Yarmouth, N.S. – It was a calm and sunny day for the first round of the NSGA Men’s Four-Ball Championship, as 84 competitors took on one of oldest golf courses in Canada, Yarmouth Links.
Competitors to take advantage of the rare conditions, as numerous teams finished round one in the red.
Nick Coates and Anthony LeBlanc of Clare Golf & Country Club lead the field after firing a stellar 9-under-par (63). The pair carded one eagle, eight birdies, and one bogey for the day.
Currently tied for second place, and only two shots back at 7-under-par (65), are teammates Owen Mullen and Patrick Jackson, both of Truro Golf Club; and Morgan Penny and Derek Boudreau of Yarmouth Links. Both teams carded nine birdies and two bogeys for the round.
Three shots back, and tied for third place are 2011 Champions Marc Lombard and Stephane LeBlanc of Clare Golf & Country Club, as well as Craig Hollett and Robert Helmkay of Grandview Golf & Country Club. The two teams sit at 6-under-par (66).
James Wade of Avon Valley Golf & Country Club and Patrick Atwell of Eden Golf & Country Club lead the way in division two. The pair carded four birdies and three bogeys to finish the round 1-under-par (71).
Tied for second place are two teams from Yarmouth Links. Teammates Jamie Comeau & Josh Berry, and Garth Nickerson & Faren Surette all sit one shot back at even-par (72).
Tomorrows round begins at 8:00am.
We would like to thank Jaguar Land Rover Halifax for sponsoring the hole in one at this event. Unfortunately, no one was lucky enough to take home the Land Rover.
National Coaches Week – Atlantic Virtual Coach Conference (Sept 21-24)
Registration for the Atlantic Virtual Coach Conference is now OPEN! The FREE virtual conference is intended for all coaches hosted by the Canadian Sport Center Atlantic, in partnership with Sport Nova Scotia, the Government of Nova Scotia, Coach NB, Coach NL, and Coaching PEI.
The online webinars will be held in the evenings from 7-9pm from September 21-24, 2020. Each evening there will be three sessions on a variety of topics. Each session will be 25-30 minutes long, followed by 5 minute Q&A. The theme of the Coaching Conference is Safe Sport: Diversity & Inclusion. You can register for one, or all three sessions per evening.
Spaces are limited, so register ASAP!
Sessions include:
A Two Eyes Seeing Approach to Coaching: Indigenous knowledge & western systems
Coaching Athletes with ADHD
Male Coaching Female Programs
Participant Centered Sport Experience: LGBTQ2+
Commit to Kids: Creating safer sport for youth athletes
For more information on the Canadian Sport Center Atlantic, click here.
For more professional development opportunities by the Sport Center Atlantic, click here.
Dormie Workshop to host inaugural Play Yellow fundraiser in Canada to support the IWK
August 31, 2020 Halifax, NS
Dormie Workshop, a local golf accessories business, is hosting the first Play Yellow golf fundraiser in Canada to support the IWK Health Centre. The two-day charity tournament will take place at the world- famous Cabot Cape Breton on September 25 – 26. The event will be open to members of Golf Canada and has a fundraising goal of $35,000.
The Play Yellow initiative was founded by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus in 2019 as a way to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and works in partnership with the PGA Tour. Their goal is to raise $100 million for children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada through fundraising and sponsorship opportunities.
“We believe it is our responsibility to support those in our community and what better way than to look out for future generations. That’s why we have partnered with Play Yellow in support of the IWK Health Centre,” said Jeff Bishop, a PGA Canada professional and co-founder of Dormie Workshop.
The inaugural tournament will be facilitated by the Nova Scotia Golf Association and will be played by golfers residing within the Atlantic bubble. The event is a two-man best ball format with a maximum of 24 teams.
The entry fee for this event is $750 per player and a minimum of $750 per player in additional fundraising that will directly support the Play Yellow initiative & the IWK Health Center. These fees will include two rounds of golf on Cabot Links & Cabot Cliffs, accommodations, player meals, and a gift bag upon check in.
