Jared Du Toit was planning the next phase of his golfing career last summer, casting a wide net by entering qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour, the DP World Tour, and anything else he could think of. 

But a friend from his days playing at Arizona State University nudged him toward the Asian Tour.

Fast forward to now and Du Toit, from Kimberley, B.C., sits seventh on the Asian Tour’s order of merit after earning a top-10 finish in his first-ever tournament on the men’s golf circuit.

“I was talking to him a little bit in the summer and he just said ‘you’re crazy if you’re not giving Asia a try. The competition is solid, the events are great, and the money is pretty good,'” said Du Toit. “That sparked some interest so I gave it a try, not thinking much of it. 

“But (the DP World Tour and Korn Ferry Tour) didn’t work out so I went to Asia, got status that way. Now we’re here and enjoying it, enjoying it a lot so far.”

The 28-year-old Du Toit tied for seventh at 17 under on Sunday at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open at The Mines Resort & Golf Club, six shots back of winner David Puig of Spain. 

Du Toit was in a position to miss the cut halfway through his second round but rallied to shoot a 64 and see the weekend. He then fired a 62 in the third round to rocket up the leaderboard before a 71 settled him into seventh.

“Going from basically the cutline to three or four inside the number and in the thick of it a little bit I felt like I was on the house money bit and just had a great round three, which got me right into it,” said Du Toit. “Unfortunately, I didn’t play my best on the last round, but all things considered going from the cutline to contention to finishing top 10 was a solid start to the year and I’m excited to get going over here.”

His next target is to earn his way into some of the co-sanctioned events like next week’s New Zealand Open or one of men’s golf’s majors, like the British Open.

“I was pretty close last week being in contention in Malaysia. There was three spots for the Open,” said Du Toit. “It might be a little tougher to do that, don’t think they just give away spots so I definitely lost a bit of an opportunity last week, but I’d love to do that.

“I just still try and play my best, make as many cuts as I can.”

Du Toit has his next chance to do just that this week at the International Series Oman at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat, Oman. Toronto’s Richard T. Lee is also in the tournament.

PGA TOUR — Five Canadians are in the field at this week’s Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta in Vallarta, Mexico. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is the top-ranked member of the Canadian contingent, entering the week at 62nd in the FedEx Cup standings. Mackenzie Hughes (72) of Dundas, Ont., and Ben Silverman (99) of Thornhill, Ont., are also in the field, as are unranked players Stuart Macdonald of Vancouver and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C.

OUTSPOKEN HUGHES — Hughes, who is on the PGA Tour’s player advisory council for another year, remains outspoken about the upstart LIV Golf circuit. He spoke to CBS while on the course of last week’s Genesis Invitational about the ongoing rivalry.

“Now we’re in a place where I think fans are just generally a little bit fed up with it, to be honest,” said Hughes. “Those are the people that drive our sport so I’d love to appeal to the masses a lot more.

“Certainly, the way we’re going right now, to me, isn’t quite it.”

DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is the lone Canadian in this week’s Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi. He finished second at the event in 2022.

LPGA TOUR — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Fall, Ont., is the lone Canadian in the field at Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club’s Old Course in Chonburi. She sits sixth in the Race to CME Globe standings after placing third at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on Jan. 18 and tying for 16th at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

MEN’S NCAA — Calgary’s Hunter Thomson won his season opener with eight birdies in the final round of the Palmas del Mar Collegiate tournament in Humacao, Puerto Rico. He won the event by two strokes on Feb. 13, helping the University of Michigan to a fourth-place finish. 

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.

Tom White, Falcon Ridge Golf Club, Hole #2

I was playing in the final round of the 11th bi-annual Toronto Gentlemen’s Golf Club Tournament (TGGC).

The TGGC has been held every other year since 2001.

The TGGC is made up of a group of people who have come to know each other
through work in the financial services industry and share a love of golf.

I was playing with Mike R., Scott F., and Jim S.

The hole was playing 136 yards, so I used an 8 iron!

Sandy Byckowski, Brampton Golf Club, Hole #3

So, it was Halloween day and apparently I came dressed as a golfer that day. Our 3rd hole at Brampton was measuring 88.5 yards. I used a smooth choke 9 iron. It looked good from the start. It landed a bit in front of the pin and disappeared.

My playing partners, Pat Waite and Brenda DeCoste, broke into a run to get to the green to check it out. It is my 13th hole-in-one.

Edward Oulds, Kedron Dells Golf Club, Hole #5

It was a great feeling to finally get my first hole-in-one. I was playing with Pete and Helen who were very nice. I used a 173 yard 7 iron.

Carol Wright, Ladies’ Golf Club Of Toronto, Hole #13

I played with three lovely women from the Ladies Golf Course. We all saw it land and roll into the hole as the 13th hole has a tee box at the top of the hill and you hit into the valley.  The pin was 110 yards and I used my trusty 6 Ping hybrid.

Tony Leblanc, The Toronto Hunt

I was playing as a guest of my brother Michel (Mike) LeBlanc along with his daughter Lake Martin-LeBlanc, as well as his great buddy Ken Mulgrew (ParaGolf Ontario Instructor and President).

An assist goes to Mike and Ken as I followed them off the tee. The pin was 130 yards into a very stiff wind. I took extra club and went with a firm 8 iron after they both came up well short of the green.

The ace was particularly special for two reasons.

First, we didn’t see it go in the hole, as it appeared to land and then disappear after going over the crest of a ridge running across the middle of the green. It was only when we got to the green and saw no ball that I/we got excited.

Secondly, it was my second hole-in-one in over 45 years of golfing. I was playing with Mike on both occasions which is an incredible coincidence (for most of the past 30 years we lived a good distance apart) so it was just awesome to have him there, especially since he paid for the golf!

