The Nova Scotia Golf Association is pleased to announce that Kaydem Al-Samawi has been hired as the NSGA Program Coordinator for the summer of 2021. Originally from Moncton, NB, Kaydem is currently enrolled at Dalhousie University and is heading into his fourth year in the fall. Kaydem is pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Marketing.

Kaydem has worked in the past as a backshop employee at Mountain Woods Golf Club and as a camp counsellor. More recently he has completed two Coop Semesters with Basketball Nova Scotia and served as the Events Coordinator in the winter of 2020 and as the Operations Coordinator in the fall of 2020.

He is excited to work with the NSGA to be able to deliver world class tournaments, clinics and opportunities around the province.

Kaydem will be kicking off his summer assisting with Day-to-day operations, Provincial Championships, and development programs around the province while sharing his love of the game.

Please join us in welcoming Kaydem to the NSGA.

To keep an eye on Kaydem’s adventures and the NSGA, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

David (Dave) Bolton, of Ken-Wo Golf Club, has been elected as the 66^th president of the Nova Scotia Golf Association (“NSGA”) for the 2021 season. The election took place on Wednesday, April 28^th at the NSGA’s virtual Annual General Meeting.  

Dave is an experienced leader with an extensive career in the Royal Canadian Air Force and NATO. He is skilled in Government, Business, Strategic and Operational Planning. Having spent many years working in Nova Scotia, Dave, and his wife Debbie, retired in 2016 to Wolfville to be close to their five children and grandchildren.

Dave has been an active member of Ken-Wo Golf Club since 2011 and currently sits on the club’s Board. Over the past four years, Dave has volunteered with the NSGA chairing the NSGA Rules Committee, the NSGA Handicap and Course Rating Committee, and sits on the National Handicap and Course Rating Committee. He has worked many Provincial and National tournaments as a Referee starting in 2014, and became a Course Rating Team Leader in 2019.

“I am excited to be elected the President and look forward to guiding an amazing and dedicated group of volunteers and staff as we prepare the Association for the next decade,” remarks Bolton.

“Covid-19 continues to present its challenges to the golf industry and we remain focused on safety. As Covid restrictions allow we will move from our current cautious approach to reengagement and elevating services to our members and member facilities.”

The following is the newly elected Board of the NSGA:

President – David Bolton (Ken-Wo GC)

Vice President – Geoff Baker (Ashburn GC)

Second Vice President – Cathy Beaton (Antigonish GCC)

VP Finance – Sean Stuart (Ashburn GC)

Past President – Wendy Sentner (NSPPC)

Directors at large:

Bill Macmillan (Hartlen Point Force GC)

Rob Collins (Clare GCC)

Bruce Smith (Ashburn GC)

Jim Oglivie (Hartlen Point)

Karla Wilms (River Hills GCC)

Duan Ash (Grandview GCC)

Alix Digout (NSPPC)

Kent Rodgers (Brightwood GCC)

Kathy Powers (Bluenose GC)

For more information please contact Jason Lohnes (Executive Director – NSGA) at (902) 468-8844 or jason@nsga.ns.ca.

LOS ANGELES – Brooke Henderson rallied to win the HUGEL Air Premia LA Open on Saturday for her 10th LPGA Tour title, chipping in for birdie on the par-3 12th in an early back-nine burst and getting up-and-down for par on the last.

Four strokes behind leader Jessica Korda and three back of top-ranked Jin Young Ko entering the sunny day at Wilshire Country Club, Henderson closed with her second straight 4-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Korda.

The 23-year-old Canadian birdied the par-4 11th to take the lead at 15 under, hitting a 144-yard shot to 3 feet of the back, right pin. She holed out from 70 feet from right and below the green on 12, and made a 6-foot birdie putt on the short par-4 14th.

Henderson bogeyed the par-4 17th to cut her lead to two, then chipped inside 2 feet for par on the par-3 18th after her 8-iron shot rolled off the right edge of the green and into a low collection area.

