Tillie Claggett has had a tremendous summertime stretch and now she’s as eager as ever to put a tidy exclamation point on things with a start at the CPKC Women’s Open in August.  

Claggett earned her spot in Canada’s National Women’s Open at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club via her incredible seven-shot victory at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series.  

An incoming senior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., who shot a second-round 63 to push her to what turned out to be an insurmountable lead, also had a runner-up result at the Texas Women’s Amateur Championship in June and a semi-final appearance at The Women’s Amateur in Scotland. 

This year will mark the CPKC Women’s Open debut for Claggett, a member of Team Canada’s National Team. It will not be, however, her LPGA Tour debut. She received a sponsor invite into the Volunteers of America Classic in 2020.  

Claggett has always been an athlete growing up as a star swimmer before beginning to take golf lessons with her dad. She went to a sports school in Calgary which accommodates the schedule of high performing athletes before moving to Texas in Grade 9. She did club swimming there for a year but living in Texas she was obviously able to practice golf more, she says, and the schedule of balancing both sports became too much.  

“Honestly, when I was doing both, I was so afraid of the day I had to choose,” she explains. “But the choice kind of made itself. I loved golf so much and there was so much more longevity in it. There was a lot more joy in it. I kept swimming in high school, but I chose golf from there pretty quickly.”  

Claggett says she went to a “few” different post-secondary camps but with a laugh she explains, the way recruiting works now, she was able to send a lot of emails to coaches, but they are not allowed to respond. Alas, she kept her options open but quickly fell in love with the Vanderbilt campus, the coaches, the team environment and the city of Nashville and yet again, her decision was made quickly.  

Growing up an athlete, Claggett says she’s always hit the ball awfully far which has helped her grow as a competitor as she’s notched five top-10 finishes across the last two seasons at Vanderbilt. Claggett says, even though her swimming days are behind her, she still “loves” the gym, working out upwards of six times per week.  

“And when my putter gets hot, it’s hot. (At the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship) with the win, I was gaining two shots a round with the putting. Mainly my style is just that I like to play aggressive – I want to take advantage of my distance. It’s just how I play the game. It’s my style and it pays off more often than not,” Claggett says.  

The plan now, Claggett explains, is to get her degree (in communications) that’s she’s worked so hard for and then will turn professional after that.  

One more year of school, and one very special opportunity at Mississaugua to come.  

SHE PLAYS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES QUALIFIERS  

The She Plays Golf Championship Series began in 2024 at The Peloton Glencoe Invitational in Calgary and features =three enhanced $60,000 54-hole championships.  

Katie Cranston: Cranston received an exemption due to her finishing first in the Order of Merit at the conclusion of the She Plays Golf Championship Series. The Team Canada member went T2-T9-T9 in the trio of events.  

Clara Ding: Ding, a member of Team Canada NexGen, won the first event of the She Plays Golf Championship Series in B.C. with a dramatic final-hole birdie. Amongst those Ding defeated was Cranston – they were two of three golfers to share a piece of the lead in the final day.  

Shauna Liu: Liu won the Peloton Glencoe Invitational, the first event of the She Plays Golf Championship Series in a come-from-behind effort. It was the fourth win of the year for the 16-year-old and another Team Canada NexGen member. 

Katie Cranston also punches her ticket to CPKC Women’s Open through She Plays Golf Order of Merit. 

BURLINGTON, Ont. – Buoyed by a an eight-under 63 in her second round, Team Canada’s Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta. finished at 13-under to coast to a seven-stroke victory at the Burlington Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Ont. on Thursday to claim the 38th PGA Women’s Championship of Canada and the final event on the She Plays Golf Championship Series 

It was only a matter of time before Claggett – a junior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. – secured her first victory of the 2025 season after competing for the top spot on the leaderboard numerous times over the last four weeks. Claggett entered this week’s championship with a runner-up finish at the Texas Women’s Amateur Championship in June as well as a semi-final appearance at The Women’s Amateur Championship in Nairn, Scotland that saw her go 4UP on her opponent through 14 holes of match play golf.  

Her play in the second round of the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada on Wednesday helped Claggett break through on home soil and book her spot in next month’s CPKC Women’s Open – awarded to each winner in the She Plays Golf Championship Series.  

Claggett stitched together five birdies and consecutive eagles on Wednesday to move ahead of her Team Canada teammate and first-round leader Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. and manufacture a six-stroke lead for herself atop the leaderboard. Starting her second round one back, Claggett made her move early, playing the first seven holes at four-under par and setting the table for her most dominant stretch of the tournament that featured back-to-back eagles Nos. 11 and 12.  

The Albertan failed to take her foot off the gas on Thursday, finishing her final round with a two-under 69 that included birdies on holes three, 10 and 16 to secure her maiden win of the season. 

