OAKVILLE – (Golf Canada) – Some golfers claim their favourite aspect of the game is recanting highlights (and maybe even some lowlights) with friends following a round of golf. 

Now, members of Golf Canada and their respective provincial golf association who track their games with Golf Canada Score Centre can do just that… digitally.

Introducing Golf Canada #MyGolfYear – a retrospective of a member’s golf year generated by the scoring data posted to the Golf Canada Score Centre in 2021.

Statistics on the graphics include total best round, number of holes played, distance played and most-played golf courses. 

Golfers who posted scores using hole-by-hole method will see additional statistics added to their graphics, including total number of pars, birdies or better and holes-in-one.

Golf Canada is encouraging members to share their graphics with friends via email or post them to their favourite social networking platform using the hashtag #MyGolfYear. Below are just a few examples shared since the inaugural campaign launched.

NOT A MEMBER? JOIN GOLF CANADA AND START TRACKING YOUR GAME

Together with the PGA of Canada, Golf Canada is excited to announce the continuation of the National Women in Coaching program and formally open applications for the 2022 cohort. 

The Women in Coaching program is an initiative started in 2021 with nine participants, that strives to reach a stronger gender balance among high-performance coaches. Each participant receives in-depth career development support that is focused on four main areas: individualized learning plans, virtual and in-person coaching education, hands-on training experiences with coaches and top players, and new for 2022, integration with the PGA of Canada mentorship program.  

“The Women in Coaching program has given me access to a wealth of knowledge that I did not have and has allowed me to meet our country’s leaders in coaching,” said Sarah-Andréa Landry, 2021 program participant and PGA of Canada professional. “The opportunity to share experiences and leadership tools developed during this program allows me to actively contribute to my club, the players I coach and the golf industry in general.”

The 2022 cohort will kick off with an in-person session at the national junior squad training camp in Phoenix, Ariz., where participants shadow national team coaches and engage in content including technical skill development and women in sport leadership.  

“The Women in Coaching program presents an opportunity for some of Canada’s most-accomplished female leaders to further their career developments together,” said Jennifer Greggain, coach of Team Canada’s Junior Squads. “The strong collection of coaches will drive the initiative forward through knowledge and experience sharing on the way to building a foundation for the future.” 

Now in its second year, the program is led by Greggain, Glenn Cundari (Technical Director, PGA of Canada) and Emily Phoenix (Manager, High Performance Sport, Golf Canada). The program receives financial support through Sport Canada’s Safe Sport and Gender Equity Fund, along with contributions from the R&A and the Golf Canada Foundation Women’s Fund. 

How to apply

PGA of Canada professionals interested in the Women in Coaching Program can click here to apply and are encouraged to reach out to Emily Phoenix (ephoenix@golfcanada.ca) with any questions. 

Applications close on Monday, Dec. 6 at 12 p.m. ET. 

The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) Virtual Summit presented by RBC on the State of Canadian Golf took place November 11, 2021, which was part of an ongoing GJAC series intended to help membership stay connected, as well as to generate discussion and opportunities around important issues in the game.

GJAC Virtual Summits presented by RBC are approximately one hour in length and are recorded for public viewing. You can watch this one below. The format consists of a moderated question and answer period, followed by a brief opportunity for questions from attendees. 

Panelists for this Summit include:

*Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada
* Kris Jonasson, BC Golf
*Kevin Thistle, PGA of Canada
*Jason Logan, SCOREGolf Magazine – Moderator

Click below to watch…

Volunteers. Golf in Canada can’t do without them and for many who try it, it becomes a life-long passion.

Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of Canadians volunteer every year at all levels of golf – from local junior events up to and including the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open.

“The volunteers at our recent Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor absolutely loved what they were doing,” said Golf Canada president Liz Hoffman, who enjoys attending tournaments and getting to hang out with volunteers.

“Whether they were walking scorers, spotters or bringing out water and fruit for the players they loved every minute of what they were doing, and it was contagious.”

Hoffman says if you consider all the roles and responsibilities volunteers have as part of Golf Canada’s board, councils and committees, helping at championships and qualifiers, or who serve as referees or work on handicapping and course rating and then factor everything that happens at the provincial level there is no doubt golf in Canada couldn’t function without them.

“They (volunteers) are integral, right across the country,” she says. “They’re the machine.”

Jim Clark, an Aurora, Ont., resident, first volunteered to work the Canadian Open in 1984 after hearing about it when he was curling.

