St Andrews, Scotland – The road to Royal Portrush will include a stop in Hamilton, Ont.

The R&A announced today that next years RBC Canadian Open will be one of 16 events in 11 countries that will make up The Open Qualifying Series for 2019.

The Emirates Australian Open, which is being played from 15-18 November at The Lakes in Sydney, will be the first opportunity for players to secure their place at Royal Portrush next year. The leading three players, who finish in the top ten and ties and who are not already exempt, will qualify for The Open.

A total of 46 places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the PGA TOUR, the European Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour, the Korean Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

“The race to qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush has well and truly begun and we are eagerly anticipating an exciting series of events as golfers around the world aim to book their place at the Championship,” said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A. “We know that there is real excitement at the prospect of The Open returning to Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 70 years and it will undoubtedly act as an extra incentive for those players who are hopeful of teeing it up at the famous Dunluce links in July.”

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open will take place June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf & Country CLub, offering up three qualifying places into The 148th Open.

Regional Qualifying and Final Qualifying events will take place at venues throughout Great Britain and Ireland.

The Open Qualifying Series (TOQS) will offer the following qualification places in The 148th Open:

NB: Any player who has qualified through The Open Qualifying Series is deemed an exempt player. In the event that that player subsequently fulfils other exemption categories those places in the starting field will be subject to Section F of The Open Entry Form.

HAMILTON, Ont.  (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, are pleased to announce that tickets are now available for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at the historic Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

With a new premier spot on the PGA TOUR schedule in early June, the 2019 RBC Canadian Open promises to be a summer festival celebration to mark the unofficial start of Canada’s golf season.

CLICK HERE to get your tickets for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the RBC Canadian Open features miles of front row seating for golf fans to experience Canada’s lone stop on the PGA TOUR.

General admission tickets, starting at just $25 for early week access, provide access to the grounds to get an up-close look at the stars of the PGA TOUR including defending champion and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson.

Tournament rounds for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are $70; a Sunday final-round ticket is $80; and a weeklong, fully-transferable badge is $160. As well, Tuesday admission for RBC Hall of Fame Day is complimentary with the purchase of a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday ticket. A specially-priced youth ticket (13-17 years old) is also available while juniors aged 12-and-under gain FREE grounds admission all week long.

In addition to general admission tickets and corporate hospitality products, the RBC Canadian Open also offers a pair of premium ticket products—The 1904 Club and The Trophy Club—for golf fans to experience the 110^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship.

The 1904 Club is located inside the clubhouse at Hamilton Golf and Country Club and offers an air-conditioned experience with ample televisions and indoor views of the 18 green, as well as an outdoor patio with views of the driving range and 1st tee. Tickets for The 1904 Club start at $125.

The Trophy Club is a premium social experience situated in the heart of the action at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Located behind the 14th green with a view of the 15th tee and fairway, guests will enjoy all-inclusive food and beverage from a raised, covered structure. Well suited for passionate event fans or small businesses looking to host smaller client groups, cost for this upscale ticket experience is $260 per day, with savings available for those purchasing multi-day commitments.

Volunteer opportunities to be a part of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open are also available with a full listing of committee positions here.

New in 2019, with the RBC Canadian Open date change to early June, Golf Canada has introduced a new Student Volunteer Program for students to earn their required volunteer hours during the week of Canada’s National Open Championship.

The tournament’s return to the Harry Colt designed course in 2019 is timed perfectly – marking the 100-year anniversary since the renowned club originally hosted Canada’s National Open Golf Championship.

Hamilton Golf and Country Club previously hosted five Canadian Opens, with the first taking place in 1919 – a championship featured two of the most legendary names in golf – Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet. J. Douglas Edgar would go on to earn a 16-stroke win – a PGA TOUR record stands to this day as the largest margin of victory.

Other players to have won the Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club include Tommy Armour (1930), Bob Tway (2003), Team RBC member Jim Furyk (2006) and Scott Piercy (2012).

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open in early June begins an exciting new chapter for Canada’s National Open Championship. Join us at the historic Hamilton Golf & Country Club to witness great golf, activities for all ages including ‘The Rink’, local food and patio experiences, plus new event features being announced in the coming weeks.

Get your tickets today and be a part of one of Canada’s premier sporting events – www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

Volunteer, sponsorship and corporate hospitality opportunities are also available. For more information on the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, visit us online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

With its long history and vast geography, Canada boasts many strange and spooky tales. There are haunted coal mines in Cape Breton, poltergeists in Calgary and even a pair of haunted boots in St. Vincent’s Newfoundland. It is no wonder, therefore, that golf courses across the country are rumoured to be home to some extraordinary spirits.

