Marilyn Palmer O’Connor – Golf Athlete

Marilyn Palmer O’Connor to be inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2017 class.

Marilyn became a force in Alberta amateur golf in the 1980s and was a 12-time team member on both the Alberta and Nationals teams. She won the Alberta Ladies Championship six times; in 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, and 2001, and was runner-up in 1997, 1999, and 2000.

Marilyn was the Low Amateur at two LPGA events; the LPGA Titleholders Championship and the Bluegrass Invitational. She won the International 4-Ball Championship in 1972 and was on the winning Commonwealth match-play team in 1979. In 1966, she won the Canadian Ladies’ Close Championship. Marilyn captured multiple titles as a junior and ladies champion and played on the British Columbia provincial teams before moving to Alberta. She was an inspiring mentor, especially to the junior golfers, through volunteering with the Alberta Golf Association and hosting numerous golf clinics.

Marilyn was inducted to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.

The 2017 Induction Banquet will be May 26, 2017.  This year is the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum’s 60th Anniversary.  Since its inception in 1957, hundreds of Albertans have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.  We invite everyone to join us in this celebration of both new Inductees and returning Honoured Members, and their lasting impact on sport in our province.  If you would like more information on the Induction Banquet or to order tickets, please call (403) 341-8614.

For more information on the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and the 2017 Inductees please visit http://ashfm.ca/events/induction-banquet?platform=hootsuite

TORONTO – Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting culminated on Saturday, February 25^th with the election of Roland A. Deveau of Bedford, N.S., to serve a second term as the National Sport Federation’s President.

Deveau’s election to serve a second term is historic as he joins Alfred Collyer (1930-31), F.A. Rolph (1915-1919), A.W. Austin (1907 & 1910) and Col. George A. Sweny (1898, 1901 & 1909) as only the fifth President to serve multiple or consecutive terms since the association’s formation in 1895.

The nomination for Deveau to serve a second term was put forth by Golf Canada’s Nominating Committee and supported by the Board of Directors as the association works through a leadership transition to hire a CEO successor to Scott Simmons who stepped down earlier this month after 10 years. Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer is currently serving in the role as interim CEO with a new CEO expected to be named in April 2017.

Deveau will lead a Board of Directors that includes Calgary’s Leslie Dunning as first vice-president and Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que., as second vice-president. Other Board members include Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont., Dale Jackson of Victoria, B.C., Rob MacDonald of Winnipeg, Man., Don MacKay of Bracebridge, Ont., and Allison Chisholm of Rothesay, N.B., as well as past president Paul McLean of King, Ont. and new Directors Tom Sears of Port Hope, Ont. and David Atkinson of Vancouver, B.C.

“I am humbled to accept the nomination to serve a second term as the President of this great organization,” said Deveau.  “I do so recognizing that it is a privilege to represent a membership of more than 307,000 golfers at 1,400 member clubs and an honour to work with our provincial, national and international association partners for the betterment of this great sport.”

Annual Report, Financial Statements & Strategic Plan

Click here to read Golf Canada’s 2016 Annual Report, which includes a recap of the past season, as well as the association’s 2016 Financial Statements.

Click here for Golf Canada’s 2017 Strategic Plan, outlining the key activities that Golf Canada is focused on as the National Sport Federation and governing body for golf in the country.

In addition to appointing its new president and members to the Board of Directors, the association presented details of its strategic plan and gathered with stakeholders from the provincial golf associations as well as national and international association partners including the R&A and USGA.  The AGM also celebrated accomplishments from the previous year, including a tribute to former CEO Scott Simmons.

Volunteer duo to be recognized during Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting

Toronto (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Bill Klein of Parkville, B.C. along with George McLeod of Brandon, Man. have been named co-recipients of Golf Canada’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year.

The pair will be acknowledged during the closing dinner of Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 25^th at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Hotel.

“Volunteers are the driving force behind the success of golf in this country and we are proud to recognize both Bill Klein and George McLeod for their long tenured support of Canadian golf,” said Golf Canada President Roland Deveau. “Both of these deserving individuals have given back to the game at the provincial and national level and have been proud ambassadors for our sport in their communities.”

Each year in Canada, tens of thousands of committed volunteers help to support the game of golf in communities from coast to coast.

Now in its 11^th year, candidates for Golf Canada’s Volunteer of the Year Award are put forth for consideration by the respective provincial golf associations in acknowledgment of significant contributions to the game of golf in their community.

BILL KLEIN – Parksville, B.C.

Bill Klein of Parksville, B.C. has been a volunteer with Golf Canada for more than 20 years. He originally got involved with the organization while living in Saskatchewan, during a period with Golf Saskatchewan the included successive terms as the President of Golf Saskatchewan in 1995 and 1996.

He continued to volunteer in golf after moving from Saskatchewan to Parkville, B.C. Although he enjoys living on Vancouver Island, the former police officer is fiercely proud of his roots in Regina, Sask.

A former governor with Golf Canada and past Board member with BC Golf, Klein has been a strong supporter of Canadian golf and mainstay on Golf Canada’s championship duty roster—often serving as Tournament Chair—whenever events are conducted on Vancouver Island.

He has a positive influence on his fellow volunteers and is tremendously popular among the players and guests at championships.  Klein also makes it a point to thank all the event volunteers and club staff, and goes out of his way to make sure players enjoy their championship experience.

After fighting a devastating bought of cancer two years ago, he remains a passionate supporter of the game. He served as both Tournament Chair and member of the host club committee for the 2016 Canadian University/College Championship. That event that marked the eighth time since 2010 that he served as Tournament Chair for a Golf Canada Championship on Vancouver Island including the Canadian Men’s Amateur (2013); the Canadian Women’s Amateur (2011); the Canadian University/College Championship (2012 & 2016); the Future Links Pacific Championship (2012 & 2015); the Canadian Women’s Tour (2014); and the Canadian Women’s Senior (2010).

In addition to championships, Klein has served on numerous other committees during his volunteer tenure with Golf Canada, BC Golf and Golf Saskatchewan. His passion and enthusiasm exemplify the spirit of volunteerism that drives the game of golf in communities across Canada.

GEORGE MCLEOD – Brandon, Man.

George McLeod of Brandon, Man. began volunteering in the 1980’s as a Rural Representative for the Wheat City Golf Club with the Manitoba Golf Association (MGA). He was then nominated and elected to the Board of the Manitoba Golf Association in 1985.

During his 20 year tenure on the Board, he volunteered on nearly every MGA committee and eventually served as President from 2002 through 2004. He was the last President of the MGA and the first President of the amalgamated Golf Manitoba. He was also instrumental in the formation and inauguration of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum.

Nationally, he served with Golf Canada as Manitoba’s Class “C” Governor for 10 years. He assisted with the association’s amalgamation with the former Canadian Ladies Golf Association (CLGA) and served on numerous committees over his 10 years as a Governor. Following Golf Canada’s governance change in 2011, he became a member of the association’s Governors Council, served on the Membership Committee and was Chair of the Canadian Turf Grass Research Foundation until 2015.

For more than 30 years, McLeod has been a Rules Official, Course Rater, Starter, Scorer and Tournament Chair with both Golf Manitoba and Golf Canada.

In 2016, he was honoured as the recipient of Golf Manitoba’s Volunteer Distinguished Service Award for his long tenured service to both Golf Manitoba and the Manitoba Ladies Golf Association and his commitment to amateur golf in Manitoba and North West Manitoba.

He has gone above and beyond the expectations of a volunteer, has been an advocate for the game and has been a positive influence on his many fellow volunteers.

“The cry for the simplification of the Rules of Golf is a stock-in-trade of the journalist during the winter months. Countless words on the subject have been poured out to an ever-tolerant public, but still the long-sought simplification does not come.” Henry Longhurst, 1937

And here I thought I had come up with a novel idea for this blog. Turns out iconic golf writer Longhurst was 80 years ahead of me.

His quote can be found in the opening pages of a small volume called The Rules of Golf in Plain English. Now in its fourth edition, the book is co-authored by two Texas lawyers. Jeff Kuhn is a top-rated Rules official. Bryan Garner is a renowned expert in reducing legalese to something understandable by any layman.

