“The Rink” fan experience named “Best in Class Element” in 2018

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The RBC Canadian Open was recently honoured at the PGA TOUR’s Tournament Meetings thanks to the success of its fan experience “The Rink”, earning a TOUR award for “Best in Class Element.”

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to congratulate the RBC Canadian Open for this special recognition,” said PGA TOUR Chief Tournaments and Competitions Officer Andy Pazder. “The tournament committee should be extremely proud of its hard work and innovation in making the tournament the best among its peers on TOUR.”

For the past two years, the RBC Canadian Open transformed the par-3 seventh hole at Glen Abbey Golf Club into “The Rink,” a fan experience combining Canada’s most popular pastimes – golf and hockey. The area was modelled after an ice hockey rink, complete with hockey boards lining the hole, upgraded bleachers and viewing decks, while featuring marshals dressed as referees. A net, puck and sticks were available for PGA TOUR players to test their hockey skills as part of Wednesday’s Championship Pro-Am. In addition, several Team RBC Olympians and NHL players also made visits to “The Rink” throughout tournament week to greet fans, take photos and sign autographs.

“From the beginning we felt integrating ‘The Rink’ into our Canadian-themed activation made a lot of sense and was a perfect extension of the fan experience at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice-President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “This recognition by the PGA TOUR is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved with the RBC Canadian Open, including fans, players, event volunteers, organizers and partners. Thanks to Golf Canada and the PGA TOUR for working with us to bring this Canadian tribute to life.”

Golf Canada, organizers of the RBC Canadian Open, credited the award to RBC and the collaboration between all event stakeholders.

“Feedback on ‘The Rink’ has been overwhelmingly positive and we are extremely proud that it’s been embraced as an institutional centrepoint for fan, player and partner engagement at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Bryan Crawford, RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director. “Our partners, led by RBC, Steam Whistle, Levelwear and Golf Town, have brought the area to life and we’ve got great momentum heading to Hamilton Golf & Country Club in 2019 with this signature activation.”

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open, headlined by defending champion and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson, will be held at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, June 3-9.

The new early June date begins an exciting new chapter for Canada’s National Open Championship. Fans attending will witness unforgettable golf, top-notch activities for all ages including ‘The Rink’, hip local food and patio experiences, plus new event features soon to be announced.

Get your tickets today to kick-off summer at one of Canada’s premier sporting experiences – www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

___________________________________________________________________________

To view all winners announced during the PGA TOUR Tournament Meetings, click here.

The season of giving has another reason to be cheerful. Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru raised over $425k for breast cancer research in 2018 thanks to the efforts over 13,000 participants at 175 events across the country.

Since the program’s inception in 2003, upwards of 120,000 women have raised over $6.7 million to date with all proceeds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society and the Québec Breast Cancer Foundation.

Over 140 women celebrated this year’s success at the 15th annual Golf Fore the Cure National Event at Thornhill Golf Club in Thornhill, Ont.

The National Event included 18 holes of golf featuring raffles, prizing, and games, followed by an awards dinner to thank and recognize the fundraising efforts put forth by 13,000 Golf Fore the Cure participants across Canada this year.

“Golf Canada is very proud to celebrate the success and growth of women’s golf in Canada through the Golf Fore the Cure program,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer. “The collective efforts from volunteers, site coordinators, and our partners at Subaru and Canadian Cancer Society continue to be a driving force behind the achievements of Golf Fore the Cure. We’re excited for the next season and hope we can accomplish raising over $7 million for breast cancer research.”

The top 20 fundraising events of 2018:

Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru was created in 2003 by Golf Canada to drive women’s participation in the game of golf through the use of fun, non-intimidating activities. Through a unique partnership structure with the Canadian Cancer Society (and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation), the program has women across the country participating in golf activities and raising money and awareness for a cause close to Canadian hearts—the fight against breast cancer.

In totality, Canada holds over 37,000 charity events at golf courses across the country which raise approximately $533 million annually for charity.

Subaru Canada has been a proud partner of Golf Fore the Cure since 2007.

Photos from the 2018 National Event can be viewed here.

To learn how to get involved with Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, visit golfcanada.ca/golfforethecure

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Over 140 women on hand today at the #GolfForetheCure National Event @ThornhillClub to celebrate women’s golf and all the fundraising achieved in 2018 ?????‍♀️

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Sep 24, 2018 at 2:46pm PDT

1. Tell the readers how you got your start playing golf and a little bit about your early development.

I started out with a driver, a 5 iron, a 7 iron, and a putter and some friends took me out to play for the first time at the old Regal Golf Club when I was 17. I played all of the other sports pretty well and a good friend thought I should try out golf. That summer, as a beginner I lost a few dollars to my buddies and that made me a little grumpy. I spent the whole winter after that working indoors with Martin Alred and that changed everything. The very next spring, I won the City Amateur and needless to say I won my money back from my buddies. That’s how I got my start playing golf. I just loved it so much that I just kept at it and worked really hard. Martin and I really hit it off and everything he tried to teach me just made sense. Martin also coached Keith Alexander at the same time so he obviously knew what he was doing as an instructor.

2. At what age did you know that you had a special talent for the game and that you might want to make it your career?

I think it would have been when I made the Willingdon Cup team in 1951. I played Bill Tate in the final of the Alberta Amateur at the Calgary Golf and Country Club to qualify and that told me that I had the talent to keep at it, shall we say. I went down to California to play some college golf in 1952. I came back to Calgary that summer and in 1953 I planned to turn pro and head out on tour. That didn’t work out so I ended becoming the pro at the Regal before landing at the Country Club in 1954 to work for Jack Cuthbert. In the fall of 1957, a member offered to sponsor me out on tour but that fell through after I had made the commitment to play.

Still got it.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Robert Wylie at age 89 ???? pic.twitter.com/DuVxdbqhih

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) December 6, 2018

3. You had a short stint on the PGA Tour. Talk a little bit about that and share a couple of your favourite memories from that time.

