By: David Li

With an impressive list of accomplishments as an amateur, Quebec City’s Sarah-Eve Rhéaume now has her sights set on transitioning that success to the professional ranks.

Currently in her fourth year on Golf Canada’s National Team Program, the 22-year-old’s resume includes victories at the 2019 Quebec Women’s Amateur Championship, the 2021 SoCon Women’s Championship, the 2022 Glencoe Invitational, and the 2022 Ororo PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.

Rhéaume graduated from Furman University in December and is now focused on the exciting journey ahead as a professional. Given her consistent results as an amateur combined with her powerful and solid all-around game, respected golf insiders are predicting a bright future ahead.

One of them is her long-time coach, Fred Colgan, who has been working with Rhéaume since she was nine years old.

“Sarah-Eve is a pretty long player and can hit her driver between 260 and 270 yards on a regular basis; and in the last 12 months, she’s been very good in every aspect of her game,” he said about Rhéaume who also played hockey growing up but gave it up at 15 to focus solely on golf.

It’s interesting to note that Colgan also provided golf lessons to Rhéaume’s parents, Alain and Monique, and her older brother, Joel. In fact, he was giving lessons to Rhéaume’s mom when she was 38 months pregnant with the long time National Team member.

“Sarah-Eve has been improving in every aspect of her game year after year and she’s got the talent and motivation to make it onto the LPGA Tour,” Colgan added confidently.

National Team women’s head coach, Salimah Mussani, is also optimistic about Rhéaume’s chances to succeed at the highest level.

“Sarah-Eve has got all the talent in the world and a great team behind her including her long-time coach Fred Colgan,” she said about the five foot eight inch amateur standout.

“One of the things we do at the National Team Program is we work with the athletes like Sarah-Eve to help them make that successful transition from amateur to professional. We help them create routines and plans to build on their good habits and to achieve their goals,” Mussani added.

Rhéaume says her time spent with Golf Canada has been a great benefit towards her overall development.

“Besides all the great resources we have access to, the program has the best players in the country coming together and we compete against each other and could push each other to another level,” she noted.

“Also all the best pro golfers in Canada have been through the program and it’s great to see their success and it gives us motivation to work even harder.”

Rhéaume’s hard work and talent led to a stellar 2022 season. Last June, she won the Glencoe Invitational and then followed that up by winning the Ororo PGA Women’s Canada Championship shortly after.

Having competed against her at the Ororo PGA Women’s Canada Championship in Bromont, Quebec last summer, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, a former LPGA Tour player and also the 2019 PGA Women’s Canada Champion, sees a bright future ahead for Rhéaume.

“Sarah-Eve is athletic and talented from what I’ve seen and she’s definitely got the potential to be successful as a professional,” said Lee-Bentham.

After her triumph in Bromont, Quebec, Rhéaume earned an exemption into the 2022 CP Women’s Open.

“It was my first LPGA tournament. It was in Ottawa and it was just a great atmosphere as it was in Brooke Henderson’s home town. It was also not too far from Quebec City so my parents and a couple of friends came also,” she recalled.

“I missed playing the weekend by one shot, but still it was a great experience and a super fun week. I got to meet a lot of girls that I watched on TV and got to see what it’s like to play on the LPGA Tour.”

Having caddied for his long-time student on the second day of the CP Women’s Open, Colgan clearly remembers Rhéaume’s strong second round, where she shot 69.

“On the back nine we had some really good looks at birdie but didn’t make any of them. One or two more putts and she would have played on Saturday and Sunday which would have been awesome,” he noted. “Still, it was a good performance and gave her a lot of confidence and motivation.”

The experience at the CP Women’s Open definitely has given Rhéaume confidence that she could hold her own against the best of the best. And with the support of Golf Canada along with a solid team behind her, the 22-year-old Canadian is eager to reach her full potential on the golf course.

“I have been playing pretty well the last 12 months. I feel pretty confident about my ball striking and so when I get my putter going I could put up some strong results,” said Rhéaume, who has partial status on the Epson Tour this year.

“My goal is to work hard and be able to play on the LPGA Tour one day and also represent Canada in the Olympics.”

Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB) is excited to share the following job opportunity:

The New Brunswick Golf Association (Golf NB) is seeking to fill the role of Executive Director.

Reporting to the President of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for the successful management of the operations and affairs of the association.

