Leduc, Alta. –  Sarah Armstrong and Charlie Gillespie have won the NextGen Western Championship at Leduc Golf Club in Leduc, Alta.  

The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the third tournament in the NextGen Championship series and featured a starting field of 156 players (105 boys, 51 girls). After 36 holes, the field was cut to the low 47 boys and 23 girls, including ties.

In the Junior Girls Division, Sarah Armstrong of Medicine Hat, Alta. fired a 1-over 72 on Sunday to finish the tournament at 10-over par to secure the championship. Armstrong was three-shots back heading into the final round and finished one shot clear of Jenny Guo of West Vancouver, B.C. 

“I’m very happy. This has been a great week. I’m very much looking forward to playing in the Canadian Junior and hopefully the Women’s Amateur out in B.C. It will be a great trip,” said Armstrong. 

Armstrong recorded rounds of 72-79-72-223, to win the tournament and claim her spot in the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. In addition, joining Armstrong at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will be Guo of West Vancouver B.C who finished as runner up at 11-over par and Aastha Savadatti of Calgary, Alta. who placed third at 13-over. 

In the Junior Boys Division, Gillespie of Calgary, Alta. finished the tournament strong, with a 7-under 64 on Sunday to secure the victory and finished six shots clear of Josiah Tong of Heritage Pointe, Alta. to book his place in the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Gillespie grabbed the lead on the opening round and held on, finishing 11-under par for the tournament with firing rounds of 68-70-64-202.  

“Winning out here is huge, this is the biggest title I’ve won so I’m very excited about that. I played in my first Canadian Junior last year, so very excited to play again this year and hopefully to play a bit better,” said Gillespie. 

Tong finished 5-under to finish in second and secure his spot also in the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Joining Gillespie and Tong is Michael Song of Red Deer Alta. who finished third at 3-over.  

The top eight players, plus ties in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 22-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C. 

NextGen Western 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 13-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.  

NextGen Western 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. 

Championship round altered following two lengthy weather delays at
Hamilton Golf and Country Club

Hamilton, Ont. – Tim Charles and Peter Morse have been crowned the inaugural champions of the BDO National Golf League following a playoff win over Reid Middleton and Brian Thorne at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont. on Saturday.

Play was stopped on two occasions Saturday morning due to inclement weather. In order to complete play, tournament formatting was altered with pairings playing their respective nine holes, with the top teams from the back and front nine then meeting in a playoff for the championship. Play resumed shortly before 1 p.m. local time for all 52 pairings (104 golfers).

Charles of North Kentville, N.S. and Morse of New Minas, N.S. earned 22 stableford points from the front nine to advance to the playoff, Middleton and Thorne of New Brunswick posted a similar score of 22 points to emerge as the top team on the back nine.

Both pairings competed on the 18th hole in-front of an enthusiastic crowd, all with par putts awaiting them. After the duo from New Brunswick narrowly missed their putts, Morse drained a lengthy putt to claim the championship for the Nova Scotia duo.

“Just out of this world, I couldn’t describe it for you. We came here to play and have a good time and if we managed to get in and win this thing, Peter had already planned to go to the British Open and now apparently, I have to go with him and I’m really looking forward,” said an elated Charles following the playoff.

This marked the second of two playoff wins for the duo, having won in a playoff in their provincial championship.

“I wanted to win it again because I was able to the first time around, but I didn’t get a chance because Peter made his putt, now in the long run, really happy he made it,” laughed Charles.

Travel issues played a role as their flights were cancelled late on Thursday night. They were able to secure early morning flights on Friday on very little sleep to get to Hamilton to compete.

“We were excited about the whole experience, playing this golf course, having the opportunity to be here when it’s set up for the RBC Canadian Open, nobody else gets that,” said Charles.

“We just like to have fun, we’re not low handicappers and that’s why this is such a great event in my opinion, anybody can do well at it, the guys we played with today were awesome, we had so much fun and that’s what golf’s all about,” added Morse.

Along with becoming the inaugural champions, Charles and Morse will be heading to Royal Troon in Troon, Scotland to represent Canada in The R&A 9 Hole Challenge one-week prior to the 152nd Open Championship. Morse already had plans to attend as a fan.

“I plan to go and take in the full experience and go there, that’s how much it means to me and to go there and play is even cooler. Thanks to Golf Canada, just unbelievable that they’ve done this for us and given us this opportunity,” said Morse.

“I hope my wife is aware that I’m going to have to spend a week there now. Could be news to her,” added Charles with a laugh.

This championship means a little more for Morse, a vice principal at Horton High School in Wolfville, N.S. In 2015, he was involved in a serious car accident, where he suffered 14 fractures and had to learn to walk again.

