Royal Oaks To Celebrate 20th Anniversary In Style
by Dwayne Tingley
The timing could not be better for the Royal Oaks Golf Club.
Royal Oaks has been selected to host the 2020 RBC Dominion Securities New Brunswick Men’s Amateur Championship in the midst of the club’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
Blehr MacKinley, the PGA of Canada Atlantic head professional at Royal Oaks, said the tournament fits the club’s plan to raise its profile as it marks its landmark anniversary.
“We are renewing our efforts to tell people that we are here for public players and competitive tournaments,” MacKinley said. “We have a lot to showcase with the outstanding course, beautiful clubhouse and dining and the hospitality of our membership.”
“This tournament comes in our 20th year,” he continued. “It comes as we remind people that this is not a private club and we want as many people as possible to be aware of everything we have to offer.”
Originally schedule for the Mactaquac Golf Course, the venue change for the 2020 RBC Dominion Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship was brought about pro-actively following conversations with Mactaquac and its management team.
Golf New Brunswick Executive Director Tyson Flinn said that despite the association’s disappointment in moving the event from the Mactaquac Golf Course, Golf NB is pleased that Royal Oaks was able to step up to host the 54-hole championship, scheduled for July 10-12, 2019.
“The Mactaquac Golf Course is, and will continue to be, one of the province’s premier championship venues,” Flinn said. However, the club and its management group from Kingwood Golf reached out to Golf NB in the fall following a review of the course’s green complexes and indicated that weather damage over the past few years could limit their ability to ensure the quality of putting surface needed to host the event in 2020.
“I cannot say enough about the professionalism, proactive nature and respect demonstrated by the Mactaquac Golf Course and its management towards the New Brunswick Men’s Amateur Championship,” added Flinn, noting that the association hopes to return the even to Mactaquac in the near future.
“Despite having to move the (championship), we were extremely fortunate to secure another top-notch venue in the Royal Oaks Golf Club.”
MacKinley is hoping for a kind winter, but also said superintendent Kevin Wentzell will have the 6,600-yard ready for championship play.
“All of our members and our staff are proud of this property, so we’ll be ready to host a memorable tournament, especially a tournament with such a great history as the New Brunswick Men’s Amateur.”
“We are sure this is going to be great for everyone involved as we mark our 20th anniversary in style. The course is going to be in great shape.”
Director of club operations Esmond Clouthier said Royal Oaks is “excited to host the best players” from New Brunswick.
“Our course is going to give these top players and very good test,” Clouthier said. “We are going to show that we can host a major tournament like this, and we’ll be looking to host more in the future.
“We’re also going to show the players a tough, but fair golf course,” he added. “I think we’ll see increased activity as word of mouth will help us. We’ll see a lot of these top players come back to play the course long after the tournament is over.”
Simon Richard, who finished 12th at last year’s RBC Dominion Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship in Edmundston and was the highest-placing player from Royal Oaks, said “it’s an honour to host such a prestigious tournament at his home course.”
“It’s going to be a great test for the players,” said Richard, whose personal best score in 67 on the par-72 layout.
“You have to make your putts,” Richard said. “You can spray the ball a little, but you won’t be able to score well unless you make your putts. We should see some low scores with such an impressive field, but no one will go low unless they putt well.”
Richard, a 23-year-old economic development agent with Opportunities New Brunswick in Moncton, said Royal Oaks will be “the perfect place to host the Amateur.”
“On and off the course,” he said, “the players are going to be complimenting Royal Oaks. They are going to be impressed.”
“With Royal Oaks set to celebrate their 20th anniversary, we could not think of a better way for them to mark such an occasion than by hosting one of Atlantic Canada’s premiere Amateur Championships,” Flinn said.
Woodstock Golf & Curling Club General Manager Robbie Burnett Passes Away at the age of 64
GOLF NB HAS MOVED!
Please be advised that Golf NB has moved its Head Office and is now located at 500 Beaverbrook Court, Suite 300, Fredericton NB.