Haunted Lakes Golf Club

Winning the award for the Canadian golf course with the spookiest name is Haunted Lakes Golf Club in Alix, a town east of Red Deer, Alta. It is here an ancient drama plays out every winter along the third fairway, where Haunted Lake hugs the front right of the green.

Before Europeans arrived, native groups camped on the lake’s eastern shore. One winter, seven hunters camped there for the night. In the morning, they looked out across the lake and spied the magnificent head and antlers of a deer caught in the ice.

The seven headed off and upon reaching the creature, they started to chip away at the ice. The mighty animal, which was very much alive, gave a great heave and smashed through the ice. It swam for shore, breaking a path before it. The deer made it to shore and the safety of the woods, but the men were not so lucky. They plunged through the ice and all seven drowned.

It is said the seven hunters have haunted the lake ever since, giving the spot its name. Locals also claim that every winter a mysterious phenomenon can be observed as each year a huge fissure appears in the ice along the path the deer travelled to the shore.

Glen Abbey Golf Club

Several provinces east of Alberta you will find Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ont.

The story says there is a house on the property which was built in 1937 by a mining engineer as his weekend retreat. The engineer, Andre Dorfman, was a leading figure in the Canadian mining industry at the time.

In 1953 Dorfman sold the house to the Jesuit Fathers of Upper Canada as a retreat. The property was sold again in 1963 to businessmen who opened a golf club. In memory of the Jesuits, the course was given the name Glen Abbey. Soon after the club opened, reports of a specter began to surface.

Within 10 years, they started talking about a ghost in the building. The story is that the ghost lives in the old mansion and walks up the back stairs and down the main hallway towards the library.

The mansion is a good example of the stately homes built in Oakville in the early twentieth century. It is constructed of stone with a red clay tile roof and features a wood-lined library on the second floor. Originally known as RayDor Estate House, the building has been designated as a heritage property. Prior to 1975 it served as the golf course’s clubhouse and currently is home to an investment company.

One of the rooms in the basement is actually made to replicate the ship in which the original builder came over from Switzerland.

The ghost in the old mansion is said to be male, and eyewitnesses agree that it resembles a Jesuit father.

Victoria Golf Club

Victoria Golf Club in Victoria, B.C., boasts both an impressive course history and a ghost or two of its own. The club is beautifully situated on a rocky point at the southern end of Vancouver Island.

The club dates back to November 1893 when local golf enthusiasts negotiated for permanent rights to play the rough fields of Pemberton Farm. Originally, golfers were prohibited from using the grounds over the summer, when cattle grazed what would become today’s fairways.

Like Haunted Lakes, the Victoria Golf Club may be haunted by early aboriginal inhabitants. One researcher suggests that some of its phantoms may be the souls of native warriors killed in battle centuries ago. However, these spirits pale beside the club’s other resident, the late Doris Gravlin, possibly Victoria’s most famous ghost.

John Adams is an expert on Doris, as she’s affectionately called by locals. A historian and author, Adams is best known as the proprietor of the “Ghostly Walks” tour, which explores historic courtyards and spooky places where spirits like Doris make their presence known.

“Doris Thomson was born in Blackburn, Lancashire in 1906 and immigrated to Canada with her parents,” recounts Adams. The Thomson family settled in Victoria where Doris’s mother worked at a private hospital. Doris became a nurse as well, until 1930 when she married Victor Gravlin.

Victor was a sports reporter for the Colonist newspaper, spending many happy hours golfing with his brother Walter, head pro at the Uplands Golf Club. The hours Victor spent with Doris would prove to be much less happy.

“When her husband began to drink heavily, Doris left him,” explains Adams, adding that Doris found work as a private live-in nurse.

“In mid-September of 1936 Victor delivered a letter to Doris,” Adams says. “Its contents were unknown, but are believed to have been a request for her to meet him to discuss reconciliation.”

Doris stepped out for a walk at about 7:45 pm on September 22, 1936; Victor left his parents’ house shortly thereafter. One observer saw them together on Runnymede Avenue, but after that, neither was seen alive.

Doris and Victor were reported missing. A search ensued and days later, Doris’s corpse was discovered. Her body was later discovered amid the driftwood on the beach near the 7th green by a caddy looking for lost balls. She had been strangled and her shoes, belt and felt hat were missing.

Gossips maintained that Victor had escaped. But they were wrong.