“To be concerned I wouldn’t be able to walk and then I started playing golf, shooting 99-100, just slowly working my way back to low 80’s, high 70’s and it means the world to me because I can’t play any other sports now. I can’t run, my legs just don’t do it. As someone who played a lot of sports it’s hard on the head, mental health as everyone knows is a big deal, so for me to be able to go out twice a week and golf with my friends and hack it up has just made all the difference in the world for me to be honest,” Morse said with a smile as he walked off the 18th green a national champion.

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The BDO National Golf League was launched by Golf Canada ahead of the 2023 season as a nationwide, season-long competition to enhance weekly recreational league experiences for men, women and junior golfers. The inaugural season saw 10,000 participants from 107 leagues from coast-to-coast. Scoring followed a 9-hole net stableford format that took place during a six-week period of a club’s league season. Within those six weeks, the best four scores were used to determine the individuals that would advance to the provincial championships.

The provincial championships were contested in the fall of 2023 over 13 regional tournaments across all 10 provinces between September and October, competing for spots into the league championship in Hamilton. Travel expenses to the BDO National Golf League Championship for all participants were covered by Golf Canada.

“Today’s championship represents the culmination and a celebration of a successful inaugural BDO National Golf League season. The inaugural season included roughly 10,000 participants from over 100 leagues hailing from every province across Canada. Our championship field of 104 golfers collected enough points in their respective league major weeks to qualify for provincial playoffs and successfully advanced to today’s championship,” said Tim McLaughlin, Chief Marketing Officer, Golf Canada. “It has been amazing to see players of all skill levels competing here today. Enhancing league play for all recreational golfers was a key goal of the BDO National Golf League. This friendly competition has also made significant impact on creating a brighter and more inclusive future for golf in our country as 100 per cent of the proceeds will be directed to First Tee – Canada.”

Registration is now open for the 2024 BDO National Golf League. To sign-up or for more information, please visit nationalgolfleague.ca.

Today, Taylor Pendrith holds the distinction as a winner on the PGA TOUR but it was 10 years ago when he enjoyed his first taste of success against the best professional golfers in the world.

Competing as an amateur, the Kent State University senior shot a 65 on the first day of the 2014 RBC Canadian Open to sit in a tie for third spot after the opening round. The then 23-year-old relatively unknown amateur from Richmond Hill, Ont., spoke about his humble beginnings in the sport and his steady progression.

“I started when I was 12 and didn’t really have any aspirations to become a professional golfer,” he said after his eye-opening first round.

“When I was 15, I played in a smaller junior circuit and started to win and thought maybe I could move it to the next level. When I was 16 and 17 and started playing more competitive tournaments, then got recruited and went down to (Kent State) and then it kind of clicked,” recalled Pendrith who finished the 2014 RBC Canadian Open as the top amateur in the field.

Former high school teammate and Canadian National Team member Rebecca Lee-Bentham talks about Pendrith’s progression as a golfer since their high school days.

“It seemed like he played every sport in high school but I recall his main sports were actually hockey and baseball. I remember being on the co-ed volleyball team and the golf team together,” noted the former Bayview Secondary student and former LPGA Tour pro.

“Taylor ended up joining the same golf club as me and I started to see him practise and play a lot more in his last couple of years in high school. I guess you could say he was a bit of a late bloomer but over the years, I’ve seen him improve non-stop from high school golf to college golf and as a professional,” she continued.

“Taylor’s progression and success is a testament to his talent, hard work and love for the game. It’s honestly one of the most inspirational things to witness.”

Another important part of Pendrith’s journey which should be highlighted was seeing his Kent State University teammates and his fellow Canadian National Team members Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners make it onto the PGA TOUR.

Since winning the RSM Classic in Nov 2016, Hughes has been a regular on the PGA Tour.

In April of 2019, Conners won the Valero Texas Open and has since solidified his place as a rising star on the PGA TOUR. 

After graduating from Kent State University, he competed on the Mackenzie Tour and then advanced to play on the Korn Ferry Tour. In his second event, Pendrith recorded a fourth place finish but injuries would prevent him from enjoying continued success on the KFT and he would find himself back on the Mackenzie Tour.

“When I first advanced from the Mackenzie Tour I thought it was good. Obviously have seen my buddies go from there to the Korn Ferry Tour, win (on) the Korn Ferry Tour, come to the PGA TOUR, win (on) the PGA TOUR,” said Pendrith at the 2022 Presidents Cup referring to Hughes and Conners.

During the 2022 Presidents Cup, Conners spoke about their journeys to the PGA TOUR.

“It goes to show you we have a similar path and the National Team Program, Golf Canada, Herb Page at Kent State, they’ve led us on a great path. They’ve taught the right things. It’s really special to have shared the journey to professional golf with Taylor and have him out on the PGA TOUR now and to have him on the International Presidents Cup team,” said Conners.