“I was on the caddy committee,” he explains. “I just loved it. Standing in the parking lot at Glen Abbey and meeting the players as they got out of their cars.

“I enjoyed it so much I did it the next year, and the next year and the next year. And I’ve never missed one since.”

In time, Clark became a governor of the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) and he has worked every significant tournament Golf Canada has been involved in.

But why?

“It can be long hours and exhausting, but it gave me an energy,” he says. “It was the highlight of my year many times. That’s why I kept going back.”

Clark said volunteering in golf gave him a feeling of being part of a team and he loves to talk about the friendships he’s made through working golf tournaments and how volunteers come from all walks of life.

“We had a doctor who ran a parking lot at the Canadian Open,” he said. “He took a week off from his practice to direct cars in the parking lot.”

Hoffman’s introduction to volunteering in golf was not unlike Clark’s.

It happened in 2006 because the University of Toronto, where she was director of athletics and high-performance sport, was hosting the Canadian University/College Championship at Thornhill G&CC, where she’s a member.

After that experience she volunteered at the club level, then with Golf Ontario. And now, 15 years later, she is president of Golf Canada.

Both Hoffman and Clark agree that it’s not hard to get volunteers back for a second or third time because they see they’re making a difference and are having fun doing it.

“Once people do it they love it and they’ll go back,” said Clark. “The hard part is getting them out for the first time because some people can be intimidated by it.”

That’s one of the reasons Hoffman is on a crusade to broaden golf’s volunteer base in Canada.

“I’ve had so many parents come up to me and say, “if you ever need volunteers let me know because I’ll help in any way I can,’” says Hoffman who points out the reason they ask is because they simply don’t know how to get involved.

For starters, you don’t have to be a great golfer or even a golfer, period.

“We welcome applications from all individuals who share our values and may contribute to increasing equity diversity and inclusion in our sport,” says Hoffman. “We want to look inside and outside our sport.

“We want to broaden our volunteer base and underrepresented groups are key. We need to make sure we reach out to them and let them know who we are and how to get involved.”

Golf Canada has made it simple to sign up as a volunteer. For starters, you can simply go to www.golfcanada.ca/volunteer-opportunities to get more information on how to volunteer with Golf Canada.

Or if you prefer, you can call Golf Canada or your provincial golf association and ask, “how do I volunteer?”

You can reach Golf Canada at 905-849-9700 or toll-free at 1-800-263-0009.

Golf Canada saw over 1.7M scores posted in the month of July 2021—marking a record for the most ever in the organization’s history.

Find your course today by clicking here.

Former executive director of Ontario Para Network will help support the National Sport Federation’s commitment to creating a safe, diverse, and welcoming environment within the organization and across the sport.

Golf Canada has announced the hiring of Laura Wilson as its new Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Safe Sport.

Wilson, an experienced and enthusiastic senior leader, has held important executive positions at various organizations including most recently as the Executive Director of the Ontario Para Network, and previously with the Coaches Association of Ontario, and the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto.

The role is a new position in Golf Canada, reflecting the organization’s elevated commitment to driving diversity and inclusion in all facets of the game as well as ensuring a safe sport environment for all enthusiasts.

“We are extremely proud to add someone like Laura, with the depth of her experience and skill-set, to our team,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Golf Canada launched an extensive search for committed leader such as Laura who could advance our efforts across equity, diversity and inclusion as well as our critical safe sport activities. As an organization and industry, we are looking forward to open dialogue, engagement and action with our stakeholders and partners to help develop and execute an important diversity, inclusion, and safe sport strategy for the betterment of the organization and our sport overall.”

As part of Wilson’s effort, she will chair Golf Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Alliance to execute a multi-point strategy to help all individuals to foster an environment where all feel responsible for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“I am committed to building diverse, fully inclusive, and equitable sport pathways for future generations of all abilities, and I can’t wait to get started at Golf Canada. As a sport leader, I am also committed to increasing opportunities for all,” said Wilson, who immigrated from India with her parents as a child.

“I believe we all have a responsibility to champion safe sport and inclusion while fostering the change we want to see in our organization and across our communities.”

Golf Canada recently launched an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion online resource as an expression of is commitment in this important space. The portal outlines a number of the policies, activities and alliances that are currently underway.

