Canada’s Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners are a perfect 1-0 when paired together on the golf course. They’re ready to improve their decade-old record this week.

Henderson and Conners were teammates on Golf Canada’s junior national and both represented Canada at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but they rarely see each other as professionals on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.

They haven’t been paired together since 2013, when they won the Copa de las Americas along with fellow Canadians Albin Choi and Augusta James.

That all changes when they tee it up together Thursday, at a new event featuring players from the world’s top men’s and women’s golf tours.

“I’ve always admired her swing and the smile she always has on her face,” said Conners on Wednesday in a joint news conference with Henderson. “We go way back. We haven’t crossed paths, unfortunately, that much over the last few years.”

The Grant Thornton Invitational, a new tournament on the pro golf calendar, sees players from the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour pair up in a season-ending event. Prize money will be evenly divided between the two genders at the 16-team field at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla.

Henderson and Conners hope to learn from each other on the course and maintain their unblemished record as a pairing.

“I’m really excited to watch the men play, watch Corey play, see how he goes about it,” said Henderson, who added they have already begun strategizing. “I think that it’s pretty cool to have a partner and somebody that is as brilliant as Corey is to talk that through.”

Neither Conners or Henderson had turned professional when Team Canada won the Copa de las Americas by one stroke at the TPC Blue Monster Course at Doral Golf Resort & Spa Miami 10 years ago. Conners, Henderson, Choi and James finished with a four-day total of 25-over par 1,177 to best Mexico (1,178) by a shot and the United States (1,179) by two.

A lot has changed since then.

Conners, from Listowel, Ont., has won twice on the PGA Tour since turning professional in 2015 and is the second highest ranked Canadian on this year’s FedEx Cup standings.

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., has put together an even more impressive resume, winning 13 times on the LPGA Tour including two majors since turning pro in 2014. She has the most pro wins in the history of Canadian golf.

“Ever since they announced the format of this event, I tried to try to throw my name in and partner up with Brooke,” said Conners. “I think it was similar from from her side, so it’s really exciting to be here together representing Canada. 

“Obviously, I’ve got a pretty solid partner so I’m looking forward to having some fun this week.”

Henderson think she can learn a lot from Conners, one of the best ballstrikers on the PGA Tour.

“I always enjoy watching my playing partners just regularly out on tour, when they’re practising, when they’re warming up, and also when I’m playing with them,” said Henderson. “You just always try to keep an eye out and see what I can learn and what I can pick up on and maybe how I can improve.”

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., the highest ranked Canadian on the PGA Tour, will also play at the event. He will partner with China’s Ruoning Yin.
Henderson and Conners agreed that the Grant Thornton could help grow the sport of golf in North America.

“It’s a really cool opportunity for the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour to do something together,” said Conners. “Hopefully this leads to some more collaboration and possibly some more events together.”

Savannah Grewal, Alena Sharp and Maddie Szeryk finished inside the top-45 at the 2023 LPGA Q-Series in Mobile, Ala. securing their 2024 LPGA Tour status.

Grewal of Mississauga, Ont. finished T10 at 18-under following rounds of 66-69-71-67-71-68-412. Grewal turned professional in November, prior to the third stage of Q-Series. Grewal has made three starts on the LPGA Tour as an amateur. Grewal reached match play at both the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur and British Amateur.

Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. finished T38 at 9-under following rounds of 69-72-70-69-73-68-421. Sharp has 19 years of experience on the LPGA Tour and made four starts in 2023, highlighted by and eighth place finish at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational and T36 at the CPKC Women’s Open. Last month, Sharp also won the bronze medal for Canada at the 2023 PanAm Games in Santiago, Chile. In addition, Sharp represented Team Canada at the Olympic Games in 2016 and 2020.

Szeryk of London, Ont. also finished T38 at 9-under with rounds of 68-67-71-75-68-72-421. Szeryk recently completed her second full year on the LPGA Tour and made 22 starts with one top-ten finish. During her career, Szeryk has made 36 starts on Tour with one top-ten finish.

Robin Choi of Australia finished atop the leaderboard at 29-under after six rounds. Mao Saigo of Japan and So Mi Lee of Republic of Korea finished tied for second at 26-under. For the final leaderboard please click here.