Pendrith acknowledged his path to the PGA TOUR may have taken a little bit longer but he’s eager to show his potential now he’s injury free.

“My path took a little longer which I’m okay with.  Bouncing around, being hurt multiple times, there’s definitely some doubt. But to finally get there (on the PGA TOUR), I always kind of knew in the back of my mind if I was healthy, my game’s good enough to compete out here, and most of this year I showed that,” he pointed out.

“It’s been a rocky road but I don’t mind being 30-year-old rookie. It’s an honour to call yourself a PGA TOUR member and I think just makes it that much better that it took me a long time to get here and I’ve finally achieved it,” Pendrith added at the 2022 Presidents Cup.

The most notable achievement to date for Pendrith came at the beginning of this month when he became the first Canadian to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson since the tournament was established in 1944.

“I’m not a big history guy but Byron Nelson is a special name and for my name to be on that trophy is super special,” he said after making a clutch birdie putt on 18 to finish on top of the leaderboard by one stroke.

“It was a mix of emotions for sure with everything happening so fast. But I’m very happy that it did go in. Just tried to stay in my routine. Felt like my routine was really good this week, which I’ve been working on the last few weeks, so just did the same thing I did over every other putt,” added the talented Canadian golfer who is known for his power off the tee.

“It feels unbelievable and to see some of those names on this trophy it’s crazy.  I still can’t believe I’m a winner of this tournament.”

Pendrith has come a long way from the bright-eyed amateur who surprised many with his stellar opening round 10 years ago at the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.

Over the last decade, the married father of one has overcome challenges with injuries and has now solidified himself as a regular on the PGA TOUR – and also holds the distinction as a PGA TOUR winner.

Given his strong results recently, Pendrith, who will turn 33 later this month, appears to be peaking for homecoming and will be entering the RBC Canadian Open as one of the dark horses to hoist the historic trophy.

And what better way for Pendrith to celebrate his birthday than to have a strong showing in front of family and friends and be in contention for victory number two on the PGA TOUR – this time on Canadian soil.

Defending champion Nick Taylor and two-time winner Rory McIlroy along with international stars Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Tom Kim, Adam Scott, Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns and Cameron Young ready to challenge the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club

Nick Taylor and fellow Canadian stars Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson headline a group of
25 Canadians set to compete in 113th playing of
Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship

Three-night SiriusXM Concert Series will feature an all-Canadian line-up: Dance music duo Loud Luxury and Toronto DJ Frank Walker will perform on Thursday, May 30; Juno Award winners July Talk and Canadian legends Our Lady Peace on Friday, May 31; and award-winning singer, songwriter and philanthropist, Lindsay Ell with country music rising star Josh Ross on Saturday, June 1

Hamilton, Ont. – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the $9.4 million US purse at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, May 28 – June 2 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont.

Defending champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. will be the first Canadian in nearly 70 years to compete as defending champion, coming off a historic four-hole playoff victory over Tommy Fleetwood last year at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

Joining Taylor is two-time RBC Canadian Open Champion and world no. 3 Rory McIlroy. The 26-time PGA TOUR winner will be looking to claim his third Canadian Open title in 2024 and join a trio of three-time champions in Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, and Lee Trevino.

Other fan-favourites in the field for the 113th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include two members of Team Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup winning side, Tommy Fleetwood (world no. 13) and Shane Lowry (world no. 33). Joining them is three-time PGA TOUR winner, Tom Kim (world no. 26) and 2013 Masters Champion and 14-time PGA TOUR winner, Adam Scott (world no. 62). The group will compete alongside Team RBC ambassadors Sahith Theegala (world no. 12), Cameron Young (world no. 17) and Sam Burns (world no. 29).

A 25-player Canadian contingent will compete at Hamilton and among them look to become the first Canadian back-to-back winners of the National Open Championship in 110-years (Albert Murray 1913 and Karl Keffer 1914).

The Canadian contingent is led by RBC Canadian Open defending champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 28) and PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 50), Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 55), Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. (world no. 61), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 68), Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (world no. 86), as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. and Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta.

In addition to world class golf, fans at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open will be treated to the three-night SiriusXM Concert Series onsite at Hamilton Golf and Country Club featuring an all-Canadian line-up. Dance music duo Loud Luxury and Toronto DJ Frank Walker will perform on Thursday, May 30; night two features Juno Award winners July Talk and Canadian legends Our Lady Peace on Friday, May 31; and Saturday, June 1 will be highlighted by award-winning singer, songwriter and philanthropist, Lindsay Ell and country music rising star Josh Ross.