Their book does exactly as the title implies. Approved by the USGA, its contents are organized in a more logical, understandable and readable manner than the standard Rule book.  (You can purchase it online.)

But, with all due respect to Mr. Longhurst, history has proven one of his assertions false. The golfing public is most definitely not “ever-tolerant.”

The fact that The Rules of Golf in Plain English exists is an indictment of the complexity of the Rules of Golf. The result is that while many golfers have a real interest in the Rules, they lack the inclination to spend hours scratching their heads over the convoluted regulations. (I am not saying this simply because I am bitter about doing miserably earlier this week in my first sample exam as I study for my Level 3 Rules of Golf certification. Really, I’m not.)

If you don’t believe me, take it from Adam Helmer. Few are more qualified to comment than Helmer, Golf Canada’s Director of Rules, Competitions and Amateur Status. He holds the highest possible Rules certification from Golf Canada, the R&A and the USGA and has officiated at elite tournaments such as the RBC Canadian Open, Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, the U.S. Open and The Players Championship.

“It’s very challenging for competitors in a sport where, for the most part, there are no officials, how are you supposed to play by the Rules if you don’t know or can’t understand them? It’s tough to do the right thing if you don’t know what the right thing is.”

But there may yet be hope.

Next month, at least a corner of the curtain will be lifted on the work being done by a Rules of Golf modernization task force.

The Joint Rules Committee, made up of representatives from the USGA, R&A and a Golf Canada delegate, is promising sweeping clarification of the Rules book from cover to cover.  After months of feedback and revisions, a new code will be published in 2020 at the latest.

“Nothing was untouched, nothing was sacred,” Helmer says. “The process is viewed as overdue by many, but I believe the result will be well worth waiting for.”

Helmer says important aspects of the task force’s mission included how to better educate golfers, both everyday golfers and elite players, with an emphasis on technology, a concept that was also mentioned by USGA Executive Director Mike Davis at his association’s annual meeting earlier this month.

“How come we can’t have an instance where someone can [use their iPhone] and say, ‘Siri, I hit my ball into a water hazard. What are my options?”

Sounds wonderful. Any chance they can speed up the process before I write my final Rules exam in April?

Roland Deveau of Bedford, N.S., nominated to serve a second term as Golf Canada President

TORONTO – Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) is set for this week (February 23-25) at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Hotel in Toronto.

The event brings together Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, committee volunteers and staff as well as representatives from Canada’s provincial golf associations and stakeholders from within the golf industry including international representatives from the R&A and USGA. The group will assemble for three days of meetings, presentations and discussion in preparation for the upcoming golf season.

The Annual General Meeting will culminate with the appointment of Roland A. Deveau of Bedford, N.S., to serve a second term as the National Sport Federation’s volunteer President. Deveau joins Alfred Collyer (1930-31), F.A. Rolph (1915-1919), Col. George A. Sweeney (1898, 1901 & 1909) and A.W. Austin (1907 & 1910) as the fifth President to serve multiple or consecutive terms.

Deveau’s nomination to serve a second term was supported by Golf Canada’s Nominating Committee and Board of Directors as the association works through a leadership transition to hire a CEO successor to Scott Simmons who stepped down earlier this month after 10 years. Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer is currently serving in the role as interim CEO and a new CEO is expected to be named in April 2017.

The formal appointment of Deveau as President along with the release of the association’s 2016 financial statements will take place during Golf Canada’s official Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 25^th at 5:00pm ET.

As part of the AGM, Golf Canada will also present its Volunteer of the Year Award in acknowledgment of outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada. In addition, the association will pay tribute to Simmons’ tenure as Golf Canada’s CEO.

A full itinerary of presentations taking place during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting is available here.

A copy of Golf Canada’s 2017 Strategic Plan is available here.

GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 307,500 golfers and more than 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and Acura have announced a three-year extension and expansion of their partnership in which Acura will become the Presenting Sponsor and Official Vehicle of Future Links – Canada’s national junior golf program.

Future Links, driven by Acura, is a joint grassroots initiative of Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations which offers a full suite of junior golf programs for boys and girls ages 6 to 18—from beginners to those with more experience or greater playing ability.

For Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer and interim CEO Jeff Thompson, Acura’s enhanced support of Canada’s national junior golf program will help to deliver quality golf experiences to youth from coast to coast.

“Acura has been a tremendous partner since aligning their respected brand with Canada’s national junior golf program in 2014 and we are thrilled with their deepened commitment to Future Links, driven by Acura,” said Thompson. “With world-class junior golf curriculum that is internationally revered by golf federations around the world, we are proud that Acura will continue to drive the program’s success moving forward.”

Future Links, driven by Acura includes a comprehensive suite of junior golf activities for children of all ages and skill level. The program has been restructured under three core areas of focus—in-school programming, facility programming and community outreach.

Elements under the Future Links junior golf umbrella include Learn to Play, Junior League, Girl’s Club, Mobile Clinics, Junior Skills Competition, and Community Golf Coach, along with six regional Future Links Junior Championships.

Beginning in 2017, Golf Canada has also integrated the popular Golf in Schools program under the Future Links suite of junior golf activities. With more than 400,000 children currently learning golf at nearly 3,400 schools (elementary, intermediate and high schools) as part of the Canadian Physical Education curriculum, Future Links, driven by Acura is supporting quality junior golf experiences from in-schools to on-course at clubs across Canada.

“Acura is committed to supporting various youth initiatives across Canada and we are delighted to expand our commitment to Golf Canada and their respected programs, as this partnership is a natural alignment of the two brands,” said Dave Gardner, Senior Vice President of Operations, Acura, a division of Honda Canada Inc. “With luxury comfort, dynamic performance and a versatile passenger and cargo cabin, the Acura MDX luxury SUV will help drive the future success of the Mobile Clinics across Canada.”

As the official vehicle of Canada’s national junior golf program, Acura will also provide each of the 10 provincial golf associations with the current model year MDX vehicle—decaled in Future Links, driven by Acura branding—to deliver Mobile Clinics across Canada.

Each fully equipped vehicle will be staffed with a PGA of Canada professional travelling to locations across each province to teach juniors golf introductory lessons. Future Links, driven by Acura Mobile Clinics will bring golf to children at almost any location including parks, recreation centres, schools and golf facilities.

Under the leadership of PGA of Canada golf professionals, Future Links driven by Acura programs help young golfers develop the technical skills, appropriate attitude and self-confidence to succeed on the golf course, while instilling positive life lessons to succeed off the course.

“This is an exciting extension and expansion for the Future Links brand,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “Since the program’s inception in 1996 the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada have seen more than 1-million kids go through Future Links and I feel this terrific initiative will only enhance the world-class junior golf program.”

In 2016, 85,000 junior golfers participated in one or more elements of Future Links, including 60,000 juniors who took part in more than 750 Future Links Mobile Clinics across the country.

Acura’s enhanced support for Future Links returns the junior golf program to solid footing after long-time partner Canadian National Railway (CN) stepped away following 11 years of sponsorship.

“Thanks to Acura, Canadian junior golf is well positioned for success moving forward for 2017 and beyond,” added Thompson. “Future Links has had the good fortune of strong supporting partners since its inception and that will surely continue going forward with Acura’s shared vision to support junior golf activities across Canada.”

Future Links, driven by Acura junior golf programming is fully aligned with the Canadian Golf Long-Term Player Development Guide. Developed by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada, LTPD provides an age- and stage-based blueprint for golfer development rooted on research, statistics and expert insight.

Since launching in 1996, Canada’s national junior golf program has introduced golf to more than 1.3 million children, providing junior golfers across Canada with affordable and accessible golf activities in their community. More information is available at golfcanada.ca/futurelinks

We are pleased to announce that we have two employment opportunities at this time. The first is a full-time permanent role and the second is a seasonal role for 2017. Please explore the two opportunities below:

1. Coordinator, Golf Course & Community Services

Reporting to the Executive Director/CEO, this position will enhance the value that Alberta Golf brings to individuals and facilities in the province through best in class public and member relations, as well as customer service support for volunteers. This will include responsibility for all core member, club and volunteer services, as well as providing public relations leadership. Directly responsible for the following activities and functions:

Golf course services:

-Administering course rating schedules
-Supporting course rating, handicap system and service queries
-Organizing rules of golf clinics
-Organizing course visitation and follow up communication program

Community relations and services:

-Public relations support within golf communities
-Individual golfer services including handicapping, technical support and account maintenance
-Development of collateral material and publications including an Alberta Golf manual
-Development and administration of achievement and recognition program
-Coordination of grassroots sport development programs including: Golf in Schools, Future Links Mobile Clinics, She Swings She Scores, Girls Club, Golf Fore The Cure and Junior Golf Development Centres
-Organizing events and summits including: junior golf summit and post-secondary scholarship seminars
-Coordination and administration of the scholarship program

Volunteer support services:

-Volunteer management (recruitment, orientation, communication, retention, recognition)
-Course rating and rules of golf training and education
-Organizing annual volunteer appreciation day
-Administration of staff, volunteer and member apparel and merchandise program

Administration:

-Sport Development Committee meetings and reporting
-Member Services Committee meetings and reporting

Qualifications: Skills and experience commensurate with job responsibilities, specifically a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role. An understanding of the not for profit sport industry is considered an asset.

Education: A minimum requirement of a Bachelors’ Degree or Diploma in Business Administration, Commerce or Public Relations.

Type of position: Full Time Permanent

Hours of work: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience

Reports to: Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer

Deadline for Applications: February 27, 2017

Please forward your resume to: Phil Berube by email (phil@albertagolf.org) or mail to Alberta Golf – Suite 22, 11410 27 St SE, Calgary, AB, T2Z 3R6. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Coordinator, Golf Course & Community Services Job Posting (PDF)

2. Event Assistant, Digital Media & Competitions

Reporting to the Executive Director/CEO, this position will support our competitions department in delivering value to individuals and facilities throughout the province through the planning and execution of best in class competitions as well as digital media support. Responsible for supporting the following activities and functions:

Competitions:

-Support tournament & event preparation requirements;
-Review existing championships manual, duty rosters, policies and procedures for familiarity and suggest / explore alternative and additional ones;
-Attend approximately 15-20 golf tournaments and events throughout the province; prepare all event set up requirements including branded material and operations equipment, execute all onsite responsibilities including player registration, starting and scoring, follow up with event take down and pack up;
-Meet and interact with event participants, hosts and volunteers.

Digital Media:

-Gain a strong understanding of and subsequently support Alberta Golf Brand Services and Logo Usage Guidelines;
-Review existing digital and print communication projects for familiarity and suggest / explore alternative and additional ones;
-Attend approximately 15-20 golf tournaments and events throughout the province; prepare a list of stories for pre-approval and a list of photos to take onsite;
-Meet and interview event participants, hosts and volunteers;
-Write follow up stories and publish stories and photos to digital and print mediums.

Special Projects:

-Support historical research requirements;
-Support graphic design and brand leadership activities.

Qualifications: Skills and experience commensurate with job responsibilities. Knowledge of the golf industry and/or the not for profit sport industry is considered an asset.

Education: Having completed or currently enrolled in a post-secondary program in any discipline.

Type of position: Full Time Seasonal (Approximately May 2 – September 1)

Hours of work: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. This position requires some weekend travel throughout the province as well as longer hours during events.  Hours are monitored and adjusted accordingly.

Compensation: $2,750 per month

Reports to: Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer

Deadline for Applications: March 10, 2017

Please forward your resume to: Phil Berube by email (phil@albertagolf.org) or mail to Alberta Golf – Suite 22, 11410 27 St SE, Calgary, AB, T2Z 3R6. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Event Assistant, Digital Media & Competitions Job Posting (PDF)

25 professional and amateur championships to be conducted from coast to coast including four competitions hosted in the Ottawa region as part of Canada 150 celebrations

Registration opens Wednesday, February 15^th at 12:00 p.m. ET

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce its competition schedule including host clubs and dates for the 2017 championship season.

A total of 25 professional and amateur championships, as well as qualifying events into Canada’s two National Open Championships—the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open—will be conducted in 2017.

“We are proud to announce our 2017 championship schedule and anxiously await the spirited competition shared by nearly 3,000 athletes at many of Canada’s premier golf facilities,” said Golf Canada interim CEO and Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson. “As the governing body, it is our privilege to conduct these great competitions in partnership with our host venues, sponsors, and thousands of dedicated volunteers from coast to coast. These championships provide high levels of competition and development opportunities while also offering the chance for competitors to stamp their names in Canada’s storied golf history.”

Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by RBC, CP, Sport Canada, Titleist and FootJoy.

The complete 2017 championship schedule as well as registration information can be found here.

Championship notes:

Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off with the Future Links Pacific Championship, May 12-14, at Chilliwack Golf Club in Chilliwack, B.C. The event is the first in a series of six regional junior competitions in association with Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program.

The 15^th playing of the Canadian University/College Championship will be hosted by Georgian College from May 29 to June 1 at Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club in Barrie, Ont. The championship will be the first of eight national amateur competitions contested in 2017.

Beginning in late July, Ontario will host a number of competitions including the 104^th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship (Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont.).

Eastern Ontario will be the hub of Canadian junior golf activity in 2017 as the 79^th Canadian Junior Boys Championship (Cataraqui Golf & Country Club in Kingston, Ont.) and the 63^rd Canadian Junior Girls Championship (Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.) will be contested in the region between July 31 – August 4.

The 2017 edition of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship returns to the Greater Toronto Area for its 113^th playing. The Toronto Golf Club—a five-time host of the Canadian Open and the third oldest golf club in North America—will host the world’s third oldest amateur championship from August 7-10 alongside co-host Islington Golf Club.

A two-stage qualifying procedure for the 2017 RBC Canadian Open will feature a trio of regional qualifying competitions in British Columbia (Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria on May 9), Ontario (Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton on May 15), and Quebec (Club de golf de la Vallée du Richelieu in Sainte-Julie on June 5). The final qualifying event will be held at Heron Point Golf Links in Ancaster, Ont., on July 24.

On Saturday, July 22, as a kick-off event to the 2017 RBC Canadian Open, Glen Abbey will also open its fairways to junior competitors from across Canada for the ninth annual Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event.

For the 29^th time in the 108-year history of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship, Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., will play host to the RBC Canadian Open from July 24-30. In 2016, Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas was crowned champion, finishing one stroke ahead of John Rahm, Dustin Johnson and Martin Laird. The Canadian storyline of the week was the memorable performance of Kimberley, B.C. product and Team Canada member Jared du Toit, who entered the final round with a share of second alongside U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson.

Late August will see the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur and Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championships hosted at Wascana Country Club in Regina, Sask., and Humber Valley Golf Club in Little Rapids, N.L., respectively.

To coincide with the “Canada 150” celebrations, Golf Canada is proud to bring a number of golf championships to the Ottawa region in 2017. The 2017 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open will return to the nation’s capital and Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club from August 21-27. Ariya Jutanugarn captured last year’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open by four strokes, securing her fifth LPGA victory of the 2016 season. The tournament’s Monday Qualifier will take place at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont., on August 21.

Other events coming to the Ottawa region in 2017 include the Canadian Junior Girls Championship (Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.) as well as the fourth annual World Junior Girls Championship, which brings together teams from 15 countries September 24-29 at The Marshes Golf Club.

Golf Canada’s final national championship of the 2017 season, the 55^th Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, will be hosted at The Kanawaki Golf Club in Kahnawake (Montreal), Que., from September 10-14.

The Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru National Event will be held at Brantford Golf & Country Club on September 26.  The one-day event is a celebration of the success of all Golf Fore the Cure events held nationwide during the 2017 season. To date, the program’s fundraising efforts have totaled more than $5.9 million for breast cancer research.

As the National Sports Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships as part of its mandate to promote the sport and aid in the development of the nation’s world-class talent. The organization is also a proud participant in the Canada Summer Games, to be held this year in Winnipeg from July 28 – August 13.

On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, let’s get all the bad, frequently offensive, jokes out of the way first.

To speed up the process, I will provide just the punch lines to a couple of the hoariest groaners.

“No way! The last time I tried that shot, I made double bogey!”

“But you don’t understand. It’s my wife’s funeral.”

On a related note this Feb. 14, let’s officially bury the term “golf widow.”

With that out of the way, let’s move on.

Golf, and I speak from personal experience, can strengthen romantic relationships.

