Old Man Winter is finally loosening his grip on golf courses across the country and many of you are already shaking off the rust of a Canadian winter and heading to the first tee, ready to post those scores for handicap purposes.

Good for you!

But did you know that those scores can only be posted in Canada during what is called the “Active Season” in your province?

While some lucky folks in more temperate climes (that’s you, British Columbia) can already post their scores, the rest of us have to wait until the middle of April or later.

From west to east, Active Seasons are: B.C., March 1-Nov. 15; Alberta, March 1-Oct. 31; Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, April 15-Oct. 31; New Brunswick, May 1-Oct. 31; P.E.I., April 16-Nov. 14; Newfoundland and Labrador, May 1-Oct. 15.

Why is there such a thing as an “Active Season”?

“Active Season exists to help eliminate scores that might adversely affect the calculation of a handicap because they are generally not played under what we call `mid-season` playing conditions,” said Craig Loughry, Golf Canada’s representative on the World Handicap Committee.

“Generally, outside the Active Season, conditions are soggy, wet, lots of leaves (potential lost ball or bad lie), cool, etc., which makes the course play a little longer and different than mid-season (virtually little to no roll on tee shots, which means a loss per drive of about 20 yards. On an average course that has 14 driving holes, that could mean a 280-yard difference just on yardage alone.

“Greens are also much more receptive and generally slow compared to mid-season. It’s a combination of these things which distort how the course plays from which it was rated (we assume mid-season when the majority of rounds are played) and what the expected scores would be in optimum conditions, so we set an Active Season to help mitigate the effect of scores played in the shoulder season.”

While those dates aren’t likely to change in 2020, there will be a significant updating of the handicap system starting Jan. 1 when the new World Handicap System is implemented.

For the past four years, Loughry has represented Canada as Golf Canada’s representative on the World Handicap Committee, sitting beside the other major golf associations from around the globe in an effort to make the system more equitable, flexible, consistent and understandable.

Significantly, the committee—Loughry calls it “the United Nations of handicapping”—will meet in Toronto this fall, its first gathering ever outside the United States, Britain and Europe.

“We hope by informing golfers of the impending changes this far in advance, they will have the opportunity to review the changes and comment on them,” Loughry says.

A limit of net double bogey per hole will be allowed for handicapping purposes and the maximum Handicap Index will be set at 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game.

Perhaps the most obvious change for Canadians is that the term “Handicap Factor” used in this country for years will become “Handicap Index” to align with the USGA terminology and which will be used worldwide. But the new system will adopt Canada’s practice of updating handicaps daily in all countries, as opposed to the current USGA model.

A list of 9 useful tips for the World Handicap System can be found here.

The committee’s research shows that your Index is unlikely to change significantly from your previous Factor. Only 54 holes worth of scores will be required for an initial Index and your Index will eventually be averaged using the best eight of your last 20 scores posted.

One very notable innovation is the Playing Conditions Calculation which “analyzes how players have performed that day compared to their expected performance on that golf course. It will naturally include weather and course setup (reflected in the scores) and if expected results fall outside a tolerance level, an adjustment will apply to all scores played on that course for that day.”

Have a look at the changes and take advantage of the opportunity to comment.

As for me, when the Active Season starts here in Ontario, I’ll already be posting scores via the Golf Canada app from South Carolina where the Active Season never ends. My snow blower’s broken.

The Canadian golf industry represented by We Are Golf (formerly the National Allied Golf Association) has officially announced that May 1, 2019 has been tabbed as National Golf Day in Canada.

The date aligns with the We Are Golf initiative spearheaded out of the United States—also set for May 1, 2019—and will bring further attention to the game of golf and its significant community impact within not only Canada, but across North America.

We are Golf is comprised of all the national golf associations within Canada—Golf Canada, the Canadian Society of Club Managers, the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association, the PGA of Canada and the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada.

Planning for National Golf Day is underway with several activities to build upon the success of the inaugural 2018 event which included government advocacy and discussion with MPs in Ottawa, a public junior golf activity on the Parliament Hill lawn and various golf activities at clubs across Canada. The continuation of National Golf Day in Canada in 2019 will again incorporate meetings by We Are Golf stakeholders with MPs and government officials.

