Golf Canada is pleased to announce that the Thornhill Club will host the 15th annual Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru National Event on Sept. 24.

The event will mark a celebration of the success of all Golf Fore the Cure events held nationwide during the 2018 season. Since its inception in 2003, Golf Fore the Cure has introduced the sport to over 14,000 women while simultaneously raising over $6.4 million for breast cancer research, with proceeds going to program partners Canadian Cancer Society and Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.

“The Thornhill Club is proud to be the host venue for the 2018 Golf Fore the Cure National Event,” said Todd McGrath, Head PGA of Canada professional at Thornhill Club. “We have a very strong female membership and are proud to host an event that supports both the growth of women’s golf and breast cancer research.”

The 18-hole charity event expects over 120 women, including the top-three fundraising teams from across Canada as well as program ambassador and Rogers Sportsnet broadcaster Evanka Osmak, who will be delivering opening remarks.

Founded in 1922, Thornhill Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Stanley Thompson. The club has a long tradition of hosting major events including the 1987 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, the 2006 Canadian University/College Championship and the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. In addition, Thornhill was the site that played host to 1945 Canadian Open where Byron Nelson claimed his remarkable 11th victory in a row.

The day will culminate with a special presentation involving representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society, who will be on hand to accept the cheque for funds raised nationally through this program during the summer.

Presenting partner Subaru continues to extend their commitment to the program with the “Subaru Safest Drive” mini-game, adding to their generous gifting at the event. Pink Partner adidas Golf will be providing an apparel piece to all participants in addition to providing the top-three fundraising teams with a winter gift package including golf pants, sweater and shoes. The evening will commence with a three-course dinner, coupled with speeches from keynote speakers and followed by a special prize draw.

Registration is open to public and corporate teams.

Click here to register.

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Myles Creighton makes the biggest move among the Top 10 which saw a change at the top of the table. Creighton picked up 82 spots in the world rankings.

Joey Savoie takes over the No. 1 amateur ranking from fellow Golf Canada National Team member Hugo Bernard, who had held the No. 1 ranking since Week 1 of this year.

Henry Lee moved up 31 spots in the world rankings after an eighth place finish in the season opening Gopher Invitational. It was the fourth career top 10 result for the junior from Coquitlam, B.C.

Laurent Desmarchais makes his Top 10 debut, moving up 15 spots to take over the No. 10 ranking in Canada. The junior from Quebec has three wins and six top 10 results in eight results in 2018.

Biggest move: Craig Stefureak of Caledonia, Ont., climbed 677 spots in the world rankings after winning The MULE in a playoff. The performance earned the senior Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week honours for the third time in his collegiate career.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Celeste Dao made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 33 spots after helping Canada finish fourth at the World Junior Girls Championship. Dao finished fifth in the individual standings at the event. The result vaulted the Golf Canada Development Squad member four places in the Canadian rankings, up to No. 4.

Fellow Development Squad member Ellie Szeryk picked up six places in the world rankings after finishing 27th individually at the World Junior Girls Championship.

The third member of the team, Tiffany Kong, just missed moving into the Top 10 after climbing 31 spots in the world rankings following a 19th place finish at the World Junior Girls Championship.

Biggest Move: Abbie Anghelescu from Wolfe Island, Ont., gained 358 spots in the world rankings following an eight place finish at the MSU-Payne Stewart Memorial.

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

MEN’S TOP 10

Roger Sloan made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 144 spots in the world rankings with his runner-up finish at the Web.com Tour’s Albertsons Boise Open. The result was worth 6.93 world ranking points – the second best points-paying finish of his career- but more importantly, it helped clinch Sloan’s return to the PGA Tour for the first time since 2015. Sloan also climbed two places up to No. 8 in the Canadian rankings

No. 6 Austin Connelly gained 26 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 11th at the European Tour KLM Open – an event where he finished runner-up a year ago. The result was worth 2.76 world ranking points for the former Golf Canada National Team member, who came within a stroke of his first top 10 result on the European Tour this year. It was his first points-paying result in his last eight tournaments.

