Golf’s new Rules have been published by the The R&A and USGA in partnership with Golf Canada ahead of their effective date on Jan. 1, 2019.

For the first time, a new Player’s Edition of the Rules of Golf is being introduced to provide a shorter, more user-friendly version of the Rules for golfers at all levels of the game. This version, which will serve as the primary publication for all golfers, features:

• A more intuitive organization with 10 simplified topical groupings
• A “Purpose of the Rule” description at the top of each Rule, to better define why the Rule exists
• Easy-to-follow, full-colour diagrams and charts to aid in understanding
• A simpler, more direct writing style

The Player’s Edition is being launched alongside the modernized full Rules of Golf book, which includes some of the most significant changes made to the Rules in more than 60 years.

Adam Helmer, director of Rules, competitions and amateur status at Golf Canada said, “We are embarking on one of the most significant changes to the Rules of golf in the history of our sport. Today marks the start of the education process to communicate the modernized Rules with additional resources and publications available to all golfers, member facilities and referees in Canada and worldwide.”

Thomas Pagel, senior managing director, Governance for the USGA, said, “From the project’s inception, our one goal was to make the Rules easier to understand and apply for all golfers. It sets a new standard in the way we write and interpret the Rules and is central to our efforts to ensure a healthy future for golf. We look forward to continuing that process in the years to come.”

David Rickman, executive director – Governance at The R&A, said, “We are delighted to be rolling out the modernized Rules of Golf today. This is the biggest set of changes to the Rules in a generation and a major step forward in our efforts to make the Rules, and the sport itself, more accessible and more in tune with the way the modern sport is played.”

A new Official Guide to the Rules of Golf is also available in digital format and official apps today, with a printed version to be released in November. Designed for golf administrators and club officials, the Guide features Interpretations on specific Rules (which replace the current Decisions) and includes the first jointly-produced Committee Procedures document, providing practical guidance to Committees for running competitions and overseeing general play.

Another key feature is the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities. This document is released alongside the Rules of Golf and enables players with disabilities to play fairly with other players with the same or different types of disability and, importantly, with those without disabilities. The Modified Rules were developed in close consultation with the community of players with disabilities and disability organizations.

All of the new books are available in digital formats online and a range of explanatory videos and resources is available on and websites to enable all golfers to learn about the 2019 Rules.

Extensive educational programs are being conducted around the world, with the assistance of national and regional associations, to ensure that golfers and administrators throughout amateur and professional golf are ready for the new Rules when they take effect on Jan. 1.

The process to modernize the Rules began in 2012 with the aim of making the Rules easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to help make golf more appealing and accessible for newcomers.

Some of the key changes in the new Rules include new procedures for dropping the ball when taking relief, the elimination or reduction of several penalties, relaxed putting green and bunker rules, and rules that encourage improved pace of play.

Golfers are reminded that the current Rules of Golf remain in effect for the remainder of 2018. The Rules of Amateur Status and the Rules of Equipment Standards were not part of the review process.

As an extension of its support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A and the USGA’s efforts to modernize golf’s Rules. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the sport, from the leading professional and amateur competitions and organizations to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.

Click here to learn more about the Rules of golf.

Adam Helmer – Golf Canada’s director of Rules, competitions and amateur status – has been at the heart of Canadian golf championships for over 10 years.

The Ottawa native oversees the administration of over 30 championships conducted annually by Golf Canada. Among his responsibilities are refereeing the premier Canadian professional events: the RBC Canadian Open (PGA TOUR) and CP Women’s Open (LPGA Tour). In addition to the competitions, Helmer plays an integral role in the Rules of golf modernization project that goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.

As the lead on Rules and competitions, high on Helmer’s list of challenges is addressing pace of play.

The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) has more on Helmer here.

It took a few years, but Moose Jaw’s Leighton Bearchell has his first collegiate golf tournament victory.

The 23-year-old Minot State University (MSU) student captured the JR Watkins Invitational on Sept. 25 at the Jewel Golf Club in Lake City, Minnesota by three strokes. Bearchell grew up in Moose Jaw where his dad was the assistant professional at the Hillcrest Golf Club. Bearchell said golf has always been a part of his life leading to the victory.

“I started competing when I was 13 or 14 years old through the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) and Golf Saskatchewan events,” he said. “I did pretty well in those and I ended up getting coaches interested in me to pursue college golf. It was a long road, but it’s been fun so far.”

Competing in the two-round event for the third time, Bearchell said the familiarity with the course helped him shoot 69 during round one and 73 during the second round on route to the victory. He said chasing an elusive win was well worth the result.

“It is something I’ve wanted to do since I started playing collegiate golf, it’s awesome to get this one. It was my week I guess. I was hitting the ball well, I was staying aggressive to my targets, the putts fell, it all worked out,” Bearchell said.

