As part of Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting in London, Ont., the association’s Rules & Amateur Status Committee has approved the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMD’s) for all amateur championships beginning in 2014.

This Local Rule will be introduced at CN Future Links junior championships as well as Canada’s national amateur competitions. Competitors will not be allowed to use DMD’s at Golf Canada’s professional championships including Canadian Women’s Tour events, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial, the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, including their respective qualifiers.

This Local Rule allows competitors to use Distance Measuring Devices that measure distance only – not those devices that can measure other conditions such as wind speed or direction, temperature or elevation.

“With recent technological advances designed to enhance the golfer experience, our Rules Committee felt that this decision to allow DMD’s was a step in the right direction without jeopardizing the spirit and challenge of the game,” said Dale Jackson, Chair of Golf Canada’s Rules & Amateur Status Committee. “We have received a tremendous amount of feedback from golfers and this decision allows us to align with all of our provincial and international partners that have moved to allow DMD’s at their respective amateur competitions.”

Since 2006, committees have had the option of adopting a Local Rule under the Rules of Golf to allow players to use Distance Measuring Devices that measure or gauge distance only. See note to Rule 14-3 of the Rules of Golf.

Recently, the R&A and the USGA Championship Committee’s decided it will allow the use of distance measuring devices (DMDs) in R&A amateur events in 2014.

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.

He may be Queen’s Counsel, but that doesn’t mean Mike Carroll can recognize a Prince.

Carroll, a Vancouver lawyer, has a long list of highlights from his recently completed one-year term as Golf Canada president. But he calls meeting Prince Andrew in rather unusual circumstances at last year’s Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland his “most amusing highlight.”

Carroll was representing Golf Canada at the Open Championship and he and his wife Anne were invited to one of the daily lunches the Royal & Ancient Golf Club puts on during the tournament.

The Carrolls were escorted to a table where there were already a few people seated, including a gentleman on Mike Carroll’s right. When Carroll introduced himself as Golf Canada president and a Vancouver resident, that person began to pepper him with questions about James Island, a privately owned island off Victoria where an exclusive Jack Nicklaus-designed course has been built.

“I was embarrassed because I had forgotten that the McCaw family owns the Nicklaus-built golf course on James Island,” Carroll says. “I told this guy that I wasn’t familiar with the course and in his British accent he said, ‘oh, you mean to tell me that you are the president of Golf Canada and you have no idea whether there is a golf course on James Island?. That is quite incredible.’”

Carroll let that rather rude remark slide and fortunately the conversation turned. At one point, Carroll’s seat-mate told him he had to “go back to Balmoral because my mother is having a function.”

Suddenly, it all clicked for Carroll, who chuckles as he recalls the conversation.

“I realized that Balmoral is Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which is the home of the Royal Family. Then it dawned on me. This was Prince Andrew, who by the way was a former captain of the R&A. We had a very nice chat for the next half-hour, Prince Andrew and I.”

The past year has been an exhilarating one for Golf Canada’s 110^th president. Slow play may be one of the big issues facing the golf industry, but there has been nothing slow about the past 12 months for Carroll.

“My expectations were that it would be a busy year and my expectations were more than met,” he says. “It was very busy.”

As Golf Canada president, Carroll attended the four majors and watched Brandt Snedeker and Lydia Ko win the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Opens. He also attended a number of amateur championships throughout the country.

Jim Nelford’s induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at last summer’s RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club was a particularly memorable night for Carroll.

“That was a personal highlight for me because I have been friendly with Jim and have known him for a long time.”

The presidency was a lot more than glad-handing at tournaments for Carroll, who practises law at the Vancouver firm of Davis & Co. and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1996. There was plenty of work to do and Carroll likes to think he helped move the needle in a couple of areas.

Under his guidance, the Golf Canada board continued its transition from an operational body to a policy board. Its job now is to set policy and then let Golf Canada staff follow up on its recommendations.

“In our board meetings this year we have continued to make really good progress, so that we are looking at what I would call the bigger picture items in golf, not the small stuff,” Carroll says. “An example of that would be what can we really do to get more kids playing golf?”

When he assumed the presidency at Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting last February in Vancouver, Carroll talked about the need to get more children playing the game. He made that goal a priority over the past year.

He stressed the need for Golf Canada, in cooperation with the PGA of Canada and the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada, to tackle this issue. Carroll strongly believes developing Canadian golf icons — “the next generation of Mike Weirs,” he calls them — is one of the ways to attract more young people to the game.

“The emergence of Graham DeLaet on the PGA TOUR is big and he is a very good ambassador for us and in particular for our young kids. He is really communicating with our national amateur teams. He tweets them and is sort of one of the guys. He takes a very active interest in how our young players are doing which is invaluable for us.”