“We are very pleased with our international field of world-class competitors that are making their way to Canada to join us at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club and challenge for the 113^th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “Led by our defending champion Nick Taylor, and two-time champion Rory McIlroy, this year’s championship features a strong mix of stars with over 100 wins combined on the PGA TOUR and over 120 internationally in addition to past major champions, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team winners and a 25-player Canadian contingent. Along with great golf, fans will be treated to an incredible festival environment with terrific on-site activities including The Fare Way featuring The Keg and the three-night SiriusXM Concert Series featuring some incredible Canadian talent.” 

In total, 156 players will compete for the $9.4 million US purse next week in Ancaster when the RBC Canadian Open returns for the seventh time to the storied Hamilton Golf and Country Club. It will be the first opportunity for the stars of the PGA TOUR to experience the newly renovated Harry Colt design led by Martin Ebert. The two-year renovation project, which saw the return of key Colt design elements from the course’s past, including the complete rebuild of all 27 greens and bunkers, was named the “Best New Restoration” by Golf Digest for 2022.

Click here for a full field list for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont.

PGA TOUR Season Winners…

Eight in-year PGA TOUR winners will compete at Hamilton including Nick Taylor (WM Phoenix Open), Brice Garnett (Puerto Rico Open), Akshay Bhatia (Valero Texas Open), Shane Lowry (Zurich Classic of New Orleans), Rory McIlroy (Zurich Classic of New Orleans and Wells Fargo Championship), Taylor Pendrith (CJ Cup Byron Nelson), Chris Gotterup (Myrtle Beach Classic).

Major Winners….

12 major winners are represented in the field including four-time major winner Rory McIlroy (2011 U.S. Open, 2012 & 2014 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship), two-time major winner Zach Johnson (2007 Masters, 2015 Open Championship), along with Shane Lowry (2019 Open Championship), Gary Woodland (2019 U.S. Open), Jason Dufner (2013 PGA Championship), Stewart Cink (2009 Open Championship), Adam Scott (2013 Masters) and Mike Weir (2003 Masters).

Past Champions…

Five past RBC Canadian Open champions will compete at Hamilton including two-time champion Rory McIlroy (2022, 2019) and defending champion, Nick Taylor (2023). Two-time champion Jhonatthan Vegas (2017, 2016), Brandt Snedeker (2013) and Chez Reavie (2008) will also be competing.

International winners and other notables…

The field comprises over 120 international tournament wins. Nine winners from past European Ryder Cup Team wins and four winners from U.S. Team wins. 17 U.S. Presidents Cup Team winners. 11 past Olympians, including 2016 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist, Matt Kuchar and 2020 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist, C.T. Pan.

25 Canadians to compete for their National Men’s Open Title…

In total, a 25-player Canadian contingent will challenge for the national championship led by RBC Canadian Open defending champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 28) and PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 50), Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 55), Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. (world no. 61), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 68), Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (world no. 86), as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. and Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta. Canadian golf icon and President’s Cup International Team Captain Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. will be competing in his 31st RBC Canadian Open. Three members of Team Canada have earned exemptions including, Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. Stuart Macdonald of Vancouver, B.C. and Jared du Toit, of Kimberley, B.C. In addition, PGA TOUR member Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., Richard T. Lee of Toronto, Ont., PGA TOUR veteran David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. Aaron Cockerill of Winnipeg, Man., Wil Bateman of Edmonton, Alta. and Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. have all received exemptions to compete. Previous exemptions were also secured by Kevin Stinson of Mission, B.C. Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que. and reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. Four other Canadians earned exemptions through RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying including Jake Lane of Vancouver, B.C. (BC Regional Qualifier at Pitt Meadows Golf Club), Justin Matthews (a) of Little Britain, Ont. (First Ontario Regional Qualifying at Oshawa Golf & Curling Club), Marc-Olivier Plasse of Léry, Que. (Quebec Regional Qualifier at Club de golf Le Blainviller) and Cam Kellett (a) of London, Ont. (Second Ontario Regional Qualifier at Tarandowah Golfers Club).

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…

The final four tournament exemptions into the field for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Final Qualifier on Monday, May 27 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. A high number of players attempted to gain entry into the field by competing at five Regional Qualifying sites earlier this month. A total of 106 players including 94 Canadians will compete at TPC Toronto. Click here for a field list. 

Hamilton G&CC to host National Finals of the BDO National Golf League…

The BDO National Golf League finals take place on Saturday, May 25 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club with 52 pairings (104 total golfers) competing for the national championship and the opportunity to represent Canada at The R&A 9 Hole Challenge at Royal Troon in Troon, Scotland, one-week prior to the 152nd Open Championship. The inaugural season saw over 10,000 participants from 107 leagues from coast-to-coast compete for a spot in the national final. Registration for the 2024 BDO National Golf League is now open, for more information please visit nationalgolfleague.ca.