Please CLICK HERE for a full Job Posting

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 30th, 2023

APPLICATIONS
Interested individuals are asked to please send a cover letter, resume, references, and salary exceptions in a PDF form via email to:

Golf NB
Personnel Committee
RE: Application for Open Position of Executive Director
admin@golfnb.ca

Thank you to all that apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

________________________________________________________

Golf Nouveau-Brunswick (Golf NB) est heureux de partager l’offre d’emploi suivante:

L’Association de golf du Nouveau-Brunswick (Golf NB) cherche à combler le poste de directeur général.

Relevant du président du conseil d’administration, le directeur général est responsable de la bonne gestion des activités et des affaires de l’association.

Veuillez CLIQUER ICI pour consulter l’offre d’emploi complète.

Date limite de dépôt des candidatures: 30 avril 2023

CANDIDATURES
Les personnes intéressées sont priées d’envoyer une lettre de motivation, un curriculum vitae, des références et des exceptions salariales au format PDF par courrier électronique à l’adresse suivante:

Golf NB
Personnel Committee
RE: Application for Open Position of Executive Director
admin@golfnb.ca

Nous remercions toutes les personnes qui ont posé leur candidature ; toutefois, seules les personnes sélectionnées pour un entretien seront contactées.

The New Brunswick Golf Association (Golf NB), founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick.  It is a non-profit organization created and controlled by golfers for the benefit of the game.  The Association is governed by a Board of Directors which is dedicated to promoting amateur golf in the province. Golf NB is comprised of fifty-one (51) member clubs, and over 8,800 individual members.  Through its programs and services, Golf NB strives to preserve the integrity of the game of golf and to make the game more enjoyable for all.

FREDERICTON, NB: The Board of Directors of Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB) today announced that the current Executive Director, Luke Lacey will be leaving the organization on May 9^th, 2023 to pursue a role in the United States.
 
Joe Sullivan, President of Golf NB, said, “This is a bittersweet announcement as we are very happy that Luke is taking another step in his golf career, but sad to see him go.”
 
Since his time at Golf NB, Luke has been instrumental in carrying out Golf NB’s operations and services.

He successfully developed and led programs that encouraged newcomers to the sport and made it inclusive to all. His many accomplishments include developing the New to Golf Series, launching Golf New Brunswick’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan focused on Golf for Everyone, unveiling the association’s new brand and identity, and improving how we work with our member facilities and industry partners. Through his efforts and leadership, Golf NB represents almost 8,900 individual golfers and 51 member facilities. He has been instrumental to the success of our association throughout the years and his experience, knowledge, and leadership will be truly missed as he continues his career in golf.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunities that Golf NB has provided to me, “said Luke. “I would not be where I am today without the support of the organization and its past and current staff and directors. The decision to move on was extremely difficult, but I am pleased with where Golf NB is now and know that the programming and events are in great hands with our President and Board of Directors, and amazing volunteers across the province. I believe that now is the time to solidify Golf NB’s future by making room for new leadership with fresh ideas and a new direction to take Golf NB.“

“We will miss Luke, but he leaves the association in a strong position for continued growth, and we thank him for his leadership. The Golf NB Board of Directors and I are currently formulating a transition plan as we begin the search for a new Executive Director. In the meantime, should you have any questions or concerns I would encourage you to contact me or Jared Legacy, who will be handling day-to-day activities as Interim Executive Director & Administration Manager.” said Joe.

Contact Information:

Joe Sullivan 
President, Golf New Brunswick
Phone: (C) 506-323-0900

E-Mail: jbsmjgolf@gmail.com

Jared Legacy
Interim Executive Director & Administration Manager, Golf New Brunswick
Phone: (O) 506-451-1324 x 5

E-Mail: jlegacy@golfnb.ca

The New Brunswick Golf Association (Golf NB), founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick.  It is a non-profit organization created and controlled by golfers for the benefit of the game.  The Association is governed by a Board of Directors which is dedicated to promoting amateur golf in the Province. Golf NB is comprised of fifty-one (51) member clubs, and approximately 8,800 individual members.  Through its programs and services, Golf NB strives to preserve the integrity of the game of golf and to make the game more enjoyable for all.

Canadians Dayton Price & Hayden Underhill were survivors of a horrific car crash in Texas that took nine lives, including seven members of the University of the Southwest golf team they were part of.

Here’s the story of their accident and how the game they love is helping them heal.

Your League Levelled Up!

(April 3, 2023) – Golf Canada has announced the launch of The National Golf League (NGL), a nationwide network of existing recreational golf leagues designed to enhance the league experience for participants and generate charitable support for First Tee – Canada.

