As the end of the school year approaches, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada are looking to expand participant numbers in Golf in Schools by providing the option of customizable kits for high school teachers.

In previous cases, high schools were requesting additional equipment or could not purchase the entire kit due to budget restrictions. With the addition of customizable kits, teachers may now purchase clubs, mats, balls and tees separately to suit their needs.

“This is a welcome addition to the program that will please many Physical Education teachers” said Golf In Schools coordinator, Kelly Woloshyn. “Our goal is to get as many students as possible golfing, and this is just one of the many ways in which we can accomplish that.”

New in 2012, the High School program was introduced as an extension of the Elementary program to provide students with more advanced programming for adolescents. The Golf in Schools learning resource is endorsed by Physical Health Education (PHE) Canada, and is structured to accommodate all teachers, regardless of their golf background.

Golf in Schools is constantly evolving to find new and innovative ways to get more youth playing golf – a game for a lifetime.

To get golf in a High School in your area, click here

WINNIPEG (Golf Canada) – Scott Secord of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds stole the show on Wednesday at the Canadian University/College Championship by firing a competitive course record 7-under 65.

The Calgary native’s second round was highlighted by a six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 4th hole at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg, Man.

“It was a lot of fun today, I played with a couple of good guys and we created some group mojo and kind of pushed each other,” Secord said. “We weren’t really thinking about scores, just birdies chances.”

Secord’s Thunderbirds’ teammates also stepped up on Wednesday morning as they soared into the lead after carding a 6-under 282. Individually, UBC’s Jack Wood posted a 2-under 70 and currently shares second place at 2-under 142 alongside the University of Alberta’s Quinn Bunten-Walberg, who posted the second low round of the day after a 5-under 67. Université Laval Rouge et Or’s Samuel Rochette, Russell Bowie of Queen’s University and Alex Dumais of the Humber College Hawks also trail Secord by nine strokes in second place.

“I’m not going to underestimate anyone out here,” Secord said about his competition. “The course is excellent, the greens are great for the winter they had, so I just have to keep attacking.”

In the team competition, the Thunderbirds hold a 9-stroke lead over the Western University Mustangs. The Mustangs posted a 7-over 295 and currently sit one-stroke ahead of the University of Manitoba Bisons who carded a 1-under 287.

On the women’s side, the Thunderbirds stumbled on Wednesday but were able to hang onto their overnight lead in the team division. The squad ended the second round at 23-over 455 for the championship, 11 strokes ahead of Université de Montréal Carabins who are defending their title this week.  The Carabins rebounded on Wednesday with a 10-over 226.

Individually, the University of Victoria’s Megan Woodland matched the low round of the day on the women’s side after an even-par 72. Woodland’s round was highlighted by a 2-under 34 opening-nine and leaves her tied for the lead with the University of Toronto’s, Laura Upenieks at 5-over 149. Upenieks carded a 2-over 74 after opening with a 3-over 75 on Tuesday.

Woodland has had a couple of close calls at this national championship and hopes to continue her strong play over the final two days.

“It’s basically been my goal since my first year to come out and win one of these events,” the Vikes veteran player said. “I’ve come close the past three years and haven’t really been able to finish it off, so it’s kind of been my goal all year and I hope I can play well the next two days.”

Woodland and Upenieks currently sit one-stroke ahead of Kylie Barros of the Thunderbirds and Université Laval Rouge et Or’s Alexandra Pelletier.

For more information on the 2014 Canadian University/College Championship including starting times and results click here.

(WINNIPEG, Man.) – The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds lead the women’s division, while the Western University Mustangs are atop the men’s leaderboard after first round play at the Canadian University/College Championship at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg, Man.

On the women’s side, the Thunderbirds, 9-time national champions, hold a commanding lead after 18 holes of play. The squad carded a 5-over 221 opening round and were led by Kat Kennedy who fired a 1-under 71 that was highlighted by three birdies. Kennedy’s teammate Kylie Barros, the 2011 individual national champion, sits in second after a 2-over 74.

“It feels good, I was just consistent out there,” Kennedy said. “There were some up and downs but I stayed focused and held onto it until the finish.”

If the Thunderbirds can continue their strong play they will take home their 10th Canadian University/College title when the tournament concludes on Friday.