At the amateur level, Carroll was encouraged by the fact four Canadians advanced to the Round of 32 at last summer’s U.S. Amateur Championship, with Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., making it all the way to the semi-finals.

On the women’s side, Carroll notes the splendid play of 16-year-old Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, Ont. Henderson, who has recently won several high-profile amateur events, is now ranked sixth in the world.

As for his own game, Carroll says it has suffered. The combination of his busy schedule and a fairly recent interest — some would say obsession — with cycling, has resulted in Carroll’s Handicap Factor rising to double digits.

He says his friends at Point Grey Golf Club, the Vancouver course where he is a long-time member, will be seeing much more of him this year.

“My golf has suffered as a result of my cycling,” Carroll says. “But I am absolutely determined that I am going to get back to playing more golf now that my stint with Golf Canada is coming to a close. And I have a goal which is basically to get back to a high single-digit handicap. It is a goal that is going to be difficult to accomplish given the current state of my game.”

Sandra Craig has devoted much of her adult life to the game of golf.

As the current president of Alberta Golf, Craig has been tirelessly volunteering across her home province for over a decade.

Known as ‘Sandy’ to many, Craig has been a vital component in Alberta Golf’s Sport Development and Championship portfolios. She has chaired both committees as well as many individual team events and tournaments.

Craig began her journey with the Alberta Golf family in 2001 and has been working diligently ever since. Over the last two years as president of the association, she has worked in transitioning Alberta Golf from an operational to a policy governance board. The new structure required full-time commitment and Craig was instrumental in making this happen.

Notably, Craig has chaired both the Sport Development and Championship committees, as well as many individual team events and tournaments.

She will be fondly remember at Alberta Golf for her continued leadership of the Alberta Open and for her role in raising over $100,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation through that process.

This year marks the conclusion of her presidency but her legacy will be remembered for one of hard work, commitment, determination and more importantly for bestowing to the golf industry a modernized version of Alberta Golf that is ready to meet the future’s oncoming challenges.

The Volunteer of Year Award will be presented Saturday, February 8 at the closing dinner of Golf Canada’s Annual General meeting in London, Ont. This is the eighth year for the initiative which recognizes individuals in the golf community whose tireless efforts and dedication help to grow the game in Canada.

Here’s a look at Craig’s dedication to golf in Alberta over the past decade:

Alberta Golf Achievements

 2001

Junior Zone 2&3 Captain and Board Member

E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair

2002

Junior Zone 2&3 Captain and Board Member

Alberta Junior Ladies Championship Chairman

E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair

Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp

 2003

Junior Ladies Committee Chair & Board Member

Senior Men’s Championship Chairman

Senior Ladies’ Championship Chairman

E. Lynne Cox Memorial Jr. Golf Camp Chair

Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp

 2004

Junior Ladies Committee Chair & Board Member

Junior Girls Championship and Team Trials Chairman

Zones 2&3 Level 3 Future Links Development Camp

 2005

Zone 2 Member Services Captain & Board Member

Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman

Senior Ladies’ Championship Chairman

2006

Zone 2 Member Services Captain & Board Member

Ladies Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman

Calgary and South Zone 4 Ball Championship Chairman

Bantam Championship Chairman

 2007

Calgary Zone Director and Board Member

Senior Ladies` Championship Chairman

Jr Boys Qualifying Chairman

Bantam Championship Chairman

2008

Tournament Director and Board Member

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

Men`s Amateur Championship Chairman

Ladies` Amateur Championship Chairman

2009

Tournament Director and Board Member

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

Men`s Amateur Championship Chairman

Calgary and South Zone 4 Ball Championship Chairman

Junior Girls Championship and Team Trials Chairman

 2010

Calgary Zone Director and Board Member

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

 2011

Vice President of the Board

Led the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

Amateur Qualifying Chairman

Mid-Amateur Championship Chairman

Senior Ladies` Championship Chairman

2012

President and Chairman of the Board

Implemented the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach

Alberta Open Championship Chairman

Standing Committee Member: Nominating Committee

2013

President and Chairman of the Board

Fine-tuned the transition from an operational to policy governance Board approach

Standing Committee Member: Human Resources and Compensation, Nominating Committees

Registration opens today for Golf Canada’s Amateur Championships, CN Future Links and Canadian Women’s Tour events.

Competitors looking to play in one of Golf Canada’s eight national amateur championships, six CN Future Links stops or three Canadian Women’s Tour events can view the championship schedule and register online by clicking here.

