Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).

Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.

Adam Bilyea, Tarandowah Golfers Club, Hole #12

Hello,

I was playing as a single and was joined on hole #4 by another single (thank goodness). We got to hole #12 and I selected a 7 iron. Yardage to pin was 157. 

I hit it pure and knew as soon as I hit it, it was going to be good. The ball landed a few feet on the green, took a nice hop and then rolled in. The foursome ahead of us that left the green and was on next tee box also got to celebrate it! This was on our first Men’s night, and on the closet to the pin hole. 

As you can see in the pic my puppy Rory photo bombed the picture. I guess he is my good luck charm. It was his very first round. 

Certainly, was a memorable evening.

Alex Dumais, Sirocco Golf Club, Hole #5

Good morning,

Thank you for the well wishes and the graphic! I will be printing it and putting it up with the flag I was given by the club that day.

I was grouped that morning with a member named Richard Wong, and two other public players, Phil and Dave. The hole was playing 179 yards and I hit a 6 iron.

There is a funny lesson regarding rules with this event:

I hit my tee shot left into a steep bank with trees, shrubs and fescue and was hoping for a bounce onto the green. The ball landed over a small mound, and I saw no bounce. I went up to the area the ball landed on the hill and searched for a minute or two and then decided to drop a ball to keep pace of play. I chipped my dropped ball close to the hole and tapped in to find my original tee shot in the bottom of the cup. Had this been in a tournament, I’m not sure if my tee shot would have counted as I had already put another ball in play (although maybe this could be discussed with a Rules official)? Regardless, always check the hole if you think there’s any chance the ball went in.

Thanks again,

Alex Dumais

Arlene King, Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club, Hole #14

Good morning,

What a lovely surprise receiving this note from you.

I serve as the Secretary of Zone 6 Ladies BCGA and have done for the past 6 years. I did not start playing golf until 8 years ago so to have these honors, as a Senior…well, it was well worth the wait!

On Wednesdays, I book a couple of tee times for members of the Qualicum Beach Legion Br#76. On this day I had the pleasure of playing with my husband, Wayne Brown alongside David Livingstone and Wendy Chisholm. The second group was made up of Dave Horrocks, Ben Villeneuve and Jenny Mann. They all joined us on the Clubhouse patio following the round to lift a glass in celebration.

Hole #14 is a par 3 and was playing 120 yards (uphill) that day. I got to the tee box with my 7W (Heavenwood) in hand and swung slow and easy, I could not see the ball finish, but it was on a good line and trajectory. By the time I got up to the green, Wayne was marking his ball and said, with a huge grin, “Can you get your junk outta the hole so the rest of us can putt?” WHOOOOHOOO! So excited. It was a fabulous day made even more special golfing with some of my favorite people! And yes, we enjoyed a pint and a toast to the golf gods. ?⛳?

Thanks for the opportunity to share my story. Ace number two is now in the books.

Thank you so much for taking an interest.

Best regards,

Arlene King

Bob Dubask, McKenzie Meadows Golf Club, Hole #17

Thank you very much for the email.

McKenzie Meadows Golf Club, Calgary, Alberta. It was May 4, 2023, at 4 PM (the “fourth” must’ve been with me!). Hole # 17 is a par 3 with water on the left. The hole was cut on the right front at about 116 yards. Strong wind blowing from left to right. I used a 7 iron and made what I thought was a pretty decent shot (for a 80-year old! ?). The ball landed on the green, bounced once, and then rolled towards the pin. It was the strangest feeling…time seemed to stand still, as the ball kept rolling and rolling and rolling, and then simply disappeared! Hole-in-one! ? This is my third hole-in-one. 22 years since the second! ?

Playing partners that day were Alex Tye, David Mahoney and Bruce Simpson

David Rossall, Deer Creek Golf Club, Hole #5

Thank you so much for sending me a congratulations card.  

I was playing with my brother Wayne Rossall, my nephew John Alcott and Jeff Eadie. All are members of Golf Canada.  

We play closest to pins on par 3’s and I had the last shot. Nobody was on the green, so it was wide open. I originally had a pitching wedge in my hand but watching all the other shots I thought let’s change it to a nine iron. The hole was playing 135 yards. As soon as I hit all I heard was “That’s got a chance.” I hit the ball as perfect as I ever could and it bounced once, twice and in the hole. It was on the 5th hole of Black Pearl Course. I just let out a yell and so did everyone I was playing with. Best feeling ever to have in the game of golf. I’m 61 years old and have been playing for 41 years.