In 1958, I joined the tour in Los Angeles and played every week until the tour got to Detroit, which was the week before the US Open. I made every cut and most weeks I was getting cheques for $25. They only paid about 20 spots and the winner was barely making $1000. My best finish was a 5^th place at the Phoenix Open. The reality was you really couldn’t make any money out there at that time and by the time I got to Detroit, I was flat broke.

In terms of favourite memories, I had a really good week at the Bing Crosby and was paired with Stan Leonard on the final day. I was on the leaderboard and was going along pretty good until we got to the 6^th hole, which was a par 5 (at Pebble Beach) and I hit a 4 wood for my second shot. It was wet, rainy and I caught a flier with that 4 wood that ended up in the Pacific Ocean behind the green and that pretty much did it. Stan Leonard was right in the hunt when we got to 17. After watching me hit driver, Stan got a little cocky, thinking he could get 3 wood there and buried it into the face of the front bunker and made double. Jay Hebert ended up winning.

My Pro-Am partner that week was Amos from Amos and Andy. He invited me to dinner one evening and when we arrived at the restaurant, Ben Hogan was having dinner with Vivian, his wife and one of the Firestone boys. They invited us to join them and I had a very nice dinner with Ben Hogan. He was a nice guy, very different from how he has been portrayed over the years. He told me that if I wanted to play my best golf, I needed to move down to a warm climate and play year round. That wasn’t in the cards but I have no regrets whatsoever. I have had a wonderful life playing golf.

4. What did competing as an amateur mean to you as a golfer? Would you have made the same decision today?

My amateur status was restored in 1960 and that changed everything for me. I was very fortunate. I was notified in June of that year and that fall I was selected for Canada’s World Amateur team that competed at Merion in Philadelphia. The rest is history. I got to play all over the world representing Canada throughout my career as an amateur.

Would I have made the same decision today with all of the money that the pros are playing for? Probably not. I would love to have had that opportunity. If my game was equivalent to what is was in the 1950s and 1960s relative to the players of that day and was competing today, I think I would have made a bunch of money. In the six months I played out on tour in 1958, I didn’t miss one cut. And I was playing without any financial backing. It was tough.

5. Few people will know that the Calgary G&CC is the only club in Canada to have three living members (Bob Wylie, Keith Alexander, Doug Silverberg) in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at one time. Describe what is was like to have played at the Country Club in your time.

It was great; the competition really kept you on your toes and made the golf a lot of fun. It didn’t matter what day you went out to play, you were guaranteed a tough match. The environment made all of us better players, that’s for sure. Between Doug, Keith, and I, we represented Alberta 61 times in the Willingdon Cup, we had 12 national amateur tiles, 36 provincial titles, and we represented Canada internationally 32 times. And we were all pretty much the same age. And it wasn’t just the three of us. There were a half-dozen other guys that could really play too. It was great for us but it was also great for the club, if you think about it. I don’t think you will ever see anything like it again. We were very fortunate, that’s for sure.

As remarkable as our record was as a group, for me personally I could have contributed so much more if I hadn’t gotten into the booze the way I did. In 1972 I finished 3^rd in the Canadian Amateur and the RCGA didn’t pick me to go to the World Cup that year because of the drinking. I didn’t really play good golf again until 1980 and if there were any regrets about my career, that would be it. That and not winning the Canadian Amateur.

6. What was the most memorable victory of your career and why?

It would have to be my victory in the Alberta Amateur up at Mayfair in 1960. In the 36 hole final, I played Keith Alexander and we had a real dinger of a match. I think I beat him 2-up. To beat Keith at that time was real feather in your cap. He won the Canadian Amateur that same year, beating Gary Cowan in the final. That got him into the Masters the next year. Keith was on his game and so was I. We both loved that golf course and there were a lot of birdies between us that day. We had a really special match that day.

Edmonton was a great city for golf at that time. The people really came out to support and watch the players in the big competitions. There was about 5000 spectators for that final. It was quite something.

7. What is your favourite golf course and why?

I don’t really have a favourite, to be honest. I have played so many great golf courses in my life that it is hard to pick just one. I feel very fortunate to say that. Royal Melbourne, this one (Calgary G&CC), Riviera, Royal Sydney, Royal Mayfair, Southern Hills, Merion, Turnberry, LACC, they are all terrific. I played a British Amateur at Royal County Down and that’s one I would love to see again. Playing those courses in competition was pretty special.

8. Who was the toughest competitor you ever faced as a player?

Silverberg. He wanted to win more than any other player I competed against. You never got a “nice shot” out of Doug. He was out there to beat you, not to socialize and he’d be the first to admit it. He was intimidating because of his intensity; you could see him grinding the entire round. You could never feel like you had him beat because he never gave up. You could be on the green in two with a ten footer for birdie and he could be in the middle of a bush but you would have been foolish to think you were going to win the hole. He would make pars and birdies from places you wouldn’t imagine. It was remarkable. He just put his head down and tried to beat you. No one was tougher than Doug Silverberg.

9. You won 7 Canadian Senior Amateur championships in a span of 10 years. What was tougher to win, those titles or the Club Championships at the Calgary G&CC?

The Club Championships at the Country Club, for sure. If you didn’t play your absolute best over three days, you had no chance. In those days, you had to shoot a few under par to win. There was a period of time when the championships were match play and I was never very good at match play compared to stroke play. I just didn’t have the killer instinct I guess; when I got up in a match, I wasn’t the kind of player that wanted to stomp on you and finish you off.

10. What do you want to be remembered for as a golfer in Canada?

I’ve never really thought too much about it to be honest. Sure, I had a lot of success as an amateur but I think I am most proud of the golf swing I developed through a lot of hard work. I don’t think anyone worked at it more than I did. Over the years, I had a lot of nice things said about my ball striking by other golfers and that means a lot. Not to sound immodest, but in my prime, I don’t think I ever played with anyone that hit it better than I did, especially the irons. I never felt like I was awed by any other player. Even as a senior, I could do anything I wanted with a 2-iron, which is a bit of a lost art.

