With golf season officially starting nearly everywhere across Canada, it’s a good time to brush up on some rules.

No matter if you’re a once-a-week golfer, a competition chaser, or even a weekend warrior, the rules of the game are part of what makes golf so special.

Enter – thankfully – Mary Beth McKenna, the director of rules and amateur championships at Golf Canada.

McKenna not only oversees things from a rules perspective at Golf Canada, but she’s also been part of the rules team at the RBC Canadian Open (even getting some special TV time when a Rory McIlroy tee shot in 2022 headed right down the middle, and directly into Justin Thomas’ ball).

She’s also here to help!

We asked McKenna for some common situations you might find yourself in this year and what rules could help out.

Speaking of – be sure to download the Golf Canada app as you’ll have access to the Player’s Rule Finder, boasting nearly 30 diagrams and over 50 how-to videos so then golfers can reduce confusion and uncertainty by learning the ins-and-outs of the game directly from the R&A.

“Golfers will be able to determine the specific rule-related situations they encounter on the course more easily through the Player’s Rules Finder interface,” McKenna says. “The integration into the Golf Canada Mobile App allows more straightforward access to the rules of golf.”

Be sure to bookmark this page for your 2025 season and you’ll be able to have quick access to some common rules right at your fingertips, too.

“THAT’S ONE”

We’ve all seen the joke about tapping the ball with your driver accidentally and it falling off the tee. Alas, McKenna says that’s just a joke and not a real situation to get your pencil out for.  

You have to have an intent to hit the ball. So ‘intent,’ meaning you have to make a stroke at the ball. All you do is put it back on the tee and replay it. You can also move the tee to a new location as long as you’re still on the teeing ground. There is no penalty because there has been no intent to hit the ball.

McKenna says there’s actually something cool to note and file away as well.

If you hit your ball and it still (ends up) within the teeing area, you’re able to re-tee your ball. Let’s say you hit it, and it hits a tree and comes back into the teeing area? You can re-tee your ball.

IDENTIFYING YOUR BALL

When you have your ball out in the general area or on the course, it’s important to make sure you’re identifying your ball. You need to make sure you are playing the correct ball.

Identifying the ball can be done by the player, or anyone who has seen that ball come to rest in that area.

You should try to properly identify it with a mark on the ball. That’s a good recommendation for players. If you don’t, you can’t appropriately identify it you would have to declare it lost and go back to the tee.

Recalling the exact same model, brand, condition […] is hard.

You can lift the ball to identify it but you have to mark the spot of the ball, and it can’t be cleaned more than just enough to identify it.

FREQUENT SITUATION – FINDING THE PENALTY AREA

Differentiate what the relief options are between yellow (stakes) versus red (stakes).

More often than not, golf courses are marked with red penalty areas because it gives you an additional option. That’s how we mark it in competitions.

With yellow, you’re mostly going over the water or close to the green which is the main difference. The relief options are, well, you can play is at is lies in the penalty area, but then you can take relief back on a line (at the point of entry as far back as you possibly want to go.

The red stakes means an additional two club-lengths from point of entry which is the commonly used relief option. That’s important to note as a difference between the two. 

DIFFERENT RELIEF SITUATIONS

Golfers often end up looking for relief from their environment.

Typically, there is natural things like a leaf or a pinecone. Sometimes there is a man-made movable obstruction like a pop can. You are permitted to remove a loose impediment on or off the golf course and you can do it by any means necessary. But if the ball moves when you remove a loose impediment it is a one stroke penalty, and you have to replace the ball. If you are moving a removeable obstruction like a pop can and the ball moves you can replace it no penalty.

ABNORMAL COURSE RESTRICTIONS

Like a bench or a cart path – if there is interference in the ball area of the intended stance and intended swing you can take relief anywhere on course, except for when the ball is in the penalty area or when relief is clearly unreasonable.

Say your ball is against a tree but you’re standing on a cart path. If you’re not actually able to make a shot, you can’t get relief from the path because your shot is unreasonable. It’s commonly encountered out there. Relief from a cart path is ‘complete’ relief and you have one club length from that point and drop in that area.

If you end up needing to declare an unplayable ball – anywhere but in the penalty area – you can take stroke-and-distance relief, go back on a line relief, or lateral relief (two club lengths, no nearer to the hole). That’s when there’s just no way you could make a shot at your ball.

NEGOTIATING BUNKERS

You can move loose impediments and objects. There are restrictions on touching the sand in the bunker – you can’t take a practice swing, but you can smooth a bunker for care of the course. You can bring your whole bag in and put them beside your ball if you wanted to, which is interesting.

