Tuesday at the Masters marks the day for an iconic tradition at a place that is all about traditions. 

Social media has been abuzz since last year’s win to see what kind of fine Japanese fare Hideki Matsuyama would serve up in 2022, and with his menu now revealed, he certainly didn’t disappoint. Green Jacket winners will be treated to a meal of assorted sushi, miso black cod, Japanese strawberry shortcake, and a ribeye steak of A5 Wagyu – for those non-foodies, an argument could be made it’s the finest cut of beef on the planet. 

When Mike Weir won the Masters in 2003 he made sure his Champions Dinner the following year was Canadian all the way. 

A friend of his from Brights Grove, Ont. is a chef, and he helped with the curation and cooking of the meal at Augusta National. It consisted of Canadian game meats like elk, wild boar, and Artic char. Canadian beer was served (of course!) and some of Canada’s award-winning ice wine was included with dessert. Some of those bottles remain in Augusta National’s wine cellar as an ode to Weir. 

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Weir’s Masters triumph, and how fitting would it be if the Champions Dinner in 2023 was served by a fellow Canadian? 

Corey Conners (who has finished inside the top 10 at the last two Masters) along with Mackenzie Hughes (who made his first cut at Augusta National last year and was in the final group on Sunday at the U.S. Open) join Weir this year at the first men’s major of the year. 

The trio enjoyed a nine-hole practice game Monday afternoon as poor weather is supposed to descend upon Augusta National Tuesday. 

“We don’t get to play together much, us Canadian guys, so it’s good when our worlds collide and we can get together here and play a practice round and have a good time,” said Weir, who is hoping to see one of his countrymen join him in the Champions Locker Room, and at the Champions Dinner, sooner rather than later. 

With all this talk about food, here are a foursome of favourites of past Champions Dinners. 

Vijay Singh – 2001

Singh’s Champions Dinner has long been considered as one of the best ever. In a break from tradition, Singh was able to bring in chefs from outside of Augusta National to help cook up a terrific Thai feast. The husband-and-wife pair (they own a Thai restaurant in Atlanta) flew in every ingredient from Thailand and received a standing ovation from the attendees after the meal concluded, according to Golf.com.

The menu included a seafood coconut soup, chicken curry, baked sea scallops with garlic sauce, rack of lamb, baked Chilean sea bass with chili sauce, and a lychee sorbet for dessert. 

Jordan Spieth – 2016

In an ode to fellow Masters winner – and Texan – Ben Crenshaw, Spieth, who won the Green Jacket in 2015, served up a bounty of Texas BBQ. His menu included brisket, smoked chicken, and pork ribs plus a full set of authentic fixings like corn muffins, baked beans, potato salad, and sauteed green beans. A warmed chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream was served for dessert. 

Tiger Woods – 1998

All eyes were on Woods who, as a 21-year-old, re-wrote the record books at Augusta National in 1997 when he won the Masters by 12 shots. And then all eyes were on him again in 1998, because what does a 22-year-old serve at the Champions Dinner?

Turns out, it’s exactly what you expect it to be: Cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and milkshakes. 

Woods went on to win four more Green Jackets after that initial triumph and his tastes have evolved, so to speak. In 2002 and 2003 he served the same menu (porterhouse steak and sushi as an appetizer). In 2006 he went Mexican (steak and chicken fajitas) and in 2020 he combined some of his favourites and served sushi as an appetizer with steak and chicken fajitas as the main. 

Sergio Garcia – 2018

While there have been plenty of home-grown menus served in the past (Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Danny Willet, and Angel Cabrera have all served up dishes from their home countries of Australia, South Africa, England, and Argentina, respectively), a special nod should go to Sergio Garcia after his breakthrough major win in 2017. 

Garcia, of Spain, started with an international salad as inspired by the countries of each Masters Champion. From there, the Champions dined on traditional Spanish lobster rice and finished with Tres Leches cake (it’s a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk) made by his wife, Angela. 