RBC Hall of Fame Day Returns on Tuesday, May 28…

Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to welcome the return of RBC Hall of Fame Day as an official kickoff event for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open. RBC Hall of Fame Day will include the induction ceremony for accomplished amateur and professional player and current PGA of Canada member Lisa Meldrum as the 86th honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Joining the celebration will be a several honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. The event gets underway at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 28 with a private luncheon onsite at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. In addition, Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Lorie Kane will present the 2023 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards to recipients Simeon Pompey and Rosie Allen.

MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE…

Experience the RBC Canadian Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada Mobile App on your iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, leaderboard & pairings, tickets, breaking news, and special events. Plus, use the Golf Canada Mobile App to enhance your experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.

RBC CANADIAN OPEN – MEDIA GUIDE & PLAYER PERFORMANCE GUIDE

Below are links to the RBC Canadian Open Media Guide as well as the all-time Player Performance Guide:

2024 RBC Canadian Open Media Guide

RBC Canadian Open – All-Time Player Performance Guide

Tickets for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) Virtual Summit presented by RBC: Economic Impact of Golf in Canada took place May 24, 2024, as part of an ongoing GJAC series intended to help membership stay connected, as well as to generate discussion and opportunities around important issues in the game.

GJAC Virtual Summits presented by RBC are recorded for public viewing. You can watch this recording below.

The format consists of a moderated question and answer period, followed by a brief opportunity for questions from attendees. 

Panelists for this Virtual Summit included:

• Tom McGuire, Principal/Co-founder, 21FSP Advisory Inc.
• Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada
• Jeff Calderwood, National Golf Course Owners Association

Moderator: Dan Pino, Golf Canada

Matthew Anderson doesn’t hesitate when asked what his long-term goals are as a professional golfer.

“Win on the PGA Tour, be a top ranked player in the world. That is absolutely the goal,” said Anderson.

The 24-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., is well on his way, finishing atop the PGA Tour Americas rankings after the Latin American swing of the third-tier men’s golf circuit. Being in the top of two at the break earns him a partial exemption on next year’s Korn Ferry Tour, a step up from the Americas Tour.

He’ll be No. 1 in the Fortinet Cup standings when the Americas Tour picks up again with The Beachlands Victoria Open on June 20, the first event in the circuit’s North American swing. Although Anderson is happy with his season so far, he can’t take his foot off the gas if he wants full status on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025.

“I think, coming in the top 10 at the end of the season is beneficial,” said Anderson, shortly after returning home to Ontario for a Golf Canada event. “Depending on my rank in that top 10 at the end of the season, I’ll get more starts on the Korn Ferry.

“It’s all complicated, but although I have locked up some status, ultimately I want to finish as high as I can at the end of the season for next year.”

Anderson was also one of six Canadians who accepted exemptions on Wednesday into next week’s RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont. It will be his second appearance at the men’s national golf championship, having missed the cut in 2019 when it was last in Ancaster.

He climbed the Fortinet Cup standings and earned the exemption into the Canadian Open largely thanks to a win at the 69th ECP Brazil Open on April 21 and three top-five finishes in six events on the Americas Tour.

Anderson said improving his short game and putting has helped him play the best golf of his young career.

“I’ve always been a good ball striker but those were a couple of areas that I wanted to improve on,” said Anderson. “So obviously those improving led me to shoot some better scores and play some good golf.

“I think I just had a good attitude about going down (to Latin America) and making the best of it, maybe a little bit better than some other guys did.”

Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald also earned an exemption into the Canadian Open for his strong start to the season on PGA Tour Americas, highlighted by a win at the Diners Club Peru Open. He’s currently fourth on the Fortinet Cup standings and will be appearing in his third men’s national championship.

Jared du Toit, of Kimberley, B.C., and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., will also be returning to the Canadian Open this year.

Toronto’s Richard T. Lee also earned an exemption. He competes on the Asian Tour, where he is currently ranked eighth on its Order of Merit. Lee has earned two top-10 finishes as well as four top-25 finishes this season and has won twice in his career on the tour.

PGA Tour veteran David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. has also accepted an exemption to compete in his 20th Canadian Open.

Four other Canadians earned exemptions on Wednesday through the Canadian Open’s regional qualifying: Vancouver’s Jake Lane, amateur Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., Marc-Olivier Plasse of Léry, Que., and amateur Cam Kellett of London, Ont.

RBC CANADIAN OPEN 2025 — TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont., was named the host of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open on Tuesday. Golf Canada and the PGA Tour jointly made the announcement that the recently renovated 7,445-yard North Course will be used for the men’s national championship. It will become the 38th golf course in the 121-year history of the event to host the tournament.

“This incredible property with its spectacular clubhouse and facilities will deliver an outstanding and dramatic competition supported by an operational capacity befitting a world-class championship,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “This is a special and deserving moment for TPC Toronto in stepping onto the global golf stage in hosting the 114th playing of our national open championship.”