Players who finished inside the top-45 including ties after 108 holes earn 2024 LPGA Tour eligibility. Players finishing in positions 1-20 and ties earn LPGA Tour status in Category 14 and players finishing 21-45 and ties earn LPGA Tour status in Category 15.

Golf Canada Q-School/Series stipends were made available thanks to generous donors of the Golf Canada Foundation, to help off-set the expenses of Canadian professionals striving to qualify for tours affiliated with the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour.

Now in its third year, the stipends have been given to Canadian professionals based on performance at Q-Series/School to ensure more support is available for players who accumulate higher expenses from advancing to further stages. To receive a stipend, players must compete professionally on the tour where they earned status (or another professional tour if status is gained elsewhere). In addition to Grewal, Sharp and Szeryk, 11 others will receive a stipend for their 2023 Q-Series/School performance including Leah John, Kate Johnson, Tiffany Kong, Brigitte Thibault, and Selena Costabile along with Jared du Toit, Stuart Macdonald, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Thomas Giroux, Etienne Papineau and Myles Creighton.

Next week the PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry will take place from December 14-17 at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) announced Keith Lyall of the Sun Peaks Resort Golf Course in Sun Peaks, B.C. as the CGSA Gordon Witteveen Award winner for 2023.

The Gordon Witteveen Award is presented annually by the CGSA to the superintendent or assistant superintendent who has authored the best article for publication in the CGSA GreenMaster magazine during the past year. Keith’s article entitled “Steps to An Effective Management System”, which was published in the Winter 2023 issue of GreenMaster, was judged by a panel of peers and Keith was unanimously chosen as the winner.

“It was an absolute privilege to be able to reach out to Keith to inform him of his article winning the Gordon Witteveen Award,” said Cameron Kusiek, Chair, Communications and Editorial Committee. “Keith’s article was a great read and discussed a topic quite different compared to what we traditionally read in GreenMaster, which is what we strive for. When I first read the article, I thought that Keith is simply superhuman, being responsible for the entire Sunset Peaks ISO Program. This just goes to show how diverse individuals in our industry are as Keith’s article further illustrates the multi-talents so many have beyond taking care of turf. Congratulation Keith on a very well written article.”

In 2004 Keith was introduced to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14001 Environmental Steward. In his article Keith shares steps to an effective management system: (GreenMaster Winter Issue). Keith has been a CGSA member since 2005 and sits on CGSA’s Environment Committee.

Mr. Lyall will be presented with the Gordon Witteveen Award during the Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, February 27 as part of The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference.

St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, NJ, USA – The R&A and USGA will update the testing conditions used for golf ball conformance under the Overall Distance Standard (ODS), which will take effect from January 2028. The decision aims to reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf’s long-term sustainability while minimizing the impact on the recreational game.

The revised ball testing conditions will be as follows: 125-mph clubhead speed (equivalent to 183 mph ball speed); spin rate of 2220 rpm and launch angle of 11 degrees. The current conditions, which were established 20 years ago, are set at 120 mph (equivalent to 176 mph ball speed), 2520 rpm with a 10-degree launch angle.

The revised conditions are based on analysis of data from the worldwide tours and the game over several years and are intended to ensure that the ODS (whose limit will remain unchanged at 317 yards with a 3-yard tolerance) continues to represent the ability of the game’s longest hitters. An analysis of ball speeds among golf’s longest hitters in 2023 shows that the fastest ten players had an average ball speed of 186 mph, while the average ball speed of the fastest 25 was 183.4 mph (the very fastest averaged 190 mph).

The longest hitters are expected to see a reduction of as much as 13-15 yards in drive distance. Average professional tour and elite male players are expected to see a reduction of 9-11 yards, with a 5-7-yard reduction for an average LET or LPGA player.

The change in testing speed is expected to have a minimal distance impact, 5 yards or less, for most recreational golfers. Research shows an average swing speed of 93 mph for male golfers and 72 mph for female players.

Existing balls approved for conformance in 2027 may continue to be used by recreational golfers until January 2030 to give golfers, manufacturers and retailers additional time to adjust. These decisions are in line with the commitments made by the governing bodies at the project’s inception.