Adil Mughal, Station Creek Golf Club

I was playing with two of my good friends: Nicholas McNeilly and Faiz Lakhani. We were also grouped with a single whose name was Zack.

We played the white tees, and the hole was exactly 135 yards. Wind was blowing into us around 10 kph. I hit a full 9 iron that had a very straight and high flight. The ball bounced about two feet behind the pin and didn’t hit the green a second time, but instead went straight to the bottom of the cup! It was a joy to watch from the tee as the ball one hopped and disappeared!

Ken Woolford, Cedar Brae

It was approximately 150 yards and I used a 6 iron. My playing partners were fellow Cedar Brae members Jonathan Levitt, Tim Rooney and Barry Downs.

Bob Husband, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Hole #14 & Hole #2

Bob Husband got his first hole-in-one in 50 years of golfing on October 3, 2023 on the 14th hole. He followed it up with a hole-in-one the very next day on October 4, 2023 on the second hole.

Brent Borne, Lookout Point Country Club, Hole #8

It was quite unbelievable to say the least. The yardage was about 130 playing closer to 145 uphill into a small breeze. I used an eight iron. I was playing with three other members who took pictures and enjoyed drinks and such after.

Robert Corn, Granite Ridge Cobalt, Hole #5

Right of the green is a pond. Sand trap guarding the front of the green. Tough and intimidating hole to at least get it on the green. The pin placement on this day was front left which takes a precise shot to get it close. I had to do a reset as I just didn’t feel comfortable. Being a lefty player with a left to right draw. My aiming point was 10 yards left towards the farmer’s field. With my 9 iron I put a crisp shot on it and as I picked my head up to see the flight “please be the right club” I said. The ball was turning right towards the green bouncing on the green just left of the flag, rolled about six feet and it disappeared right into the hole. Finally! I belted out. Relief that I finally got an ace after all my 54 years of playing. Lots of high five’s.

Bob Saye, Algonquin Golf Club, Hole #12

My first ever hole-in-one happened November 2nd on the par 3 12th hole at Algonquin Golf Club in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. It was a little cool but lots of sun so not a bad day at all despite the temperature being close to 6 degrees celsius.

I played with Bob, we’re all members of Algonquin and I played with them throughout the season. The guy in the back with his hand raised is Dan Roe. In the front from left to right are; Bill Peppard, Dale Clarke, and me with the Montreal touque.

I play from the silver tees so it’s normally 132 yards. Because the hole is downhill, on this day it was playing between 115 and 120 yards with a slight breeze behind us. I used an 8 iron hoping to carry the front bunker.

Saw the trajectory of the ball and knew it was on line but none of us saw the ball land. Went to the green. It wasn’t in the front bunker or on the putting surface. I assumed it was over the green so went looking for it. Couldn’t find it so played another ball.

My playing partners had already finished up. They didn’t sink their putts but were close enough to pick up, so no one actually looked in the hole and we hadn’t taken the flag out. One of my playing partners, Dale Clarke, was standing close to the hole and was waiting for me to putt. He happened to look in the hole and said, “There’s a ball in the hole.” Turned out it was mine. If I had putted and had a “gimme” for my next one, we could have walked off the green without ever knowing my tee shot was actually in the hole. A nice surprise to say the least.

I’m not the best golfer so as an added bonus I broke 100 on the round and shot 96. I know, not a big deal for most golfers but it is for me. A good way to end the season.

Peter Cavin, Wailea Golf Club, Hole #10

I was playing with my son Andrew Cavin and two locals Brandon and Brock.

The 10th hole was playing 151 yards and I hit a 7 iron. I couldn’t see the ball once it landed as the green was uphill from the tee box.

Shot looked good but as we drove up to the green, we couldn’t see my ball and I thought I must have hit it long. I walked towards the back of the green to look for the ball in the rough. My son decided to walk to the cup and he started yelling. He found the ball in the hole. Still was such a great feeling even though I didn’t see it go in. It was my first hole-in-one after 40 something years of golf.

Mark Merlau, Otter Creek Golf Club, Hole #12

I was playing with my friend, Steve Locky when I recorded the second hole-in-one of my career. Anyone who plays this par 3 knows how much of a brute it can be! It is almost impossible to stop the ball on the green and everything tends to roll off the back. Needless to say, I haven’t had much luck on this hole before.

The hole was playing 169 yards into a slight headwind, so I decided to choke up and hit my 18 degree hybrid. The shot came off the club perfectly and headed straight towards the pin. Although I didn’t see the ball go into the hole, it was still a surreal feeling to find it in there! What a great way to end the season!

 

 

Sandy Marsellus, White Bear, Hole #11

I hit a beautiful 6 iron on the par 3 165 yard 11th hole. The course was White Bear in Saskatchewan.

Richard Edwards, Silver Creek Golf Course -North/West, Hole #4

I was playing with my wife Irene and we were on the 4th hole of the North course from the white tees and is 141 yards. It is funny because as I walked onto the tee box Irene and I were joking with each other and I said “Ok. Hole-in-one hole”. I played a 9 iron which is my 150 yard club and it fitted well as there was a breeze coming straight into us. I got a clean strike, and it was on a great line. I started doing the head bob looking at the ball and at the pin then back to the ball and so on. It landed, took a bounce, a roll and disappeared.

My brain took a moment trying to understand where the ball had gone before I realized, and my wife started yelling, “oh my goodness, you called it!” I got to the green and the pitch mark was about four feet from the hole. One of the green keepers came running out and told me to go buy a lottery ticket (I did and that failed).

In true form my wife tried to show me how easy a hole-in-one is and on the same round at the 12th hole (the West #3) she hit the pin and finished a few feet away! I may have muttered words to the effect of, “Couldn’t let me have the day to myself.”