The sixth-ranked Henderson won for the first time since the Meijer LPGA Classic in June 2019. She finished at 16-under 268 to break the event record of 14 under set by Minjee Lee in 2019.

Korda closed with a 72, missing a chance for her second victory of the year after leading after each of the first three rounds. She won the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in January for her sixth LPGA Tour title.

“You know, this game is incredible and it gives you so many great opportunities. The friends that I’ve made and the places that I’ve been able to travel are really crazy,” said Henderson, when asked about being a role model.

“I’m really grateful that my parents got me into the game and that my sister and I have been able to share this journey together.”

While Henderson made her move early on the back nine, Ko bogeyed the 11th and 12th in a 72 that left her tied with Australia’s Hannah Green at 14 under. The South Korean star was coming off a two-week break after finishing seventh in the ANA Inspiration.

Green eagled the 14th and birdied the par-5 15th in a 66.

Major champions So Yeon Ryu (68) and Angela Stanford (70) tied for fifth at 12 under.

NSGA Championship registration opens Thursday, April 1st, 2021.

The Nova Scotia Golf Association has partnered with Golf Genius in the support of our Tournament Management Software. 

The move to this software will present a user friendly experience, with the initial convenience of a single sign in account. In the past BlueGolf required two logins, one for for their system and another Score Center. Now all you will need is your Golf Canada credentials.

To ensure a smooth registration process for all players, please read and follow the instructions outlined below the video.

Here is a “how to” register for NSGA Championships using the new NSGA website.

• You will need to know your Golf Canada Score Centre account login information, as this will be your primary username and password to register for NSGA Championships. 

• Make sure your Golf Canada membership is active and its doesn’t expire prior to the championship dates. To check the membership expiry date, please login to the Golf Canada Score Centre and select “At-a-Glance” from the menu button.

• Make sure your Golf Canada Score Centre Profile is current with your date of birth, address, phone number and email as this information will be synced with your new Golf Genius profile

• Make sure your handicap index is up to date

Click here to login to your Golf Canada membership account.

If you require assistance in resetting your password and accessing your Golf Canada membership account, please click “Forgot your password or username?” and follow the instructions. You will be able to have your password reset and emailed to you.

If you are still experiencing issues, please contact members@golfcanada.ca or call 1-800-263-0009 [ext. 399].

Golf Genius Registration FAQ

Join us this April as Golf, Fitness, Nutrition and Mental Performance professionals share their expertise for the first NSGA Junior Golf Education Workshop via online webinars.

The NSGA has partnered with the Canadian Sport Center Atlantic – Sport Science program to bring together leaders in sport development to discuss the pillars of performance, and how to take your game to the next level.

The 2021 NSGA Junior Golf Workshop is a great opportunity for juniors (14+ years of age) of all abilities to come together to learn from some of the top coaches in Atlantic Canada on how to succeed along the path to becoming the best possible golfer you can be.

All Webinars are free of charge!

***Must have a valid Golf Canada membership number.***

Click here to Register  

If you have any questions regarding the workshops, please contact Anne Balser.

Schedule

• Session 1 – Thursday, April 1st (7-8pm AST): Nutrition and Strength & Conditioning Workshop – Get course ready.

• Session 2 – Thursday, April 15th (7-8pm AST): Mental Coaching Session – Set your goals for the 2021 season.
• Session 3 – Thursday, April 29th (7-8pm AST): Golf Specific Training – Practice with Purpose.

Meet Your Coaches!

Melissa Allen – Dietitian (CSCA)

Melissa joined the CSCA team in 2018. Originally from Alberta, Melissa has called Halifax home since 2010. Melissa’s area of expertise is Dietetics. Melissa focuses on Nutrition for the Women’s Canoe/Kayak, plus some nutrition work with IST.

Melissa has a professional interest in working with athletes to discover the increased mental, physical and performance potential proper nutrition can provide. Melissa also believes in working with coaches, parents, and athletes to remove the stigma of “good” and “bad” foods.

Melissa is passionate about working in sport because she has seen how it can increase confidence, bridge gaps, create passion, develop teamwork skills and improve our overall health.

When not at work, Melissa can be found either running in the woods, riding her bike or out on her skate skis.

Travis Dorsey – Strength & Conditioning (CSCA)

Travis, originally from Newport Beach, California, joined the CSCA team in 2019 as a Strength & Conditioning coach.

Travis is passionate about working in sport because the amount of work an individual puts in to better themselves will reflect their performance. Travis enjoys working with athletes because they are driven and have great work ethics.

Travis take a professional interest in performance analysis/monitoring aspect in high performance sport.

When not working with athletes, Travis can be found fitting in his own workout, outdoors, or spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Lori Dithurbide – Mental Performance Consultant (CSCA)

Lori started with CSCA in 2012. Her area of expertise is Mental Performance. Lori has always been fascinated with how people are able to perform their very best under pressure. She finds working with high performance athletes incredibly rewarding; Lori loves helping athletes work towards achieving their goals.

Dr. Lori is no stranger to the competitive golf world. A member of Ashburn GC, Lori is quite the competitor and plays in many local field days and provincial championships each summer.

When Lori is not at work, she can be found at a sporting venue. She enjoys golfing in the summer, curling in the winter, and spending time with family and friends.

Anne Balser – NSGA Technical Director PGA of Canada Member

From Digby, N.S, Anne started playing golf before she can remember. During her junior days, she spent her summers traveling across the province competing in numerous field days and NSGA events.

Anne attended the University of Victoria in BC and played on the women’s golf team. During her time there she captured 11 individual titles, including Golf Canada’s University College Championship. She also represented Team Canada four times, twice at the FISU Games and twice at the World University Golf Championships.

Now, back home and working with the NSGA, Anne strives to bring opportunities for all those interested to learn about and excel in the game golf.

More about the CSCA

Our Mission

We are a collaborative and magnetic organization that partners with coaches, athletes and organizations in the pursuit of excellence.    

The CSCA has developed partnerships and implemented programs that have helped build Atlantic Canada’s high performance sport structure, and has led to sizeable Atlantic Canadian Olympic/Paralympic contingents at recent Games, notably in Beijing and London.

The CSCA is represented in the four Atlantic Provinces with offices in Fredericton, Charlottetown, St. John’s, and Halifax. Presently, hundreds of athletes in the region benefit from the services provided by the CSCA and its staff.

For more information on the CSCA, click here!

Golf Canada’s 2021 Annual Meeting culminated on Thursday, March 4^th with the election of Thornhill, Ont. native Liz Hoffman as the 116^th President of the National Sport Federation.

Hoffman, a past President of Golf Ontario who spent 39 years with the University of Toronto including 16 as Director of Athletics and High-Performance, succeeds Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que. who served consecutive terms as President in 2019-20.

“It is an honour to represent our member clubs, and golfers from coast to coast as the 119^th President of Golf Canada,” said Hoffman. “To follow in the path of friends, mentors, and colleagues who have empowered my journey with this storied organization. We have a really special opportunity in this current environment to advance the sport of golf, and together with the Board of Directors, our CEO Laurence Applebaum, our talented staff and volunteers and so many partners across the golf and sport community, I look forward to being a part of it.”

Click here for a detailed bio on Golf Canada’s 116^th President, Liz Hoffman.

Hoffman is joined by Vice-President Dale Jackson of Victoria, B.C. in leading the 13-member Board of Directors who will work closely with Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. Based on the report of Golf Canada’s Nominating Committee, Hoffman and Jackson will be joined on the 2021 Board of Directors by David McCarthy of Toronto, Ont., Susan MacKinnon of Calgary, Alta., Adam Daifallah of Montreal, Que., Jean Stone-Séguin of Ottawa, Ont., Patrick Kelly of Victoria, B.C., Shawn Evans of Kitchener, Ont., Rai Sahi of Mississauga, Ont. and Alison Chisholm of Rothesay, N.B. New additions to the Board included Peter Major of Calgary, Alta., along with Diane Drury-Clarke and Jean-Sebastien Monty, both of Montreal, Que.

