Golf Nova Scotia Celebrates Record Growth in Female Participation in 2026
Golf Nova Scotia is proud to celebrate a significant rise in female participation across the province in 2026. This marks an exciting chapter for the continued growth of the game in Nova Scotia.
One of Golf Nova Scotia’s primary goals is to grow the game and create more opportunities for golfers of all ages and skill levels to get involved in the sport. In 2026, that commitment has been reflected through a tremendous increase in engagement from women and girls across multiple programs, championships, and educational initiatives.
The most notable milestone came with the Women’s Provincial Championship, which officially reached a full field of 144 players for the first time in the event’s history. Sara Wilson, Executive Director adds that “the championship has continued to grow over the years, but witnessing the event completely sell out highlights the momentum surrounding women’s golf in Nova Scotia.” The strong demand not only showcases the depth of talent and interest within the province but also demonstrates the growing excitement around competitive opportunities for female golfers.
At the grassroots level, Golf Nova Scotia has also seen growing participation in the Girls Come Try Golf Program. Across three different program dates and locations, 142 girls registered to take part in the initiative. Designed to introduce young girls to the game in a welcoming, fun, and supportive environment, the program continues to play an important role in helping new participants build confidence and discover a lifelong passion for golf. Shaun Margeson comments that “the overwhelming response to the program is an encouraging sign for the future of the sport and the continued development of the next generation of female golfers in Nova Scotia.”
Growth has not only been seen among players, but also within the officiating and education side of the game. Golf Nova Scotia’s Women’s Officials Mentorship and Rules Education initiative has already welcomed more than 70 registrations. This program was created to provide women with opportunities to learn about the Rules of Golf, gain experience in officiating, and become more involved in the game in leadership and volunteer roles. The response has been incredibly encouraging and highlights the desire for more women to engage with golf in new and meaningful ways beyond playing competitively.
These accomplishments represent more than just registration numbers; they reflect a positive shift in the golf community throughout Nova Scotia. More women and girls are feeling welcomed into the sport, becoming involved in programs and championships, and helping shape the future of golf within the province. Member clubs are stepping up to host our women’s championships that also drives participation.
Sara also adds that this growth has been nurtured over the past few years with our partners and is a collective effort among golf clubs that run targeted programming that encourages women to get out and play. We have seen increased lessons and programs from PGA of Canada members, the growth of First Tee programs throughout Atlantic Canada targeting underrepresented youth and Golf Nova Scotia is helping community coaches become trained to deliver junior programs. These initiatives among our partners are leading to success.
Mentorship from women giving back to the sport is creating the environment for more women to be be seen and girls to aspire to be her. In 2026, NCCP Community Coach training took place at Clare GC and Cabot. Of the 17 coaches trained, 7 were female. This type of mentorship at the club level will continue the momentum. If you have the chance, encourage a woman to play golf this year, or better yet, invite her along for a game!
Golf Nova Scotia is extremely excited by the growth being seen in 2026 and remains committed to continuing to build accessible, inclusive, and engaging opportunities for women and girls in golf. Through grassroots programming, competitive championships, education initiatives, and community partnerships, the organization looks forward to continuing this momentum and growing the game even further in the years ahead. The future of women’s golf in Nova Scotia is incredibly bright, and Golf Nova Scotia is proud to help lead that growth across the province.
May 15, 2026
Golf NS Welcomes Summer Intern, Olivia Smith
Please join us in welcoming to Golf Nova Scotia as our new Program & Marketing Coordinator for the summer!
Originally from Cow Bay, Nova Scotia, Olivia grew up staying active through snowboarding and competitive dance before being introduced to golf through lessons and time spent at the driving range with her dad. Olivia recently completed her second year at Queens University, where she is studying Mechanical Engineering.
Olivia is excited to continue learning more about the game, become involved both on and off the golf course, and contribute to the Golf Nova Scotia community throughout the season. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to a great summer ahead!
Strong performances from our Nova Scotia juniors at the 2026 NextGen Ontario Championship
Congratulations to:
🏌️♀️ Lila Bishop — T11
🏌️♂️ Kooper MacKay — T13
🏌️♂️ Luke MacDougall — T16
🏌️♂️ Finn Grinton — T16
🏌️♂️ Tucker Doiron — T21
Missed the cut:
- Ben Brown, Cole Stewart, Jack Grinton
The juniors battled through a strong field and earned impressive finishes after making the cut. Great work representing Nova Scotia!
Antigonish Golf & Country Club 100th Anniversary
Join us for our Women’s Rules of Golf Education Sessions
Learn the rules of golf in a welcoming, supportive environment alongside other women in the game. These sessions will feature live demonstrations and a presentation led by female Provincial and National Rules Officials, making it a great opportunity to build confidence and knowledge on the course.
Light refreshments provided
No cost to attend
Registration required (limited space available)
Dates & Locations:
May 31 – Glen Lovat Golf Club (9:30 AM – 11:00 AM)
June 9 – Brightwood Golf & Country Club (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM) – FULL
Spots are limited, so be sure to register early!
For questions, please contact: intern@nsga.ns.ca
Antigonish Golf Club is Named First Tee Program Location of the Year – National Facility Awards for Junior Golf
First Tee Program Location of the Year
Awarded to a First Tee – Canada Program Location that demonstrates excellent enrolment in First Tee – Canada programming and makes a significant impact on growing participation among new juniors within its community.