Courtesy of Fred Teno
Associate PGA of Canada professional

In a year that saw 10 Rolex First-Time Winners added to the roster of LPGA victors, the 2018 LPGA Tour season produced 26 winners from 10 countries across 32 official tournaments. Powered by determination, athleticism and a drive for greatness, the 2019 season promises to continue the upward growth of the world’s best female golfers.

The 2019 LPGA Tour schedule will include 33 official events, plus the biennial Solheim Cup, which pits the 12 best players from the United States against their European counterparts. The Tour will visit 15 states and 12 countries (including the United States), with a record $70.55 million in official prize money.

“We are in one of the most exciting periods of time in LPGA history,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “One look at our 2018 season shows the breadth of global talent on our Tour, and I have no doubt that 2019 will continue this upward trend. We are not only proud of our Tour growth, but also the growth of our LPGA Teachers, LPGA Amateurs and LPGA-USGA Girls-Golf efforts.”

CONTINUED GROWTH IN PRIZE MONEY

In a sign of the continued strength of the women’s game, the 2019 season will see $70.55 million in prize money, up from $65.35 million in 2018. The season’s largest purses come at the U.S. Women’s Open Championship, conducted by the USGA, and the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, both with $5 million at stake. While the USGA will not confirm their 2019 purse until April 2019, they have confirmed the purse will be $5 million at a minimum. The CME purse will double from $2.5 million to $5 million, with the winner earning $1.5 million, the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf.

“LPGA purses have steadily increased over the last decade, a sign of the growing support from our corporate partners and sponsors for the game of women’s golf,” said Whan. “Across the board, our title sponsors understand the value that working with LPGA players brings to their businesses and we look forward to continuing to develop larger purses for the generations of players to come.”

Other purses to increase include three of the Tour’s five majors in the ANA Inspiration ($3 million, up $200,000 from 2018), the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship ($3.85 million, up $200,000 from 2018) and The Evian Championship ($4.1 million, up $250,000 from 2018). The AIG Women’s British Open purse is still being finalized but will be at least $3.25 million. The purse at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship will increase to $1.8 million, up $300,000 from its inaugural year in 2018, while the purse at the Marathon Classic presented by Dana will increase to $1,750,000, up $150,000 from 2018.

NEW TOURNAMENTS KICK OFF LPGA SEASON

The 2019 season features four new tournaments, including consecutive inaugural stops to begin the year’s travel around the world. The Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions presented by Insurance Office of America, to be held Jan. 17-20 at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., promises to be a week of world-class competition and entertainment. LPGA Tour winners from the last two seasons will play alongside celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds.

From there, the Tour heads Down Under, joining the European Tour at the Vic Open on Feb. 7-10 at 13th Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads, Australia. The event marks the only professional golf tournament where men and women compete concurrently on the same course and for the same prize money. The Vic Open makes the ideal partner to the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, which the following week returns to the Grange Golf Club in a three-year rotation of Adelaide’s golf courses.

As announced earlier in 2018, the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational and the BMW Ladies Championship are also new to the 2019 LPGA schedule. The Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, which will be held at Michigan’s Midland Country Club in July, marks the first official team competition in Tour history. The LPGA’s newest stop in the Republic of Korea, the BMW Ladies Championship, takes the Tour to Busan and LPGA International Busan, the LPGA’s first golf facility outside the United States. It is the second stop on the LPGA’s annual Fall Asian Swing, which also takes the Tour through the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei and Japan.

“I’m truly excited that three of our new tournaments for 2019 will feature formats that are new to the LPGA,” said Whan. “We’ve long wanted to get a Tournament of Champions back on the LPGA schedule, and this partnership with Diamond Resorts will definitely make the Four Seasons Orlando the place to be in January. Plus, our friends at Dow, long known for their scientific innovation, have brought that trait to the LPGA by bringing together this great team event. I can’t wait to see how the players will partner up over the coming months. Additionally, the Vic Open will showcase a joint men’s and women’s event that is interesting to players and fans, not to mention timely in the world of equal opportunity and pay.”

Three season-long races will also build anticipation and excitement for players and fans alike. The Aon Risk Reward Challenge, a new competition on both the PGA and LPGA Tours, will feature the world’s best golfers as they navigate risk across the season’s most strategically challenging holes. The player from each Tour on top of the Aon leaderboard at the end of the regular season will each receive $1 million.

The Race to the CME Globe is evolving in 2019, with the top 60 players following the Blue Bay LPGA heading to the CME Group Tour Championship with the opportunity to win the $1.5 million winner’s check. In its second year, the LEADERS Top-10s competition will award $100,000 to the player with the most top-10 finishes, with Ariya Jutanugarn taking the inaugural title in 2018.

The LPGA Tour will see 450 hours of domestic broadcast coverage on Golf Channel and network TV in 2019, with more than 475 hours available in 175 countries around the world.

One stop on the 2019 schedule is still to be announced, as the contractual agreement for that event is not yet completed. That is expected to be finalized early in 2019, so players and fans should reserve one more week for an additional exciting Tour stop.

MAJOR GLORY ON THE LINE

Five players from five countries took home major championships in 2018, and 2019 will surely add even more history to the LPGA record books.

In its traditional spot on the calendar, the ANA Inspiration kicks off the major season for professional golf. From April 4-7, the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., will play host to major drama for the 37th consecutive year. The Country Club of Charleston, where World Golf Hall of Fame member and LPGA legend Beth Daniel learned the game of golf, will host the 74th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, conducted by the USGA, from May 30 to June 2.

The fifth year of partnership between the LPGA and the PGA of America takes the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to Hazeltine National Golf Club, to be held June 20-23. Hazeltine National has hosted some of the game’s most major moments, including U.S. Women’s Open wins for Sandra Spuzich (1966) and Hollis Stacy (1977), and in 2016, the USA’s largest come-from-behind victory in Ryder Cup history.