A significant portion of golf ball models that are currently in the market – and more than 30 percent of all golf ball models submitted for conformance across the game – are expected to remain conforming after these changes are applied.

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said, “We are convinced that this decision is one of the key ways of achieving a sustainable future for golf, protecting the integrity of the game and meeting our environmental responsibilities. The measure we are taking has been carefully considered and calibrated while maintaining the ‘one game’ ethos deemed to be so important to the golf industry. Importantly, it also keeps the impact on recreational golfers to an absolute minimum. We are acting now because we want to ensure that future generations can enjoy the unique challenge of golf as much as we do.”

“Governance is hard. And while thousands will claim that we did too much, there will be just as many who said we didn’t do enough to protect the game long-term,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “But from the very beginning, we’ve been driven to do what is right for the game, without bias. As we’ve said, doing nothing is not an option – and we would be failing in our responsibility to protect the game’s future if we didn’t take appropriate action now.”

The Notice of Decision follows the most thorough and comprehensive examination of the issue in the game’s history through the Distance Insights project, which was launched in 2018 and gathered data, shared research and solicited feedback from golf course owners, players, and stakeholders across the game. Data provided by the seven major worldwide tours has also been analysed by the governing bodies, who have published Annual Driving Distance Reports every year since 2015.

The reports followed the governing bodies’ joint Conclusions from the Distance Insights Project: Implication of Hitting Distance in Golf, which shared the reasons why addressing the continuing trend of hitting distance increases and subsequent course lengthening is critical to the game’s long-term sustainability.

All golf ball and club manufacturers were advised of the decision on Tuesday and were given full technical details and an implementation timeline. The Notice of Decision takes into account the extensive research and feedback received from manufacturers and other industry stakeholders throughout the six-year process and following multiple Areas of Interest and proposals starting in 2021 as part of the Equipment Rulemaking process.

A copy of the letter and technical documents can be found at www.RandA.org/distance-insights.

The extensive feedback received showed worldwide sentiment that the retention of a single set of playing rules and equipment standards is critically important to the sport and should apply across the game. Feedback from manufacturers resulted in the timeline being extended to 2028 to allow more time for innovation and production of new products for elite and recreational players.

In addition to the new ball-testing conditions, the governing bodies will:

• Expand the testing approach to better detect ‘Driver Creep,’ which can result in drivers exceeding the limits set out in the Equipment Rules. This is a change in the testing methodology for submitted drivers, to identify and proactively address driver models that are within current tolerance levels and have Characteristic Time (CT) values that are more likely to exceed the limit through regular use.
• Continue to monitor drivers and explore possible additional options related to distance. Specifically, we will research the forgiveness of drivers and how they perform with off-centre hits. This is an ongoing review and we will seek input from and continue to work with the industry, including manufacturers, to identify driver design features that can be regulated as a means to reward centre impact position hits versus mis-hits.

The R&A and the USGA are guided by an overarching principle to continue to preserve the fundamental elements of golf – protecting the integrity of golf courses, including their overall length, and ensuring that a variety of skills are needed to be successful.

Longer golf courses require additional resources such as water, the cost of renovating or moving elements like tees and bunkers continues to rise and other long-term impacts have been identified as a result of increased distance. The governing bodies believe that if the sport is to enjoy a sustainable long-term future then these economic and environmental impacts have to be kept under control.

The Overall Distance Standard was first introduced in 1976 and has been updated on three previous occasions (1980, 2002 and 2004). This is the first time that test speeds have been updated since 2004, when the current standard was set based on the longest hitters at that time.

(December 1, 2023) – In celebration of Nick Taylor’s historic victory in becoming the first Canadian to win Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship in 69 years, Golf Canada in partnership with title sponsor RBC, have reimagined the tournament logo for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in celebrating one of the most iconic moments in Canadian sport.

The updated brand identity depicts a silhouette of Taylor’s now legendary putter toss following his 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole at Oakdale Golf and Country Club to defeat Tommy Fleetwood and become the first Canadian in seven decades to win Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.

“We are excited to pay tribute to the epic performance of Nick’s amazing win by capturing the energy of that moment within the brand identity and logo mark for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Tim McLaughlin. “Nick’s historic victory will be celebrated in the lead up to and throughout the 2024 RBC Canadian Open and the reimagined logo is a fitting homage to both Nick and this most special moment for our National Open.”

“To be a part of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open logo is really special,” said Taylor. “When I first saw the re-design with myself as the swing man, I was flattered by the tribute and thought it was very cool. I am excited to get to Hamilton and looking forward to defending my title.”

The updated brand mark for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open will feature prominently across integrated marketing activities and physical touch points in the lead up to Taylor’s title defence at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

The 2024 RBC Canadian Open takes place May 28 – June 2 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., the 113^th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.

For more information on the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, please visit rbccanadianopen.com.

Tickets coming soon ? pic.twitter.com/gGQAc2bLIG

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) December 4, 2023

New men’s intercollegiate team championship at Öviinbyrd Golf Club will mark the first NCAA Division I golf event held in Canada

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the creation of the Canadian Collegiate Invitational tournament that will take place at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. from September 15 – 17, 2024.

The tournament will be conducted by Golf Canada and co-hosted by Kent State University and Penn State University who are both led by Canadian head coaches, Jon Mills (Kent State) and Mark Leon (Penn State). The tournament will feature NCAA Division I men’s golf teams with prominent Canadian ties along with the team champions of the 2024 Canadian University/College Championship.

Joining the co-hosts from Kent State and Penn State will be Miami University (Ohio), University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Missouri, University of Notre Dame, Rutgers University, and Washington State University. Also competing will be the 2024 Canadian University/College Men’s Team champions crowned next spring at Idylwylde Golf & Country Club in Sudbury, Ont.

The inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational marks the first time that an NCAA Division I men’s golf tournament will be played in Canada.

In addition, the selection camp tournament for the Team Canada – NextGen boys squad will be contested concurrently with the Canadian Collegiate Invitational at Öviinbyrd Golf Club as Canada’s best junior boys look to qualify for the 2025 Team Canada – NextGen squad. Invitation criteria for the selection camp will be made available early in the new year.

“We are excited to add a new tournament to our Amateur Championship schedule and we thank Kent State and Penn State for co-hosting this invitational as we welcome some of the top Division I NCAA collegiate programs to compete in Canada for the first time,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Director, Amateur Championships and Rules, Golf Canada. “We also extend our thanks to Öviinbyrd Golf Club and the partners Paul McLean, Peter Schwartz and Rob Fraser for their gracious support in hosting this inaugural invitational at their golf course. We are also excited to concurrently run our Team Canada – NextGen selection camp tournament, which will provide high-level junior players the opportunity to compare themselves with top-tier NCAA competition.”

Öviinbyrd Golf Club is one of Canada’s premier golf courses, designed by Thomas McBroom and opened in 2004 in Muskoka, Ont. The 7,118-yard layout is set amongst the forests and exposed granite of the Canadian shield in Ontario’s famous cottage country and will create a challenging and memorable experience for the players. Öviinbyrd’s recently renovated practice facility features world class training conditions and state-of-the-art technology and will benefit players participating in both the NCAA event and the Team Canada – NextGen selection camp.

“The Öviinbyrd members and management team look forward to sharing our unique club culture with some of the best NCAA college players and top Canadian junior boys in the fall of 2024,” said Lindsay Franklin, General Manager, Öviinbyrd Golf Club. “With Muskoka as the backdrop to this inaugural event, we are excited to give back to Canadian golf, while creating memorable experiences for the players and helping to advance Canada as a world-class golf country.”

The inaugural championship will be contested over 54 holes in two days, with 36 holes played in the opening round and 18 holes in the final round. The team component will feature five members per team with the top four scores for the round counting to the overall team score. The individual competition will be stroke-play with the winner receiving an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and the top-five receiving exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

Consideration is on-going for the addition of a women’s NCAA Division I tournament in parallel with additional opportunities to expand the women’s competitive golf schedule in Canada. The full 2024 Amateur Championship schedule including the Team Canada – NextGen Girls selection camp tournament will be announced in the new year.