Other notable results:  No. 2 Benjamin Silverman missed the cut at Web.com Tour Albertsons Boise Open; No. 7 Adam Svensson finished tied for 43rd at the Web.com Tour Albertsons Boise Open; No. 9 Corey Conners finished tied for 33rd at Web.com Tour Albertsons Boise Open; No. 10 David Hearn finished tied for 24th at Web.com Tour Albertsons Boise Open;

Click here for the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR)

WOMEN’S TOP 10

Brittany Marchand made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 15 places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 49th at The Evian Championship, the final major of the LPGA Tour. The result was worth 2.40 world ranking points and marked her seventh points-paying finish in her last 10 tournaments.

Alena Sharp gained seven spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 37th at The Evian Championship. That result was worth 3.55 world ranking points – her best points-paying haul this year and highest total since the 2017 Lotte Championship.

Top ranked Brooke Henderson moved up to No. 8 in the world after finishing in a tie for 10th at The Evian Championship. That was worth 12 world ranking points for the two-time LPGA winner in 2018. Henderson has scored world ranking points in each of her last 10 tournaments.

Other Notable Results: No. 4 Anne-Catherine Tanguay finished tied for 17th at the Symetra Tour event in Arkansas; No. 8 Samantha Richdale and No. 9 Jennifer Ha both missed the cut at the Symetra Tour event in Arkansas;

Click here for the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings.

For immediate release:

The 21^st playing of the Estabrooks Cup will take place at the Pine Needles Golf & Country Club on September 22^nd & 23^rd.

The Estabrooks Cup, named after New Brunswick Golf Association Past President John Estabrooks, was first played in 1998.  Between 1998 and 2008 the Estabrooks Cup was a “best on best”, Ryder Cup style, event for New Brunswick’s best male amateur golfers.  The event has seen many iterations over the years, form the incorporation of Amateur Men (8), Senior Men (4) and Ladies (4) onto both the North and South teams in 2009, to the removal of geographic boundaries in 2016, and then back to the traditional North vs. South alignment in 2017.   The 2017 version of the Estabrooks Cup would also see the event increased to 36 participants, Amateur Men (2), Senior Men (8) and Ladies (8) onto both the North and South teams and guided for the first time by “Playing Captains”.

The 2018 version of the Estabrooks Cup will see no changes in format and will once again have the North & South battling it out under the guidance of “Playing Captains” Wilfred Pilgrim (Kingswood Golf) and Paula Napke-Flanagan (Miramichi Golf & Country Club) for the North and Louis Boudreau (Pine Needles Golf & Country Club) and Allison Chisholm (The Riverside Country Club) for the South.

The 2018 Estabrooks Cup will be played on Pine Needles Golf & Country Club’s 36 hole River Course & Pine Course layouts for the first time and will gets under way Saturday, September 22^nd at 8:00am with morning Four Ball matches on the River Course, followed by Foursome (alternate shot) matches in the afternoon on the Pine Course.  Sunday will see the 18 singles matches, played on the River Course, decide the Estabrooks Cup.  “We are looking forward to being able to provide this unique opportunity to the participants in this year’s Estabrooks Cup”, says Tyson Flinn, Executive Director of Golf NB.  “The Pine Needles Golf & Country Club is New Brunswick’s only 36 hole layout and we couldn’t think of a better way to maximize the challenge, beauty and hospitality of this family owned and operated facility, then by bringing our province’s best players together for one of Golf NB’s flagship events.”

Each match of the Estabrooks Cup is worth 1 point, thus making 18 points available on Saturday and 18 points available on Sunday.

Replacing injured South Captain Louis Boudreau (Pine Needles) is longtime Estabrooks Cup veteran Bob Gray of the Maplewood Golf & Country Club.

For more information on the 2018 Estabrooks Cup, please visit www.golfnb.ca or CLICK HERE.

For more information on the Pine Needles Golf & Country Club, please www.pineneedlesgolf.nb.ca.

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 10,000 members include: 12 provincial events, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – With the upcoming 2018-19 PGA TOUR schedule reflecting previously announced, significant structural changes, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan today unveiled further innovations that elevate the entire FedExCup season – from the Regular Season through the FedExCup Playoffs and ultimately, at the Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship. These changes include a simplified scoring system at the TOUR Championship that will determine the FedExCup Champion and a new $10 million program for the FedExCup Regular Season sponsored by Wyndham Rewards: the “Wyndham Rewards Top 10.”