The season’s final two majors take the LPGA Tour to Europe for consecutive weeks. The Evian Championship will move to July 25-28, reclaiming its place in the beautiful French summer. Along the shores of Lake Geneva and at the base of the Alps, the week in Evian-les-Bains, France, promises to be one of world-class glamour and competition.

The LPGA’s major season will culminate Aug. 1-4 at the newly named AIG Women’s British Open, held at Woburn Golf Club, 50 miles northwest of London. AIG recently signed a long-term deal to be the title sponsor of the Women’s British Open, which has been a major on the LPGA Tour schedule since 2001.

With major drama comes major competition. The season’s five majors build to the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which will be awarded at the Rolex LPGA Awards during the week of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Named for 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam, the honor is bestowed on the player who, during the current LPGA season, has the most outstanding major championship record. Ariya Jutanugarn captured the 2018 award, joining Michelle Wie (2014), Inbee Park (2015), Lydia Ko (2016) and So Yeon Ryu (2017) as award recipients.

SOLHEIM CUP RETURNS TO SCOTLAND

The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles will host the 16th Solheim Cup, marking the Cup’s return to Scotland for the first time since 2000. Gleneagles was the site of the 2014 Ryder Cup, which saw the European Team earn a 16½-11½ victory over the United States. The European Solheim Cup Team, captained by Scotland’s own Catriona Matthew, hopes to take inspiration from that victory as they face off against the Americans, with three-time Captain Juli Inkster at the helm, who took their own 16½-11½ victory at the 2017 Solheim Cup. The Americans will head to Gleneagles as the two-time defending champions, having mounted a furious Singles comeback in Germany in 2015 to take a one-point win.

FROM TOMORROW’S STARS TO FAN-FAVORITE PIONEERS

While the 2019 Symetra Tour schedule is still being finalized, the LPGA Tour’s official qualifying tour will have at least 20 events for the next generation of LPGA talent. The season will kick off in North Port, Fla., with the inaugural SKYiGOLF Championship hosted by Charlotte Harbor National Golf Club at Bobcat Trail from March 7-10. Since Symetra’s inaugural sponsorship year in 2012, the Symetra Tour has grown from 16 tournaments and $1.7 million in prize money to $3 million awarded over the course of 21 tournaments in 2018.

2019 will see the North Carolina return of LPGA Q-Series presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the two-week qualifying tournament that debuted in 2018 as a replacement for Stage 3 of Q School. Forty-eight players earned their 2019 LPGA Tour cards, led by KLPGA star Jeongeun Lee6, who claimed medalist honors and earned $15,000.

North Carolina will also again host the LPGA T&CP National Championship, with the nation’s top teaching and club professionals returning to Pinehurst No. 8 on Aug. 26-28. Stephanie Eiswerth, University of North Florida women’s golf assistant coach and a Class A LPGA teaching professional, captured the 2017 title in her championship debut.

In October, the third Senior LPGA Championship presented by Old National Bank will return to the Pete Dye Course at scenic French Lick (Ind.) Resort. Some of the greatest names in the history of the game hope to join Trish Johnson (2017) and Dame Laura Davies (2018) as Senior LPGA winners.

2019 LPGA Schedule (bold = majors; italics = new event)

Brian McDonald claimed his first national title at the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy Thursday as he closed with a 5-under-par 67 for a five-shot victory.

The Director of Golf and General Manager at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, B.C., featured five birdies in his final round at The Gold Course at Wigwam Golf Club, coming from behind to raise a PGA of Canada national championship trophy for the first time in his career.

“If you would have told me at the start of this week that I’d be a national champion when it was all said and done, I wouldn’t have believed you,” McDonald admitted after his final round. “But when I made the turn today I told myself if I kept to my game plan, I would take this championship home to British Columbia.”

McDonald was one of 18 players in the field from British Columbia. His friend and fellow B.C.-native Matt Palsenbarg finished second at -6 after a final round 64 (which was also the low round of the championship).

“Honestly, everyone wants to win, but the support I received last night and this morning from all my fellow pros from B.C. was just amazing,” McDonald said. “They were pulling for me, coaching me and that really means the world to me.”

Gordon Percy of Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Ottawa, who lead heading into Thursday’s final round, finished alone in third at -5. Ian Leggatt of Ontario and Manitoba’s Dean North finished T4 at -4.

With the win this week at The Wigwam in Litchfield, Ariz., McDonald pads his already impressive PGA of Canada professional resume.

A PGA of Canada member since 1993, McDonald was the recipient of the 1999 PGA of BC Assistant of the Year Award; 2003 PGA of BC Merchandiser of the Year Award; 2004 PGA of BC Head Golf Professional of the Year Award; and 2004 PGA of Canada Head Golf Professional of the Year Award.

“The win this week means so much to me as a golf professional,” McDonald said. “I’m a very proud PGA of Canada member and knowing that I’m a national champion I can always hang my hat on that . . . and no one can ever take that away from me.”

The 36-hole Inter-Zone competition compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone was decided Wednesday.

The squad from Ontario (Burns, John Cochrane, Brian Hadley and Danny King) won for the fourth-straight year. The squad from Quebec finished a stroke back with Saskatchewan rounding out the top three.

This year’s championship saw a few changes—both on and off the golf course. Firstly, the low club professional (McDonald) was recognized with a separate trophy and monetary bonus. Secondly, all competitors were treated to a number of parties hosted at The Wigwam and the Arizona Coyotes.

McDonald adds his name to a list of the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada champions that include John Cochrane, Matt Peavoy, Danny King, Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.

If asked the question “How has technology impacted your game?”, most golfers automatically think of their adjustable driver, game-improvement irons, a ball that promises both distance and accuracy, foul-weather gear and footwear that protect them from the elements and, perhaps, a distance-measuring device that takes the guesswork out of approach shots or an electric trolley that saves wear and tear on their bodies during a round.

But we got some revealing and unexpected answers when we ask experts from various sectors of the Canadian golf industry what technology they thought was most impactful on golfers.

“The smartphone!” responded Craig Loughry, Golf Canada’s director of handicap and course rating. You need only to look at the home screen on his phone for evidence. It’s plastered with the icons for multiple golf apps. Among GPS apps, he says Golfshot seems to be the most popular, but he’s enthusiastic about others, FunGolf in particular. Tracking your game stats has become simple, again thanks to various apps.

“Remember tracking fairways hit, greens in regulation and putts per hole? Well, that’s evolved,” said Loughry. “Used properly, these apps can actually show you what areas you need to focus on to improve your game.” There are lots of these apps available, both free and subscription-based, including the one developed by Golf Canada.

More exotic is “real-time game tracker” technology that fits on your club. “It records and tells you your swing speed, specific distance of each club, tracks your tendencies of misses, tracks your position on the course—all shot by shot, including your putts. It’s really amazing technology.” A couple of examples are Arccos and Game Golf.

Liam Mucklow is the founder of the Golf Lab, based in King City, Ont., so naturally he points to things such as launch monitors, 3D motion capture and force plates as advances that have improved the ability of instructors to help golfers become better through not only teaching but club fitting as well. “These three pieces of equipment allow me, as a coach, to measure the complete feedback loop from ball flight, club delivery, body movement, and ground reaction forces. In short, it helps me make golfers better faster than ever before.”

Among others interviewed for this story, Mucklow suggested high-tech “entertainment ranges” such as Drive Shack and TopGolf will encourage more people to try the real thing. A recent report by the U.S. National Golf Foundation confirmed that.

The folks who run the real courses where you play are also proactive to ensure they are delivering the best experience possible from communicating through social media and email to organizing and running events.

“As the golf industry changes, so changes the role of the PGA of Canada professional,” notes Adam Tobin, director of golf at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont. “For example, I’ve noticed the increase in tournament operation software that allow for easy one-stop development of tournaments, events, leagues, and every aspect that comes along with them. But the main item that has progressed is the way we communicate with our members on a regular basis. Many clubs are employing full-time communication managers and in my opinion, it is one of the most important roles at a club.”

David Main, a PGA of Canada member and a club manager, can see the question from both perspectives. He cites data management as a major advancement that impacts the customer experience positively. While this technology is largely invisible to the customer, Main said it allows clubs to better shape their service performance on an ongoing basis.

As well, he says, “I see more clubs automating the guest experience in the future. Why have someone checking you in when you can tap your membership or pre-paid guest card and get access to golf? Why have servers when you can select menu items from a tablet and pick them up at a window or have a food runner deliver it? Why can’t I scan my fingerprint to get access to my club storage, use my member or pre-paid card to access a power cart? How about facial recognition software for security and tracking member usage?

“Stuff you thought was only in the movies will soon be part of the club world.”

That’s tomorrow and beyond. But today, the most important and yet largely overlooked impact of technology is evident when you step onto the first tee and survey the opening hole. Course architects routinely employ computer software to design and redesign holes and entire layouts.

“New computer technologies that create vivid photo visualization and 3D modeling of proposed redesign plans are invaluable,” says Toronto-based course architect Jeff Mingay. “These present club members, some of whom may have trouble interpreting traditional two-dimensional overview plans of a hole, with a real-life view of the proposed changes.”

Mingay, who is also integrally involved with the construction and grow-in of his projects, cites new strains of bentgrass discovered through modern research techniques as a major development. “Superintendents are better able to present more consistently smooth, fast putting surfaces that are healthier and can better handle drought, traffic, harsh winter conditions and other stresses than annual bluegrass.”

Kathryn Wood, chief operating officer of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association, reached out to her Twitter followers for answers to our original question. Thanks to the many who responded! (You can learn more from this recent USGA article)

“For the most part, I’m pretty sure most golfers don’t have even the foggiest idea of how technology is driving golf,” tweeted Brad Hutchinson, course superintendent at Ontario’s Warkworth Golf Club. “And almost every time I start to explain it, they get this glazed look like they’re thinking about putting.”

Shame on them.

Now focus! These turf professionals make every effort to make your round the best it can be.

Several respondents reiterated Mingay’s opinion of the impressive advances in turfgrasses as well as a dizzying array of items such as TDRs (soil moisture meters that allow superintendents to precisely schedule irrigation cycles and hand-watering thus improving playability and more efficient use of water), sophisticated GPS-directed sprayers and drones, plant growth regulators such as Primo Maxx, new reel-sharpening systems for mowers, communicating course updates through social media, onsite weather stations, and more.

So the next time someone tells you that golf is stuck in the Dark Ages, recite some of the above. Until, that is, their eyes glaze over.

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Laurent Desmarchais and James Song were the biggest movers among the Top 10 over the course of 2018. Desmarchais, who was named to the Golf Canada Development Squad for the upcoming season, gained 1,323 spots in the world rankings over the course of 2018. He vaulted into the Top 10 following his win at the Golf Quebec Junior Provincial Match-Play Championship – one of four victories he collected this past year.

Song, who holds dual citizenship, has gained 1,003 spots in the world rankings and currently holds down the No. 3 amateur ranking in Canada. A freshman at UC Berkeley, he moved into the Top 10 for the first time after a runner-up performance at the Thunderbird International Junior. Song has four top 10 results this year including a ninth place finish at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

Golf Canada National Team member Brendan Macdougall picked up 168 spots over the course of 2018, thanks in large part to a pair of wins at the Big South Championship and the Alberta Match Play Championship.

Charles Corner gained 108 spots over the course of the year after three top 5 performances in his final collegiate season.

Joey Savoie gained 99 places in the world rankings to sit at a career-best No. 57 in the world. The Golf Canada National Team member had seven top 10 results including a pair of wins and he will finish at the No. 1 amateur player in Canada.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Brigitte Thibault made the biggest move among Top 10 players in 2018. Recently named to the Golf Canada National Team, Thibault gained 833 spots in the world rankings and was one of two players who moved into the Top 10 over the course of the year. Back-to-back top 10 finishes elevated her into the Top 20 and a total of seven top 10 results have solidified her spot as the No. 2 amateur in Canada, including a runner-up finish at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.

