Luke MacDougall, Fall River – NS

Golf Nova Scotia is proud to recognize Luke MacDougall on his invitation to the 2026 Golf Canada NextGen Selection Camp, where he is representing Nova Scotia alongside some of the country’s top junior golfers.

The NextGen Selection Camp brings together talented young athletes from across Canada as they continue their development and work toward representing Canada on the international stage. An invitation to the camp is a significant accomplishment and recognizes Luke’s continued growth, strong performances, and potential as one of Nova Scotia’s emerging junior golfers.

Luke has been a member of the Junior Development Team Nova Scotia, gaining valuable experience competing at the provincial and national levels. His continued commitment to improving his game, combined with his competitive performances, has helped earn him recognition among Canada’s top developing junior athletes.

The 2026 NextGen Selection Camp provides athletes with an opportunity to train alongside some of the country’s best young golfers while working with Golf Canada’s coaches and high-performance staff. The camp is designed to evaluate and develop athletes as they pursue future opportunities within Golf Canada’s national development pathway.

For Luke, the invitation represents another important step in his golfing journey and an opportunity to learn from some of the best coaches and players in the country.

Golf Nova Scotia congratulates Luke on this outstanding achievement and wishes him the best of luck at the 2026 Golf Canada NextGen Selection Camp!

We look forward to following Luke’s continued development and seeing what comes next for this talented Nova Scotia golfer

Golf Nova Scotia extends condolences to family and friends of Brian Gordon of Pugwash, Nova Scotia. Brian served as the President of Golf Nova Scotia from 1991-1992.

Brian was a life long member of Northumberland Links Golf Club and was a friend to many in the golf community across the Province.

A service celebrating Brian’s life will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Presbyterian Church, Wallace, Nova Scotia. A reception will immediately follow at Northumberland Links Golf Course, Pugwash.

Brian Edwin Gordon Obituary Sep 9, 2026 – MacDiarmid Mundle Coulter Funeral Homes & Crematorium

Five Nova Scotia golfers are taking their talents to the United States this season, competing at the NCAA level while pursuing their academic goals.

Representing three of Nova Scotia’s golf clubs, Owen Mullen, Colby Bent, Abbey Baker, Kooper MacKay and Olivia Seaman are beginning another chapter in their golf careers.

Abbey Baker — Ashburn Golf Club

<!– wp:acf/list-items {“name”:”acf/list-items”,”data”:{“field_60216d46bd746”:{“row-0”:{“field_60216e10bd748″:”Abbey Baker”,”field_60216e24bd749″:”Fairleigh Dickinson University”,”field_60216e2ebd74a”:”\u003ca href=\u0022https://fduknights.com/sports/womens-golf/roster/abbey-baker/6848\u0022\u003eFDU Knights Women’s Golf – Abbey Baker Bio\u003c/a\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ca href=\u0022https://fduknights.com/sports/womens-golf/schedule\u0022\u003eSeason Schedule\u003c/a\u003e”,”field_6021703b6e562″:”22312″,”field_6qmwx0qz4n6yn”:”0″},”row-1″:{“field_60216e10bd748″:”Olivia Seaman”,”field_60216e24bd749″:”Mercyhurst University”,”field_60216e2ebd74a”:”\u003ca href=\u0022https://hurstathletics.com/sports/womens-golf/roster/olivia-seaman/15289\u0022\u003eMercyhurst University Women’s Golf Team – Olivia Seaman Bio \u003c/a\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ca href=\u0022https://hurstathletics.com/sports/womens-golf/schedule\u0022\u003eSeason Schedule\u003c/a\u003e”,”field_6021703b6e562″:”24053″,”field_6qmwx0qz4n6yn”:”0″},”row-2″:{“field_60216e10bd748″:”Kooper MacKay”,”field_60216e24bd749″:”University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown”,”field_60216e2ebd74a”:”\u003ca href=\u0022https://pittjohnstownathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/kooper-mackay/6231\u0022\u003eUPitt at Johnstown  Men’s Golf – Kooper MacKay\u003c/a\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ca href=\u0022https://pittjohnstownathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/schedule\u0022\u003eSeason Scheduele\u003c/a\u003e”,”field_6021703b6e562″:”33807″,”field_6qmwx0qz4n6yn”:”0″},”row-3″:{“field_60216e10bd748″:”Owen Mullen”,”field_60216e24bd749″:”Colorado State University”,”field_60216e2ebd74a”:”\u003ca href=\u0022https://csurams.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/owen-mullen/14427\u0022\u003eOwen Mullen Colorado State Men’s Golf – Bio\u003c/a\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ca href=\u0022https://csurams.com/sports/mens-golf/schedule\u0022\u003eSeason Schedule\u003c/a\u003e”,”field_6021703b6e562″:”26484″,”field_6qmwx0qz4n6yn”:”0″},”row-4″:{“field_60216e10bd748″:”Colby Bent”,”field_60216e24bd749″:”Fairmont State University”,”field_60216e2ebd74a”:”\u003ca href=\u0022https://gobroncs.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/colby-bent/9082\u0022\u003eRider University – Colby Bent Bio\u003c/a\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ca href=\u0022https://gobroncs.com/sports/mens-golf/schedule\u0022\u003eSeason Schedule\u003c/a\u003e”,”field_6021703b6e562″:”26415″,”field_6qmwx0qz4n6yn”:”0″}},”field_qzrsa6fk3b867″:”0″},”mode”:”edit”} /–>Abbey Baker is continuing her collegiate career with Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. The Knights compete in NCAA Division I women’s golf and are members of the Northeast Conference.

FDU Women’s Golf

Olivia Seaman — KenWo Golf Club

Olivia Seaman is entering another season with the Mercyhurst University Lakers in Erie, Pennsylvania. Mercyhurst’s golf program competes at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Northeast Conference.

MH Women’s Golf

Owen Mullen — Truro Golf Club

Owen Mullen is competing with the Colorado State University Rams in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Rams compete in NCAA Division I men’s golf. Colorado State is a member of the Pac-12 Conference.

CSU Men’s Golf

Colby Bent — Truro Golf Club

Colby Bent is competing for Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The Broncs compete in NCAA Division I athletics and are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).

Kooper MacKay — KenWo Golf Club

Kooper MacKay is competing for the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Mountain Cats in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Pitt-Johnstown competes in NCAA Division II and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

UPitt Johnstown Men’s Golf

From Nova Scotia to campuses across the United States, these five golfers are representing their home province while balancing the demands of collegiate competition and academics.

Golf Nova Scotia wishes Owen, Colby, Abbey, Kooper and Olivia a successful season both on the course and in the classroom. We look forward to following their progress throughout the year.

As the new school year gets underway, we are pleased to remind you that intake is open for the Sport School Credit Program – Coaching and Officiating.

The program provides Grade 10, 11 and 12 students with an opportunity to earn a full high school credit for their involvement in coaching or officiating within sport in Nova Scotia.

Who Can Participate?

The program is open to current Grade 10, 11 and 12 students who are:

• Coaching or officiating in sport;
• Participating with a recognized sport organization or PSO member; and
• Interested in developing their coaching or officiating skills while earning a high school credit.

Students can begin and complete the program at any time during their Grade 10–12 years.

We encourage all PSOs to share this opportunity with your clubs, associations, coaches, officials, athletes and families. This is a great way to recognize the valuable contribution that young people make to sport in Nova Scotia while supporting their education and leadership development.

Registration and specific program information can be found at: High School Personal Development Credit | Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage

For questions about the program, please contact schoolcredit@novascotia.ca.

As the 2026 golf season comes to a close, Golf Nova Scotia would like to extend a sincere thank you to our summer interns, Olivia Smith, Monica Johnston and Will Seymour, for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

From supporting tournaments and programs to helping with marketing, communications and junior golf initiatives, each of them played an important role in helping Golf NS deliver a busy and successful summer.

We are incredibly grateful for the energy, enthusiasm and commitment they brought to the team. Their contributions helped make a difference both on and off the golf course.

Thank you, Olivia, Monica and Will, for being such an important part of the Golf Nova Scotia team this summer. We wish you all the best in your future studies, careers and everything that comes next.

Thank you for a great summer!

#GolfForAll

Golf Nova Scotia’s Adaptive Golf Program continued to provide meaningful opportunities for golfers of all abilities throughout the summer of 2026, helping participants build confidence, develop their skills and experience the game in an inclusive and supportive environment.