“One month later a fisherman found Victor’s body floating in the kelp beds off the ninth fairway,” describes Adams. “A length of rope was found in his coat pocket, along with Doris’s missing attire. The police concluded he had murdered his wife then committed suicide by walking into the water.”

The discovery of two bodies on the grounds gave rise to the notion the club was haunted, and many sightings have been reported since.

“Typical manifestations are a fast-moving figure in white, a feeling of doom, a cold wind and a globe of spectral light,” says Adams. “Doris also plays havoc with motorists along Beach Drive, sometimes flying through open windows and even penetrating windshields as a cold mist.”

The annual event is the golf community’s final opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of New Brunswick’s golf season.  In addition to its celebration of champions, Golf NB also hosts a Silent Auction, with proceeds going to support Golf NB’s annually awarded scholarships as well as junior development programs like Future Links, Future Links Mobile Clinics and the Future Links Golf In Schools, all driven through the generous support of Acura.

On October 20^th the 2018 Golf NB Annual Awards Banquet & Silent Auction, raised just over $4,300 for the Golf NB Scholarship program and other junior golf related activities.

The annually awarded University Scholarships are provided to deserving members of Golf NB, to be used towards the cost of tuition at any recognized University or College. These awards include the “NBGA 50th Anniversary Scholarship” for male golfers, the “NBLGA 50th Anniversary Scholarship” for female golfers, and the “John Patrick Sears Golf Scholarship” which is open to both genders and is renewable annually.

Chaired by New Brunswick Golf Associations (Golf NB) and Golf Canada (RCGA) Past President, Dr. Doug Brewer of the Fredericton Golf Club, the Golf NB Scholarship Committee evaluated applicants on three main awards criteria; Academic Performance, Competitive Golf Experience and Extracurricular Involvement & Giving Back to the Game of Golf before presenting the winners at the Golf NB Annual Awards Banquet & Silent Auction on Saturday October 20, 2018.

With that, Golf NB is pleased to announce the 2018 Golf NB Scholarship Awards Recipients;

NBLGA 50^th Anniversary Scholarship

• Mackenzie Scott       Kingswood Golf
• Sarah Holt                 Gage Golf & Curling Club

John Patrick Sears Golf Scholarship

• Calvin Ross                 Kingswood Golf
• Stuart Earle                Westfield Golf & Country Club
• Laura Jones                Country Meadows Golf Club
• Molly MacDermaid   Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club

Golf NB would like to congratulate each of its 2018 scholarship recipients and wish each of the winners a very successful 2018 / 2019 Academic Year.

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Laurent Desmarchais gained 186 spots in the world rankings after taking individual honours at the PING CCAA National Championship. It was the second consecutive victory in as many tournaments for the Quebec golfer who also earned tournament all-star honours. The result also moved him up to No. 7 in the Canadian rankings.

Myles Creighton  and Golf Canada National Team member Joey Savoie were the only other Top 10 golfers to make any positive gains this past week, picking up 19 and six places respectively in the world rankings.

Biggest move: Michael Harrison of Camrose, AB, gained 856 spots in the world rankings following a sixth place finish at the PING CCAA National Championship.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Jaclyn Lee begins her second week atop the amateur rankings by picking up two places in the world rankings as she continues her quest at LPGA Q-School. The Golf Canada National Team member from Calgary has advanced through to the final stage, where the top 45 players will earn LPGA status for 2019.

After relinquishing the top amateur ranking in Canada last week, Golf Canada National Team member Maddie Szeryk falls off the amateur world rankings table following completion of the second stage of LPGA Q-School. While Szeryk failed to advance to the final stage, she has earned status on the Symetra Tour for 2019.

Szeryk’s departure means Tiffany Kong makes her Top 10 debut, taking over the No. 10 amateur ranking in Canada.

Biggest Move: Emily Romancew of Pierrefonds, QC., gained 363 spots in the world rankings after taking the individual title at the PING CCAA National Championship.

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

MEN’S TOP 10

Adam Hadwin picked up three places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 10th at The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges. The result was his first points-paying finish of the new season and was worth 6.75 world ranking points, leaving him at No. 60 in the world which is where he ended the year last year.

Other notable results: No. 6 Austin Connelly missed the cut at the European Tour Andalucia Valderrama Masters;

Click here for the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR)

WOMEN’S TOP 10

No. 5 ranked Maude-Aimee Leblanc was the only player inside the Top 10 to make a positive gain in the world rankings, picking up three places.