“We are looking forward to building upon the success of our 2018 National Golf Day and government advocacy efforts in Ottawa and continue to bring the positive value of the game of golf to the forefront,” said We Are Golf chair, Kathryn Wood. “National Golf Day will be a tremendous catalyst for golf enthusiasts to rally and celebrate what the sport of golf means to them and their community.”

Each member association representing We Are Golf is also encouraging their respective memberships, partners and stakeholders to participate in National Golf Day in their own way to celebrate the significant economic, health, recreational, charitable and tourism benefits that golf drives in communities from coast to coast.

We Are Golf is calling on the entire golf community as well as partner associations and golfers to engage in National Golf Day as a can’t miss event on the Canadian golf calendar.

Golf enthusiasts across Canada are encouraged to get involved in National Golf Day by playing a round of golf, visiting a course or practice facility, enjoying family time at the course, introducing a new player to the game, adopting a school in their community through Golf in Schools, hosting a school golf field trip, taking a lesson, or making a purchase at their local pro shop.

Please visit http://wearegolf.ca/ to learn more, and to access a social media toolkit to promote the day and get involved!

Golf in Canada – A Snapshot:

In Canada, more than five million golfers play close to 60 million rounds annually at nearly 2,300 golf facilities from coast to coast—the most participated sport in this country.

Golf is a significant economic driver generating more than $14.3 billion in economic impact and employing more than 300,000 jobs, nearly 40% of which are summer students. Direct revenues generated by golf courses and their facilities ($5.0 billion) rivals the revenues generated by all other participation sports and recreation facilities combined ($4.8 billion). Golf courses also steward essential greenspace in the community in addition to hosting more than 37,000 charity events that raise more than $533 million annually to support important causes.

The health benefits of moderate-intensity physical activity, burning 850 to 1,500 calories as well as muscle endurance, blood circulation, flexibility and mental health along with respiratory, metabolic and cardiovascular improvements can’t be discounted. Golf as a safe and inclusive family sport is good for our children, instilling etiquette and values such as integrity, honest, fair play and the spirit of camaraderie.

     Champion to earn an exemption into 2020 RBC Canadian Open and

the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship

The world’s best amateur golfers are set to compete in the 115th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia being hosted at both Glen Arbour Golf Course and the Links at Brunello from Aug. 5-8, 2019.

This championship was first held in 1895, making it one of the most storied sporting events in Canada and the third oldest amateur golf championship in the world. Glen Arbour Golf Course will host over 240 players for four days of stroke play.  The Links at Brunello will co-host the first two rounds which will result in a cut after 36 holes.

Number 14 at the Glen Arbour Golf Course

Glen Arbour Golf Course has hosted the 2019 Atlantic Championship, 2012 TELUS World Skins Game, 2009 Mike Weir Miracle Drive Foundation tournament, and the 2005 BMO Canadian Women’s Open. Designed by Canadian golfing icon Graham Cooke, Glen Arbour was constructed for all levels of play. The course is expertly designed and a meticulously maintained, making it a test for golfers of all abilities by offering challenging greens, beautiful scenery and superior service. This 18-hole champion course provides great diversity in hole design, challenging elevation changes and a demanding layout. In addition to the 6,800-yard, par 72, 18-hole course, there is a 9-hole par 3 executive course as well as practice facilities on site.

Number 4 at the Links at Brunello 

The co-host The Links at Brunello was ranked #3 Best New Golf Course in North America for 2015 by Golf Digest. It has quickly earned the reputation of being one of the toughest courses in Nova Scotia. Designed by the legendary architect Tom McBroom, Brunello is carved from thick forests nestled amid gigantic granite boulders and boasts of stunning vistas. The Links at Brunello offers stunningly manicured bent grass tees, greens and fairways. The views combined with the natural beauty will be a test for these top competitors.