ON THE PUTTING GREEN

We all aspire to get there. Just focus on the positives on the putting green – you are allowed to improve a lot of things on the putting green that are in the line of your putt, including the removal of sand and loose soil. You can’t, of course, do that in general areas on the course. In 2019 there was also the new rule install about leaving the flagstick in that helps with pace of play.

DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT

How a ball must be dropped, well, it must be done the right way. The player him or herself must drop the ball (you can’t have a caddie or someone else drop it). It must be dropped from knee height without touching a player or equipment.

If a ball is dropped in the wrong way, a player can drop again the right way and there is no limit to the number that player may re-drop.

There is usually the ‘drop, drop, place’ rule. But an incorrect drop does not count as one of the two ‘drops’ in this case. If you’ve done it the wrong way, you are permitted to adjust.

Golf Canada is pleased to provide assistance in any questions that you might have regarding The Rules of Golf and Rules of Handicapping. Have a rules question that needs an answer? Ask An Expert!

Holly Knudsen is the most recent Saskatchewan golfer to wrap up her collegiate career in the United States.

Hailing from Shamrock, Sask. Knudsen walked on to the Minot State University (MSU) Beavers golf team five years ago, now she graduates a leader on the MSU team.

With a degree in hand, Knudsen will return home and join the insurance industry while still playing golf on a more recreational level.

Knudsen joined Golf Saskatchewan to talk about her career in Minot, how important golf is in her life and what’s next.

The 2025 Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit Tours (OMT) are underway after the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) began their season on the weekend in Estevan.

At TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club on May 3 and 4, 65 junior golfers converged on southern Saskatchewan to start their competitive seasons in the province.

Three players competed in the under-15 women’s division, Saskatoon’s Youran Zhu won the age group with a score of 168 (87, 81).

There was six players in the 15 – 19 women’s division, Tayla Perry of Regina was the winner after carding rounds of 82 and 75. The 16-year-old was 11 strokes better than Grace Odnokon (87, 81). Yuna Lee of Regina rounded out the top-three at 175 (88, 87).

One player was in the peewee boys age group, James Qui from Surrey, B.C., the 12-year-old shot 72 in round one and 75 in the second round.

The juvenile boys category was the largest field with 23 players competing. Aricin Franklin of Saskatoon picked up the win (and overall championship) shooting 71 and 72 from just under 6,300 yards. Reigning under-19 men’s OMT champion Ethan Hunter was second at 149 (76, 73), and Jayden Chernoff of Estevan placed third on his home course with a two-round score of 158 (80, 78).

In the bantam division, Austin Nesbitt of Pilot Butte was the champion with rounds of 71 and 77 from over 5,400 yards at TS&M Woodlawn. Jun Lee of Regina was second, three shots back in the closest finish of the weekend. Lee shot 73 and 78, in third was Tylan Wallin of Humboldt, he was at 153 (75, 78).

In the junior men’s division, Brady Guenther of Saskatoon was the champion, and just one shot back of Franklin for the overall win.

Guenther shot back-to-back 72’s to claim the under-19 age group.

In second was Preston Buchner of Saskatoon, he carded rounds of 73 and 76, Wyatt Frei of Gray, Sask. and Griffin Blanch of Saskatoon tied for third at 156.

The full results can be seen here. The next MJT tournament is also the second OMT event on the schedule. In Swift Current on May 18 -20 Elmwood Golf Club will host the Spring Classic. To register click here.

All photos courtesy Jeff Chambers.

After four years at Milsaps College Will Danielson will graduate following a solid collegiate career in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Saskatoon product recently wrapped up his career that included a win in 2022 – 23.

Following graduation Danielson is going on a golf trip with friends to Scotland, following the summer playing as an amateur Danielson will turn pro and return to Jackson to assist with coaching with the Majors and play Mini Tour events.

The Riverside Country Club member spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his career with Milsaps.

Holly Knudsen’s solid postsecondary golf career has come to an end at Minot State University.

A leader with the Beavers, the Chaplin product wrapped up a five-year career with a 24^th place finish at the NSIC Championship in Smithville, Missouri from April 25 to 27. After opening with an 82 in round one and 85 in the second round, Knudsen shot a fantastic 76 in round three to vault 11 spots up the leaderboard in her final college round.

Minot State was sixth in the team competition in their final event of the spring season.