Ethan Saucier, Beverly Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

Thank you very much. I was playing with my good friends, Ken Wiersma and Jim Hemrica. The pin was around 160 yards and I hit an easy 6 iron. The pin was on the downslope and the ball hit the top of the slope and slowly trickled back into the cup.

Jack Demroski, Tsawwassen Springs Golf Course, Hole #9

Hello.

Thank you for the mention of my hole-in-one. I think it was because my wife Kathy enters my scores hole-by-hole on the Golf Canada site.

Eight of us were playing a net score game and I was in the second group, getting ready to tee off on the short but tough 9^th hole at Tsawwassen Springs G.C. It’s protected by traps on either side and at the back as well. The group ahead of us were part of our small money game and were heading to the tenth tee. One of them (Ken Natsuhara) left a KP marker where his tee shot stopped within a foot, left of the flag. Rob in our group said, “Someone’s got to hole it to beat that KP!”. Shortly after is when the lead group heard a loud whoop from our group, turned around and realized someone in our group had holed out. Me! For my very first hole-in-one, ever!

Members in my group took pictures and they were: Theo van Tunen, Robert Clare and Casey Whittit. The hole was only 110 yards, but playing into the wind, so more like 120 yards. I “stepped hard” on a pitching wedge as I realized I had left my pushcart and clubs several yards away in the designated area before realizing I might not have enough “club”. I committed to the wedge. It landed about six inches in front and slightly to the right of the cup, one hopped past and spun back into the hole. I was stunned and silent as I was realizing what had finally happened, but my friends cheered immediately! 

Thanks for the graphic.

I had just turned 65, 2 days before (on the 24th), so took a couple days off to play with friends who play most Wednesdays throughout the year, weather permitting. We are all part of the Pacific Golf cCub, all players with established H’caps (Via BCGA/CGA), who play throughout the Lower Mainland, usually on Saturdays. Currently at around 40 members, open to men and women. I have been a member with Pacific for over 10 years, and was a member of Fraserview Golf Course, part of the Vancouver Parks board, for 25 years before that. 

Cheers and thank you, again.

Jacques Fournier, Moncton Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

Had never had one in 17 years and now have two in the last three years. 

Occurred on hole #2. I used a 9 iron on the 145-yard hole. Hit spin back in the hole. 

Jacques Fournier

Jim Carlson, National Pines Golf Club, Hole #15

Thank you. 

The hole-in-one was achieved May 5th on National Pines’ 15th hole. It was playing 110 yards and I used it Wedge. Playing partners were Bob Goss and Andy Williams. 

Cheers.

Kelan Dhanai, McCall Lake Golf Course, Hole #4

I was playing with my friend. Wind was coming in from the back, I was 170 yards into a front left pin. I had a 9 iron in hand ready to try and draw it in. Right as I was about to swing, I thought to myself I should hit a light 8 iron. So, I grabbed it from my bag. As I hit my ball, it started off five yards left of the pin with a baby draw then landed five feet left of the pin and had a draw spin into the hole.

Ken Rondeau, Stonebridge Golf Club, Hole #13

Thank you for your email.

Hole #13 which played approximately 135 yards. Hit a 9 iron. Played with Steven Check and Bruce in the morning at 7:10.

Neil McKendrick, Fernie Golf & Country Club, Hole #11

Thanks for reaching out.

Here are the details:

– Fernie Golf Club, opening day for 2023.

– Hole #11, white tees. 142 yards, 8 iron.

– Playing partners were Bonny McKendrick (wife), Al Kamp and Jessica Rodrigues.

• The club gives a hole-in-one flag to commemorate the event. 

This is my second hole-in-one on this hole (first was in August, 2020) and my sixth since I started playing golf. My score on Sunday was 72. I’m 71 years old and started playing when I was 16. 

Very exciting for me and those I was playing with. 

Thank you for the graphic. 

Peter Hastings, Rattlesnake Point Golf Club, Hole #13

Hi and thank you for your email and the certificate.

I was playing with Don Young (Rattlesnake) and Carl Hiltz (Heron Point).

The hole-in-one was on Copperhead #13. I believe the yardage to the middle of the green was 160 and we were playing to a blue flag. There was a strong wind in our faces, so I hit a 5 wood to make sure I got to the back of the green. The shot had a high trajectory, landed about 15 feet left of the pin and then rolled into the hole.