Top ranked Brooke Henderson finished in a tie for 26th at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. That result was worth 2.31 world ranking points and enabled her to maintain her No. 8 world ranking. Henderson has now picked up world ranking points in each of her last 12 tournaments.

Click here for the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings.

In an effort to raise needed funds to help support the administration and implementation of provincial and national programming, and to provide assistance for to those individuals who earned the opportunity to represent their province at either a National or Regional competition, 2018 saw the introduction of the 2019 Golf NB Membership Raffle and continuation of the NB Provincial Team Funding Draw.

2019 Golf NB Membership Raffle

Supported by its partner facilities and TaylorMade Golf Canada Ltd., the Golf NB Membership Raffle was introduced to raise needed funds to help support the administration and implementation of provincial and national programming.

Through the purchase of a raffle ticket, participants were entered for a chance to win a variety of prizes including $1,500 towards a golf membership at one of Golf NB’s 46 partner facilities, rounds of golf at New Brunswick golf courses, Golf NB 2 For 1 Cards and TaylorMade golf balls, among other prizes.

Additionally, eligible participants were also entered for a chance to win a full refund of their entry fee into select 2018 Golf NB Events & Championships.

The winners of the 2019 NB Provincial Team Funding Draw were selected as part of Golf NB’s Annual Awards Banquet & Silent Auction held on Saturday October 20^th, 2018 at the Fredericton Inn in Fredericton, NB.

• Grand Prize Winner – Bill Bishop (Ticket #: 003)
  $1,500 towards a 2019 Golf Membership

• 2^nd Prize – James Simonds (Ticket #: 091)
  Golf Package Including:
  Hampton Golf Club – 4 Green Fees
  Westfield Golf & Country Club – 4 Green Fees
  Rockwood Park Golf Course – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Carts
  West Hills Golf Course – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
  Fredericton Golf Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart

• 3^rd Prize – Carole Mix (Ticket #: 115)
  Golf Package Including:
  Algonquin Resort – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
  St. Stephen Golf Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
  St. George Golf Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
  St. Croix Country Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Cart

• 4^th Prize – Eugère Daigle (Ticket #: 146)
  Golf Package Including:
  Golf Pokemouch – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Cart
  Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Cart
  Restigouche Country Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Cart

• 5^th Prize – Heather Neilson (Ticket #: 075)
  Golf Package Including:
  Le Club de Golf de St-Ignace – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
  Petitcodiac Valley Golf & Country Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
  Pine Needles Golf & Country Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart

• 6^th Prize – Pat Edwards (Ticket #: 127)
  Golf Package Including:
  Aroostook Valley Country Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Cart
  Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club – 4 Green Fees

• 7^th Prize – Jean LeBlanc (Ticket #: 033)
  12 TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls

• 8^th Prize – Gordon Steeves (Ticket #: 110)
  12 TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls

• 9^th Prize – John Brown (Ticket #: 004)
  2019 Golf NB 2 For 1 Card

• 10^th Prize – Gerry Garnett (Ticket #: 032)
  2019 Golf NB 2 For 1 Card

• Supplementary Draws for Reimbursement of Tournament Entry Fees
  • NB Men’s Four Ball – Greg Jones (Ticket #: 042)
  • NB Ladies Four Ball – Brenda Parrott (Ticket #: 020)
  • NB Ladies Provincials – Nancy McKay (Ticket #: 065)
  • RBC Dominion Securities NB Amateur Championship – Greg Jones (Ticket #: 042)
  • NB Mid-Master Championship – Stuart Musgrave (Ticket #: 081)
  • NB Senior Championship – Fernand Robichaud (Ticket #: 099)
  • NB Family Classic & Adult Junior – Gerry Garnett (Ticket #: 032)
    

Provincial Team Funding Draw

Supported by TaylorMade, the NB Provincial Team Funding Draw provided those individuals who earned the opportunity to represent their province at either a National or Regional competition the opportunity to offset their travel costs through the sale of raffle tickets, on three distinct TaylorMade prize packages, with all proceeds staying with the individual who sold the ticket

The winners of the 2018 NB Provincial Team Funding Draw were selected as part of Golf NB’s Annual Awards Banquet & Silent Auction held on Saturday October 20^th, 2018 at the Fredericton Inn in Fredericton, NB.

• Winner – Jim MacAdam
  1st Prize – TaylorMade M4 Golf Package including woods, irons & bag

• Winner – Billy Johnstone
  2^nd Prize – M3 Driver

• Winner – John M.A. Brown
  3rd Prize – Two TaylorMade Wedges & 12 TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls

Golf NB would like to thank its partner facilities and TaylorMade for their continued support of golf in the Province of New Brunswick and we look forward to working with all of our exceptional partners again in 2019 and beyond.

