PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR announced today a new program designed to strengthen and elevate the path to the PGA TOUR through the Korn Ferry Tour, Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Series – China. PGA TOUR University will reward elite collegiate play with varying levels of playing access to Tours operated under the PGA TOUR umbrella, while upholding the principles and virtues of collegiate athletics.

Players eligible for the PGA TOUR University Ranking List will be NCAA Division I golfers who complete a minimum of four years in college.

“With the level of immediate success from the top collegiate players in the last decade, our team has done extensive research over time and developed a plan to provide a pathway for those players as they begin their journeys into the professional ranks,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “By focusing our efforts on players who have completed a minimum of four years, PGA TOUR University will not deter from the college game while ensuring its graduates benefit from their maturity and experience.”

The top 15 finishers from the final Official PGA TOUR University Ranking List at the conclusion of each NCAA collegiate spring season (defined by the conclusion of the NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championship) will be awarded exempt status to the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Series – China, based on their respective finish.

The top five finishers from the final Official PGA TOUR University Ranking List will receive Korn Ferry Tour membership and will be exempt into all open, full-field events beginning the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship through the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour regular season. The top five finishers will also be exempt into the Final Stage of that year’s Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament.

Finishers Nos. 6-15 will secure membership on one of the International Tours for the current season and a spot in the Second Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament (if necessary). At that point, these players will have their choice of which International Tour their exempt status applies to.

The eligibility for each respective Tour will begin the week following the conclusion of the NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Championship. The 2021 NCAA Men’s Championship is scheduled to be held at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, from May 28 – June 2.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for these players to begin their professional careers on a path to the PGA TOUR. Just as importantly, we are able to continue building on the great momentum the Korn Ferry Tour and our International Tours have enjoyed in recent years by strengthening the field of competition with the addition of these collegiate stars,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin.

“We have always been proud of the talent level on our International Tours and have enjoyed observing the success players have had as they’ve moved on to both the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR after competing in Latin America, Canada and China,” said Rob Ohno, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, International Tours. “Now with the addition of these accomplished college golfers entering the professional ranks, we are grateful that many of them will choose the International Tours as their desired path. As they start their careers, we will warmly welcome those who choose to pursue their dreams on any of our Tours.”

The PGA TOUR will partner with the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), which is administered by The R&A and the USGA, to create the PGA TOUR University Ranking List. The WAGR system ranks the top amateurs on the basis of their average performance in counting events on a rolling cycle over the previous 104 weeks. The list will be filtered to include those players and results meeting the PGA TOUR University eligibility criteria.

Events which will count towards the Official PGA TOUR University Ranking List include NCAA Division I Men’s Golf events and official PGA TOUR events, including the Masters, U.S. Open and The Open Championship.

The first Official PGA TOUR University Ranking List will be unveiled this summer leading into the start of the 2020-21 Division I season, with the Ranking List updated each week during the season.

PGA TOUR University will partner with GOLF Channel to provide extensive coverage of NCAA Division I golf to complement the Ranking List and showcase the race to the top 15. GOLF Channel is the television home for college golf, televising six college golf championships, including the men’s NCAA Championships since 2014.

For more information on PGA TOUR University, including a Frequently Asked Questions page, please visit PGATOUR.com/University.

The NSGA, our member clubs and our Allied Golf Associations have worked very hard to create a plan that has been implemented so that golf courses can re-open here in Nova Scotia. We are very pleased with the outcome of this process. Our thanks to each of you for your patience during this difficult time.

As expected, this update comes with a few restrictions. Along with the opening of courses, Dr. Strang also announced the guidelines that golf clubs and golfers alike will have to follow when teeing it up.

As of Saturday, May 16, 2020, golf courses around the province will be allowed to open.

The announcement was made during Friday, May 15, 2020 press conference with Premier Stephen MacNeil, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Strang.

Our golfers need to be prepared of the many protocols that are in place to ensure the health and safety of our golfers, our golf course staff and our communities. As a golfer it is your responsibility to know and understand these rules.

For a complete list of protocols please CLICK HERE – updated May 29, 2020

If you have questions about golfing under these new Covid-19 safety protocols please contact your home club or the course where you are planning to play. It is important that we all play our part to ensure that we maintain physical distancing and adhere to these practices.

Please stay safe and make sure to maintain social distancing at all times.

Here is a list of member clubs, and their opening dates:

To All NSGA Members:

As the weather continues to improve and we see New Brunswick and PEI prepare to open their golf courses, we recognize the growing frustration of the golfing community here in Nova Scotia.

