Ian Andrew’s body of work as a golf course architect includes restoring the iconic Highlands Links in Nova Scotia and rebuilding Laval-sur-le-Lac’s Blue course in Quebec with design partner Mike Weir. But amid those grand projects, he has maintained a more modest dream that’s yet to be fulfilled. The Brantford, Ont., designer would like to create a course just for children. He is so passionate about the idea that he’d be willing to reduce or even waive his fee.

Andrew envisages a simple, hazard-free and inexpensive layout that allows young beginners an easy and fun entry into the game. He reasons that kids aged five to 12 will be far more engaged and likely to stick with golf if they start on a playing field scaled to their size and abilities. “If we really want to grow the game, we need stuff like that,” says Andrew, the father of two sons, Cam and James, who are now teenagers. The idea is neither new nor original.

Historic Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland, opened its six-hole Children’s Course in 1910, for example. The course policy reads as follows: “Adults are welcome to play although they must be accompanied by a child.”

But such courses are rare, especially in North America. While par-three and executive courses abound, they often include such obstacles as bunkers and forced carries and may not be as kid-friendly as their shortened length might suggest. Andrew would like to change that, if only as an experiment or pilot project. He’d welcome working with a club or municipality, perhaps with the backing of one of Canadian golf’s corporate benefactors, to get a junior track off the ground.

“It needs a bit of a catalyst,” he says, “and I think it can happen.” Andrew has seen first-hand that kidfriendly design can work.

He took his sons in 2010 to Fanshawe Golf Course, the municipal facility in London, Ont., that has a short nine-hole layout in addition to its other, regulation-sized 36 holes. The short course, built in the hollow of an old gravel pit, is not a children’s course per se – it was created more with disabled golfers in mind. But it epitomizes exactly what Andrew imagines. No bunkers, no wildly sloping greens, no water hazards, no chance of losing a ball. Straight holes, each of them minimally maintained.

On their visit to Fanshawe, Andrew started off playing with his sons. Then the boys went off on their own, sometimes playing together, sometimes apart. Andrew estimates they went around the course 32 times in a dizzying afternoon of golf. They usually tired after just nine holes.

“It’s amazing how into the game they can become without all our crap that we sort of hoist on kids and then expect to them to conform to,” says Andrew, arguing that less is more when it comes to golf for kids. “… I didn’t expect the reaction from the kids that we got. It just told me that’s exactly what they need.”

The Fanshawe course opened about 15 years ago. Its holes range from 40 to 110 yards. The green fee? Free. Rob Vincent, Fanshawe’s head professional, says the little track appeals to a wide range of golfers, from juniors to seniors to disabled players in wheelchairs. (The greens were intentionally made firmer to accommodate chairs and the flagsticks are shorter for easier removal.)

The kids who play are typically there with a parent who tags along.

“To have a facility where you can chip and putt and little guys can use their drivers and have no marshals on them and no adults breathing down their necks, I think it’s really unique,” Vincent says.

While Andrew awaits his opportunity – he almost got his chance when he and Weir were speaking with the City of Richmond, B.C., about building a municipal course that had a few holes on the side for kids, but a deal was never reached – others are moving ahead with an alternative that has pretty much the same effect.

The USGA has a Junior Par System, where par is increased to achievable numbers for young golfers. Junior par on a hole could be 6, 7, 8 or even 9. Par for each hole is based on the yardage and the junior golfer’s level of play, usually determined by the junior’s Course Handicap from the forward tees: Beginner with a Course Handicap of 41 or above; Intermediate 25-40; Advanced 24 or below.

The popular program can easily be used by any course and keeps youngsters excited about golf. Many courses across Canada are adding what’s known as “family tees” – tee markers placed in the middle of fairways, well ahead of the forward tees. Junior golf advocates say this solution is more practical than purpose built kids’ courses.

“We don’t have enough money and enough room to build golf courses for kids,” says Brad Ewart, a Coquitlam, B.C. pro who serves as tournament director in British Columbia for the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA). “We already have thousands of existing golf courses that can be for kids.” Ewart says even without using the formal guidelines, clubs can use common sense in deciding where to place a marker or two down on the fairway. “Every PGA [of Canada] member who’s earned his card should know where to put it.”

The cost can be negligible: a small mowed patch marked with something as inexpensive as a painted rock. The only barriers to the initiative that Ewart can see are testosterone-fueled parents who insist their children thrash away from regular tee decks, and golf clubs with no real commitment to juniors. Both Andrew and Ewart agree the bottom line is to put the youngest players in a position where they can succeed. Par should be an attainable score – and that’s not possible for most eight-year-olds, for example, even from the forward tees.

It’s the same rationale as other golf leaders are pitching for adults in the “play it forward” movement, in which recreational players are encouraged to move up a tee deck or two to shoot lower scores, have more fun and speed up the game.

“If we set up a golf course that’s shorter then a young golfer knows he or she can get there (to a par-4 green) in two shots or three shots,” Ewart says. “They’re going to make pars, birdies and bogeys, not eights, nines and 10s.”

That early success makes the game more fun, as Andrew noticed with his sons, who made their first birdies and pars on the Fanshawe short course. “Because they could see success, because it wasn’t that complicated for them,” he says, “it got them really enthused about playing.” And that’s a dream for anyone involved in turning the next generation of golfers into lifetime players.

This article was published for the June 2014 edition of the Golf Canada Magazine, available online here.

The highly anticipated 2014 US Open will officially get underway this Thursday, drawing in golf’s biggest names as they vie for the chance to hoist the US Open trophy in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

PGA TOUR Top-10 Players to Watch: 2014 US Open

Of those names, here are the top 10 that should be on your radar as put together by the PGA TOUR.

US Open Thoughts with Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell isn’t a name you immediately associate with the phrase “US Open at Pinehurst No. 2” but the man sure does have some imaginative ideas to improve the game of golf, including big game cats and booby traps.

Maybe we’ll see some of his suggestions implemented for 2015? But don’t hold your breath.

A (more accurate) US Open Preview:

In the meantime, Pinehurst No. 2 might not look quite how you remembered it. In anticipation of hosting both the Mens and Women’s Open this June, 40 acres of turf were removed in favour of more sandy areas and wiry grass. These renovations have restored the course to its more rustic and natural 1930’s appearance.

Here’s what you can actually expect to see at the 114th playing of the US national championship:

While Will Ferrell would have all US Open competitors in mesh tank tops, it is far more likely these athletes will be opting for a less breathable more sleeved look while on the course.

Here is a look at what Graham DeLaet will be wearing when he competes this week:

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR Official Trailer 

EA Sports has released a preview of their first golf video game not featuring Tiger Woods in over 15 years. The game promises the chance to play on golf’s most prestigious courses (Pinehurst No 2. is among them) and even some fantasy courses, including teeing off in the midst of an Ocean battle, which might satisfy the ‘Will Ferrell’s’ of the golf world for now.

Check it out here:

Halifax – SportBox Entertainment Group and the PGA Tour announced a series of players joining the roster for the RBC Canada Cup and Nova Scotia Open, to be held June 30 to July 6 at Ashburn Golf Club – New Course, in Fall River, NS.

Two amateurs will receive exemptions into the Nova Scotia Open, Canada’s only Web.com Tour event. Eric Banks, a former Nova Scotia Amateur Champion from Truro, NS, is coming off of his junior season at the University of Florida where he received the David Toms Award for overcoming adversity to achieve excellence. In the summer of 2012, Banks underwent open-heart surgery at the QEII Health Sciences Centre to repair a defect, sidelining him from golf for nine months. When he returned to golf, Banks remarkably qualified for the 2013 RBC Canadian Open, becoming the first Nova Scotian in 25 years to play in the event.

“It’s an amazing feeling, knowing I will be playing in front of my family and friends in Nova Scotia,” said Banks. “Playing my junior year at college and also playing in the RBC Canadian Open were incredible experiences, but the opportunity to come home and play for the people that supported me on this journey, that will be a memory I cherish forever.”

Svensson, from Surrey, BC, is Canada’s top-ranked amateur after a record-setting season at Barry University where he won seven tournaments and received the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award for NCAA Division II. He’s also a member of Team Canada – Golf Canada’s National Amateur Squad.

Event organizers also announced that Canadian Adam Hadwin and Colombian Manuel Villegas will be the Web.com Tour players competing in the inaugural RBC Canada Cup, to take place Monday, June 30^th. Hadwin will join countrymen Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet and David Hearn on Team Canada, taking on Team World’s Matt Kuchar, Gary Woodland, Trevor Immelman, and the newly added Villegas.

“We are delighted to have Adam and Manuel join the RBC Canada Cup,” said Roger Howard, RBC Regional President, Atlantic region. “Not only are they world class golfers fighting week in and week out for their PGA Tour cards but they will be great hosts to the participants and fans during this exciting exhibition match.”

Hadwin broke through in 2010 and 2011 with strong back-to-back finishes at the RBC Canadian Open, and is off to a career start this season on the Web.com Tour with four top-10 finishes, including his first career win at the Chile Classic. Hadwin is currently ranked 5^th on the Web.com Tour’s money list and in position to gain status on the PGA Tour for the 2014-2015 season.

“I always love playing in front of home crowds,” says Hadwin. “We have such great fans and to have an event on Canadian soil during Canada Day week is exciting. I think the entire week is going to be one of the highlights of the season for me. Playing in not only the Nova Scotia Open, but also competing with Mike, Graham and David as part of Team Canada, is an honour and I can’t wait to get out to Halifax.”

Villegas, the product of Colombia and brother of three-time PGA Tour Champion Camilo, has emerged this year as a fan favourite on the Web.com Tour. After four top-25 finishes, including a 4^th place finish at the Brasil Champions event, Villegas is ranked 24th on the Web.com Tour money list, and like Hadwin, is also within the current top-25 money leaders. At the end of the 21-event Regular Season the top-25 will be ensured of PGA Tour status for 2014-15 and joined by the top-25 in the four-event Web.com Tour Finals in September.

PINEHURST, N.C. – When Erik Compton strolls up to the first tee at Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday, he’ll be in some unfamiliar territory.

The only other time he played in one of golf’s biggest events was four years ago.

He missed the cut.

But if you’re expecting Compton to be overwhelmed by this U.S. Open moment, think again. This guy has faced much more daunting challenges than a major championship – such as undergoing two heart transplants.

“I’ve been through some tough times,” said Compton in what qualifies as a colossal understatement. “I’m just happy to be out here playing and feeling strong.”

Compton is the only golfer at Pinehurst on heart No. 3, which gives him a unique perspective.

“There’s something to be said for going through what I’ve gone through,” he said. “When you step on the tee, you’re not intimidated by other people, you’re not intimidated by the situation.”

Diagnosed with heart disease as a child, Compton received his first transplant at age 12. Sixteen years later, he suffered a major heart attack but managed to drive himself to the hospital quickly enough to extend his life with another transplant.

Now 34, he has qualified for his second U.S. Open, giving him a chance to promote a cause that is certainly dear to him – organ donation – while inspiring others to keep pursuing their dreams even when life deals them a cruel hand.

“Most people don’t survive a widow-maker heart attack,” Compton said, referring to the ominous nickname for the condition that nearly claimed his life in 2008.

Yet there he was on Tuesday, playing a practice round with good friend Ernie Els and two other major champions from South Africa, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. As the group walked away from the 18th tee, someone shouted out, “Go Dawgs!” – a reference to Compton’s college days at the University of Georgia.

Compton looked as calm as could be. That doesn’t figure to change when the tournament begins.

“There’s no doubt that’s one of his advantages,” said Charles DeLucca, who has been coaching Compton since around the time of the first transplant. “Adrenaline is one thing, but stress isn’t stress to him. He’s been through the works.”

Unless one knows the details of the story, there is no way to tell that Compton was so close to death not so long ago. He looks like just another player trying to deal with Pinehurst’s treacherous greens and punishing waste areas.

Even Schwartzel, who had some idea of Compton’s ordeal, wasn’t entirely up to speed on the enormity of it.

“It’s hard to grasp,” Compton said. “Charl actually asked me, `Did they take out the whole heart?'”

While that may be someone else’s heart in his chest, the willpower and determination is all Compton’s. There are guys who would’ve given up on this dream long ago, even without a life-threatening malady along the way.

After turning pro in 2001, Compton struggled for the better part of a decade to break through. He spent most of those years on the Nationwide and Canadian tours, occasionally turning up at a PGA Tour event. The ailing heart surely made it harder for him to realize his true potential, though the Florida native spends little time dwelling on what might have been.

“I don’t know how life would’ve worked out,” Compton said. “We all take different paths.”

He’s certainly got no complaints at the moment. Compton finally earned his Tour card in 2012, went through qualifying school to keep it the following year, and now seems to be establishing himself as a solid, consistent pro. He’s already won more than $863,000 this season, by far the best of his career with a good chunk of the schedule still remaining. That includes fifth-place showings at both Bay Hill and New Orleans.

“A lot of people have transplants but go on to be successful at other things,” Compton said. “I’m happy that I’ve been able to be a success in sports, competing with the elite of the elite, and to make a living doing it.”

Golf was the last thing on Compton’s mind during that awful day in 2008. Fortunately, he was aware of how his body should feel and knew that he needed help as soon as possible. He arrived at the hospital losing vision, struggling to stay conscious and coughing up blood.

“I was basically minutes away from dying,” Compton said. “People say that dying is peaceful. Well, maybe when you’re dead it’s peaceful. But the process of having a widow-maker heart attack is very painful.”

The odds of survival were slim enough – even slimmer for someone who had already undergone a transplant.

But Compton held on, got another heart, and got back to living.

The U.S. Open?

No problem.

“It’s amazing,” Schwartzel said. “It certainly puts golf in perspective very quickly.”

WATERLOO— It was a dramatic end to the day, on June 11 at the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Women’s Champion of Champions event, as 18 holes at Grey Silo were not enough to crown a winner. In the end it was two more holes for two players who were paired together throughout the day – Thornhill’s Elizabeth Tong and Kitchener’s Sarah Dunning, with Tong eventually earning the victory.

The pair finished their rounds both at one-over 72, four strokes better than the next closest players. For Tong, the 21-year-old member of the University of Indiana golf team, she was able to jump out to the lead on the front nine. However, her playing partner, 19-year-old University of Toronto team member Dunning, would make a charge on the back nine, playing it two-under par. That forced a playoff, beginning on the first hole.

Both players made par on the first playoff hole and they moved to the nearby 18^th to try and decide a winner. After Tong, the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto member, played her tee shot in the middle of the fairway, Dunning, representing the Galt Country Club, struck hers well left into very tall grass. She was able to find it, but was forced to take an unplayable lie. Even though she recovered, that stroke allowed Tong to three-putt for the win.

“It was really fun to win the Champion of Champions,” said Tong. “I actually thought it might be over after the first playoff hole because she (Dunning) hit it really close and I thought she would make the putt. Things turned in my favour though, when she found the deep grass and I knew I had a five to win, but I was still nervous.”

Even though Tong controlled things for most of the day, since she was playing with Dunning, Tong knew just how close her opponent was to catching her. “It was fun to watch her because she was making all of these long putts to save par and make birdie, but at the same time I knew she was getting closer.”

Tong admits to a few mishaps on some holes, but says she felt like she played decently throughout the round. “I would definitely say the strongest part of my game today was my putting, even though I three-putted the final hole. Still, the rest of the day I was two putts or less.”

Finishing in a tie for third were Oshawa resident and Kendron Dells Golf Course member Lynn Morrison and Kelly Koselek from Toronto and Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club who each shot five-over 76.

UXBRIDGE, ON — Since 2004, the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) has annually taken the opportunity to recognize individuals within the local golf community, who have demonstrated a commitment to amateur golf in the province. For 2014, five names will be added to the wall. The new honourees are: Randy Millage, Bill Swartz, Sandy Billyard, Kevin Haime, and Mark Seabrook.

The honourees will all be recognized at specific GAO events during the course of this season. Millage, from Ennismore, was already recognized back in January at the GAO’s Annual General Meeting at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club.  Georgetown’s Swartz will be honoured at the Men’s Amateur, July 8-11 at The Club at North Halton in Georgetown. Billyard, from Ridgeville, will be honoured at the Senior Men’s Championship at Hunters Pointe Golf Club in Welland, Aug. 12-14. While Ottawa’s Haime and Seabrook will be honoured at the Bantam Boys Championship at the Canadian Golf & Country Club, Aug. 6-7, in Ashton.

Since 2004, 61 members have been added on the Wall of Recognition and now five more truly deserving names will join them.

More About The 2014 Honourees

Randy Millage

Millage got involved in junior golf in the 1980s, as his children began to play the sport. He started a junior program at Tamarac Golf & Country Club in Ennismore, before becoming the junior convener at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club. Millage also helped launch the Durham-Kawartha Junior Tour, the Ontario Junior Masters Series and brought American Junior Golf Association events to Ontario.  In 1997, Millage became a certified rules official and has marshaled Golf Canada, PGA of Ontario and PGA Tour Canada events. He has also served as associate governor of the Royal Canadian Golf Association.

Bill Swartz

Swartz began playing golf early and won many tournaments as a junior in Ontario. His skill earned him a golf scholarship to North Carolina State University where he played on the team for four years. In 1982, Swartz captured the Ontario Amateur Championship and followed it with the Canadian Amateur in 1984. Swartz later played as a professional earning an Ontario PGA Tour win and went on to play on the PGA Tour. Swartz returned to amateur status and continued to compete in provincial championships and represent the province in competitions.

Sandy Billyard

Billyard has been involved in many aspects of golf throughout his life. He won the 1973 Ontario Junior Championship, was part of the 1973 Willingdon Cup winning team and was runner up at the Canadian Junior Championship in 1974. In 1976, he took part in the Canadian Open. From 1974-76 he attended the Ohio State University before continuing on to Indiana University from 1976 to 1978. Billyard won numerous invitational tournaments in both Canada and the United States. In 2000, he built Hunters Pointe Golf Club, in Welland, and remains the club’s President. He returned to provincial competition in 2011 at the Ontario Senior Championship and represent Ontario at the 2012 Porter Cup.

Kevin Haime

Haime currently owns and operates the Kevin Haime Golf Centre and Kevin Haime Golf School in Ottawa. Haime was a successful amateur golfer who attended the University of Illinois on a golf scholarship. After university, Haime turned pro and opened his first practice facility at the age of 26. He was named Canadian PGA Zone Teacher of the Year in 1997, 2000 and 2009 and the 2000 Canadian PGA National Teacher of the Year. The National Post also recognized him as a Top 10 Teacher in Canada in 2005. Haime served as Canadian PGA Zone President in 1998 and 1999. That position helped him spearhead programs like the Clubs 4 Kids Junior Golf Charity Program and the Junior Challenge Tour. Haime’s work with juniors led to a 2007 Outstanding Contribution to the Game of Golf recognition by the Canadian PGA. In 2008, The Kevin Haime Junior Golf Initiative was created, and has since granted over 200 golf memberships to high-end private golf clubs.

Mark Seabrook

Seabrook was the president of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Canada for the first five years of its existence. He helped to create many programs with the association that are still in existence today. He was also the first Canadian to be on the Executive Board in the United States.  In 1992, Seabrook helped create a program similar to the ‘Smart Buy Program’ in the U.S. Later, he and the Ottawa Valley Golf Association, formed the Golfmax Purchasing Program, an association that brought together owners and represented their interested on a national scale. He has helped expand the NGCOA Conference and helped to bring Canadian content into the fold. In 2002, he was honoured by the NGCOA with the Don Rossi Award for significant and long-lasting contribution to the NGCOA. Seabrook is currently the Owner/General Manager of the Canadian Golf & Country Club.

ABOUT THE GOLF ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO

The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 450 member clubs, the GAO is one of the largest golf associations in the world.  From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and getting the game of golf into our school systems, to keeping the Ontario golf community aware of all relevant issues and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, the Golf Association of Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to making golf better for everyone in Ontario. We share a love and passion for golf, while preserving its past, fostering its future, and championing golf’s best interests for everyone who enjoys the sport.

“Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” This facetious quote, most commonly attributed to Mark Twain, could be amended for our purposes as follows…

“Everyone complains about how difficult golf is, but no one does anything about it.”

We’re not talking about recent initiatives purported to make golf more “fun,” although following today’s advice certainly will help you accomplish that goal.

Getting your equipment properly fitted and taking lessons are two ways to guarantee not only a more enjoyable round, but lower scores. I said, “guarantee,” and I stand by that.

Whether you are just getting into golf or have been playing for years, buying clubs off the rack and heading for the first tee is a mistake, pure and simple. Just as not every man wears a size 40-regular suit and not every woman wears a size 8 dress, equipment specifications vary significantly based on your physical make-up—height, weight, age, gender, etc.  Your handicap and length of time playing the game will also be taken into account.

There are myriad options available in clubs and balls today, so finding the correct fit is not difficult. Many golf retail outlets and golf courses offer club fitting by PGA of Canada professionals. If you have a specific brand in mind, you can even go to their headquarters or fitting centre for a fitting. Or why not try out various brands at a demo day? (Details on manufacturers’ club fitting facilities and demo days are usually available on their web sites.)

A complete fitting will cover every club in your bag from driver to putter, and the fitter may even recommend a specific ball for your swing speed. A fitting costs a few dollars, but consider it money very well spent, an investment. It likely will save you a lot of money in the final analysis, preventing you from purchasing the wrong equipment. And having a custom fitting doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy new clubs. After your fitting, you will receive a full report on your specifications that you can provide to any reputable equipment retailer once you decide which brand suits you best.

I have little sympathy for the golfer, beginner or experienced, who lays out hundreds of dollars for a new driver or a set of irons without being custom fitted and then moans that “I just can’t hit these.” Not only are they out a lot of money, but their “golf enjoyment quotient” (I just invented that) plummets with every successive round. Ergo, they play less because they are squirting shots in every direction.

With today’s sophisticated methods, a professional club fitter can often tweak your equipment to compensate for some fundamental swing flaws. But can you really “buy a better game”?

The definitive answer is … “kinda, maybe.”

A commitment to taking lessons from a PGA of Canada professional is the second essential element in our quest to be better golfers and, by logical extension, to have more fun playing the game.

“Both [properly fitted equipment and instruction] will help improve a player’s game and ultimately lower their handicap,” says Nick Yuen, former facility manager at TaylorMade’s Performance Lab at Glen Abbey, a par-5 from Golf Canada’s headquarters in Oakville, Ont. “You could debate which method is better but ultimately the deciding factors will be the player’s commitment to working with an instructor and practicing the necessary drills to change their swing mechanics.” (Yuen now is product and marketing manager for Adams Golf in Canada, a move made after TaylorMade purchased Adams in 2012.)

In what other pursuit in our lives would we not want the right equipment and instruction? Driving a car without those fundamentals would be disastrous, for example. Sky diving comes to mind, as well. Yet the majority of golfers ignore those two prerequisites for a better golf experience at the expense of not only fun, but significant cash, as well.

(Although “I just can’t hit these” doesn’t compare to “Is that a red light? Which pedal stops this thing?” or “Just how the heck do you open this parachute? My, that ground is getting close.”)

Before you buy that new driver or set of irons or even a putter, why not find out more about club fitting from a PGA of Canada professional or research the fitting opportunities offered by manufacturers? Once your existing equipment has been tweaked or you have purchased new custom-fitted clubs, head for the practice tee for a series of lessons.

Unlike the weather, your golf game is definitely something you can do something about. So do it.

Saskatoon – Canadian PGA Tour star and Weyburn, Sask. native Graham DeLaet, along with his wife Ruby, have announced the launch of the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation, as well as the Foundation’s first initiative, the ‘Graham Slam.’

The Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation’s central focus will be supporting children’s health, as well as supporting the development of junior golfers at all levels of the game.

Graham and Ruby DeLaet have a long-standing support of children’s health and junior golf in Saskatchewan. Since 2011, the Graham DeLaet Charity Golf Tournament has supported Saskatchewan-based organizations, such as Golf Saskatchewan and the Weyburn & District Hospital Foundation. The launch of the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation will be the new umbrella brand that drives the DeLaet’s charitable efforts.

“I know how lucky I am to be playing on the PGA Tour, and I would not be here without the support of everyone back home,” said Graham DeLaet. “It is important to Ruby and I that we do what we can to give back to those who need it the most. We hope that through this Foundation, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of children.”