JEJU ISLAND, Korea, Republic Of – Brooks Koepka is golf’s new No. 1 after winning the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges on Sunday by four strokes.

Koepka, who displaced Dustin Johnson for the world’s top ranking, shot a final-round 8-under 64 for a 21-under total of 267. Koepka, who had never held the top ranking, led by four strokes after three rounds.

“To be No. 1 is something I’ve dreamed of as a kid,” Koepka said. “I don’t think this one is going to sink in.”

Gary Woodland certainly made it interesting. Woodland started the day five strokes behind Koepka, who was only 1-under after nine, but Woodland pulled level after making six birdies in seven holes on the front nine.

The two dueled on the back nine, with Woodland birdieing 15 and 16 to again pull level. But Koepka did the same, and a bogey by Woodland on the par-3 17th gave Koepka the cushion he needed to close out the win despite a birdie on the 18th by Woodland.

The biggest moment came on the 16th. Koepka went from a fairway bunker to just left of the green, about 70 feet away. Koepka hit a chip-and-run that was stopped by the pin and dropped for the birdie.

Koepka finished in style with a 25-foot eagle putt on the 18th for a 29 on the back nine.

“I’m not somebody who’s going to panic if things go the wrong way,” Koepka said of his slow start. “I felt like the one at 15 was quite big with Gary making a charge.”

Canadian Adam Hadwin surged up the leaderboard in Sunday’s finale with an 8-under-par 64. The Abbotsford, B.C., native closed the event with a share of 10th.

Woodland finished second after a 63. Ryan Palmer birdied his last seven holes to shoot a course-record 62 and finish in a tie for third place with Rafa Cabrera Bello (65), four strokes behind Koepka.

Woodland was happy with his final round, but looked back to a few missed birdie chances on Saturday.

“Brooks with the lead.not much fazes him,” Woodland said. “So you knew you had to make a lot of birdies and I made a lot today. I was trying to put as much pressure as I could. But just shows I was too far back to start after not making too many putts yesterday. I gave myself a chance, I was tied for the lead there. Brooks obviously just made some clutch shots down the stretch.”

Palmer said he became more confident with each of his seven straight birdies on the back nine.

“The more I made, the more free I felt in my swing and I was able to hit some close,” Palmer said. “I made some long putts coming down the stretch. Actually on 17, I looked at my scorecard, I was like, ‘oh, that’s six in a row.’ It is kind of back there, but you don’t think about it. What a special day.”

Defending champion Justin Thomas, who could have prevented Koepka from moving to No. 1 with a repeat win, finished at 5-under after a 68 Sunday.

Koepka is the third player this year to reach No. 1 for the first time, joining Justin Rose and Thomas. The last time that happened was in 1997, when Ernie Els, Tom Lehman and Tiger Woods each rose to No. 1.

It was Koepka’s 12th victory worldwide, including four wins on the European Challenge Tour. He now has won in six countries – the U.S., South Korea, Spain, Italy, Turkey and Scotland.

“Everything I’ve done this year it’s been working. So I don’t want to change anything,” Koepka said. “Just keep improving.

“I’m so excited right now, you have no idea. I can’t wait to go play again.”

He’ll get his chance soon. Next week the PGA Tour heads to Shanghai for the final stop on its Asian swing, the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Henry Lee made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 21 spots in the world rankings and moving past Myles Creighton into the No. 8 spot in the Canadian rankings.

Brendan Macdougall climbed seven spots in the world rankings.

Biggest move: Anthony Occhiuto of Guelph, Ont., gained 568 spots in the world rankings after finishing 21st at the Tom Tontimonia Invitational. That comes on the heels of a runner-up finish two weeks ago.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

There’s a new No. 1 atop the Canadian amateur women’s golf rankings as Jaclyn Lee takes over top spot. The Golf Canada National Squad member has a pair of top 5 finishes in each of her first two collegiate events this year. She takes over the top ranking from fellow Golf Canada team member Maddie Szeryk, who recently graduated from Texas A&M and hopes to pursue a professional career in 2019.

Vanessa Ha made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 44 spots in the world rankings and vaulting up to No. 3 in Canada.

Brigitte Thibault picked up 10 places in the world rankings after finishing 10th at the NM State Aggie Invitational, her first top 10 result of the collegiate season.