Built for golfers of all skill levels, the National Golf League will feature a six-week regular season that takes place within existing recreational league play during the summer. A series of regional playoff tournaments across Canada will take place in the fall at premium golf courses. The National Golf League will culminate with the NGL National Championship at Hamilton Golf and Country Club as part of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open tournament week celebration.

The National Golf League will also contribute to the development of a more sustainable and inclusive future for the sport by supporting a charitable component through First Tee – Canada. First Tee is a youth development program that provides accessible pathways to golf participation at schools, community centres, and golf courses across the country.

“League play is one of the most popular ways that Canadians engage with golf. The National Golf League will build on the fun that league golfers already have by supplementing and levelling up existing leagues through a national platform for regular season play and an exciting and unique playoff format,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer, Kevin Blue. “The National Golf League will also provide important charitable support to First Tee – Canada, a program that creates youth participation opportunities for the next generation of recreational golfers.”

National Golf League competitions will utilize an official Golf Canada Handicap applied towards a net Stableford scoring system that allows golfers to earn points for the net score they record on each hole.

Regular season NGL competition will take place over nine holes during six weeks of identified league play called “NGL Majors” that are integrated into existing league play and scheduled at the convenience of the local league operator. A golfer’s best four net Stableford point totals of the six NGL Majors will count towards their season-long points total on the NGL leaderboard.

A portion of the top regular season finishers in each participating league will qualify for the NGL Regional Playoffs, which will take place at premium courses across Canada. Qualifying golfers will select a guest teammate who also played in their regular season league and participate as a team of two in a best-ball net Stableford competition over 18 holes. Successful teams in the NGL Regional Playoffs will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the NGL National Championship.

The NGL is open to recreational golf leagues played at both private and public courses. Participants must be Golf Canada members to ensure an official handicap is used. There is no registration fee for golfers or leagues to join the National Golf League. Participants will be asked to support First Tee – Canada in their home province by way of donation.

The size of the National Golf League will be limited in its launch year to ensure a positive experience for players and league operators. A limited number of spots remain for leagues to join the National Golf League in 2023—interested league operators should contact Ryan Logan (rlogan@golfcanada.ca) to express interest before April 15. For more information visit NationalGolfLeague.ca.

By: John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press

SAN ANTONIO – When Corey Conners won the Valero Texas Open in 2019 he got a pair of cowboy boots instead of a trophy.

Sometimes, especially during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he would wear them around his Florida home.

Conners now has some footwear options after winning the Texas Open for the second time in five years on Sunday, closing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over rookie Sam Stevens.

“I get a brown pair for winning the second time so at least I don’t have two black pairs,” said Conners with a laugh. “Maybe I’ll just switch it up and wear the brown pair around.”

Also the 2019 winner, Conners had a 15-under 273 total on TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. The 31-year-old from Listowel, Ont., now heads to the Masters, where he tied for sixth last year for his second straight top-10 finish at Augusta National.

He said that the two wins in San Antonio played out very differently for him.

“Today, I was definitely more in control. I feel like I made some mistakes in 2019,” said Conners after a bogey-free final round. “I also made a lot of really good shots in an up and down roller-coaster round in 2019.

“Today was a little more steady. Part of my plan was to be as steady as I could. Just get in play. Give myself lots of looks.”

Conners joins Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., as Canadians who have won on the PGA Tour this season.

It’s expected that Conners will move up to No. 18 on the FedEx Cup standings when they’re updated Monday.

Those three will all be at the Masters, joining Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., making it the first time that four Canadians are playing in the Masters, the first major of the men’s golf season.

“It’s really exciting,” said Conners, who represented Canada at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with Hughes. “Excited to get a (practice round) with Mack and the other guys on Tuesday. We’ve all been playing great.”

A shot behind Patrick Rodgers starting play, Conners had a three-shot lead after he birdied No. 15. Stevens eagled the 17th, but missed a nine-foot birdie putt at 18 that would have tied it. Connors ended it with a three-foot par putt on 18.

Stevens shot a 66. Sam Ryder (66) and Matt Kuchar (68) followed at 13-under.

Rodgers saw a chance for his first tour victory and first Masters spot slip away. He shot a 73 to finish fifth at 11-under.

Conner’s best finish since hoisting the 2019 Texas Open trophy was a third-place effort at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last year.

Conners led after the first round with a 64 when the weather-delayed opening 18 finished Friday. But his second-round 72 dropped him three behind Rodgers after 36 holes, which Conners cut to a stroke with his third-round 69.

