London, Ontario – Freedom 55 Financial and TSN have teamed up to launch a new initiative: TSN Fantasy Golf presented by Freedom 55 Financial.

TSN Fantasy Golf presented by Freedom 55 Financial lets fans build their own team of golfers and play for their chance to win more than $15,000 in prizes. For more information and to register, please visit www.TSN.ca/fantasygolf.

The game will run during a select number of golf events over the remainder of 2015 and will be promoted by TSN across its digital and broadcast platforms.

“As a brand that focuses on providing Canadians with financial freedom for today and tomorrow, fantasy golf is our way to deliver an experience to Canadians that you might not expect from your financial organization,” said Mike Cunneen, Senior Vice-President, Freedom 55 Financial.

The strategy to integrate Freedom 55 Financial into fantasy golf was developed in late 2014 by sports marketing agency SportBox Entertainment Group. With a two-year history of sponsoring golf properties, Freedom 55 Financial retained SportBox Group to build their go-forward strategy, with a focus on introducing a new brand experience to Canadians.

Presenting sponsorship of TSN’s Fantasy Golf further builds on Freedom 55 Financial’s support of and commitment to golf in Canada. The company also supports Team Freedom, a group of young Canadian athletes that includes Albin Choi, Matt Hill, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Svensson. The company is the title sponsor of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship in London, Ont., the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s flagship event, which sees five players graduate to the Web.com Tour each season. Freedom 55 Financial also supports grassroots development initiatives as National sponsor of the Canadian Junior Golf Association and the Freedom 55 Financial Clinics for Kids program, for which Team Freedom golfers serve as ambassadors.

FAR HILLS, N.J. – The United States Golf Association has announced the launch of its new “There’s a Lot to Love About Golf” campaign, which features multiple television spots and animated digital banners that highlight golf as a game for everyone.

The six television spots and digital banners, created by DDB New York, will principally air in conjunction with the USGA’s summer schedule of televised golf championships, starting with the U.S. Open Championship on June 15. In addition to 21st Century Fox’s wide national and international platforms including Fox, Fox Business, fox.com, foxsports.com, and the National Geographic Channel, the television spots will air on Golf Channel and TSN Canada.

“The game of golf is really the star here,” said Sarah Hirshland, USGA senior managing director of Business Affairs. “Intended to be welcoming and inspiring, the campaign collectively shows where the USGA is devoting its resources relative to the game and its long-term health.”

Each television spot, with its corresponding digital ad unit, is themed to present several key messages and principles tied to the USGA’s mission, including:

“Overview” – highlighting golf as a game for everyone, this :30 spot in the 2015 USGA TV campaign celebrates that “there’s a lot to love about golf”.

“Champions Among Us” – a 30-second spot that highlights the USGA’s commitment to amateur golf, and its capacity to inspire those who play and love the game.

“The Social Game” – a 30-second spot that promotes golf as welcoming and supportive of friendly competition, as enabled by the USGA Handicap System™.

“First Green Kids” – a 30-second spot featuring an educational program that teaches children about science, technology, engineering and math through the lens of the golf course habitat.

“Modernizing Rules Delivery” – a 30-second spot showcasing the digital applications – including the new interactive Rules of Golf Experience – developed by the USGA to help make the game easier to learn.

The Golf Canada Calgary Centre’s Bill Murchison and his colleagues have agreed to help Global Calgary News sports reporter Lisa MacGregor as well as Olympic bobsledder and former CFL all-star Jesse Lumsden in their quest to learn how to golf like pros.

As part of golf-ucation, the pair will learn everything from the mental aspect of the game to club fitting, while working on their short and long games.

Every detail will be addressed like a pro and there’s no better motivation for them to reach their goals, than knowing they’ll play a round of golf at Canyon Meadows with a Champions Tour professional this August, when the Shaw Charity Classic rolls into Calgary.

Each week, Lumsden and MacGregor will share golf tips they’ve learned and we’ll share the video(s) below. We hope you enjoy…

Video #1

Calgary – Windmill Golf Group has announced that construction has begun on its newest championship golf course, Mickelson National Golf Club, just west of Calgary in beautiful Rocky View County at the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Barry Ehlert, Managing Partner of Windmill Golf Group, is developing Mickelson National Golf Club as a centerpiece of Harmony, a 1,750-acre community built by partners Qualico Communities and Bordeaux Developments.

