The Connor Spafford Scholarship Registration Opens June 1st

The Connor/Spafford Scholarship 
$7,500 (Two Available) 

Deadline for application is June 30

Apply now

For university or college students in Canada or abroad. Preference for Canadian citizens born or residing in Atlantic Canada with overall preference for those born or residing in Nova Scotia.
About Elizabeth (Lib) Connor had a remarkable golfing career that extended over 50 years. She was the Maritime Champion twice; placed second in the Nova Scotia Championship five times, winning the Nova Scotia Crown in 1950. She represented Nova Scotia on provincial and maritime teams at the Canadian Ladies Golf Championship 19 times and was elected to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1993.
Harold (Hal) Connor had a distinguished business career and also distinguished himself as a golfer and golf administrator. He won the Ashburn Golf Club Championship in 1935 and served as President of the club in 1958. Hal Connor was instrumental in acquiring the land for the New Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax.
Barbara and Elliott “Spaff” Spafford, members of Ashburn Golf Club, have been active on the Halifax golf scene for several years. During World War II, “Spaff” served in the Canadian military and fought with distinction in the battles to liberate France, Belgium and Holland. Following the war, he served in the Halifax militia and developed a successful career in investment business in Halifax.
To assist promising Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada men and women who elect to obtain a degree and participate in the golf program at a university/college, the Connor and Spafford families have made a generous donation to Golf Canada Foundation in establishing an endowment fund to award two annual Connor/Spafford Scholarships.

Value & Availability 

  • $7,500
  • Two Scholarships Available

Eligibility 

We encourage you to apply for a Connor/Spafford Scholarship if you are a Canadian citizen born or residing in Atlantic Canada (preference will be given to applicants born or resident of Nova Scotia), and meet either requirement from Column A and all requirements of Column B:
Column A 
A minimum average of 70% in the last two years of high school/CÉGEP and have graduated (minimum Grade 12) or will graduate by June 2018;
OR 
Successfully completed at least one full year in a post-secondary degree program and achieved a minimum average of 70% in EACH year of the program;
Column B
Been accepted at a college or university, and have been named, or will be named, to the institution’s golf team. (NOTE: preference will be given to scholarship applicants who have been accepted to a college or university in Canada with a Golf Canada Foundation recognized golf program);
Successful experience in competitive golf at a regional, provincial or national level prior to application.
For more information or to apply please
CLICK HERE

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2019 MEN’S FOUR BALL CLOSES ON JUNE 1

REGISTRATION FOR THE 
2019 MEN’S FOUR BALL CLOSES ON JUNE 1
Register today

The NSGA Men’s Four Ball will be hosted at the Osprey Ridge Golf Club on June 8-9 in Bridgewater, NS.

Don’t let the weather keep you from kicking off your 2019 season. The Osprey Ridge Golf Club is an 18-hole championship course, designed by Graham Cooke.

Entry fee includes team practice round and two competitive rounds plus a team meal! 

For more information on the 2019 NSGA Men’s Four Ball Championship please CLICK HERE

 

For more information on the Osprey Ridge Golf Club pleaseCLICK HERE

Anne Balser to be inducted in the Digby & Area Sports Hall of Fame

The NSGA extends our warmest congratulations to our technical director, Anne Balser, on her induction into the Digby & Area Sports Hall of Fame. Anne has played a major part in our association and in the golf community. She has set impressive examples for youth in golf and has shared her skills with many avid golfers.
Winner of the 2011 and 2016 Nova Scotia Amateur Championship she also won the 2010 Canadian University Championship while playing for the University of Victoria. In 2011, her final year on the golf team, Balser was named Athlete of the Year. She was a four-time first team All-Canadian from 2008-11 as well as being a second team All-American in 2009. Anne was a member of the Canadian University Team for five consecutive years and twice competed at both the World University Golf Championship and the International University Sport Federation Championship.
In April 2018 Anne took up a position with the NSGA as Manager of Sport Development and Championships. Currently she is the Technical Director for the NSGA. The work she has done is impeccable and appreciated by the entire golf community.
It is no surprise that she has received this honour and we know her incredible accomplishments will not stop here. Congratulations Anne, from the NSGA and a ‘well done’ on behalf of the entire golf community.
The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 1st at 1:30pm at the Digby Regional High School Theatre. All are welcome to attend.