Stevens was third last week at the PGA Tour’s stop in the Dominican Republic.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Canada’s Monet Chun has made the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The 22-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., is tied for sixth at 2-under par after two rounds.

Rose Zhang of the United States fired a blistering 7-under round at the storied golf course to sit atop the leaderboard at 13 under.

Chun’s the first Canadian to make the cut at the event.

Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., missed the cut at the inaugural tournament in 2019 and again in 2021.

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., missed the cut last year.

The opening 36 holes were held over two days on the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.

The entire field will then play Augusta National for an official practice round on Friday, followed by the final round featuring the top 30 competitors who made the cut.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to join Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.

Golf Canada will initially adopt Abuse-Free Sport specifically for Team Canada athletes, athlete support personnel, and staff. Other participants will continue to report Safe Sport concerns through ITP Sport, the independent third-party reporting service that is used by Golf Canada.

Team Canada stakeholders will have access to the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, following a transition period which will end no later than June 30, 2023.

“Golf Canada remains fully committed to Safe Sport and supports the creation of a national oversight mechanism. As part of that commitment, we’re pleased to sign on to Abuse-Free Sport and to soon have the OSIC to administer Safe Sport reporting and review processes for our national team athletes, support personnel, and staff,” said Laura Wilson, Golf Canada’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Safe Sport.

Golf Canada is in the final stages of updating its internal policies to reflect the most recent version of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), which it must do before operationally implementing the Abuse-Free Sport program.

Prior to June 30, 2023 all participants who have experienced or witnessed abuse will continue to have access to independent third-party services through ITP Sport by using the phone number and links at the bottom of Golf Canada’s Safe Sport website.

GOLF CANADA’S COMMITMENT TO SAFE SPORT

Golf Canada is fully aligned with the important work of Sport Canada and recognizes our obligation and responsibility to protect the health, safety and physical and mental well-being of athletes, staff, volunteers, and other participants involved in our sport. The organization recognizes that Safe Sport is everyone’s responsibility and has taken important steps to foster safer environments in golf including:  preventative education through the Respect Group; enhanced screening practices for all employees and volunteers; a full suite of Safe Sport Policies including the adoption of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport; and an Independent Third Party to manage the intake of complaints and determine the appropriate manner and forum to address the allegations. All golf enthusiasts deserve to participate and compete in an environment free from harassment, abuse, or discrimination, regardless of gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, religion, language, age, and ability. Golf Canada takes any situation involving misconduct or maltreatment very seriously. We are committed to enacting and enforcing strong, clear, and effective policies and processes so anyone participating in golf can do so within a culture of inclusivity and respect. 

TORONTO, March 23, 2023 — RBC is pleased to announce seven-time Grammy Award-winning Canadian icon Alanis Morissette as the headliner for Saturday night at the 2023 RBCxMusic Concert Series. The headliner for Friday night will be announced soon.

Hosted by RBC and in partnership with Live Nation Canada and Golf Canada, the RBCxMusic Concert Series has seen unforgettable performances from the likes of Maroon 5, Florida Georgia Line, Flo Rida and The Glorious Sons. Performances will take place on the Friday and Saturday evenings of tournament week on site at the iconic Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario, home of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open. Audiences will also enjoy opening acts from First Up with RBCxMusic – a program dedicated to providing emerging Canadian artists with a platform for exposure, funding, education and mentorship opportunities.

Alanis Morissette will close the RBCxMusic Concert Series on Saturday, June 10, 2023. The closing night of the concert series has sold-out every year since it was introduced in 2019.

“It’s always a great feeling to perform back home in Canada,” said Alanis Morissette. “The RBCxMusic Concert Series at the RBC Canadian Open is a celebration of live music, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Canadian icon Alanis Morissette as one of our headliners for the RBCxMusic Concert Series at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open,” said Shannon Cole, Vice President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “Both music and golf share an incredible power in bringing communities together, and we’re excited to see the continued success of this highly-anticipated event.”  

In addition to legendary music performances, spectators can expect the return of other exciting fan-favourite experiences, including The Rink located at the 14^th hole, the RBC Avion Visa Sky Lounge (exclusively reserved for Avion Visa cardholders), the RBC Vantage deck, and an enhanced food and beverage area at The Fare Way featuring The Keg.

“The RBCxMusic Concert Series has been a catalyst for growing the RBC Canadian Open into a world class sport and entertainment event. Having an iconic Canadian like Alanis Morissette headline the Saturday night performance will be an outstanding experience for all of our guests,” said Bryan Crawford, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open.