FREDERICTON, NB- Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB) is pleased to announce the renewal of the Golf NB Learn to Play & Junior Skills Challenge Subsidy Program to help support the development of club-level junior golf programs in New Brunswick.

 The mandate of the Golf NB Learn to Play & Junior Skills Challenge Subsidy Program is to support club-based junior golf initiatives and programs that will have a significant impact on growing the game of golf in New Brunswick. 
 

Golf NB Junior & Player Development Chair, Evan McFarlane, “The unveiling of this program in 2021 was an exciting development for junior golf in the province and a massive success for clubs that utilized the subsidy. We are thrilled to continue to provide financial resources back to our dedicated member clubs in 2022.”

The continuation of the Golf NB Learn to Play & Junior Skills Subsidy Program represents a collaboration between Golf NB and their partner facilities. The 2022 program will give member clubs across the province the opportunity to access funding to assist with their club’s Junior Programming by using the Golf Canada Learn to Play Curriculum and Jr Skills Challenge.

Facilities can access program information and resources through the Golf NB Member Club Resource Hub.

About the Junior Skills Challenge

Junior Skills Challenge is an online and interactive program that focuses on developing the key golf skills of putting, chipping, and driving. The online leaderboard allows instructors to upload players’ scores so they can track their improvement. Using the data, players are ranked nationally by age group, and by scores on the National Leaderboard. Top competitors nationally are invited to compete in the annual Junior Skills Challenge National Event.

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 48 partner facilities and 7,600 individual members include provincial championships, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, and junior golf development programs.

After much collaborative discussion amongst the four provinces, the decision has been made not to hold a 2022 Atlantic Golf Championship. 

For the past eight years, this event has been executed with limited success; the interest level is low, a full field has been a real challenge and there are financial implications that affect each provincial association.  Expecting another very busy golf season ahead and a full return of tournaments, Provincial and National championships, we have decided to remove this event from the calendar for 2022.  

We will continue to discuss as a group and assess the possibility of a return in 2023.

Sincerely,

Luke Lacey – Executive Director, Golf NB

Alison Griffin – Executive Director, PEIGA

Greg Hillier – Executive Director, Golf NL

Jason Lohnes – Executive Director, NSGA

Tournament registration will open on April 4^th at 9:00 AM AST. Golf NB and Golf Canada switched to a new Tournament Software provider in 2021 (Golf Genius) and to ensure a smooth registration process in year two, please take the time to read the following tips to familiarize yourself with the new process:

Membership & Personal Information

Your first and most important step (before tournament registration opens) should be to login to the Golf Canada Score Center and make sure ALL of the following are updated:

• Your membership is active for the 2022 golf season *To renew your membership, please contact your home club.
• Update your profile information including
  • date of birth
  • address
  • email address

It is critical that this information is correct as this will be synced to your Golf Genius profile

Handicap Index

• Ensure your Handicap Index is up to date and accurate as this could affect your tournament eligibility. You must have at least 5 scores posted in the past 12 months.

Team Event Registration

• When registering for a team event, please select your desired division to play in (Ex: Amateur Division, Member / Member) Golf Genius will then allow you to search for your partner in the database to complete the registration process. 
  
• In the event that you cannot find your partner in the search function, you will be required to select an alternative registration option of Member / Non-Member rather than Member / Member. This will allow you to manually enter your playing partner’s information. (Ex: Amateur Division (Member / Non-Member) 

Please note that given the recent lifting of all Provincial COVID-19 Restrictions, Golf NB has REMOVED its Proof of Vaccination Policy for Provincial Championships. 

Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB) is excited to share the following job opportunity with one of our Partner Facilities.

Moncton Golf Club is currently seeking the services of a Director of Golf. The successful candidate will report directly to the General Manager and will be responsible for members and guests by leading and managing the golf operation with respect to membership and golfer enjoyment, engagement, events, retail, member services, and game development initiatives. The Director of Golf is required to think at a strategic level, continuously developing and reviewing all aspects of the golf operation.