We have been working hard in cooperation with other key golf industry stakeholders to communicate that golf is well positioned to open safely. Our clubs, PGA Professionals, Superintendents, General Managers, owners and operators are all working collaboratively to ensure that we will be ready to open when the time comes.

This afternoon Dr. Strang announced a slow and steady reopening of outdoor activities, and golf is part of this plan. Effective today driving ranges will be open, however courses will remain closed. It is very encouraging that golf has taken the first step towards re-opening. Our course will open soon.

That said, we know that Nova Scotia’s battle against COVID-19 has resulted in greater a number of cases than other provinces. While our neighbouring provinces have successfully gone more than a week without any new cases, we continue to see our number of cases grow. Now is the time that we must continue to practice physical distancing and do our part to stop the spread. We are almost there and we need to be patient.

Now, if hitting the range isn’t enough, I bet you’re wondering: “may I drive cross provincial borders and play?” In short, the answer is NO. Strict travel restrictions between maritime provinces are still in place. Making personal and most business travel basically impossible, and at this time no date has been set for re-opening. If there is an off chance you may meet the restrictions of inter-provincial travel with the Health Measures Act still in place, you will still be required to self-isolate for 14 days once you return.

For more information on the resources used for this release, please see the links below:

• https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/alerts-notices/
• https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/travel-restrictions-between-maritime-provinces-could-remain-in-place-for-some-time-1.4911118
• http://www.nshealth.ca/covid-19-faq-families-and-members-public

Update on the Men’s Four Ball Championship

The 2020 is schedule for June 13-14 at the Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club. A final decision to host this championship on this date will be made on or before May 12, 2020.

NSGA Championship Registration – NOW OPEN

Registration for all NSGA Provincial Championships are now open!

We are very excited to have MCT Insurance a Division of Brokerlink as the Title Sponsor of the MCT Men’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship. The MCT Men’s Amateur will be played at the Ken Wo Golf Club on July 3-5 and the MCT Men’s Mid-Amateur will be played at the Amherst Golf Club on July 17-19.

We would like to welcome TaylorMade as out new equipment supplier for the 2020 Championship Season. This year all competitors will receive a welcome gift from TaylorMade upon checking in before the first round at each event.

We would also like to thank Jaguar Land Rover Halifax for sponsoring a hole-in-one prize at each of our 2020 competitions. During Amateur events, participants will have a chance to win a new car, and during the Junior Championship, participants will have the chance to win a $50,000 education fund.

To register, please visit: http://nsga.ns.ca/competitions/

NSGA’s COVID-19 Resource Page

The NSGA is committed to fostering a safe sport environment. Through this difficult and unprecedented crisis, that commitment includes the health and well-being of golfers as well as every Nova Scotian in the communities where we live and play. Our thoughts are with those personally affected by the virus including their families, our most vulnerable citizens and the incredible health care workers who are facing the pandemic on the front lines.

Our industry is fortunate to have a wide-ranging support network of provincial, national and international partners bringing together their expertise to help us navigate through the uncertainty of COVID-19.

Collaboration and information sharing are critical during this challenging time and the NSGA has created the resource page below with helpful links to support our member clubs, golfers and our many industry partners coming together during this crisis. The resource page will be updated regularly as information and updates become available.

Canadian professional golfers came together to send a video message expressing their gratitude to frontline workers for their courage and sacrifice.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Big thanks to the frontline workers for your courage and sacrifice during this difficult time ❤️ ⁣ ⁣ ? @bobweekstsn

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Apr 23, 2020 at 7:24pm PDT

Due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, We Are Golf (The National Allied Golf Associations/NAGA) has postponed National Golf Day in Canada, originally scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

The postponement of National Golf Day in Canada includes the We Are Golf government advocacy visit to Parliament Hill in Ottawa—an event aimed at raising awareness among government decision makers on the many positive impacts of the golf industry. An alternate date has not been selected at this time.

We appreciate that all government officials are directing their full attention and resources to support the health and safety of Canadians during this unprecedented health crisis. When the time is right, the Canadian golf industry will be ready to share the significant economic, health, employment, tourism and charitable impact of golf in communities from coast to coast.

We Are Golf is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our members, golfers, staff, volunteers and industry stakeholders as well as every Canadian in the communities where we live, work and play.

Wendy Sentner has been elected President of the Nova Scotia Golf Association for the 2020-2021 season. The election took place on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at the Nova Scotia Golf Association (NSGA) Annual General Meeting.