Over the weekend, participants are encouraged to wear yellow, and will compete for several prizes; highlighted by a Land Rover to the first player to make a hole- in-one provided by Jaguar Land Rover Halifax. Prizes will also be available for individual fundraising performances as this is the cornerstone of this event.
The NSGA and Cabot Links will be taking COVID-19 safety precautions to ensure guests and members are following Nova Scotia Health Authority guidelines while at the tournament.
For more information and the registration link please visit:
Dormie Workshop is a locally-owned business created by PGA Canada Members and brothers Jeff and Todd with the intention of bringing fellow golfers handmade leather golf accessories. Dormie Workshop represents a passion for design and individuality, combined with functionality and practicality. To learn more about Dormie Workshop, visit dormieworkshop.comor call them directly at 1(902)880- 1893.
Inaugural Black Lives Matter Golf Initiative hosted at The Grandview Golf Club
Dartmouth, NS – Duan Ash and Channing Colley of East Preston organized the inaugural Black Lives Matter Golf Initiative at Grandview Golf and Country Club on Saturday, August 22, 2020. This event was created to bring the community together in solidarity for this movement through golf. The tournament saw 24 participants (12 teams of two), pairing “Mentors” with “Mentees” together, some of whom are new to the game, while others have played for years.
The objective of the Black Lives Matter Golf Initiative is to create awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement and to encourage Black youth to play golf. The goal is to make this an annual event as well as a fundraiser to promote golf mentorship in Black communities and attracted new men and women to the game. “We are excited about the support we have received from the staff and members from Grandview, this is one small step in the right direction. We hope to have more women from our community join us next year ”, said Duan Ash.
The host club, Grandview Golf and Country Club recognizes the health and social benefits golf can have on both an individual and their community. “The event was a positive experience from start to finish. The ownership and members of Grandview Golf and Country Club were in full support of the event and we are committed to seeing this initiative grow in the future with the goal of starting a grass roots program teaching youth the game of golf and providing a bursary for post-secondary education. We see as this an opportunity for the golfing community as a whole to create an inclusive atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.”, says James Rayner, Head Golf Professional and Assist General Manager of Grandview Golf and Country Club.
As the governing body for golf in Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Golf Association (NSGA) is putting full support behind these young men and the Black Lives Matter movement. “When anyone takes the incredible initiative that these young men have, it is our responsibility to support and empower them and our community,” said NSGA President, Wendy Sentner. Diversity and inclusion are mandates of both Golf Canada and NSGA.
The organizers plan to build on the success of this event to increase awareness and create more opportunities to introduce Black youth into the sport.
About the organizers:
Channing Colley – 27
Channing graduated with a Bachelor of Information Systems, majoring in Enterprise Systems, from St. Francis Xavier University in 2015. He is currently working as a Team Lead for the SAP Developers at IBM Canada at the Client Innovation Center in Bedford, NS.
Duan Ash – 25
Duan is a graduate of Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), with a Double Major in Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing & Management). While attending MSVU, he played on the Men’s Varsity Basketball Team for five years (last year being team captain). Upon graduating, he attended the Dalhousie Schulich School of Law and graduated in May of 2020. He is articling at BOYNECLARKE LLP in Dartmouth, NS
Ward and Batchelor win the 2020 NSGA Senior Four Ball Championship
2020 NSGA Senior Four Ball Champions Steve Ward (Ken Wo) and Paul Batchelor (Ashburn)
Steve Ward, from the Ken Wo Golf Club and Paul Batchelor from Ashburn Golf Club, have won the 2020 NSGA Senior Four Ball Championship. The team carded four birdies and one eagle during todays final round to finish six-under-par 66. Combined with yesterdays 66, they finished the championship with a tournament total of 132 (-12).