In addition to the change in address, please note that the Golf NB offices will be closed for the holidays from Friday December 20, 2019 at 12:00 noon and will reopen on Monday January 6, 2020.
Golf NB would like to thank all of its members, partners and the general public for their continued support and we wish each of you the very best for a safe, happy & healthy Holiday Season.
Hilton named Official Hotel Partner of Golf Canada
OAKVILLE, Ont. – Today, Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced a new multi-year integrated partnership with Golf Canada as the official hotel partner for the National Sport Federation and its members.
Hilton is proud to support Canada’s legendary National Open Golf Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open. As a result of the partnership, Hilton is now also the official hotel partner for Golf Canada’s National Team Program, Canadian Amateur Golf Championships and the World Junior Girls Championship.
As part of the partnership, Golf Canada members receive access to an array of travel benefits through Hilton including exclusive discounts and special offers.
“We are thrilled to partner with Golf Canada and their world-class golf programs, national team and championships,” said Andrew Flack, vice president, regional marketing & eCommerce Americas, Hilton. “Canada offers golf enthusiasts some of the most pristine courses in the world and we look forward to welcoming golfers from all over the destination with our signature Hilton hospitality.”
“Hilton is deeply engaged, and we are pleased to integrate their commitment to Canadian golf across so many pillars of our organization,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada. “Hilton represents the highest quality in hospitality with premium offerings for both serious and recreational golfers. Our robust partnership has a touchpoint with so many levels of Canadian golf and its exciting for our members across Canada to begin accessing a meaningful suite of travel and lifestyle benefits.”
To plan a Canadian getaway, guests can click here.
Henderson voted as 2019 LPGA Founders Award winner
In a comfortable floral jumpsuit and with her parents in the audience, Brooke Henderson added another award to her ever-growing trophy case.
The 22-year-old won the 2019 Founders Award at the Rolex LPGA Awards ceremony Thursday night in Naples, Fla. during the week of the CME Group Tour Championship.
The Founders Award is newly named for 2019. Formerly called the William & Mousie Powell Award, it was renamed for this year to celebrate the 13 founders of the LPGA.
Henderson told golfcanada.ca that the win was extra special since the winner of the award comes from a vote by fellow golfers on the LPGA Tour. It’s annually given to, in the opinion of her peers, someone “whose behaviour and deeds best exemplifies the spirit, ideals, and values of the LPGA.”
The nine-time LPGA Tour winner said she first found out at an LPGA Tour Players’ Meeting earlier in the year that she was one of the nominees, and said to know people were voting for her was ‘pretty crazy.’
“It means a lot,” Henderson said. “I spend so much time with these girls that it’s really a great honour to be given the Founders Award.
“To be considered in the same sentence as (the founders)… their passion and perseverance and what they did this Tour was amazing. This is really cool for me.”
Henderson has made a habit of capturing awards-by-votes in 2019.
Earlier in the year she became the first Canadian golfer to win an ESPY award (she won for ‘Best Female Golfer’) and in October she won the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame People’s Choice Award – a new award designed to recognize ‘future Hall of Famers who are a champion of their sport and a champion for their community.’
“This year has been really crazy for the awards. I didn’t expect any of them,” Henderson said, flashing her recognizable smile. “To get them is just amazing. I’m honoured, humbled… and it’s just an amazing feeling.”
Henderson, who sat at a table with Lexi Thompson and executives from Rolex at the awards dinner, has won twice in 2019. Her victory at the Meijer LPGA Classic was the ninth in her young career. Win no. 9 gave her more than any other Canadian in the history of the LPGA or PGA Tour.
“This award that Brooke got is maybe one of the most special ones because it’s voted on by her peers and we’re so impressed and thrilled for Brooke to be recognized. We know how special she is,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “For all of her peers on the LPGA Tour to give her this award is phenomenal. It’s great for herself and her family and for all of Canadian golf.”