PGA TOUR — Adam Svensson and Ben Silverman are the only Canadians in the Charles Schwab Challenge this week at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Most Canadians on the top tour are taking the week off ahead of next week’s national championship. Svensson, from Surrey, B.C., is 95th on the FedEx Cup standings. Silverman, from Thornhill, Ont., is ranked 115th.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Creighton is the top-ranked Canadian heading into this week’s Visit Knoxville Open. He’s No. 14 on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour’s points list. He’ll be joined by four other Canadians at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn. Edmonton’s Wil Bateman, No. 21 on the points list, Etienne Papineau (36th) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., du Toit (95th), and Sudarshan Yellamaraju (130th) of Mississauga, Ont., will also tee it up.

DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is the lone Canadian at the Soudal Open. He’s ranked 20th in the Race to Dubai rankings heading into the tournament at Rinkven International Golf Club in Antwerp, Belgium.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames is second in the Schwab Cup standings before the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship tees off on Thursday. He’ll be joined by Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., ranked 32nd, at Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Professional women’s championship series and regional participation festivals mark the rebirth of an enhanced Canadian Women’s Golf Tour and national qualifying path into
CPKC Women’s Open.

May 24, 2024 — Golf Canada is pleased to announce that the She Plays Golf Festival and Championship Series has added The R&A, adidas Golf and RBC as program partners.

RBC deepens their long-standing commitment to fund women’s golf and grassroots initiatives by supporting She Plays Golf.

“RBC is a proud supporter of women’s golf at both the professional and amateur levels, and we’re pleased to be part of a program that will elevate women in the game while building a strong pipeline of future golfers,” said Shannon Cole, Vice-President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “It’s an excellent way to demonstrate our partnership with Golf Canada and continue our overall commitment to women in sport.”

As a long-time supporter of Golf Canada’s women’s golf initiatives, adidas Golf will be the official golf headwear, apparel, and footwear sponsor of She Plays Golf.

“We are honoured to join in this partnership with Golf Canada and She Plays Golf. One of adidas Golf Canada’s highlighted strategies is to connect with the female golfer in a more meaningful and inclusive way. The expansion of She Plays Golf and the focus on women’s golf aligns perfectly with our brand beliefs, allowing adidas Golf to continue to invest in, highlight and celebrate the game for women and girls in Canada,” said Jeff Feltrin, General Manager, adidas Golf Canada.

In addition, The R&A awarded Golf Canada with a National Body Development Grant (NBDG) towards She Plays Golf. The NBDG is part of The R&A’s intention of investing £200 million into golf over a ten-year period (2017-2026) to support the growth of the sport.

“We are extremely appreciative of our partners at The R&A, RBC and adidas Golf for their commitment and investment towards She Plays Golf,” said Laura Wilson, Golf Canada’s Director of Inclusion Programs and Safe Sport. “Since announcing the expansion of She Plays Golf and the rebirth of the Canadian Women’s Golf Tour through the Championship Series, corporate partners and other organizations have expressed interest in investing and aligning their brands with She Plays Golf. The participation festivals are a celebration of women’s golf, and we are eager to welcome more partners that can support further expansion of grassroots programming for women and girls in Canada.”

As previously announced, She Plays Golf is expanding to three markets in 2024 with the Championship Series and participation festivals scheduled for Calgary, Greater Vancouver Area and the Greater Toronto Area. In 2023, She Plays Golf was successfully piloted in Calgary in partnership with the Glencoe Invitational.

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 60 professionals and elite amateurs.

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.

These enhanced She Plays Golf Championship Series – comprised of the Peloton Glencoe Invitational from June 12-15 at the Forest Course at Glencoe Golf and Country Club in Calgary, GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open from June 19-22 at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C., and ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada from July 2-5 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. – will mark the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.

The She Plays Golf Championship Series is open to professionals and amateurs from Canada and abroad. All three events in the Championship Series are played over 54 holes with a cut after 36 holes. Each championship will see players compete for a $60,000 purse, WAGR points, and two qualifying spots into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open.

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Golf Canada and its partners will work to further expand the footprint of She Plays Golf to establish a nationwide series of professional championships and accompanying participation festivals. Canadian companies and organizations interested in further strengthening women’s golf across Canada – from grass roots participation all the way up to entry-level professional golf – are invited to get involved with She Plays Golf. 

Additional information about championship entry and festival schedule for each She Plays Golf event will be available in the coming weeks.

OTTAWA – Jeff Calderwood has been part of the business side of Canada’s golf industry for three decades and even he admits the enthusiasm and excitement from the grass-roots level all the way up the game’s ladder has hit never-before-seen levels.

The latest Canadian Golf Economic Impact study was published Thursday, combined with a return to Parliament Hill for a half-dozen of the game’s key stakeholders for National Golf Day.

The buzz was back.