Saskatoon’s Will Danielson is also a college graduate after a career at Milsaps College with the Majors. The Saskatoon resident concluded his career at the SAA Championships on April 25 to 27 in Dickson, Tennessee at Greystone Golf Club. He shot 77 in round one, 79 during the middle round of the championship, and like Knudsen Danielson climbed the leaderboard on the final day moving five positions into 31^st thanks to a 73 in the last round.

The Majors were sixth in the team competition.

The Keiser University Seahawks are heading back to the NAIA National Women’s Championship. Autumn Neiszner of Regina was competing as an individual at the Sun Conference Championship on April 27 to 29 at Jekyll Island Golf Club in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Neiszner carded rounds of 83, 91, and 81 for a 54-hole total of 255, she tied for 27^th.

Three of Neiszner’s teammates took three of the top four positions in the event on route to the Seahawks third straight Sun Conference Championship victory.

The national championship will be played at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan from May 13 to 15.

Luke Cote and Will Blake and the rest of the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders team are amid preparing for their regionals. The Regina duo was in Fort Smith, Arkansas on April 21 to 23 for the Great American Conference Championship. Competing at the Hardscrabble Country Club, Cote also used a big third round to get higher on the leaderboard. He opened with a 75, cut off another stroke in round two and then shot a brilliant 67 in the third round climbed 13 spots for a tie for 13^th at 216. Blake placed in 28^th, he shot 224 (74, 71, 79).

The Muleriders were fourth in the team standings. SAU will travel to the Central Regionals in St. Joseph, Missouri at the St. Joseph Country Club starting May 8.

Chase Pochylko’s second season at Nicholls University in Louisiana has come to an end with a 23^rd place finish in the Southland Conference Championship hosted at Comanche Trace Ranch in Kerrville, Texas. The Riverside Country Club member shot 76 in round one before carding back-to-back 73’s to wrap the event at 222, tied for 23^rd.

Nicholls was ninth as a team in their season wrapping event held April 21 to 23.

Another Riverside member had his final event of the year from April 21 to 23. Carter Degelman and the Dominican University of California Penguins were in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Aliante Golf Club for the PacWest Championships. Degelman posted rounds of 80, 82, and 86 to conclude the season with a 40^th place finish.

Dominican was seventh overall in the team competition.

Justin Miller’s season continued April 23 and 24 with Southwestern Community College. The Saskatoon product was in Panora, Iowa at Lake Panorama National Golf Club for the Southwestern Premier. Competing as an individual Miller tied for 36^th at 160 (77, 83).

The Spartans are in Sioux City, Iowa for the North Central District Championships starting May 4 at Whispering Creek Golf Course.

Chase Gedak has made his final putt in a solid college career that included a victory with Minot State University (MSU).

The Estevan product began his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas-Monticello before transferring to MSU in the summer of 2023.

Gedak was joined by longtime friend and fellow Estevanian Jace Carlisle in his sixth and final year at MSU with the Beavers.

Gedak will remain in Minot for the summer working at the local country club and is planning to return to school for another year without golf at the golf level.

Gedak joined Golf Saskatchewan and spoke about his career and what’s next.

GolfPass has recently come out with their 2025 list of “public courses and hidden gems” in Canada with two Saskatchewan courses being recognized.

Kachur’s Golf Club near Prince Albert and Yorkton’s Deer Park Golf Course were both named in the list. Kachur’s was placed 14^th, Deer Park is ranked 11^th in the compilation that is determined by analyzing the ratings and reviews submitted by members of the GolfPass community.

GolfPass began compiling the list in 2015. Waskesiu Golf Course was the first Saskatchewan club to make the list, the Stanley Thompson masterpiece was listed at number four that year, the only time the course was named. Deer Park has been on the list six different times starting in 2019. In the 2022 list, Deer Park was the top club. The city-owned 18 hole course has been third (2021), eighth (2023), and 18^th last year. Deer Park Director of Golf Operations Allan Sauser said being recognized on the list is always nice, but he wants to see Deer Park return to the top spot on the GolfPass rundown.

“It’s really great to be honoured and recognized on GolfPass’ annual list of hidden gems,” Sauser said. “This year we are ranked 11^th, showing that we have room to improve to get back to the number one ranking we had a few years ago. We have no control over the results and people’s opinions when they leave a review, so our jobs are to make sure anyone attending Deer Park has an amazing experience from the proshop to the Owl’s Nest Restaurant and beyond. We strive to make Deer Park a must play and being on the list is a great way to show we are a destination club for many.”

