PINEHURST, N.C. – Phil Mickelson always wanted to win a U.S. Open. With his victory last summer in the British Open, the U.S. Open is the only major keeping him from capturing the career Grand Slam.

Only five other players have done that. But he has not won in 11 months. And his only headlines lately have been links to an insider trading investigation involving investor Carl Icahn and gambler Billy Walters.

With all the attention on Mickelson, Masters champion Bubba Watson is the only player capable of a calendar Grand Slam. He is not to be dismissed lightly. Watson already has two wins this year, along with runner-up finishes in Phoenix, Doral and the Memorial.

Mickelson’s fate will be one of the major stories at this year’s U.S. Open. Here are five other things to watch for when play begins Thursday:

1. NATURE TRIP

The quality of Pinehurst No. 2 is best stated by the fact it is hosting the U.S. Open for the third time since 1999. Not since Chicago Golf Club (1897-1911) has the U.S. Open gone back to a golf course so frequently. It is considered the masterpiece of architect Donald Ross, famous for turtleback greens that repels shots away from the middle of the putting surface.

Pinehurst Resort owners signed off on a plan to have Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restore the original, rustic look of No. 2. That means rough has been replaced by sandy areas dotted with small wiregrass bushes and covered in natural vegetation. It required the removal of 35 acres of sod, and only 450 sprinkler heads (down from 1,150) remain.

2. LET’S PLAY TWO

In what amounts to golf’s version of a doubleheader, the USGA is making history by staging the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open in consecutive weeks on the same golf course. Pinehurst will play at 7,562 yards (par 70) for the men, and 6,649 yards (par 70) for the women.

3. THE OTHER WOODS

There at least will be one player named Woods competing for a U.S. Open trophy. Cheyenne Woods qualified for her first U.S. Women’s Open on the same day her uncle, Tiger Woods, told the USGA he could not play the U.S. Open as he recovers from March 31 back surgery.

4. END OF AN ERA

This will be the last time Johnny Miller calls the shots. In a surprise move last year, the USGA accepted a 12-year offer worth about $1 billion from Fox Sports, which has never televised golf. This will be the final U.S. Open telecast by NBC Sports, ending a 20-year run with Miller as the lead analyst.

5. TOUGHEST TEST

The USGA tries to convince fans that it is not trying to protect par at the U.S. Open. The evidence tends to suggest otherwise. The winning scores at Pinehurst No. 2 have been 1-under 279 (Payne Stewart in 1999) and even-par 280 (Michael Campbell in 2005). The last two U.S. Opens were won with a score over par. If it happens at Pinehurst, it would be the first time in 45 years (1957-59) that three straight U.S. Open champions were over par.

I recently spent a terrific day with three-time World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan.

Patrick had signed on as a spokesperson for a Vancouver development company and they wanted to film a television commercial featuring Patrick playing golf. I was asked to search out the ideal golf course for the shoot. Naturally I choose the Quilchena Golf & Country Club in Richmond, BC. (I was the General Manager at Quilchena for seven years prior to joining Golf Canada.)

When I was first approached to assist with this project I wondered if Patrick could in fact play golf. As a former competitive figure skater myself, golf was not an activity we did in our free time. Summers were always spent inside a skating rink and when you had free time the last thing you wanted to do was something athletic.

As Patrick arrived at the golf club he was accompanied by a large film crew who were pushing and pulling him in all directions. In addition, the group was bolstered by the developer and his staff plus numerous on looking members.  It was a real gong show, not something you often see at a private golf club. When it came time for Patrick to tee off, the first tee had all of the elements of opening day at the RBC Canadian Open; brilliant sunshine, cameras snapping off multiple shots, a throng of some 15 or 20 people all snuggled up close to the tee box, (too close actually) and this lone golfer gathering his thoughts as he prepared start his game. I thought at that moment he must really feel the pressure of everyone watching and expecting good things.

He had not had any time to warm up on the range. He just quietly walked to the tee and made a few practice swings. I remember saying to myself, the kid has a natural swing. He just smacked out his first shot. As he watched his ball flight he gave himself a satisfying grin as it landed well into the middle of the fairway.

Patrick’s playing partners for the event were Kris Jonasson, Executive Director of British Columbia Golf, David Atkinson, President of British Columbia Golf and Raymond Li, Sr. VP of ASPAC Development. You can read about their experience here.

I was once asked if there were similarities between good golfers and good skaters. Somewhat dismissively I remember saying “not really, with the exception that they all belong to clubs”. In fact there are many similarities. First off; a skater has a dominant rotating direction that is similar to a golfer’s dominance in swinging right or left. Like golfers, skaters will work on a particular jump until the consistency is automatic. Sometimes it will take years.  Like a golf shot, the skating jump takes only a split second and when doubt creeps up, invariably the jump goes sideways.

When Kurt Browning began his “short” routine in the 1992 Olympics he was the reigning world champion and was expected to walk away with the gold medal. One of the required elements in the short routine was a double axel. Kurt could perform a double axel in his sleep. He had landed it more than a 3,000 times, but on this occasion, under pressure, not unlike a playoff in The Masters, doubt crept in and Kurt came out of his jump in mid air. He pulled off only a single jump. The judges had no choice but to make such an enormous deduction that it took him off the podium.

Two time Olympic speed skating champion, Catriona Le May Doan, after hearing she would take part as a celebrity entrant in the Wayne Gretzky Classic Nationwide Tour pro-am in Collingwood, Ont., immediately enrolled in golf lessons and began hitting the course on a regular basis. “I was a little nervous,” she admitted.

Catriona pointed out that golf has an interesting attraction for her. She stated that while the 500m speed skating event demands 37 seconds of perfection, golf resets itself every hole, allowing her to have “my little vent sessions,” as she called them, and then refocus. Kind of like a figure skater when a jump goes sideways in your routine and you refocus on the next one.

J.R. Celski, the 23-year-old U.S. speed skating silver medalist at the Sochi games is an avid golfer. In the summer he plays golf three times a week. When asked about the similarities between golf and skating he replied, “I actually apply my skating technique to my swing in terms of weight shift. They’re also similar in that the harder you swing, the shorter the ball will go. And when you try to push on the ice when you skate, the slower you’re going to go.”

When asked which is harder to do, win a gold medal or break par? Without hesitation he replied,  “It’s gotta be breaking par. No question.”

Blair Armitage most recently served as General Manager of the Quilchena Golf and Country Club in Richmond, B.C. Prior, he was General Manager of the Dalewood Golf and Curling Club in Port Hope, Ont. He is also a past President of the Canadian Society of Club Managers, Pacific Branch and a Director of the British Columbia Golf Marketing Alliance.

In addition to his golf administration background, Armitage is a former elite figure skating competitor and coach, having competed in Canadian national events as well as the World Championships.
He is now Golf Canada’s Regional Director of Membership for Western Canada.
Golf courses in Western Canada with questions about Golf Canada and how you can help to grow the game should email Blair at barmitage@golfcanada.ca.

I recently spent a terrific day with three-time World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan.

Patrick had signed on as a spokesperson for a Vancouver development company and they wanted to film a television commercial featuring Patrick playing golf. I was asked to search out the ideal golf course for the shoot. Naturally I choose the Quilchena Golf & Country Club in Richmond, BC. (I was the General Manager at Quilchena for seven years prior to joining Golf Canada.)

When I was first approached to assist with this project I wondered if Patrick could in fact play golf. As a former competitive figure skater myself, golf was not an activity we did in our free time. Summers were always spent inside a skating rink and when you had free time the last thing you wanted to do was something athletic.

As Patrick arrived at the golf club he was accompanied by a large film crew who were pushing and pulling him in all directions. In addition, the group was bolstered by the developer and his staff plus numerous on looking members.  It was a real gong show, not something you often see at a private golf club. When it came time for Patrick to tee off, the first tee had all of the elements of opening day at the RBC Canadian Open; brilliant sunshine, cameras snapping off multiple shots, a throng of some 15 or 20 people all snuggled up close to the tee box, (too close actually) and this lone golfer gathering his thoughts as he prepared start his game. I thought at that moment he must really feel the pressure of everyone watching and expecting good things.

He had not had any time to warm up on the range. He just quietly walked to the tee and made a few practice swings. I remember saying to myself, the kid has a natural swing. He just smacked out his first shot. As he watched his ball flight he gave himself a satisfying grin as it landed well into the middle of the fairway.

Patrick’s playing partners for the event were Kris Jonasson, Executive Director of British Columbia Golf, David Atkinson, President of British Columbia Golf and Raymond Li, Sr. VP of ASPAC Development. You can read about their experience here.