“(The numbers) were basically record highs. And everyone is in a fun mood,” said Calderwood, the CEO of Canada’s National Golf Course Owners Association and chairman of the National Allied Golf Association.

If Calderwood had to pick one key number it would be the bumped-up GDP figure – up 30 percent in the five years since the last Economic Impact Study was conducted in 2019 to just over $23 billion.

That figure is an “eye-opener” for politicians and the like, Calderwood explained, because of how positive it was.

“(The day on Parliament Hill) was the first one since the COVID-19 pandemic, which is meaningful in itself,” Calderwood said. “Golf is good for Canada. It’s good for Canadians.”

Calderwood, as the leader of a collection of small business owners, is quick to point out that while the golf industry is in a good place that’s “not to be confused with Easy Street.” Nothing’s easy when it comes to small business.

“There are so many people who work in this industry, including myself, who don’t really understand the tangential opportunity and business that exists within golf,” said Suzanne Godbehere, the CEO of the Club Management Association of Canada. “There is the economic side of things and the people who work in food and beverage and more. The golf clubs are more like small cities that get operated.

Like with any small business, the future remains uncertain. But post-COVID, the game held on to approximately two-thirds of the massive participation bump it received in the immediate tracking years of 2020 and 2021 according to Calderwood. Six million Canadians played golf in 2023 (for a total of 74-million rounds) making it the country’s largest participation sport. And golf, as an industry, hits on plenty of key topics that politicians care about – youth employment, charity, the environment, and more.

“We gave an update on numbers and built relationships with key parliamentarians – you have the respect you’re a serious industry,” Calderwood said. “When you point out how much is paid in taxes or how many people you employ across the country, they treat you now as a serious industry as well as a great game.”

Golf Canada’s CEO, Laurence Applebaum, has had a front-row seat to plenty of the game’s biggest moments over the last half-decade and while he’s first to acknowledge that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our day-to-day life was difficult and disturbing, the trickle-down effect on golf highlighted how much the game was ideally suited as safe and operationally strong.

“The GDP impact, the economic force golf is for employment, for stimuli, for tourism, for the environment, and for charity – with dollars-raised returning to pre-pandemic levels – has been amazing to track,” Applebaum said.

One of the key things Canadian golf’s stakeholders were able to learn through the COVID-19 pandemic was the continued relationship with all levels of governments (including international governments) and now they’ve been able to come back to Parliament Hill to talk about the perception of golf and educate beyond just sport.

Applebaum said one conversation Thursday was with a member of parliament from Saskatchewan who, prior to joining politics was a teaching professional. Another, from Ontario, learned the game from his grandfather.

“We have all these friends of golf that want to be part of this crazy growth we have right now,” Applebaum said. “We are so excited about the trajectory and the state of the game – and now to keep things on that track.”

156 of Canada’s top Junior golfers will compete over 54 holes in Leduc, Alta., vying for exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Junior Girls Championships taking place at Innisfail Golf Club and Marine Drive Golf Club respectively 

Golf Canada’s 2024 championship season continues Friday, May 24, at Leduc Golf Club in Leduc, Alta. with the NextGen Western Championship.  

The 54-hole stroke play gets underway with a practice round beginning on Thursday, May 23, with the championship rounds taking place from May 24th-26th. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 47 Junior Boys and top 23 Junior Girls, including ties, looking to compete in the final round which wraps up on Sunday, May 26.   

In the field, there will be 156 male and female competitors– 105 Junior Boys and 51 Junior Girls – competing in hopes of advancing to the Canadian Junior Championships later this season. Witnessing a strong field of junior golfers at Leduc Golf Club for the NextGen Western Championship, will create unforgettable moments, cementing pathways for the next generation of junior golfers. Among those vying for exemption into the Canadian Junior Championship later this summer, notables to watch are Jerry Li of Vancouver, B.C. who secured the NextGen Pacific Championship last season and Rosie Bee Kim of Edmonton, Alta. who won the NextGen Fall Series East Championship last season.  

 The top eight golfers in the Junior Boys Division will earn direct exemption into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, happening August 12-16 at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta. The top eight players in the Junior Girls Division (including ties) will also earn direct exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls championship, presented by BDO, happening July 21-25 at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C. In addition, the top five finishers in each division will also earn a spot in the 2024 Notah Begay III Canadian Championship at the Kanawaki Golf Club from July 29-30. 

Leduc Golf Club began as a nine-hole golf course in 1961. Leduc Golf Course has presently overgone numerous changes over the years, now evolving into a challenging 18th hole golf course. The golf course features tree lined fairways, several challenging water hazards that intersect the fairways, an-all grass tee driving range and a full-service food and beverage facility. In addition, the club is proud to offer a fair challenging test of golf highlighting an easy walking golf course with captivating scenery landmarks overlooking the 18th green. Leduc Golf club is working hard to enhance more future tournaments, promoting exciting events and continuing to welcome the public to have a memorable experience by enjoying a round of golf.  