For Kachur’s Golf Course and owner Patty Kachur, being on the list is an incredibly proud moment. Owning a golf course, especially in Saskatchewan with a shorter season staff must work incredibly hard to get the club ready for play and to make positive experiences. Kachur said making the list for the first time in 2025 is a testament to the entire staff and the players that take time to review the 18 hole course.

“It’s really nice to be recognized,” Kachur said. “The city courses and the park courses in the region are awesome, amazing courses, but I feel we are just as good and people take it for granted.”

Kachur’s is celebrating their 50^th season this summer. Kachur said planning for a celebration is underway, but the season has started very busy (opened April 19). The parking lot was full opening weekend and players flocked to get an early round in with the positive weather. Kacher said to be on GolfPass’ list during a monumental year adds to the excitement.

“We are so excited, even our members are happy for us. Once the news hit so many of our members were like, congratulations, you guys deserve it. So the feedback has been great, we are proud of the honour and can’t wait to have an amazing 50^th year,” Kachur added.

Other courses to make the GolfPass list over the years is Harbor Golf and RV Park, the Elbow based club on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker was number one in 2019, they were ranked eighth in 2021 and 2022, in 2023 Harbor was third. The other Saskatchewan course to make the list over the years is North Battleford Golf and Country Club, they were 21^st in 2022.

The collegiate career for Jace Carlisle of Estevan has concluded with a fourth place finish at his final event with the Minot State University Beavers.

After winning the 2018 Saskatchewan Junior Championship Carlisle started his collegiate career at Lake Superior State. He transferred to Post University, was able to compete in two national NCAA Div. 2 events (2022 and 2024) and had several solid finishes and team wins.

Carlisle graduated from Post in May of 2024, he had a year left of eligibility so Carlisle returned close to home and spent one year with the Beavers and longtime Estevan friend Chase Gedak, who also saw his career close last week.

Following graduation Carlisle has accepted a position at world renowned Banff Springs Golf Club under the guidance of longtime professional Steve Young.

Carlisle spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his career south of the border and what is next in the golf industry for the former TS&M Woodlawn staff member.

Jace Carlisle and Chase Gedak’s collegiate careers have come to an end at Minot State University (MSU). The Estevan duo and the Beavers were in Blue Springs, Missouri for the NSIC Championship at Adams Pointe Golf Club.

Carlisle will close his career with a fourth-place finish. He shot 79 in round one but found his groove over the last 36 holes shooting an event low 65 on day two and 69 in the final round to place just four shots back of the winner.

Gedak shot 80 on day one, he carded back-to-back 77’s leaving him in 36^th in his final college start.

Winston Grayson of Kipling had another solid event finishing in a tie for 25^th at 11-over par 234. He shot 73, 73, and 81. Darien Herlick of Weyburn was 40^th, he posted an 82 in round one, 77 in the middle round and 79 in the third round.

The Beavers were seventh as a school in the team competition.

Golf Saskatchewan will hear from Carlisle and Gedak this week following their outstanding collegiate careers.

Ella Kozak’s first college season with the NCAA Div. 1 Western Carolina University Catamounts is over. The Yorkton star tied for 20^th at the SoCon Championships in West Columbia, South Carlina at Solina Golf Club from April 14 to 16. Kozak shot 76, 82, and 75, good enough for a top 20 placing to cap her rookie season.

The Catamounts tied for sixth as a squad.

The freshman season at Waldorf University for Saskatoon’s Caden Loeppky is over. The Warriors were in Dubuque, Iowa on April 13 and 14 for the Loras Invite at The Meadows Golf Course. Competing for the Warriors ‘B’ team Loeppky shot 84 and 80. He tied for 35^th. His team was 10^th.

Waldorf is currently in Beatrice, Nebraska competing in the GPAC Championship, Loeppky is not in the field.

In their home event of the spring season, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) tied for second in the team competition with Saskatoon shooter Alex Swinnerton leading the Crimson Hawks. He shot 75 and 74 at the Indiana Country Club in the 60^th Cecil C. Spadafora IUP Invitational to tie for second, just missing another collegiate win by a shot.

Teammate and Waskesiu junior graduate Guillermo Salazar shot 82 and 78, the Calgary product tied for 41^st.

IUP will start their playoffs at the NCAA Atlantic/East Super Regional Championship in Erie, Pennsylvania from May 7 to 10.

In Prescott, Arizona on April 14 to 16 Nipawin’s Cole Taylor and the Park University Buccaneers were at the Antelope Hills Golf Course for the GSAC Championship. The Evergreen Golf Course staffer shot 76 in round one and fired back-to-back 82’s leaving him in 32^nd place.