The FedExCup Playoffs – which have been reduced from four to three events beginning next season and will conclude before Labor Day, allowing the TOUR to compete to own the August sports calendar – will feature fields of 125 for THE NORTHERN TRUST, 70 for the BMW Championship and 30 for the TOUR Championship, where the FedExCup Champion will be determined. While the points structure for the first two events will remain the same (awarding quadruple points compared to FedExCup Regular Season events), there will be a significant change to the format for the TOUR Championship.

Instead of a points reset at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, beginning with the 2018-19 event the TOUR is instituting a strokes-based bonus system related to the FedExCup standings through the BMW Championship. The FedExCup points leader after the first two Playoffs events will begin the TOUR Championship at 10-under par. The next four players will start at 8-under through 5-under, respectively. The next five will begin at 4-under, regressing by one stroke per five players until those ranked Nos. 26-30 start at even par.

With the implementation of this change, the player with the lowest total score will be the FedExCup Champion and be credited with an official victory in the TOUR Championship competition.

“This is a significant and exciting change for the PGA TOUR, our players, our partners and – most importantly – our fans,” said Monahan. “As soon as the TOUR Championship begins, any fan – no matter if they’ve followed the PGA TOUR all season or are just tuning in for the final event – can immediately understand what’s going on and what’s at stake for every single player in the field. And, of course, players will know exactly where they stand at all times while in play, which will ratchet up the drama, consequence and volatility of the competition down the stretch.

“Compared to the current system, the beauty here is in the simplicity. Fans are very familiar with golf leaderboards in relation to par, so they will have a clear understanding of the impact every shot makes during the final run for the FedExCup – ultimately leading to a singular champion without conflicting storylines.”

“It has been gratifying to witness the growth, popularity and importance of the FedExCup since its launch in 2007,” said Davis Love III, a current Player Director on the PGA TOUR Policy Board who also served on the Board during the development and launch of the FedExCup. “Several important refinements have been made along the way to help accelerate the FedExCup’s universal acceptance as a tremendous achievement in professional golf.

However, I believe this new strokes-based bonus system for the TOUR Championship might well be the most important of them all, as it will lend absolute clarity to where everyone in the field stands and what exactly they must do to win the FedExCup. It will make for a very exciting and dramatic four days.”

Meanwhile, the new $10 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10 not only will add drama to the Wyndham Championship as the final event before the FedExCup Playoffs but will also put an even greater premium on excelling over the course of the FedExCup Regular Season. The top-10 Regular Season finishers in FedExCup points through the Wyndham Championship – also sponsored by Wyndham Rewards – will reap the benefits of the Wyndham Rewards Top 10. The leader will earn $2 million, followed by $1.5 million for the runner-up with the 10th-place finisher earning $500,000. Additionally, each player in the top 10 will be invited into Wyndham Rewards at its most exclusive Diamond level, unlocking all the travel perks and unique Wyndham benefits that go along with it.

And while the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 will be recognized at the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship, the impact of the program will be felt throughout the season; a player’s performance every week becomes more critical than ever before, elevating the significance of each tournament on the schedule and producing drama for PGA TOUR fans at every turn.

“We are excited to unveil the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 next year, which will place an even greater premium on excelling over the course of the Regular Season,” said Andy Pazder, Chief Tournament and Competitions Officer for the PGA TOUR. “Season-long success is tantamount to qualifying for and advancing through the FedExCup Playoffs, and this is an exciting way to reward the best of the best and provide an added layer of drama for our fans in each market and around the world.”

In addition to the $10 million Wyndham Rewards Top 10, the existing FedExCup bonus pool will increase by $25 million, to $60 million. The FedExCup Champion will receive $15 million, versus the $10 million prize from previous years.

“Our players and fans have invested in the FedExCup over the past 12 seasons, and with these enhancements, we are reinvesting in the FedExCup in order to raise the stakes, so to speak, for their benefit,” said Monahan. “We are able to grow and diversify our fan base because we have the best athletes on the planet competing on the PGA TOUR. Now is the time to make these changes, and thanks to significant input in the process by our players, partners and fans, I believe we’re making exactly the right moves.