“We just want to give it our all, it’s our last tournament of the season,” Kennedy continued. “We’re going to play for the team as a team and stay strong that way.”

The University of Victoria Vikes trail the Thunderbirds by 11 strokes after posting a 16-over 232 as a team, while the Université de Montréal Carabins and Waterloo Warriors share third at 22-over. Individually, Laura Upenieks from the Toronto Varsity Blues sits in third one stroke ahead of a trio of players who are tied at 4-over par.

In the men’s team competition, the Western University Mustangs came blazing out of the gates on Tuesday morning, firing an opening round 4-under 284. The Mustangs were led by Spencer Berk and Traynor Turkiewicz, who both posted 3-under 69’s and currently sit in a 4-way tie for second at 3-under par.

“The whole team is pleased with the way they are playing which is important,” said Mustangs Head Coach, Jim Waite. “We have five guys that can really play this year. In other years we’ve had three but never five and this year we feel that these guys can give us good numbers day after day.”

The Thunderbirds hold second place at even-par 288, while the University of Manitoba Bisons share third place alongside the Humber College Hawks at 5-over 293.

Individually, UBC’s Scott Secord birdied two of his last three holes to card a 4-under 68 and break out of a four-way tie for the lead. Secord closed with a 3-under 33 and currently holds a one-stroke lead over Berk, Turkiewicz, Bisons’ Charlie Boyechko and Alex Rakowski of the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

“My putting was great, that’s the biggest key out here,” Secord said. “Tomorrow it’s just about the same thing, par or better and hopefully the wind is down in the morning.”

For more information on the 2014 Canadian University/College Championship including starting times and resultsclick here.

Ottawa, Ont. (NAGA) — The Canadian Golf Industry generated $14.3 billion in economic benefits across our nation, according to a recent economic analysis conducted by Strategic Networks Group, Inc. on behalf of the National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA).

The Canadian Golf industry employs the equivalent of 300,100 people through direct and spin-off effects, generating more than $8.3 billion in household income.  The industry also contributes more than $36.1 billion in total gross production through direct and indirect and induced spending; generates more than $1.4 billion in property and other indirect taxes; as well provides an estimated $2.2 billion in income taxes used to support a variety of programs for all Canadians.

Based on a nation-wide survey of more than 15,000 golfers and more than 300 golf courses in 10 provinces and three territories, the 2014 Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study provides a follow up data set to the initial comprehensive and independent assessment of the economic impact of the golf industry in Canada released in 2009.

“The Economic Impact Study reinforces that the game of golf in Canada continues to have a tremendous financial, charitable, tourism and positive environmental impact in communities across Canada,” said NAGA Chair Jeff Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada. “The study outlines the considerable scope and magnitude of the impact that our sport has on the Canadian economy.”

The 2014 study was once again conducted on behalf of NAGA by Strategic Networks Group (SNG), a world leader in economic development and analysis for communities, regions and industries. SNG also conducted the 2009 Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study which allows the Canadian golf industry to benchmark the game’s economic impact over the past five years.

“We were very pleased to have been invited back to conduct this important research on behalf of the Canadian golf industry,” said Thomas McGuire, SNG’s Vice President. “This 2014 study draws on a massive sample of Canadian golfers and course operators and clearly demonstrates that the Canadian golf industry continues to be a significant nation-wide driver of economic impacts. What this study shows in relationship to the 2009 research is that golf in Canada has been able to maintain itself over a period of very challenging global economic circumstances that had left no sector of the economy untouched.”

The announcement of the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study was made on a media teleconference from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Following the media teleconference golf industry leaders from the NAGA partner associations met with legislators and members of Parliament in Ottawa as part of a golf industry lobby day.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CANADIAN GOLF ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY:

The game of golf accounts for an estimated $14.3 billion of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is up from the $12.2 billion reported in 2009*. Included in that economic impact are:
•    300,100 direct, indirect and induced jobs (342,000 in 2009)
•    $8.3 billion in household income ($8.0 billion in 2009)
•    $1.4 billion in property and other indirect taxes ($1.3 billion in 2009)
•    $2.2 billion in income taxes ($2.6 billion in 2009)
•    Canadian golf industry generates $14.3 billion in economic activity (GDP)
•    Industry employment estimated at more than 300,100 golf related jobs,
•    $533 million in philanthropic dollars generated at more than 37,000 events at golf courses
•    Golf related travel within Canada generates nearly $2.5 billion in tourism annually
•    Estimated 60 million rounds of golf played in Canada in 2013

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*Note that 2009 figures are adjusted by the consumer price index and reported as current dollars.
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Golf in Canada generates an estimated $36.9 billion in total gross production (see end notes in the Economic Impact Study for definitions) through the combination of direct, indirect and induced spending impacts.