Moncton Golf Club is a semi-private 100-year-old club, located in beautiful Riverview, New Brunswick, this 18-hole golf course overlooks downtown Moncton. Throughout its history, the Club has hosted several National and Provincial events

Please CLICK HERE for the Job Description.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 28, 2022.

APPLICATIONS
Interested professionals, please forward your resume, in confidence.

Email: kathy@monctongolfclub.nb.ca

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

The New Brunswick Golf Association (Golf NB) is seeking a Summer Tournament Coordinator to help manage Golf NB’s Provincial Championships.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Summer Tournament Coordinator is responsible for the logistics and preparations for all Golf NB Provincial Championships and assisting, on-site, in the execution of provincial championships.

Please CLICK HERE for a full Job Posting

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 4th, 2022

APPLICATIONS
Interested individuals, please forward your resume and cover letter, in confidence to Golf NB Executive Director, Luke Lacey.

Email: info@golfnb.ca

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

Golf Canada is pleased to announce its 2022 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

The 2022 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s signature professional championships — the RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12, at St. George’s Golf & Country Club with host practice facility, Islington Golf Club in Toronto, Ont., and the CP Women’s Open, to be conducted August 22-28 at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

Golf Canada’s 2022 competition calendar includes nine National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, eight NextGen Championships fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship presented by Sargent Farms. Interprovincial team competitions played concurrently over the first 36 holes at select national championships will return in 2022.

As the National Sport Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships  to support the development of the nation’s top talent through world-class competition.

“Golf Canada is incredibly proud to return to a full championship schedule in 2022 and welcome more than 3,000 talented Canadian and international athletes to our national championships,” said Golf Canada’s CEO, Laurence Applebaum. “Together with our host clubs, corporate partners, and volunteers that help drive the success of our events, there is incredible momentum in our sport as we look ahead to the 2022 season.”

Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off on May 13 in Nanaimo, B.C. with the NextGen Pacific Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards at Nanaimo Golf Club, and concludes in October with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

To view Golf Canada’s 2022 championship schedule, including all host venues, registration requirements and volunteer opportunities, please click here.

Championship Season at a Glance…

The 18th playing of the Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO will be held June 1-4 at Golf Château Bromont. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent.

The 108th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO takes place July 19-22 at Westmount Golf & Country Club in Kitchener, Ont. with the champion earning an exemption into the 2022 CP Women’s Open, as well as an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. The winner also receives exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior, 2022 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championships, if applicable.

The 67th Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO will be contested July 26-29 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont. where the winner will earn an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

The 117th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO will be contested August 1-4 at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, B.C and Seymour Golf & Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C. A maximum field of 264 players will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 36 holes, with the final two rounds contested at Point Grey. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, as well as an invitation to the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship. The winner will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Open, and if applicable, will earn an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur or 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championships.

The 83rd playing of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO will be contested August 7-10 at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. with the winner earning an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO will be held August 23-26 at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ont., while the club is  celebrating its 100^th anniversary this season.

The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship, presented by BDO will be held August 30 – September 1, at Breezy Bend Country Club in Headingley, M.B. with the Senior champion earning an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

As part its centennial anniversary, Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta. will host the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO from September 6-9, with the champion earning an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

The second playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, a national championship for players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments, will be held September 13-14 at Essex Golf & Country Club in Windsor, Ont.

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.  The 2022 NextGen Championship host clubs include Nanaimo Golf Club (Nanaimo, B.C.), Oak Bay Golf Club (Port Severn, Ont.), Pine Hills Golf Club (Rocky Mountain House, Alta.), Quarry Oaks (Steinbach, MB), Club de Golf Hemmingford (Hemmingford, Qué.), and Antigonish Golf & Country Club (Antigonish, NS). An additional two Fall Series championships will take place in September and October, where players will compete for exemptions into their respective 2023 national junior championships. 

An accomplished field of international competitors will take to Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont., from October 10-15, for the seventh annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms. The event will welcome 25 countries playing as 3-member squads competing for both a team and individual title.