The native of Smiths Falls, Ont. has become a driving force for young golfers across the country – but even this week in Florida there are plenty of girls dressing with a visor and ponytail like Henderson walking outside the ropes – and she said being able to play in front of Canadians no matter where she goes makes her even more grateful for the support.
Henderson said she’s recognized her role and is happy to have an opportunity to be an inspiration both on the golf course with her record-breaking play, and off the course as well, as someone people can look up to.
“I’m always trying to become a better golfer, but I’m always trying to become a better person every day, too,” said Henderson. “When you work hard and are focused on achieving some goals, good things happen. This year is definitely proof of that.”
2019 CP Women’s Open winner Jin Young Ko was the night’s big winner, as she took home the Rolex Annika Major Award, and Rolex Player of the Year. With just three rounds left in the LPGA Tour season, she has nearly wrapped up the Vare Trophy (for lowest scoring average) as well.
Henderson sits T5 after the first round of the CME Group Tour Championship.
2019 Golf NB Raffle Winners Announced
In an effort to raise needed funds to help support the administration and implementation of provincial and national programming, and to provide assistance for to those individuals who earned the opportunity to represent their province at either a National or Regional competition, 2019 saw the continuation of both the Golf NB Membership Raffle and the NB Provincial Team Funding Draw.
2020 Golf NB Membership Raffle
Supported by its partner facilities and TaylorMade Golf Canada Ltd., the Golf NB Membership Raffle was introduced in 2018 to raise needed funds to help support the administration and implementation of provincial and national programming.
Through the purchase of a raffle ticket, participants were entered for a chance to win a variety of prizes including $1,500 towards a golf membership at one of Golf NB’s 46 partner facilities, rounds of golf at New Brunswick golf courses, Golf NB 2 For 1 Cards and TaylorMade golf balls, among other prizes.
Additionally, eligible participants were also entered for a chance to win a full refund of their entry fee into select 2019 Golf NB Events & Championships.
The winners of the 2020 NB Provincial Team Funding Draw were selected as part of Argus Audiology Golf NB’s Annual Awards Banquet & Silent Auction held on Saturday October 26th, 20189at the Crowne Plaza Fredericton Lord Beaverbook Hotel in Fredericton, NB.
- Grand Prize Winner – Wayne Hickey (Ticket #: 016)
$1,500 towards a 2020 Golf Membership
- 2nd Prize – Pat Horncastle (Ticket #: 039)
Golf Package Including:
Algonquin Golf Course – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
Hampton Golf Club – 4 Green Fees
Rockwood Park Golf Course – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Carts
The Riverside Country Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Carts
- 3rd Prize – Paula Napke-Flanagan (Ticket #: 093)
Golf Package Including:
Aroostook Valley Country Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Carts
Fraser Edmundston Golf Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Carts
Grand Falls Golf Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Carts
Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club – 4 Green Fees
- 4th Prize – Nonita Furlotte (Ticket #: 110)
Golf Package Including:
Le Club de Golf de St-Ignace – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Carts
Mountain Wood Golf Club – 4 Green Fees
Petitcodiac Valley Golf & Country Club – 4 Green Fees & 2 Power Carts - 5th Prize – Pat Garagan (Ticket #: 025)
Golf Package Including:
Memramcook Golf Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
Petitcodiac Valley Golf & Country Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
Pine Needles Golf & Country Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
Old Mill Pond Golf & Country Club – 2 Green Fees & 1 Power Cart
- 6th Prize – Frank O’Donnell (Ticket #: 133)
12 TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls - 7th Prize – Gary Melanson (Ticket #: 011)
12 TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls
- 8th Prize – Bob Maher (Ticket #: 019)
12 TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls
- 9th Prize – Brian Duplessis (Ticket #: 122)
