(ACTON, ONT.) – The PGA of Canada’s marquee championship is headed to one of country’s most unique and challenging layouts.

Sixty-four of the best PGA of Canada playing professionals will come together at Wyndance Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ont., this June and battle for the historic P.D. Ross trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf.

“It’s fitting that our marquee championship will be played on one of the biggest, boldest and toughest golf courses anywhere in Canada,” PGA of Canada president Gregg Schubert said. “Since the championship was brought back to life four years ago, it’s been played on some unbelievable golf courses, but this year’s venue of Wyndance will surely open the eyes of the 64 players in the field.”

As has been the case since the championship was re-launched in 2010, this year’s championship will be contested as a match play event with players from the four brackets-Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Al Balding and Moe Norman-looking to advance through the five rounds to the final championship match.

The first course in Canada designed by Greg Norman, Wyndance has been meticulously shaped to take advantage of the existing terrain and sandy rock faces of the reclaimed gravel pit site upon which it was built. Large waste bunkers, loose rock outcroppings, and fairways lined with fescue convey the aura of playing golf in the American Southwest, a feeling reinforced by the architecture of the clubhouse.

“We are honoured to host the PGA of Canada’s most prestigious and historic championship at Wyndance Golf Club,” said Grant Holcomb, ClubLink’s Regional Executive Director of Operations. “Wyndance is one of the most unique and popular clubs in the ClubLink family and we look forward to having a field of this calibre challenge it.”

In 2013, Seymour Creek Golf Centre’s Bryn Parry stood alone hoisting the historic P.D. Ross trophy high above his head, besting Billy Walsh of the Fairtree Golf Centre in Markham, Ont., 2-up.

Parry will not only look to become the first back-to-back winner of the championship since Knudson won in 1976 and 1977, but will also have an opportunity to once again take over the No. 1 spot atop the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. He currently sits in second with 243 points, just eight points behind Walsh. But with 60 points awarded to the winner of this June’s championship, Parry has an opportunity to jump to the top of the rankings.

Rounding out the top 10 players from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC are Dave Levesque (Club de Golf La Prairie); Mike Belbin (Royal Mayfair Golf Club); Danny King (The Performance Academy at Magna); Eric Laporte (Club de Golf Montcalm); Brian McCann; Lindsay Bernakevitch (Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club); Brad Clapp (Chilliwack Golf Club); and Brett Burgeson (Country Hills Golf Club).

The player who sits atop the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC at the conclusion of the PGA Championship of Canada earns an exemption into this year’s RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal Golf Club in L’Île-Bizard, Que.

Past champions of the PGA Championship of Canada include Moe Norman, George Knudson, Al Balding, Bob Panasik, Wilf Homenuik, Stan Leonard, Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer.

The 2014 PGA Championship of Canada takes place June 23-27 with the Mr. Lube Tournament for Life Pro-Am kicking things off on Monday, June 23. For more information about the Pro-Am and how to be become involved, click here.

The first PGA Championship of Canada was contested in 1912 at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club.

In the final round of the 2014 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Kevin Stadler’s ball found its way into an interesting location – nestled into a tree, which lined the fairway on the par-5 18^th hole.

Stadler, recent champion of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, had his errant tee shot retrieved from the tree by Jordan Spieth’s caddie.  You can see from the video below that there is some debate as to who – or what – is in the tree.

Some of our inquisitive members inquired following the situation on Sunday afternoon as to why and how Stadler proceeded in the manner in which he did, by dropping the ball beneath the tree, which previously housed his ball.

This wasn’t the only recent misadventure Stadler had with his ball finding foliage on the golf course, as he made an unfortunate double-bogey last week before claiming the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Under Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable), Stadler was able to deem his ball unplayable and proceed as he did in the video above.  Rule 28 provides that the player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard.  The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.

If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:

a) Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b) Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or

c) Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.

If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.

When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.

From the video, we can presume that Stadler invoked either option b or c from Rule 28 as outlined above.  Decision 28/11 provides guidance when a ball is unplayable in a tree and the player opts to take relief at the expense of a one-stroke penalty:

28/11            Ball Unplayable in Tree and Player Opts to Drop Within Two Club-Lengths

Q. A player’s ball is eight feet off the ground, lodged in a tree. The player deems the ball unplayable. May the player proceed under option c of Rule 28 which permits him to drop a ball within two club-lengths of where his ball lay unplayable?

A. Yes. The player would be entitled to drop a ball within two club-lengths of the point on the ground immediately below the place where the ball lay in the tree. In some instances this may allow the player to drop a ball on a putting green.

The caveat to the procedure noted above – and the reason for Speith’s caddie scaling the tree to retrieve Stadler’s ball – is that the player is required to find and identify his ball.  The necessity in finding and identifying the ball not only satisfies that the ball in the tree is in fact Stadler’s ball (allowing him to proceed under Rule 28b or c), but also provides a point of reference, as required, to proceed under Rule 28b or c.

For the second week in a row, we’ve seen how the world’s best golfers can use the Rules of Golf to their advantage and hopefully you can employ the use of Rule 28 correctly, if you find your ball in an unplayable position.

For more information on the Rules of Golf, please click here.

To ask a Rules of Golf question, please click here.

For more information on how to proceed in various Rules of Golf situations, guidance on the Golf Canada Handicap System and more, please consult our Rules of Golf publications – for purchase in Golf Canada’s eStore, or at your local book retailer.

Alberta Golf has announce its 2014 championship schedule. The season kicks off June 1st with Alberta Open Qualifying and concludes September 11th with the renewal of the Alberta Men’s Interclub, this year being played at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club.

With 13 Regional Qualifiers and 14 Championships province wide, the 2014 tournament season will once again make for a busy and exciting summer for Alberta Golf.

Highlighting the schedule is the 101st edition of the Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship and 79th Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship. Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat will play host to the Men in July, marking the second year in a row the club has offered it’s facilities for an Alberta Golf major championship.

“We have a great relationship with Desert Blume after our rewarding experience at the Mid-Amateur Championship last season” stated Rob Forshner, Coordinator, Rules and Competitions for Alberta Golf. “The transition from hosting the Men’s Mid-Amateur to Men’s Amateur should be a seamless one from a tournament operations standpoint and the course is one of the best conditioned tracks in Alberta. Desert Blume is sure to be a difficult test for the best amateur golfers in the province.”

Two-time defending Ladies Amateur Champion Jocelyn Alford of Calgary will have a unique opportunity this summer as she vies for a three-peat, a rare achievement that hasn’t been accomplished since Alberta Golf Hall of Famer and 17-time Amateur Champion Betty Stanhope Cole won the title from 1974-1976. Alford will get her chance at the feat when the Championship get’s underway at Whitetail Crossing Golf Club in Mundare on July 1-4.

A change from previous years, the 2014 schedule will see both the Alberta Junior Girls and Frank Lindsay Alberta Junior Boys Championship coincide during the second week in July at Bearspaw Country Club in Calgary. Formerly a 72-hole Championship, the Junior Girls Championship has been shortened to 54 holes, with a 36-hole cut to the top 30+ ties.

“Our provincial coaches provided feedback on the format for the Junior Girls Championship and after a lengthy discussion amongst our Rules & Competitions Committee, it was agreed to move forward with the changes as a way to achieve a more competitive tournament. Bearspaw has been on board with the idea of hosting both Championships from the very start, and we applaud their willingness to accommodate such a large commitment,” said Forshner.

Remaining a 72-hole competition, the Junior Boys Championship will be played under the same format as last season. The official dates for the two Championships are July 8-10 for the Junior Girls Championship, and July 8-11 for the Junior Boys Championship.

Having previously hosted for 13 consecutive years from 1987-1999 as a Canadian Tour event, the Alberta Open, presented by LONGball Inc. and Fidelity Investments, notably returns to Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka. Known for its homage to European links design, Wolf Creek combines its pot bunkers and knee height fescue in a wind swept environment, for what is sure to produce a challenging test for Alberta’s best professional and amateur golfers. The 2014 Alberta Open will be played from June 24-26 on Wolf Creek’s ‘Links’ course.

Whitecourt Golf & Country Club will play host to the Senior Men’s Championship on August 5-7. Floyd Kilgore will look to defend his title on the Les Furber designed golf course known as an enjoyable and challenging track. 2013 proved to be a big year for the Senior Men at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship as Alberta won the team competition and Albertan David Schultz took home the individual prize.

Near the end of July, Jackie Little of British Columbia will have a chance to defend her title at the Senior Ladies Championship on July 23-25 at the Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club. The 54 hole competition brings together the best players in Alberta, and is routinely frequented by a few of British Columbia’s best. The Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club, a club with a distinguished history, will provide a grand setting for what’s sure to be another excellent field in 2014.

Athabasca Golf & Country Club will kick off the majors this year on June 17-19 when the club hosts the Alberta Mid-Amateur Championship. Carved amidst the natural beauty of Northern Alberta’s forest, the narrow tree lined holes at Athabasca Golf & Country Club produce one of the toughest golf courses in Alberta, offering the field a true test in tournament golf.

The Men’s Mid Handicap Championship and Ladies Mid Handicap & Marg Ward Championship will be played in and around the Edmonton area. Glendale Golf & Country Club, one of the premier layouts in all of Alberta will host the Men’s Championship on August 25-26. And Camrose Golf Course, host of a Senior Men’s Championship Qualifier in July, will take on the Ladies Marg Ward/Mid Handicap Championship on September 2-3.

Also of note, the North and South Ladies Team Classics will be played at the Devon Golf Club and Coyote Creek Golf and RV Resort on August 20-21.  Designated as Golf Fore the Cure events, a portion of each player’s registration fee will go to the Canadian Cancer Societies fight against cancer.

Registration is now open for all events. Click here to register and for additional information.

To say that the 2013 PGA of Ontario Teacher of the Year is a man in motion might be a bit of an understatement.  The past 12 months have been a whirlwind for Nick Starchuk who splits his teaching time between the Golf Lounge in Richmond Hill, The Golf Lab in Vaughan, The Oakville Indoor Golf Center and at Mississaugua G&CC from April 1 to October 1.

That’s quite the busy schedule. And, when you add in his work on YouTube, his 3,200 Twitter followers, Facebook and his personal business website, it seems that Starchuk is just about everywhere.

It hasn’t always been that way for the 36-year-old Ottawa native who moved to Oakville to kick-start his professional golf teaching career back in 2005. He’d just spent two years playing mini-tours and didn’t seem to find the groove, so he joined the PGA of Canada and turned his attention to teaching. He fondly remembers duking it out on the range at Glen Abbey Golf Club in 2005 and 2006 with the likes of Reggie Millage, Connor O’Shea, Sean Casey and Sean Foley as they fought to find their place in the golf teaching/coaching landscape.

“I think once I found that I could do this for a living with other “truth seekers” I was hooked.  By 2006 I had a full schedule teaching 10 to 12 hours a day, but half of those lessons were free,” says Starchuk who first picked up the game going into Grade 9 when his parents bought a home backing onto Kanata Lakes Golf and Country Club and he joined Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Hylands Golf Club shortly thereafter. “That was the business model for the first few years, get out there and teach and learn and get some exposure so people would see you and get to know your name.”

“Today, I don’t have to take everything that comes my way. Most of my students sign up for six months to a year,” says Starchuk, who married his long-time sweetheart, Krystyna, back in September.  She was the first person he met when he showed up for work at Glen Abbey in 2005.

“I like to keep it one-on-one when it comes to teaching. I’m not a big fan of group lessons. I believe you need face time with your students and you really have to listen to what they are saying and feeling about their game.”

Starchuk, who relies heavily on FlightScope for his teaching, has an insatiable appetite for learning and understanding more about the golfers’ swing, mind and body.

As a professional, he has traveled across North America to learn from the best instructors, trainers, coaches, scientists and mentors to feed his desire for answers. He has attended more than 300 hours of professional development seminars on topics such as fitness, biomechanics and the mental game of golf. Starchuk is also a member of the Proponent Group which is a worldwide group of the leading golf instructors who help golf professionals create brands and learn how to market, advertise and align themselves with other groups as the days of simply being a PGA member at a club are gone.

While the PGA of Ontario and PGA of Canada Teacher of the Year Award have been on his radar for the last two or three years, it was probably his work at Mississaugua this past season that finally pushed him over the top. He received the green light from the club’s Director of Golf, Dennis Firth to launch The Academy at Mississaugua.

“Nick’s state of the art programs covered all areas; highlighted by specialty schools such as Wedge Masters and The 4 Keys to Putting. His teaching style gracefully balances state of the art technology & teaching aids with timeless fundamentals,” Firth says.

Starchuk also revived the virtually dead junior golf program at the club with over 40 juniors enrolling in its first year. He created and championed a brand new initiative called 3.6.9. Junior Golf Night (think 3, 6, 9 holes of golf based on age and ability). This fun and informative weekly program, provided 30 minutes of supervised coaching followed by 90 minutes of on-course activities and games. Different from traditional instructional program, juniors aged 7 thru 18, were introduced to etiquette, course care, different golf formats while understanding the respect of rules and camaraderie for their playing partners.

Two junior programs he’s most proud of are the Muskoka Woods Golf Academy and a junior program at St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School in Oakville. Both were founded in 2006 to offer juniors the ability to experience golf at an early age and have impacted hundreds of youngsters over the years.

Along the way he also spent the 2009/2010 school year working full-time at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy in Orlando training nine international teenagers, several who spoke very little English. Starchuk was responsible for overseeing their daily golf practice, workouts, school and traveling for tournaments and the experience allowed him to truly evolve into a golf coach for elite juniors.

His goal down the road is to provide his students the best opportunity to reach their full potential. To do that he’ll continue to focus on mind, body and swing for golfers of all ages and abilities.

(Calgary Herald) Calgary’s Ryan Yip traveled halfway around the world to try to further his golf career on the weekend.

And the move paid off.

The 29-year-old, who grew up playing at Bearspaw Country Club in Calgary, won an Asian Tour Qualifying School event at Imperial Lakeview Golf Club in Phetchaburi, Thailand, on Saturday.

USGA elects Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. as its 63rd president

Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., of St. Louis, Mo., will serve a one-year term as the 63rd president of the United States Golf Association (USGA). The election of officers and the 15-member USGA Executive Committee also took place this past weekend during the USGA’s Annual Meeting in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

As president, O’Toole, 56, assumes the leadership of the more than 300 professional staff and nearly 1,200 volunteers who serve the 119-year-old organization, and succeeds Glen D. Nager, of Washington, D.C., who served for two years as USGA president.

“It is an honor and a privilege to lead such a noble organization,” said O’Toole during remarks made at the USGA Annual Meeting. “I am excited and energized to continue my service to the Association and keenly aware of the magnitude of the profound responsibilities that accompany this role.”

Under O’Toole’s leadership, the USGA will continue to focus on the core priorities that have been established in the Association’s strategic plan: to conduct the most exemplary championships in golf, to provide worldwide excellence in governing the game, and to enhance critical services that support the game and those who play it. The USGA’s efforts and investment in these strategic areas are vital to maintaining a game that is vibrant and sustainable. Building on the USGA’s considerable efforts of the past, O’Toole challenged the Association’s volunteers and staff and the industry at large to strive for a game that is affordable, environmentally responsible, in balance with modern lifestyles, and – importantly – welcoming and accessible to all who wish to play.

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ClubLink acquires Hidden Lake Golf Club

ClubLink has acquired the 36-hole Hidden Lake Golf Club in Burlington, Ont., and plans to continue to operate it as a daily-fee facility with local membership programs.

“Hidden Lake Golf Club has a long history of not only hosting many professional and amateur events over the years, but also of providing an outstanding experience to the public golfer in the western Greater Toronto Area,” said ClubLink President and CEO Rai Sahi. “Our intention is to continue serving the daily-fee market while offering locally based membership opportunities.”

George Tidd, managing partner with Terry Parker of Hidden Lake Golf Club, said he was pleased with ClubLink’s vision for the future of the facility.

“Since 1979, we have grown this into one of the most popular golf courses in the Burlington-Oakville region by offering the public golfer a great experience at an affordable fee,” said Mr. Tidd. “We couldn’t be happier that ClubLink, with its commitment to growing the game at all levels, plans to continue this legacy.”

Hidden Lake Golf Club consists of two championship courses that cover approximately 500 acres of picturesque Niagara Escarpment landscape. Opened in 1962 as the 18-hole Lake Medad Golf and Country Club, it was purchased in 1979 by a local consortium led by Mr. Tidd and Mr. Parker, both golf professionals, and renamed Hidden Lake Golf Club.

Hidden Lake has served as qualifier for the RBC Canadian Open on many occasions.

Click here to read more.

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada has announced the creation of a World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship beginning in 2014.

The inaugural international championship – which will be contested September 26^th to October 1^st at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. – will be conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario.

The championship will feature three-player teams of athletes under the age of 18 representing 15 countries. As host country, Canada will field a second squad in the competition.

The 16-team field will compete over 72 holes for both individual and team honours. Qualifying countries for the inaugural championship will be invited based on their performances at the 2012 World Amateur in Turkey.

The 2014 World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship will mark the first official playing of a female junior championship of its kind – the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup is a boys’ only event that has been contested for almost 20 years.