Meanwhile, as Claggett put the finishing touches on her final round, fellow Team Canada members, Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont. and Katie Cranston of Oakville Ont. battled for the final available spot in the CPKC Women’s Open – awarded to the highest player on the Order of Merit following the conclusion of all three events on the She Plays Golf Championship Series.  

Cranston entered the tournament leading Gal on the Order of Merit after finishing T2 and T9 in the first two events on the She Plays Golf Championship Series. Cranston fell behind Gal after the latter opened her final round with birdies at the fifth and eighth holes to get to two-under par. Her ascension continued at the scorable par-5 11th hole, rolling in another birdie putt to move into a tie for fifth.  

Shifting to the back nine on Thursday, Cranston was able to regain momentum following the turn with birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 14 to get within a shot of Gal and maintain her place atop the standings. Gal finished the tournament T5 at 2-under, while Cranston finished T9 at 1-under to earn the final exemption from the Championship Series following another top 10 finish. 

For the final standings, leaderboards and purse distribution from the 38th PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, please click here.  

With stops around the country, the She Plays Golf Championship Series  provides an enhanced national qualifying path for players to punch their ticket into the CPKC Women’s Open. Anchored In three regions by a $60,000 CAD purse, each championship field features 60 professional and elite amateurs vying for an exemption into Canadia’s National women’s Open.  

Team Canada NextGen members, Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. and Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. earned their exemptions into the CPKC Women’s Open through the She Plays Golf Championship Series, winning the Peloton Glencoe Invitational and GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open respectively.  

Joined by Claggett and Cranston, the four members of the Team Canada program will be part of a world-class field set to compete at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. for the 51st playing of the CPKC Women’s Open August 20-24. 

To view more information on the CPKC Women’s Open, click here.  

Liu recorded rounds of 78-67-66 to overcome a five-stroke deficit and win the 2025 Peloton Glencoe Invitational  

CALGARY, Alta. – Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. fired a bogey-free 66 in her final round to claim a come-from-behind victory at the 2025 Peloton Glencoe Invitational in Calgary, Alta. and become the second Team Canada NextGen member in as many weeks to do so on the She Plays Golf Championship Series.  

The win marks Liu’s fourth in 2025 and earns her a spot in the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open later this summer. The 16-year-old joins her Team Canada NextGen teammate Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. in the field set to descend on Mississaugua Golf and Country Club, August 20 – 24 after the latter picked up a narrow win in last week’s She Plays Golf Championship Series opener in Whistler, B.C.  

Liu followed an opening-round 78 with rounds of 67 and 66 – both the lowest scores in the second and third round respectively – to finish 5-under and win by two over Team Canada member, Ellie Vorster of London, Ont. She picked up momentum late in her second round on Friday to negate a slow start to the tournament by carding four birdies through holes 14 and 17 to get to one-over par and climb within five strokes of 36-hole leader Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver, B.C.  

Six birdies and a blemish-free scorecard later – the only player in the field to avoid dropping a shot on Saturday – and Liu claimed the tournament she once trailed by four strokes. Birdies at holes one, eight, nine and 10 got her to three-under par and propelled her atop the leaderboard after Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. exited with double-bogey at the par-four fourth to drop to two-under.  

Holding onto her first lead of the week, Liu failed to take her foot off the gas throughout the rest of Saturday’s back nine, adding birdies at holes 14 and 16 to build a three-stroke cushion over Cranston and take the clubhouse lead at five-under par.  

The insurance proved to be more than enough to secure Liu victory with Cranston playing her final nine holes at one-over par. Despite finishing third, Cranston – who is also a member of the Team Canada program – nabbed 800 points to add to her lead (1,650 points) in the season-long standings.  

Players who compete in the circuit accumulate points from their finishes that are put towards a season-long standings. The top finisher on the season-long point standings, who does not already have an exemption through winning a She Plays Golf Championship Series event, also receives an exemption to the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open with Cranston leading the field of non-winners entering the final leg of the series.  

For the final standings, leaderboards and purse distribution from the 2025 Peloton Glencoe Invitational, please click here. 

With stops around the country, the She Plays Golf Championship Series provides an enhanced national qualifying path for players to punch their ticket into the CPKC Women’s Open. Anchored In three regions by a $60,000 CAD purse, each championship field features 60 professional and elite amateurs vying for an exemption into Canadia’s National women’s Open. 

The series successfully debuted as part of the Glencoe Invitational in 2023. The final stop of the She Plays Golf Championship Series will be the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, taking place at Burlington Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Ont. from July 7-10. 

For more information on the She Plays Golf Championship Series or to register for the tournaments, please click here. 

Ding recorded rounds of 71-66-71 to claim the
GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open

Whistler, B.C. – Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. got the She Plays Golf Championship Series off to a thrilling start on Saturday, winning the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open with a birdie on the final hole to edge out a duo of Team Canada amateur talents.