A once in a lifetime thing no doubt but having the right person there with me made it better.

Kathleen Houghton, Oyster Reef

I played with my husband, Sid Dickinson, and Rick and Cheryl Field, all from Ontario.

I used a seven iron for 123 yards.

Jeff Macks, Markham Green Golf Club, Hole #3

The big news here is that it was my first ever hole-in-one. I have played golf since my late teens and am now 72. I had almost given up hope that it would ever happen but it goes to show you are never too old and it’s not too late for magic to happen.

As far as the actual shot it was not a pretty or amazing shot, I’m sorry to say, which you’ll see below. I am a 15 handicap so not a bad golfer but the closest I’ve ever come before was maybe two or three feet. On that day I was playing with a good friend and got paired with two other guys. Hole #3 at Markham was about 125 yards to the pin from the whites for that round. You hit over some long grass and a small stream to a very small, back to front tilted, fast green. We hate that green! If you are not below the hole, you have no chance to stop a downhill putt even from a few feet away.

I hit the ball slightly off the heel with my 8 iron, it went left, hit the side of the fringe with a lot of spin and proceeded across the green, hit the flag and in. If not for the pin it would have ended up 20 feet away off the green due to the slope. Pure skill – NOT Pure Lluck – YES! But I will take it.

Dawn-Marie Hunter Sharp, Superstition Springs Golf Club

I was playing with my family David Hunter, Susan and Andy Bilinski. The yardage was 117, I usually use my 8 iron for that distance but the green has a super high elevation so I clubbed up two clubs to my six.

Marlene Proc, The Vancouver Golf Club, Hole #3

On the 11th month, of the 11th day, of the 11th hour, just as the horn blew from the clubhouse to begin the Saturday shotgun, I took out my 8 iron and hit my first shot of the day on hole #3 at Vancouver Golf Club. I was blinded by the sun trying to break through and did not see the shot.

My playing partner, Marnie, commented that it looked right on line with the pin. We heard it hit the pin hard and saw something recoiling back towards the front puddle of standing water that was on the green. It was a 112 yard shot with a front red pin. Not that I measured that day.

Upon walking down towards the green, we commented on the position of what we thought was the ball, but what we spotted was actually a leaf with the ball nowhere in site. As I walked up to the flag, with putter in hand, there was the ball sitting peacefully at the bottom of the cup. What a way to start the round and to connect to Remembrance Day!

The rest of the game was pretty solid and ended with a score of 79. Now, if I could
only score so well during the golf season!

This event marks my third hole-in-one although my first at the Vancouver Golf Club.

Colleen Kaspersion, Pine Ridge Golf Club, Hole #16

My first hole-in-one. Great way to end the season. It was our last day before Pine Ridge closed. I was with my friends Colette, Allayne and Anne. Par 3. White flag, tucked in the gully. 116 yards. 9 iron.

Richard Bennett, Avon Valley Golf & Country Club

I was playing with friends Mark, Brandon and Dudley and used a 7 iron from 136. Don’t judge, it’s severely uphill and was into heavy wind! I’ve been playing for over 20 years and it’s the first I’ve even seen.

Daniel Bruce, Poppy Estate Golf Club, Hole #5

Have had the pleasure of joining a great group of guys. It’s the “Norm’s” group. Norm Trudel and Norm Seifried are the coordinators of our club. We have sometimes, up to 24 guys playing. This day we had 12, and in our group there was Billy, Norm T, Todd and me.

The 5th hole at Poppy Estates is a tough one. From the whites it usually plays around 190 yards and 205 from the blues. November 11th it was playing 183 yards (red flag) from the whites. Until that day I had never been on #5 in regulation. There is a small water hazard about 15 yards before the green and water to the left and right. It’s a tough hole. We usually play from the blues but it was cold and wet, so we decided to play from the whites. I used a 5 iron and aimed to the right a bit because I can sometimes pull my 5 iron. I pured it, with a bit of my usual pull, and it landed pass the pin (two yards) and to the right. I had thought it landed and rolled forward and hid behind the pin. Billy said it went in but I didn’t believe him. The remaining guys hit their shots and we proceeded to the green. As we got closer it was clear it wasn’t hiding behind the pin, but I didn’t get my hopes up. Billy got out his phone to record my reaction. As I got up to the hole, I slowly approached from the opposite side of where it would have entered. At first, I didn’t see it and then boom, it hit me, there is was. My Callaway 4 Hex Tour with my happy face marking looking straight up at me.

It was euphoric. Huge hugs and high five’s, lots of screaming and cheering. At the end of the round, we stopped for a bite and a drink. We had a few to many shots on the course so we didn’t get into it at the clubhouse. Billy presented a trophy #1 that he had made and brings to every round just in case someone gets an ace.
It was a great day and look forward to many with this great group.

Ryder St. Laurent, Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club, Hole #9

I was in Arizona for the MJT Nationals which was held at the Wigwam golf and country club. After the tournament, my family and I stayed a couple extra days in Scottsdale. My dad and I decided to play our last round at the Starfire golf club. On the last hole of the day #9 which plays 230 yards. Back pin playing almost 240 yards I hit driver and it curled in for a hole-in-one. I was super excited to end the year with a hole-in-one. Thanks.

Lee McGuire, Highland Pacific Golf

Callaway Warbird ball. Taylor made 8 iron. 3/4 swing. 130 yard Pacific second hole over water. Attessed by Andy Wells and Brad Main.

Joyce Ireson, Elmira Golf Course, Hole #6

I have aced the 6th hole at Elmira Golf Course in Ontario twice in the last four years. The first time was Aug. 21, 2020, and the second was June 20th, 2022. I did not see the first one go in, but I did see the second. One member of my regular playing group witnessed both. Not bad seeing as I am 88 years old.