ABOUT THE TEAMS…

Kent State Golden Flashes (Co-Host)
The Golden Flashes earned four top-10 finishes this fall, including a second-place finish at the Gopher Invitational in September. Kent State are led by head coach Jon Mills of Belleville, Ont. and have three Canadians currently on their roster with Team Canada – NextGen member Ben MacLean of Niagara Falls, Ont., Chris Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que. and James Newton of Ottawa. 2023 NextGen Ontario winner Isaiah Ibit of Ottawa will be a freshman in the fall of 2024. Kent State has been a feeder program to the PGA TOUR for Canadians in the past with Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith all having played for the Golden Flashes during their collegiate careers.

“Kent State has long been associated with excellence in Canadian golf, and we are very excited to welcome other college teams to compete in Canada for the first time and experience Muskoka in the fall,” said Jon Mills.

Penn State Nittany Lions (Co-Host)
The Nittany Lions earned four top-10 finishes during the fall season. Penn State are led by head coach Mark Leon of Toronto and have one Canadian on the roster—Zach Smith of Brampton, Ont.—who will be a sophomore in 2024.

“As a proud Canadian and Penn State Nittany Lion, I’m very proud to be hosting some of the best NCAA programs at the Canadian Collegiate Invitational at Oviinbyrd. Canada continues to emerge as a globally significant golfing country and Penn State looks forward to this groundbreaking event,” said Mark Leon.

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
The RedHawks have earned four top-10 finishes during the fall season including a pair of fourth place finishes at the Island Resort Collegiate and the Virtues Intercollegiate. Miami features two Canadians on the roster—Cameron Pero of Bloomfield, Ont. and Michael Weber of Burlington, Ont.—who will both be entering their junior years in 2024.

Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines have had a successful fall season winning two tournaments in September. Michigan won their season opener, the Island Resort Intercollegiate, finishing at 30-under and followed it up a couple weeks later winning the Virtues Intercollegiate with a score of 34-under. Michigan closed the fall season with a runner-up finish at The Clerico. Michigan’s Director of Sports Performance and Assistant Coach is Matt Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont. The Wolverines also have two Canadians on their roster—Hunter Thomson of Calgary, Alta. and Bavake Sihota of Caledon, Ont.—who will both be seniors in 2024.

Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans finished as runners-up in the Folds of Honor Collegiate tournament in September. 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion and 2023 World Amateur Team Championships Team Canada member, Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. will be entering his senior year for the Spartans in 2024.

Missouri Tigers
The Tigers enjoyed a strong fall season with one win and one runner-up finish in six tournaments. The Tigers were co-winners with Wake Forest at the Chicago Highlands Invitational in September after finishing at 31-under. Missouri opened the season with a runner-up finish at the Golfweek Collegiate Kickoff, finishing 13-under.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame are led by head coach John Handrigan of Bracebridge, Ont. and have one Canadian on the roster—Owen Mullen of Truro, N.S.—who will be a senior in 2024. The Fighting Irish won their first tournament of the fall season, the Folds of Honor Collegiate by overcoming a five-shot deficit on the final two holes of the tournament, finishing at 8-over.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Scarlet Knights earned five consecutive top-10 finishes during the fall season. Current senior and team captain Xavier Marcoux is a Canadian citizen and represents Canada in competition.

Washington State Cougars
The Cougars have had a strong fall season earning four top-five finishes in five tournaments. The Cougars finished as runners-up at the Golfweek Fall Challenge and the Oregon State Invitational and added a third-place finish at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational. 2021 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion and Team Canada member Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta. is a recent graduate.

The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) have announced an important new program which will extend further support and recognition to facilities for sustainability and climate action.

This long-term project is being delivered by the two Canadian associations in collaboration with the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, which is the international not-for-profit entirely dedicated to establishing golf as a leader in this field.

Core components of the initiative include:

• Free provision of GEO’s OnCourse Program for sustainable golf facilities and course management
• Access to annual Sustainable Golf Scorecards and Carbon Footprints
• Communications strategies that spotlight golf’s positive environmental stewardship
• Creation of a valuable industry data bank to support golf’s positive story
• Annual awards and internationally accredited certification
• Aligned strategies, goals and member support from both NGCOA Canada and CGSA 

“The rapid movement in sustainability is fundamentally critical to the future of golf, and in particular the ability to successfully operate golf courses”, stated Jeff Calderwood, CEO of the NGCOA Canada. “This initiative delivers new solutions supporting management efficiency, the popularity of our game throughout Canada, golf’s positive brand, and the long-term profitability of our golf businesses.”