2020 Golf NB 2 For 1 Card
- 10th Prize – Phyllis Roy (Ticket #: 031)
2020 Golf NB 2 For 1 Card
Supplementary Draws
- 2019 Rules of Golf Package (3 Books)
- Jack Jacobs (Ticket #: 002)
- adidas Golf Shoes
- Garry Jenkins (Ticket #: 054)
- David Feherty Off Tour (2 Tickets) – July 19, 2019
- Bob Maher (Ticket #: 019)
Supplementary Draws for Tournament Entry Fees
- NB Men’s Four Ball, presented by TaylorMade –
- Darren Ritchie (Ticket #: 033)
- NB Ladies Four Ball
- Barbara Henderson (Ticket #: 064)
- Argus Audiology NB Ladies Provincials
- Claire Roy (Ticket #: 098)
- RBC Dominion Securities NB Amateur
- Gary Melanson (Ticket #: 011)
- Argus Audiology NB Mid-Master Championship
- Marc Cossaboom (Ticket #: 109)
- Argus Audiology NB Senior Championship
- Bob Gray (Ticket #: 027)
- NB Family Classic & Adult Junior, presented by TaylorMade
- Brian Duplessis (Ticket #: 122)
Provincial Team Funding Draw
Supported by TaylorMade, the NB Provincial Team Funding Draw provided those individuals who earned the opportunity to represent their province at either a National or Regional competition the opportunity to offset their travel costs through the sale of raffle tickets, on three distinct TaylorMade prize packages, with all proceeds staying with the individual who sold the ticket
The winners of the 2019 NB Provincial Team Funding Draw were selected as part of the Argus Audiology Golf NB’s Annual Awards Banquet & Silent Auction held on Saturday October 26th, 20189at the Crowne Plaza Fredericton Lord Beaverbook Hotel in Fredericton, NB.
- Winner– Darren Deering
1st Prize – TaylorMade M6 Golf Package including woods, irons & bag
- Winner – Donavan Mallaley
2nd Prize – M5 Driver
- Winner – Chantel Leger
3rd Prize – Two TaylorMade Wedges & 12 TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls
Golf NB would like to thank its partner facilities and TaylorMade for their continued support of golf in the Province of New Brunswick and we look forward to working with all our exceptional partners again in 2020 and beyond.
ON SALE NOW!!
Canadian Golf Industry Show announced for November 2020
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – It was announced today that the Canadian Golf Industry Show (CGIS) will take place the week of November 9, 2020 in Vancouver, B.C. The CGIS will feature The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference, presented by the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA); The Golf Business Canada Conference, presented by National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) and the Tee Talks National Teaching and Coaching Conference, presented by the PGA of Canada alongside supporting partners; Golf Canada, BCGSA, NGCOA Canada BC Chapter and PGA of BC.
The event will see the individual conferences of the presenting partners coincide at the same location at the same time. The selected location for the conference events is the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel. This location will allow each individual conference to take place under one roof. The trade show that is an integral part of each event will see exhibitors from all sectors including turf, business and the pro-shop. This approach is a great benefit to the delegates and broadens the marketing value for suppliers. The show is branded as the Canadian Golf Industry Show and will take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
“CGSA is very excited about this partnership. Our positions as owner/operators, superintendents and golf professionals compliment each other in our workplaces, so bringing our associations together is a natural fit. There is much to learn from each other and bringing the whole industry together is paramount in a day and age when we’re all so easily separated. We’ve been looking at this opportunity for some time, so to be able to see it come together for the betterment of golf business in Canada is exciting” said CGSA President, Greg Austin.
“The NGCOA Canada is honoured to be partnering with the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and the PGA of Canada for the inaugural Canadian Golf Industry Show in Vancouver” said Lesley McMahon, President of NGCOA Canada. “This kind of collaboration is what the NGCOA Canada is all about and bringing together these three events under the same roof alongside a shared trade show will benefit the entire industry.”