Dexter John, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Hole #14

I was playing a round at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. It was a shotgun start 730 am. We started on hole #12. Did not have a lot of warm up so the first hole was not particularly great. We come upon hole 14 an par 3 168 yard protected by water in the front faces our group. One of the men teed off first and hit a perfect shot landing on the green. I tee my ball up and just take a deep breath as I just wanted for the ball to not go into the water. I pulled out my 6 iron to guarantee distance and hit a high lofting shot I landed squarely on the green and start to roll in the direction of the flag. I had already started to kick up my tee and return my club when I hear the group screaming that the ball is going to go in the home. When I look up the ball is gone, and they are telling me it went in. Of course the screaming and hollering commenced but it did not sink in until I saw the ball in the hole. I was ecstatic and overwhelmed with joy. Could not wipe the smile off my face all day. The club gave me a certificate and now my name is on the wall with all the other individuals that have played there and got a hole-in-one.

Derek McGee, Sandpiper Golf Club

I was with three of my buddies! Nathan Eeg, Ty Emmerson and Colby Bolster.

The hole was a 170 yard par 3 and I used my p790 7 iron!

Ray Portiss, The Oxford Hills, Hole #3

I had a hole-in-one on Friday June 16, 2023 at The Oxford Hills golf course in MT ELGIN Ontario. This is my second hole-in-one.

The third hole is 135 yards and I used my wedge. Did not see the ball go into the hole. On the fourth tee box four players saw it go into the hole and started jumping up and down.

Pina Luomala, Las Barrancas

It was quite exciting! I was playing with Barb Dery and Nancy Bickell. It was an 80 yard par 3 and I used my pitching wedge.

Andre Martel, Bandon Resort, Breezy Point Resort, Kingswood Golf Club

I had three in 2023. The first at Bandon Preserve in March during trip to Bandon Resort in Oregon. My second at Breezy Point Resort (Traditional course, hole #11) in Minnesota in May. The third occured at Kingswood Golf Club on hole #5 in LaSalle, MB in July.

Vivian Mohoruk, Pentincton Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

Our club has paintings of each of the par three’s and when a member gets a hole-in-one, they have the option of receiving a personalized print of the painting. As this was the second time, I was lucky on Hole #6, I had the date of my first one included. I was golfing with Mo Bildfell and Caroline Palmer. 

Chris Woodland, Saskatoon Golf & Country Club, Hole #15

I was playing with a friend, Kevin Kowbel. It was in the 15th hole which was playing roughly 128 yards that day and I hit a pitching wedge that I watched bounce once and then land in the hole.

Lynne Maillet, The Hamptons Golf Club, Hole #9

I had my first hole-in-one on August 21, 2023 while playing with Denise Hay, Sharon Jamison and Carol Freeman. I hit my magical shot on hole #9 at the Hamptons Golf Course from 89 yards and my 6 hybrid (Ping). I was playing a Golf Alberta ProV1 #4.

Lawrence Yang, Alta Vista Golf & Country Club, Hole #13

My return for the Christmas season to visit my parents became even more memorable when I scored my first ever hole-in-one since I started playing 17 years ago on hole #13 of the Alta Vista Golf & Country Club in Cebu last Thursday, January 4. I used a Mizuno MP-5 6-iron and a Titleist Pro-V1 ball in scoring the ace from 127 yards with my high school buddies Jimmy Chua, Sherwin Lim and Rex Carampatana watching.

Plus, enhanced sharable scorecard graphic now available.

Accessing the Official R&A Rules of Golf has become easier as Golf Canada has integrated them into its popular Golf Canada Mobile App.

This inclusion allows golfers of all levels and abilities to quickly reference the Official Rules of Golf and find answers to common situations that emerge on the course through the Player’s Rule Finder.

With nearly 30 diagrams and over 50 how-to videos, golfers will reduce confusion and uncertainty by learning the ins-and-outs of the game directly from the R&A. Along with the USGA, the R&A has been golf’s leading governing body responsible for the rules of the game.

“The integration into the Golf Canada Mobile App allows more straightforward access to the rules of golf,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Director, Amateur Championships and Rules, Golf Canada.

“Golfers will be able to determine the specific rule-related situations they encounter on the course more easily through the Player’s Rules Finder interface. In addition to the rules of golf, there are resources on committee procedures and the Rules of Amateur Status, amongst other helpful tools. To provide access to even more Canadian golfers, the app is available in both English and French,” added McKenna.

With more than 300,000 Canadian golfers using the Golf Canada Mobile App on an annual basis to post scores, find courses from coast-to-coast, build scorecards, discover course maps, and specific GPS distances, the inclusion of the Rules of Golf will allow Canadian golfers to access first-hand situational knowledge by applying golf’s official rules during their round.

To view the Rules of Golf on the Golf Canada Mobile App, select “More” then scroll down and click on “Rules of golf”.

Also included in the latest version of the Golf Canada Mobile App is an enhanced scorecard graphic. This feature builds on the August 2023 app feature release aimed to help golfers stay connected off the course, highlighted by the ability for golfers to post images and videos to document their rounds.

Increase the fun, shoot lower scores, impress your group by flashing your newfound golf knowledge and share your scorecards.

Join Canada’s largest golf community by downloading the Golf Canada App today. It’s free and available in the App Store and Google Play.

Pompey wins Community Leader Award; Allen wins Future Leader Award following submission of nominations from the Canadian golf community

Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are pleased to announce that Simeon Pompey of Montréal, Que. and Rosie Allen of Corner Brook, Nfld. have been named the 2023 recipients of the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards.

Following a national call for nominations to the Canadian golf community, Pompey and Allen were identified by the selection committee as recipients of the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards. The recognition celebrates a pair of individuals who demonstrated excellence in using golf as a platform to positively impact their communities.