Golf Canada has also confirmed that it will not be continuing with the National Orders of Merit, beginning in 2022. Previously used to track golfer performance, the rankings will be replaced by a comprehensive talent identification system that supports the new Canadian golf high-performance strategy.

Golf Canada and Cub Cadet are excited to announce an integrated partnership that makes Cub Cadet the Official Lawn Mower Partner of Golf Canada and the country’s two National Open Golf Championships, the RBC Canadian Open and the CP Women’s Open.

As the Official Lawn Mower Partner of the RBC Canadian Open and the CP Women’s Open, Cub Cadet will showcase its award-winning product line at both tournaments and engage fans through immersive on-site experiences that exhibit how Cub Cadet lawn mowers can enhance the lawn care experience for homeowners and professionals.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cub Cadet as Golf Canada’s first Official Lawn Mower Partner,” said Golf Canada’s Chief Commercial Officer, John Sibley. “This partnership across our two flagship properties will showcase Cub Cadet’s innovative product line to spectators at the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open, demonstrating the intrinsic connection between golf, premium lawn maintenance and the turf care experience.”  

For more than 60 years, Cub Cadet has been manufacturing innovative equipment that unlock possibilities for lawn care lovers worldwide – from the landscapers who rely on Cub Cadet to make every lawn as pristine as an 18th green, to the neighbourhood enthusiasts globally, whose immaculate yards are their greatest passion.

Cub Cadet’s award-winning and renowned lawn maintenance lineup features residential lawn tractors– the XT Enduro Series^® as well as the Ultima Series™ of zero-turn mowers, featuring both traditional lap-bar control and innovative steering-wheel control. Cub Cadet also offers a full array of zero-emission battery-powered mowers.

“At Cub Cadet, we build tools of strength and precision so our consumers can create the space they envision and live the possibilities they imagine. Partnering with Golf Canada allows us to extend these homeowner possibilities to the back nine and beyond,” said Jennifer Duchesne, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications for Cub Cadet.

The 2022 RBC Canadian Open will be held June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont., with Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility. The CP Women’s Open will be contested August 22-28 at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

Golf Canada and BDO Canada LLP (BDO) have announced an integrated multi-year partnership that will see BDO become the Official Business and Professional Services Partner of Golf Canada and its two signature events – the RBC Canadian Open and the CP Women’s Open.

As the presenting sponsor for all nine Canadian Amateur Golf Championships conducted by Golf Canada, BDO has made a significant commitment to the growth of golf in communities across Canada. BDO will also partner with Golf Canada to develop and further enhance technologies that support the Canadian golfer experience.

In addition to BDO’s support for golf at the professional and amateur levels, Golf Canada will access BDO’s trusted expertise providing accounting, assurance, tax, and advisory services for the National Sport Federation.

“Golf Canada has had an exceptional relationship with BDO as our auditor and professional services firm since 2019 and the work and growth that we have experienced together has brought us to this enhanced next level,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunities for BDO in golf and in working with our team and connected stakeholders. BDO is a world class organization, and we are thrilled to be working with them extensively to expand our use of their services across all of their areas of expertise.”

For BDO Canada, partnering with the National Sport Organization to engage with Canada’s considerable golf audience reflects a firm-wide commitment through sport to give back to communities served across the country.

“We are excited to partner with Golf Canada and become the presenting sponsor for Canadian Amateur Golf Championships,” said Pat Kramer, CEO of BDO Canada.

“This is the next step in our commitment to connecting and engaging with Canadians, through sport. Working alongside Golf Canada, we look forward to supporting Canadian athletes at both the amateur and professional levels.”

Three accomplished golf contributors from Hamilton, Ont. – tireless volunteers Ruth and Ian Giles along with esteemed golf journalist Garry MacKay – will be acknowledged for their tremendous contributions to the sport as the 2022 recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

The announcement of the 2022 Distinguished Service Award honourees will be made during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting which will be conducted virtually on Thursday, March 3. 

“Golf Canada is extremely proud to recognize two long-serving volunteers in Ruth and Ian Giles along with respected golf journalist Garry MacKay as the recipients of our 2022 Distinguished Service Award,” said Golf Canada President Liz Hoffman.