His college career began in 2013-14 at Wayland Baptist University in Texas. Bearchell then transferred to MSU and will graduate later this year. Despite making a move during his collegiate playing days, he said the experience has been incredible.

“It was an adjustment going from high school and living at home to living on your own in a different place. I’m pretty comfy here and I’m enjoying myself,” Bearchell said.

Next up for Bearchell and his Beaver teammates is the Cog Hill Invitational at the Cog Hill Golf Course in Lemont, Illinois. Bearchell was recognized for his performance this week by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, he was named Athlete of the Week on Wednesday. With a few tournaments left he said he hopes to finish his career on the right track.

As for his future in golf he hopes to compete in amateur events and find a career once his schooling is complete.

“if everything goes planned I will have a degree in marketing and management and get into the real world.”

Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy has set a precedent for teenage men golfers in Saskatchewan.

Nagy, 17, won the 92^nd Junior Men’s Championship, three Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) events and the Junior Lobstick this past season. Combining the Riverside Country Club member’s Order of Merit (OMT) points he won that too with 3,200 points. Nagy said winning the under-19 OMT race was important.

“It was definitely was a goal, I started the year coming in second which was a kick in the butt but after all the tournaments it was a goal and nice to reach,” Nagy said.

Nagy played in seven tournaments that are OMT regulated, by rule players take their top four tournaments plus provincials for their annual title. Nagy admitted he looked towards a title but winning a couple marquee events was overwhelming.

“I wanted to play the big ones, I wish I had played a little better at the Future Links (12^th) but definitely the provincials and the Lobstick were nice to win,” he said.

Nagy’s 3,200 points were over 1,100 more than second place Bradley Moser. Riverside’s Steven Duchscher placed third. The men’s under-19 was the widest spread race of all the championships this season. Despite the facts Nagy disputed the term of being “Saskatchewan’s best golfer under 16.”

“It’s humbling but I can’t think about that. I just go out every day and try to get better,” Nagy said.

You can see the under-19 men’s standings here.

Almost 100 high school golfers will converge on the North Battleford Golf and Country Club Friday and Saturday for the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association provincial championship.

Over 30 schools will be represented in the field of both girls and boys’ divisions. The players contending for the championship qualified through district playdowns hosted across Saskatchewan by regional athletic conferences. Schools can have teams entered or individuals can also compete. A maximum of three boys or three girls can compete as a team.

The tournament gets underway on Friday morning, the champions will be crowned on Saturday.

You can see the complete field here.

A new age group and stiffer competition wasn’t going to deter Saskatoon’s Sarah Grieve a second straight junior girls Order of Merit (OMT) title.

Grieve, 15, was the OMT champion last year in the under-15 category, this season she won the under-19 age group. She said a second straight championship was on her mind from the start of the season.

“It definitely was my goal going into the season because I knew I would be playing all the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) events to get as much experience as possible,” Grieve told Golf Saskatchewan. “It was awesome winning the OMT, I worked really hard.”

Grieve played in seven OMT sanctioned tournaments this season, the maximum number of events that can be counted towards the standings is four plus the provincial championship where Grieve tied for third. Despite growing up at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club where her dad is a part-owner Grieve said the tournament was a struggle, but she was happy to earn a position on the national team.

“I worked really hard, I practiced every day for a couple hours going into provincials. It was a grind, but it was worth it,” she said.

Overall, Grieve accumulated 3,025 points led by 1,050 gained at the 68^th Junior Women’s Championship at Moon Lake. She won her age group in the last two MJT events of the season including the Tour Championship in Swift Current.

Grieve was one of four Saskatchewan junior women to play at the Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, British Columbia for the Canadian Junior Girl’s Championship. She said being a part of Team Saskatchewan was a memorable moment in her young career both on and off the course.

“It was so much fun, I love the three girls (Carey McLean, Ella Kozak, Brooklin Fry) I went with, we all had a lot of fun. It was a really great experience because you get to meet so many new people there and play on courses you’ve never played before. The two girls I played with there were so nice and encouraging, it’s nice to see people from other places that are so nice, it was a great experience,” she said.

Grieve is a multi-sport athlete, she is a figure skater year-round while playing golf. She admitted it’s a toss up between the sports most days, but she said a post-secondary golf opportunity is on her radar once the grade 11 student graduates from high school.

You can see the complete under-19 girls OMT standings here.

This weekend, the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club (PAGCC) will celebrate their 50^th anniversary.

Originally opened on Oct. 11, 1968, on Friday and Saturday the half decade history of the facility will be celebrated. Spearheaded by four Prince Albert residents in the 1960’s, the building now houses a 10-sheet curling rink, the proshop for the Cooke Municipal Golf Course, a year-round restaurant, and a lounge. Board secretary Perry Hulowski said the venue and its history are worth honouring.