“We are delighted to be the co-host of the 115th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Links at Brunello here in Halifax, Nova Scotia,” said Miles Mortensen, General Manager at The Links at Brunello. “We are looking forward to welcoming Canada’s up-and-coming stars to The Links at Brunello and seeing our Thomas McBroom design showcase its tournament playability as part of crowning the next champion of this storied tournament.”

Zach Bauchou – 2017-2018 Canadian Amateur Champion

Zach Bauchou of Forest, Va. Is the back-to-back defending champion having claimedthe title in both 2017 and 2018. He is the 22nd American to capture the Canadian Men’s Amateur crown and only the 13th back-to-back champion in history. 

Current PGA TOUR Canadians’ Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.) and Nick Taylor (Abbotsford, B.C.) are recent winners of the event. Taylor won it in 2007 while Hughes won back-to-back titles for 2011-2012. Recent PGA Tour winner Corey Conners finished second at the Canadian Amateur in 2013. A full field of the nation’s top competitors are expected to head east and compete for the Earl Grey Trophy and the title of Canadian Men’s Amateur champion. In conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition an inter-provincial team championship will be played with teams of three members vying for the Willingdon Cup. After the first two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the final two rounds contested at Glen Arbour.

In addition to claiming the title of 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2019 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. and also entry in the 2020 RBC Canadian Open at St. Georges Golf & Country Club in Toronto ON. The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

The Canadian Men’s Amateur Qualifier will be played at Glen Arbour Golf Course on Aug. 2 where a minimum of five spots at the national tournament will be awarded. Additional information can be found here.

 In total, about 500 visitors (players, coaches, caddies, friends and family members) are expected to spend up to a week or more in the Halifax area for this multi-day competition. Supported by upwards of 200 volunteers from across Nova Scotia. To register to volunteer for the 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 20 championships nation-wide which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development, through world-class competition, since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific, Sport Canada, Levelwear, Titleist and FootJoy. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitons.

GOLF CANADA
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 319,000 golfers and 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

SAN ANTONIO – Canadian Corey Conners claimed his first PGA Tour victory and earned an invite to the Masters on Sunday, winning the Valero Texas Open less than a week after qualifying.

Conners only entered the tournament field Monday, and he’s the first golfer to win on the PGA Tour after qualifying on a Monday in nine years. He made three birdies in the final five holes, shooting a 6-under 66. He was 20-under for the tournament, winning by two shots over Charley Hoffman.

Next stop for Conners: Augusta, Georgia, for next week’s Masters.

Hoffman, the 2016 Texas Open winner, shot 67 for 18-under on the weekend.

Ryan Moore closed with an 8-under 64, a shot off the course record, and was third at 17-under.

Si Woo Kim, The Players Championship winner in 2017, led the opening three rounds but dropped to a tie for fourth with Brian Stuard (15-under) after an even-par 72.

Conners, the 2014 U.S. Amateur runner-up, will play in his second Masters. Two of the top three finishers last year at Augusta missed the top 10 this week. Rickie Fowler was tied for 17th while 10 strokes back at 10-under with a final-round 69, and Jordan Spieth (72) was 7-under.

Incredible performance from @coreconn. What a battle, and what a champion ??? pic.twitter.com/PnembdLq9q

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 7, 2019

Stuard finished with 66 to get to 15-under. Kevin Streelman closed with an 8-under 64 and was 14-under. He missed tying the course record when, after four-straight birdies, he hit his approach from the 18th fairway into the gallery and bogeyed.

Mackenzie Hughes (73) of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson (70) of Surrey, B.C., tied for 42nd at 5 under. Nick Taylor (72) of Abbotsford, B.C., tied for 52nd at 4 under.

It was a wild round for Conners, a native of Listowel, Ont., who had not won on any of the PGA Tour’s affiliated circuits. He had 10 birdies and four pars that sandwiched four consecutive bogeys on the front nine.

He had a one-stroke lead when he rammed home a 34-foot birdie putt at No. 12, and stayed a stroke up with a tap-in birdie at the 14th.

Moore joined Conners at the top of the leaderboard with an 8-foot putt at No. 16 that was his fourth birdie in five holes.