Even the dating web site eHarmony recognizes that, listing “15 reasons to date a golfer.” Among them, “golfers strive for emotional balance,” “they know how to make conversation,” “golfers understand they must forget mistakes and move on,” and “committed golfers are in it for the long haul.” Finally, these relationship experts point out, “you’ll be spending countless hours together in pristine park-like settings. Not a bad way to nurture romance.”

They might have mentioned etiquette, balance, equity and all those other fundamental values in the game. As well, the rules would be worth mentioning.

Not the official Rules of Golf, although those certainly have their place in the actual playing of the game.

If you want golf to help forge and strengthen a romantic bond, you would be well advised to follow these guidelines which I have learned (often the hard way, particularly No. 1) over three decades of golfing with my beloved.

1. If you’re not asked, then shut the hell up. If your partner is having an off day, fight the misguided impulse to offer your well-intentioned but worthless opinion. First, you most likely don’t have the foggiest idea of how to rectify the situation. Second, even though they love you, they now are so frustrated that you are only exacerbating the eventual meltdown. And they have easy access to a selection of deadly metal implements. If you are going to follow only one rule, make it this one.
2. Take a golf vacation together. Sitting on the beach is all fine and good, but getting out on the course and sharing some conversation and laughs is far better.
3. Nine and dine. Whether it’s an organized weekly couples’ league or just an impromptu outing for just the two of you, nine holes followed by a leisurely dinner and drinks is a wonderful way to unwind and catch up.
4. Don’t take it too seriously. Sure, you want to play your best but the object of the exercise is to enjoy each other’s company.
5. Include family. If you’re lucky enough to have kids or grandkids, invite them to play a few holes with you. Or maybe it’s your brother and sister-in-law or other relatives you love but don’t get to see often enough. Golf is a great excuse to reinforce those family ties.

I speak from experience, as I mentioned earlier. My wife took up golf after I did and fell for it as hard, or maybe harder, than she fell for me. We’ve done all things listed above, from golf vacations to couples’ nights to including family.

And while the pure meaning of Valentine’s Day is focussed on your one and only, and my wife and I have spent many delightful hours golfing together, I can tell you that one of my everlasting memories is the sight of our son and his grandfather golfing together.

That’s something else I truly love.

Rachel Wittenberg/ Love the Moment Photography

It is with great sadness that Golf Canada, Alberta Golf, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the entire golf community mourns the peaceful passing of Betty Stanhope-Cole who passed away on January 27, 2017 at the age of 79, after a brief battle with cancer.

Born on September 21, 1937 in Calgary, she is survived by her son Rob and daughter Jackie (Hiebert), along with three grandchildren (Brian, Tyler and Talia).

Stanhope-Cole saw success at every level of her amateur golf career.  As a junior, she won the Alberta Junior Girls championship from 1955-1957 and the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in 1956. She would later win the Alberta Ladies’ Amateur Championship a record 17 times between 1957 and 1984.

Stanhope-Cole also competed on 29 interprovincial teams (25 for Alberta, two for Ontario and two for Saskatchewan) in addition to winning the Saskatchewan Ladies’ Championship in 1966. Her career was capped off by winning the 1957 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, a win she noted as being her biggest golfing achievement.

Internationally, she represented Canada a total five times, three at the World Amateur Team Championship (1964, 1974, 1976) and twice at the Commonwealth Team Championship (1963, 1971).

Her impact on the game was also felt at the administrative level, as National Director of Rules and Handicap from 1980 to 1983 with the former Canadian Ladies Golf Association. She also spent 10 years working with the Alberta Golf Association (now Alberta Golf) serving as Player Development Director, Rules Director, Zone Chair and as a member of the association’s Tournament Committee.

Stanhope-Cole’s successful amateur career was recognized with her induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum in 1991, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1980, Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.

A celebration of life will be held at Highlands Golf Club on February 13, 2017. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alberta Kidney Foundation.

Statement from Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Sandra Post:

“Betty came from a tremendous era for female golfers. Even though she was born out west, she played across the country and won championships in Saskatchewan and Ontario. She had a great long game and represented Canada well.”

Photos of Betty Stanhope-Cole are available for download here.