“The creation of the World Junior Girls Golf Championship provides a world-class international championship for Canada’s top female junior golfers to benchmark themselves against the world’s best,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “For nearly two decades, the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup has provided an incredible opportunity for the world’s top junior boys to compete internationally. It’s exciting to partner with the Golf Association of Ontario in creating an event that we strongly believe will evolve into the premiere junior girls’ team and individual golf competition in the world.”

The creation of the World Junior Girls Golf Championship will see Golf Canada work closely with the Golf Association of Ontario in conducting the international competition for a minimum of three years in the province of Ontario.

“The World Junior Girls Golf Championship represents an exciting opportunity for the Golf Association of Ontario and Golf Canada to further align and work collaboratively to produce a world class event,” said Golf Association of Ontario Executive Director Steve Carroll.  “With the support of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, golf development in Ontario and Canada will benefit from important legacy components associated with the championship including skill development clinics, officials training initiatives, officials mentoring activities and a coaching summit.”

In addition to a 72-hole competition, the championship will include skills competitions, an international golf coaches’ summit and golf clinics outside of tournament play in the spirit of establishing an interactive junior golf festival around the championship.

The event – which is supported by the International Golf Federation, will receive grant funding by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Other funding partners will include the Golf Canada Foundation (Women’s Golf Fund) as well as Central Counties and the Pan-Am Games.

“The Government of Ontario values the power of sport hosting as an excellent opportunity to showcase our beautiful province, encourage the development of sport infrastructure and generate increased economic activity in communities across the province,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport for the Pan/Parapan American Games “We welcome the World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship to Ontario — as a celebration of our athletes and an opportunity to build our reputation as a premier destination to host international sporting events.”

The Angus Glen Golf Club will also play host to the debut of golf at the 2015 Pan Am Games from July 16-19, 2015. The World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship will provide training opportunities for officials and volunteers registered for the historic event that is set for the south course at Angus Glen.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – The finish wasn’t what Jimmy Walker wanted. The result is what he’s come to expect.

Walker led by as many as six shots Sunday in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, only for it to be decided by his final putt. He ran his birdie attempt 5 feet by the hole and had to make that for par to close with a 2-over 74 and a one-shot win over Dustin Johnson and Jim Renner.

“It’s drama, man,” Walker said on the 18th green. “It was too much for me.”

But it was a familiar outcome for Walker, a 35-year-old Texan who only four months ago was regarded as one of the best players to have never won on the PGA Tour. This was his third win of the PGA Tour season, a streak that began in October about an hour away at the Frys.com Open.

Walker joined some exclusive company. He is only the fourth player in the last 20 years to win three times in his first eight starts to a season. The others are Tiger Woods (who has done it eight times), Phil Mickelson and David Duval.

For a brief moment, it looked as though Walker might have a chance to join Greg Norman and Sergio Garcia as players to lose a six-shot lead in the final round.

He was never seriously challenged until Johnson, and then Renner, put together a strong finish. Johnson, a two-time winner at Pebble Beach, closed with a 66 on a card that included three bogeys. Renner, who had yet to make a cut all year, made five birdies on the back nine for a 67.

Walker made a 10-foot birdie on the 11th hole and was seemingly on his way.

But he hit a poor chip on the par-3 12th for a bogey. He three-putted the 13th for a bogey. He settled down for three simple pars and was two shots clear with two to play. Walker three-putted the 17th, missing a 3 1/2-foot par putt. He tried to play it safe on the 18th with an iron off the tee that found the right rough.

From 25 feet above the hole, he hit the birdie putt too hard and had one anxious moment.

“I hate three-putting,” Walker said. “I had two of them back there, and definitely didn’t want another one on the last.”

Walker finished on 11-under 277 and earned $1.188 million, expanding his lead in the Ryder Cup standings to more than $1 million over Mickelson in second place. The Ryder Cup is based on PGA Tour earnings, though there are still four majors (which count double), three World Golf Championships and The Players Championship remaining.

For now, the stars are aligned for Walker better than anything he sees through his high-powered telescope.

“I just go out and play golf,” Walker said. “This is what I want to do and I’ve worked really hard to do it, to be here, and to be in this position and it’s really cool.”

Jordan Spieth had to return Sunday morning to complete his third round, which ended with his sixth three-putt of the round for a 78. He faced Pebble at its most vicious throughout the third round, though he bounced back with a bogey-free 67 to at least tie for fourth with Kevin Na (69).

And he hasn’t lost his sense of humour.

“Yesterday was a day where you want to play Pebble Beach in that weather once in your life,” Spieth said. “You just don’t want it be Saturday when you’re in the lead.”

Chalk it up to another learning experience for Spieth, who said his 36 putts were more a product of not having the speed than the less-than-smooth quality.

“I felt like I needed birdies when I didn’t,” he said.

Another strong finish belonged to Graeme McDowell, returning to Pebble for the first time since his U.S. Open title in 2010. He closed with a 67, happy with a week in which he would have settled for just knocking some rust off his game before heading to Riviera next week.

Outside of Walker, however, the big winner was Renner.

He was among the Web.com Tour graduates who played poorly in the four “finals” event that determine priority ranking, and struggled to get into tournaments. In his fifth start, he not only made his first cut, Renner earned a spot at Riviera next week and will be in better position to get into events over the next couple of months.

“It was pretty big,” Renner said. “I just knew I needed a good week. My back was up against the wall, and that’s something I’m familiar with and I don’t mind it. But I’m happy that I freed myself up a little bit for the rest of the year.”

DIVOTS: Jim Renner and John Harkey Jr., the CEO of Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc., won the pro-am portion of the tournament. … Tim Wilkinson, playing in the final group with Jimmy Walker, closed with a 73 and tied for seventh. That gets him into the Northern Trust Open next week at Riviera. … Walker was the fourth Pebble Beach winner since 1994 to shoot 74 in the final round – Johnny Miller in 1994, Dustin Johnson in 2010, and Graeme McDowell in the 2010 U.S. Open… Canada’s Mike Weir and Brad Fritsch failed to make the 36 hole cut.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Michael Allen won the Allianz Championship on Sunday for his sixth Champions Tour title, beating Duffy Waldorf with a two-putt birdie on the second hole of a playoff.

After Allen holed out on the par-5 18th, Waldorf had a chance to extend the playoff, but missed an 8-foot birdie putt after finding the front bunker in two.

Allen closed with a 3-under 69 to match Waldorf at 18-under 198 on The Old Course at Broken Sound. Waldorf, winless on the 50-and-old tour after winning four times on the PGA Tour, shot 67.

They each birdied the 18th in regulation and on the first extra hole.

In the first round, Allen had become the ninth player to shoot a 60 on the Champions Tour. A missed 4-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole Sunday cost Allen a chance to win in regulation.

Chien Soon Lu was third at 17 under after a 69. Tom Lehman was another stroke back after a 68.

Mark Calcavecchia shot a 64 to tie for 15th at 10 under. He had seven consecutive birdies, one off the Champions Tour record. Calcavecchia set the PGA Tour record with nine straight birdies in the 2009 Canadian Open.

St. Catharines, Ont. native,  Rod Spittle, finished 8-under at 208. He tied for 25th. Jim Rutledge of Victoria, B.C. finished 5-under and tied for 39th.

On Saturday, February 9^th, 2014, Douglas Alexander of London, Ont. was introduced as the 111^th President of Golf Canada. Below is the acceptance speech shared by the London Hunt and Country Club member during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting.

Past Presidents, ladies and gentlemen.  Thank you for your welcome – and thank you for the honour of allowing me to be the President of this great organization.  This is a game, a sport I love and I can assure you that I am excited about what we can achieve together in the year ahead.

I am going to share with you my views on the state of the game and what I see in the year ahead for Golf Canada.  I will share my reflections shortly, but before I do that, let me start by properly recognizing the contribution made by our Past President Mike Carroll. 

Mike, we all thank you for all you have done for Golf Canada. You have provided very effective leadership in a year when we have made significant progress. Our financial results are the best in many years and you have encouraged us to focus on matters of strategic importance. I believe the gathering of all of the Provincial volunteer leaders in Prince Edward Island last fall was a pivotal moment in deepening our relationships with our partners.  It is an initiative we will build upon as we move forward.  You have been very generous with your time, for which we also thank Ann and your family, and you have shared your passion for the game, your wisdom and advice. I am delighted you will continue to be at the Board table throughout the coming year and I will be most appreciative of your advice and support.  Please join me in acknowledging our Past President, Mike Carroll.

As Mike mentioned a few moments ago, I took up the game at a very young age in Scotland so there is no question that many of my perspectives have been shaped by my introduction to the game and the way it is played there.  

In Scotland, golf is part of our culture. I played with my grandmother as often as I could and with some people who are still my closest friends today.   I would go out and play nine holes in the evening with my mum and dad – it was the one family activity that we all enjoyed and we spent quality time together.  Fifty plus years later I still view golf as a game that at its heart and soul is about camaraderie and friendship. 