Peter Campbell wins US Open Regional Qualifier

Peter Campbell from Baddeck Nova Scotia fired a 68 (-4) at the Mission Inn Golf Resort in Orlando to win a regional qualifier for the U.S. Open Championship on Thursday, May 2.

Peter will now advance to the sectional qualifier on June 3 at Old Oak Country Club & the Century Country Club in Westchester, New York.

Campbell made history last summer when he became the first Nova Scotian to win on a PGA Tour in China. He won the Beijing Open in July 2018 and is currently a member of the PGA Tour China. He is currently 47th on the Order of Merit with ¥28160 in earnings this year. He has made three cuts in three starts in 2019.

To follow Peter on the PGA Tour China please CLICK HERE

The NSGA Junior Development Team is ready for the 2019 Season

The NSGA Junior Development Team is ready for the 2019 Season
By STEPHEN FOREST

On Saturday afternoons this past winter, while many Nova Scotians were just dreaming of golf, a group of dedicated young players were hard at work on their games.

There was stretching, weight work and, of course, hitting lots and lots of balls.

Such was the so-called “off-season” for the Nova Scotia Golf Association’s provincial junior team.

“The players put in a lot of effort during the off-season to prepare for the upcoming season,” says Jeff MacDonald, the NSGA’s head provincial coach.

“They work hard with the TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) exercises, the mental skills and the technical aspects of their game. Their competitive season begins in May and is over by mid-August so we do everything possible to have them game ready for the start of the tournament season.”

MacDonald, who also serves as head teaching professional at Ashburn Golf Club, was named head provincial coach in 2013. The team targets the top junior players in the province for specialized training and instruction throughout the year.

The team is selected each fall for the next year’s season based on the previous year’s play. MacDonald uses Golf Canada’s order of merit, as well as scoring average and head-to-head results to select the top eight to 12 young players.

“I try to look at each year and figure out the number based on an elite group – how many are going to fit into that elite group,” MacDonald says.

That means the size of the team could change each year. This year there are three girls on the team while in 2018 there were five. “It’s not an exact science.”

This year’s squad is comprised of three girls (Heather McLean of Ken-Wo, along with Ashburn sisters Haley and Abbey Baker) and eight boys (Ashburn’s Kieran Allain, Jordie Cooper, Jake Smith and Logan Tramble; Andrew Cash of The Lakes; Mark Chandler of Chester; Brett Leblanc of Glen Arbour; and Owen Mullen of Truro).
The purpose of the team is to prepare players to compete at the national level with a goal of having them compete collegiately.

MacDonald is proud of the success of the program to date.

“Since 2013, the majority of players who have graduated through the program – have gone right through – have gone on to play college golf in either the U.S. or Canada,” he says.

He’s especially proud of the girls who have gone through the program, like Chester’s Allison Chandler, as well as sisters Megan and Heather McLean.

“What impresses me most about them is that they are all playing (NCAA) Division 1 college golf and they are all No. 1 or No. 2 players on their team.”

“They’re really contributing, they’re not just there,” he says.

“We have such a small number of girls who play in Nova Scotia, but the ones that do and compete tend to do quite well.”

Golf fans need not look far to see the program is succeeding and producing champions. Last season Heather McLean and former team member Shaun Margeson of Oakfield won both their junior and amateur championships. It’s the first time the same junior girl and boy won both events in the same year.

This team success on the course is the result of a strong team off the course. While MacDonald handles the instruction, Dr. Lori Dithurbide works with the players on the mental side of the game and Dr. Emily Wiggin handles the physical preparation through the TPI program.

Dithurbide is a faculty member at Dalhousie University’s School of Health and Human Performance (Kinesiology) and was a mental performance consultant to Team Canada and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Wiggin works with the junior team as chiropractor and sport science consultant, and trained under elite medical, fitness and golf professionals in Carlsbad, Calif., to obtain her TPI certification.

With winter officially over, the provincial team will moved outside for outdoor training camps, that began on April 28 at The Links at Brunello.