I was once asked if there were similarities between good golfers and good skaters. Somewhat dismissively I remember saying “not really, with the exception that they all belong to clubs”. In fact there are many similarities. First off; a skater has a dominant rotating direction that is similar to a golfer’s dominance in swinging right or left. Like golfers, skaters will work on a particular jump until the consistency is automatic. Sometimes it will take years.  Like a golf shot, the skating jump takes only a split second and when doubt creeps up, invariably the jump goes sideways.

When Kurt Browning began his “short” routine in the 1992 Olympics he was the reigning world champion and was expected to walk away with the gold medal. One of the required elements in the short routine was a double axel. Kurt could perform a double axel in his sleep. He had landed it more than a 3,000 times, but on this occasion, under pressure, not unlike a playoff in The Masters, doubt crept in and Kurt came out of his jump in mid air. He pulled off only a single jump. The judges had no choice but to make such an enormous deduction that it took him off the podium.

Two time Olympic speed skating champion, Catriona Le May Doan, after hearing she would take part as a celebrity entrant in the Wayne Gretzky Classic Nationwide Tour pro-am in Collingwood, Ont., immediately enrolled in golf lessons and began hitting the course on a regular basis. “I was a little nervous,” she admitted.

Catriona pointed out that golf has an interesting attraction for her. She stated that while the 500m speed skating event demands 37 seconds of perfection, golf resets itself every hole, allowing her to have “my little vent sessions,” as she called them, and then refocus. Kind of like a figure skater when a jump goes sideways in your routine and you refocus on the next one.

J.R. Celski, the 23-year-old U.S. speed skating silver medalist at the Sochi games is an avid golfer. In the summer he plays golf three times a week. When asked about the similarities between golf and skating he replied, “I actually apply my skating technique to my swing in terms of weight shift. They’re also similar in that the harder you swing, the shorter the ball will go. And when you try to push on the ice when you skate, the slower you’re going to go.”

When asked which is harder to do, win a gold medal or break par? Without hesitation he replied,  “It’s gotta be breaking par. No question.”

Blair Armitage most recently served as General Manager of the Quilchena Golf and Country Club in Richmond, B.C. Prior, he was General Manager of the Dalewood Golf and Curling Club in Port Hope, Ont. He is also a past President of the Canadian Society of Club Managers, Pacific Branch and a Director of the British Columbia Golf Marketing Alliance.

In addition to his golf administration background, Armitage is a former elite figure skating competitor and coach, having competed in Canadian national events as well as the World Championships.
He is now Golf Canada’s Regional Director of Membership for Western Canada.
Golf courses in Western Canada with questions about Golf Canada and how you can help to grow the game should email Blair at barmitage@golfcanada.ca.

Conducting golf championships has been one of Golf Canada’s core mandates since the association’s inception in 1895.  Whether at the professional or amateur level, Golf Canada is proud to conduct championships that offer a world-class competitive experience to Canadians and international golfers alike.

Hosting national championships and offering the best competitive experience is no easy task and simply wouldn’t be possible without the support from Golf Canada member clubs and the motivation of their staff, memberships and communities who get involved.

Our staff recently confirmed multiple championship venues for the next five seasons, which will see our Canadian Women’s and Men’s Amateur Championships contested at member clubs across the country.  For several seasons now it has been the goal of the Amateur Competitions Committee to see world-class playing experiences offered on a rotational basis throughout the country and the next few seasons will not disappoint.

Between the 2014 and 2018 seasons, we will see the Canadian Women’s Amateur contested in Woodstock, Ont. (Oxford Golf & Country Club), Saskatoon (Riverside Country Club), New Minas, N.S. (Ken-Wo Golf Club), Guelph, Ont. (Cutten Fields) and Vancouver (Marine Drive Golf Club).

The Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship is contested over 72-holes of stroke play and features 156 Canadian and international female amateurs each season.  In addition, the World Amateur Golf Ranking has given the championship the distinction of being an A-ranked counting event.

The pinnacle of men’s amateur golf in Canada is the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, which pits 240 of the best domestic and international competitors against one another over 72-holes of stroke play, contested at two courses in early August.

The coveted Early Grey Trophy will be up for grabs across Canada in various regions over the next few seasons, including stops in Winnipeg (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club), Toronto (Weston Golf & Country Club), Gatineau, Que. (The Royal Ottawa Golf Club), Mississauga, Ont. (The Toronto Golf Club) and Duncan, B.C. (Duncan Meadows Golf & Country Club).

None of the previously mentioned championships would be a success without the significant contributions of our Golf Canada members, their member clubs and the consistent support from within the Canadian golf community.  We are looking forward to the 2014 season and those that will follow; many thanks to those across Canada who are committed to growing the game.

For more information on Golf Canada’s Championships, please visit our Championship Calendar by clicking here.

Vancouver (Golf Canada) – The first of three 2014 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers took place Monday, June 9th at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver with eight players finishing 2-over par or better to advance to the Monday (Final) Qualifier for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.

A total of 44 players competed over 18 holes of stroke play at Marine Drive with the top-15 percent of the field and ties (top seven competitors and ties) advancing to the final Monday Qualifier to be held Monday, July 21st at Club de Golf St-Raphaël in Île-Bizard, Que

Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho claimed medalist honours after posting 1-under 70 to advance through to final qualifying.

Langley B.C.’s Adam Cornelson finished at even-par in solo second, while Dakota Robinson of Discovery Bay, Calif., Alex Francois of Burnaby, B.C., and David Byrne of Essex, Ont. finished at 1-over in a tie for third.

Rounding out the list of players advancing to the final Monday qualifier for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open were Kevin Stinson of Mission, B.C., Roberto Lupini of Johannesburg, South Africa and Vancouver’s Ryan Williams after 2-over 74’s.

Click here for full scoring.

A three-stage qualifying procedure for Canada’s National Open Championship features three regional qualifying competitions in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, followed by a final qualifying event on Monday, July 21st.

The second regional qualifying event will be hosted by Elm Ridge Country Club in Île-Bizard, Que., on June 16th. The third and final regional qualifier will take place June 23rd at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont. A final qualifier will take place Monday July 21st at Club de Golf St-Raphaël in Île-Bizard, Que.

Each of the three regional qualifiers will feature 18 holes stroke play with the low qualifier at each site receiving an exemption directly into the 2014 RBC Canadian Open field (provided the starting field is a minimum of 100 competitors at each site.)  The top 15% of finishers at each regional qualifying competition are eligible to compete at final qualifying. In addition, the top 15% does not include the low qualifier when over 100 competitors participate and a direct exemption is provided.

All entries for the Quebec regional qualifier at Elm Ridge Country Club in Île-Bizard, Que. are due Monday, June 9th. The entry deadline for the Ontario regional qualifier at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont. is Monday, June 16th.

Final qualifying is scheduled for Monday, July 21st at Club de Golf St-Raphaël in Île-Bizard, Que. Participation is limited to those competitors receiving requisite exemptions, or individuals who have qualified through regional qualifying. The event will feature 18 holes of stroke play, with a minimum of four (4) spots directly into the 2014 RBC Canadian Open field. The entry deadline is Monday, July 14th.

The qualifying competition is open to members in good standing of the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers (with a current Handicap Factor not to exceed 2.0) who are members of clubs belonging to Golf Canada or clubs in other countries in good standing with their respective associations, and other golf professionals.

In all, a total of 24 exemptions, including the seven (7) awarded through regional and final qualifiers are available for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Que.

Vancouver (Golf Canada) – The first of three 2014 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers took place Monday, June 9th at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver with eight players finishing 2-over par or better to advance to the Monday (Final) Qualifier for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.

A total of 44 players competed over 18 holes of stroke play at Marine Drive with the top-15 percent of the field and ties (top seven competitors and ties) advancing to the final Monday Qualifier to be held Monday, July 21st at Club de Golf St-Raphaël in Île-Bizard, Que

Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho claimed medalist honours after posting 1-under 70 to advance through to final qualifying.

Langley B.C.’s Adam Cornelson finished at even-par in solo second, while Dakota Robinson of Discovery Bay, Calif., Alex Francois of Burnaby, B.C., and David Byrne of Essex, Ont. finished at 1-over in a tie for third.

Rounding out the list of players advancing to the final Monday qualifier for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open were Kevin Stinson of Mission, B.C., Roberto Lupini of Johannesburg, South Africa and Vancouver’s Ryan Williams after 2-over 74’s.

Click here for full scoring.