“We wanted to ensure we always remember where Graham came from and the people that supported him through his journey,” said Ruby DeLaet. “It’s important that our Foundation represents Graham’s roots and keeps Canada and Saskatchewan close to his heart. Now is the right time in Graham’s career to launch a Foundation and give back.”

Graham and Ruby also announced the Foundation’s first initiative, the Graham Slam, to be held this July 8th and 9th at Saskatoon’s Riverside Country Club. The Graham Slam will combine entertainment, music and golf to provide a memorable charity event experience.

The inaugural Graham Slam will partner with the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan is a provincial charity dedicated to raising funds for the enhancement of children’s healthcare, and the creation of the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces in Canada that does not have a dedicated children’s hospital.

“The Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan is thrilled to be the charity recipient of the first Graham Slam event. We congratulate Graham and Ruby DeLaet on the launch of their Foundation, and for thinking of the children and families of Saskatchewan through their contribution to the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. What a wonderful way to give back to the province where Graham was born and raised,” stated Brynn Boback-Lane, President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.

Those interested in becoming involved with the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation or the Graham Slam event can contact Amy Roberts at aroberts@sportboxgroup.com.

PINEHURST, N.C. – Talk about the impatience of youth. For 20-year-old Jordan Spieth, it’s no longer good enough to be in contention for a major championship.

He’s ready to win one.

Spieth was tied for the 54-hole lead at both the Masters and The Players Championship, the two biggest events on the schedule so far, but he couldn’t hold it together on Sunday.

Now, he comes to the U.S. Open fully convinced that if he’s in the same position, he’ll be the one raising the trophy at the end.

“I believe that I can win this golf tournament,” Spieth said Monday after a practice round at Pinehurst No. 2. “I feel comfortable on this golf course. I think it fits my game. And when I step on the first tee, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Spieth already became the first teenage winner on the PGA Tour since the Great Depression, having captured the John Deere Classic at age 19.

If the Texan can conquer Pinehurst this week, he’d be the youngest major champion since Tom Creavy at the 1931 PGA Championship.

“I’ve contended now,” Spieth said. “If I can get into that position, the goal isn’t just to feel the feelings and try to get the comfort level. Now, it’s to really try and put into place what Augusta as well as The Players have taught me.

“I feel like,” he added confidently, “I will be able to close this one out if I get an opportunity.”

The U.S. Open is usually the toughest test among the majors, requiring a player to accept that par is a good score on most holes, that bogey isn’t necessarily a bad result.

This is a tournament where you put away the ego, save those spectacular shots for another week, and know that the player who emerges as the champion will most likely be the one who makes the fewest mistakes.

Those traits usually require experience. Then again, Spieth has proven to have a very short learning curve.

He has already played in the Presidents Cup. He has already climbed to No. 10 in the world rankings. He already sounds like a seasoned pro when he talks about Pinehurst.

“It’s really hard to hit the greens,” Spieth said. “You know that going in, and you understand that it’s about where you’re leaving it and where you’re pitching the ball and the approach shots. It still doesn’t necessarily help. It’s still extremely difficult.”

At Augusta National, Spieth had a win in his sights when he walked off the seventh green with a two-stroke lead on Sunday.

Then, his inexperience suddenly showed. What he thought was a perfect wedge on No. 8 came up 25 feet short of the flag, leading to a three-putt bogey.

The approach at No. 9 rolled back off the front of the green, leading to another bogey.

Bubba Watson birdied both holes, turning a two-shot deficit into a two-stroke lead. He was never seriously challenged on the back side, cruising to a three-stroke win over Spieth and Jonas Blixt.

Spieth talked about the need for a “little bit of course knowledge” – certainly understandable for a Masters rookie. He was in contention again at the Players, generally considered the most important event among the non-majors, but five bogeys in an 11-hole stretch allowed Martin Kaymer to leave TPC Sawgrass with the title.

“I learned a lot from both experiences,” Spieth said.

“I felt like I struck the ball better, played smarter shots at The Players. I just got bounces that didn’t go my way. So coming in here, that’s all behind me. I’ve gotten what I think I needed to learn from those experiences, and I will put that into account if I can work my way into contention here.”