Thanks.

Rey Erickson, Victoria Golf Club, Hole #8

My hole-in-one occurred while I was playing golf with my wife, Maureen Erickson, and Mitch Prothman, a member at Victoria Golf Club.

The yardage was 109 yards with wind against us. I used a Miura 9 iron to get my hole-in-one.

Shawn Delaney, Algonquin (Club de Golf), Hole #5

Witness was John Decontie. Yards were 166. Iron used was a 5 iron. Ball was a TaylorMade soft response. It was a very small left to right fade. Slam dunk. Man, it was unbelievable. I didn’t realize what happened until I looked over to John and he’s losing his mind then it clues in that it did in fact go in.

Steve Akazawa, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #4

Thank you for reaching out to me to celebrate my first and only hole-in-one after 40 years of golfing!

The happy event occurred on April 26, 2023, on hole #4 of the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna, B.C. where I have been a member for six years since I retired and relocated from Vancouver. 

On this Wednesday, April 26, I joined up as a single with some out of town visitors; a lovely couple, Christian and Catherine from Montreal and another single, Richard Burrage from Calgary. So, I was pleased to be able to be a course guide for them, helping with the hole layouts and green reading. Even without a hole-in- one it was a great day of golf and socializing, especially at the 19^th hole. 

I normally play the White tees, but on this occasion, decided to join Richard and Christian on the Combo tees. On hole #4 the regular white and blue tees were closed due an improvement project to the teeing area and the grass area was still undergoing new growth. So, all of the fourth hole tees were moved up to the 128-yard Green Tee location. I used an 8 iron for my lucky hole-in-one shot and was fortunate that all members of our foursome saw the ball roll into the cup! Talk about good course yardage for our guests. All in all, a phenomenal day.

P.S. I had an incident with my electric MGI golf cart last year that was fully covered (less $100 deductible) by the insurance program provided by the Golf Canada membership. The process was quick, simple and very courteous; thank you for providing this service.  

Steve Akazawa

Todd Pearson, Hylands North, Hoe #12

Hole-in-one happened on hole #12 at the Hylands North, course in Ottawa. 199 yards. 4 iron.

DULUTH, Ga. – Stephen Ames capped off his dominant week on the TPC Sugarloaf with a 4-under 68 on Sunday that gave him the tournament scoring record and a four-shot victory in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic.

Ames joined David Toms as the only multiple winners on the PGA Tour Champions this year. He previously won the Trophy Hassan II in Morocco.

Ames had a three-shot lead going into the final and was never seriously challenged. He drove into the water on the final hole and still made a 30-foot par putt to finish at 19-under 197. Ames broke his own 54-hole record at Sugarloaf by four shots. He also won in 2017.

Miguel Angel Jimenez birdied the final hole for a 68 to finish alone in second.

Brett Quigley tried to make a run at Ames and got within three shots until a bogey-double bogey finish for a 69 to finish alone in fourth.

Ames, from Calgary, won $300,000 and moved up four spots to No. 4 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. What made this victory more special was having his son, Ryan, as his caddie for the week. Ryan Ames is a PGA of Canada member and aspiring teaching pro.

“The fact I ended up winning was icing on the cake,” Ames said.

Steve Stricker didn’t make a birdie until the back nine and then shot 32 to tie for seventh, keeping his lead in the Charles Schwab Cup. He has finished in the top 10 in all seven of his PGA Tour Champions events this week, and 11 in a row dating to last August.

Roberts Creek, B.C. — After battling rainy conditions on Friday, Jerry Li and Amy Seung Hyun Lee won their respective divisions to claim the NextGen Pacific Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club this weekend.

The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the first tournament in the NextGen Championships and featured a starting field of 111 male and female golfers.

Li of Vancouver, B.C., shot a final round 73 to hold off Brendan O’Brien by three shots to secure the NextGen Pacific Championship and a spot in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to showcase my skills at a really high level and show it this week. I stayed patient and kept my grips dry even though it didn’t really work. And just took it one shot at a time,” said Li.

After opening the tournament with two-over-par 74 on Friday, Li bounced back to enter the final round on Sunday atop the leaderboard by firing a five-under-par 67 on Saturday which included four birdies on the back nine. “Being able to have that two-shot cushion was pretty big and knowing that I was able to make those birdies at those times was pretty cool,” added Li.