A three-stage qualifying procedure for Canada’s National Open Championship features three regional qualifying competitions in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, followed by a final qualifying event on Monday, July 21st.

The second regional qualifying event will be hosted by Elm Ridge Country Club in Île-Bizard, Que., on June 16th. The third and final regional qualifier will take place June 23rd at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont. A final qualifier will take place Monday July 21st at Club de Golf St-Raphaël in Île-Bizard, Que.

Each of the three regional qualifiers will feature 18 holes stroke play with the low qualifier at each site receiving an exemption directly into the 2014 RBC Canadian Open field (provided the starting field is a minimum of 100 competitors at each site.)  The top 15% of finishers at each regional qualifying competition are eligible to compete at final qualifying. In addition, the top 15% does not include the low qualifier when over 100 competitors participate and a direct exemption is provided.

All entries for the Quebec regional qualifier at Elm Ridge Country Club in Île-Bizard, Que. are due Monday, June 9th. The entry deadline for the Ontario regional qualifier at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont. is Monday, June 16th.

Final qualifying is scheduled for Monday, July 21st at Club de Golf St-Raphaël in Île-Bizard, Que. Participation is limited to those competitors receiving requisite exemptions, or individuals who have qualified through regional qualifying. The event will feature 18 holes of stroke play, with a minimum of four (4) spots directly into the 2014 RBC Canadian Open field. The entry deadline is Monday, July 14th.

The qualifying competition is open to members in good standing of the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers (with a current Handicap Factor not to exceed 2.0) who are members of clubs belonging to Golf Canada or clubs in other countries in good standing with their respective associations, and other golf professionals.

In all, a total of 24 exemptions, including the seven (7) awarded through regional and final qualifiers are available for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Que.

PINEHURST, N.C. – Even in the best of times, Phil Mickelson has ample reason to expect the worst at the U.S. Open.

More than two decades of play in the major known as the toughest test in golf has produced everything from agony to aggravation, mostly torment, never triumph. And all Mickelson has to show from the U.S. Open are silver medals – a record six of them – for finishing second.

“He could have won six, and he hasn’t won one,” Ernie Els said. “I believe he’s going to win one. He’s still young enough. His game is still good enough.”

The U.S. Open took on even greater importance to the 43-year-old Mickelson last summer when he won the British Open at Muirfield, leaving him one major away _ the U.S. Open, of course _ from joining five other greats who have the career Grand Slam.

For all his heartache in golfs toughest test, his optimism hasn’t wavered.

Never mind that he has been linked to an insider trading investigation involving activist investor Carl Icahn and Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters, in which FBI agents paid him a visit after his first round at the Memorial. Or that Mickelson hasn’t won this year, his worst start to a season since 2003.

Mickelson not only believes he’s going to win the U.S. Open, he thinks he’s going to win more than one.

“Some people view it as though, ‘He’s come close and he’s never done it.’ I see it as though I’ve finished second six times in this event,” Mickelson said. “I played some of my best golf in this event, and I should have an opportunity – and more than one opportunity 0 to close one out here in the future.”

The U.S. Open returning to Pinehurst No. 2 only adds to the intrigue.

That’s where Mickelson picked up his first silver medal in 1999. He had a one-shot lead with three holes to play and had a 6-foot par putt on the 16th hole, while Payne Stewart was 25 feet away from par. Stewart made his putt, Mickelson missed and they were tied. Stewart took the lead with a short birdie on the 17th, then famously won the U.S. Open with a 15-foot par putt on the final hole.

No worries. Mickelson surely would get another chance, and he did.

He just doesn’t have the trophy.

Five years later, he was tied for the lead on the 17th hole at Shinnecock Hills when he hit into a bunker, blasted out to 5 feet and three-putted for double bogey.

“It was like being in a morgue walking up the 18th,” said Fred Funk, who was paired with him that day.

The most crushing blow was at Winged Foot in 2006. Mickelson had a one-shot lead on the 18th hole. His tee shot clanged off a corporate tent. The bigger mistake was going for the green with a 3-iron and hitting a tree. His third shot plugged in the bunker. His fourth shot raced across the green. He made double bogey and lost my one.

There was Mickelson, crouched on the green, hands cupped over his head. “I am such an idiot,” he said.