Those kids. Always in a hurry.

PINEHURST, N.C. – Phil Mickelson not only believes he’s going to win the U.S. Open, he believes he’s going to win more than one.

He just wouldn’t say whether it would be this year.

Pinehurst No. 2 holds an emotional connection for Mickelson for a couple of reasons. It was the first of his record six runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open, and his first child was born the day after Payne Stewart made a 15-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to beat him by one shot. What gets overlooked is that Mickelson tied for 33rd and was 12 shots behind when the U.S. Open returned to Pinehurst No. 2 in 2005.

And here’s something else to consider: Mickelson never fares too well the year after his runner-up finish. He will try to change that trend at Pinehurst No. 2 this week.

What follows is a look at Lefty’s encores at the U.S. Open after his five previous silver medals:

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5. PEBBLE BEACH IN 2000

Mickelson was runner-up at Pinehurst in 1999 in what became a lost year on the golf course. That was the first full year he failed to win a PGA Tour event. The following year, he already had won three times before the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

He had won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am two years earlier. Surely, he would be considered a major contender.

But this was the Tiger Woods show.

Woods, who had won the AT&T earlier that year with a five-shot comeback, went wire-to-wire in what many consider the greatest U.S. Open performance ever. He set a major championship record with a 15-shot victory.

As for Mickelson? He never had to birdie three of his last six holes just to shoot par in the opening round. He never broke par all week and tied for 16th, 19 shots behind.

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4. OLYMPIA FIELDS IN 2003

Mickelson finished three shots behind Woods at Bethpage Black in the 2002 U.S. Open. By then, he was clearly the best player to have never won a major.

The 2003 season started poorly for him, and for good reason. His wife, Amy, gave birth to their third child at the end of March. It was a difficult pregnancy, and there was a time when Mickelson feared he might lose his wife and son, Evan, in the hours after he was born.

Olympia Fields was soft that year because of rain. Mickelson opened with rounds of 70-70 to fall seven shots behind. He had weekend rounds of 75-74 and tied for 55th, which left him 17 shots behind Jim Furyk.

That remains the only year Mickelson didn’t win or even have a second-place finish.

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3. PINEHURST NO. 2 IN 2005

Mickelson had another close call in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in 2004. He was tied for the lead with two holes to play until three-putting from 5 feet on the par-3 17th to make double bogey and losing to Retief Goosen.

He was a popular favorite at Pinehurst, with memories still fresh from his runner-up finish to Stewart in 1999. He had top-10 finishes in five straight majors. He opened with a 69, two shots out of the lead and one of only nine players to break par.

And it was all downhill from there. Mickelson followed with a 77, closed with rounds of 72-74 and tied for 33rd, 12 shots behind Michael Campbell.

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2. OAKMONT IN 2007

Coming off his most devastating U.S. Open loss at Winged Foot in 2006 – he made double bogey on the 18th hole to finish one shot behind – Mickelson had plenty of momentum going into the 2007 Open at Oakmont.

He had hired Butch Harmon as his swing coach, and won The Players Championship.

But a scouting trip to Oakmont was his undoing. The rough was so thick that Mickelson says he injured his left wrist during one of his marathon practice sessions. He went nearly two weeks without playing before the opening round.

Mickelson shot rounds of 74-77 and missed the cut under the 10-shot rule when Angel Cabrera birdied his last hole of the second round. It was the first time Mickelson missed the cut in the U.S. Open since his pro debut at Pebble Beach in 1992.

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1. PEBBLE BEACH IN 2010

Mickelson set the U.S. Open record with his fifth runner-up finish at Bethpage Black in 2009 due to a three-putt bogey from the fringe on the 15th hole. He won the Masters for the third time in 2010, and by now was a three-time winner of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

He had a chance to go to No. 1 in the world with a third-place finish. His only concern were the greens, which proved to be a problem by Sunday.

Mickelson started 75-66 and was two shots behind Graeme McDowell. And while he was seven shots behind Dustin Johnson going into the final round, he birdied his opening hole and was right in the mix when Johnson fell apart early.

Mickelson didn’t make a single birdie on the back nine. He tied for fourth, three shots behind McDowell.