“We’re probably one of the unique organizations in the province as far as golf and curling as we are under one roof operating with one name. This is a pretty special moment for us,” Hulowski said.

The facility used to operate on a member only basis, but the amenities are now open to the public. The building has rooms that can be rented for meetings and gatherings. Hulowski has been on the board of directors for four years, he said he’s played golf and curled at the venue for approximately 20 years. He said the city is looking forward to the celebration as well.

“A lot of people use the facility and it’s a big part of their life,” he said. “A lot of people retire and want to golf or curl. It’s a great place to meet people, socialize, get some exercise, the PAGCC is a special facility for us.”

On Sept. 21, a less formal event will be held featuring a meet-and-greet and reminiscing social. TSN’s ‘voice of curling’ Vic Rauter will be on hand for the event acting as the emcee. On Saturday the club will host a full-scale banquet. The four originating members of the club will be honoured during the event. Hulowski said they will recognize one of the key contributors with a dedication.

“We’re going to rename our big banquet room in the basement, the Cosmo Room. We’re going to rename it in honour of T. Gordon Thompson. We’re going to honour him, his family, and his grandson will be in attendance,” he said.

Long-time golfer Ron Stewart and curling champion Sherry Anderson will be recognized as part of the festivities. The club will also honour past presidents and provincial champions. Hulowski said the event will be a special weekend in the city.

“We only have one 50^th anniversary so we want to do it right,” he said.

Tickets are available for both nights in advance or you will be able to purchase them at the door. The cost is $20 for Friday’s social, the gala tickets are $100 which includes a catered buffet dinner and silence auction. For tickets or more information call Hulowski at 306.961.9050 or the PAGCC office at 306.765.5201.

The third time is the charm for David Stewart.

The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member is the 2018 men’s Order of Merit (OMT) champion. Stewart won the tour title in both 2013 and 2015 as well. He said winning the OMT race was a goal of his going into the season.

“I didn’t feel like a had I tonne of ups and downs this season, it was consistently fairly strong,” Stewart told Golf Saskatchewan. “I felt this year I had the ability to be in contention every week which sort of made this year more fun than past years.”

Stewart started the year strong with a win at the Scotia Wealth Open in Nipawin. The long-sought win was worth 500 OMT points. Stewart placed fourth at the Great Western Brewing Saskatoon Amateur collecting 412.5 points. He won the Mine Supply Central gaining another 750 points. He picked up 700 for a third-place finish at the Saskatchewan Men’s Amateur Championship and another 700 for his second-place ranking at the provincial Mid-Amateur Championship. He said he was pushed in every event he played this season adding to the victory.

“The strength of the field and the competition has gone up. A lot of the young guys are going to college now and some of the mid-am’s are playing some very good golf and I’m humbled to win the OMT for sure,” he said.

Stewart was 630 points ahead of Roman Timmerman and just under 800 ahead of Kade Johnson, both of those players attend Southern Arkansas University. The 32-year-old said he feels being a leader on the course is as important as winning events.

“If I can help the young guys to play tournaments and stay in competitive golf and give back to the next generation I feel like I’ve done my job,” he said. “I always looked up to my dad, Colin Coben, guys like John Walsh, the list goes on, those were my mentors growing up. I just hope that I can maintain a sense of character and help them strive to take amateur golf past their 20’s.”

Stewart represented Saskatchewan at both the national amateur and mid-amateur championships in British Columbia this year. He said he was able to share the mid-am with his wife who was his caddy and the Victoria Golf Club was a bucket list course. Stewart said he will work to get back to both championships next year and wants to stay competitive on the course.

“Hopefully next year if I can allocate the time I’d like to play both events again and play a full schedule. My goal is to continue to compete among the best golfers in the province and play as long as I can at a high level. I don’t know how many years I have left but I won’t take it for granted that’s for sure,” he said.

You can see the complete men’s OMT rankings here.

The last time Roger Sloan had long hair, he was playing on the PGA Tour.

After a tie for second at Sunday’s Albertsons Boise Open, the native of Meritt, B.C. locked up a return to the top circuit in men’s golf. And, he said, there was a consensus amongst his family it was time to “grow the flow” again.

While the long locks might make a return, Sloan will hope his scorecards have a different look from when he last played on the PGA Tour full time in 2015. He appeared in 20 tournaments but made only seven cuts that year, and has been playing on the feeder Web.com Tour since 2016.

With his tie for second Sunday, Sloan moved to 10th on money list of the Web.com Tour Finals – a four-tournament series where the top 25 earn status on the PGA Tour – and has already secured a promotion with one event left to play.