“We were pleased to receive so many worthy nominations from across the country recognizing the contributions of individuals who use the game of golf in a way to inspire and contribute to their community,” said Golf Canada President, David McCarthy. “Golf Canada and the Foundation are incredibly proud to celebrate Simeon Pompey and Rosie Allen as our 2023 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Award recipients and I am pleased to congratulate both on this much deserved honour and thank them for their continued contributions to our sport in their communities.”

Pompey earned the 2023 Lorie Kane Community Leader Award for his continuous devotion to helping others in his community through the sport of golf. Pompey has been a long-time supporter of First Tee which led him to be at the heart of the program’s success in Montréal since the launch of First Tee – Premier départ Quebec in 2021.He has also played a key role in the launch of golf programming in the Indigenous community of Kahnawake, on the south shore of Montréal. Pompey has been leading life-skills focused golf classes for over 15 years for children and families coming from underrepresented communities and low-income neighbourhoods in Montréal. Pompey also teaches in the Community, Recreation and Leadership Training at Dawson College, where he serves as a mentor to many of his students.

“I am still shocked to have been selected as the winner of the Lorie Kane Community Leader Award for 2023. Now that it has sunken in a bit, I want to thank you all wholeheartedly for this prestigious recognition. I humbly accept the award on behalf of all the children and their families who have benefitted from the values learned through the great game of golf especially First Tee. Thanks to Golf Canada and First Tee, I have been able to introduce the game of golf to mostly inner-city children whose path in life would not have included the great game of golf and the many life-skills that it teaches,” said Simeon Pompey. “I thank Golf Canada, Golf Quebec and First Tee – Canada for this incredible honour as it validates my life’s mission of helping young people reach their true potential. Thanks to First Tee, the trajectory of a child can be changed positively in a profound way.”

Allen has been named the recipient of the 2023 Lorie Kane Future Leader Award. The 15-year-old has played an instrumental leadership role in helping to develop the First Tee – Canada program at her home course, Blomidon Golf Club in Corner Brook, Nfld. Allen has devoted her time to First Tee programming as well as helping to plan and run events for her club’s junior girls’ program. She has also been a key influence working with the Autism Society in Corner Brook on both developing and running a program for junior golfers between the ages of 5-9 with various forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Allen is an accomplished player having been a member of the provincial development team for four years and winning events in her home province. She has future goals of playing in the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, and competing in the 2025 Canada Games.

“It is amazing to win this award and I’m very grateful to win something named in Lorie Kane’s honour. I was lucky enough to meet Lorie at the CPKC Women’s Open in 2019 when I was just 11 years old, and she was so nice. I hope I can inspire children in the game of golf the way she inspired me,” said Allen. “I love teaching kids and really enjoy seeing their development through the different programs that we offer. My favorite group of children are those with ASD. They are amazing kids, and it is so rewarding to watch them enjoy the game of golf and the different games we design for them. To know that I can be a part of their development is an honour.”

Pompey will receive a $5,000 donation from the Golf Canada Foundation to advance a golf program or golf-related initiative of his choice. Allen will receive a $5,000 donation towards her post-secondary education.

Submissions for the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards were evaluated by a selection committee that includes representatives from Golf Canada, the Golf Canada Foundation, Honoured Members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, industry representatives and the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.  

The Lorie Kane Community Leader Award celebrates individuals over the age of 19 with a demonstrated ability to lead community initiatives; who have contributed a measurable impact through volunteerism or charity; or have showcased excellence in their involvement with, or support of youth programs such as First Tee – Canada or other junior golf activities.

The Lorie Kane Future Leader Award honours an individual 19 years of age or younger who embodies community leadership; has a history of sportsmanship or demonstrated activities to make the game more inclusive; or an individual who has used golf to create a meaningful impact in their community.

The Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards were named to honour the Canadian golf icon for a longstanding commitment to advancing the sport, charitable work and giving back to the game that defined her Hall of Fame career. Kane is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Canada Sports Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Order of Canada.

A call for nominations for the 2024 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards will go out later this year.

NAPLES, Fla. — Canada’s Stephen Ames captured his seventh PGA Tour Champions title on Sunday without hitting a shot when the final round of the Chubb Classic was canceled because of a massive storm system moving across Florida.

Tournament officials originally planned to play only nine holes for the final round at Tiburon Golf Club until a forecast of the storm getting stronger led to the cancellation.

Ames shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday to build a three-shot lead over Rocco Mediate, and he was declared the winner. Ames now has five wins in his last 24 starts on PGA Tour Champions.

It was the second time in three weeks the final round was canceled at a PGA Tour-sanctioned event, this time on a different coast. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was washed out on Sunday with Wyndham Clark the 54-hole winner.

Ames finished at 13-under 131 and earned $270,000. Rocco Mediate, who opened with a 63, was runner-up after a 71 on Saturday. Ernie Els was part of a four-way tie for third.

Steven Alker, who won the last two Champions events dating to the end of last season, wound up in a tie for 15th.

It was the first time since the 2021 Insperity Invitational in Houston that a PGA Tour Champions event, typically 54 holes, was reduced to 36 holes because of weather.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PGA TOUR Champions (@pgatourchampions)

Championship schedule to include 11 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship in addition to Canada’s National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open

Golf Canada will also conduct qualifiers for several USGA Championships including Local and Final Qualifying for the U.S. Open as well as the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Men’s and Women’s Amateurs and U.S. Junior Girls and Boys Championships

She Plays Golf Championship Series with stops in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce its full 2024 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

The 2024 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s two signature National Open Championships — the RBC Canadian Open, returning to the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. May 28 – June 2, and the 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open to be held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, July 23-28.

