OTTAWA, Ont. – The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) board of directors has announced that Chief Operating Officer Nathalie Lavallée will be promoted to Chief Executive Officer, effective Dec. 31, following the retirement of long-time CEO Jeff Calderwood.

Lavallée’s appointment follows a 25-year career with NGCOA Canada, where she has held several senior roles including director of membership, director of communications, and most recently COO. She has overseen day-to-day operations, led a national team, and played a key role in the Association’s growth over the past two and a half decades.

Her professional background includes experience in hotel management and work on Parliament Hill for a federal cabinet minister. Fully bilingual, Lavallée is recognized for her strong leadership skills and broad industry perspective.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nathalie as our next CEO,” said NGCOA Canada president Richard Edmonds. “She is a dynamic, forward-thinking leader whose experience aligns perfectly with our ongoing strategic goals serving Canadian golf course operators from coast to coast.”

Lavallée expressed excitement about her new role.

“I am honoured and energized by the opportunity to lead the NGCOA Canada into its next chapter,” she said. “With the strength of our team, the continued support of our dedicated board, and the foundation built over the past 34 years, I’m confident this will be a smooth and seamless transition

“Having had the privilege of working alongside Jeff Calderwood for the past 25 years, I want to express my sincere appreciation for his visionary leadership and mentorship. His passion and dedication have shaped the NGCOA Canada into what it is today, and I am committed to building on that legacy.”

Lavallée will remain based at the NGCOA Canada head office in Ottawa and will travel as needed to lead its national membership and eight regional chapters.

Ottawa, Ont. – The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) has announced that longtime CEO Jeff Calderwood will retire on December 31, 2025, after a remarkable 34-year career helping to shape the Canadian golf industry.

Calderwood’s leadership helped grow NGCOA Canada from the ground up into a national network of nearly 1,500 golf courses and 170 industry partners. He introduced a wide range of impactful programs, including the Golfmax Purchasing Program, Take A Kid To The Course, and the Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show, while expanding the Association’s advocacy, research, and sustainability efforts.

Beyond NGCOA Canada, Calderwood has played a key national role in advancing golf through policy wins, economic impact studies, and industry collaborations. He also served multiple terms as Chair of the National Allied Golf Associations.

Though retiring from his CEO role, Calderwood will remain involved in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition and ongoing industry support.

“Jeff’s vision and commitment have left a lasting legacy,” said NGCOA Canada Board President Richard Edmonds. “We thank him for everything he’s done for our association and for golf in Canada.”

OTTAWA – The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) has announced the election of its new board of directors following the successful conclusion of its 2024 annual general meeting, held during the Golf Business Canada Conference and Trade Show in Calgary.

Richard Edmonds, owner of Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club, has been named president of NGCOA Canada. Known for his dedication to the golf industry, Edmonds is expected to provide strong leadership over the next two years, building on the work of his predecessors.

Outgoing president Daniel Pilon, owner of Club de Golf St-Zotique, was recognized for his contributions during his two-year term, which saw significant advancements for golf course operators across Canada.

The board of directors, elected by acclamation, will serve until November 2026.

2024–2026 NGCOA Canada Board of Directors

Executive Committee

• President: Richard Edmonds, Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club

• Vice-president: Slade King, Play Golf Calgary

• Secretary-treasurer: Doug Breen, GolfNorth Properties

• Past-president: Daniel Pilon, Club de Golf St-Zotique

Directors

• Ryan Garrett, PEI’s Finest Golf

• Carole Bergeron, Club de Golf La Tempête

• Rob Howell, Metcalfe Golf Club

• Gail Burrows, Sequin Valley Golf Club

• Doug Quick, Kingsville Golf & Country Club

• Rick Kindrachuk, Wakaw Lake Regional Golf Course

• Chris McNicol, Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club

• Bryan Ewart, Osoyoos Golf Club

• Brent Miller, ClubLink

• Nada Di Menna, Centre de Golf Le Versant

• Brian Schaal, Copper Point Golf Club

“We are excited to welcome our 2024–2026 board of directors and sincerely thank Daniel Pilon for his outstanding service over the past two years,” said NGCOA Canada CEO Jeff Calderwood. “We look forward to working with Richard Edmonds and the new board as we continue to support our members and enhance the Canadian golf industry.”

Edmonds expressed his enthusiasm for the role.

“I am honoured to serve as president of NGCOA Canada and to work with such an exceptional team of industry leaders,” he said. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by Daniel Pilon and previous boards, advocating for golf course operators, and driving growth, innovation, and sustainability in our industry.”

This leadership transition marks the beginning of a new chapter for NGCOA Canada, combining a legacy of dedicated service with a focus on innovation and growth.

For more information on NGCOA Canada and its initiatives, visit ngcoa.ca.

The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Canada has released its latest research insights revealing a strong month for Canada’s golf industry.

Rounds Played Up Year-to-Date

For the third month in a row, rounds played nationally have risen compared to 2023, now up 4.8% year-to-date, demonstrating continued enthusiasm for golf across Canada. Atlantic Canada contributed significantly to this growth, with New Brunswick’s exceptional September rounds exceeding the national average by 12%. This boost helped Atlantic Canada surpass the national rounds average in September for the first time in five years. In Quebec, rounds played increased by a modest 1.8%, led by the Eastern Townships region, with a notable year-over-year jump of 46.8%, beating the national average by 24%.

 Improved September Weather Reduces Closures

September weather showed significant improvement over previous months in 2024, allowing operators to achieve higher weather impact scores and reducing the number of course closures. Year-to-date, coastal regions recorded the fewest closures, with slightly over a week of play lost. In contrast, Alberta faced 23 closures, equating to over three weeks of lost play. Central regions such as Ontario and the Prairies were close behind, reporting an average of 21 and 19 closures, respectively.

If you have any questions or would like more insights into the September 2024 Rounds Played and Weather Reports, please contact Al Helmer at ahelmer@ngcoa.ca.

St Andrews, Scotland & Oakville, Ont. – The R&A announced new participation figures that show an increase of more than three million adult golfers playing the sport.  

According to new research undertaken for the governing body, there are now 42.7 million on-course golfers (9 and 18-hole) in R&A affiliated markets (outside the USA and Mexico).

The research figures for 2023 indicate a growth of 3.1 million on-course golfers since 2022. The growth trend began before the onset of Covid-19 and is now accelerating faster than the 2020-2022 pandemic period when there was an average of 2.5 million new on-course golfers per annum. The sport continues to increase in popularity, now up 44% from 29.6 million on-course players in 2016.

The new data is provided by national federations in The R&A’s affiliated markets in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

The research also shows that 62.3 million adults (outside the USA and Mexico) consume the sport in some format, an increase of 1.1 million since 2022. It is just the second time an estimate has been made beyond on-course activity to include alternative-only formats, such as pitch & putt, indoor simulator golf and driving range use.

“Golf’s popularity continues to grow with a significant increase in the number of people playing the sport both on and off the course,” said Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A. “There are now 13 million more golfers playing on the course since 2016 in R&A affiliated markets, while there are also millions of others enjoying alternative formats of golf, such as driving ranges, adventure golf and simulator golf, which are vital to the growth of the sport.

“New golfer participation programmes with appealing propositions, promotion and imagery are important for encouraging more people into the sport and retaining them in greater numbers. This is why we continue to work collaboratively with our affiliated national federations and stakeholders to build on this momentum and ensure golf continues to thrive.”

The top five on-course adult golfer markets overall reported are in:

• Japan (11.4 million)
• Republic of Korea (8.7 million)
• Canada (6.3 million)
• England (4.2 million)
• Germany (2.4 million)

Asia is the leading region for people engaging with golf among R&A affiliated regions, with total adult engagement in golf of 26.2 million. Europe is next highest with 19.7 million adults having some form of golf engagement.

The number of adult registered golfers (those members of a golf club within their national association or affiliated through a direct subscription) increased from 8 million in 2022 to 8.2 million in 2023, with an overall growth of 10% since 2020. Registered women golfers have grown from 1.5 million in 2020 to 1.6 million in 2023.

There was a decrease in those adults who only played formats other than 9 or 18-hole golf  – 21.6 million in 2022 to 19.6 million in 2023 – but this is likely to positively reflect on those moving instead to full-length on-course golf. The percentage of golfers only using alternative formats that are women did grow from 47% in 2022 to 52% in 2023, specifically in key golfing markets.