WINNER: Antigonish Golf Club (Antigonish, N.S.)
Antigonish Golf Club has fully embraced First Tee in their second season offering programming. By developing meaningful relationships within their community, and creating unique fundraising opportunities, they were able to increase participation from 12 juniors in their first season, to 120 in 2025 – an increase of 900 percent. They offered six, six-hour First Tee programs at maximum capacity, and an additional six-hour, all girls session in the fall. Antigonish Golf Club’s dedication to accessibility and fostering a safe environment has created life-enhancing golf experiences for youth from all backgrounds in Atlantic Canada.
Full Golf Canada Article – Mike Masaro
WE ARE HIRING: Summer Intern
Title: Summer Intern
Reports To: Tournament and Marketing Director, and Technical Director
OVERVIEW
The successful candidate(s) will assist with the organization, delivery and execution of Provincial Championships and in-season programming. The Summer Intern(s) will meet and interact with many people, including association members, member clubs, golf facility staff, various volunteers, other Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs), Sport NS staff etc. Golf often provides networking opportunities and is an excellent way to meet people and create career-enhancing relationships.
Travel distances between championships and initiatives will vary depending on the season’s schedule. All staff will spend a great deal of time together striving to achieve common objectives, and must be willing to work in a team atmosphere and learn how to effectively solve problems and difficult situations.
Please submit all applications to accounting@nsga.ns.ca
Antigonish Golf & Country Club named 2025 First Tee Program Location of the Year
ANTIGONISH, N.S. — First Tee – Atlantic’s Antigonish Golf & Country Club has been named the 2025 First Tee Program Location of the Year, one of Golf Canada’s National Facility Awards for Junior Golf, recognizing its commitment to growing the game among youth in its community.
The National Facility Awards for Junior Golf program recognizes the critical role facilities play in developing young Canadian golfers. The First Tee Program Location of the Year honour is awarded to a facility that demonstrates strong enrolment and meaningful impact by introducing new juniors through First Tee programming.
Golf NS News Volume 4, Edition 4 – April
Golf NS Announces New Partnership with W28 Sports
Golf Nova Scotia is pleased to announce the Official Training and Coaching Development partnership with W28 Sports. Commencing this spring with the Junior Development team, W28 Sports will work with the high performance athletes and coaches to organize, structure, and deliver development plans for each player. Based out of Halifax, the company was selected for the partnership given their unique coaching system and market position, as well as the connection with long-standing Nova Scotian and former Provincial Champion Dave Williamson.
“30 years ago when I began playing golf competitively, I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t have a path. I had a lot of energy and wanted to hit a lot of golf balls, but that wasn’t the best formula for success” says Dave. “Every athlete has a goal – we now take that goal and work backwards from it. What are those things that the athlete needs to do every day in order to achieve their goal? Now that’s possible – working with Golf Nova Scotia and the W28 System, we’re able to structure a process of success for every one of our athletes”.
Founded by former PGA Tour Canada pro Dave Williamson and Montreal Expos pitcher Trevor Wamback, the W28 System mapped perfectly to the needs of Golf Nova Scotia – in particular, the mission and vision of the Junior Development Team under Technical Director Shaun Margeson.
“We have a lot of great juniors here – a lot of juniors who are hungry to get better. We want to see them succeed, not just at the provincial level but at the national level as well” said Shaun. “When it comes to W28, it offers (the players) more structure and gives them clarity with what they are working towards. It gives the coaches more opportunity as well, to present their expectations, hold them accountable, and track all the data – everything that we need to make sure they are trending in the right direction.”
Throughout the summer and competitive season, Golf NS will be sharing developments from the junior team’s progressions made possible via the partnership – insights into the practise habits, performance, and accomplishments for each athlete en route to their individual successes. This knowledge will help structure future on-season and off-season training schedules with the Junior Development Team to ensure the athletes stay connected to their teammates, coaches, and goals.
“When I was a junior golfer, I had some great resources – but nothing like W28” says Shaun Margeson. “We’re going to apply the system in a way that doesn’t just serve the athletes right now, but in the future as well. We’re really looking forward to that, and introducing W28 not just to our team here but the whole Golf Nova Scotia community”.
Click the button below to learn more about the partnership, and how you can also join W28 Sports to begin your path for improvement.
About W28 Sports
W28 Sports offers professional coaching and digital accountability to help athletes and coaches build progression plans for improvement. Focusing where traditional instruction models have failed, the W28 System offers programming for accountable athletic development and disciplined sporting habits between coaching sessions. Now, players are assigned daily drills, insights and actions to progress in their sporting journeys, while coaches can easily monitor and adjust actions assigned to their teams and players.
Website link:
About The Golf Nova Scotia Junior Development Team
The 2025-2026 Junior Development Team Nova Scotia brings together some of the province’s most promising young golfers for monthly training sessions focused on every aspect of the game. Throughout the off-season, team members work on improving their swing, mental performance, nutrition, and strength and conditioning, all while learning from experienced PGA of Canada Golf Professionals. This program is designed to help athletes elevate their skills, build confidence, and prepare for success in competitive golf and beyond.
Website link: