Golf Canada and RBC confirmed today that 8-time PGA TOUR winner and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir has accepted an exemption to compete in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto. 

With the appearance, Weir, the 2003 Master champion and past winner on PGA TOUR Champions who recently finished T4 at the 2022 Senior PGA Championship, will be making his 29^th start in the RBC Canadian Open, third-most in tournament history behind fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famers George Cumming (32) and Gordon Brydson (30).

Also accepting an exemption to compete in the 111^th playing of the Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship are PGA TOUR veteran David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. as well as Winnipeg, Man. native Aaron Cockerill who currently sits 40^th on the DP World Tour ranking. Hearn will be competing in his 18^th RBC Canadian Open while Cockerill will make his first appearance. 

A pair of Canadians currently competing on the Korn Ferry Tour – Stuart MacDonald of Vancouver and Albin Choi of Toronto – have also been extended exemption to compete at St. George’s. Choi, who is currently ranked no. 93 on the Korn Ferry Tour money list will compete in his sixth RBC Canadian while MacDonald, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad who is currently ranked no. 111 on the Korn Ferry money list will play in his first RBC Canadian Open. 

Two other members of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad – Miles Creighton of Digby, N.S. and Jared du Toit of Kimberly, B.C. – have also been extended exemptions. Creighton will make his first-ever start in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship while du Toit, who made a magical run in 2016 to finish T9 as an amateur, will make his fourth appearance.

Team Canada Amateur Squad member AJ Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. will also compete in his first RBC Canadian Open. The 23-year-old sophomore at Barry University has earned seven career NCAA Division II victories including four this season. Ewart’s Team Canada teammate, 21-year-old Johnny Travale of Stoney Creek, Ont., has also accepted an exemption. 

A third member of the Team Canada Amateur Squad—Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta. will also compete in his first RBC Canadian Open, an exemption he earned by winning the 2021 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. Sekulic will compete in the RBC Canadian Open as a professional.   

Calgary native Wes Heffernan will compete in his seventh RBC Canadian Open, earning his exemption as the top finisher of on the 2021 PGA of Canada player rankings. 

Canadian Callum Davison of Duncan, B.C. (2021 PGA TOUR Canada season winner) will compete on an exemption previously earned through PGA TOUR Canada and will be joined by Delta, B.C. resident Yi Cao (2020 Canada Life Series winner). 

Brendan Leonard of Cambridge, Ont. recently earned a spot in the field by winning the RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. The next 20 finishers from the Ontario Reginal Qualifier will join 11 players from the Quebec Qualifier (May 9 at Club do Golf Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Que.) nine players from the BC Qualifier (May 17 at Meadow Gardens Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C.), and six from the Alberta Qualifier (May 30 at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.) in the Final Monday Qualifier on June 6 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. Four exemptions from the Final Qualifier on Monday, June 6 will be available into the field of the RBC Canadian Open.  

A full Canadian contingent will also celebrate the return of the RBC Canadian Open led by world no. 34 Corey Conners, past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, Michael Gligic and Roger Sloan. 

Tickets for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are available here.

Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation have announced a major gift from the Stollery Family that will see the official title of the women’s national team head coach renamed as the Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach and Stollery Family Olympic Women’s Head Coach.

The Stollery Family, long-time supporters of Canadian golf and especially the women’s game including junior girls and high-performance activities, have donated a total $2M to the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation in support of the Team Canada program to help fund the Women’s Head Coach position over a 30-year term.

“We are so honoured that the Stollerys, a family with such a long history of philanthropy and promoting sport, has chosen to make this meaningful gift in support of women’s golf,” said Golf Canada President Liz Hoffman, who also sits as a Board Member on the Golf Canada Foundation. “We are excited for what this means for the growth of the women’s game, and the powerful statement it makes in support of coaching across Canada.”

Salimah Mussani, recently promoted by Golf Canada to lead the women’s team will be the inaugural Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach.

Seven sisters –Cailey, Victoria, Gillian, Lindsay, Claire, Sarah, and Hannah – have proudly carried on the family legacy of support for the game initiated by their late father Gordon Stollery. Among other successful business ventures, the Stollery Family are the owners and operators of Goodwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont. as well as Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. which has played host to numerous major golf championships including the CP Women’s Open (2001), the Telus Skins Game (2001), the RBC Canadian Open (2002, 2007) and the golf competition of the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Angus Glen is also proud host of the annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargeant Farms, set to return October 12-15, 2022. The Stollery Family have also been long-time supporters of the Golf Canada Foundation including events such as the popular Wine, Women’ & Shoes Fundraiser. The generosity of the Stollery Family has supported numerous charitable legacies including a $5M donation to Markham Stouffville Hospital which named the Stollery Family Centre for Childbirth and Children in their honour.

“Our family recognizes and values the critical role that women’s golf and high-performance coaching can have on the overall growth of a sport that has meant so such much to us all,” said Cailey Stollery who sits on the Board Directors of both the Golf Canada Foundation as well as the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

“In making this gift, we believe in the renewed vision of Golf Canada’s high-performance program and hope that others will come forward to join us in this journey.”

The Stollery Family’s major gift to fund the Women’s Head Coach position is the first of its kind for a Canadian National Sport Federation head coaching position.

The Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach will also be a first for a Canadian Olympic Team coach as the Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach will also guide Women’s Golf Team that is named by the Canadian Olympic Committee to represent Team Canada at future Olympic Games.

“This gift from the Stollery Family is remarkable, and a clear indication of the entire family’s shared belief in the transformational power of sport,” says Jacqueline Ryan, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee and CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. “This contribution is truly inspiring and will help shape the exciting future of women’s golf in Canada for years to come.”

The continued expansion of the National Team Program through major donor gifts is a driving force behind Golf Canada’s enhanced support of the High-Performance Program with a goal to advance 30 Canadian athletes to the LPGA and PGA TOUR by 2032.

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.

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.

“Their contributions have been incredibly impactful to golf in their community as well as at the provincial and national level.”

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. 

Inspired to support the life skills and development values ingrained in golf, the Gragtmans Family Foundation has announced a major $1M USD donation to the Golf Canada Foundation to directly power the advancement of First Tee – Canada.

The generosity of the Gragtmans Family Foundation as the Founding Donor and Trustee of First Tee – Ontario will fund and facilitate the provincial chapter launch including program development and delivery with multi-faceted activities designed for schools, community centres, and youth facilities.

First Tee – Canada will provide Canadian youth, and especially those in underrepresented groups, access to affordable and meaningful character education programs through golf. Golf Canada intends on launching chapters in every province in Canada by 2022, with the goal of 100,000 annual participants in the program by 2023.

“The Gragtmans Family Foundation focuses on the positive development and advancement of youth in Canada and abroad,” said Ian Gragtmans, Founder of the Gragtmans Family Foundation. “We are thrilled to be aligned with one of the world’s premiere and proven international youth development organizations. Our mission of providing youth with support to help positively design and advance their lives aligns well with the First Tee values of integrity, respect and perseverance.” A pursuer of growth and knowledge, Mr. Gragtmans credits many who have and continue to act as mentors, and his support of First Tee Canada directly reflects the ongoing responsibility of giving back by helping others.

“The pace of growth behind First Tee – Canada since being announced in Fall 2020 has been incredible, and that’s because of the shared vision of youth champions like the Gragtmans Family Foundation,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “The generosity of the Gragtmans Family Foundation towards this provincial chapter-founding, multi-year gift brings incredible momentum to our national youth development program in Canada’s largest market and will surely set the example and encourage deeper expansion across the Canadian philanthropic community.”

Through its deep network of donors and trustees, Golf Canada Foundation is a critical partner in supporting the launch and advancement of First Tee Canada through its fundraising and philanthropic efforts. Canada’s Provincial Golf Associations will also play a role in the advancement of First Tee Canada as chapters form in markets across Canada.

“We are extremely grateful to Ian Gragtmans and the Gragtmans Family Foundation for their incredible generosity as the catalyst to officially launch the first Ontario chapter of First Tee Canada,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO Martin Barnard. “The meaningful support of our donors and corporate champions has far exceeded our early expectations and has provided real momentum in our discussion with others who want to get behind this character building program for youth.”

The generosity of the Gragtmans Family Foundation joins a growing number of chapter-founding and program advancement gifts that have been secured in 2021 with additional investments to be announced in the coming weeks.

Since its inception in 1997, First Tee has impacted more than 15 million young people through its character-building programs on golf courses, in schools and at youth-serving locations. The First Tee network has grown to over 150 chapters and more than 1,200 program locations across the United States as well as six international chapters in Australia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, and Canada, delivering programs that help young people build character and develop life skills through the game of golf.

Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are continuously pursuing more gifts, which will allow more chapters to launch in Canada. For more information on First Tee – Canada, to get involved, or to donate, visit www.firstteecanada.ca

Golf Canada will tee it up in 2021 to conduct national amateur championships and is working with public health authorities in host communities to finalize operational protocols so that the competitions may proceed safely. 

Following a 2020 season that saw the cancellation of all Golf Canada competitions due to the pandemic, the 2021 schedule will feature nine National Amateur Championships, eight NextGen Championships for junior-aged golfers, and several USGA qualifiers which will be hosted at member clubs across Canada. 

“We are taking a measured but optimistic approach to conducting our 2021 championship season and we are excited to welcome the athletes back to our competitions,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “Golf Canada will continue to prioritize the safety of players, volunteers, host club and tournament staff, and host communities and will work with regional health authorities and our host clubs to get our national amateur competitions back on the tee. We also want to thank our roster of host clubs and volunteer committees for giving back to the game and joining us in this journey.” 

CLICK HERE TO SEE GOLF CANADA’S 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Operational protocols for each competition will align with local and provincial health and safety guidelines that have allowed golf courses to open for regular play. Should public health guidelines or interprovincial travel restrictions warrant, Golf Canada will make modifications to the competition schedule including a change to the size and composition of tournament fields or an outright event cancellation should circumstances dictate.

National Amateur Championship registration will open on Wednesday, April 7 at 12:00pm EDT while registration for all NextGen Championships will open on Monday, March 29 at 12:00pm EDT.

Applications will be open to any Golf Canada members who meet the eligibility criteria.  Given the current federal travel restrictions in place, Golf Canada will not be accepting registration from foreign residents for our championships at this time.  More information on the application procedure will be available on each championship information page.

Please visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/ to register for Golf Canada competitions.  

Golf Canada will also resume calculation of the NextGen National Junior Order of Merit to identify and give recognition to top-performing junior girls and boys across Canada who have achieved success during the 2021 season. The 2021 NextGen National Junior Order of Merit schedule can be viewed here and consists of Canadian events from the period January 1 to August 15, 2021 with a maximum of five (5) counting events for a player’s ranking.

With continued COVID-19 limitations and international travel restrictions, Golf Canada will not track a National Amateur Order of Merit in 2021. Golf Canada is carefully following the impact of the pandemic on international travel and competition and how those factors might impact the Team Canada Selection criteria for 2021/22, which are currently under review and can be accessed here once published.