“Each of their collective efforts has left a meaningful mark on the Canadian golf landscape and it is with great respect and admiration that we honour each of them for their passion and commitment to our sport.”

The presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to this year’s honourees will be celebrated in person during the week of the 108^th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, July 19-22 at Westmount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener, Ont. 

Golf Canada 2022 Distinguished Service Award Honourees:

Ruth & Ian Giles (Volunteer)

The Giles’ pairing are long tenured golf volunteers who have shared their time and passion for the game with both Golf Ontario and Golf Canada, serving on numerous committees at the operational and executive level. Over the past four decades, the Hamilton residents have supported hundreds of local, provincial, national, international, and professional championships as duty roster volunteers in a rules or starting and scoring capacity.

Ruth was previously honoured with the 2007 Golf Ontario Volunteer of the Year, the 2007 Bruce Mitchell Golf Canada Volunteer of the Year, and the Golf Ontario 2011 Dick Grimm Distinguished Volunteer of the Year. She also supported Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board middle school golf tournament over the years. 

Ian served as the President of the Ontario Golf Association (OGA) in 2001 and in 2002 helped lead the association’s amalgamation with the Ontario Ladies Golf Association – today Golf Ontario. Before becoming President, he spent six years as a Golf Ontario Director chairing numerous committees including the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame committee in 2007 and 2008. A Level 3 rules official and past governor with Golf Canada (2003-2012), Ian has given his time to numerous Golf Canada volunteer committees including the Governors Council and has also served on a number Golf Ontario Volunteer committees. In 2014, Golf Ontario named Ian the recipient of the Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award. 

The Giles’ have been long-time contributors to the Hamilton Halton Junior Golf Tour—Ruth has served since 1999 in a variety of roles including past President (2002-03), secretary and a board member. Ian served as President from 1996-98 and has also contributed over the years as a board member and rules official. The selection of Ruth and Ian Giles marks the first time that a family duo has been selected for Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

Garry MacKay (Media)

A past President and founding director of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC), MacKay is a respected sports journalist who has covered golf for more than 43 years. He first reported on the RBC Canadian Open in 1968 for CKOC radio and is highly respected as the longtime golf reporter for the Hamilton Spectator where he has covered all aspects of the sport from local golf to the professional game. MacKay has also contributed to a multitude of Canadian and international publications during his tenure including Pro Shop, SCOREGolf, Ontario Golf and Golf Canada Magazine.

A decorated journalist across a number of sports, he has garnered a number of achievements including a SCOREGolf Award. MacKay has served on the selection committees for the World Golf Hall of Fame, PGA of Canada Hall of Fame, Ontario Golf Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and has also volunteered his time with the Stanley Thomson Society and Golf Canada’s Heritage Committee. MacKay is also a founding director, current board member, and treasurer of the Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year Award as well as a founding director and current chair of the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame.  He is also a founding director of the Hamilton Halton Junior Golf Tour (1984), an organization he continues to serve on the board of directors and as a volunteer at the registration table, as a rules official, and at the scoreboard. 

MacKay was recognized by Golf Ontario with the 2015 Lorne Rubenstein Media Award and in 2021 was honoured by his GJAC peers with the Dick Grimm Award.

Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award has been presented annually since 1993 to recognize individuals who have had an outstanding impact on Canadian golf either nationally or within their community. 

In addition to the 2022 Distinguished Service Award, Golf Canada will also celebrate Ken Casey of St. John’s, N.L. and David Atkinson, formerly Vancouver, B.C. and now Goderich, Ont. as co-recipients of the 2021 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year.

Another pair of distinguished Golf Canada volunteers – Barbara Allan of Kingston, Ont. and Jim Clark of Aurora, Ont.– will be named Honorary Life Governors for their long serving contributions to the organization. 

Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting will culminate with Liz Hoffman of Wasaga Beach, Ont., a member of both Mad River Golf Club and The Thornhill Club sworn in to serve a second term as President of Golf Canada.