The trio of Team Canada athletes including Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont., Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. and Ding all held the lead at different stages of the back nine during the final round at the Nicklaus North Course in Whistler, B.C.

Ding – who opened Saturday with a one-stroke lead over Lin after playing the final ten holes of her second round Friday at five-under par – lost ground early on Sunday after making bogey at holes three and five to drop to five-under par.

Lin took advantage of the rare slip-up from the 36-hole leader, sinking birdies at Nos. three, four and five to pull into a tie with Ding atop the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Cranston – who started her round earlier in the afternoon, made the turn at three-under par and positioned herself well in the hunt of the tournament’s top spot to amplify the pressure on the duo ahead.

The two Team Canada NextGen athletes continued to trade places leading up to the final hole as Cranston cemented her place as the clubhouse leader at seven-under par and carding the lowest round of the afternoon.

After dropping a shot at the par-four 15th, Lin bounced back with a birdie on 18 to tie Cranston at the top at seven-under par, though her birdie would be unsuccessful in forcing a playoff as Ding – also tied atop the leaderboard at seven-under par – rolled in a birdie putt of her own on the final hole to snatch back the lead she opened with and claim the title.

The thrilling victory punches Ding’s ticket into this year’s CPKC Women’s Open set to take place at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20-24. The runner up finishes from Lin and Cranston nabs the duo 2,100 points each in the season-long standings.

Players who compete in the circuit accumulate points from their finishes that are put towards a season-long standings. The top finisher on the season-long point standings, who does not already have an exemption through winning a She Plays Golf Championship Series event, also receives an exemption to the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open.

For the final standings, leaderboards and purse distribution from the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open, please click here.

With stops around the country, the She Plays Golf Championship Series provides an enhanced national qualifying path for players to punch their ticket into the CPKC Women’s Open. Anchored In three regions by a $60,000 CAD purse, each championship field features 60 professional and elite amateurs vying for an exemption into Canadia’s National Women’s Open.

The series successfully debuted as part of the Glencoe Invitational in 2023. Next stop for the She Plays Golf Championship Series will be the Peloton Glencoe Invitational in Calgary, Alta. at The Glencoe Golf and Country Club from June 12-14. The final tournament will be the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, taking place at Burlington Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Ont. from July 7-10.

For more information on the She Plays Golf Championship Series or to register for the tournaments, please click here.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that the She Plays Golf festival schedule is now set for 2025.

The She Plays Golf Festivals will return to Calgary, Vancouver and Greater Toronto areas again year and is proud to announce expansion into Atlantic Canada. She Plays Golf was originally successfully piloted across Calgary as part of the Peloton Glencoe Invitational in 2023.

She Plays Golf is a citywide celebration of women’s golf that features inclusive programming for women and girls who are recreational golfers or exploring the sport for the first time. She Plays Golf Festivals help to address gaps in the participation pathway and introduce women and girls to the game in a safe, fun, and judgment-free environment.

Festival activities take place at golf courses across the host region during the same week as the She Plays Golf Championship Series event with activities including introductory “Try Golf” events for women and girls new to golf, , networking socials for women in business and leadership, and more.

“We are excited to announce the full schedule of She Plays Golf Festival events for the 2025 season, as well as expansion into Atlantic Canada this fall,” said Heather Fattore, Manager of Inclusion Programs, Golf Canada. “The participation festivals are a celebration of women’s golf, and we encourage more women and girls to join us this year and try golf. We are also very appreciative of our partners at The R&A, RBC and adidas Golf for their continued support and commitment to She Plays Golf.”

The festival schedule for She Plays Golf will kick-off with the B.C. She Plays Golf Festival in the Greater Vancouver area from June 3 – 7. The Alberta festival will run from June 9 – 14 in Calgary before moving to the Greater Toronto Area for the Ontario Festival from July 2 – 6. New for 2025 is the addition of a She Plays Golf Festival in Atlantic Canada, taking place in Moncton, N.B. from September 9 – 13.

For more information, full schedule and to register, please click the links below:

B.C. She Plays Golf Festival (Greater Vancouver Area)

Alberta She Plays Golf Festival (Calgary)

Ontario She Plays Golf Festival (Greater Toronto Area)

Atlantic She Plays Golf Festival (Moncton, N.B.)

As previously announced, the She Plays Golf Championship Series features three enhanced championships thatmark the continued support of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada. Championships will be contested over 54-holes with a field of 60 professionals and elite amateurs with a $60,000 CAD purse.The top finisher in each event from the She Plays Golf Championship Series will earn a direct exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, set for Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20-24.

She Plays Golf is proudly supported by The R&A, RBC and adidas Golf. For more information on She Plays Golf including Festivals and Championship Series, please visit golfcanada.ca/sheplaysgolf/.

Professional women’s championship series provides enhanced national qualifying path into CPKC Women’s Open.

Participation festivals are set for Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto in 2025 with an additional participation festival in Atlantic Canada

Oakville, Ont. — Golf Canada is pleased to announce that She Plays Golf is returning for a third year and will see another expansion in 2025 with the addition of a fourth participation festival. Events will return to Calgary, Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto this summer to align with the She Plays Golf Championship Series, with a fourth festival added for Atlantic Canada.

She Plays Golf is a citywide celebration of women’s golf anchored in three regions by a $60,000 CAD professional golf championship contested over 54-holes with a field of 60 professionals and elite amateurs. The She Plays Golf Championship Series will once again feature three enhanced championships that mark the continued support of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.

The top finisher in each event from the She Plays Golf Championship Series will earn a direct exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, set for Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20-24. Players will also compete for WAGR points if applicable.

The 2025 Championship Series will kick off with the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open at Nicklaus North Golf Course in Whistler, B.C. from June 5-7. The second stop will be the Peloton Glencoe Invitational in Calgary, Alta. at The Glencoe Golf and Country Club from June 12-14 and the final tournament will be the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, taking place at Burlington Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Ont. from July 7-10.

Players will earn points for their finishes in the She Plays Golf Championship Series towards a series-long standings. The top finisher on the season-long point standings, who does not already have an exemption through winning a She Plays Golf Championship Series event, will also receive an exemption to the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open. Any Canadian professional who participates in the She Plays Golf Championship Series will be supported by Golf Canada’s Q school bursary program if they enter LPGA Q school in the fall and meet the established criteria.

Last season, six members of the Team Canada program earned direct exemptions in the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open through the She Plays Golf Championship Series. Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. and Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. finished as the top two respectively at the Peloton Glencoe Invitational. Ellie Vorster (then Szeryk) of London, Ont. and Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont. finished first and second at the Golf BC Group BC Women’s Open. The final two spots were secured by Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. through the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada. Xing was also the youngest champion in tournament history, at the age of 15.

Complementing the She Plays Golf Championships Series are concurrently held She Plays Golf Festivals, which feature inclusive programming for women and girls who are recreational golfers or exploring the sport for the first time. She Plays Golf Participation Festival events will take place at golf courses across the host city during the same week as She Plays Golf Championship Series tournaments. A new She Plays Golf Participation Festival will take place in Atlantic Canada in the fall of 2025.

“We are very proud to announce the second year of the She Plays Golf Championship Series following a successful first season. The series provided opportunities for accomplished amateur and professional women’s golfers from across the country and internationally to compete and try to earn exemptions into the CPKC Women’s Open,” said Emily Phoenix, Director of High Performance, Golf Canada. “Laying the groundwork to support elite amateurs and developing professionals in Canada is critical to ensure we help create more future LPGA tour prospects. We would like to especially thank our tournament delivery partners at the PGA of Canada, the Vancouver Golf Tour and The Glencoe Golf & Country Club for working with us to support developing this professional women’s golf tour in Canada.”

She Plays Golf was originally successfully piloted across Calgary as part of the Glencoe Invitational in 2023. Additional information about the 2025 festival schedule for each She Plays Golf event will be made available in the coming weeks.

For more information on the She Plays Golf Championship Series or to register for the tournaments, please click here.

Playing recreational golf became one of the go-to activities during the COVID-19 pandemic as the nature of the game made it safe under Canada’s public health measures.

Golf Canada’s 2024 annual report, released on March 6, shows that the pandemic bubble growth wasn’t just a passing fad. Nearly six million Canadians played golf last year, including more than 360,000 Golf Canada members who posted nearly 11 million rounds to the national sport body’s scoring centre.

“This surge that we felt has really stabilized with continued growth,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum on Tuesday. “Technological advancement, the shifting of lifestyles and the work week has really helped the participation side, as has the expansion of new formats for golf, like shorter formats, simulator golf.

“It’s actually all these factors have come together to help continue that growth.”

Golf Canada’s youth and accessibility programs have also fuelled the growth of its participation numbers.

First Tee – Canada, a youth development program that gives children life-enhancing experiences, was rolled out in every province in 2024 with more than 100,000 participants since it was launched in 2021. 

Youth on Course, another program that aims to make golf more financially accessible for kids, expanded across nine provinces with 105 golf courses participating. Over 32,900 rounds of golf at $5 or less were played by 5,382 unique golfers thanks to Youth on Course.

“(First Tee) is a life skills program that uses golf, and they’re having a blast,” said Applebaum. “We were seeing a lot of really strong participation from golfers and our demographics had been getting older but in ’23 and ’24 we saw the demographic ages actually slide younger and skew younger and more female.”