Golf Canada’s 2024 competition calendar also includes 11 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Three new previously announced championships for the 2024 season include the BDO National Golf League Finals, the Canadian U15 Championship, and the Canadian Collegiate Invitational.

As the National Sport Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships to support the development of the nation’s top talent through world-class competition.

“We are pleased to announce the full championship schedule for 2024 and the addition of three new tournaments this year. We look forward to welcoming talented amateur athletes from across Canada and around the globe to compete for our national championships,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Golf Canada Director, Amateur Championships and Rules. “I want to thank our corporate partners, our generous host clubs across the country, and all the volunteers that are vital to making these championships possible. We are looking forward to another great season of championship golf.”

Each of Golf Canada’s championships are set to be contested at Canada’s top clubs including the 119th Canadian Men’s Amateur, hosted by Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, both in Saskatoon, Sask., while the 110th Canadian Women’s Amateur will be played at the Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C.

The Canadian Junior Financial Assistance Program supported by Gary Cowan Heritage Fund and the Canadian Senior Golf Association will once again be available for Juniors competing in the NextGen Championships and all National Junior Championships (Juniors and U15) who meet eligibility requirements which can be found here.

Golf Canada will also conduct several professional and amateur championship qualifiers including five regional qualifiers into the RBC Canadian Open as well as final qualifiers for both the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open.

Other notable qualifiers being conducted for USGA Championships on the 2024 schedule include a U.S. Open Local and Final Qualifier, a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier in addition to qualifiers for the U.S. Junior Amateur and Girls’ Junior Championships, the U.S. Women’s Amateur, and local qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Championship.  

New to the schedule in 2024 is the She Plays Golf Championship Series, a three-event circuit in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto that marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada. 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. The enhanced championships comprising the She Plays Golf Championships Series include the Peloton Glencoe Invitational (June 13-15 at the Forest Course at Glencoe Golf and Country Club in Calgary), the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open (June 19-22 at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C.), and the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada (July 2-5 at a venue to be announced in the Greater Toronto Area). For 2024, the top two finishers in each event from the She Plays Golf Championship Series will qualify for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary. In addition, the overall points leader at the conclusion of the She Plays Golf Championship Series will earn a spot in the CPKC Women’s Open, if not already qualified.

Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off April 15 with a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier at The Vancouver Golf Club and concludes with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from September 30 – October 5, where Team Canada will look to defend its championship.

To view Golf Canada’s 2024 Championship Schedule, including all host venues, registration requirements and volunteer opportunities visit, golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.

2024 Amateur Championship Season at a Glance…

The inaugural BDO National Golf League Finals will be held at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. on May 25 ahead of tournament week of the RBC Canadian Open. Fifty-two two-player teams will compete over 18-holes in a four-ball net stableford format to crown the first ever BDO National Golf League Champions.

The Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO, will be held June 2-6 at Idylwylde Golf and Country Club in Sudbury, Ont. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent. The winning men’s team will qualify for the 2024 Canadian Collegiate Invitational.

The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be held July 10-13 at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay, B.C. The 2023 event marked the first-time the tournament was held as a standalone event for female amateurs aged 25-and-over.

The Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested July 21-25 at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver where the winner will earn an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2025 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

The 110th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, takes place July 29 – August 2 at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C. with the champion earning an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, as well as an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

The 119th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested in Saskatoon, Sask., August 3-8 and hosted by the Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. A maximum field of 264 players will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 36 holes, with the final two rounds contested at Riverside Country Club. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, as well as an invitation to the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship. The winner will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested August 12-16 at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be held August 19-23 at Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Manotick, Ont.

The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, will take place August 26-29 at The Club at North Halton in Georgetown, Ont. The Senior Champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Senior Championship and 2025 U.S. Women’s Senior Open.

The newest national championship addition to the schedule, the Canadian U15 Championship  will be played at Elmira Golf Club in Elmira, Ont. from August 27-30. The boys and girls individual champions will earn exemptions into their respective 2024 Team Canada NextGen Selection Camp as well as their 2025 Canadian Junior Championship, presented by BDO. The top five finishers in each division will earn spots into two 2025 NextGen Championships.

The Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, a national championship for players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments, will be held September 9-12 at Timber Ridge Golf Course in Brighton, Ont. The championship will expand to 54-holes in 2024 with previous tournaments being contested over 36-holes.

The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, will be hosted by Saugeen Golf Club in Port Elgin, Ont. from September 11-15, with the champion earning an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Collegiate Invitational will debut at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. from September 15-17. The tournament was announced last November and will be co-hosted by Kent State University and Penn State University. The intercollegiate tournament will feature nine NCAA Division I men’s teams along with the winning men’s team from the 2024 Canadian University/College Championship. The champion receives an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.

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.

The 2024 NextGen Championship host clubs include: Summerland Golf and Country Club (Summerland, B.C.), FireRock Golf Club (Komoka, Ont.), Leduc Golf Club (Leduc, Alta.), Whitewater Golf Club (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly (Joly, Que.) and The Wilds Resort (Holyrood, Nfld.).

The 2024 championship season concludes with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, taking place at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from September 30 to October 5. Team Canada looks to defend the team championship amongst a field of the world’s best junior golfers. Teams compete as 3-member squads while also contesting for an individual title.

Registration for Golf Canada’s competitions will open on the following dates:

• NextGen Championships: Wednesday, February 21 at 12:00pm EST
• RBC Canadian Open Qualifying: Wednesday, February 28 at 12:00pm EST
• National Amateur Championships: Wednesday, March 6 at 12:00pm EST

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.

Championship series and participation festivals are set for Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto in 2024 with a call for corporate support further expansion in 2025 and beyond.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that She Plays Golf will expand to three markets in 2024. She Plays Golf was successfully piloted across Calgary as part of the Glencoe Invitational in 2023 and new events will also be conducted in Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto this summer.

