke down and cried right then.

Gerry Aho, Dalewood Golf Club, Hole #13

This was special for a few reasons. This was my second hole-in-one. The first one was at Trafalgar Golf Club designed by Robbie Robinson at the 13th hole. This one was at Dalewood also designed by Robbie Robinson and it was also on hole #13. A very amazing coincidence as both were over water. It was 110 yards and I used my 8 iron. I belong to a seniors group and I was playing with my usual Friday seniors group consisting of Bob Marr, Bill Willoughby and Ken Ling.

Shannon Chattington, Clare Golf & Country Club, Hole #4

Hole #4 at Clare Golf & Country Club from the red tees is 98 yards downhill and over water. I used a 7 iron and two of three friends witnessed it going in the hole.

Ray Eldred, Stone Tree Golf & Fitness Club, Hole #16

I shot my hole-in-one on hole #16 at Stonetree Golf Course on June 5th. The hole was approximately 120 yards and I used a pitching wedge. I was accompanied by Mel Playter, Bill Thompson and Brian Walley.

Kyle Yetman, Galt Country Club, Hole #14

169 yards into the wind and 6 iron was the club.

Travis Burrill, Carlisle Golf Club, Hole #4

It was on the fourth hole on the North course at Carlisle Golf Club, 150 yards. I hit a 5 iron. I did see it land on the green and kick towards the hole but none of us saw it go in the hole due to a knoll in front of the green. We got to the green, couldn’t find the ball, but looked in the hole and there it was. My first hole-in-one.

DuPreez Smith, Loomis Trail Golf Club, Hole #5

I was playing with my old roommate from UBC, Charlie Gunn, and a single who joined us on the tee box of hole #5. He asked if he could join us due to the multiple four-balls ahead of him. His name was Ray, a high school golfer and a member at Loomis Trail Golf Club. He asked if we were “any good at golf,” to which we replied, “No, we’re still figuring this game out.” I then proceeded to tee up my ball and make a hole-in-one! Ray was shocked and exclaimed, “Looks like you figured it out!” 

The yardage was 176 yards, with the pin situated on the back left part of the green. I chose a smooth 7-iron and committed to that. I aimed for the middle-left part of the green and drew the ball back towards the pin. The ball took one hop, checked, and trickled into the hole!

I was in disbelief at first, then overjoyed! Charlie and Ray were both really excited, and we all could not believe what had just happened. The weather was perfect, with clear skies and a slight breeze, making the moment even more memorable.