Amy Seung Hyun Lee of Langley, B.C. led from start to finish, with rounds of 73, 72 and closed with a one-under-par 71 on her way to a five-shot victory.

Lee opened the final round with a three-shot lead and carded four birdies on Sunday to earn the NextGen Pacific Championship. “I feel really honoured to be even participating in this tournament and I could definitely see myself developing and a few spots I can improve on, but I think I really played the course pretty well.”

Lee added that trusting in herself throughout the week was key to keeping calm and winning the tournament. “Tee shots finding the fairway and hitting the green and then letting the putting do the work. I think trusting in myself was really important for the first day and the last day. Just believing in myself.”

In the Junior Boys division, a playoff was required to determine the top eight players to earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 14-17, at North Bay Golf and Country Club Ltd. in North Bay, Ont.

The top eight players in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 24-27, at Hampton Golf Course in Hampton, N.B.

The next stop in NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards will be at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club in Peterborough, Ont. for the NextGen Ontario Championship from May 26-28. For the full results of the NextGen Pacific Championship click here.

About the NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2023 national championships. Two additional Fall Series events will be hosted to close the season. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).

Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.

Andrew LeBlanc, Kingsville Golf & Country Club, Hole #18

There is quite more to the story than my hole-in-one!

I was playing with my usual group of friends. We have three times blocked every Saturday morning and on this particular Saturday, I was playing with Ryan Krahn (who shot 32 on the front nine), Dan Schnekenberger, James Flynn and myself.

We get to #17 (8 Red) which is a par 5. All hit decent drives James gets up to his and is about 215 yards out, straight into the wind. Pulls out hybrid and hits a great shot at the pin, goes in for an albatross! Amazing!

We finish the hole out and go to #18 (9 Red). Playing 145 yards, I step up with 52-degree wedge and hit a nice hit tight draw at the pin. Lands seven feet past the pin and spins back into the hole!

Pretty exciting finish to our day!

Belinda McNeice, Meadow Gardens Golf Association, Hole #17

Hi,

It was hole 17 I used my 4 hybrid had a beautiful straight drive! I was happy to land on the green and couldn’t actually see my ball from where we were. As I approached the green, I couldn’t see my ball so I assumed it went into the sand. I grabbed my sand wedge and headed towards the sandpit. One of the members I was golfing with walked straight to the hole and was like yup it’s in the hole! Somehow he knew! Pretty cool feeling. I was golfing with my girl friend Cindy and a new member that had just joined us on the last three holes. Maybe a good luck charm! Sorry didn’t catch his name. 

Went back to the clubhouse bought some drinks for who was there to celebrate!

Thank you, 

Belinda McNeice

Craig Heyland, Whitetail Crossing Golf Course, Hole #8

Good morning,

Thank you for your email.

Please share if it would help promote junior golf in Canada as I would never have stuck to it without having the opportunity as a kid.

As for details:

– Playing partners: Elliot Heyland (son), Chris Naughton and Larry Moore

– Yardage: approximately 128 yards into a headwind

– Club: “knock-down” 9-iron

Thanks, 

Craig

David McKinty, Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club, Hole #9

Hi there, 

My first hole-in-one!  It was very exciting!

Dundas Golf and Country Club – hole #9, from the Blue Tees and was playing 219 yards. I used my trusty 3-wood (there was a strong head wind! ha!)

My foursome was J. Gilmore, P. Walsh and T. Kyte (all Dundas members).

Thanks for the congratulations.

Thanks, 

David McKinty

Grant Bunker, Bonita Bay Club, Hole #8

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out and for the banner. 

Yes, it was a great day and fun to have my whole family there to witness it. The hole-in-one was Sundaym April 30 at the 8th hole of Creekside Course, Bonita Bay Golf Club in Florida. It was a 142-yard par 3 over water, into the wind. I hit an 8 iron just left of the pin and the ball landed a few yards outside the hole and trickled it. 

I was playing with my sons Jack and Ty at the time. And my wife Andrea and other son Charlie were just ahead of us. Everyone happened to be there to see the big event. 

Also, we were at the Leafs vs. Tampa NHL game the night before and was able to watch them win and get out of the first round in 19 years. It was the best 24 hours ever!

Here’s a picture of my wife Andrea, sons Charlie, Ty, myself and Jack celebrating at the hole. 