Outgoing Golf Canada President Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que. was recognized for his leadership of the association as an Honorary Life Governor.

Liz Hoffman and Charlie Beaulieu at Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Meeting

Golf Canada’s 2021 Annual Meeting was conducted virtually over two days, March 3-4 with volunteers, staff, member clubs, and key industry stakeholders participating.

Annual Report & Financial Statements:

Click here to read Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Report, which includes a recap of the past season, as well as the organization’s 2020 Financial Statements, which were released during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting.

Feature Presentations

In addition to the formal business of the Annual General Meeting, a number of feature presentations delivered on March 3 outlined key Golf Canada initiatives for 2021 including:

• Golf Canada’s 2021 Outlook – presented by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum

• Golf Industry Advisory Council: National Golfer Retention Campaign – presented by Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Vanessa Morbi

• Keynote Presentation: Fireside Chat on Global Golf – hosted by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum featuring R&A CEO Martin Slumbers and the USGA’s outgoing CEO Mike Davis

• Overview of Golf Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Alliance – presented by Alliance Chair & Team Canada Sport Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood. The session also includes a panel discussion with Sandy Cross (Chief People Officer, PGA of America) as well as Teri Dennis-Davies (Senior Vice-President Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment).

• Sport Overview – presented by Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue

Tribute to Canadian Golf in 2020

To close its Annual Meeting, Golf Canada shared a video tribute to acknowledge the players, golf facilities and industry stakeholders across the Canadian golf community who supported the sport’s safe return and emergence in 2020 through the COVID-19 pandemic. The video acknowledges the entire Canadian Golf industry as the collective recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

Nancy Spineti Delle Donne selected as Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year

Nancy Spineti Delle Donne of Montreal was named the 2020 recipient of the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award. For more than 20 years, Nancy has been a major contributor to Golf Quebec and Golf Canada as an expert in Handicapping and Course Rating. In 2014, Nancy was named Chair of the Golf Canada Course Rating and Handicap Committee, a position she held proudly until the end of 2020. During this time, she played an integral  role in the national launch of the new World Handicap System which was rolled globally in 2020.

Golf Canada’s 2021 Annual Meeting shifts to a two-day virtual experience this week, March 3-4 as the National Sport Federation looks ahead in preparation for the 2021 season.

The event will bring together Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers as well as representatives from Canada’s provincial golf associations and other stakeholders.

The opening day session runs from 1-4 p.m. ET on Wednesday March 3^rd with a selection of feature presentations outlining key Golf Canada initiatives for 2021 including:

• Golf Canada’s 2021 Outlook – presented by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum

• Golf Industry Advisory Council: National Golfer Retention Campaign – presented by Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Vanessa Morbi

• Keynote Presentation: Fireside Chat on Global Golf –featuring R&A CEO Martin Slumbers and the USGA’s outgoing CEO Mike Davis, hosted by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum.

• Sport Overview – presented by Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue

• Overview of Golf Canada’s Diversity & Inclusion Alliance – presented by Alliance Chair & Team Canada Sport Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood. The session also includes a panel discussion with Sandy Cross (Chief People Officer, PGA of America) as well as Teri Dennis-Davies (Senior Vice-President Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment).***each of the feature presentations will be available online at golfcanada.ca.

The event will continue on Thursday March 4^th with a virtually conducted Annual General Meeting beginning at 1:00pm ET which will include the release of Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements posted to www.golfcanada.ca.

Golf Canada will also introduce its 2021 Board of Directors including the appointment of Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont. as the association’s 119^th President. Hoffman will take over the role from Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que. who served consecutive terms as President in 2019-20.

In addition, Golf Canada will celebrate outstanding contributions to the game of golf including a presentation of the 2020 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award to Handicap and Course Rating expert, Nancy Spineti Delle Donne of Montreal.

HALIFAX, N.S. – The Nova Scotia Golf Association Board of Directors and staff are pleased to announce that Jason Lohnes has been selected as their new Executive Director.

No stranger to golf, Lohnes will bring his industry experience, business experience and his tremendous passion for the game to the Association as its next leader.