Ms. Sentner is the first Public Player to serve as President of the NSGA.

Wendy joined the NSGA Board in 2018 and has served as 2nd Vice President and 1st Vice President, as well as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. Wendy championed the initiative to bring the inaugural NSGA Atlantic University/College Championship to fruition in September of 2019.

The following new board members where also elected during the Annual General Meeting

Karla Wilms – Director 

Karla is a member of River Hills Golf and Country Club in Clyde River, NS, and is an active both as a volunteer and a competitor. She has served on numerous volunteer committees from Ladies Division President to Tournament Director.

Over the past 25 years, she has worked for the Nova Scotia Community College, and is currently the Academic Chair and Site Manager for the Shelburne Campus. She has served on numerous community boards including the Community Business Development Corporation, Barrington and Shelburne Chamber of Commerce and the Nova Scotia Stick Curling Association. Karla has a Bachelor of Arts from Acadia and Bachelor of Education from Dalhousie.

Karla has won the River Hills Club Championship a record 32 times and has represented Nova Scotia three times as a member of the Women’s Amateur Team.

Karla lives in Clyde River with husband Dan.

Alix Digout – Director 

Born and raised in Halifax, Alix is an Associate Lawyer within MDW Law’s personal injury law practice; A ten-lawyer firm run by an all-female partnership in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

After graduating from Saint Mary’s in 2010 with a B.A, Alix moved to London, England to complete her Law Degree. Where she used her time abroad to gain a global perspective and to interact with individuals from all walks of life.

Outside of the office Alix is a massive sports fan, and grew up playing competitive soccer and curling. She has now turned her sights on “perfecting” her golf game. Despite being a lifelong golf fan and avid viewer, Alix only began her golfing journey within the last five years (still humbly learning the game, but with enthusiasm).

Sean is a member of Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax N.S, and is an active competitor during the summer months, and is no stranger to the NSGA. In 2019 Sean won the NSGA Men’s 4-Ball, and the MCT Men’s MID-Amateur in 2016 and 2019. Over the years, he has represented Nova Scotia at numerous National Championships, including the 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur at Glen Arbour, N.S.

• President – Wendy Sentner, Public Player
• Vice President – David Bolton, Ken-Wo
• 2nd Vice President – Geoff Baker, Ashburn
• Past President – David Acker, Ken Wo
• VP Finance – Sean Stuart, Ashburn
• Director – Jim Ogilvie, Hartlen Point
• Director – Bill MacMillan, Hartlen Point
• Director – Rob Collins, Clare
• Director – Ernie Muise, Clare
• Director – Cathy Beaton, Antigonish
• Director – Bruce Smith, Ashburn
• Director – Karla Wilms, River Hills
• Director – Alix Digout, NSPPC
• Director – Kent Rodgers, Brightwood

April 24, 2020

During these challenging times in Atlantic Canada, golf associations have come together to pool resources and expertise in order to clearly define a safe path for the golf industry as we navigate through the current challenges that we face. 

The Atlantic Allied Golf Associations applaud the work of our health officials, our essential workers and various Government Agencies and Health Authorities for their active roles in ensuring the continued safety of our citizens, our communities, our provinces and our nation.

With no immediate end to the current health crisis on the horizon and the impacts on our citizens, businesses and communities mounting daily, we appreciate the challenges government officials are facing when deciding on the movement of people and the operation of businesses.

With the start to the Atlantic Canadian golf season just around the corner, the Atlantic Allied Golf Associations are working closely with our golf courses and our national and international partners to ensure that the health and safety of our facility staff and the general public is our top priority. 

There is a great deal of information readily available from multiple jurisdictions however the specific governmental and health requirements vary greatly from region to region, province to province and country to country. We are currently compiling relevant best practices and are consulting with various provincial governments and health authorities to identify key benchmarks and health and safety guidelines. These will be distributed to our partner facilities once they are identified and properly vetted so that they meet the appropriate requirements from the Government of Canada, our specific provinces and the various municipalities in our provinces.

We are all anxious to get the golf season up and running but we understand the dilemmas that our government and health officials face, especially when determining whether to allow some businesses to operate and the financial impacts these decisions will have on our communities moving forward. 

It is our goal that golf can be one of the businesses allowed to open during the first wave of openings given its ability to include guidelines for our clubs to follow that will allow for safe operation while offering an opportunity for the physical and mental well-being of our citizens.

The Atlantic Allied Golf Associations will continue to respect and support the positions of the federal and provincial Governments and the Chief Medical Officers of Health as we look forward to the time when the golf industry can help our communities heal by playing its part in providing a safe and responsible recreational opportunity for our citizens while also getting individuals back to work.

We will continue to work together with our partner facilities to prepare for the 2020 season and ensure that, once golf courses are allowed to safely open, clubs in Atlantic Canada are organized and well prepared to operate with the health and safety of players and staff members as a top priority. 

Sincerely,

Atlantic Allied Golf Associations

Lindon Garron – Executive Director, PGA Atlantic

Jim Thompson – Regional Director, Atlantic Chapter National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada
Jim Nix – Executive Director, Atlantic Golf Superintendents Association

Tyson Flinn – Executive Director, Golf New Brunswick

David Campbell – Executive Director, Nova Scotia Golf Association

Sean Joyce – Representative, Prince Edward Island Golf Association

Greg Hillier – Executive Director, Golf Newfoundland Labrador

Jeffrey Hutt – Regional Director, Atlantic Canada, Golf Canada

 – Golf Canada and RBC will now pivot all efforts towards planning for a celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open in 2021 – 

TORONTO – With continued public health concerns as well as international travel and government restrictions due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the PGA TOUR, in consultation with Golf Canada and RBC, has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 RBC Canadian Open.

The event was scheduled for June 8-14 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club with Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility. The cancellation of the 2020 RBC Canadian Open also includes the RBCxMusic Concert Series which was scheduled to take place June 12-13 at Richview Collegiate Institute, featuring headline performances by The Chainsmokers and Keith Urban.

“The RBC Canadian Open has always been a rallying point for Canadian golf and while we share in the crushing disappointment with our fans, players, volunteers and many event partners, our primary responsibility is the safety of our people and our communities,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “It is now our full intention to push forward together with RBC, the PGA TOUR, the City of Toronto and our host clubs with the goal to bring the 2021 RBC Canadian Open to St. George’s Golf and Country Club with Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.”

“Our foremost consideration is the health and safety of everyone in our community, including the players, spectators, our staff and volunteers, the media and the thousands of supporters who contribute to the success of our event,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “The international travel restrictions, required quarantine measures and government mandates were critical factors that contributed to the decision to cancel our event this year. We have no doubt that the incredible momentum we’ve built together with our partners will make the 2021 RBC Canadian Open a world-class experience.”

Golf Canada and RBC would like to thank golf fans across the nation for their understanding and in particular, our  many corporate partners, ticket and hospitality purchasers, as well as the countless volunteers for their continued support through this unprecedented time.

Golf Canada, the PGA TOUR and RBC have continued to monitor the guidelines provided by federal, provincial and municipal government health authorities in order to prevent the spread of the virus within our communities. With this decision, Golf Canada and RBC will now turn their focus towards the 2021 RBC Canadian Open.

Dating back to its inception in 1904, the cancellation of the 2020 RBC Canadian Open marks only the seventh time that Canada’s National Open Championship has not been conducted, including wartime cancellations from 1915-18 as well as 1943-44.

All corporate hospitality buyers will be contacted by their Golf Canada sales representative over the coming days to plan forward for 2021 and individual ticket purchases made via Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded within the next 30 days. The same refund policy applies for RBC clients who purchased RBCxMusic Tickets.

For more information, visit www.rbccanadianopen.com.

April 15, 2020

To All NSGA Members:

The NSGA continues to support the public safety guidelines and recommendations of the provincial Government, the Provincial Health Authority, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization. We would like to thank all the front line workers who continue to battle against this deadly pandemic.

Over the past month the NSGA has been working closely with our member clubs and Allied Golf Associations, including the PGA Atlantic, Atlantic Superintendents, NGCOA, Golf Canada and the Provincial Golf Associations. We are collaborating to develop best practices to ensure that golf will be prepared when the time is right. It is important for golfers to remain patient and respect the recommendations from the Nova Scotia Department of Health.

Golf Canada’s COVID-19 Resource Page

Golf Canada is committed to fostering a safe sport environment. Through this difficult and unprecedented crisis, that commitment includes the health and well-being of golfers as well as every Canadian in the communities where we live and play. Our thoughts are with those personally affected by the virus including their families, our most vulnerable citizens and the incredible health care workers who are facing the pandemic on the front lines.

Our industry is fortunate to have a wide-ranging support network of provincial, national and international partners bringing together their expertise to help Canadian golf navigate through the uncertainty of COVID-19.

Collaboration and information sharing are critical during this challenging time and Golf Canada has created the resource page below with helpful links to support our member clubs, golfers and our many industry partners coming together during this crisis. The resource page will be updated regularly as information and updates become available.