Finishing in second place was Rob Collins from Clare Golf Club and Dick Barnett from the Yarmouth Links. The pair were tied for first heading into todays final round, and finished three strokes behind the champions. The pair finished the championship with 66-69-135 (-9).
Ed Dumeah from Osprey Ridge and Gerry MacMillan from Paragon Golf Club finished in third place after carding rounds of 67-69 to finished with two round total of 136 (-8).
Sheldon Affleck and Gerry Brackett from the Eden Golf & Country Club finished first in the second division. The home course team fired back to back rounds of two-under-par 70 to finish with a two day total of 140. Sid Young and Jamie MacLeod, also from the Eden Golf and Country Club finished second in the second division with a two round total of 147 (72-75). Terry Baker (NSPPC) and Mike Tanner (Bluenose Golf Club) finished third with a two day total of 75-73 (148).
The NSGA would like to thank the volunteers and staff of the Eden Golf Country Club for hosting the 2020 Senior Four Ball Championship.
For the complete results of the NSGA Senior Men’s 4-Ball, please CLICK HERE.
Comeau & Richardson win NSGA Women’s Pinehurst
Pugwash, N.S. – Today marked the end to yet another NSGA provincial championship for 2020. A field of 120 competitors competed in the Women’s Pinehurst (Two Ball) Championship, at the scenic Northumberland Links in Pugwash, Nova Scotia.
When the wind settled, the team of Sandy Comeau and Leannne Richardson, from the Country Meadows Golf Club in Moncton, N.B. claimed top spot. The pair fired an impressive score of even-par 72 for the championship.
Finishing second overall was the team of Cristal Romero (Grandview Golf & Country Club) and Jeannie Boudreau (Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club). The team carded a two-over-par 74, and finished two strokes off the leaders.
Taking home top spot in the second division, after carding a round of 84, was the team of Lori Dithurbide from Ashburn Golf Club and Briden Cohen from Abercrombie Country Club. Finishing in second place in the second division, and one shot back, was the team of Christine Bernard and Rachel deVries from the Brookfield Golf & Country Club.
Winning the third division was the team of Joyce Creighton and Sandy Huntley from the Amherst Golf Club, after firing a team score of 90. In second place, by retrogression, was Kim Garby and Bekki McGillivary from Eagle Crest Golf Club who fired a 94.
Special thank you to the staff and volunteers hosting a wonderful tournament. Special thank to Donna Pitts and Barb Oake for coordinating all the volunteers.
For a complete list of results from the Women’s Two Ball Championship please CLICK HERE
Special thanks to Jaguar Land Rover Halifax for providing hole-in-one prizes during the championship. Prizes included a Yeti cooler, golf clubs, a cruise, and the grand prize of a brand new vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover Halifax. There were no winners during this championship, but stay tuned as Jaguar Land Rover Halifax will sponsor hole-in-one prizes at all NSGA championships this summer.
For more information on Jaguar Land Rover Halifax please CLICK HERE
2021 Canada Games Golf Team Selection
Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967, and feature events for able-bodied athletes as well as athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities.
The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.
For more information on the 2021 Canada Games, please CLICK HERE
The NSGA is thrilled to be involved with the Nova Scotia Golf team selection for the 2021 Canada Games, and are very excited to see all the young talent coming out of our province. It will be a competitive season for team selection, and we have the potential to do extremely well at the 2021 games.
The NSGA will be using the updated Player of the Year program for the 2021 Canada Games Golf Team selection, combined the athlete eligibility requirements within the 2021 Canada Games – Golf Technical Package.
Golf Team Selection (Summary)
Each provincial team will consist of:
Competitors: 2 Male and 2 Female athletes
Staff: 2 coaches OR 1 coach and 1 manager (one of the two staff must be a female)
The NSGA will use the NSGA Player of the Year ranking system to determine the 2021 Canada Games team.
Team spots will be offered to the top two (2) male competitors, and top two (2) female competitors at the time of team selection (post 2021 NextGen Atlantic Championship or two weeks prior to the games, whichever comes first).
