Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation have joined together to launch the COVID-19 GOLF RELIEF FUND, to support golf courses in helping employees and golfers stay safe while also thanking front-line workers through encouraging additional play and welcoming juniors to further experience the game.

During the pandemic, golf has experienced a booming resurgence, emerging as one of the safest recreational activities for Canadians to enjoy and highlighting the physical and mental benefits that the sport provides.

Developed in consultation with key stakeholders, the RELIEF FUND will focus on two primary areas:

1) SAFETY: To help maintain the momentum of golf, the RELIEF FUND will subsidize non-medical PPE (personal protective equipment) for golf course employees, as well as sanitization, hygiene, and protective material expenses.

2) FUN: To thank front-line workers and help juniors increase social interactions and outdoor activity during the pandemic, the RELIEF FUND will subsidize rounds for both groups to enjoy playing golf.

“We find ourselves in a very surprising but special moment for golf and we wanted to show appreciation to the courses providing a safe golf experience and to all Canadians who are coming out and playing. We also wanted to thank our incredible front-line workers who are leading us through unprecedented adversity,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “We are sensitive to the ongoing pandemic and amongst the crushing impact, golf has been a bright spot. This has also been a difficult year for so many kids who have had their summers disrupted and we wanted to support our member clubs in providing youth a healthy outlet through golf.”

Golf Canada member clubs who apply for the RELIEF FUND will be eligible for subsidies up to a maximum of $1,000 per club, with applications opening on August 12 on a first-come, first-served basis.

The RELIEF FUND will launch to the public July 28, across Golf Canada’s digital network, throughout Golf Canada member clubs, Ascend Fundraising Solutions’ marketing platforms, and the Provincial Golf Associations.

In addition to welcoming donations to support the RELIEF FUND, golfers and golf fans across the country will be able to support by participating in a four-week digital sweepstakes campaign featuring significant prizing across Canada and the U.S. in 2021.

“We have taken the challenge of the pandemic to pivot our donation efforts as a rallying point for the Canadian golf community,” said Martin Barnard, CEO of the Golf Canada Foundation. “Golf has always been a driver for significant charitable giving and the cancellation of so many fundraising events through the pandemic has been difficult. Partners and donors have embraced the idea of a golf specific relief fund that supports front-line workers and juniors, and also helps to keep industry employees safe throughout the season.”

The Grand prize includes a VIP hospitality experience at the 2021 RBC Canadian Open at St. Georges Golf and Country Club. The early-bird prize package to be drawn on August 12 features a spectacular stay-and-play experience at Cabot Links and Cliffs. Tickets for the sweepstakes can be purchased at www.golfcanadasweeps.com and will be available for sale until August 27.

Currently at close to $350,000 before launching to the public, the RELIEF FUND is proudly and graciously supported by the R&A, PGA TOUR, USGA, PGA of Canada, Bear Mountain Resort, Cabot Cape Breton, and TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

Team Canada alumni and PGA TOUR winner Adam Hadwin has personally supported the RELIEF FUND, as part of his effort to give back once the RBC Canadian Open had been cancelled.

RBC Ambassador and three-time PGA TOUR winner Ryan Palmer also has donated to the RELIEF FUND through a fundraising challenge specifically created to help the charities of tournaments that were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Donations to the RELIEF FUND will be accepted throughout the golf season and more contributions will be announced over the course of the campaign as partners and donors join in supporting the cause.

Amherst N.S. – Stuart Lenehan of Grandview Golf & Country Club has captured his third MCT MID-Amateur Championship title today at Amherst Golf Club.

Lenehan managed to make almost every score possible, carding two eagles, one birdie, one par, five bogeys, and one double…and that was only on the front nine. On the back, Stuart was able to steady the pace, and card only one bogey and a birdie on No. 18, to finish the round 1-over-par (72).

Lenehan finished the tournament at 1-under-par 70-70-72 (212).

Only one shot behind, and finishing in second place, was David Williamson of Ashburn Golf Club. Williamson had a solid tournament, finishing even-par, with a three-day total of 74-68-71 (213).

Two shots back of Lenehan, and rounding out the top three was 2019 Champion Sean Stuart of Ashburn Club Club. A few unlucky breaks for Sean resulted in a 3-over-par 74 today. Giving him a tournament total of 69-71-74 (214).

Trevor Chow of Ashburn Golf Club, a three time MID-Amateur Champion, took home the MID-Master Championship today, after carding a one-under-par (70). Chow finished T4th overall, and had a tournament total of 72-73-70 (215).

 

Public Player, Chad Anderson took home the top spot for Division 2, after three consistent rounds of 74-73-73 (220). Amherst Golf Club member, Cliff Lowrey Jr., went wire to wire to win the Division 3 title. Lowery had a tournament total of 78-76-77 (231).

For complete results of the 2020 MCT Men’s MID-Amateur Championship, please CLICK HERE.

The NSGA would like to thank our title sponsor MCT Insurance. MCT offers preferred rates on home and auto insurance to all NSGA members. For more information on MCT, please CLICK HERE.

Amherst N.S. – It was a perfect day for golf at Amherst Golf Club, as today marked the first round of the 2020 MCT Men’s MID-Amateur Championship.

Leading the field is Sean Stuart of Ashburn Golf Club. The 30-year-old, and two time MID Amateur Champion (2016 & 2019), carded one eagle and three birdies to finish the day 2-under-par (69).

If it seems like it’s been harder to get a tee time this summer, it’s not just your imagination.

Golf Canada reports that there were 17 per cent more scores registered with the national sport body this June compared to the same month last year. A total of 1,483,506 rounds were submitted to Golf Canada’s handicap calculator last month compared to 1,271,782 in June 2019.

“It was a pretty big jump from last year, comparing 2019 numbers to this year,” said Adam Helmer, senior director of golf services for Golf Canada, on Wednesday. “We were expecting that as golf has emerged as one of the safest activities, where people can be physically distant and we’ve reduced touchpoints.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

What a month CANADA! June 2020 was the greatest month of scores posted to the Golf Canada Score Centre in recorded history ? Special thanks to all golfers, member clubs and operators for accomplishing this while keeping everybody safe. Here’s to beating this number in July – go low Canada! ??

A post shared by Laurence Applebaum (@laurence.applebaum) on Jul 14, 2020 at 7:44pm PDT

The surge in June ended a streak of three months when recreational rounds played in Canada dropped precipitously due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As restrictions were lifted across the country in May, the number of scores registered increased.

In May, 165,026 rounds were registered between the 1st and the 15th but 265,480 scores were submitted in the final two weeks of that month. The May 1-15 numbers are a nearly 40 per cent drop from the same period in 2019 (211,809) but the May 16-30 numbers are just five per cent lower than last year (269,266).

Helmer said he expects the number of rounds submitted to Golf Canada to continue to climb through July and into August.

“We’ve heard anecdotally that a lot of newcomers have joined the sport, especially now that school is done we’re going to see an increase in juniors too. We think the trend is going to continue,” said Helmer. “Golf has seen a pretty big lift and it’s emerged as the sport of the summer.”

The upward trend comes even as Golf Canada had to cancel all of its amateur and professional championships due to travel restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

A shift in how scores are registered has also been seen, with most recreational players entering their scores online instead of in the course’s clubhouse or pro shop, which have largely been closed this summer because of physical distancing protocols.

Golf Canada plans to launch an updated version of its scoring app later this month, helping to keep players physically distant and improve their game.