First launched in Calgary in 2023, She Plays Golf festivals were also held in Toronto and Vancouver last year. Organized by Golf Canada, the weeklong events are designed to introduce women and girls to the game in a safe, fun and judgment-free environment.

Applebaum said that these programs that help people try golf when they’ve never picked up a club before, as well as a women’s executive program for professionals in the marketplace that have always wanted to be part of the golf environment, have buoyed those annual participation numbers.

“So it’s not one thing, it’s probably 15 or 20 things that are coming together,” he said. “Golf has hit that moment as an incredible sport for physical and mental health that has really connected with people of all ages and stages.”

Golf Canada also introduced two new championships in 2024: the Canadian U15 Championship and the Canadian Collegiate Invitational, for a total championship schedule that included 36 titles.

The BDO National Golf League, a countrywide, season-long competition created by Golf Canada also encouraged players to get in more rounds over the year. It allows golfers participating in the club’s league to also compete provincially and nationally.

More than 10,000 participants from 107 leagues competed, with 52 pairings qualifying for the league championship at Hamilton Golf and Country Club during the 2024 RBC Canadian Open. 

The champions represented Canada at Royal Troon in Scotland for The R&A 9 Hole Challenge at the 152nd British Open.

Last year, Canadian golf fans were treated to a truly momentous year in Canadian golf.

Highlighted by Nick Taylor cementing his place in Canadian sports history with his unforgettable 72-foot winning putt to become the first Canadian to win the RBC Canadian Open in 69 years. The silhouette of Taylor’s iconic putter toss now finds it’s permanent place as the tournament’s official logo.

While there is much to celebrate from this year’s on-course performances, milestones off the course deserve as much attention.

Year end is often time for pause and reflection on moments and experiences that helped to shape our past season. 2024 is no different, with much to reflect upon and celebrate that was simply, good for the game.

Golf, It’s Good For You – Ahead of World Health Day, Golf Canada launched a season-long campaign that highlights the many health benefits that the sport can provide. The campaign – Golf, It’s Good for You – focused on golf’s positive physical, mental and social benefits to significantly improve one’s quality of life.

All of the World Health Organization’s key criteria for health enhancing physical activity can be achieved through golf. It is an activity that incorporates strength, balance, endurance and cognitive challenges, and has also been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness, enhance mental agility and foster social connections. In recent studies, it’s even been found to combat over 40+ chronic diseases.

Along with the launch of the campaign a golf and health website along with enhancements to Golf Canada’s Mobile App were introduced. For more information on the many health benefits the game can provide, please click here.

Expansion of She Plays Golf Festivals and introduction of new Championship Series – She Plays Golf was first piloted in Calgary in 2023 and expanded to the Greater Vancouver Area and Greater Toronto Area in 2024 providing more programming and opportunities for women to try golf. She Plays Golf festivals feature inclusive programming for women and girls, addressing gaps in the participation pathway and introducing new women and girls to the game in a safe, fun and judgement-free environment.

Three week-long festivals featured 23 events at 18 golf facilities with over 800 women and girls engaged in She Plays Golf programming. Over 580 festival participants who were new to golf experienced activities led by close to 90 women coaches and volunteers.

In addition to the festivals, a new championship series was introduced featuring three enhanced 54-hole tournaments. The Peloton Glencoe Invitational, GOLFBC Group BC Women’s Open and the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada were part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series in 2024. In addition to prize money, the top two finishers at each event earned direct exemptions into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. Team Canada members Lauren Kim and Anna Huang (Peloton Glencoe Invitational), Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers (GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open) and Michelle Xing and Katie Cranston (ORORO PGA Women’s Championship) earned exemptions.

Plans for She Plays Golf in 2025 will be announced in the new year, for more information, please click here.

First Tee – Canada fully operational coast-to-coast – 2024 officially marked First Tee – Canada programming being available in every province across the country. In addition to this significant advancement, First Tee – Canada achieved another milestone by surpassing 100,000 participants since its inception in 2021. This year alone, First Tee – Canada provided programming to over 84,500 participants at 386 facilities (golf facilities, schools and community centres) led by 239 coaches across Canada. Seventy per cent of programming was offered at no cost to participants and 74 per cent of partnered schools and community centres serve equity-deserving communities with 45 per cent of participants identifying as BIPOC and 41 per cent identifying as female.

The continued growth of First Tee – Canada reflects the sustained impact of corporate and champion donors driving the philanthropic excellence of the Golf Canada Foundation which experienced another banner year with more than $11.2 million in funds raised in support of the game of which $5.487 million was for First Tee – Canada.

Youth On Course will be fully national in 2025 – In 2024, over 32,900 rounds of golf at $5 or less were played with 5,382 unique participants marking significant increases for both. Youth On Course programming was available across nine provinces and 105 golf courses participated in the program that saw expansion to Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 2025 will see planned expansion into Quebec, making the program fully national.