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. These enhanced championships – the Peloton Glencoe Invitational, GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open, and ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada – will be newly linked together in a She Plays Golf Championship Series that marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.

For 2024, the top two finishers in each event from the She Plays Golf Championship Series will qualify for the CPKC Women’s Open on the LPGA Tour, set for Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary from July 23-28, 2024.

Players will earn points for their finishes in the She Plays Golf Championship Series towards a series-long standings. The winner of the point standings following the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada 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.

Complementing the She Plays Golf Championships Series are concurrently held She Plays Golf Festivals, which feature inclusive programming for women and girls who are recreational golfers or exploring the sport for the first time. She Plays Golf Participation Festival events will take place at golf courses across the host city during the same week as She Plays Golf Championship Series tournaments.

“Increasingly, financial support for women’s sports in Canada is becoming more tangible. She Plays Golf will strengthen women’s golf in Canada in the same manner that PWHL showcases elite women’s hockey talent and Project 8 seeks to transform women’s soccer,” said Laura Wilson, Golf Canada’s Director of Inclusion Programs and Safe Sport. “We are eager for corporate partners and other organizations to invest and align their brands with She Plays Golf to support further expansion. The She Plays Golf Championship Series will provide more playing opportunities for Canada’s best female athletes, filling a void for women’s professional events in Canada, while She Plays Golf Festivals will connect women and girls to golf in a safe, welcoming, and non-intimidating environment.”

The 2024 She Plays Golf Championship Series will begin in Calgary, Alberta with the Peloton Glencoe Invitational from June 12-15 at the Forest Course at Glencoe Golf and Country Club. She Plays Golf Festival events for women and girls will be held concurrently across the city of Calgary at locations such as McCall Lake Golf Course, Blue Devil Golf Club and Golfuture YYC. Additionally, Glencoe will host U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifying following the event on Monday, June 17.

The second stop in the 2024 She Plays Golf Championship Series will be the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open, June 19-22 at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C. She Plays Golf Festival events will take place at select courses throughout the lower mainland. In addition, U.S. Junior Girls Qualifying will take place June 19 at Riverway Golf Course in Burnaby, on the date of the official practice round for the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open. Juniors entered in the U.S. Junior Qualifier and the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open may play their practice round on an alternate date.

The third and final event of the 2024 She Plays Golf Championship Series will be the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, July 2-5 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. PGA of Canada members and touring professionals along with Canada’s top amateurs and juniors will compete for a national championship. She Plays Golf Participation Festival events will be held at various golf facilities throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Open to professionals and amateurs from Canada and abroad, all three events in the She Plays Golf 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.

Golf Canada is also creating turnkey resources to enable all 1600+ member facilities to run their own She Plays Golf Festival events. The resources will help local course operators attract new participants and ensure a fun and positive first golf experience for women and girls. The resources will draw inspiration from successful existing women’s programs from various parts of Canada, including Golf Ontario’s Women’s Try Golf program and Golf and Tacos in Western Canada.

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.

Nick Taylor is developing a reputation as one of the PGA Tour’s most clutch players, and he’s loving it.

Taylor drained an 11-foot putt for birdie on the second playoff hole of the WM Phoenix Open on Sunday to beat American Charley Hoffman for his second victory in nine months. 

The fourth win of Taylor’s PGA Tour career mirrored his historic victory at the RBC Canadian Open last June, when he sank a 72-foot eagle putt in the fourth round of a playoff against England’s Tommy Fleetwood.

“You always relish being in those positions, but being able to pull off shots, now I can draw on that a lot,” Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., said of his growing confidence. “I want to be in those positions more and more. 

“My game has followed that, so hopefully I’m in those positions more and when I get in that kind of spotlight I’m comfortable. The hard part now is getting there as much as I can.”

He’ll have another chance at being in the spotlight at this week’s Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The 35-year-old Taylor said that he’s worked to solidify his game over the past two years.

“Really, since the fall of ’22 we had a road map of where we wanted to get to, and since then it hasn’t really been changes, it’s been sticking to the same things that we know will get me to where I want to be,” said Taylor. “It’s been the deliberate practice of doing the same boring stuff, which sounds easy at times but sometimes you can wander away. 

“That’s why my team will reel me in if I try to do something different because they know what we’ve been doing has been working, so just sticking to the basic stuff.”

One thing that hasn’t changed for Taylor is his ability to clear his mind and perform under pressure. 

Taylor won the Canadian Junior in 2006 and the Canadian Amateur Championship in 2007 as an amateur and then also won on the PGA Tour at the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2014 and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2020. 

He said that more than a decade of playing in high-leverage situations has forged him into a clutch performer.

“You work on mindset, you work on breathing at times, but I think dating back to even junior golf when I’ve been in those positions, I want to be in that position,” he said. 

“I feel more locked in, whatever it is. I’ve been able to pull off shots in those scenarios and I think maybe I’ve been doing it long enough where I have confidence that I can pull it off and I don’t have the sidetracking thoughts or negative thoughts in there.”

Taylor will be joined this week by Adam Hadwin, also from Abbotsford, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C.

The win rocketed Taylor up the FedEx Cup standings to sixth overall, putting him into an excellent position to represent the International Team at this year’s Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club.

“That’s on the top of the list along with the Olympics,” said Taylor, who wants to play for International captain Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., at the Presidents Cup. “There are things on my goal list, but I also just try to focus on my golf and if I play well I feel like it’s going to take care of itself. 

“This is obviously a good start, but it’s a long ways away. If I keep playing good golf, I think it will take care of itself.”

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames and Weir will tee off on Friday in the Chubb Classic at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla. Ames is coming off of an incredible 2023 season where he won four events on the seniors’ circuit.