“Climate change and loss of biodiversity are concerns across society and, as land managers, we have an important role to play,” added Dustin Zdan, President of the CGSA. “This program provides recognition for the stewardship work that our superintendents deliver, while our industry demonstrates to society and governments that golf is an effective environmental leader.” 

The GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation has been supporting golf in more and more countries around the world each year. Jonathan Smith, executive director of GEO, was very supportive of expanding their support in Canada. 

“Congratulations to the NGCOA Canada and CGSA for stepping forward and demonstrating this sustainability commitment,” said Smith. “The programs, tools and recognition are purely designed to help facility and association leaders to better review and quantify what they are already doing; to identify areas for further focus; to build more effective communication plans; and to accelerate their profile as a climate conscious community of golf businesses.”

In parallel to this golf course operations initiative, it should be noted that Golf Canada is also demonstrating leadership by working with partners such as GEO for sustainability programs at the RBC Canadian Open and the CPKC Women’s Open, as well as their own Amateur events. Collectively, the Canadian golf industry is positioning the sport and industry very effectively for the future of sustainability.

Golf course operators and superintendents are advised to watch for further details and participation opportunities being released by both the NGCOA Canada and CGSA.

How is the treatment of 9-hole scores changing under the WHS™ in 2024?

Currently, one 9-hole score must be combined with another to create an 18-hole Score Differential™ before it can be counted for handicap purposes.

Beginning in 2024, when a player posts a 9-hole score, the WHS will automatically calculate an 18-hole Score Differential for the round.  This will be based on the player’s 9-hole Score Differential and expected Score Differential based on their current Handicap Index®.  This allows the 9-hole round to be considered in the player’s Handicap Index calculation right away.

As part of this change, golfers will be required to play and post all 9 holes with a valid 9-hole Course Rating™ and Slope Rating™ instead of the previous minimum of 7 holes.

What are the benefits of this change?

The growing number of golfers who regularly play 9-hole rounds will no longer have to wait for another 9-hole score for their Handicap Index to be updated.

In addition, it provides a better indicator of how a player will normally perform over 18 holes on a given day when compared to combining 9-hole scores from different days and under different playing conditions.

Finally, this new method produces a more consistent and comparable Handicap Index for golfers who post 9-hole scores. For example, under the current method:

• Combining two independent 9-hole scores often results in more volatility and is highly dependent on the order in which scores are combined.
• It is also common for two good 9-hole scores to be combined that produce an 18-hole Score Differential that is better than any of the player’s 18-hole scores made over 18 consecutive holes. The impact is an artificially low Handicap Index.

How will a golfer’s expected score be determined to create an 18-hole Score Differential?

Once the player’s 9-hole Score Differential has been calculated, it is combined with an expected Score Differential based on the player’s current Handicap Index to create an 18-hole Score Differential.

The expected score is based on the average Score Differential of a player with a given Handicap Index and a normal distribution of scores – so it is not specific to each player.

An expected score can be thought of as a neutral value, meaning that a good 9-hole round (relative to the player’s ability) will result in a good 18-hole Score Differential. An average 9-hole round will result in an average 18-hole Score Differential, etc.

Here is an example of how a 9-hole score is converted into an 18-hole Score Differential:

A player with a Handicap Index of 14.0 posts a 9-hole score of 41. Based on Course Rating™  and Slope Rating™  of the tees played, this results in a 9-hole Score Differential of 7.2. That value is then added to the player’s expected 9-hole Score Differential to determine an 18-hole Score Differential of 15.7, which will be entered into the player’s scoring record immediately.

When establishing a Handicap Index, how are 9-hole scores treated?

To establish a Handicap Index, a player must play and post a total of 54 holes, which can be made up of 9- and/or 18-hole scores. The use of expected score does not come into play until a golfer plays and posts the required 54 holes to establish a Handicap Index.

Once the player has posted scores from a total of 54 holes and an expected score can be determined for the player, an 18-hole Score Differential will be calculated for each 9-hole score and displayed within their scoring record. At this time the player will have established their initial Handicap Index.

How will the score-posting procedure change for a 9-hole score?