Now available on RBCCanadianOpen.com, tickets for Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10 are $110 (plus tax and service charges) and include full day access to the tournament and the RBCxMusic Concert Series. The concert grounds will be located across from the Oakdale Golf and Country Club Clubhouse, and 1st and 10th tee. RBC clients can unlock exclusive tickets and receive a $10 Concert Cash^® code redeemable towards a future concert ticket purchase. The event is General Admission / All Ages.

TORONTO — PGA TOUR Canada announced its 2023 schedule, featuring a calendar of 10 tournaments that begins in June and concludes in September. After a successful inaugural Fortinet Cup season, this marks the second year of the competition that rewards top points-earners during the PGA TOUR Canada season. 

“We couldn’t have been more pleased with our 2022 season. Introducing the Fortinet Cup was so fulfilling for everybody associated with PGA TOUR Canada, and it was extremely gratifying to again team with long-time partners and venues while also welcoming new communities, golf courses and partners. It’s with a significant amount of pride that we present this new schedule,” said PGA TOUR Canada Executive Director Scott Pritchard. “We’ve put together a strong group of tournaments in conjunction with our partners, sponsors and host organizations, and while our season is still a few months away, we can’t wait to get underway.” 

“Fortinet is excited to once again welcome our community of customers and partners to a season-long Fortinet Cup in Canada. Our first year sponsoring PGA TOUR Canada was an unqualified success, with more than 600 technology leaders sharing insights and a first-class golf experience,” said Marc Asturias, Vice President of Marketing and Government Vertical at Fortinet Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. “We’re a company with a long track record of key investments in Canada over the last 20 years as its top cybersecurity platform vendor. Making the investments needed across Canada has been critical—to showcase the talents of these early-in-their-careers professional golfers, positively impact communities and local nonprofits across the Tour and bring value to our business customers and partners.”

Following six Qualifying Tournaments that lead up to the regular season, PGA TOUR Canada will begin its season June 12-18, at the Royal Beach Victoria Open at Uplands Golf Club in British Columbia’s capital city. 

The next week, June 19-25, the Tour travels to Waskesiu, Saskatchewan, for the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open. The third tournament in three weeks is the ATB Classic in Edmonton, moving to a course that is a PGA TOUR Canada venue for the first time—Northern Bear Golf Club.

The Tour will have a one-week break before players visit Quebec, for the Quebec Open at Golf Château Bromont on July 10-16. This is Golf Château Bromont’s inaugural year hosting a PGA TOUR Canada tournament. The Commissionaires Ottawa Open at Eagle Creek Golf Club in the capital city’s suburb of Dunrobin is the next week, July 17-23. 

The third of four tournaments in a month-long stretch of golf is the venerable Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos CBM Aggregates at TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ontario, on July 24-30. This will be the fourth playing of the tournament at the only TPC facility in Canada. The four-tournament stretch concludes with a return to Windsor, Ontario, for the Windsor Championship at Ambassador Golf Club July 31-August 6. 

As the end of the season approaches, the Tour will observe a scheduled two-week break, the season concluding with three consecutive tournaments. Players will travel to Winnipeg, Minnesota in the U.S. and then end in Calgary. 

“We feel there is a good pacing to the tournaments, our breaks coming at strategic times, allowing the players to regroup and recharge at critical points during the season,” Pritchard added. 

The CentrePort Canada Railpark Manitoba Open, the 2022 PGA TOUR Canada Tournament of the Year, is again set for Southwood Golf and Country Club on August 21-27. After making history in 2022 as the first tournament outside Canada to host an official event, the CRMC Championship presented by Gertens will again be at Cragun’s Conference and Golf Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota. 

The following week, the Tour’s ninth season ends, with the limited-field Fortinet Cup Championship, moving to a new home at Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary for its final event. The top-60 players on the Fortinet Cup standings following the CRMC Championship will be eligible to compete. Country Hills has previously hosted PGA TOUR Canada tournaments four times. In addition, the winner of the Fortinet Cup Championship will earn a berth in the PGA TOUR’s Fortinet Championship played in California later this year. 

“All nine of our full-field tournaments are crucial as they lead to the Fortinet Cup Championship. Returning to a familiar spot—Country Hills Golf Club—is an exciting turn of events for the conclusion of our year as we crown a Player of the Year and send off five players to the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2024 season,” Pritchard continued. “PGA TOUR Canada has grown immensely since it began in 2013, and I am constantly amazed and impressed at the level of play and abilities of our players. The fact they are going on to success on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR should come as a surprise to no one.”

2023 PGA TOUR Canada Schedule