Moore missed a birdie opportunity on the next hole when he couldn’t convert on a putt from inside 10 feet. Minutes later, Conners sank a 10-footer to save par at No. 15, then hit to four feet to set up a birdie at the 175-yard par-3 16th. His birdie at No. 17 gave him a three-shot lead walking up the final hole.

Conners looked like he would tuck this one away early. He birdied four of the first five holes at TPC San Antonio. Trailing by a shot going in the final round, he benefited from a three-stroke swing on the leaderboard on the third hole with a 10-foot putt on the par-3. Kim hit into the water fronting the green and double-bogeyed. Later in the day, Kim was grabbing at his right upper body with an apparent injury.

Conners was two strokes ahead, and with birdies on the next two holes he led by four over both Kim and Hoffman.

But Conners bogeyed the next four, and three of those came after tee shots put him in nice position either from the middle of the fairway or close to it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

It was only a matter of time! @coreyconners, your latest Canuck to win on the #PGATOUR with a victory @valerotxopen! Canada and hometown Listowel couldn’t be more proud ???? – Next stop, @themasters!

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Apr 7, 2019 at 4:41pm PDT

The other bogey, on a par-3 at No. 7, he hit his tee shot into a bunker, then blasted over the green.

He made the turn and clicked off three consecutive birdies. The last player to qualify on Monday and win a PGA Tour event was Arjun Atwal in 2010 at the Wyndham Championship. That was the first time it had been done in 24 years.

Below is a list of clubs and their tentative opening dates for 2019:

• Eagle Crest GC – OPEN
• West Pubnico GC – OPEN
• River Hills GC – OPEN
• Ken-Wo G & CC – OPEN
• The Links at Brunello – OPEN
• The Links at Penn Hills – OPEN
• White Point – OPEN
• River Oaks (South Course) – OPEN
• Clare – OPEN
• Granite Springs – OPEN
• Lingan – OPEN
• Digby Pines – OPEN
• Links of Montague – April 28
• Berwick Heights GC – End of April
• Osprey Ridge GC – May 1
• Grandview GC – May 3
• Amherst GC – May 4

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Jeff Hutt of Fredericton, NB has been appointed as Golf Canada’s full-time Regional Director in Atlantic Canada.

Jeff, who was previously splitting his time between Golf Canada and his position as Director of Marketing with Golf New Brunswick, will now focus his time to better serve member clubs and support the execution of Golf Canada’s non-affiliated player strategy Atlantic Canada.

Jeff’s depth of industry insight, past experiences and established network of club contacts across the region will help strengthen the collaborative relationship between Golf Canada and the Atlantic Provincial Golf Associations while delivering enhanced service to our member clubs.

“I am really excited to be joining Golf Canada in a full-time capacity. “As I expand my role, my focus is to work with our provincial associations to better support our partner facilities in the implementation of our programs and services. I also look forward to helping grow an enhanced member experience for both non-affiliated players and members of partner facilities.”

Born in Halifax, N.S., Jeff moved to Fredericton, N.B. where he grew up in a golfing family. He was a member at Fredericton Golf Club where he participated in the junior program. As a teenager, he worked as a summer student at Kingswood Golf Course and went on to Holland College in P.E.I. where he enrolled in their Golf Club Management Program. After graduation, he returned to the University of New Brunswick to earn a degree in Hospitality and Tourism.

Over his 19-year career, Jeff has developed a strong skill set and industry network across the golf industry in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada.  He spent 10 years at Kingswood Resort in various roles before joining Golf New Brunswick as Manager of Marketing and Junior Programs. Over the next nine years, he held various roles with Golf N.B. including his most recent position as Director of Marketing. In 2015, Jeff added to his responsibilities and worked with Golf Canada on a part-time basis as the Regional Director for Atlantic Canada.

Jeff remains an avid golfer carrying a 5.8 handicap factor and enjoys playing the game both left and right handed.

Contact Information

Jeff Hutt

Regional Director, Atlantic Canada

E – jhutt@golfcanada.ca

P – 1.506.260.6599

Most golfers on the Web.com Tour don’t get to play Augusta National on their weeks off.

Mike Weir is the exception, however.