The only other player to crack the Top 10 over the course of 2018 was Ellie Szeryk. The Golf Canada Development Team member is also the younger sister to Maddie Szeryk, who was formerly the No. 1 ranked amateur in Canada up until her recent graduation and decision to turn pro. Szeryk gained 274 spots in the world rankings on the strength of four top 5 results including a victory at the Ontario Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship.

As mentioned Maddie Szeryk’s move to the pros forced a change atop the amateur rankings, which was aptly filled by Jaclyn Lee. However, it may be a short reign as the Ohio State senior is contemplating a similar move to the pros after earning her LPGA Tour card this fall. The Golf Canada National Team member gained 106 spots to move up to a career-best No. 19 in the world rankings. She has 10 top 10 results in 2018 including two victories and seven other top 5 finishes.

Development Squad member Celeste Dao gained 169 spots in the world rankings in 2018. Dao, who has signed a letter of intent to play at Georgia, has 11 top 10 results including four wins in what was a busy 2018 campaign for the Quebec junior.

Click here for the full World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR)

MEN’S TOP 10

Nick Taylor made the biggest gain among the Top 10 over the last week, picking up 13 places after finishing tied for ninth at the Australian PGA Championship. The result was worth 2.41 world ranking points, giving him three points-paying results in his last four tournaments.

Corey Conners made the biggest move among the Top 10 in 2018, moving up a total of 408 spots in the world rankings to finish as the No. 2 ranked player in Canada. The former Golf Canada National Team player saw his biggest gain come after finishing runner-up at the Sanderson Farms Championship. It was one of only two top 10 results for the PGA rookie this past year.

Adam Svensson made the next biggest gain, picking up a total of 289 spots over the course of 2018. His highlight moment came early in the year, winning the Web.com event in the Bahamas, which moved him back into the Top 10 in the Canadian rankings. It was also one of five top 10 results as the B.C. golfer earned his PGA Tour card for 2019.

Adam Hadwin will finish as the No. 1 ranked player in Canada, having held that position for almost two full years now. The Abbotsford, B.C. golfer reached a career high No. 41 in the world after finishing in a tie for 24th at his first career Masters tournament. He notched five top 10 results in 2018 including a tie for third at the CareerBuilder Challenge.

Of the 35 total Canadians who are recognized by the world rankings, Sukwoan Ko made the biggest gain, picking up 1,271 points over the course of 2018. Playing on the Korean Tour, his victory at the Jeonbuk Open back in July vaulted him into the Top 20 in Canada and he ends the year at No. 12.

Other notable results: No. 6 Austin Connelly finished tied for 34th at the Australian PGA Championship;

Click here for the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).

WOMEN’S TOP 10

The biggest mover among the Top 10 female golfers in Canada goes to a player who has yet to officially turn pro.

Jaclyn Lee gained a total of 250 places in the world rankings in 2018, moving into the Top 10 after finishing in a tie for 35th at the Meijer LPGA Classic – which was her only LPGA Tour event in 2018. Lee, a member of Golf Canada’s National Team and a senior at Ohio State University, has since gone on to earn an LPGA Tour card for 2019 and will have a decision to make in the new year, about whether or not to turn pro at the season’s first event or wait until later in the year until after she graduates.

Brooke Henderson finishes the year as the No. 1 ranked female in Canada, a position she has held since December 2014. Henderson had two wins, including her impressive performance at the CP Women’s Open, as well as eight other top 10 finishes in 2018. She closed out the year collecting world ranking points in each of her last 14 consecutive tournaments to climb into the Top 10 in the world.

Brittany Marchand made the biggest gain over the course of the past year, picking up 205 spots in the world rankings. The Golf Canada Young Pro Squad member had one top 10 result and one top 20 finish in her rookie LPGA season as well as a third place result on the developmental Symetra Tour. At one point, Marchand collected world ranking points in 10 of 11 LPGA starts.

Anne-Catherine Tanguay gained a total of 60 places in the world rankings in 2018. After a slow start to her rookie LPGA campaign, the Young Pro Squad member found her groove in the middle of the season, earning world ranking points in six of seven events to close out the season.

Click here for the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings.

The Fraser Edmundston Golf club is currently seeking a General Manager. This individual will report directly to the Board of Directors and manage the daily operations of all departments of the golf course including greens crew, pro shop, food and beverage facilities, front facilities, administration, golf instruction and golf events.

Responsibilities

Financial

Prepare operating budgets and be accountable for expenditures ensuring they remain within budget. Additional responsibilities include purchasing/monitoring clubhouse inventory, prepare and analyse necessary financial reports and involvement in the development of marketing strategies.

Human Resources

Supervise all departmental heads ensuring all staffing requirements are met. Ensure our existing policies & procedures across the entire operation are followed, recommending changes where deemed necessary to ensure a positive employee, member and guest experience.

Golf Instruction and Golf Events

Coordinate junior golf programs, club & corporate events, tournaments, members & guests visits.

Asset Management

Responsible for building & vehicle maintenance along with golf course management and be able to prepare recommendations regarding construction, renovations, maintenance, supplies, equipment and services.

Communication

Attend Board of Director Meetings, necessary subcommittee meetings and chair regular staff meetings and to generate necessary communications for our members & guests.

Marketing

Develop and implement an efficient and targeted marketing strategy for the Golf Club and the food and beverages facility.

Qualifications

• Bilingual
• Experience within the golf and/or hospitality industry an asset
• Demonstrates strong leadership and supervisory skills
• Must be able to work in a team environment
• Experience in business administration and office management
• Membership with the CPGA an asset but not required
• Must have exceptional communication, marketing and customer service skills
• Be competent in MS Excel, MS Word and Simply Accounting and Chronogolf
• Should be detailed-oriented and able to meet deadlines

Please forward (P.O. Box 263, Edmundston, NB E3V 3K9) or email (edmundstongolf@gmail.com) a cover letter and resume.