“Phil handled the whole thing like a true gentleman,” said Kenneth Ferrie, who played with him in the final pairing. “He had nice words to say to me coming off 18 and was amazingly courteous and polite to the volunteers and officials considering what had just happened.”

And yet he keeps coming back for more.

Sam Snead, who holds the PGA Tour record with 82 career wins, never won a U.S. Open. Lee Trevino never won the Masters. Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson never won the PGA Championship. Even so, none of those greats ever had as many chances to win the missing major as Mickelson.

Hunter Mahan paid him the ultimate respect at Bethpage Black in 2009. Mickelson was tied for the lead with four holes to play until missing short par putts on the 15th and 17th holes. Another U.S. Open bid over, Mickelson was walking up to the 18th green when Mahan _ who had just as good of a chance to win that day – began applauding, and thousands joined him.

Mahan has played with Mickelson twice on Sunday when Lefty was the runner-up. The other occasion was last year at Merion. Mickelson twice made bogey with a wedge in his hand on the back nine. His last hope was to chip in from 40 yards to force a playoff with Justin Rose. He missed.

“I looked at him and said, ‘Good try, Phil.’ You can only do what you can do,” Mahan said. “At some point, you’ve got to get a bounce or two and make a putt. I think he wants to win that tournament more than anything.”

The thought of Mickelson at Pinehurst stirs emotions. Stewart died in a freak plane crash four months after he won that U.S. Open. Mickelson carried a pager in his golf bag that week and pledged to withdraw if his wife went into labour. His first child, Amanda, was born the next day.

Fifteen years later, the pressure is only greater.

“Maybe it is his strength of mind, or his short game, that has enabled him to put himself in contention as so many times,” Ferrie said. “As each year has gone on and he has won other majors, the focus has become more and more about the U.S. Open. As a player, when you want something so much, it’s even more difficult to achieve. Yet he keeps giving himself a chance.”

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the fifth annual Golf Canada Foundation Auction in support of golf development programs across Canada is now live and online at www.golfcanada.ca/auction.

Beginning June 9^th, golf enthusiasts across the country can bid on opportunities to play golf at exclusive courses across the country. Auction items will be gradually added throughout the month, as more courses are signing up each day.

Since 2010, the auction has raised over $210,000 in program funding for grow the game golf initiatives.  Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Golf Canada Foundation, which is proud to support and promote the following areas in Canadian golf:

•    Women’s golf (programs include Junior Girls programs and the Golf Canada Women’s Fund)
•    Junior golf (programs include Golf in Schools and CN Future Links)
•    High performance golf (programs include Team Canada & Young Pro)
•    Golf Heritage (programs include the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame & Museum)
•    Collegiate golf (programs include scholarships & grants as well as the Canadian University/College Championship)

Interested bidders need an eBay account in order to participate in the Golf Canada Foundation Auction.

The Golf Canada Foundation is also reaching out to Golf Canada member clubs across the country to donate a round of golf for either a threesome (if the group needs to be accompanied by a member) or foursome with two carts to be played at their facility during the 2014 season.

Member clubs interested in participating in the Golf Canada Auction can email foundation@golfcanada.ca.

Golfers interested in participating in the National Golf Auction can make their bid from June 9^th-19^that www.golfcanada.ca/auction.

You most likely don’t know Mikey and you may not have chosen autism as one of your charitable causes.

No worries. The chances are good that if you are a golfer, this column is about you.

A dozen or so years ago, good friends of mine had a son—Mikey— who had obvious developmental challenges. Despite the fact that both are physicians, it took agonizing months of frustration to reach a conclusive diagnosis that Mikey was autistic.  Not only were they understandably distraught by that diagnosis, they were stunned by the lack of resources and support for those on the autism spectrum. (At the time, I believe the reported incidence was something like one in 160. Today, it is one in 68.)

They decided something had to be done so other families in our immediate region wouldn’t have to go through that torturous process. So we sat down and planned the first Mikey’s Tournament for Autism in our small town in central Ontario. It started slowly, but quickly grew to the point where Mikey’s Place for Autism was established with a part-time staffer. Among other things, the small office helps connect those newly diagnosed with this disorder to find help and provide support on what will be a difficult lifelong journey. (You can find out more at www.mikeysplaceforautism.com.)

Thanks to the ongoing generosity of our community and to my friends in the golf industry, including Golf Canada, we have raised more than $300,000 in 10 years. Every single penny goes to the charity to support Mikey’s Place and its various functions.