Earlier this year, Golf Canada also launched a Safe Sport online resource as part of its fundamental responsibility to protect the health, safety and physical and mental well-being of athletes, staff, volunteers, and other enthusiasts involved in its activities.

Wilson has experience not only as a senior leader in the associations and organizations space but has a background in media and content development as well. Her robust volunteer experience across many sports along with a continued interest in education and growth made her a perfect addition to Golf Canada’s team.

Wilson has already begun in her role with Golf Canada and can be reached at lwilson@golfcanada.ca.

It was a transformative moment for our organization.

A virtual town-hall with staff in the summer of 2020 to talk about the tragic and senseless murder of George Floyd and reflect on what we were seeing and experiencing in the world around us. The team shared an honest and emotional conversation, and I was incredibly moved by the personal sharing, thoughtful insights on racial injustice, and the conviction that everyone brought to the call.

Many followed up with a willingness to play a role in what comes next for Golf Canada—a shared commitment to be an organization of impact that could lead through action. I look back to that moment as a catalyst for the important steps needed to make our organization and our sport reflect the multi-cultural diversity, inclusiveness, and acceptance that we all want as Canadians.

It was that commitment that led to the creation of Golf Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Alliance and a vision for who we want to be in this important space.

“As the National Sport Federation and governing body, Golf Canada is committed to creating a safe, diverse, and welcoming environment within our organization and across our sport.

We recognize that even as Canada’s most participated sport, we know that our sport is not free from prejudice, stigma, racism, or systemic bias. Golf Canada stands in solidarity with racialized persons and equity seeking groups and is working to better understand the challenges of racialized communities as well as the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and golfers with a disability.

We formed our Diversity & Inclusion Alliance to develop a strategic action pathway that will guide the organization’s efforts to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment. This includes a review of Golf Canada’s policy for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; education and training for staff and volunteers; integration of diversity elements across all programs, events and partnerships; and a commitment to be a leading voice in global golf that supports diversity and inclusion in the communities where we live, work and play.”

As the national sport federation, we needed to do the work—to begin having conversations about privilege and bias that were uncomfortable but important.

To learn from thought leaders and invest in training and education for staff and volunteers. Golf Canada’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy has been in place for a number of years and the efforts of our Diversity and Inclusion Alliance have brought forward strategic activities that bring the spirit of our policy to life. The areas of focus include: a diversity audit; education and training; recruitment and retention; advocacy; and support for racialized and diverse communities.

The launch of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion online resource is an expression of our commitment in this important space and portal to many of the activities and alliances that are currently underway. 

To reinforce our commitment to be an organization of impact, we are proud to welcome Laura Wilson, former executive director of the Ontario Para Network as Golf Canada’s new Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Safe Sport.

I am extremely proud of the work that has been done by Golf Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Alliance to inspire an organization-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive and inviting culture within our sport. Some of the activities undertaken to date include:

• A commitment to conduct an annual review of Golf Canada’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy.

• Professional development training for staff and volunteers in areas such as unconscious bias, microaggressions, and anti-racism.

• An internal diversity audit of staff and volunteers through a self-identification survey as well as a COBRAS survey to assess awareness of racial privilege, institutional discrimination, and racial issues.

• An ongoing review of our job postings and process with a goal to diversify and expand the applicant pool for staff and volunteer recruitment.

• A partnership with the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion (CCDI) as well as other thought leaders to access education, training, and expertise.

• The launch of First Tee – Canada to strengthen Golf Canada junior activities through a curriculum focused on empowering youth and building strength of character through golf. 

• The launch of the Canadian All-Abilities Golf Championship to provide a national competition for golfers of all abilities with disabilities.

• The identification of important dates and events for celebration, reflection, or awareness.

• Exploring opportunities to engage indigenous, racialized and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, golfers with disability and other equity-seeking groups across Golf Canada programs and championships.

• Furthering Golf Canada’s commitment to the Women & Golf Charter through professional development opportunities, the hosting of the CP Women’s Leadership Summit, the conducting of the World Junior Girls Championship, operation of Golf Fore the Cure and the launch of Golf Canada’s Women and Coaching program in partnership with the PGA of Canada.

Golf Canada is also fully committed to fostering a safe sport environment for golf. As the national sport federation, we have fundamental obligation and responsibility to protect the health, safety and physical and mental well being of athletes, staff, volunteers, and other enthusiasts involved in our sport.

Change takes time. As much as anything, we want to make a connection with the many equity seeking groups who do not feel welcomed within the golf experience.