The final PGA of Canada national championship of the year lands next week in Arizona.

The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy takes place December 3-6 at the Golf Course at The Wigwam in Litchfield, Ariz.

A 54-hole national championship featuring PGA of Canada head professionals, head teaching professionals, executive professionals and general managers, will undoubtedly feature stellar play from an impressive cast of players.

The field at The Wigwam includes:

• Past PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada winners John Cochrane, Danny King and Benoit Boudreau
• Past PGA Championship of Canada winners Dave Levesque and Eric Laporte
• Past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winners Phil Jonas, Matt Palsenbarg, Marc Girouard
• PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC highly-touted Scott Allred, Philippe Gariepy, Brian Hadley, David Zibrik, Lindsay Bernakevitch, Ron Kenesky and Gordon Burns
• PGA TOUR winner Ian Leggatt

“We’re very excited to be headed back to Arizona and even more excited to be going to the Gold Course at The Wigwam for the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada,” said PGA of Canada president Mark Patterson.

This year’s field features many first-time players in the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy.

Designed by the master designer himself, the Gold Course was created in 1964 to rival another of Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s courses, the famed South Course at Firestone Country Club. At more than 7,430 yards, this long and winding par-72 course will challenge even the finest of golfers, leaving them with club choices that will either reward or reprimand their decisions. The course has previously hosted qualifying tournaments for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur.

The Wigwam was originally built in 1918 as a gathering place for the Ohio-based executives of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company who discovered the West Valley of Phoenix as a prime location to grow cotton for rubber production. As the retreat grew in popularity, additional accommodations and amenities were added and in 1929 The Wigwam opened as a full-service resort with accommodations for just 24 guests.

In its 100-year history, this Phoenix resort has hosted some of the world’s most recognized public figures and sports legends and maintains a reputation as one of the Southwest’s landmark resort destinations.

In 2017, John Cochrane captured the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy. The 56-year-old posted rounds of 72-69 at the TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., bettering Brian Hadley and Jeff Mills by two shots.

This year’s championship will see a few changes—both on and off the golf course. Firstly, the low club professional will be recognized with a separate trophy and monetary bonus. Secondly, all competitors are encouraged to stay at The Wigwam to take full advantage of numerous evening festivities.

The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy was played in Arizona in 2014 and 2015. Matt Peavoy captured the ’14 event at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, while Danny King won in ’15 at Verrado Golf Club.

The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), is also handed out after 36-holes.

In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada earn much-coveted ranking points with hopes of moving up on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. Players who are ranked inside the top 64 following the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada earn exemptions into the following year’s PGA Championship of Canada.

Former champions of the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada include Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton, in addition to the above-mentioned names.

Click here for the full field.

Sports Release – November 30, 2018

Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB) is pleased to announce its 2019 event and championship schedule which will include 14 various competitions and see the naming of some 34 separate provincial champions at 10 of New Brunswick’s top golf facilities.

The 2019 schedule is headlined by Golf NB’s four “Major Championships”, the NB Pee Wee & Junior Championships (July 2 to 4, Hampton Golf Club), the NB Ladies Provincial Championships (July 7 to 9, Golf Pokemouche Ltée.), the RBC Dominions Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship (July 11 to 14, Westfield Golf & Country Club) and the NB Men’s Senior & Mid-Master Championships, presented by TaylorMade (July 22 to 24, Aroostook Valley Country Club).

For a complete Golf NB Event & Championship Schedule CLICK HERE.

As the Provincial Golf Association and governing body of golf in New Brunswick, Golf NB conducts the province’s to amateur golf championships as part of its mandate to promote the sport and support the game of golf in the province.

Golf NB’s Championship Season at a Glance…
The 2019 competition calendar includes six team events and eight individual stroke play events including;

NB Men’s Four Ball, presented by TaylorMade
May 25 & 26, 2019 – Sussex Golf & Curling Club

Golf NB is pleased to kick of the competitive golf season at the Sussex Golf & Curling Club with the 38^th playing of the NB Men’s Four Ball, which will continue to host both Amateur Men’s and Senior Men’s divisions in 2019.  Moved to the final weekend in May in 2018, the NB Men’s Four Ball will once again provide the perfect starting point to New Brunswick’s competitive golf season.

Entry into the 2019 NB Men’s Four Ball includes two competitive rounds, a tee gift, a meal and the opportunity for prizes in both gross and net flights.

NB Ladies Four Ball
June 9, 2019 – Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club

The Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club will play host to NB Ladies Four Ball for the eight time in the event’s 13-year history.  Tied to Gowan Brae’s annual Ladies Scramble two-person scramble, the 2019 NB Ladies Four Ball is a perfect way for the golfing women of New Brunswick to spend time with friends while enjoying one of the province’s most scenic an challenging championship courses.

Entry into the 2019 NB Ladies Four Ball includes one competitive round, lunch and the opportunity for both gross and net prizing.

East Coast Junior Championship
June 25 & 26, 2019 – Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club

In addition to playing host the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, the Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club will also challenge many of the country’s top young golfers during the 21^st playing of the East Coast Junior Championship.  With 1,000 Golf Canada Order of Merit Points up for grabs and past champions like Charles-Eric Bélanger, Valerie Tanguay, Anne-Chatherine Tanguay, Maude-Amiee LeBlanc, Ron Harvey Jr. and Brodie Flanders, the East Coast Junior Championship has been Atlantic Canada’s premier junior championship since its inception.

Entry into the 2019 NB East Coast Junior Championship includes one practice round, two competitive rounds, a tee gift, lunch and championships in the Junior Boys, Bantam Boys and Junior Girls categories.