Golf Nova Scotia launched the Adaptive Golf Program in 2021 with the goal of providing people living with disabilities an opportunity to learn how to play golf or improve their game through coaching, instruction and tips from PGA of Canada professionals. Since its inception, the program has continued to grow as Golf NS works to make the sport more accessible to everyone.

Adaptive Golf encompasses programs, equipment and playing formats that are tailored to individuals living with physical, cognitive, sensory or neurological challenges. More than simply modifying the game, Adaptive Golf is about creating equitable access, removing barriers and celebrating what every golfer can accomplish on the course.

Golf is uniquely suited to adaptation, allowing players to participate in ways that work best for their individual abilities. Through specialized equipment, personalized instruction and accessible playing environments, Adaptive Golf gives participants the opportunity to learn, grow and enjoy the game on their own terms.

Building Skills and Confidence on the Course

The 2026 Adaptive Golf Program was hosted over five sessions at BetterGolf Dartmouth & Rosevale Golf Course, giving participants the chance to receive instruction while also spending time on the golf course.

The five-session program included:

June 29 – Better Golf Plus
July 13 – Rosevale Golf Course
July 27 – Rosevale Golf Course
August 10 – Better Golf Plus
August 24 – Rosevale Golf Course

Each session provided an opportunity for participants to work on their golf skills while enjoying the social and recreational benefits that come with being part of the golf community.

One of the highlights of this year’s program came during Session #3 on July 27 at Rosevale Golf Course, when participants had the opportunity to try a SoloRider adaptive golf cart.

Introducing New Possibilities Through Adaptive Equipment

The SoloRider is specifically designed to help golfers with mobility impairments play more independently. The adaptive cart features hand controls and a swivel-and-elevating seat, allowing users to comfortably position themselves to access and hit the golf ball.

Several Adaptive Golf participants were able to test the SoloRider during the July session, providing them with an opportunity to experience how adaptive equipment can open new possibilities on the golf course.

For the participants who tried it, the experience was about more than simply using a different golf cart. It demonstrated how the right equipment can provide greater independence, confidence and enjoyment while playing the game.

One of those participants was Adaptive Golfer Rob Helmkay, who experienced firsthand what returning to the golf course through adaptive equipment could mean.

“I had a stroke in July of 2025 and lost the use of my right side, which is also my dominant side. I spent two months in the hospital and two more months in rehab.

Before my stroke, I was an avid golfer who played in many tournaments throughout the year. Not being able to play golf was really getting me down. My physiotherapist told me about the Adaptive Golf Program through Golf NS, and I was very interested.

I later received an email from Shaun Margeson asking me to come try out a SoloRider. Let me tell you, I was blown away that I could actually be on a golf course again, playing the game I love so much.

We met at Rosevale Golf Club in Windsor, and I had my friends from Kandy Golf, Craig and Kandace, meet us out there as well. With Craig’s help and the SoloRider, I got to play two holes and I couldn’t stop smiling. My wife was also smiling from ear to ear because she knows what golf means to me.

Let’s just say it was a great day! I’m looking forward to trying it again and hopefully eventually not needing one at all. But in the meantime, this allows me to play the game I love, and we are so grateful.”

Rob’s experience highlights the impact that Adaptive Golf can have beyond developing skills on the course. For golfers returning to the game after a life-changing event, access to the right equipment, coaching and support can help restore confidence and reconnect them with something they love.

Golf Nova Scotia is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to introduce the SoloRider to participants and hopes to one day acquire a cart of its own. Having access to adaptive equipment like the SoloRider would allow even more golfers to experience the increased independence it can provide.

A special thank you goes to Rick Goodman for allowing Golf NS to use the SoloRider for the July 27 session.

A Community Effort

The success of the Adaptive Golf Program would not be possible without the support of the many people who help make each session happen. Golf Nova Scotia extends a sincere thank you to all of the golfers, families, volunteers, PGA coaches and hosts at Rosevale Golf Course and BetterGolf Dartmouth for their continued support.Their encouragement and dedication have helped create an environment where participants feel welcomed, supported and excited to return to the course.

As Golf Nova Scotia continues to grow its Adaptive Golf initiatives, the focus remains on creating opportunities for more people to discover the game and experience everything golf has to offer.Golf is a game for everyone and Adaptive Golf is helping ensure that everyone has the opportunity to play.