The Bucs as a team were sixth in their final event of the season.

Carter Degelman of Saskatoon was in Tulock, California for the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational alongside the Dominican University of California Penguins on April 14 and 15 at Turlock Golf and Country Club. The Riverside Country Club member carded rounds of 76, 80, and 79to tie for 76^th place. Dominican was 14^th in the tournament as a team.

Degelman is currently on the course at the Pacific West Conference Championship in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Aliante Golf Club. That event concludes on April 23.

– Mike Masaro –

On March 6, during Golf Canada’s 2025 Annual General Meeting, Adam Daifallah of Westmount, Que. was elected as the organization’s 118th President. He most recently served as vice president for consecutive terms and has been a board member since 2018.

Golf Canada sat down with Daifallah to talk about a range of topics, from his early days as a competitive golfer, where he became a provincial champion, his wide-ranging career path, what led him to join Golf Canada and eventually becoming the youngest president in the organization’s history. We also discuss his thoughts on the strength of Canadian golf and much more.

You grew up in Peterborough, Ontario…what sports or activities were you drawn towards as a child? Was golf always high on your list?

I wasn’t interested in any sports until I found golf at age 10. My parents didn’t play but my grandfather did, though wasn’t playing anymore. I sort of caught the “golf bug” channel flipping the TV one day. The Skins Game was on, and I saw Lee Trevino make a hole-in-one, then proceed to jump up and down and hug his caddie, Herman. I said to my parents that I really want to try that game! I asked them to go to the bookstore and I picked up an instructional book. It was called The Golfer’s Bible. I spent that winter in the basement copying the swing movements in the book’s photos, so that in the spring, I would be ready to play for the first time. I started that year and totally loved it.  

That is a perfect segway into my next question, you were a competitive junior golfer and won the Ontario Bantam Boys’ Championship in 1992. What are your memories from that win? Do you still have the trophy or medal?

(Laughing) Yes, I still have the trophy. I also still have the prize that the OGA (now Golf Ontario) used to give for provincial winners, which was a Tudor watch. My main memory of it was playing with [eventual PGA tour member] David Hearn and defeating him by eight shots. That was the first and last time I ever beat David! We became good friends.

Shifting gears if I may to your studies. You hold a BA with honours in history and political studies from Queen’s University, and began working as a Washington correspondent at the New York Sun. From there you joined the editorial board of the National Post and wrote two books on Canadian politics. You’ve also contributed pieces for SCOREGolf. What about the journalism world interested you to pursue that early on in your career?

I have always loved writing. I was always interested in public policy and public debate, and I saw journalism as a way to advance the ideas and the causes I believed in. I liked the idea of getting those ideas out to a wider audience.

You were a Sauvé Scholar at McGill University and enrolled into law school at Université Laval. You later became a member of the Quebec Bar and practiced law at Norton Rose Fulbright (then Ogilvy Renault) in Montréal. What was the draw for you to transition from the journalism world into practicing law?

I was interested in politics from a young age and someone I idolized was Brian Mulroney. I always wanted to be near him, and he was a lawyer at Ogilvy Renault in Montréal. He was the primary reason that drove me to do that.

You later co-founded HATLEY Strategy Advisors, which was then acquired by Teneo in 2020, where you currently work as a senior managing director. Teneo offers corporate consulting, strategy and advising. On paper, those are three different paths in your career from journalism to law to consulting, but I have to feel there would be many similarities in each profession?

Absolutely. The corporate consulting work I did at HATLEY and now at Teneo allows me to draw on the skills developed from past experiences in politics, journalism and law. I use them daily in my work.

In addition to your role with Teneo and serving as president of Golf Canada you’ve also given your time as a volunteer to Dunham House in Dunham, Que. a residential treatment centre specializing in mental health and addiction recovery. What drives your passion to give back to your community?

It really boils down to wanting to get directly involved in causes you believe in. When you have a personal interest, and you’re invested in it on an emotional level, you do more. In the case of Dunham House, it’s an institution that founded by a very good friend who was touched by the issues of addiction and mental health. So, I am happy to contribute and support that cause.

Let’s talk about how you joined Golf Canada. Your journey originally began in 2013 as a volunteer. Was there something or someone that drew you or spoke to you about joining?

I had always wanted to get involved and I was fortunate to have a friend, Norman John Hébert, whose mother, Diane Dunlop Hébert, was then president of Golf Canada. She is the one who opened the door to help me get involved as a volunteer.