John White, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Hole #6

Thank you. The hole measured 156 yards with my range finder. It was downwind and I used an 8 iron. Playing partners were Phil Hamlin, Jamie Stride and Kirk Steele. It was my third career hole-in-one, the last one in 1995.

John White

Karlyn Roberts, Osoyoos Golf Club, Hole #13

Thank you. I was playing with my partner, Jim Jung, and a twosome we were paired up with: Jay (uncle) and James (nephew) from Whistler that own a restaurant. Yardage was 117 and I used a hybrid that I normally hit between 110 and 120. I hit a beautiful shot to the left of the flag that rolled into the hole. It was a special moment! None of my playing partners had ever seen a hole-in-one live.

Ken Barnes, Penticton Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

Hi,

Thank you for your email.

Yes, it was exciting to card a hole-in-one; my first!

Here are the details:

– Date: April 30, 2023

– Hole #6, Penticton Golf and Country Club

– Gold Tees, 133 yards

– 9-iron from my set of Callaway Rogue ST irons with stiff graphite shafts

It was a nice shot (not a bad shot gone lucky, thankfully). Well struck, high in the air, landed about five feet from the pin, bounced once and rolled in. Was witnessed by PGCC Members Mike Mann, Bobbi Miller, and Jasper Barnes (playing partners in my foursome). It was also witnessed by the group ahead watching from #7 tee area.

Thank you for sending the graphic, I will share it across my social channels.

Best,

Ken

Ken Dick, Crosswinds Golf & Country Club, Hole #5

Good morning and many thanks for your note.

To provide some context, the fifth hole at Crosswinds is a short par 3 and as we were playing the Blue / White tees. We played this hole from the Whites as the Blues were still closed as they had resodded the blue tee block. The hole is surrounded by water on three sides. I was playing with two sons Jackson Dick (22) and Kevin Dick (28) and my oldest friend, Chris Sainsbury.

The hole that day was playing 118 yards to the pin into about a 10 miles per hour wind that was a little unpredictable. Trying to determine club was difficult but after watching both my sons hit 45 degree and 50-degree wedges that were somewhat long, I hit my 52-degree Vokey with the target being the top of the hill on the right side. The pic shows where the pin was that day at the bottom of the green about centre cut. My thought was to land it at the top on the right side of the green and let it feed to the hole. Of course, I did not expect it to go in but was trying to get it close and it hit in the right spot with enough spin to get it moving down the hill and it just stayed on the line and dropped in.

There were many around us as the group heading to hole #6 turned when hearing the cheers and the first green is also close and those on the green also were cheering.  Unfortunately, based on how busy the course was that day (early season, gorgeous weather) we did not take any pictures and moved onto the next hole.

As an aside, as it was early in the season the bar facilities were not open yet so no drinks for everyone – but we play there often so I am sure I will get hit up for some drinks over the balance of the season.

I have been playing golf for 52 years and this was my first hole-in-one! It was very exciting and to do it with my boys and my oldest friend made it an experience I will never forget!

Many thanks once again and now I am on the hunt for the second one!

Cheers,

Ken

Michael Marasco, Inglewood Golf & Curling Club, Hole #7

Good morning,

I was playing with Tim Jarratt, Debbie Huitema and Richard Jones.

The hole was 157 yards, and I used a 7 iron.

Thank you!

Michael Marasco

Monique Saindon-Syring, Pheasant Glen Golf Resport, Hole #13

Thank you for reaching out. First of all, the business. 140 yards. 4 hybrid. 

I was playing with my husband, Shawn Syring, Ryder Eaves and Robert Eaves. The coolest part of the story is that I did not see it go in as I was picking up my tee and it was from sunlight to shade. But, Ryder (a junior, 13 years) said, “I think it went in.” His dad and him were in a cart and reached the green before us. He ran up the green and stopped himself and said, “No. You need to check the hole.”. 

At the end of the round, Ryder said he would remember that day the rest of his life. I told him that he would get many holes in one as he is an amazing golfer. Two days later, he got one!

Monique

Sameer Azam, Glencairn Golf Club, Hole #7

Thank you for your email and kind gesture! 

Some background:

– April 27th, 2023

– Glencairn On Leithfield

– Hole 7

– Par 3

– 157 yards into the wind from left side going uphill

– Had to club up from the Blues/Grey tee used a 6 iron and rest is history

– Clublink friends: Ameen Khasimuddin (Glencairn), Imdad Ali (Greystone) and Jauher Ahmed (Rattlesnake)

I had my first ever hole-in-one!