“I could not be more excited to return to the game and industry that I love,” says Lohnes. “I have been incredibly fortunate to have spent twenty plus years in the golf industry thus far and to have enjoyed some great experiences outside of golf. Now, to be returning as the Nova Scotia Golf Association as the new Executive Director, is a truly dream come true.”

Lohnes began playing the game at the age of eight, worked summers at Bluenose Golf Club and became a member of the PGA of Canada in 1999. He worked as a Golf Professional in Toronto (Ontario) for five seasons and dabbled with mini-tours in Florida during the off-seasons before returning to his home province as Director of Golf at Ashburn Golf Club (Halifax). He went on to become the General Manager at Oakfield Golf & Country Club and then worked with Taylormade – Adidas Golf Canada before taking a break from the industry.

Wendy Sentner, President of the NSGA, remarks on the appointment of Lohnes and the Association’s advancements over the last number of years.

“The Nova Scotia Golf Association has certainly evolved over the years and we are excited for Jason to lead its next chapter. Jason brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for the game, that the Association Membership, its Board of Directors and stakeholders will value and appreciate.”

Please join us in welcoming Jason, who starts officially on March 1, 2021.

The USGA and The R&A have announced proposals for significant changes to the Rules of Amateur Status that govern the game worldwide.

These proposals result from a modernization initiative that has identified a clear need to bring the Rules up to date to reflect today’s global amateur game and ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply.

The proposed Rules, along with explanations to key changes, have been posted on usga.org and randa.org and the organizations are now inviting feedback from golfers and stakeholders. Comments will be accepted through Friday, March 26, with the new Rules scheduled to be adopted on January 1, 2022.

A comprehensive review of the Rules of Amateur Status began in late 2017, focusing on three main goals: to ensure the Rules are in the best interests of the game, reflect the modern game, and are easily understood and applied.

This review reaffirmed amateur golf’s important position in the game and the value in maintaining amateur status Rules to safeguard all the ways golf is played and enjoyed.

The result is a set of Rules that redefine the distinction between amateur and professional golf and provide a condition of eligibility – amateur status – for amateurs who compete in golf competitions.

As part of the modernization effort, it is proposed that the new Rules will identify only three acts that will result in a golfer losing their amateur status:

• Accepting a prize in excess of the prize limit
• Accepting payment for giving instruction
• Accepting employment as a golf club professional or membership of an association of professional golfers

To achieve this simplified approach, the following key changes are proposed:

• Eliminating the distinction between cash prizes and other prizes.
• Using the prize limit as the only way an amateur can lose amateur status through their play (meaning that entering or playing a competition as a professional would not, of itself, result in the loss of amateur status).
• Removing restrictions from the Rules surrounding competitions such as long-drive events, putting competitions and skills competitions that are not played as part of a tee-to-hole competition; and
• Eliminating all sponsorship restrictions.

“Golf is unique in its broad appeal to both recreational and competitive golfers,” said Craig Winter, USGA Senior Director, Rules of Golf and Amateur Status. “We understand and value how important amateur status is, not only to those who compete at the highest level of the amateur game, but for the millions of golfers at every age and skill level who enjoy competitive events at their home courses. These updates should help simplify these Rules and ensure the health of the amateur game.”

Grant Moir, Director of Rules at The R&A, said, “The Rules of Amateur Status play an important role in protecting the integrity of our self-regulating sport but the code must continue to evolve. This is particularly so in relation to the modern elite amateur game, where many of the players need financial support to compete and develop to their full potential, and the proposed new Rules will give much greater scope for this.”

“Today marks another important step in the process to modernize the Rules of Amateur Status,” said Akash Patel, Rules and Competitions Manager at Golf Canada. “A great amount of work has gone into making the Rules easier to understand and apply for both the recreational and competitive golfer. We are confident that the proposed changes reflect the modern game and will help with our continued efforts to grow the game.”

The proposed new Rules are accompanied by an overview document and explanations that detail the rationale for why changes are being proposed and, in some instances, why they have stayed the same.