Please visit https://golfcanada.ca/covid-19 for more information.

NSGA Men’s 4-Ball Registration Opens

Registration for the NSGA Men’s Four-ball, hosted by Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club, is now open. This season, all competitors will receive a welcome gift from Taylormade upon checking in before your first round at the registration desk.

New this year for all amateur events, competitors will have a chance to win a new car from our Hole in one sponsor Halifax Jaguar Land Rover.

Click here to register. If you have any questions please contact Bryce at bryce@nsga.ns.ca.

For all other provincial championships registration will now open on May 1. We will be collecting competitors payment information at the time of registration, as per usual. All competitors will then be put into “eligibility pending,” until we are certain the championship is happening.

A notice to competitors will be circulated a minimum of 21-days prior to the event, on the status of the championship. Please note: credit card payments will not be processed until the event is confirmed, and not until the 21-days prior.

BC Golf Junior Education Webinar Series

Join BC Golf for this April and May, as Golf, Fitness, Nutrition and Mental Performance professionals share their expertise with all BC Junior Golfers for the first BC Junior Golf Education Summit via online webinars.

The 2020 Summit will bring together leaders in junior golf development to discuss the pillars of performance along the competitive pathway, centered around this year’s theme of “Resilience and Adaptability.”

The 2020 BC Junior Golf Education Summit is an amazing opportunity for competitive juniors of all ages and ability to come together to learn from some of the best coaches in Canada on how to succeed along the path to becoming the best possible golfer you can be. There has never been an online event that has brought together such a qualified group of presenters who are truly passionate about golf.

Click here to Register  All webinars are FREE of charge!

Schedule:

All webinars will be approximately 45 to 60 min and start at 4:00 p.m. PST (8:00 pm AST)

• Thu, April 16th  – College Golf – the right school for you
• Tues, April 21st  – Adapting Your Fitness Routine
• Thur, April 23rd  – Rules and How to Benefit Part 1
• Tues, April 28th  – Self Awareness and Attentional Control
• Thur, April 30th  – Emotional Control and Stress Management
• Wed, May 5th   – Your Mental Skill Toolkit
• Fri, May 7th   – Rules and How to Benefit Part 2
• Wed, May 12th  – Versatility and Tactics
• Fri, May 14th  – Building your foundation – Nutrition, Hydration, Recovery
• Wed, May 19th  – Being Adaptable and Resilient during Competition

NSGA Player Handicap Webinars

Beginning in May, the NSGA will be hosting player focused World Handicap System Webinars. If you are interested in attending one of these webinar, please contact Anne (anne@nsga.ns.ca).

NSGA Virtual Coffee House

Every Wednesday from 11am-12pm the NSGA will be hosting a Virtual Coffee House. It will be an open forum for members to ask questions on championships, handicapping, rules, or to just chat about golf with people who love the game. To join us in the Virtual Coffee Room, please click here on Wednesday’s at 11am. All are welcome.

Join us for this April and May, as Golf, Fitness, Nutrition and Mental Performance professionals share their expertise with all BC Junior Golfers for the first BC Junior Golf Education Summit via online webinars.

The 2020 Summit will bring together leaders in junior golf development to discuss the pillars of performance along the competitive pathway, centered around this year’s theme of “Resilience and Adaptability.”

The 2020 BC Junior Golf Education Summit is an amazing opportunity for competitive juniors of all ages and ability to come together to learn from some of the best coaches in Canada on how to succeed along the path to becoming the best possible golfer you can be. There has never been an online event that has brought together such a qualified group of presenters who are truly passionate about golf.

Click here to Register  All Webinars are free of charge!

Schedule:

All webinars will be approximately 45 to 60 min and start at 4:00 p.m. PST (8:00 pm AST)

• Thu, April 16th  – College Golf – the right school for you
• Tues, April 21st  – Adapting Your Fitness Routine
• Thur, April 23rd  – Rules and How to Benefit Part 1
• Tues, April 28th  – Self Awareness and Attentional Control
• Thur, April 30th  – Emotional Control and Stress Management
• Wed, May 5th   – Your Mental Skill Toolkit
• Fri, May 7th   – Rules and How to Benefit Part 2
• Wed, May 12th  – Versatility and Tactics
• Fri, May 14th  – Building your foundation – Nutrition, Hydration, Recovery
• Wed, May 19th  – Being Adaptable and Resilient during Competition

For more information on each webinar, and speaker bios, please see below.