Wow what a feeling!

Sameer 

One of the biggest moments of Ben Silverman’s golf career was thanks, in part, to the efforts of a member at Oakdale Golf and Country Club.

Now he has an opportunity to return the favour by shedding a little light on the Toronto-area club as it prepares to host this year’s RBC Canadian Open.

Silverman, from nearby Thornhill, Ont., had only recently turned pro when he qualified to represent Canada at the 2013 Maccabiah Games. He didn’t have the funds to fly out to Israel for the multi-sport event for Jewish athletes, but an Oakdale member stepped up to pay Silverman’s way for the event.

He went on to win gold by 11 shots at Caesarea Golf Club, while Canada earned bronze in the team event.

“It’ll be nice to be able to go play at Oakdale where a bunch of (Maccabiah Games teammates) are members. (…) I think it’s amazing that they are getting to showcase their club at the national championship.”

Silverman was named to the RBC Canadian Open field on Monday, earning an exemption along with Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., who plays on the Europe-based DP World Tour. Silverman has only played at Oakdale once before, ahead of the Maccabiah Games back in 2013, but said he’s excited to compete on the composite course from June 6-11.

“It’s just more special that it’s closer to where my friends and family are, that are going to be able to come watch,” said the 35-year-old Silverman. “So I’ll be able to have more hometown support than I would traditionally anywhere else for the Canadian Open.

“But man, I’ve always just been excited to play in any RBC Canadian Open.”

Founded in 1926 in an agricultural area northwest of Toronto – the course has long since been subsumed into the city – Oakdale was born out of necessity as most country clubs at the time did not allow Jewish, Black, or Asian people to join. The club was founded seven years before the infamous Christie Pits riot, when Nazi-inspired youth flew a swastika flag to antagonize and provoke Jewish Canadians playing baseball at the public park in downtown Toronto.

“There were a number of members of the Jewish community who said, ‘Well, if we can’t play anywhere, let’s create our own place,”’ said Mark Sadowski, a past president of Oakdale on the club’s origins. “That was the spirit of, what started, the journey towards establishing Oakdale.”

The club’s membership is still predominantly Jewish but, as it was created in reaction to antisemitism, faith is not a barrier to anyone joining. Membership is sold to families rather than individuals and philanthropic work, either through donation or service, is the most important requirement for joining.

Sadowski said that charitable component to membership has its roots in the Jewish faith.

“That’s the sort of mindset of our club and I think that’s always been the case,” said Sadowski. “Since its origination it was expected that if you could afford to join a club like Oakdale you could afford to give to the community and that’s the standard that exists today.”

Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum said that growing up in Toronto he was aware of Oakdale’s reputation as a family-first club. He hopes that spirit will inhabit this year’s Canadian Open and again in 2026, when Oakdale will celebrate its centennial by hosting the men’s national championship a second time.

“It’s about community. It’s about culture. But the broader sense of culture, a culture of a club, culture of togetherness,” said Applebaum on Monday after the RBC Canadian Open’s media day at Oakdale. “I think what the membership is probably most proud of is welcoming people into their club like they’d be welcoming them into their homes.

“That probably is what makes it so enjoyable for us to bring the RBC Canadian Open to Oakdale.”

112 of Canada’s top junior golfers to compete over 54 holes at stunning west coast layout with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships on the line.

Golf Canada’s 2023 championship season kicks off on Friday, May 5, at Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club in Roberts Creek, B.C. with the NextGen Pacific Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Thursday, May 4, and championship rounds beginning on Friday, May 5. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 55 Junior Boys and top 15 Junior Girls, including ties, for the final round which wraps up on Sunday, May 7.

The starting field will feature 112 male and female competitors – 88 Junior Boys and 24 Junior Girls – vying for a spot into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The top eight players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 14-17, at North Bay Golf and Country Club Ltd. in North Bay, Ont. The top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 24-27, at Hampton Golf Course in Hampton, N.B.

Golf Canada is proud to return to the stunning Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club after the club successfully hosted the 2018 NextGen Fall Series Championship. The course presents players with a classic west coast golf experience—given its unique Salish Sea influenced climate, the course is open 12 months a year and challenges players with fantastic year-round playing conditions. The golf course opened in 1969 and is the oldest 18-hole course on the Sunshine Coast.