If a competitor refuses a team spot, it will be awarded to the next ranked competitor in the POY rankings.
A maximum of ten (10) tournaments from the period of May 1, 2020 to the end of 2021 Atlantic NextGen Championship, or two weeks prior to the games (whichever comes first), will be tallied.
A player may play in more than ten (10) POY eligible events, but only their best ten (10) finishes will count.
In order to be eligible for team selection, player MUST compete in the 2021 NSGA Boys & Girls Championship, and the 2021 NextGen Atlantic Championship (if scheduled prior to team selection deadline).
To view the compete 2021 Canada Games Team Selection document, please CLICK HERE.
If you have any questions about the games, team selection and the POY, please contact NSGA Technical Director, Anne Balser.
Best of luck to all Juniors competing for a Canada Games team spot.
2020 NSGA Player of the Year – Update
Over the winter months, the NSGA Player Development Committee sat down, and developed a new and improved Player of the Year system. In the past, there were often discrepancies between our system and Golf Canada’s Order of Merit, and we felt the two systems needed to be more aligned, while still recognizing club level competitions.The Nova Scotia Golf Association (NSGA) Player of the Year (POY) is used to identify and give recognition to top-performing male and female amateur golfers in Nova Scotia who have achieved success in the golf season. A point system is used based on tournament scores and results of the players in the approved tournaments to objectively rank each individuals performance. The goal of the NSGA Player of the Year is to provide an objective national comparison and ranking system for Nova Scotia’s top male and female amateur players that will enable players to compare themselves to their counterparts across the province.
The new POY system will include all events on Golf Canada OOM tournament list (excluding university events), with the same starting point value and using the same point distribution charts. Club competitions now have a starting value of 500 points, and all individual stroke play events listed on the NSGA Competitions pages will be included in the POY. Included in the changes, the new POY system now takes into account field size.
Along with the updates stated above, we changed a few of the award categories as well. On both the men’s and women’s side, we’ve added separate Senior Player of the Year awards, and eliminated the Junior Zone awards.
The awards for Player of the Year are now as follows:
Men’s (55+) & Women’s (50+) Senior
Men’s & Women’s Amateur
Boys & Girls – Junior (U19)
Boys & Girls – Juvenile (U17)
Boys & Girls – Bantam (U15)
These changes better align the POY Awards with our Championships, and allows us to award more individuals, across all age categories.
For the complete changes to the POY system and more information, please see the links below:
Any individual stroke play event is eligible for NSGA Player of the Year points. To submit the results for a NSGA Player of the Year event, clubs MUST provide the following formation via google docs, results website, excel spreadsheet, or scanned document:
Date
Host Club
Tournament Name
Field Size
Divisions (only divisions eligible for awards, listed above)
Yardages for per division
Complete tournament results – overall gross scores only (do not separate into handicap divisions)
Results required based on field size:
80+ competitors = top 80
61-80 competitors = top 60
46-60 competitors = top 44
33-45 competitors = top 32
21-32 competitors = top 20
11-20 competitors = top 11
10 or fewer competitors = top 8
If tie for 1st – was there a playoff? If no, winner by retrogression.
Submit complete total gross scores via e-mail to anne@nsga.ns.ca
Please note: We are now requiring COMPLETE results, not just top 10. We are allocating points based on field size. Please refer to Point Allocation Gird to determine results required. if any required information is missing from the results submissions, they will be deemed incomplete. Points will not be distributed until the missing information is provided.
Presidents Cup to return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in 2024
MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 30: Tiger Woods of the U.S. Team hits his tee shot on the 3rd hole during the final day singles matches at The Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 30, 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan announced today that the Presidents Cup will return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal when the Presidents Cup shifts internationally in 2024. As host of the 2007 Presidents Cup, The Royal Montreal Golf Club will become the second international venue to host the Presidents Cup more than once, joining The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia.