“It all came together and I was able to play Roger Sloan golf,” Sloan said in a phone interview. “At the end of the day it was a great score and we had a chance to win and we’re walking away with a job promotion. All in all it was a great tournament.”

The 31-year-old will cap his Web.com season when the circuit’s Tour Championship starts Thursday at the Atlantic Beach Country Club in Florida.

The 2018-19 PGA Tour season starts Oct. 4 at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif.

Sloan will join fellow British Columbian Adam Svensson, who earned his first PGA Tour card by finishing in the top 25 of the regular season money list on the Web.com Tour, along with Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners, David Hearn, and Ben Silverman as part of the Canadian contingent on the PGA Tour next season.

Sloan credited the work he’s done with mental coach Paul Dewland and swing coach Jeff Barton as keys for his success this year.

“He’s worked really hard, and that’s what it takes. Everyone gets mystical about the mental game but it’s just habits and skills. You’ve just got to work at it, and has,” said Dewland. “He’s ready for the PGA Tour.”

Sloan’s runner-up result Sunday was his best finish on the Web.com Tour since he won the Nova Scotia Open in 2014. He finished tied for ninth in Boise in 2017 and said the familiarity with the golf course helped him to a near-win.

“You just really have to be patient and tactical. That combination suits me, and how I prep for a golf tournament,” said Sloan. “Boise is also a very similar climate to where I grew up in Meritt, and there are a lot of similarities. Plus Boise is a great city, and my wife and I love being there.”

Sloan and his wife, Casey, welcomed their first child – Leighton Maddox – last September. Her first birthday is September 19, and Sloan said there would be a small celebration this week, followed by a big family party next week to also celebrate his promotion to the PGA Tour.

He said travelling with an infant while playing golf this year was like “throwing a wrench into an engine” in terms of his routine, but said it was an “easy” adjustment to make.

“I got to see first-hand my daughter growing up, whereas the alternative was to see her a few weeks throughout the course of the season. I wouldn’t have changed it for the world,” said Sloan, whose wife and daughter joined him on the road this year.

The trio will continue to travel together this year on the PGA Tour.

“It was a huge upgrade for my wife because there is consistent, quality health care at every event,” said Sloan. “She is more pumped than I am.”

Sloan played one PGA Tour event this summer, the RBC Canadian Open in Oakville, Ont. He made the cut and finished tied for 37th.

He said that week he knew he was “good enough” for the next level.

“I didn’t have the greatest week at the Canadian Open but I still was able to have a decent finish,” he said. “That validated the whole processed we’ve devoted ourselves to, and I’m excited for the next several months, and the rest of my career too.”

MARCHAND, SHARP LOCK UP LPGA TOUR STATUS

After Sunday’s final round at The Evian Championship, both Alena Sharp and Brittany Marchand secured LPGA Tour status for 2019.

At the LPGA Tour’s final major of the year, Sharp, of Hamilton, Ont., finished tied for 37th, while Marchand, of Orangeville, Ont., finished tied for 49th.

The top 100 on the money list after Sunday earned LPGA Tour status for next year.

Sharp was 92nd while Marchand, a rookie this year, was 89th.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. is second on the money list and finished tied for 10th at the Evian.

At just 13-years-old, Shell Lake’s Brooklin Fry is the 2018 under-15 girls Order of Merit (OMT) champion.

Fry competed in four OMT regulated events this season winning all of them. Three of the tournaments were Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) events, the other was the Saskatchewan Junior Women Championship. Fry has been competing on the MJT for a couple seasons but admits she never expected to win all her competitions at such a young age.

“It definitely did surprise me a bit, I wasn’t aiming to win all the events I entered but it is really awesome,” she said.

She won the under-15 girl’s division at the MJT event in Lloydminster earning 200 OMT points. Her MJT win in North Battleford was also worth 200 points, the MJT tournament she won in Saskatoon was also 200 points. Winning the junior women championship was worth 2000 points on the OMT tour. Fry finished with 1,600 points, 65 more than Yorkton’s Ella Kozak. She said winning the tour race was a special feeling.

“It was really awesome, it was a really good feeling. I was also surprised I won it. I wasn’t aiming to win it, I was just taking the season one shot at a time and working my way up,” Fry said.

Winning the junior championship earned Fry a trip to British Columbia to represent the province at nationals. She said the trip and tournament was a highlight of her summer.

“It was really fun, it was a privilege to represent Saskatchewan there. It was a blast,” she said.

Fry has hung up her clubs for the time being. She will now turn her focus to hockey for the winter. She said she does make trips into Saskatoon to the Golf Dome a couple times over the winter and hopes to do that again. Fry said having such a strong season has her eyeing even more success going forward.

“I can’t wait to see what I can do in the future. I think I have a pretty good future if I continue to work at it,” she said.

You can see all the junior OMT standings here.