“The members at the Sunshine Coast (Golf & Country Club) are excited to share our course with these talented junior golfers competing in the NextGen Championship. We hope that they enjoy the course and the competition,” said Jim Pringle, Director of Golf and PGA of Canada Head Professional, Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club. “We have hosted a number of provincial and national events and look forward to another fun week.”

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Pacific Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, click here.

Jim Furyk gets another crack at being U.S. captain for a road game, this time the Presidents Cup in Canada.

The PGA Tour on Tuesday introduced Furyk as captain for the 2024 matches at Royal Montreal, where the Americans will try to win for the 10th consecutive time.

Mike Weir previously was named International team captain for the Presidents Cup, which returns to Canada for the second time.

“Being selected by my peers to take on the role as captain of the U.S. Team for the 2024 Presidents Cup is truly an honor that I am humbled and excited to accept,” Furyk said.

Furyk is the fourth Presidents Cup captain – and second in a row – to have been a Ryder Cup captain previously. He had that job in 2018 in France against a hostile crowd, and it ended with a seven-point European victory.

“My favorite question is, `Would you have done anything differently?’ I laugh,” Furyk said in an interview in October, after he served as an assistant Ryder Cup captain to Steve Stricker at Whistling Straits. “How much of an arrogant (person) would you have to be to say, `No, I’d do it the same way.’ Of course I’d do things different.

“For the first year or year-and-a-half, that Ryder Cup in France, there wasn’t a week or day that I didn’t think, `This is what I would have done. This is what I could have changed.”’

The Presidents Cup is different. The Americans have lost only once since the matches began in 1994, and that was in 1998 in Australia. They won last year at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina.

Furyk played seven times in the Presidents Cup, including the U.S. victory at Royal Montreal in 2007 when Jack Nicklaus was captain for the fourth time. Furyk also is a back-to-back winner of the RBC Canadian Open, at Hamilton Golf Club in 2006 and Angus Glen in 2007.

(May 1, 2023)  One of the hottest golfers on the planet is sure to be a fan-favourite at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto as world no. 6 Matthew Fitzpatrick will compete in the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.

Competing in his third RBC Canadian Open, the 28-year-old Englishman is having a stellar 2023 season with three top-10 finishes including a victory at the recent RBC Heritage and a T10 finish at The Masters. Currently ranked no. 22 on the 2022 FedEx Cup, Fitzpatrick, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, six-time winner on the DP World Tour, and two-time Ryder Cup team member will compete in Canada’s National Open Championship before defending his U.S. Open title the next week at L.A. Country Club.

“I am really looking forward to returning to Canada and competing in the RBC Canadian Open in front of the amazing Canadian golf fans,” said Fitzpatrick. “Having won the RBC Heritage last month, I am hopeful to play well at Oakdale and keep that momentum going into the U.S. Open.”

Fitzpatrick joins an emerging field headlined by two-time defending champion and world no. 3 Rory McIlroy who will be looking to become the first player to win three consecutive RBC Canadian Open titles. A victory for McIlroy would make him only the fourth three-time champion, joining Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, and Lee Trevino. Leo Deigel’s four victories are the most in the tournament’s storied history.

McIlroy and Fitzpatrick will be joined by fellow European stars Tommy Fleetwood as well as Shane Lowry. The world no. 23 ranked Lowry is a two-time PGA TOUR winner and a past Open Championship winner while Fleetwood, who has two top-10 PGA TOUR finishes this season, has won seven international titles, and is ranked no. 25 in the world.

The group will compete alongside Team RBC ambassadors Sam Burns (world no. 13), Cameron Young (world no. 16), Sahith Theegala (world no. 24), seven-time PGA TOUR winner Webb Simpson, and nine-time PGA TOUR winner Matt Kuchar.

A full Canadian contingent will also challenge for the national championship led by PGA TOUR winners Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 30), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 57), Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (world no. 56), Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 65), and Adam Hadwin of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 71) as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont.

A trio of Canadians have also accepted tournament exemptions to compete at Oakdale including Winnipeg, Man. Native Aaron Cockerill who is currently ranked 24^th on the DP World Tour as well as Thornhill, Ont. native Ben Silverman who won on the Korn Ferry Tour earlier this year to sit second on the Tour’s 2023 Points List.

Also accepting an exemption to compete is Canadian golf icon and President’s Cup International Team Captain Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. who will be competing in his 31^st  RBC Canadian Open, one back of fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Cummings who had a record 32 starts in Canada’s National Open Championship.