“This announcement has been seven years in the making” said Ehlert “It’s a dream come true and to have Phil Mickelson and his team involved makes that wait absolutely worthwhile.”

The gently rolling foothills are being transformed, with shaping reflective of the mountains, water features and sensational landscaping to accentuate the golf course design. The goal is to open the course for play in fall of 2017.

“I’m thrilled that we’ve begun work on a project we’re confident will be one of the outstanding courses in Canada,” said Mickelson. “The land and setting give us a great opportunity to create a versatile course that will both challenge the world’s best players and be great fun for amateurs of all levels.”
Mickelson’s first design was Whisper Rock in Scottsdale, Az. PMD has completed successful projects in Kunming and Shanghai, China.

“At Mickelson National Golf Club,” said Ehlert, “our goal is to set new standards in providing a vibrant and exciting golfing experience – we’re investing in creating Canada’s flagship club.”

Harmony Developments Inc., Birol Fisekci said, “When you’re talking about a place as special as Rocky View County, you really do need to build projects that do it justice. Having a golf facility of such a high caliber, built by the best and that will attract and potentially create the game’s top players, only makes sense in Harmony and Springbank.”

PUMA Golf Canada & Golf Town have joined forces to pledge their support for Graham & Ruby DeLaet’s efforts to improve the health and wellness in children, as well as the development of junior golf.

PUMA Golf & Golf Town have joined forces to develop a Graham & Ruby DeLaet Foundation signature cap that will be sold exclusively at Golf Town locations throughout Canada. Proceeds from the sale of this cap will be donated to both Graham & Ruby the week of the 2015 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

“Both Graham & Ruby have been amazing ambassadors for not only PUMA Golf, but also for the entire Canadian golf community as a whole,” said Dave Burgess, Sr. Marketing Manager for COBRA PUMA Golf Canada. “We are extremely honoured to have them both as part of the PUMA Golf family and are particularly grateful that we can support such an amazing foundation.”

“This foundation continues to make such a great impact in both health and wellness initiatives and in the growth of golf in Canada,”  said Jane Hooper Perroud, Director of Marketing for Golf Town. “We know how important it is to promote and grow grassroots and amateur golf and are extremely pleased we can assist both Graham & Ruby with this program.”

The limited edition cap is currently is currently available at each of the 56 Golf Town locations throughout Canada. The cap was developed with Graham’s Canadian themed Sunday colour preference, Red, White & Black. Supporters are encouraged to help promote the campaign by using the hashtag #forekids.

“I am excited to be able to take my partnership with PUMA Golf to the next level, improving the wellness of children and the development of junior golf, through their support of the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation,” said Graham DeLaet. “By distributing these special edition caps through a top retailer like Golf Town, and proceeds benefiting the Foundation, I think we can raise a lot of funds to support some valuable initiatives.”

Hi! My name is Michaela DiMarcantonio and this summer I have the pleasure of working as a Media and Public Relations Intern with the Communications Department at Golf Canada. Having a love for the game of golf and a passion for public relations, this is definitely my dream internship. However come Monday, I will be trading my laptop and camera for my clubs and a pin sheet.

From May 25 to May 29, I will be competing in the 13^th Canadian University/ College Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., where collegiate golf teams from across the country will compete for the national title.

This will be my final tournament wearing the maroon and grey of the McMaster Marauders Women’s Golf Team. Throughout the competition, I would like to invite you to follow my player’s blog as I share my experience and reflect on my golf journey.

Entry 3 – The end of the road

This past Friday was the final day of the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship.  As always, the final round of any tournament is the most exciting and with many of the leaderboards packed coming down the stretch, this competition was no different. It was thrilling to cheer on my fellow competitors in their pursuit of the national title.

After play was complete, the awards ceremony began near the putting green at Cutten Fields surrounded by the Canadian and provincial flags. It was quite the sight to see the winning teams and individuals hoist their trophies and beyond inspiring to hear their acceptance speeches filled with words of excitement and gratitude. They have worked so hard to earn these victories for themselves, their teams, their coaches and their schools. The team champions received banners that will hang in their schools for years to come and future generations of aspiring athletes will beam with pride at the sight of what those before them have accomplished.