Where else do you get to spend several hours walking with your friends, sharing conversations and laughs, enjoying some competition and afterwards sitting down and enjoying a drink and a bite to eat?  What other game has such a deep grounding in integrity and sportsmanship – calling penalties on ourselves and being quick to congratulate a player on a good shot.  From my perspective the qualities or the experiences that are at the heart of the game are as strong as ever. 

I reflect on starting the game at the age of five and then think of my friend Ed Ervasti who recently celebrated his centennial birthday. He plays four to five times per week and is disappointed if doesn’t shoot his age or better every time he plays. What an example of golf as the game of a lifetime. For Ed, it’s as much about competition as it is about camaraderie.  We can all relate.

So, if I can build a case that the game of golf is something that we love and are passionate about, why are there discussion about the challenges in the game and the need for change.  There has been much discussion since the HackGolf concept was introduced at the PGA Show two weeks ago, a discussion that has continued into the hospitality suite this week!!

Certainly any dialogue about the game is good and I welcome the discussion. In reading about the initiative, I wonder why they chose to ask what folks didn’t like or would change, rather than encouraging golfers to share what drove their own passion for the game. The phrasing of the ask ultimately dictates the tone of the response.

As I mentioned earlier, I believe the game is strong, but I would suggest it is perhaps how we play the game that can be improved.  Time, cost, length, difficultly are all factors bandied about however, I’d suggest that in most communities across the country, there are course options that present wonderful alternatives.

I am currently reading the “The Kingdom of Golf in America” by Richard Moss and he offers some interesting insights.  He argues that part of the great enjoyment of the game is the challenge it offers each of us every time we play. In his words, mountain climbing will not become more popular by blasting the tops off the mountains.  We cannot take away the challenge – but also we probably do not need the supply of 7,000 yard courses with deep hazards and punishing greens.

We need a balance.  We have to be aware of social and cultural changes – the game of golf and golf clubs originated as places where friends came together.  Today, all of us – and younger generations in particular – can communicate through social media and lay claim to their number of friends as a badge of honour on Facebook. 

I think we’re all very conscious of what’s happening in society. We probably don’t spend as much quality time as we’d like with friends and loved ones. You don’t have to go someplace to connect with friends – technology makes it easy. We don’t spend quality time with those closest to us – that’s more of a cultural issue than a golf issue, but it’s certainly impacted our sport.

As we move forward I believe it is critical that we respect the traditions of our game, but be relevant for modern society.  That means that we must protect our core values, but be prepared to make changes to adapt to current cultures.  I think we are making progress and we must recognize them and promote them.

Equipment is better than it’s ever been. For the recreational player a ball that flies further and a club that is easier to hit is a welcome development.

The quality of teaching, coaching and program delivery has never been stronger thanks to the efforts of PGA of Canada professionals.

Initiative like Tee-it-Forward remind us that golfers always have the choice to play a course that fits their game.  While we may aspire to play like the PGA TOUR players we watch on a Sunday, the reality is we don’t hit the ball as far.  More importantly, I would argue strongly that golf is more fun when we can reach greens more easily and play the courses as they were designed to be played.

There is a greater awareness than ever about what courses can do – both with conditioning and setup – to impact the golfer experience.  Again the vast majority of us are not good enough to be playing on Augusta-like greens. I played in Scotland last fall when it is questionable if any of the greens were running above 10 on the stimpmeter – and we had a wonderful time.  Let’s make sure courses are set up for enjoyment, not difficulty.

The rules of golf are critical to the integrity of a competition – I’ve played in club, provincial and national events and understand how the rules protect the entire playing field. But the rules don’t dictate any golfer’s ability to enjoy the game. It’s a false argument to suggest the rules are driving people away.

Handicapping is the great equalizer in our sport – that doesn’t preclude golfers from negotiating strokes on the first tee. Any golfer regardless of ability can compete equitably and that is something unique to our sport.

Golfers should be encouraged to be competitive to their own degree of comfort; to fully test one’s game and strive to improve but not stress about it; to enjoy the challenge and to share the experience with friends.

And finally, and most importantly, I think clubs and courses are better understanding the opportunities that come by making their facilities welcome to all members of the family and developing programs that will bring children into the game.

I don’t believe we need to change the game to make it more fun. I think we need to do a better job of selling the experience of golf. Selling the idea of spending quality time with friends and family; selling the values and integrity that golf can offer our children.