In addition to world class golf, fans at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open will be treated to the two-night RBCxMusic Concert Series onsite at Oakdale Golf and Country with Grammy Award-winning pop group, the Black Eyed Peas performing on Friday, June 9 and Canadian Grammy Award-winning icon Alanis Morissette performing on Saturday, June 10.

“We are less than 40 days away from the RBC Canadian Open and extremely excited to get the tournament started,” said Bryan Crawford, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open. “Oakdale Golf and Country Club in the heart of Toronto joins our host club rotation for the first time and will present a great test of golf for the world’s best players. Our partners have leaned into our National Open Championship in a major way to deliver a truly immersive fan festival experience as a kickoff to summer.”

Tickets for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

TORONTO, April 27, 2023 — ‘I’ve Got a Feeling’ that Friday, June 9 will be ‘Good Night’ at the RBC Canadian Open.

RBC and Golf Canada are excited to announce six-time Grammy Award-winning pop group, Black Eyed Peas, will headline the RBCxMusic Concert Series on Friday night of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.

Performances for the RBCxMusic Concert Series will take place on the Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10 of tournament week on site on the practice facility at the iconic Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

Last month, seven-time Grammy Award-winning Canadian icon Alanis Morissette was announced as the headline artist for the RBCxMusic Concert Series on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

Audiences will also enjoy opening acts from First Up with RBCxMusic – a program dedicated to providing emerging Canadian artists with a platform for exposure, funding, education, and mentorship opportunities. Opening act performances will take place at the SiriusXM Stage located onsite in the Fare Way food and beverage experience.

Tickets for Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10 at the RBC Canadian Open are $120 (plus tax and service charges) and include full day access to the tournament and the RBCxMusic Concert Series. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission to the RBC Canadian Open all week with a ticketed adult. Tickets are available at RBCCanadianOpen.com.

Golf Canada joins the Canadian golf community in extending our deepest respect and condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of golf writer and industry contributor Ian Hutchinson of Newmarket, Ont. on the news of his sudden passing.

Hutch had a meaningful impact over four decades chronicling the game of golf for a variety of outlets and trade publications during his respected career as a reporter and columnist.

In 2020, his contributions to Canadian golf were celebrated as a proud recipient of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award. He was also honoured by the Golf Ontario Hall of Fame in 2017 as a recipient of the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award. 

In 2008, Hutch reinvented himself in the digital space when he founded Golf News Now, a Canadian website and daily newsletter devoted to covering the golf industry. With GNN, he had become a trusted voice in the Canadian golf industry with daily insights and reporting on all facets of the game.

Hutch’s career began in 1978, covering a multitude of sports including golf for community newspapers including the Newmarket Era, Mississauga Times, and Mississauga News before moving on to become an associate editor at MVP, Canada’s national sports magazine at the time.

He also covered the NHL, CFL, NFL and MLB, before transitioning into full-time golf as an editor with ScoreGolf Magazine. Hutch would go to become managing editor of World of Women’s Golf Magazine before beginning a 14-year run as golf columnist for the Toronto Sun and other Sun Media newspapers.

Over a distinguished media career, Hutch contributed to various Canadian and US golf publications as an editor or writer including Pro Shop Magazine, Ontario Golf Magazine, Golf Scene Magazine, and Golf Canada Magazine in addition to writing for Golf Channel’s website.

He was also a long-time supporter of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, both as a frequent nominator as well a recent contributing member to the CGHF Selection Committee.

Hutch will be remembered and celebrated a tremendous contributor, storyteller, and supporter of Canadian golf.

A Celebration Of Life is planned for Monday, May 15 from 1pm – 4pm at Woodington lake Golf Course in Tottenham, Ont.

I’m devasted to have to report the passing of Ian Hutchinson.
The president of Golf News Now apparently died this morning of heart failure at his home in Newmarket.
The family says details of a Celebration of Life will be provided later.
Golf wont be the same without Hutch. RIP. pic.twitter.com/NPoaVyZWQ4

— Garry McKay (@GarryMcKay5) April 30, 2023

A favorite image of Hutch.
Man had a smile that could light up St Andrews. From our media trip to Scotland in 1995.
? Chris Gallow pic.twitter.com/y9YaaQCn62

— Rick Young (@YoungerGolf) April 30, 2023