The 11^th annual Mikey’s Tournament for Autism took place June 4. Coincidentally, just a day before the National Allied Golf Associations released the Economic Impact Study of Golf in Canada. While you can get all the details here, one finding was especially gratifying to me.

“In 2013, there were nearly 37,000 charitable events hosted at Canadian courses,” the report stated. “Using conservative estimates, these events raise more than $533 million for charitable causes across Canada.”

Half a billion dollars for charity by golf tournaments in this country in one year!

So while you likely don’t know Mikey and perhaps choose to support other charities, if you are a golfer you no doubt have supported a similar charity tournament.

While you rightly congratulate yourself for that unselfish act, ask yourself where charities like Mikey’s Place for Autism would be without golf.

The answer is obvious.

With the Canadian University/College Championship coming to a close last week, I was able to speak with National Amateur team players Garrett Rank (University of Waterloo grad), and Chris Hemmerich (Guelph University grad).

Hemmerich, a Kitchener, Ont., native, said the decision to study in Canada was an easy one.

“Looking back on my four years at Guelph, I wouldn’t change anything,” said the Commerce major. “I did everything that students would at NCAA schools on my own with additional support from Ralph Bauer (PGA of Canada professional), Golf Canada and Derek Ingram (Head Coach of Men’s National Team).”

Hemmerich also alluded to the growing status of the Guelph University program and CCAA golf in general.

“In my second year the program was completely revamped – we got a new coaching staff with a PGA of Canada professional on site to help us whenever we needed,” he said. “After that, the program just took off – I feel like that’s happening a lot around Canada.”

The 21-year-old is fresh off playing in his first professional event last weekend – PGA Tour Canada’s PC Financial Open.

Hemmerich came out strong on Thursday’s opening round going 2-under through his first nine holes. Unfortunately, the two-time champion faltered down the stretch with three consecutive bogies to close out the round.

Despite missing the cut, Hemmerich was quick to pick up the positives and share his learnings from the event.

“Even if you make seven birdies and an eagle it doesn’t automatically mean you are shooting low,” he said with a smile. “I learned a lot about what I have to improve on in order to compete at the professional level.”

—

Garrett Rank, University of Waterloo graduate, shared similar feelings to Hemmerich in his decision to stay in Canada.

“I really like the idea that school in Canada was close to home and the fact that I could get a great education too it was really a great fit for me,” said the 26-year-old.

Rank spent five years at Waterloo and loved every minute of his time there.

“I was given so many opportunities and I really grew as a player and a person,” he said with confidence. “If I could do it all over again, I would pick Waterloo, no doubt.”

—

Men’s National Team Coach, Derek Ingram, had a different impact on his own school – the University of Manitoba.

Ingram was responsible for co-founding the school’s golf team (this year’s Canadian University/College Championship host), the University of Winnipeg Bisons. Along with Winnipeg’s Garth Goodbrandson, Ingram launched the team in 1999 to give students the opportunity to study in Winnipeg while continuing to develop their golf game.

“We created a program at the University of Manitoba because we saw way too many students go down south for half scholarships and still coming out in debt,” he said. “We wanted to give players that option to stay in Canada where they could continue to develop their game while receiving great support.”

Not long after, Ingram helped orchestrate the first ever University/College Championship some 10 years ago with Goodbrandson, Jim Fraser (former Executive Director of Golf Canada Foundation) and Cathy Macatavish (former president of Golf Canada Foundation).

“We really felt there was a need for it and we knew that there were other great golf teams out there in Canada. Thankfully, we were graciously given a grant to conduct the first championship, which really got the ball rolling.”

Having deep experience with University and College teams, Ingram explained that the decision of choosing a school is always unique to the player.

“Reality is, most kids dream of playing golf in the States,” he admitted. “However, the players that have stayed behind like Garrett (Rank) and Chris (Hemmerich) have found out that their experience has been beyond excellent. They played very good tournaments, had access to great golf facilities and received a really strong education. It is a very strong and viable option. ”

Lastly, he closed with some insight into the future of golf in Canadian schools.

“Now, you’ve got guys across Canada who are really into their golf programs – we’ve got 10-15 great programs instead of only two or three not long ago. I really do see more Garrett Ranks and Chris Hemmerichs on our National Team in the future.”

For a recap of this year’s Canadian/University Championship, click here