Inaugural BDO National Golf League champions crowned – The BDO National Golf League was launched ahead of the 2023 season as a nationwide, season-long competition to enhance weekly recreational league experiences for men, women and junior golfers. The inaugural season saw 10,000 participants from 107 leagues from coast-to-coast. Scoring followed a 9-hole net stableford format that took place during a six-week period of a club’s league season. Within those six weeks, the best four scores were used to determine the individuals that would advance to the provincial championships for a chance to be one of 52 pairings that would compete for the league championship at Hamilton Golf and Country Club the weekend before the RBC Canadian Open.

Storyline twists occurred during the championship round thanks to inclement weather that halted play on two occasions, resulting in a re-formatting of play. To complete the championship, pairings played their respective nine holes, with the top teams from the back and front nine then meeting in a playoff for the championship.

Tim Charles and Peter Morse were crowned the inaugural champions of the BDO National Golf League following a playoff win over Reid Middleton and Brian Thorne. Morse drained a lengthy putt to claim the championship for the Nova Scotia duo.

Along with becoming the inaugural champions, Charles and Morse travelled to Royal Troon in Troon, Scotland to represent Canada in The R&A 9 Hole Challenge one-week prior to the 152nd Open Championship as part of winning the national championship. For more information on the league and how to get involved, click here.

Golf – the number one participation sport in Canada – This past year saw an increase in public playing members with a Golf Canada membership. This year also marks back-to-back years of 10 million+ scores being posted by Golf Canada members. Last year marked the first time that the 10 million milestone had been reached and Golf Canada members surpassed that number in 2024 with 10.6 million scores posted to the Golf Canada Score Centre! For more information on a Golf Canada membership, click here. For more information or to download Golf Canada’s Mobile App, click here.

Canadians competing with the world’s best – Canadians continued to find themselves on the world’s biggest stage as Nick Taylor, Corey Conners, Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp wore the Maple Leaf at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Henderson and Sharp were competing in their third consecutive Olympic Games since golf was re-introduced at Rio 2016. In three games, Henderson has earned finishes of 7, T29 and T13. Conners earned the best men’s finish since golf returned with a T9 finish in Paris.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famer, Mike Weir was named Captain of the International Team for the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Que. Joining Weir were Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith who were Captain’s picks for the International Team. After a difficult opening day, the International Team responded by winning all five foursome matches on Friday to sit tied heading into the weekend. In the end, Team U.S.A. retained the title, winning 18.5 – 11.5 over Team International. Conners and Pendrith both earned two full points for their team during the biennial event. The 2026 Presidents Cup will take place at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Ill.

Canadian golf fans set new records in Hamilton and Calgary – Canadian golf fans took in both National Open Championships in record numbers this past year. Over 209,000 fans combined attended the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open setting new attendance records for both tournaments.

The success of Canada’s National Open Championships was recognized by both the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour in their season-ending tournament recognition awards. The RBC Canadian Open took home the PGA TOUR’s Best Marketing Initiative award for the logo and branding of the tournament changing to Nick Taylor’s iconic putter toss silhouette. Originally designed to be a one-year tribute, the change will now be permanent.

The CPKC Women’s Open was awarded the Gold Driver Award for Best Volunteer Appreciation. Volunteerism was a critical part of the success of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta. The tournament was conducted for the first time at Earl Grey and saw 1,300 dedicated volunteers, whose positions were filled ahead of schedule, help to deliver an exceptional experience in Calgary. To recognize the work of its volunteers, the tournament hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Day which included a complimentary breakfast, happy hour and gifts that were given to all volunteers to celebrate the 50th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open.

Offering more tournaments and pathways for Canadian amateur golfers – This season saw the introduction of a new championship added to the amateur championship calendar with the debut of the Canadian U15 Championship. The tournament provided young players the opportunity to compete for a national championship while receiving information about the high-performance journey through an educational summit following play.

Golf Canada also introduced the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational, bringing some of the best NCAA Division I Men’s teams north of the border. The event will expand to include a women’s competition in 2025.

In total, 12 national amateur championships, 16 qualifiers, six NextGen tournaments and two Team Canada NextGen selection camps provided Canadians with opportunities to compete coast-to-coast from the junior level all the way to the senior ranks. The season concluded with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship which showcased some of the brightest upcoming golfers from around the world.

Lisa Meldrum becomes the 86th inductee into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame – In keeping with the importance of celebrating Canadian golf excellence, Lisa Meldrum of Montreal, Que. was named the 86th member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in February.

Meldrum enjoyed an accomplished junior and amateur career, having won 12 championships between 1997 and 2003.