TEAM CANADA — Golf Canada announced the names of 19 professional players that will be part of its 2024 men’s and women’s squads on Monday. Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., and Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., were named to the women’s team. A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., Calgary’s Brendan MacDougall, Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Hamilton’s Johnny Travale, Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota, Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., Matthew Anderson of Missssauga, Ont., Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta., Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., Noah Steele of Kingston, Ont., Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald, Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, and Thomas Giroux of Georgetown, Ont., were named to the men’s group.

Winning team to gain an exemption into the R&A 9 Hole Challenge
at Royal Troon

The stage is set for the inaugural BDO National Golf League Championship, taking place on Saturday, May 25, just days before the start of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Last season, over 10,000 participants from 107 leagues from coast-to-cost began their journey of competing for Canada’s first league golf national championship. Fifty-two teams of two (104 golfers total) will be 18-holes away from a shot at glory and being crowned the first ever BDO National Golf League champions.

Travel expenses to the BDO National Golf League Championships for all participants are covered by Golf Canada. An opening reception will be held on the Friday evening prior to the championship round on Saturday, May 25 at the Hamilton Golf and Country.

In addition, the winning team will receive an expenses-paid trip to represent Canada at The R&A 9 Hole Challenge at Royal Troon in Troon, Scotland, one-week prior to the 152^nd Open Championship. This will mark the first time that Canada will participate in the 9 Hole Challenge. For more information on the R&A 9 Hole Challenge, please visit randa.org/en/nine-hole-challenge.

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. Scoring follows a 9-hole net stableford format that takes place during a six-week period of a club’s league season. Within those six weeks, the best four scores are used to determine the individuals that would advance to the next stage of the competition – 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. For the full list of results from the BDO National Golf League Provincial Championships, click here.

The storied Hamilton Golf and Country Club will play host to the inaugural BDO National Golf League Championship in the days leading up to the start of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open. Participants will walk the same fairways and compete on the historic course prior to the stars of the PGA TOUR descending upon Hamilton Golf and Country Club for the seventh time in the National Open Championship’s history.

One pairing that qualified out of the New Brunswick regional playoff, Nora Ringuette and Doreen Vienneau from the Pine Needles Golf and Country Club, found the season-long league both challenging and enjoyable.

“The National Golf League creates a season long, positive, and friendly competition. The stableford scoring makes it fair and more challenging for low handicap players, you really need to bring your A game,” said Ringuette.

Vienneau added, “this is just amazing, never assumed when I joined this new league that we (I) would actually make it to Ontario (national championship). I feel very privileged.”

A mother and son duo will also be competing in Hamilton. Sue Kupper and son Josh were one of the teams to qualify from Alberta, representing the D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club in Okotoks, Alta.

“I feel like this event will be a high point in my golf life. I love golf and am thankful that I get to golf with my son weekly in the mixed league at D’Arcy Ranch. To share this experience with him will be fun for both of us,” said Kupper.

An integral part of the league is the charity aspect, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting First Tee – Canada in each province. First Tee – Canada is a youth development program striving to bring accessible and inclusive pathways to golf participation at schools, community centres, and golf courses across the country. In the first season of the BDO National Golf League, there was strong philanthropic support for First Tee – Canada, with gifts directly impacting youth within the province where the money was raised. To learn more about First Tee programming and ways to get involved visit firstteecanada.ca

“We are incredibly pleased with the successful launch of the BDO National Golf League that culminates in crowning the inaugural champions in May at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club,” said Kevin Blue, chief sport officer, Golf Canada. “The league has seen a great representation of women and men across the country competing within their own leagues, while working towards a goal of competing for a national championship. In addition, a major aspect of this league is the money raised for First Tee that helps grow the game in our country.”

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

Even the dating web site eHarmony recognizes that, listing “15 reasons to date a golfer.” Among them, “golfers strive for emotional balance,” “they know how to make conversation,” “golfers understand they must forget mistakes and move on,” and “committed golfers are in it for the long haul.” Finally, these relationship experts point out, “you’ll be spending countless hours together in pristine park-like settings. Not a bad way to nurture romance.”

They might have mentioned etiquette, balance, equity and all those other fundamental values in the game. As well, the rules would be worth mentioning. Not the new Modernized Rules of Golf, although those certainly have their place in the actual playing of the game.

If you want golf to help forge and strengthen a romantic bond, you would be well advised to follow these guidelines which I have learned (often the hard way, particularly No. 1) over three decades of golfing with my beloved.

1. Be mindful

If you’re not asked, resist the urge to offer your well-intentioned opinion if your partner is having an off day. You most likely don’t have the instruction credentials to rectify the situation. Second, even though they love you, it is more likely that you will only add to the frustration.. If you are going to follow only one rule, make it this one.

2. Go on vacation

Take a golf vacation together. Sitting on the beach is all fine and good, but getting out on the course and sharing some conversation and laughs is far better.

3. Nine and dine

Whether it’s an organized weekly couples’ league or just an impromptu outing for just the two of you, nine holes followed by a leisurely dinner and drinks is a wonderful way to unwind and catch up.

4. Don’t take it too seriously

Sure, you want to play your best but the object of the exercise is to enjoy each other’s company.

5. Include family

If you have kids or grandkids, invite them to play a few holes with you. Or maybe it’s your brother and sister-in-law or other relatives you love but don’t get to see often enough. Golf is a great excuse to reinforce those family ties.

I speak from experience, as I mentioned earlier. My wife took up golf after I did and fell for it as hard, or maybe harder, than she fell for me. We’ve done all things listed above, from golf vacations to couples’ nights to including family. And while the pure meaning of Valentine’s Day is focused on your one and only, and my wife and I have spent many delightful hours golfing together, I can tell you that one of my everlasting memories is the sight of our son and his grandfather golfing together. That’s something else I truly love.