To the winners of the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship, I congratulate you on your achievements! For others who may not have finished the tournament in the way they had hoped, although it is disappointing, there are so many lessons to be learned. Look back and see how much you’ve grown and always remember how far you’ve come.

To those graduating, I congratulate you on outstanding collegiate careers. I had the opportunity to compete alongside many of you during the past four years. I wish you all the best in your future careers and endeavors, whether they remain close to the course or far from it. Wherever your paths may take you, I hope you continue to find comfort in knowing the golf course will always be your second home.

To the freshmen who have just completed their first years at school, enjoy the ones to come and relish every moment – they will be some of the best of your life. Practice hard, study harder and love every minute of it because the whole experience may be over before you know it. Make goals and achieve them; have dreams and soar past them. Take pride in the privilege of representing your schools.

It was a remarkable week at Cutten Fields and I would like to thank the membership and staff for hosting this wonderful championship. On behalf of the field, we were honoured to play such a beautiful course and make use of its outstanding practice facility – calling it world-class would not do it justice.

I would also like to thank my fellow Golf Canada Tournament staff, officials, scorers and starters for their commitment and dedication to their craft. They were all up well before sunrise and in bed well past moonrise. Without you, this event would not have been possible. So, thank you!

To everyone who has been so kind in reading while I shared my experiences at the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship, you have my gratitude. Golf is a life-long game and may we all continue to learn from it, well past our years in the classroom.

Entry 2 – “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi

I have always been a firm believer that success is the result of hard work. Playing competitive golf has taught me that dedication and commitment are fundamental to success – not just on the course, but off it as well.

Today was the practice round at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., for the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship; tomorrow the real competition begins.

Through this championship, Golf Canada provides the nation’s student-athlete golf teams with the opportunity to gather and celebrate the wealth of talent being developed in Canada’s post-secondary institutions.  From an athlete’s perspective, it’s about providing meaningful competition – to not only gauge where our games are, but to also see the areas in which our games can grow.

The game humbles me. It has taught me to aim further; to try harder; to want to be better, but not only for my own sake. Collegiate golf is unique because tomorrow when I step on to the first tee at Cutten Fields, I won’t just be playing for myself.

I will play for my teammates, who are every bit my family as my own siblings.

I will play for my coaches, whose words of advice are second only to my parents’ guidance.

I will play for McMaster University, where walls and classrooms have given me the same sense of security as any home I’ve lived in.

In the field this week, there will be freshmen representing their schools for the first time at the national level; there will also be veterans sporting their school colours for the final time. For myself, it will be the latter. Regardless, we all share the same passion to compete and better ourselves. There are few things in life as rewarding as the satisfaction of working hard and seeing that determination and effort pay off.

As I look forward to my first round tomorrow, I can’t help but reflect back on my four years at McMaster University. All student-athletes can attest to the challenge of balancing university life and team responsibilities. During the season, I missed classes to compete, but I always considered these days as opportunities for growth – and although they were not academic, they contributed to my university experience and to the person I have become.

Competing this week as a student-athlete for a final time is an honour – one that I will not take lightly and one that I will cherish always.

Entry 1 – Reading textbooks and greens

Like many high school grads, the decision of where to continue my post-secondary education was a difficult one. So many factors came into play, but I was certain I wanted to continue playing golf at a Canadian university. Upon meeting the coaches at McMaster and discovering the Communication Studies program, I knew it would be a great fit.

The first month of university was a big adjustment with a busy schedule and large lecture rooms filled with new faces. It was intimidating, but despite all the changes, golf remained constant. After classes I looked forward to practice and in my first collegiate tournament, despite my nerves, I felt very comfortable. Like always, the golf course was my second home.

Before the Ontario University Championships in second year, my head coach gathered the team and told us, “When you’re older and you look back on your university days, you won’t remember sitting in lectures or if you spent an extra hour studying for a test, but you will remember your experiences representing McMaster, all of your accomplishments and the memories you make with your teammates.”

Those words couldn’t be more true. At the time, I didn’t realize what an amazing experience playing competitive golf for my school would be. I am so grateful for the golf program at McMaster University and the support Golf Canada provides to universities and colleges across the country.