Weekly training sessions run through May and June, then full-day sessions run in July and August.

MacDonald will accompany the team to the NSGA junior provincials in Truro in July, as well as Future Links Atlantics at Mactaquac near Fredericton in July.

Golf in Schools tallies 66 adoptions during Adopt a School Week

Adopt a School Week

Golf Canada is proud to celebrate the 66 adoptions that occurred during Adopt a School Week thanks to the efforts of golf enthusiasts and industry partners across the country.

In total, the figure translates to an additional 7,920 students being introduced to the sport through the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program. The coast-to-coast campaign was elevated by support from Canadian industry partners—the Provincial Associations, PGA of Canada, the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), Canadian Society of Club Managers and Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.

A matching program for the first 30 adoptions was made possible by the Canadian Seniors Golf Association, who continue to be a leader in supporting Adopt a School Week. In the campaign’s four years of running, the CSGA has helped to adopt over 100 schools in Canadian communities from coast-to-coast.

Since the program’s inception in 2009, adoptions have accounted for close to 50% of over 3,800 registered schools delivering the curriculum. For Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer, that number presents a great opportunity to build community relationships.

“The vision is to help establish a connection between golf facilities and schools in respective communities across Canada through the Golf in Schools program,” said Thompson. “Nurturing these relationships will enhance the delivery of the program and build a connection that will last for many years to come.”

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GOLF IN SCHOOLS.

Kiley MacDonald joins the NSGA as the  Future Links and Tournament Coordinator

The Nova Scotia Golf Association is pleased to announce that Kiley MacDonald has been hired as the NSGA Future Links and Tournament Coordinator for the summer of 2019. Originally from Bedford, NS, Kiley is currently enrolled at St. Francis Xavier University and is heading into her second year in the fall. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Marketing and a minor in Sport Management.
Kiley has worked in the past with the Bedford minor hockey league both as a coach and as a referee. More recently she has worked at Golf Central and the Ashburn Golf Club and is an alumna of the NSGA Provincial Junior Team.
She is excited to work with the NSGA to be able to deliver world class tournaments and clinics around the province.
Kiley will be kicking off her summer assisting with Golf in Schools and the Mobile Clinics around the province while sharing her love of the game with youngsters.
Please join us in welcoming Kiley to the NSGA.
To keep an eye on Kiley’s adventures and the NSGA, follow us on FacebookTwitterand Instagram!

Canada’s golf industry celebrates National Golf Day with nation-wide campaign launch on Parliament Hill

National Golf Day 2019

OTTAWA – On the second annual National Golf Day, the Canadian golf industry, represented by We Are Golf, is launching a national campaign to encourage Canadians to get involved in the sport. Industry leaders are meeting with Parliamentarians throughout the day, while golf stakeholders are working to spread the word in municipalities nationwide.

“Golf is a sport that brings so many benefits to Canadians – not just through the health aspect, but as a significant economic driver,” said Kathryn Wood, Chair of We Are Golf and COO of Canadian Golf Superintendents Association “Golf in Canada sees $14.3 billion in annual economic impact, and supports over 300,000 jobs – nearly 40% of which are summer students.”

“Our counterparts in the USA are undertaking a similar initiative in Washington, with the goal to broaden participation in the sport across the continent,” added Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada, “On National Golf Day, we’re encouraging all Canadians to get involved by playing a round of golf, enjoying family time at the local course, introducing a new player to the game, adopting a school in their community through Golf in Schools, taking a lesson, or making a purchase at their local pro shop.”

We Are Golf launched the inaugural National Golf Day in 2018 with advocacy meetings 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, Senators, 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 hope to continue to bring the positive value of the game of golf to the forefront,” said We Are Golf chair, Kathryn Wood.

Henderson repeats at Lotte Championship, ties Canadian record

Brooke Henderson
KAPOLEI, HAWAII - APRIL 21: Brooke Henderson celebrates winning the LOTTE Championship on the 18th green at Ko Olina Golf Club on April 21, 2019 in Kapolei, Hawaii. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Brooke Henderson didn’t join the LPGA Tour thinking she would end up amongst the best Canadian golfers of all-time. At least not so soon, anyway.