The 2007 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club saw two legendary captains lead their respective teams for the final time, with four-time captain Jack Nicklaus guiding the U.S. Team to victory over three-time captain Gary Player and the International Team by a score of 19 ½ – 14 ½. Despite falling short, the highlight for the week for International Team fans was a Sunday Singles victory by Mike Weir over World No. 1 Tiger Woods, with the Canadian being supported by a massive and supercharged gallery of spectators.
“The people of Canada are some of the most loyal and passionate sports fans in the world, and given the overwhelming success of the Presidents Cup in 2007, it was a natural next step for the event to return to The Royal Montreal in 2024,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Our thanks go out to our global partners, Citi and Rolex, for making the Presidents Cup possible and to the leadership and membership of The Royal Montreal Golf Club, a venue that has already shown it can challenge and highlight the best players in the world. The Presidents Cup continues to grow and expand along with the global growth of our sport while leaving an indelible legacy of giving back throughout the world. I have no doubt that with the support of our fans, the corporate community and governments of Quebec and Canada and the City of Montreal, the Presidents Cup 2024 will continue to the positive trajectory of this event.”
As part of the news, Monahan announced a partnership between First Tee, Golf Canada and Golf Canada Foundation to launch First Tee – Canada. With plans to expand across the nation, the partnership will add First Tee’s youth development program to Golf Canada’s already impressive platform that reaches kids in schools and at golf facilities, helping to empower kids through a lifetime of new challenges and personal growth.
Founded in 1873, The Royal Montreal Golf Club is the oldest golf club in North America. Its Blue Course was designed by Dick Wilson and updated by Rees Jones in 2004 and 2005. In addition to hosting the Presidents Cup, The Royal Montreal has also held the RBC Canadian Open on 10 occasions, most recently in 2014.
“We are excited and more than pleased that we have been selected to host the Presidents Cup again, and we are thrilled that we will be welcoming the world’s best golfers to our club in 2024,” said Michael Richards, Chair of The Royal Montreal Golf Club’s bid committee. “Our club has experienced leadership and great members, and our goal is to make the 2024 Presidents Cup the best ever. With widespread support from leaders of the golf and business communities and from various levels of government and with the help of Tourisme Montreal, we are confident we will succeed.”
Graham DeLaet, Adam Hadwin and Mike Weir are the three Canadians who have competed in the Presidents Cup.
Weir, a five-time Presidents Cup participant, amassed a 13-9-2 record before spending the 2017 and 2019 Presidents Cup serving in the role of a captain’s assistant. Weir was famously drawn against Woods in his Sunday Singles match in 2007, which concluded with Weir winning the final two holes to capture the match, 1-up.
“I was very proud to be part of the Presidents Cup as a player in 2007, and to see it come back after being so well-supported the first time just speaks to how passionate we are in Canada about golf,” Weir said. “The fan turnout was tremendous, and as a Canadian I am very proud to have the Presidents Cup come back.”
Weir, the first Canadian to compete in the Presidents Cup, was later followed by DeLaet, who made his debut for Captain Nick Price in 2013. DeLaet, 31 years old at the time, delivered an inspiring 3-1-1 performance at Muirfield Village Golf Club, which included a Singles match victory over Jordan Spieth.
“I can only imagine the roars that will be heard around Royal Montreal, especially if a few Canadians are on the team,” DeLaet said. “Having the Presidents Cup is such a great way to grow the game in Canada and it’d be nice to see the International Team lift the Presidents Cup on Canadian soil.”
Hadwin became the third Canadian to participate in the Presidents Cup after qualifying for the 2017 International Team at Liberty National Golf Club. He then returned for the 2019 team thanks to one of four captain’s picks from Ernie Els, which he converted into a 1-1-1 record at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
“This is huge for Canadian golf,” Hadwin said. “The state of Canadian golf could not be better and I think it is such an appropriate time to bring it back into Canada. There’s a good chance that a few of us could end up representing the International Team there at Royal Montreal, so that adds to the excitement as well.
