When Jim Clark began volunteering for Golf Canada over 25 years ago he never expected it would lead him to being the tournament chair of the RBC Canadian Open seven times.

While he may not be the longest standing volunteer for Golf Canada, Clark’s dedication and passion for volunteering is truly evident.

“I was about 25 years old the first year I volunteered and I thought this is cool – I just kept going back and haven’t missed since,” Clark said. “It’s such a wonderful touchpoint and conversation starter. It makes me light up when I talk about it and it gives me energy.”

Clark’s volunteer history started out in the 1980’s at Glen Abbey Golf Club when he signed up as a volunteer and picked up his blue shirt.

“I found that I got hooked and it was so much different than my real job,” said Clark who’s made his career in computer software sales. “The tournament came to life for one week with 1,500 volunteers and 24 committees; it was like a division of a corporation that has life for a week.”

After his inaugural experience he’s never looked back, serving on numerous committees and chairing Canada’s National Open Championship seven times – something he never expected he’d do.

Clark has fond memories of being in the mix at the championship with Golf Canada’s CEO Scott Simmons, whom he’s known since they were both in their 20s.

“Volunteering has given me opportunity to meet people who work in the golf industry that make their living in it, fascinating people that I’ve known for 25 years,” Clark said.

“I remember one time Scott Simmons and I were in an elevator at the Canadian Open and he said to me ‘when are you going to be the chairman of this thing?’ and I responded ‘oh I’ll never be the chairman of the Canadian Open’ and now by geez, I’ve been the chairman of it seven times,” he said with a laugh.

Every volunteer’s story is different but what makes the experience unique at Canada’s National Open Championships is that together volunteers have one goal in mind.

“We come together and work together to deliver the best event we can,” he said. “Whether it’s walking scoring, corporate hospitality or course maintenance and sanitation, everyone works together with a common goal and it’s a really happy place to be.”

Having come full circle from his first blue volunteer shirt, Clark was most recently the co-tournament chairman for the 2013 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club. In addition, he is currently serving as the chairman for golf’s organizing committee at the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games and can’t stress the importance of saying thank you to volunteers enough.

“Make sure to thank the volunteers all the time at every turn and appreciate them because they are giving up their time,” he said. “Volunteers are driving in traffic, burning gas and leaving their families because they want to and we always need to appreciate them for all that they do.”

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Canada’s National Open Championships need your help.

The RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open are seeking volunteers to assist with running their championships.

The 2014 RBC Canadian Open takes place July 21-27 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club just outside Montreal, while the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open runs August 18-24 at London Hunt & Country Club in London, Ont.

Click here for info on volunteering for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.
Click here for info on volunteering for the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, has announced the qualifying format for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for July 21-27 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Que.

A two-stage qualifying procedure for Canada’s National Open Championship will feature three regional qualifying competitions in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, followed by a final qualifying event on Monday, July 21st.

The first regional qualifier will take place June 9th at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver. The second regional qualifying event will be hosted by Elm Ridge Country Club in Île-Bizard, Que., on June 16th. The third and final regional qualifier will take place June 23rd at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont. A final qualifier will take place Monday July 21st at Club de Golf St-Raphaël in Île-Bizard, Que.

Each of the three regional qualifiers will feature 18 holes stroke play with the low qualifier at each site receiving an exemption directly into the 2014 RBC Canadian Open field (provided the starting field is a minimum of 100 competitors at each site.)  The top 15% of finishers at each regional qualifying competition are eligible to compete at final qualifying. In addition, the top 15% does not include the low qualifier when over 100 competitors participate and a direct exemption is provided.

The entry deadline for the British Columbia regional qualifier at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver is Monday, June 2nd, while all entries for the Quebec regional qualifier at Elm Ridge Country Club in Île-Bizard, Que. are due Monday, June 9th. The entry deadline for the Ontario regional qualifier at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont. is Monday, June 16th.

Final qualifying is scheduled for Monday, July 21st at Club de Golf St-Raphaël in Île-Bizard, Que. Participation is limited to those competitors receiving requisite exemptions, or individuals who have qualified through regional qualifying. The event will feature 18 holes of stroke play, with a minimum of four (4) spots directly into the 2014 RBC Canadian Open field. The entry deadline is Monday, July 14th.