The total direct economic activity (total direct sales, golf related travel, capital spending) resulting from the Canadian Golf Industry is estimated at $19.7 billion. Direct revenues generated directly by golf courses and their facilities, and stand-alone driving and practice ranges ($5.0 billion) rivals the revenues generated by all other participation sports and recreation facilities combined ($4.8 billion) in Canada.

Additional key benefits and impacts of golf in Canada include:

•    Environmental Benefits – Over 175,000 hectares of green space managed by approximately 2,308 golf course operators, including 30,000 hectares of unmanaged wildlife habitat under golf course stewardship.

•    Golf Participation –SNG estimates, based on starts reported by operators and rounds played reported by Canadian golfers, that approximately 60 million rounds of golf were played in 2013 (approximately 70 million rounds of golf were reported in 2009).

•    Employment Opportunities – The Canadian Golf Industry provides an excellent employment opportunity for 126,000 people, with as many as 37% of those working at Canadian golf courses being students. (approximately 43% reported in the 2009 study)

•    Charitable Activity – In 2013 there were nearly 37,000 charitable events hosted at Canadian golf courses (25,000 were reported in 2009). Using conservative estimates, these events raise more than $533 million for charitable causes across Canada ($473 million in 2009 dollars).

•    Golf Tourism – In 2013 Canadian travellers spent $2.5 billion annually on golf-related travel within Canada (including on-course spending at courses visited). Foreign visiting golfers spent $1.6 billion on golf related travel and on-course spending (approximately $2 billion reported in the 2009 study).

An executive summary outlining the results of the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study is available by clicking here.

TOTTENHAM, Ont. — The field battled rain and heavy winds at times during the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Women’s Match Play Championship at Woodington Lake Golf Club’s Legacy Course, June 2-4, but when it was all said and done, a familiar name was the last one standing. Seaforth resident Robyn Doig capped off the week with a 1up victory over Concord’s Christina Foster.

The two were neck and neck throughout the front nine with Doig taking the lead on the second hole, only to see Foster square the match on No. 5. The two traded the next two holes and thru 9 holes it was all square.

On the back nine, Doig, a current University of Central Florida team member fell behind after Foster, birdied the 11^th hole, but a par on 12 allowed her to get the match back to even. On hole 15, Foster bogeyed the par-3, while Doig pared, giving her the 1up lead. That lead lasted only one hole as Doig would bogey the 16^th. Doig regained the advantage with a birdie on the 17, setting up a do or die for Foster on the 18^th. Doig would hang on after she split the hole and earned her second-straight Match Play Championship.

After the match, the 22-year-old Doig talked about what it meant to win the event for the second year in a row.

“I am really excited,” said Doig. “It’s an honour to win this event because so many great players play in it and it is really cool to have my name on the trophy, twice.”

When asked about the turning point in the round she said she wasn’t sure if there was an exact moment.

“We were pretty steady back and forth for basically the whole match,” she added. “I guess the birdie on 17, it put me 1up with one to play so I knew I needed a couple good shots on the last hole but the birdie was really what I needed.”

Earlier in the day, Doig, who was ranked first after the qualifying round, defeated Uxbridge’s Gail Pimm, ranked fifth, in the semi-final 4&3, while Foster, the third seed, eliminated the number two seeded, Elizabeth Tong from Thornhill.  Doig’s road to the championship also went through Pickering’s Meghan Bennett in the quarterfinals and Stouffville’s Ivy Steinberg in round one.  Foster defeated Courtney Tolton of Mitchell in the quarters and Unionville’s Natasha Lehman in the first round.

For Doig the win is a nice addition to her provincial trophy case. In addition to last year’s Match Play Championship, she was also the 2013 Investors Group Women’s Amateur Champion, which she also won at Woodington Lake.

“It’s hard to say what it is that I like about playing here because the Old Course it totally different than the one we played here this week. So I guess it is just a great place to be.”

The Ontario Women’s Match Play was first played in 1975 and has several notable past champions including World, Canadian and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Streit, six-time champion Mary Ann Hayward, Terrill Samuel, and Heather Kuzmich.

OTTAWA – The National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) brought golf industry representatives to Parliament in order to advocate for tax fairness for the game of golf, Canada’s most popular sport.  NAGA also released the industry’s much-awaited economic impact study for the $14 billion Canadian golf industry, a document that paints the picture of a very large sector facing serious challenges in today’s economic and legislative climate.

“Canada is a golfing country,” said Jeff Calderwood, NAGA spokesman. “There are an estimated 5.7 million Canadian golfers and there are 2,300 golf courses and practice ranges in Canada. It is the country’s most popular sport. There are more golfers in Canada than there are hockey players, and the industry is worth more than $14 billion per year to the Canadian economy.”

“Unfortunately the golf industry in Canada suffers from an outdated 40-year-old tax policy that singles out golf businesses in an unfair manner,” continued Mr. Calderwood. “We are in Ottawa today to call on the federal government to correct this inequity and to restore tax fairness for Canada’s golf industry.”

Due to a 1971 tax reform, the Canada Revenue Agency does not allow deductions for expenses incurred by business people entertaining clients at golf courses. Canada’s 2,300 golf courses, most of whom are small business operators, feel that they cannot compete fairly with all the other industries where CRA does support entertaining clients. Over time, the unfairness of this discrimination against the golf industry has become more and more significant.

“To Canada’s 2,300 golf course operators, who are now facing the most competitive marketplace in our industry’s history, this unfair tax legislation is no longer a tolerable disadvantage. NAGA and its member associations call on the federal government to close this loophole and establish tax fairness for Canada’s golf industry,” concluded Calderwood.

Westman, Man. –  Junior players from across the country gathered at Shilo Golf and Country Club in Westman, Man. this weekend for the 2014 CN Future Links Prairie Championship, the third CN Future Links Championship of the season. Jaclyn Lee and Andrew Brown, both of Calgary, Alta. claimed their division titles after three exciting rounds of play. 

Team Canada Development Squad member Jaclyn Lee took the Junior Girls division by storm, finishing in first place by 13 strokes. Lee has more than just a champion title to be proud of though– the 17 year old broke a course record at Shilo during the tournament’s second round on Saturday.  Lee played a combination of middle tees to score a 5-under-67, breaking the women’s overall course record.  

“I’m really happy with how this weekend turned out,” said Lee on Sunday evening. “The course record and the bogey-free round were both firsts for me, but the weather definitely made things challenging today. The course didn’t seem too difficult at first, but once the wind picked up it became a very tough course to play.” 

Lee finished the championship with a score of 2-under-par 214 after rounds of 71-67-76. Alisha Lau, 14, of Richmond, B.C. followed in second with a final score of 227, and Alexandra Demko, 15, of Thunder Bay, Ont. finished in third with 232. 

In the Junior Boys division, Andrew Brown sat in third behind Zach Sackett of Calgary, Alta. and Keaton Gudz of Victoria, B.C. after Friday’s first round of play.  

“I just stuck to my game, kept my ball in place, and made a lot of putts,” Brown said when asked about his stellar second round of play, which put him ahead of Gudz by three strokes. 

Brown shot 71-69-75 for a final score of 1-under-par 215. Sackett shared second place with West Vancouver’s Owen Xiong with a final score of 4-over-par 220.  15- year-old Gudz follows the pair by one stroke, finishing the Championship with a final score of 5-over-par 221. 

The top six competitors in the Junior Boys division of each CN Future Links Championship will earn exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which will be contested July 28 – August 1 at the Legends on the Niagara Battlefield course in Niagara Falls, Ont. The Junior Girls champion from each CN Future Links Championship will earn an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship which runs July 28 – August 1 at the Thornhill Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont.  In addition, the champion receives an exemption into a 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour Event.  

The accolades keep rolling in for Team Canada’s Adam Svensson who recently captured his second straight NCAA Division II Team Championship with the Barry University Buccaneers.

On Sunday, the Surrey, B.C. native was awarded the Jack Nicklaus Award, which is presented to the top NCAA Division, I, II, III, NAIA and NJCAA players of the year.

On the golf course this season, Svensson captured seven titles and finished no worse than 14^th place in his 12 starts as a sophomore. His seven wins matched a record set by Stanford’s Tiger Woods in 1996 and Abilene Christian’s Alex Carpenter in 2001. This spring Svensson also set a new school scoring record when he fired a round of 61 at the Buccaneer Invitational. He also finished the season with a 70.05 stroke average

The Surrey, B.C. native was also recently named Barry University’s Male Athlete of the Year and is the first Buccaneer to receive the Jack Nicklaus Award.

Svensson joins an elite list of Jack Nicklaus Award winners that includes players such as, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Luke Donald, David Duval, Bill Haas, Ryan Moore. Canada’s Matt Hill and Eugene Wong are the only other two Canadians to receive collegiate golf’s highest honour.

Westman, Man. – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee stirred up excitement today in the second round of the 2014 CN Future Links Prairie Championship.  Maintaining yesterday’s first place finish, the Team Canada Development Squad Member fired five birdies en route to a course record 5-under 67. Lee now holds a ten stroke lead and set a new women’s course record at Shilo Golf and Country Club in Westman, Manitoba . The 17-year-old played a combination of middle tee to set the new record and sits at the top of the leader board with a total score of 6-under-par 138.

Alexandra Demko of Thunder Bay, Ont. continues to follow Lee in second place after a second round score of 3-over-par 75, for a total of 4-over-par 148. Veronica Vetesnick of Winnipeg, Man. sits behind Demko in third with a total of 5-over-par 149.

In the Junior Boys division, Calgary’s Andrew Brown leads after a second round 3-under-par 69, surpassing both Keaton Gudz of Victoria, B.C. and Zach Sackett of Winnipeg who shared first place on Friday. Today, Gudz shot 1-over-par 73 for a total of 1-under-par 143. Sackett follows in third by one stroke, with a total score of even-par 144.

The top six competitors in the Junior Boys division of each of six regional CN Future Links Championship being held in 2014 will earn exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which will be contested July 28 – August 1 at the Legends on the Niagara (Battlefield Course) in Niagara Falls, Ont. The Junior Girls champion from each 2014 CN Future Links Championship will earn an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship which runs July 28 – August 1 at Thornhill Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont.

The third and final round of the 2014 CN Future Links Prairie Championship begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. CDT. For complete scoring and information, click here.

The 2014 CN Future Links Prairie Championship started with a bang this week at Shilo Country Club in Westman, Manitoba. Defending champion and Team Canada Development Squad Member, Jaclyn Lee, took the opening round lead in the Junior Girls division with a score of 1-under-par 71. Alexandra Demko, 15, of Thunder Bay, Ont. follows in second with 1-over-par 73, and Veronica Vetesnik, 17, of Winnipeg takes third with a first round score of 74.

On the Junior Boys side, Winnipeg’s Zach Sackett fired 6 birdies for an opening score of 2-under-par 70. He currently shares first place with Keaton Gudz, 15, of Victoria. Andrew Brown, 17, of Calgary follows by one stroke in third with 1-under-par 71, and Corey Bailey, 17, of Shaunavon, Sask. sits in fourth with an even-par score.

The top six competitors in the Junior Boys division of each of six regional CN Future Links Championship being held in 2014 will earn exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which will be contested July 28 – August 1 at the Legends on the Niagara (Battlefield Course) in Niagara Falls, Ont. The Junior Girls champion from each 2014 CN Future Links Championship will earn an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship which runs July 28 – August 1 at Thornhill Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont.

The second round of the 2014 CN Future Links Prairie Championship begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. CDT. For complete scoring and information, click here.

Shilo Country Club opened the Championship’s practice round with a bang on Thursday, May 29, 2014 with a special visit from members of the Shilo Military Base.