“I feel like we have some of the best golf fans in the world in Canada, and to bring a world-class event up to Canada is big for them and I know they’ll be excited to have it back.”
Also announced, Ryan Hart has been named as Executive Director of the 2024 Presidents Cup. Ryan has worked at the TOUR’s Headquarters for over 3 years, most recently as the Tournament Director of THE PLAYERS Championship. Raised in Winnipeg, Canada, Ryan returns home where he previously ran The Players Cup on Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada for seven years while leading a local marketing firm. Ryan will be returning to Canada to lead the TOUR’s efforts over the next four years.
Tournament dates for the 2024 Presidents Cup will be announced at later date.
Golf Canada partners with First Tee to establish First Tee – Canada
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada and First Tee announced today a new partnership to launch First Tee – Canada. First Tee’s Board Chairman, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, shared the news during a global announcement that Presidents Cup will return to Royal Montreal Golf Club in 2024.
Together, the partnership will bring First Tee’s youth development emphasis to strengthen Golf Canada’s junior golf activities – previously conducted under the Future Links brand – that reach kids in schools and at golf facilities. The innovative First Tee curriculum will focus on empowering young people to build their strength of character through the game of golf. Golf Canada will serve as the national headquarters of First Tee – Canada.
“Partnering with First Tee towards the 2021 launch of First Tee – Canada will provide Canadian youth and especially those in underrepresented groups access to affordable and meaningful character education programs through golf,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada have developed a strong foundation for junior golf programming over the past twenty plus years through Future Links. We are excited going forward to partner with the globally recognized First Tee brand and work collaboratively with the Golf Canada Foundation to strengthen our youth development activities.”
“Golf Canada has made a significant impact on the growth of the sport in Canada through their multi-faceted junior golf initiatives and was a natural fit for us to partner with the launch of First Tee – Canada,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO, First Tee. “Together, we will bring the First Tee youth development program nationwide and build on Golf Canada’s impressive grassroots success with programming that reaches kids via nearly 600 golf facilities and 4,100 participating schools.”
The PGA of Canada will play a leading role in the training of coaches who will serve as mentors to the kids and teens in the program. Coaches will help bring the curriculum to life by introducing youth to fun and active experiences that help them build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that can carry to everything they do.
“We are proud that PGA of Canada professionals will play an important role in utilizing golf to teach First Tee core values of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, judgement and courtesy,” said Kevin Thistle, CEO of PGA of Canada. “We look forward to supporting the development of youth and junior golfers through the coaching and mentorship of PGA of Canada professionals in alignment with the National Coaching Certification Program.”
First Tee – Canada will target to launch multiple chapters in 2021 with a growth strategy to establish First Tee chapters in markets across Canada through 2023. The inaugural First Tee – Canada chapter launching in 2021 will be located in Victoria, British Columbia at the Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort Community which is also home to Golf Canada’s National Training Centre. This was made possible by the support of the Matthews and Kusumoto families. Dan Matthews is a global Trustee and a member of the Board of Governors of the First Tee and a member of the Board of Directors of the Golf Canada Foundation. A First Tee chapter in Quebec will also be launched shortly thereafter, continuing the incredible legacy of past Presidents Cups. With support from the Presidents Cup, First Tee has successfully launched global chapters in Australia (2019) and Korea (2015).
Through its deep network of donors and trustees, Golf Canada Foundation will be 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 begin to form in markets across Canada. In addition, Golf Canada will continue to work with the NGCOA Canada (National Golf Course Owner’s Association) and other key industry stakeholders towards a more inclusive golf experience for Canadian youth.
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—Australia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco and Canada—delivering programs that help young people build character and develop life skills through the game of golf. A First Tee chapter out of Vancouver is operating independently out of Vancouver, and previously out of Montreal, prior to the launch of First Tee – Canada.