The 2003 Masters champion is planning on playing a full schedule on the PGA Tour’s feeder circuit thanks to a special exemption category for golfers aged 48-49 – which should mark the first time he’s played more than 20 events since 2014.

The 48-year-old native of Brights Grove, Ont. played three weeks in a row on the Web.com Tour in February – with his best result a tie for 35th at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, after being tied for the lead early in the week in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Before returning home to Utah for a rest, though, Weir took a trip to Augusta to check out the new par-4 fifth hole (it has been lengthened for 2019) and enjoy two days of golf with friends. He’ll tee it up again at the Masters in April.

“It’s always great to get back there,” said Weir, the lone Canadian to win a green jacket.

The last five years have seen Weir fall from being a PGA Tour regular to cobbling together an inconsistent schedule.

He’s battled a myriad of injuries but told The Canadian Press he feels “great” for the first time in recent memory. He says he’s more motivated than ever to get back to the top tour.

Weir said it was hard to get into a rhythm the last few years not knowing where he was going to play next, but now that he’s got a confirmed schedule, he’s eager to keep the competitive juice flowing.

“That’s the benefit of playing week to week. You get to figure things out on the golf course, not the driving range at home,” he said. “You figure those things out when you’re playing, so that’s been nice.”

Weir said he’s focused on trying to finish inside the top 25 in the Web.com Tour standings to earn a PGA Tour card for next year.

“I want to get back out there,” said Weir, who is two years away from playing PGA Tour Champions (for golfers aged 50-plus).

Weir said he’d play the whole season on the Web.com Tour while leaving for the Masters – he has a lifetime exemption thanks to his 2003 triumph – and the RBC Canadian Open. He said he might play a few more PGA Tour events if possible.

He was exempt into last week’s Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour, but decided to head home after playing three weeks in a row.

Weir has got a good look at the future of Canadian golf on the Web.com Tour. He played a practice round with Michael Gligic the week before the fellow Canadian won the Panama Championship.

“There are lots of guys playing well and hopefully there will be more and more,” said Weir.

Mike Weir of Canada hits his third shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club on February 15, 2019 in Lakewood Ranch, Florida

One of the golfers Weir mentioned is David Hearn, who tied for 25th at the Puerto Rico Open. Hearn was paired with Weir at the Desert Classic earlier this year on the PGA Tour and said he was impressed at how much better Weir was playing.

Returning to play a full schedule on the Web.com Tour, Hearn said, really characterizes who Weir is.

“For some people it might be a surprising but if you know Mike and you know how committed and how hard he’s worked at the game in his lifetime, it’s no surprise to a lot of guys out here,” Hearn said.

Off the course, Weir was recently involved with a legal matter with the owner of his former winery. The Canadian Press reported the corporation Mike Weir Wine Inc. owes the golfer about $2.2 million.

Weir believes all will be resolved soon.

“It’ll be behind me, which is all I have to say about that,” said Weir.

As for golf, Weir said it’s been “refreshing” playing on the Web.com Tour, despite the small crowds and trips to places like Panama and Colombia.

He said he’s felt inspired playing with and competing against the next generation of PGA Tour stars.

“I’m competing and wanting to win and wanting to beat them, but I want them to play well and do well on the tour and get out there on the PGA Tour, because that’s their dream,” he said. “I was there a long time ago and it’s really been fun for me to be back out there.”

Branden Grace showed up on the putting green at Chapultepec Golf Club wearing pants, just like always.

He got the memo too late.

The PGA Tour, taking a page from the European Tour, has decided to let its players wear shorts during practice rounds and Pro-Ams. The announcement was posted in the locker room at the Puerto Rico Open and at the Mexico Championship on Monday.

Players still must have shorts that are knee length, tailored and “neat in appearance.”

Grace was in Los Angeles last week and didn’t put any such shorts in his suitcase. And maybe that’s a good thing. He raised his pants to show a pair of very white legs.

“I need a week in Florida to get some sun on these out-of-bounds stakes,” Grace said.

Europe began allowing shorts in practice rounds three years ago, while the PGA Championship allowed them in 2017 at Quail Hollow. Players still must wear pants during competition rounds.