Her successful competitive run was highlighted by winning the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship three consecutive years in a row from 2001 to 2003. During that time SCOREGolf recognized her as the Best Female Amateur Golfer in Canada all three years. Prior to the Canadian Women’s Amateur three-peat, Meldrum won the 1998 Canadian Juvenile Girls Championship and the 2000 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, later earning SCOREGolf’s Best Female Junior Golfer recognition in 2000.

For more on Meldrum’s incredible career, please click here.

A new home for Canadian Golf – Phase one of construction on a new home for Canadian golf is well underway at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. Originally announced in July 2022, the 26,000 sq. ft. facility will be the national headquarters of Golf Canada along with the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum. Elements of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame can already be found in the main clubhouse and locker rooms at TPC Toronto. Lockers and memorabilia highlighting Canadian golf legends and significant moments in both the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open history are now part of the fabric at TPC Toronto. The new facility will also be the national headquarters for First Tee – Canada and will include an 18-hole publicly accessible community putting green. To follow the progress and for more information on the new home for Canadian golf, please click here.

From the season’s opening drive to the final putt and the many volunteers, partners and stakeholders who support Canadian golf, there is much to celebrate and reflect upon that was simply, good for the game in 2024.

2024 was a year of evolution and growth for Golf Canada’s She Plays Golf festival and the related Championship Series.

Fuelled by a successful pilot across the city of Calgary in June of 2023, She Plays Golf expanded to two further sites – BC and Ontario – in 2024. June and July saw a total of 23 events at 18 golf facilities across the cities of Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.

When all was said and done, She Plays Golf reached over 800 Women and Girls from coast to coast. This included:

585 direct participants in festival programming, of which 152 were junior girls. 61 volunteers and 28 coaches had the opportunity to make their mark as well, introducing women and girls to the sport and supporting all facets of the operation.

A further 170 female players partook in the She Plays Golf Championship Series, with six being granted exemption into the CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club.

Festival programming was carefully designed to deliver a safe, welcoming and judgment-free environment for female players right from first picking up a club, and the championship series was intended to address gaps in the high-performance area of the participation pathway.

“I was very impressed with the quality of the event – from how well organized it was, to the quality of instruction, to the extent of the volunteers and how friendly and supportive they were” – Tanya Kensington, Vancouver.

While much of the core tenants remained intact from the original 2023 festival, there were a handful of notable additions for 2024.  

The She Plays Golf Championship series was a compelling introduction in 2024. Like with the Glencoe Invitational in the 2023 pilot, each festival was anchored by a 54-hole women’s golf championship, with a field of 60 professionals and elite amateurs. They included the GOLFBC Group BC Women’s Open at Pitt Meadows Golf Club and the Ororo Women’s Championship of Canada at TPC Toronto. These two championships, along with the 2024 Glencoe Invitational, formed the inaugural She Plays Golf Championship series and constituted the high-performance portion of the festival. She Plays Golf festival participants at each site were extended invitations to the final round of their local tournament, allowing them to witness the skill level of the women competing.

The top two finishers at each of the series stops received an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. All six were Team Canada members– Lauren Kim (A) and Anna Huang (A) at the Calgary event, Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers in Vancouver and Michelle Xing (A) and Katie Cranston (A) in Toronto.

Also new for 2024 was the introduction of the RBC Women’s Leadership Networking Series. Each event was held at an indoor golf facility within the three festival regions, providing participants with an opportunity to gain insight from fellow female leaders via panel discussions and to build connections through golf in an enjoyable, low-pressure environment. The overarching theme was networking through the sport and instilling confidence to participate in future corporate golf events. 250 female leaders participated across the three sites, along with an impressive selection of moderators and panelists throughout the Canadian sport industry. 

After a successful scramble event during the 2023 pilot, the Learn to Scramble events were also implemented in 2024 at all three festival sites. The initiative was designed to allow female golfers to transition from the Try Golf stage to the golf course in a low-pressure, 9-hole team scramble. Each Learn to Scramble session took place on a Par-3 Course with volunteers on each hole to support participants with rules and course etiquette, and encourage skill and confidence building alongside peers at a similar golf level.

“This event was absolutely First Class. I’m so happy I got the opportunity to attend, and wouldn’t hesitate to attend a future event. Loved it” – Julie Ingram, Vancouver.

For the second consecutive year, the Calgary festival hosted a Women in Golf Leadership Luncheon, bringing together industry leaders for an afternoon of networking, brainstorming and community-building.

Following the lead of the pilot festival in 2023, each 2024 site featured 2-3 Jr. Girls Tee it Up and Women’s Try Golf clinics. Each beginner golf clinic. included programming tailored to junior girls and adult women respectively, introducing the fundamental skills of putting, chipping and full swing in a fun and social setting. Community partners such as Girls in Sport and Fast and Female were brought into Jr. Girls Tee it Up sessions to focus on the importance of participation in sport as a means of building confidence and self esteem.