“To that end, these changes wouldn’t have been possible without the full support of the TOUR Championship’s outstanding Proud Partners – Coca-Cola and Southern Company – as well as longtime partner FedEx and an enhanced partnership with Wyndham Rewards,” he added. “They shared our vision for how we can challenge ourselves to raise level of excitement and fan engagement throughout the season up until the moment our FedExCup Champion is determined.”

LONDON, Ont. – After a year that featured three victories, Tyler McCumber officially locked up Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year honours Sunday.

The native of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida finished with $139,300 for the season and topped the money list – leading the five players who earned status on the Web.com Tour for 2019.

McCumber, 27, won the Osprey Valley Open and then won the very next week at the Syncrude Oil Country Championship presented by AECON. In the process, he became the only golfer in Mackenzie Tour history to win back-to-back events.

A three-time winner on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, McCumber finished third at the ATB Financial Classic after his two-straight wins, but won The Players Cup the very next week.

McCumber, who was battling a shoulder injury for most of last year, was “totally healthy” as of November. He said he a routine of working out and practicing whenever he wanted, which was beneficial for him going into this season.

“Having full status on this Tour I had a good game plan coming in,” said McCumber. “The formula is really good and what I’m doing is right for me. I’m not surprised I came out with a good year. There’s a lot that goes into being No. 1 – getting momentum, capitalizing on opportunities, and I did a good job of that.”

McCumber had the money title locked up before the final event of the season. After his victory in Edmonton he moved to the top of the Order of Merit, a spot he never relinquished.

George Cunningham, after a tie for second at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship – his sixth top-10 of the year – ended up at No. 2, $37,133 behind McCumber. With $102,167 earned on the year, he became the first golfer in Mackenzie Tour history to earn more than $100,000 and not finish on top of the money list.

“I’ve learned a ton this year,” said Cunningham, who finished in the top 30 at the RBC Canadian Open in his first PGA TOUR start this summer. “I’m such a different player I feel like from when I was in college, and I thought I was playing really well in college. Every single thing I’ve learned this year is off the charts.”

Zach Wright, who finished 39th at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, moved down to third on the Order of Merit after Cunningham jumped him to get to No. 2.

“I did well. I’ve been very consistent. I’ve had a few rounds where my attitude got int the way, but I can always learn from that. Overall I did pretty well,” said Wright, who became the only player in Mackenzie Tour history to open a season with six consecutive top-10 finishes. “At the beginning of the year I moved back home and started working with my old coach, and everything I was feeling good about. It was nice to get off to a good start because it gave me confidence, and I knew I could do it.”

Corey Pereira of Mission Viejo, California, and Michael Gellerman, of Tucson, Arizona, joined Wright, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Cunningham, also of Tucson, Arizona in The Five.

“Getting into The Five does feel far fetched at the beginning of the year,” admitted Pereira. “You know you have to win out here and then you know you need a top-5 or top-3 to secure your status. It’s extremely challenging. To come out and get it done feels awesome and gives me a lot of confidence.”

Gellerman, who, like Wright, never won this year on Tour but still finished in The Five said he made some good progress from 2017, which was his main goal at the start of this year.

“I tried to reach some of my goals mid-year and see where that led me. I played some good golf along the way. Unfortunately Tyler (McCumber) got in the way a few times,” said Gellerman with a laugh, who finished second to McCumber at both the Osprey Valley Open and The Players Cup. “I’m really happy to be here.”

The Five will graduate to the Web.com Tour in 2018 and look to follow in the footsteps of 19 players who have gone on from the Mackenzie Tour to the PGA TOUR during the PGA TOUR-era (2013-present), including PGA TOUR winners Tony Finau, Nick Taylor, and Mackenzie Hughes.

“It’s been a great season on the Mackenzie Tour with so many incredible performances, especially for the players who make up The Five this year,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “A special congratulations goes to Tyler, who played some truly impressive golf this year. We wish all five players success on their journey to the PGA TOUR.”

PLAYERS 6-10 EARN SPOTS INTO FINAL STAGE

In addition to The Five earning status on the Web.com Tour, players finishing 6-10 on the Order of Merit earned an exemption into Final Stage of Web.com Tour Q-School, led by No. 6 Sam Fidone, of Lufkin, Texas, who earned $66,742.

After his victory Sunday at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, Danny Walker of Bradenton, Florida, moved up 44 spots on the Order of Merit to the No. 7 spot.