Biggest Move: Amanda Minni of Delta, B.C., gained 496 spots in the world rankings after posting a career-best third place result at the UW Edean Ihlanfeldt Invite.

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

MEN’S TOP 10

Austin Connelly was the only golfer inside the Top 10 to make a positive gain, picking up four places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 42nd at the European Tour’s Sky Sports British Masters. The result was worth 1.21 world ranking points for the former Golf Canada National Squad member. It also marked just the second time in the last 11 tournaments he has had a points-paying finish.

Click here for the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR)

WOMEN’S TOP 10

Top ranked Brooke Henderson maintained her No. 8 world ranking after finishing in a tie for 14th at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. The result earned her 5.58 world ranking points – her 11th consecutive points-paying finish.

Augusta James led all players in the Top 10 with a gain of six places in the world rankings.

Both Brittany Marchand and Anne-Catherine Tanguay each gained five places in the world rankings. Marchand has points-paying results in each of her last two tournaments while Tanguay has earned world ranking points in eight of her last nine events.

Click here for the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings.

LONDON, England – A global consensus amongst leaders in public health, public policy and sport backs golf in the race to tackle physical inactivity and the prevention of a range of non-communicable disease (NCD) including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer of the breast and colon.

Evidence linking golf and health, commissioned by the World Golf Foundation and supported by The R&A, was presented this week in London at the 7th Congress of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH). The biennial scientific meeting is widely regarded as the world’s flagship physical activity and public health event attended by more than 1,000 delegates from 60 countries.

Recognition that playing golf has significant physical health and wellness benefits and can provide moderate intensity physical activity to persons of all ages, comes just months after the World Health Organization (WHO) published its Global Action Plan for Physical Activity. The Global Action Plan targets one in four adults, and four out of five adolescents (11-17 years) who are insufficiently active, and charts how countries can reduce physical inactivity in adults and adolescents by 15% by 2030.

The scientific consensus for golf is evidenced in research led by the University of Edinburgh and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Findings reveal that playing golf is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits, and further collaborative efforts to improve access for the sport are needed.

New studies are underway to discover if playing golf improves strength and balance, contributing to a key public health goal of fall prevention in healthy aging and into conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

Marking the close of the ISPAH Congress, public health practitioners, policymakers and golf industry leaders were hosted at a satellite event in the Palace of Westminster by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.

Steve Brine, Minister for Public Health and Primary Care, said, “Physical activity of any type comes with a range of physical, social and mental benefits. For some, golf can be a great way to stay active and there’s growing evidence about ways the sport can help those living with long term conditions such as Parkinson’s and dementia. And for those who haven’t discovered their favourite sport yet it’s never too late to get inspired, connect with people and improve your wellbeing.”

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “Golf is working hard to encourage more people into the sport, who will realize its many health benefits. With 60 million golfers spanning six continents, golf has found common purpose in working with public health practitioners and policymakers to optimise the health benefits of playing the sport.

“We recognize the importance of the World Health Organization Global Action Plan for Physical Activity and we will work with our affiliates and partners around the world to help improve health and well-being through golf”.

Professor Fiona Bull, WHO Programme Manager, Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, said, “Non-communicable disease is responsible for nearly three quarters of all premature deaths globally, including 15 million deaths per year in people aged 30 to 70 years.

“The new World Health Organization global action plan and the implementation toolkit ‘ACTIVE’ aims to help all countries improve the environments and the opportunities for all people to be more active. Golf is a popular sport for men and women and it is great to see golf’s global leadership recognizing health priorities and identifying ways golf can be more accessible to more people.

“I took up golf in my 30s but thought it was a very technical, expensive and elitist sport. Thankfully a 6 week ‘come and try course’ showed me how easy it was to enjoy golf as a beginner and how active playing 9 holes can be. I am looking forward to seeing how golf can attract many more girls and women to enjoy the sport and be more active and healthy”.

Annika Sorenstam, Major Champion and a global ambassador for golf and health, said, “As the recent international consensus statement highlighted, golf is great for the health of people of all ages – it benefits those playing the sport and even tournament spectators.

“Given the health benefits, we must work together to make golf more accessible if we are to achieve our sport’s full potential.”

The 2018 International Consensus Statement on Golf and Health to guide action by people, policymakers and the golf industry was published last month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

A further Golf and Health Scientific Meeting will be held on Thursday 18 October 2018 at Mytime Active, High Elms Golf Course, Bromley, UK – a club promoting healthy lifestyles. Researchers from Asia, Australia, Europe and the USA will discuss their respective projects and the future direction of research on golf and health.