The procedure for posting a 9-hole score will not change.  Golfers can continue to post scores as they always have through the Golf Canada App or Golf Canada Score Centre.  Golfers can post their scores Hole-by-Hole (recommended) or as an adjusted gross score. 

Please remember though, that in order to post a 9-hole score, golfers will be required to play and post all 9 holes with a valid 9-hole Course Rating™ and Slope Rating™ instead of the previous minimum of 7 holes.

What is changing about the way 10–17-hole scores are treated in 2024?

Currently, when 10 to 13 holes are played, scores made on holes 10 through 13 are disregarded and a 9-hole score is posted. When 14-17 holes are played, net par is used for the remaining holes to allow an 18-hole score to be posted.

Beginning in 2024, when a player with a Handicap Index plays 10-17 holes, a Score Differential will be created based on the holes played.  For the remaining holes not played, the player’s expected Score Differential will be added to that value to produce an 18-hole Score Differential.

To facilitate this change, when a player plays between 10-17 holes, they will be required to post their scores hole-by-hole so the appropriate Score Differential can be calculated from the holes that were played to combine with the expected score for the holes not played.

What are the benefits of this change?

10–17-hole rounds are uncommon for most players and are typically a result of circumstances such as darkness, inclement weather, or match play, this change will result in a premium being placed on the holes played, more flexibility in terms of posting scores, and more accurate Score Differentials. Here’s why:

• Today, scores made on holes 10-13 are disregarded if fewer than 14 holes are played. The change adds flexibility by allowing scores made on those holes to be used to create an 18-hole Score Differential.
• Currently, when 14-17 holes are played, net par is used on any remaining holes not played. By replacing net par with the use of expected score to produce an 18-hole Score Differential, players will see more equity and consistency – since the expected score is not course-specific or reliant upon the course’s stroke index allocation.

Note: Net par will still be available for limited use where practical, and at the discretion of the Handicap or Competition Committee, however, the expected score will be used as the default position for holes not played.

Here is an example of how an 18-hole Score Differential is calculated for a golfer who played only 14 holes:

A player with a Handicap Index of 10.0 plays 14 holes before stopping play due to severe weather. Through 14 holes, the player had an adjusted gross score of 64. After posting the 14-hole score hole-by-hole, a Score Differential will be calculated based on the score of 64 and the Course Rating information for the 14 holes played, and that result will be added to the expected Score Differential over 4 holes for a 10.0 Handicap Index player to determine an 18-hole Score Differential.

How will this change impact the score-posting procedure?

When posting a score where 10-17 holes have been played, the golfer will be required to designate when a hole has not been played. 

Please remember that if the golfer started the hole, but did not finish, then they are required to record a score using the “Most Likely Score” procedure (Rules of Handicapping, Rule 3.3).

If someone plays 10-17 holes, will it count as 18 holes for the purposes of establishing a Handicap Index?

When establishing a Handicap Index, or building up to 54 holes played and posted, if a player plays between 10 and 17 holes, the score made on the 9 holes with a 9-hole Course Rating and Slope Rating would be posted for handicap purposes. Any remaining holes would be disregarded.

What will the new minimum length requirement be for a course and/or set of tees to be issued a Course Rating and Slope Rating?

The World Handicap System has approved a low-end limit for courses to be issued a Course Rating and Slope Rating of 1,500 yards for 18-holes or 750 yards for 9-holes. This is a reduction from the current minimums of 3,000 yards for 18-holes and 1,500 yards for 9-holes.

As a result, there will be more golf courses that will qualify for a Course Rating and Slope Rating if desired.

What are the benefits of this change?

Scores will be acceptable for handicap purposes at shorter length golf courses and the Handicap Index can be used to determine a Course Handicap™/Playing Handicap™ for both casual rounds and competitive events at these shorter courses.

Also, as these courses are often played by either beginners or golfers with shorter hitting distances, it provides these players with the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of maintaining a Handicap Index.

Lastly, the change accommodates the growing number of short courses being built and shorter tees that are being added at full length courses.

How does a course that is now eligible get scheduled for a rating visit?

Any golf course interested in obtaining a Course Rating and Slope Rating is encouraged to contact their Provincial Association to confirm eligibility and schedule a visit from a Course Rating Team.