Canadian Women’s Tour returns for its 13^th season

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour – Canada’s only women’s professional golf tour.

This season’s scheduled stops include May 12-14 at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C., June 23-25 at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ont. and the Tour’s final stop set for early July in Alberta to be announced in the coming days.

New for 2014, the top five (previously the top 3) players on the Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into LPGA Stage 2 Qualifying.

In addition, the champion of each Canadian Women’s Tour stop will receive an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. As well, following the conclusion of play at the final Canadian Women’s Tour event, two (2) additional exemptions will be awarded to the top competitors, not otherwise exempt, on the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.

Groove Specifications for 2014 Golf Canada Championships

Golf Canada has determined our plans to implement the new groove specifications for our championships starting in 2014. The Rules Committee recently approved the following:

• Introduce the groove condition of competition for the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur and the 2014 Canadian Women’s Amateur.  Note: this does not automatically include the qualifying events for these championships.  Please refer to the conditions of competitions at your respective provincial amateur championships.

• Introduce the groove condition of competition at all other championships (national amateur championships, CN Future Links, and Canadian Women’s Tour events) beginning in 2016.

For more information on the groove specification: Groove FAQ for Golf Canada Championships

Thirty golfers have been named to the Ben Hogan Award Watch List including Canadians Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont.

The Ben Hogan Award is the most prestigious award in men’s college golf and is presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer taking into account all college and amateur competitions during a one-year period.

Both in their senior year at Kent State University, Conners and Pendrith have excelled on the collegiate and national level. Conners is currently the highest ranked Canadian amateur in the world at No. 22, while Pendrith sits at No. 28.

As the reigning Jones Cup champion, Conners was also semi-finalist at the U.S. Men’s Amateur championship and runner-up at the Canadian Men’s Amateur championship this summer. In NCAA action, he became the first back-to-back champion of the Gopher Invitational in 2013.

Pendrith, 22, captured the prestigious 2013 Porter Cup and also finished tied for second at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. This fall at Kent State, he finished runner-up at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational.

A list of 10 semifinalists, which could include individuals not on the current list, will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. On Wednesday, May 7, that group will be pared down to three finalists. The winner will be crowned at a black-tie banquet at Colonial Country Club on Sunday, May 18, prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Notable past champions of the Ben Hogan Award include PGA TOUR stars, Hunter Mahan (2003), Bill Haas (2004), Ryan Moore (2005), Rickie Fowler (2008), Kyle Stanley (2009). The lone Canadian to win the award was the Web.com TOUR’s Nick Taylor (2004).

For the complete listing of the 30 players named to the Ben Hogan Award Watch List click here.

Students in their third year of Niagara College’s Business Administration-Professional Golf Management (Co-op) class recently welcomed Scott Simmons, Golf Canada’s Executive Director and CEO.

The students presented Simmons with a donation of $1,500 to Golf Canada in support of the National Golf in Schools program. The funds will be used to sponsor three schools in the Niagara region – Princess Margaret Elementary (Niagara Falls), St Francis Xavier (Stoney Creek) and Greendale Public School (Niagara Falls).

“On behalf of Golf Canada, I’m proud of the continued fundraising efforts of Niagara College students who understand the important link that Golf in Schools creates between the education and golf communities,” said Simmons. “The students and administrators with the Golf Management program understand the important of investing in grassroots golf – introducing the game to young golf enthusiasts who we hope will develop an interest and passion for our sport.”

Professor of the PGM program Grant Fraser continues to see the benefits of this initiative for both the community and his students.

“I believe that it is important for the golf community to support the Golf in Schools program. Our golf management students at Niagara College are part of that community,” said Fraser. “One of the key topics we discuss in our Event Management class is the importance of giving back and doing what we can to help grow the game of golf in the Niagara region. Supporting Golf Canada’s Golf in Schools program helps us do this.”

This was the third year that his students have supported the Golf in Schools program. In the past, they have adopted Fitch Street Public School, Fort Erie Secondary and Glen Ridge PS. The students have increased their fundraising total in each of the three years and hope to continue the streak in the future.

This year’s funds were raised through the students’ third-annual PGM Invitation Charity Golf Tournament which was held at Beechwood Golf and Country Club in Niagara Falls. Students sold raffle and 50/50 tickets and also held a silent auction to raise funds. Fundraising efforts will continue in 2014 when third-year students host the second annual industry showcase at the College’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus.

Golf in Schools introduces the game of golf to thousands of students in the country by integrating golf into school physical education programs. With 4.5 million students enrolled at 10,000 elementary and 4,500 high schools, the Canadian school physical education system is the single most concentrated opportunity to introduce children of all backgrounds to the sport of golf, according to Golf Canada.

To find out more about the Golf in Schools program click here.

SEA ISLAND, Georgia – Listowel, Ont. native Corey Conners captured the Jones Cup after besting Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas on the first playoff on Sunday at the Ocean Forest Golf Club.

Conners, 21, was 1-stroke back in a tie for fourth heading into the final round. He gained the outright lead earlier in the day before losing a stroke with a bogey on 18 to force the playoff. The Kent State senior collected himself and went on to defeat Connelly with a par on the first playoff hole. Conners finished at 2-over par for the championship after carding rounds of 72-73-73.

With the win, Conners will move up in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) from his current position at 41^st. The Jones Cup is a premier amateur event that is highly ranked and features some of the best amateurs in the world.

Team Canada member and Kent State teammate Taylor Pendrith was the next highest Canadian on the leaderboard. The Richmond Hill, Ont. native finished T26 at 10-over par (75-75-76).

 Other Canadians in the field:

T42.  Kevin Carrigan (Victoria, B.C.) 74-80-74 (+12)
T48. Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.) 74-75-80 (+13)
T69. Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) 77-74-82 (+17)

View the full leaderboard here

SEA ISLAND, Georgia – Team Canada’s Corey Conners continued his strong play in Georgia, carding a second-round 73 to remain in the hunt heading into the third and final round of the Jones Invitational.

Conners, a Kent State senior, is one of four players tied for fourth place at Ocean Forest Golf Club. The 21-year-old of Listowel, Ont. native was a model of consistency Saturday, recording 15 pars on the day. He is 1-over par, chasing the lead held by three others at even par.

National Team member Adam Svensson slipped down the leaderboard into a tie for 20^th. The  Surrey, B.C. native was hurt by three consecutive bogies on the back nine to finish with a 3-over 75. The 20-year-old is now 5-over par through two rounds of play (74-75).

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. also shot a 3-over 75. He is currently 6-over par (75-75) and sits tied for 29th.

Elmira, Ont. native Garrett Rank improved on his opening-round Saturday, carding a 2-over 74 after his opening round of 77. He moved up 13 spots to sit tied for 37th.

Victoria, B.C. native Kevin Carrigan had a difficult day. The 27-year-old slipped into a tie for 61st after recording an 8-over 80.

View the full leaderboard here.

SEA ISLAND, Georgia – Team Canada’s Corey Conners sits just two-strokes off the pace after the opening round of the Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest Golf Club.

Conners, 21, shot an even par 72 which featured four birdies on the back 9. He is currently tied for fifth with three others and will look to make his way up the leaderboard when play resumes tomorrow.

Kevin Carrigan of Victoria, B.C. also opened well in Georgia – he currently sits at tied for 15th after carding a 2-over 74. Team Canada member and Surrey, B.C. native, Adam Svensson, also fared well. The 20-year-old Barry University student sits tied with Carrigan in 15th spot after going 2-under on his final six holes.

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., also a member of Team Canada’s National Team, finished in a tie for 25^th after opening with a 3-over 75.

Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont. struggled in his opening round to a 5-over 77. He currently sits 50th.

Scoring can be viewed online here.

Pointe Claire, Que. – PUMA Golf Canada and Golf Canada have announced a three-year partnership in which PUMA will become the official apparel sponsor of the CN Future Links junior development program in Canada.

Committed to ensuring the future of the game through affordable and accessible programs, CN Future Links is a joint initiative of Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and Canada’s provincial golf associations which offers a full suite of programs for boys and girls ages 6-18, from first timers to those with a high degree of experience and playing ability.

CN Future Links junior programs help young golfers develop the technical skills, appropriate attitude and self-confidence to succeed on the course, while teaching them the positive life lessons to succeed off the course.

“The CN Future Links program has had a long and successful history with junior development in Canada and we are extremely happy to support this great initiative” said Dave Burgess, Senior Marketing Manager, PUMA Golf Canada. “We are excited to enter into this partnership and honoured to work alongside such a great and professional organization.”

Burgess goes onto mention, “Some of our athletes such as Rickie Fowler and newly adopted Canadian, Graham DeLaet have had a strong influence towards golf fashion in the past few years. We are happy that juniors will now have access to some of these products through their involvement in the CN Future Links”.

”We are thrilled with PUMA Golf Canada’s decision to align their vibrant brand with Canada’s national junior golf program,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “Without question, PUMA Golf brings excitement to golf fashion and represents a tremendous opportunity to help CN Future Links engage more youth in quality golf activities.”

PUMA Golf will support the CN Future Links by providing registration incentives, program prizing and staff apparel.