 ”We are excited to be hosting the NextGen Western Championship this year, with the help of our membership and local support, we are looking forward to a world class event. Our club is committed to the growth of junior golf, it truly is the future of our club and the game and there isn’t a better way to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent some of these golfers have and we wish them all the best of luck in the tournament,” said Rick Brown, Vice President at Leduc Golf Club.  

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Western Championship, click here. 

About the NextGen Championships 

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

New Economic Impact Study Released

OTTAWA, May 23, 2024 – After a four-year pause due to COVID-19, the National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) are on Parliament Hill leading National Golf Day and discussing with Parliamentarians the many positive benefits of golf for Canadians.

The golf industry representatives are also releasing the results of a new Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study highlighting golf’s financial contributions and incredible popularity as the number one participation sport in Canada.

National Golf Day also celebrates golf’s physical and mental health benefits, its safe sport attributes, social merits, environmental stewardship, diversity, life skills for youth, and economic value to the business community. National data indicates that hundreds of thousands of Canadians have entered the sport since Covid-19, totaling six million Canadian golfers and further strengthening golf’s status as the number one participation sport in the country.

“Canadians played 74 million rounds of golf in 2023, a considerable 24% increase from the last Study in 2019,” stated Jeff Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, and Chair of NAGA.

“Existing golfers have been playing more often and new golfers have been taking up the game at impressive levels,” said Calderwood. “The broad appeal of golf as a safe, healthy, outdoor recreation that can be enjoyed by all ages, genders, abilities, and budgets, anywhere in Canada, generates continued growth in the game. The impressive economic impacts that are then generated reflect that popularity.”

NAGA conducts an economic impact study every five years to measure such financial contributions as employment, charitable support, tourism, and gross domestic product. The sport and business of golf are thriving post-pandemic and continue to be an important economic engine for Canadians and their communities across Canada. Some of the highlights from the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study include:

• Golf contributes a massive amount to Canada’s GDP at $23.2 billion, an increase of $4 billion since the previous Study.
• Golf supports 237,000 person-years of employment, illustrating its importance as a vital source of livelihood for countless Canadians. Nearly 135,000 Canadians work directly in golf, with 45,000 being student employment.
• Golf-related activities generated over $14.2 billion in labour income, sustaining families and generating significant economic spin-off spending.
• $382 million was raised through golf activities for charities across Canada, a return to the pre-Covid-19 range and tops among all participation sports.
• Approximately 6 million Canadians played golf in 2023, an all-time high for the number one participation sport in the country, generating 74 million rounds played.
• Golfer spending totalled $14.2 billion in 2023.
• Golf course operations contributed $8.1 billion to Canada’s GDP.
• Capital expenditure by golf course operations in 2023 was $907 million.
• Taxes paid to governments by the Canadian golf industry were $4.7 billion in 2023.

“Golf is a sport that brings so many benefits to Canadians – not just the economic contributions. It is also a holistic solution to many of life’s necessities and an activity that can enjoyed for a lifetime,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO, Golf Canada.

“Golf is a healthy, safe activity, promoting environmental stewardship, providing exceptional social value, and is great for business. And importantly, we’re seeing tremendous diversity in our growth with incredible levels of engagement,” said Applebaum. “In addition, the recent success of our Canadian LPGA and PGA Tour Pros has further propelled the enthusiasm for the sport, with such stars on the world stage as Brooke Henderson and Nick Taylor.”

Other attributes of Canadian golf include:

• 18 holes of golf burns up to 2000 calories, a very healthy 15 km walk and active exercise in nature.
• 95% of golfers in Canada feel that golf is very good for their mental health, which has also been clinically proven.
• 83% of Canadian golfers state that the social aspects of golf are important to them and improve their lives.
• Spectator interest in professional golf is at an all-time high. The RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open are setting records for attendance and commercial success.
• Golf is a trusted Safe Sport environment for both recreational and competitive play.
• Canadian golf has been experiencing great diversity, including a 6% increase in active women golfers and 33% growth in BIPOC golfers in 2023.
• Off-course golf including simulator play and virtual golf experiences have bolstered the growth in  participation.
• Sustainable golf has become a leading environmental stewardship movement in Canadian golf, with golf courses throughout the country embracing sustainability pledges and best practices.

Golf flourished during the pandemic as the nature of the sport easily allowed for social distancing while delivering a social recreation experience that could not be found elsewhere.

With golf now better recognized as an important part of the solution, and all of the health, social and economic benefits, the positive spotlight on golf and its impact on Canadian communities has since sustained most of that increased demand.

In summary, the study clearly shows that golf is good for Canada and Canadians.