Ben Griffin, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Mark Anguiano of Bellflower, California, and Ian Holt of Stow, Ohio – who shot a 6-under-par 64 Sunday at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship to move into a tie for fourth and move five spots up the Order of Merit – round out the rest of the top 10.

Players finishing No. 11-25 earned an exemption into Second Stage of Web.com Tour Q-School. The biggest mover of that group Sunday was Jonathan Garrick of Chicago, Illinois, who, after finishing tied for second at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, moved up 20 spots to No. 19.

For immediate release: September 17, 2018

The year started with 14 teams but only 2 remained for the 2018 Past Presidents Cup Inter-Club Challenge, held at the St. Stephen Golf Club on September 15^th & 16^th. The Past Presidents’ Cup, Interclub Challenge, now in its 19^th year, is a competition run by Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB) where clubs enter a 16-player team (divided into five different handicap flights).  Each round of the competition consists of a home and home series between the clubs with the winner advancing to the next round.  This year the Memramcook Golf Club and the Lakeside Golf & Country Club both reached the final round for the first time. Both days were played under sunny skies and warm temperatures perfect for September golf.

The participants in the Past Presidents’ Cup Inter Club Challenge are divided into five handicap flights as follows;

The first match of the day saw the Memramcook’s A-flight pairing of Luke LeBlanc and Sean Casey take a three-point victory over Lakeside’s Remi Comeau and Lanny Strong for a 10.5 point to 7.5-point lead.

The second pairing had B-flight players which saw Lakeside bounce back with a two-point change as Gary MacDonald and Barry Perry were tied with Memramcook’s team of Gino LeBlanc and Eli Richard after 9-holes but took the first 2 holes on the back and then traded points coming in to win 10 to 8 points to close the overall lead to 1.

Match #3 (also B-flight), would see Lakeside continue to apply the pressure and have the Lakeside team of Donny Maillet and Mario DeGrace win by three points over Memramcook’s Donald LeBlanc & Steve Pelletier. The front nine was close with Lakeside leading by 1 but after winning three holes to Memramcook’s one on the back they came out with 10.5 points to 7.5 points.

Match #4 also saw a 10.5 to 7.5 win by C-flight Lakeside’s Donovan Mallaley and his partner Roger Robinson over Andy and Roger Leblanc of Memramcook. Like the match before, Lakeside only had a 1-point lead after the front nine and grabbed two more points on the back.

Memramcook decided to make up three points of their own in the C-flight Match #5 with Jules LeBlanc and Donald J. Leblanc winning over Lakeside’s Richard Russell and Victor Bourgeois. The Leblanc twosome were one down after nine holes but gained control on the back nine with a four-point win for a 10.5 vs 7.5-point advantage. By this time in the overall competition Lakeside had a 2-point total lead over Memramcook 46 points to 44 points.

When the D-flight started, the 6^th Match found the biggest margin of the day when Lakeside’s Rick Fury and Jeff Worton were up by one point on the front but gained 3 points on the back over Memramcook’s Roger A. Leblanc and partner Eugene Cormier for an 11 to 7-point match.

Match #7 would see a 9-points to 9 draw between D-flight Memramcook’s Rene Dupius and Sebastien Dobson and Lakeside’s Eddie Saulnier and Wayne O’Brian.

Match #8 had Lakeside’s Ray Melanson and Brian Bell be down by a point to Memramcook’s Paul Neate and Felix LeBlanc but on the back would win the first 4 holes and two other compared to the 3 won holes by Memramcook for 10 to 8 victory in the E-flight.

By the end of the day Lakeside had 76 points to Memramcook’s 68 points for an 8-point lead.

Day 2 would see Memramcook come out swinging in the 9^th match of the event! Their pairing of Luke LeBlanc and Sean Casey would lead by 6 points after the front nine over Lakeside’s Remi Comeau and Lanny Strong. Lakeside was able to tie them on the back-nine for a 12 – 6-point total cutting in on Day 1’s 8-point lead.

Match #10, had Memramcook keep the accelerator down with Gino LeBlanc and Eli Richard also winning by 6-points over Lakeside’s Gary MacDonald and Barry Perry. Their team also applied the pressure on the front nine with a 5-point lead and won by 1-point on the back to secure another 6-point victory for Memramcook taking the total 2-day lead by 4 points.

Memramcook’s Donald LeBlanc & Steve Pelletier kept the momentum going and were leading after the front nine by 1-point, but Lakeside’s duo of Donny Maillet and Mario DeGrace gathered 7 points of the 9 available on the back for a total of 10.5 to 7.5 to win by three points like they did the day before and helped close the gap.

In “C” Flight, match #12, would be a close match with Lakeside’s Donovan Mallaley and his partner Roger Robinson over Andy and Roger Leblanc taking a 1-point lead on the opening nine and the teams tying on the back for a 9.5 to 8.5 margin and tying both teams at 108 points each overall. Match #13 didn’t resolve anything as we saw our first tie of the day between Lakeside’s Richard Russell and Victor Bourgeois and Memramcook’s Jules LeBlanc and Donald J. Leblanc receiving 9-points each by the end of their match.

The 1^st “D” Flight match of the day (#14) saw Lakeside’s Rick Fury and Jeff Worton jump out to a 3-point lead over Memramcook’s Roger A. Leblanc and partner Eugene Cormier but Memramcook won 7-points to 2 points on the back to take the match 10 points to 8 for a lead of 127 to 125 points overall.

Match #15 brought the pressure from Memramcook’s Rene Dupius and Sebastien Dobson over Lakeside’s Eddie Saulnier and Wayne O’Brian by winning the front nine by two and the back by 3 for a 11.5 to 6.5 total and overall total of 138.5-points to 131.5-points for a 7-point Memramcook lead.

It came down to the 18^th and final match of the weekend that would see the “E” Flight match of Lakeside’s Ray Melanson and Brian Bell lead by 5 against Memramcook’s Paul Neate and Felix LeBlanc after the front-nine to close the overall total to 138.5 to 140.5 for Memramcook but they were only able to managed a tie on the back nine for a 11.5 to 6.5 point total.

At day’s end, Memramcook made the comeback complete and win the 2018 Past President’s Cup by a two-point margin of victory of 145 to 143 points.

For more information on St. Stephen Golf Club please CLICK HERE.

2018 Past Presidents` Cup
St. Stephen Golf Club
September 15-16, 2018

Saturday Matches

Sunday Matches

Golf’s new Rules have been published by the The R&A and USGA in partnership with Golf Canada ahead of their effective date on Jan. 1, 2019.

For the first time, a new Player’s Edition of the Rules of Golf is being introduced to provide a shorter, more user-friendly version of the Rules for golfers at all levels of the game. This version, which will serve as the primary publication for all golfers, features:

• A more intuitive organization with 10 simplified topical groupings
• A “Purpose of the Rule” description at the top of each Rule, to better define why the Rule exists
• Easy-to-follow, full-colour diagrams and charts to aid in understanding
• A simpler, more direct writing style

The Player’s Edition is being launched alongside the modernized full Rules of Golf book, which includes some of the most significant changes made to the Rules in more than 60 years.

Adam Helmer, director of Rules, competitions and amateur status at Golf Canada said, “We are embarking on one of the most significant changes to the Rules of golf in the history of our sport. Today marks the start of the education process to communicate the modernized Rules with additional resources and publications available to all golfers, member facilities and referees in Canada and worldwide.”

Thomas Pagel, senior managing director, Governance for the USGA, said, “From the project’s inception, our one goal was to make the Rules easier to understand and apply for all golfers. It sets a new standard in the way we write and interpret the Rules and is central to our efforts to ensure a healthy future for golf. We look forward to continuing that process in the years to come.”

David Rickman, executive director – Governance at The R&A, said, “We are delighted to be rolling out the modernized Rules of Golf today. This is the biggest set of changes to the Rules in a generation and a major step forward in our efforts to make the Rules, and the sport itself, more accessible and more in tune with the way the modern sport is played.”

A new Official Guide to the Rules of Golf is also available in digital format and official apps today, with a printed version to be released in November. Designed for golf administrators and club officials, the Guide features Interpretations on specific Rules (which replace the current Decisions) and includes the first jointly-produced Committee Procedures document, providing practical guidance to Committees for running competitions and overseeing general play.

Another key feature is the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities. This document is released alongside the Rules of Golf and enables players with disabilities to play fairly with other players with the same or different types of disability and, importantly, with those without disabilities. The Modified Rules were developed in close consultation with the community of players with disabilities and disability organizations.

All of the new books are available in digital formats online and a range of explanatory videos and resources is available on and websites to enable all golfers to learn about the 2019 Rules.

Extensive educational programs are being conducted around the world, with the assistance of national and regional associations, to ensure that golfers and administrators throughout amateur and professional golf are ready for the new Rules when they take effect on Jan. 1.

The process to modernize the Rules began in 2012 with the aim of making the Rules easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to help make golf more appealing and accessible for newcomers.

Some of the key changes in the new Rules include new procedures for dropping the ball when taking relief, the elimination or reduction of several penalties, relaxed putting green and bunker rules, and rules that encourage improved pace of play.

Golfers are reminded that the current Rules of Golf remain in effect for the remainder of 2018. The Rules of Amateur Status and the Rules of Equipment Standards were not part of the review process.

As an extension of its support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A and the USGA’s efforts to modernize golf’s Rules. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the sport, from the leading professional and amateur competitions and organizations to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.

“Where Champions Are Crowned”

Although it’s the marketing tagline for Duncan Meadows Golf Course on Vancouver Island, site of the recent men’s Canadian Amateur Championship, it could be adopted by any of the scores of courses across Canada that play host each year to provincial and national championships.

Ming Hui, owner of Duncan Meadows, says the course hosted its first event, the B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship, in 1999. Since then, the course and its members have welcomed a veritable spectrum of tournaments: provincial junior and amateur championships, Future Links events, the Canadian University/College Championship, the Canadian Women’s Tour, and even an American Junior Golf Association tournament where, says Hui, a young Paula Creamer set the women’s competitive course record before heading off to LPGA Tour stardom.

“The overall experience is fabulous,” Hui says. “Although the members have to give up their course for a few days, it’s a positive experience for everyone. It’s good for our course because it gives us exposure and visibility and it’s good for the game overall.”

At any given time, Golf Canada is in contact with hundreds of courses in order to secure sites over the next three to five years for the 30 or so tournaments they conduct each year, says Adam Helmer, Golf Canada’s director of rules, competitions and amateur status.

“Lots of advance notice and excellent communication is key,” he says. “Once a course hosts an event, they realize it is a positive and lasting experience for all concerned. Some courses want to showcase major changes, celebrate a significant anniversary or get more recognition. Others may target a specific championship because they have strong players in that category and it never hurts to have local knowledge.”

Phil Berube, executive director and CEO of Alberta Golf, agrees. “We are very fortunate in that many clubs in Alberta see this as an opportunity to showcase their facility and demonstrate good will for the golf community.” He says the key is a “partnership” between the golf association, the members and staff of the host club, and the players themselves.

Finding the appropriate number and type of facility is a formidable task for Golf Canada and the provincial associations. Although smaller provinces conduct a relative handful of competitions, Ontario runs more than 50 qualifying events and two dozen championships.

“It’s a very compact season and it’s difficult to schedule them all in during Ontario’s short summer,” says Rob Watson, Golf Ontario’s coordinator of next generation and competitions.

Some provincial associations offer nominal remuneration to host clubs and that has made the experience more palatable for some courses, but there’s much more to the equation. While British Columbia, for example, does so, the association “works with host clubs to help them understand the local economic impact of hosting an event as well as revenue opportunities for food and beverage as well as local sponsorship,” according to Kris Jonasson, CEO of British Columbia Golf.

Golf Canada, says Helmer, is working toward a new hosting model that would leave behind a “lasting legacy” commemorating their contribution to the game. That legacy could include donating Golf In Schools kits to local schools or some other support for growing the game locally.

One of the most memorable events during my 30 years at my club was when I volunteered last year for a Future Links tournament that had a Special Olympics component. We have hosted a men’s Ontario Amateur and some other events over the years and, with our centennial coming in 2019, our club is pursuing another significant championship. An unspoken motivation could be that we’ve got a very good golf course that we’re sick of being referred to as a “hidden gem.”

No matter what your motivation, reach out to your provincial association or Golf Canada to see what’s involved in hosting an event.

If for nothing else, do it for golf.