That means encouraging national, provincial, and local golf organizations along with golf facilities to consider education and training with an expressed commitment to support diversity and inclusion in the communities where we live, work, and play.

It is an invitation to golf’s stakeholders to consider positive action through policies, programs, recruitment, and retention to support the progression of indigenous communities, racialized Canadians, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, golfers with disability and other equity-seeking groups who are playing and working at all levels of the sport.

It also means promoting opportunities for diversity and inclusion through advocacy, education, recruitment, and financial investment across areas of our business.

As Canadians, the deeply disturbing tragedies of the residential school system and the ongoing impact on our Indigenous communities further reinforces the need for greater education and acceptance, and reconciliation. Those in our sport can benefit by understanding and advancing the unique connection between golf and our indigenous communities, as so thoughtfully examined in this SCOREGolf cover feature.

I want to recognize and thank our partners at the PGA of Canada for their extensive work in this space through the activities of their dynamic Diversity Task Force. We are also learning through the meaningful efforts of our many provincial, national, international, and corporate partners who have a shared vision to make our sports and our communities more inclusive.

While the expression of Golf Canada’s commitment to support equity, diversity and inclusion and our activities to date are important steps, our work and our investment in this important space is only just beginning.

Together with our Board of Directors and staff, we look forward to connecting with the entire golf community to create a safe, diverse, and welcoming environment within our organization and across our sport.

Laurence Applebaum

Chief Executive Officer
Golf Canada

Kent Gilchrist covered just about everything in a sportswriting career that spanned more than 40 years, but he had a particular affinity for golf. Not just the game, but the people who played it. 

Gilchrist, known as Cookie to his countless friends, died at his New Westminster home Wednesday night after a lengthy illness. He was 72. Cookie was larger than life. He could light up a room and fill it with laughter. He seemed to know everyone.

Doug Roxburgh, the 13-time B.C. Amateur winner, was shocked to learn of Gilchrist’s death after his round Thursday at the B.C. Amateur Championship at Storey Creek Golf Club in Campbell River. 

“I have so many great memories of Cookie,” Roxburgh said. “I can remember talking to him so many times like this after a round at the B.C. Amateur. Cookie always had a smile on his face. He just really enjoyed talking to the players and was a golfer himself. He kind of lived a little of his golf through the people he covered.” 

Gilchrist was born in Souris, Man., and worked at the Brandon Sun, Regina Leader-Post and Winnipeg Free Press before moving west in 1973. He worked briefly for the Vancouver Sun before moving down the hall to The Province, where he spent 37 years before retiring in 2010. 

Gilchrist served a stint as sports editor, covered the B.C. Lions and many other sports, including curling and horse-racing, and eventually became a general sports columnist at the newspaper.

For many years he returned to his boyhood home to play in the annual Grey Owl golf tournament in Clear Lake, Man. Kris Jonasson, chief executive officer of British Columbia Golf, accompanied Gilchrist on one of those Grey Owl trips. “Cookie was a storyteller,” Jonasson said. “All great reporters should be storytellers. But in addition to being a storyteller, Cookie created stories and there are a lot of great stories about things that he did during his career. I am really happy that I got to know him, I am happy I got to travel with him and he is somebody that will be missed.” 

Like many of us, Gilchrist was a frustrated golfer. He loved the game, but it didn’t always love him back. “He couldn’t get out on the football field and play with the guys, but he could get out on the golf course,” Jonasson said. “Cookie knew his limitations. He was never going to be star player, but he enjoyed himself on the golf course.” 

Gilchrist covered golf whenever he had the opportunity. He was a fixture at Northview Golf Club in Surrey during the seven-year run of the Greater Vancouver Open/Air Canada Championship, worked both of the Canadian Opens held at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in 2006 and 2011 and LPGA Tour events at Vancouver Golf Club and Point Grey. He was a big supporter of amateur golf in British Columbia.

Gilchrist was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2005, the B.C. Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and was awarded the Northwest Golf Media Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2015. His many friends in the media industry paid tribute to him after news of his death was announced by longtime friend and former BCTV/Global sportscaster Bernie Pascall.

“It is devastating,” Pascall said. “He was a fun guy to be around and we’ll all miss him. With Cookie, the emphasis was always on fun, but he was always a very dedicated journalist and well respected. I travelled some early football trips with him. He liked to enjoy a good meal and a good time, but the job was of utmost importance to him and he was very focused on what he did. I don’t think he had an enemy in the world. He had friends everywhere.”

On a personal note, I like to count myself as one of those friends. I got to know Cookie when I inherited the golf beat at the Vancouver Sun from the retired Arv Olson in the mid-1990s. Cookie went out of his way to help me get comfortable on the golf beat. I marvelled at how many people he knew and he went out of his way to introduce all of them to me.

We covered many tournaments together and played lots of golf. He always put a smile on my face. We had lots of laughs. He had struggled with his health in recent years. After a battle with throat cancer, Gilchrist battled respiratory issues and had recently spent time in hospital following a heart attack.

Gilchrist is survived by his wife, Lesley, son Riley, daughter Rebecca and four grandchildren. The entire family had spent considerable time with him in recent weeks. No immediate service is planned.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Wondering how Canada’s Olympic golf team will be selected? You’re not alone.

In 2016, golf made its historic return to the Olympic Games for the first time in 112 years, dating back to when Canadian George S. Lyon won gold for Canada at St. Louis 1904. A lot has happened since 2016 (new Rules of Golf and new PGA TOUR schedule just to name a few) and many golf fans have forgotten how Olympic qualifying works, which is why we’re writing this article.

The field for the 2020 Olympic golf competition will include 60 women and 60 men competing over 72 holes of stroke play in a men’s individual event (July 30-August 2) and a women’s individual event (August 5-8).

Athletes earn their spots on their respective Olympic Golf Team based on their standing in the respective men’s and women’s Olympic golf rankings. The final day for qualifying is June 22, 2020 for the men’s teams and June 29, 2020, for the women’s teams.

The top-15 players will qualify with a limit of up to four golfers per any one country. Any remaining spots will go to countries who do not already have two golfers qualified, with a limit of two per country. As well, the International Golf Federation (IGF) has guaranteed at least one golfer from the host nation and each geographical region (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) will qualify.

If Canada’s team was determined today (Sept. 12, 2019), Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp represent Canada. However, there’s still plenty of golf to be played before the selection is made.

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 319,000 golfers and 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our vision is to be a world leader in golf.

Prior to being named to the final Canadian 2020 Team, all nominations from Canada are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.

UPDATE: May 27, 2020

Qualification will still be based on the Olympic Golf Rankings, with the men’s qualification period now ending on June 21, 2021 and the women’s closing a week later on June 28, 2021. The rankings have been suspended since March 20 and points will begin to be accumulated again when competitions are allowed to resume.

UPDATE: June 30, 2021

The men’s individual event will now be played from July 29-Aug. 1, 2021 and the women’s individual event will be played from Aug. 4-7, 2021. Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes are the men’s nominated athletes and Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp are the women’s nominated athletes to represent Canada.

Golf Canada and Recipe Unlimited announced today a multi-year integrated partnership that will see Recipe Unlimited become the Official Restaurant Partner for the National Sport Federation. 

The two-tiered partnership will welcome Recipe Unlimited as the official Restaurant Partner of Canada’s National Open Golf Championships – the CP Women’s Open and the RBC Canadian Open – as well as become the presenting sponsor of the onsite “Fare Way” food experience at both Championships. 

Recipe Unlimited’s catering division – Marigolds and Onions – will also become the exclusive Catering Partner for both National Open Championships providing concessions and catering services including non-clubhouse corporate hospitality areas.

“Partnering with Recipe Unlimited and their collection of premium restaurant brands will deliver a special enhancement to the fan-centric Fare Way food experience at our National Open Championships,” said Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer John Sibley. “We are excited to welcome our new partners to the golf space and look forward to working with their experienced restaurant and catering divisions to deliver an exceptional and familiar food experience to our event spectators and hospitality clients as well as golfers from coast to coast.” 

Recipe Unlimited (formerly Cara Foods) is the largest restaurant operator in Canada and includes brands such as The Keg, Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Montana’s, Pickle Barrel, New York Fries and Burger’s Priest to name a few.

“We are thrilled to become the Official Restaurant Partner for the National Sport Federation, fueling both the RBC Canadian Open and the CP Women’s Open in 2022 and beyond,” said Frank Hennessey, CEO, Recipe Unlimited.

Through the partnership, Recipe Unlimited will look to engage with golfers across Canada and will also look to develop additional opportunities to add value for Golf Canada members at select Recipe Unlimited restaurant locations.