I know the people in this room are prepared to tackle the challenges that face our game. Outside of these meetings, we need to be leaders in every sense. We need to be ambassadors. If we’re not talking up the sport, marketing what makes golf great, who will?  

As I begin this term as president, I’ve challenged myself to be a vocal advocate of the sport. I look forward to working closely with the (Golf Canada CEO) Scott Simmons and the staff, our volunteers and our industry partners.  As leaders in the industry – whether at the club, provincial or national level – it’s our responsibility to be the most vocal ambassadors for what makes the game great.

Let me offer a few comments on my vision for Golf Canada – it is a question I have been asked many times in recent weeks.  There is a smart answer I could give that says I don’t have a vision – because simply we all share One Vision – and I honestly don’t believe it is something that any president should bring forward as an individual. We have worked collectively to develop our vision for the future and in the course of the last few days, we have shared the progress we have made – and the work that remains to be done.

I am very comfortable with our role as the National Sports Organization and the four pillars in our plan – participation, excellence, capacity and interaction. It’s important for all of us to understand what it means to be the National Sport Organization and governing body of golf in this country. The four pillars represent the areas of focus that drive our strategic plan. It means getting real serious with what we need to do.

I want to build on the initiatives started by (former president) Mike Carroll and our past Boards. It’s encouraging that Golf Canada and the provincial golf associations – with buy in at both the staff and board level – are working collaboratively to promote, market and support the game. Synergies – working together to make an impact greater than any of us could do on our own.

I want to better understand how we can work with all of our partners in the golf industry for the betterment of the game. 

I want to understand what the course owners and managers are doing to welcome new participants and how can we help.

I want to get a better sense of what superintendants have planned to impact the golfer experience and how we can promote it.

I’m just as eager to find out how PGA of Canada professionals are delivering quality golf activities at the club level and how we can support it. Golf has a wonderful story and I want to help tell share it.

Let me close by saying that I am encouraged by the state of the game in Canada. Golf is a great game.  We are still the highest participation sport in Canada. 

Our athletes are performing against the world’s best.  We have Canadian heroes emerging – Graham DeLaet is performing at a very high level. We have more players on the LPGA, PGA and Web.com Tours than we have seen for many years and PGA TOUR Canada has made a tremendous first impression.  Our Team Canada National Amateur Squad players are winning and we have 9 players inside the top 100 of the World Amateur Rankings, including 16-year old Brooke Henderson. 

We have the Olympics just around the corner which will give the game greater profile. 

We have a clear direction with financial stability and we are committed to working closely with our partners across the country. Yes there are challenges – but we I am very confident we can deal with them. And my confidence is grounded in this room – with the commitment and passion you have shown in our meetings this week. 

I am looking forward to working with the Board and I want to offer a sincere thank you to everyone – volunteers and staff alike – who has agreed to give their time and talents in the year ahead.

I hope everyone comes away from this week’s Annual General Meeting leaving positive about the game; enthused about the many aspects in golf that can make our sport a more attractive option than the recreational activities we are competing with.

I would challenge everyone in this room when you head home to your respective provinces or golf clubs to look for opportunities to make a difference.  Let’s embrace every opportunity to better promote this great game.

Also, click here to check out Golf Canada’s Strategic Plan.

GOLD COAST, Australia – Cheyenne Woods won the Australian Ladies Masters on Sunday for her first major professional tour victory, holding off 17-year-old Australian amateur Minjee Lee by two strokes.

The 23-year-old Woods, Tiger Woods’ niece, closed with a 4-under 69 at Royal Pines to finish at 16-under 276. Lee also shot 69 in the event sanctioned by the European and Australian tours.

Woods birdied the par-5 15th to open a two-stroke lead, hitting a wedge from about 120 yards to 4 feet. On the par-5 18th, she matched Lee with a birdie, holing out from 1 1/2 feet.

From Phoenix, Woods is the daughter of Earl Dennison Woods Jr., Tiger Woods’ half brother.

Woods turned professional in 2012 after an All-America career at Wake Forest and her only previous pro victory came in 2012 in a SunCoast mini-tour event. In December, she missed the cut in the LPGA Tour’s qualifying tournament in a failed bid to earn a spot on the circuit.

Woods will play next week in the LPGA Tour-sanctioned Women’s Australian Open in Victoria.

South Africa’s Stacy Lee Bregman and Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth tied for third at 12 under. Bergman closed with a 72, and Lenmarth had a 70.

Canada’s Lorie Kane finished 50th after putting together rounds of 69-75-74-75 to finish 1-over.