NB Pee Wee & Junior Championships
July 2 to 4, 2019 – Hampton Golf Club

For the second consecutive year, the Hampton Golf Club in Hampton, NB will play host to the season’s first major, the NB Pee Wee & Junior Championships.  “We are extremely pleased to again host the provinces top junior golfers to the Hampton Golf Club”, said Craig Mills, General Manager of the Hampton Golf Club.  With eight championships up for grabs, Boys & Girls Pee Wee, Bantam, Juvenile and Junior titles, as well as positions on the Team NB, there will be lots to play for on the 6,509 yard, Graham Cooke layout.

Entry into the 2019 NB Pee Wee & Junior Championships includes one practice round, three competitive rounds, a tee gift and a meal for competitors.

NB Ladies Provincial Championships
July 7 to 9, 2019 – Golf Pokemouche Ltée.

Golf Pokemouche Ltée., in Landry Office, NB will challenge New Brunswick’s to female golfers, as it plays host to the 84^th playing of the NB Ladies Provincial Championships from July 7^th to 9^th.  With four trophies on the line, the NB Ladies Amateur, NB Ladies Mid-Amateur, NB Ladies Senior and NB Ladies Super Senior, as well as positions on the NB Ladies Amateur and NB Ladies Senior Teams, the 54-hole event is sure to see another exciting finish.

Entry into the 2019 NB Ladies Provincial Championships includes one practice round, three competitive rounds, a tee gift and a banquet for competitors.

RBC Dominion Securities NB Men`s Amateur Championship
July 11 to 14, 2019 – Westfield Golf & Country Club

In conjunction with its 100^th anniversary, the Westfield Golf & Country Club will play host to the RBC Dominion Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship for the first time in 40 years, when John Breen of The Riverside Country Club captured the Men’s Amateur crown in 1979.  “We are excited to be able to bring the RBC Dominion Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship back to the Westfield Golf & Country Club”, said Gary Melanson, Golf NB Tournament Chair.  “We are confident that this well respected venue will provide an excellent challenge while drawing a competitive and diverse field of competitors.”

In addition to the NB Men’s Amateur Championship, eligible players will also compete for the 2019 NB Mid-Amateur crown and five positions on Team NB, three positions on the NB Men`s Amateur Team and two positions on the NB Mid-Amateur Team.  With the final Mid-Amateur Team position, as well as the first alternate positions, being awarded at the NB Mid-Master Championship to be held later in July.

Entry into the 2019 RBC Dominion Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship includes one practice round, four competitive rounds, a tee gift and the opportunity for prizing based on a minimum of four divisions.

NB Senior Men`s Championship & NB Mid-Master Championship, presented by TaylorMade
July 22 to 24, 2019 – Aroostook Valley Country Club

The Aroostook Valley Country Club, in Perth Andover, NB, plays host to the 43^rd NB Senior Men`s Championship and the 2019 NB Mid-Master Championship from July 22^nd to 24^th.

The two events will be run concurrently, as separate events, over the same three-day period and will carry a maximum field of 144 players over all.  In addition to the NB Men’s Senior & Super-Senior Championship and the NB Mid-Master Championship, eligible players will also compete for four positions on Team NB, three positions on the NB Men`s Senior Team and one positions on the NB Mid-Amateur Team.

Entry into the 2019 NB Men’s Senior & Mid-Master Championships includes one practice round, three competitive rounds, a meal, a tee gift and the opportunity for prizing based on divisions.

NB Family Classic
August 19, 2019 – The Riverside Country Club

The 40^th playing of the NB Family Classic will take place at The Riverside Country Club, in Rothesay, on August 19^th, 2019.

This 18-hole event uses a Pinehurst Scoring method where partners both drive on each hole and then each play a 2nd shot with the other’s ball.  After the 2nd shots, a choice is made regarding the ball with which the hole will be completed, playing alternate shots from there until the ball is holed out.  This unique event provides opportunities for the entire family with six different division; Father/Son, Mother/Son, Father/Daughter, Mother/Daughter, Adult/Junior (Male) and Adult/Junior (Female).

Entry into the 2019 NB Family Classic includes one competitive round, a meal and a tee gift.

“Jim Connolly” Little Swingers
August 19, 2019 – The Riverside Country Club

In its third year, the “Jim Connolly” Little Swingers is open to two player teams made up of one youngsters between the ages of 5 and 10 and one adult.  The “Jim Connolly” Little Swingers combines a 45 minute instructional clinic with 9 holes of golf using the Pinehurst Scoring method.  Named for the late Jim Connolly, the Golf Professional Emeritus of The Riverside Country Club, the “Jim Connolly” Little Swingers will be held on August 19^th in conjunction with the NB Family Classic.

Entry into the 2019 “Jim Connolly” Little Swingers includes a pre-event clinic, 9 holes of golf, a meal and a tee gift.

Past Presidents’ Cup Inter-Club Challenge
September 14 & 15, 2019 – Memramcook Golf Club

The Memramcook Golf Club will play host to the 20th playing of the Past Presidents’ Cup Inter-Club Challenge.  The yearlong competition saw 14 clubs enter 16-player teams (divided into five different handicap flights) in search of the 2018 crown.  Each round of the competition consists of a home and home series between the clubs, with each team fielding 8 sets of two player teams who compete in a “Hole by Hole” match play format with the team winning the most total holes advancing to the next round.  The final matches will be hosted at the Memramcook Golf Club on September 14th and 15th in 2019.

“The Past Presidents’ Cup Inter-Club Challenge is one of Golf NB’s most inclusive events”, said Tyson Flinn, Executive Director of Golf NB.  “With players ranging in handicap factors from 0.0 to 20.0+, the Past Presidents’ Cup provides a truly unique form of comradery and competition that is unmatched in any other event.”

Entry into the 2019 Past Presidents’ Cup Inter-Club Challenge is open to all Golf NB partner facilities.

Golf NB’s Events Pending Final Dates & Locations…

Still to come are confirmations on dates and venues for the 2019 ServiceMaster NB Golf Fore The Cure and 2019 Eastabrooks Cup.  Updates will be posted on www.golfn.ca as they become available.

Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not for profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick.  In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province.  Programs offered by Golf NB to its 8,000 members include: provincial championships, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.