I’ve learned so much through this game – patience, discipline and perseverance. I can’t wait to compete one final time next week at Cutten Fields with my team and to take in one last lesson as a Mac student.

More information on the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship is available here.

GRAND LEDGE, Mich. – A wife and husband from Michigan say they both got a hole-in-one in consecutive shots at the same hole.

Tony and Janet Blundy tell the Lansing State Journal that their aces came while golfing Sunday at Ledge Meadows Golf Course in Grand Ledge. The couple says Tony hit a hole-in-one first at the 16th hole, and Janet then equaled his feat.

The newspaper says two golfers who didn’t know the Blundys verified the back-to-back holes-in-one.

According to contest prize insurer National Hole-in-One Association, the odds of two amateur golfers in a foursome getting an ace on the same hole in the same round are 26 million-to-1.

The Blundys say they typically golf at least 18 holes a week together.

Callaway Golf Company today announced the Bertha Mini 1.5, a new weapon for the long part of a player’s game. This new club could make you rethink what’s in your bag; it’s longer than a traditional 3-wood, with higher MOI, and a 235cc head that’s 35% larger than their XR Fairway Wood to give you a little extra confidence over the ball.

Off the tee, it’s an alternative for players who struggle hitting their driver, and a great addition to the bag for golfers who want a reliable option when they need less than driver. It’s also long off the fairway for better players who want to get home in two on long Par-5s.

Additional information on the technology behind the Bertha Mini1.5 is available in the Callaway Talks episode below:

The Bertha Mini 1.5 will be at retail stores on Friday, May 29. It will be available in 12 and 14 degree lofts.

For more details please visit: www.callawaygolf.com

Jump start the season with these dynamic yoga warm-up exercises.  Dynamic Conditioning Makes All The Difference.  Continuous, dynamic movements are the most effective in preparing the body for golf.  Dynamic stretches “alert” the neuromuscular skeletal system for the explosive golf swing more effectively than static stretching.  Dynamic movement raises core temperature, coordinates movement and breathing (great for rhythm and tempo), and supports mental focus.

YOGA FOR GOLFERS (YFG) FOCUSES ON:

• quieting the mind and proper breathing techniques to achieve focus and relaxation.
• achieving body symmetry, balance, and alignment through the swing to increase power.
• enhancing flexibility and core development to improve mobility, strength, power and endurance.

FOR ALL GOLFERS, AT ALL LEVELS, YFG ELEVATES YOUR GAME TO GO THE EXTRA DISTANCE.  THE PROGRAM:

• improves performance beyond golf lessons/instruction.
• focuses on biomechanics of the body through the swing.
• enables golfers to play their best game, right from the first tee.
• extends the body’s ability to play, minimizing discomforts and risk of injury; and
• improves the body’s mobility, allowing golfers to play better, longer, with more confidence and increased enjoyment.

BENEFITS OF THE YOGA FOR GOLFERS DYNAMIC WARM-UP:

• increases blood flow to the muscles
• increases the core body temperature
• prepares the neuromuscular system, supporting better coordination.
• promotes flexibility and strength
• reduces the risk of injury; and
• prepares you mentally and boosts confidence.

DYNAMIC STRETCHING TIPS:

• Breathe in and out through the nose.
• Flex or engage the opposing muscle.  For example, while stretching the hamstrings, engage or flex the quads.
• Stretch before, during, and after your round to develop and maintain optimal muscle balance.
• Don’t bounce in the stretch
• Avoid stretching injured or overstretched, hyper-flexible joints and muscles.
• Be sure you don’t continue if you experience any pain in the muscle.  Slight discomfort is acceptable, pain is not.  As with all physical fitness programs, be sure to have your physician’s clearance to participate.

JUST BREATHE

Proper breathing prepares the body and mind for the explosive nature of the golf swing.  It also better connects the mind and body to facilitate greater focus, one pointed concentration, and a greater sense of “feel” in the short game.  In the dynamic warm-up, remember to focus on continuous breathing.

Ongoing adherence to the program is more important than duration.  For maximum benefit, practice 3-4x per week in the pre-season, and before each round of golf during the season.

For more info: www.yogaforgolfers.com