“We’re excited to congregate in Vancouver for this ground-breaking event that will undoubtedly be a game-changer for golf in Canada. Bringing together the business leaders across the various sectors of our industry under one roof aligns perfectly with our vision of increased collaboration to continue to grow the game and business of golf in Canada” said PGA of Canada President, Mark Paterson.
Watch for additional information on the Canadian Golf Industry Show to be released in the coming months.
The USGA and The R&A announce modifications to World Amateur Golf Ranking
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. and ST ANDREWS, Scotland – The USGA and The R&A today announced the World Amateur Golf Ranking ® (WAGR ®) will be determined by a new system called the Power Method beginning with the first update in January 2020.
The Power Method aims to better reflect the current performance of golfers by placing greater emphasis on current form and results by improving the algorithms used to determine the WAGR.
In the new structure, every event in the world will earn a Power based on the strength of its starting field which will then determine the total number of ranking points on offer to the field. This will extend to a maximum of 1000 for amateur events with players also able to gain ranking points from playing in professional tournaments.
The Power Method can be applied to all competitive events: amateur, professional, stroke play, match play, and can also cater to formats the previous system would not accommodate, such as Stableford.
Ranking points will be allocated to players based on their overall finishing position in the tournament rather than on the previous round-based allocation.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Power Method which will significantly improve the World Amateur Golf Ranking,” said Jeff Holzschuh, Chairman of the WAGR Committee. “We have listened to feedback about WAGR since its inception and we believe this change addresses many of the challenges within the previous system.”
Professor Steve Otto, Director of Equipment Standards and Chief Technology Officer for The R&A, commented, “The simplicity and elegance of the revised WAGR system will be of great benefit to competitive players at every level.
“It will be easier for players to become ranked under the Power Method but with the system recognizing current form and rewarding recent top results it will be tougher to remain ranked compared to the previous system.
“The Power Method will make WAGR a true indication of the ranking of the world’s best and leading amateur golfers.”
To ensure WAGR is truly representative of the current competitive environment, event aging will also be introduced as part of the Power Method to best reflect and reward players’ current form. Points from events within the most recent 52 weeks of a player’s record will count at full value. From there, event points will reduce proportionately, approximately two percent, per week before their removal after 104 weeks.
The divisors under the Power Method will also become event based versus the previous round-based divisor scheme. Like the points, divisors will also be aged after 52 weeks. The new minimum divisors will be seven for women and eight for men. Due to the aging of points and divisors under the Power Method, unlike the previous system, minimum divisors will be the same for newly ranked and long-established players.
“We are grateful to our colleagues at The R&A for their work in developing this effort and their partnership in bringing it to life,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA Senior Managing Director, Championships.
“As we have begun to discuss the upcoming changes to WAGR with various constituents, we have received great feedback and believe this will be very warmly received by players and event organizers.”
Five Canadians named to 2019 Global Golf Post All-Amateur Team
WINTER PARK, Fla. – Global Golf Post today announced its seventh annual All-Amateur teams for men and women.
This annual effort is intended to recognize individual performance during the past 12 months for men and women amateurs, mid-amateurs, and senior amateurs.
All told, 179 players from 26 nations are honoured. And among all those players, two stood out as The Post’s Amateurs of the Year – Standford University graduate Brandon Wu and Oregon’s senior Lara Tennant.
Five Canadians were honoured in the 2019 list:
Men’s Mid-Amateur
- Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) – First team
- Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) – First team
Women’s Mid-Amateur
- Andrea Kosa (Calgary, Alta.) – Second team
Women’s Senior
- Mary-Ann Hayward (St. Thomas, Ont.) – First team
- Judith Kyrinis (Thornhill, Ont.) – First team
Among the 179 players, there were three golfers to have won Canadian national championships in 2019:
- Gene Elliot (West Des Mointes, Ia.) – 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior | First team
- Joseph Deraney (Belden, Miss.) – 2019 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur | First team
- Atthaya Thirikul (Thailand) – 2019 World Junior Girls Championship medallist | First team
Click here for the full list.