“This was a very fun experience for my daughter and great for her to play golf with other girls!” – Jennifer Klinger, Calgary.

The first multi-festival season brought forth an influx of positive feedback and takeaways. Post event survey results indicated that clinics were successful in terms of creating a welcoming, judgment free environment where participants were able to give the sport a try and connect with other women. 98% of participants polled stated that they felt comfortable and welcome at She Plays Golf events.

In addition to providing a positive experience, the festival was also successful in terms of securing future interest in the sport. 76% of respondents indicated that they would be very likely to participate in golf post-event, while 77% would be very likely to attend a future She Plays Golf festival. A further 60% of participants felt they connected with other participants during or after the event they attended, speaking to the effectiveness of the community building element of She Plays Golf.

“This was truly a special event. Golf has been so insular and exclusionary for so long that seeing events like this to change the narrative and expand the game is so important in developing the growth of the game and the world in general. So I thank you so much for putting this together, I can see how much this means to these women,” Jamaal Edwards, Ontario.

Looking ahead to 2025, the program rollout in 2024 opens the door to continued growth, including opportunities to add festival sites, engage provincial golf associations and member clubs, introduce merchandise and continuing to build a community of female golfers and industry leaders in Canada.

Be sure to follow Golf Canada socials to remain up to date on exciting announcements for 2025.

Xing and Cranston join Team Canada teammates Lauren Kim, Anna Huang, Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers in earning exemptions through
She Plays Golf Championship Series

Caledon, Ont. – Team Canada athletes Michelle Xing (a) and Katie Cranston (a) earned exemptions into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open after finishing atop the leaderboard at the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (Heathlands Course) in Caledon, Ont. as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series on Friday.

Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. carded a 1-under 70 on Friday to finish the tournament at 9-under and two shots ahead of Cranston to win the championship, becoming the youngest champion in tournament history. The lead changed hands a couple times through the back nine on Friday, but Xing held strong for her fourth win of the season.

“First day I played well but I left some shots out there and made up for it in the second round and just tried to do what I did the previous day and keep a cool head,” said Xing following her round.

The 15-year-old began the week in a tie for fourth but moved atop the leaderboard following a 7-under 64 on Thursday, where she recorded an eagle and six birdies for the lowest score in her young career. Xing’s solid play on Friday was rewarded with a birdie on the 18th to secure victory and with it her first appearance in the CPKC Women’s Open and on the LPGA Tour.

“It’s really exciting and I look forward to it, it means the world to me, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and now that I got an exemption, I am really looking forward to it,” said Xing.

Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the tournament at 7-under and rebounded from an opening round of 77 to post, a career low 8-under 63 on Thursday and finished with a 5-under 66 on Friday to earn the second exemption spot.

“My start was a little bit shaky, just hard coming off a career low but back nine I really got it going today,” said Cranston who carded four birdies on the back nine Friday. By finishing as runner-up, Cranston has booked her third consecutive appearance into the CPKC Women’s Open.

“It’s an amazing stepping stone to experience the life of a pro golfer for a week and see how they do it,” added Cranston when asked about competing in Calgary later this month.

The ORORO PGA Women’s Championship saw a field of 62 golfers (amateur and professional) with 12 members of the Team Canada program competing in Caledon. The tournament was the third and final stop in the She Plays Golf Championship Series.

Last month, Team Canada athletes Lauren Kim (a) and Anna Huang (a) finished first and second respectively at the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary, Alta., which was the first tournament in the She Plays Golf Championship Series. They were joined by fellow Team Canada athletes Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers who finished atop the leaderboard at the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in qualifying for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. In addition to winning in Pitt Meadows, Szeryk also finished atop the She Plays Golf Order of Merit for 2024, with Rivers and Xing rounding out the top three.

She Plays Golf is a citywide celebration of women’s golf anchored in each host market by a $60,000 CAD professional golf championship contested over 54-holes for a field of professionals and elite amateurs. The tournaments are played with a cut after 36-holes and each championship sees players compete for WAGR points and two qualifying spots into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. The She Plays Golf Championship Series marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.

Players earned points for their finishes in the She Plays Golf Championship Series towards a series-long standings. The golfer with the most points following the final championship will also earn qualification into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open, if not otherwise qualified and will be supported by Golf Canada’s Q School bursary program if they enter LPGA Q School in the fall.

She Plays Golf Festivals feature inclusive programming for women and girls, addressing gaps in the participation pathway and introducing new women and girls to the game in a safe, fun, and judgment-free environment. Festival activities take place at golf courses across the host city during the same week as the She Plays Golf Championship Series event with activities including introductory “Try Golf” events for women and girls new to golf, professional development for women in coaching, networking socials for women in business and leadership, and more.

For the final standings from the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship, please click here.

For more information on She Plays Golf Festivals and Championship Series, please click here.