Henderson tied the Canadian record for most career victories on the LPGA or PGA Tour on Saturday when the 21-year-old captured her eighth career title by shooting a 2-under 70 to win the Lotte Championship for the second year in a row.

Sandra Post had eight career victories on the LPGA Tour between 1968 and 1981, while Mike Weir and George Knudson equalled that on the PGA Tour.

“When I was younger it was just a goal to be on the LPGA Tour, to win my first event,” Henderson said.

“And when that happened and I won my first major the year after, things kind of just started to fall into place. I knew the record was eight. Just kept creeping toward it the last three years, which was really exciting.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., won last year’s event in Hawaii for her sixth Tour victory and followed that up in August 2018 as the first Canadian in 45 years to win the CP Women’s Open.

“I think starting last year I sort of saw that it was within my reach if I had two good seasons. Last year put me into great position, and coming back this year it’s been on the back of my mind every week that I tee it up. I’m just really happy that I have finally done it.

“Looking forward to overtaking it now.”

She finished 16 under on Saturday at Ko Olina Golf Club to beat South Korea’s Eun-Hee Ji by four strokes.

Nelly Korda, tied with Henderson for the third-round lead, finished with a quadruple-bogey 8 for a 77 that left her seven strokes back at 9 under. She hit into the water twice on 18, then threw her ball in after finishing. The 20-year-old American also had a double bogey on the par-4 seventh.

“Pretty bad,” Korda said. “I mean, it was a tough day, but I ended really poorly and I’m pretty disappointed in that. … It was an unfortunate final round, but there is nothing I can do about it anymore.”

Ariya Jutanugarn (73) and 2016 winner Minjee Lee (74) tied for third at 11 under.

Henderson bogeyed her first hole, but that was the only blemish in the final round as she followed that up with three birdies and 14 pars.

She looked to be in some trouble on the par-4 16th, but saved par when she hit a put from off the green.

“It’s really amazing to even be mentioned in the same sentence as Mike Weir, George, and Sandra,” Henderson said. “This week was really special. I always love coming to Hawaii. Last year was such an incredible week for me, to be able to hoist that trophy for the first time. Coming back I knew I knew the golf course really well.”

Fellow Canadian and Olympic teammate Alena Sharp watched Henderson play out the round and joined her in celebration.

“Congrats my friend ?BrookeHenderson! Unbelievable title defense and tying Sandra Post’s record for most wins by a Canadian on the ?LPGA tour. So freaking proud of you!,” tweeted Sharp (72), who finished 2 under for 40th place.

Henderson takes home US$300,000 for the win. Through seven events in 2019, she has made six cuts, has one victory, three top-10 finishes and one top-15 finish for $498,151 total earnings.

Henderson, ranked No. 12 in the world, has one major among her tournament victories, winning the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after beating Lydia Ko in a playoff when she was only 18.

Call for Volunteers – 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship

The 115th edition of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is coming to The Glen Arbour Golf Course and The Links of Brunello in Halifax, Nova Scotia from August 3rd – 8th!

Come volunteer and watch some of the best amateur players from Canada and around the world compete for our national title. The winner will earn an exemption into the 2020 RBC Canadian Open and an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship.
Volunteer Duties include:
  • Live Scoring
  • Forecaddies (spotters)
  • Standard Bearers
  • Transportation
  • Pace of Play Assistants
If you are interested in volunteering, CLICK HERE to sign up today!
For the full 2019 Golf Canada Championship schedule, please CLICK HERE.
About the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
There is no other golf championship in Canada with a richer history than the Canadian Amateur Championship. More than a century old, the Amateur was first contested as one of the newly formed Royal Canadian Golf Associations first orders of business in 1895 at the Ottawa Golf Club. Among the Canadian legends that have won our national Amateur championship are Moe Norman (twice), Nick Weslock (four times), Gary Cowan and Doug Roxburgh (four times). An inter-provincial team championship will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition with three-member teams vying for the Willingdon Cup.
If you would like more information or have any questions regarding the 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship please contact:
Austin Reusch
1-800-263-0009 ext. 251
areusch@golfcanada.ca