The qualifying competition is open to members in good standing of the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers (with a current Handicap Factor not to exceed 2.0) who are members of clubs belonging to Golf Canada or clubs in other countries in good standing with their respective associations, and other golf professionals.

In all, a total of 24 exemptions, including the seven (7) awarded through regional and final qualifiers are available for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Que.

For more information about complete qualifying criteria and to register, click here.

Victor Dubuisson gained a ton of new fans with his phenomenal par saves from the cacti and desert flora at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona. His performance earned him comparisons to Phil Mickelson and the late Seve Ballesteros.

Dubuisson rebounded from 3-down to Jason Day and forced the final match to 23 holes before Day eventually prevailed.

Canadian golf fans may have the opportunity to see him in Montréal this summer at the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.

“Yes, the invitation has been sent to his team,” confirmed Bill Paul, tournament director for the RBC Canadian Open, which will be held at The Royal Montreal Golf Club from July 24 to 27.

“It is the least we can do for the great golf fans of Quebec,” he added, good-naturedly from Golf Canada’s office in Oakville, Ont.

Bill Paul was indispensable to the success of our national Open championship at Royal Montreal in 1997 and 2001, in addition to the unforgettable Presidents Cup of 2007, all held at the prestigious Montréal area course.

That said, what was the reaction of the Dubuisson clan?

“His people will see. Agents always like to see how far they can take things when a new phenom emerges. What matters is that they didn’t say no,” added Paul.

Dubuisson’s Breakthrough

“The Bush” as the talented Frenchman has been nicknamed is 23 years old. He’s currently ranked ranked 23rd in the world and was the world’s top ranked amateur from November to December of 2009.

After his victory at the Turkish Airlines Open last November, at the head of a field that included Tiger Woods (his idol from the age of 12), as well as Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, he took 3rd in the DP World Tour Championship and finished the season in 6th place in the Race to Dubai. He also finished tied for 10th at the 2008 Canadian Amateur. He is anything but a flash in the pan.

He is third in the Ryder Cup running, behind Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia.

He would be a great asset to the tournament as it heads to Montréal – his French background and star status would make him popular with fans as well as with media.

At the same time, Victor Dubuisson needs the RBC Canadian Open.

As strange as it may seem, Dubuisson must count on sponsor exemptions in order to play and qualify for the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup.

Scheduled the same week as the RBC Canadian Open is the Russian Open. The European Tour event will be held in Moscow with a purse of $1 million versus the $5.5 million offered in Montréal.

“Our offer is on the table,” said Paul.

Tickets and volunteer information for the 2014 RBC Canadian Open can be found online at rbccanadianopen.com.

SAN DIEGO – Eight years after the PGA Tour crossed the $1 billion in charity, it announced another milestone Wednesday. Commissioner Tim Finchem said the tournaments and the tour now have contributed over $2 billion.

“When you consider that charity on the PGA Tour started with a $10,000 check in 1938 at the Palm Beach Invitational and 67 years later in 2005 we passed the $1 billion mark, I think it’s a great testament to everybody involved in the current day tour that in just these past eight years, a second billion dollars was reached,” Finchem said.

Finchem said the $2 billion does not include what he estimated to be $35 million in charitable donations from players and their foundations for the last year.

He said from now on, the tour would include players’ own contributions.

“The $2 billion number is just a number, it’s just a point in the road,” he said. “The reason we decided to focus on it was because … we can get more folks’ attention. And if we can get more people’s attention and they realize that when they buy a ticket, play in a pro-am, their company invests in hospitality, a percentage of those dollars is going to the bottom line, staying in the community.”

Finchem said the charity money alone last year was $130 million.

Meanwhile, Finchem confirmed that the tour is urging its tournaments to beef up their reserve funds. The PGA Tour made it through the economic downturn of 2008-09 without too many hitches.

“It would be good for their security as they’re growing the money they could give to charity to also make sure they’re paying attention to reserves,” he said. “Because we did do well in the downturn, but that doesn’t mean we’ll do well in the downturn of 2017 or 2018. We know there’s going to be another one, that’s the way it’s been for eight years. So that the tournament can ride out those bumps, we want to work with them on their reserves but still continue to grow charity at the same time.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada is the official national charity for Golf Canada’s RBC Canadian Open. The charity provides more than 10,000 Canadian families a year with qualified staff and dedicated volunteers who are committed to taking care of the day-to-day essentials of running a home, so families with sick children have one less concern to worry about. The Houses also have programs that offer everything from education to home-cooked meals and are filled with many different families who all share a common bond – love for their sick child.

Since coming on board as title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open in 2008, RBC along with Golf Canada have raised more than $5 million for charitable organizations across Canada that support children’s wellness initiatives. Throughout its history, Canada’s National Open Championship has generated more than $45 million in charitable proceeds for important causes.

HONOLULU – Brandt Snedeker is a walking billboard for his summer plans.

Proudly displayed on the front of his golf shirt is “Wyndham,” which happens to be the title sponsor for the PGA Tour event in Greensboro, N.C., not so conveniently positioned between the PGA Championship and the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

On the sleeve of his shirt is “RBC,” the title sponsor of the Canadian Open, where Snedeker is the defending champion. Golf’s third-oldest national championship also is in a tough spot on the schedule, held the week between the British Open and the Bridgestone Invitational. The latter is a World Golf Championship. And by the way, have you noticed the brand on Snedeker’s cap and golf bag? That’s right – Bridgestone.

When does he take a week off? Apparently, he doesn’t.

“I’m playing the rest of the year, if that’s what you mean,” he said when asked about all the logos. “It will be a long stretch. It will be nine in a row at the end of the year.”

With the Ryder Cup in Europe this year, the PGA Tour agreed to alter its schedule. The four FedEx Cup playoff events will be played over four straight weeks. That allows for one week off before players travel to Scotland for a week’s worth of dinners and three days of golf at the end.

Snedeker has the worst of it, though Zach Johnson is not far behind.

Johnson has no corporate connections with Canada or Greensboro, but his big stretch starts a week before the British Open. The John Deere Classic is like a fifth major to the normal guy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Johnson can’t and won’t miss that one. He’d love to play Greensboro, where he tied for fifth last year. But even if he doesn’t play Canada or Greensboro, that’s eight big events in 10 weeks.

“I hope I can get in a position where I can take one off,” Johnson said. “It worked for me last year. I had no choice, but it was fine.”

Johnson’s brother got married the week of The Barclays, so he got a late start on the playoffs. No matter. Johnson won the BMW Championship and was among the five players who had a direct shot at the $10 million bonus.

But he made it clear that he would skip one playoff event if he could.

Some guys might not be in a position to take time off. Qualifying for the nine automatic Ryder Cup spots ends at the PGA Championship, and the three captain’s picks are a few after that, which is known as “audition time.” Others could find themselves in a spot of trying to get to East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale.

“I think guys will skip for sure,” Snedeker said. “Everyone is going to take a hard look at the schedule. It will be interesting to see what guys do. I’m taking a little more time off in the middle of the year. We did it last year and it worked well. Just take a couple of three-week breaks.”

That’s why no one should be alarmed to see Matt Kuchar taking a month off early in the year, or Adam Scott headed for a six-week hiatus from tournament golf. Tiger Woods has been playing one of the shortest schedules of any top star. He’s good enough he can do that.

Graeme McDowell has never been in contention at the Bridgestone Invitational. He has finished out of the top 20 all but one time. He’s giving serious thought to taking that week off – depending on his Ryder Cup status – to be fresh for the PGA’s Tour grueling finishing kick.

“They key for me next year is to have something in the tank,” he said. “That’s my goal, to be ready for that stretch.”

The Ryder Cup is the reason for cramming so many big tournaments into such a small space.

The last time the Ryder Cup was in Europe, the PGA Tour held three straight playoff events, took a week off, and then played the Tour Championship and Ryder Cup in successive weeks. The schedule didn’t hurt the Americans as much as McDowell did that week in Wales.

The PGA of America is worried that the Americans are out of gas when they get to the Ryder Cup? It should be thankful for the FedEx Cup. It’s no coincidence that the matches started getting close again after the FedEx Cup began in 2007. Four big events after the majors have kept these guys sharp more than it has worn them out.

Now, it appears that something will have to give.

If players aren’t skipping a playoff event of a World Golf Championship, they’ll cut back at some other point in the schedule.

“There’s no point in getting to July and feeling you don’t want to play golf, because the biggest golf is yet to be played in the two months after that,” Scott said. “You’ve got to be champing at the bit after the PGA. Those are four big weeks, and they’re really important. That’s why I don’t come jumping out of the gate.”

The last time Scott played four weeks in a row?

“November,” he said with a grin. He won the Australian PGA, the Australian Masters and the World Cup team title, and was runner-up at the Australian Open.

No one will be playing more than Snedeker, and he doesn’t sound too worried about it. Nor should he, if recent history means anything.

Remember, it was only two years ago when Snedeker played eight straight weeks from the British Open through the BMW Championship. The tour had an off week, and then he won the Tour Championship (and FedEx Cup) and the Ryder Cup.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Snedeker said.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The RBC Canadian Open was honoured by the PGA TOUR at the TOUR’s Tournament Meetings on Thursday, December 5, at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., earning the “Most Fan-Friendly Event” award for its 2013 staging at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to congratulate the RBC Canadian Open for being named the best among its peers on TOUR,” said PGA TOUR EVP and Chief of Operations Andy Pazder. “The tournament committee should be proud of the special recognition the event has earned for its efforts.”

The 2013 RBC Canadian Open was made more enticing and affordable to fans by special ticket offers, as well as complimentary parking. The fan experience was enhanced by on-site attractions open to the public, such as golf simulators and displays, putting contests, drink tastings, water stations, mural paintings and a relaxation lounge. Fans were also encouraged to take photos on media partners’ sets and stages and share via social media.

Not only did RBC have interactive displays that educated fans about the company’s business and golf program, but tournament information was easily accessible to fans via a new mobile website, daily e-blasts and social media posts.

“On behalf of RBC, Golf Canada and everyone involved with Canada’s National Open Golf Championship, it’s an honour for the RBC Canadian Open to be recognized among the ‘Best Of’ awards,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bill Paul. “Delivering a world-class fan experience is a priority for the championship and this award is a testament to the full team effort among our tournament sponsors and stakeholders as well as our dedicated team of more than 2,400 volunteers.”

The RBC Canadian Open, which was won this year by Brandt Snedeker, will be held July 21-27, 2014, at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Ile Bizard, Quebec. Information on tickets, corporate hospitality and volunteer opportunities can be found here.

Brandt Snedeker carded a 2-under 70 on Sunday to win the 2013 RBC Canadian Open by three strokes at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

On a breezy day that saw Glen Abbey play much tougher than the previous three rounds, Snedeker held off Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, William McGirt and Jason Bohn who all finished in a tie for second at 13-under par.

Tied with Johnson through 15 holes at 15-under, Snedeker, unaware Johnson had made a triple-bogey on the short par-4 17th, birdied the par-5 16th to lead by three with two holes remaining.

“I had no clue, I don’t look at leaderboard because you can’t control anything anybody else is doing,” Snedeker said following his round. “Coming down 18, it felt like the tension was out of the air. I felt like I had a chance and a pretty cushioned lead to get it done.”

With this win, Snedeker becomes the fourth multiple winner on the PGA TOUR this season and moves to No. 3 in the FedExCup standings.

“This is a tournament I said early on in my career I wanted to win just because my caddie is actually from Canada and it’s his national open,” he said. “It meant a lot to him and it means a lot to me. It’s the third oldest tournament on tour and it has some great history to it and now to put my name on that trophy it means a lot.”

In his 11th appearance at Canada’s National Open Championship, David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., earned low Canadian honours, clinching the Rivermead Cup with a final-round score of 1-over-par 73. Hearn finished T44 at 4-under par 284 for the championship.

Bright’s Grove, Ont.’s Mike Weir finished in a tie for 49th at 3-under 285, while Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., finished in a tie for 52nd at 2-under.

The 2014 RBC Canadian Open will be contested July 21-27, 2013 at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Que.