In your time with Golf Canada, you have sat on the committees across a number of areas including Compensation, Investment, Governors Council, People and Culture, Heritage Services and Volunteer Services Working Group, and volunteered on duty rosters, including as a starter at the RBC Canadian Open. You were then elected to the Board of Directors in 2018, became vice president for consecutive terms in 2023 and 2024, and are now the 118th president. I would have to think, that amount of experience across a number of committees has helped you ahead of joining the board and eventually becoming VP and now president?

Without a doubt. I think it’s important to know the organization well if you’re going to lead the board. I’ve benefited from being involved in a lot of areas of the organization which has allowed me to not only understand how it works operationally but also get to know a lot of the key staff, which is nice.

There has been a shift in governance at Golf Canada in compliance with Sport Canada best practices, recently the addition of an athlete category on the board and many working professionals have taken positions. In your opinion, what makes for an effective board for a national sports federation.

I think there are two things. One is people who bring a passion to the cause and a deep affection for the sport in question. And two, a diversity in range and skill sets so that everything required to govern effectively — things like legal background, accounting, human resources, etc…is covered. You need people who represent all the different skill sets and backgrounds needed.

You were on the board when the current strategic plan launched. What are your thoughts on the operational and commercial success of the organization coming out of the pandemic and the strength of the organization’s financial performance in recent years?

We’re so fortunate to be in such a strong position. We’ve been the beneficiaries of strong leadership by our CEO, Laurence Applebaum, combined with good fortune. A lot of new people have picked up the game due to the pandemic, and many who had quit have come back. The numbers keep on increasing even though we’re a few years out of the pandemic. So I think it’s a combination of good leadership and the positive impacts of external factors. There’s that saying that “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

People across Canada are engaged in golf. Record numbers of participation, 11 million scores posted on the Golf Canada App. There is great strength in Canadian golf and programming from First Tee – Canada, She Plays Golf, the Team Canada High Performance program and those competing professionally on the world stage. It’s all been a point of pride for Golf Canada, what are your thoughts on the state of Canadian golf today?

I would say we’re in an enviable position. I’m not sure that anyone could have predicted where we would be right now, both in terms of the amateur game and the pro game, a few years ago. Tee sheets are jam packed at public courses. Private clubs have waiting lists. We had four Canadians participate in The Masters.

If you could pick one event or moment during your time with Golf Canada thus far that would be your fondest, what would it be?

That’s a tough one. Probably being a first tee starter at the RBC Canadian Open. Meeting the players, introducing the players –especially the Canadians and the ones you’re personally a fan of –that’s a really neat experience. Another that comes to mind is meeting Lee Trevino, who originally sparked my golf interest. He came to the RBC Canadian Open a few years ago and we spoke for about two hours!

In your first year as president of Golf Canada. Are there any particular goals you hope to achieve or see continue this year?

Capitalizing on the growth of the game and the gains of recent years is top of mind. We need to keep the momentum going. Also, good governance and modernization of our volunteer infrastructure. Over the years, people have asked whether I have enough time to volunteer for Golf Canada because I worked full time. We must continue to make our organization friendly to those who work and who have other commitments, like young families.  

During your time as president, Golf Canada will transition its national headquarters to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, home of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, how exciting is that and another new chapter for Golf Canada?

Tremendously exciting. It’s a project that I’ve seen go from a mere concept to now almost being a reality. There’s been a lot of work and commitment from staff to make this happen and I think everyone is just excited now to see it come to fruition and to be ready. It will be a new era for Golf Canada.

You have been a generous donor to the fundraising activities of the Golf Canada Foundation – how impactful have the efforts of the foundation and its network of donors been to the advancement of Canadian golf?

It really makes a difference. The Golf Canada Foundation under the leadership of Martin Barnard must be lauded for the growth we’ve seen in fundraising in the last number of years – particularly when it comes to the First Tee – Canada program, lining up a lot of major gifts across the country to fund provincial First Tee chapters. It’s going to take a while for us to see the fruits of that because it’s a fairly new program, but I am confident it’s going to pay huge dividends down the road.

I’d like to ask a couple personal questions. How do you maintain relationships? I am sure there are many areas, places and people you’d like to connect with, or re-connect with. How do you achieve that? How do you maintain relationships?

At a basic level it’s about reaching out and keeping frequent contact. Emails, calls, text messages, playing golf together, you have to keep the effort going through touchpoints to keep relationships alive. It does take effort, and it has to be a mutual effort.

You live in Westmount, Quebec with your wife and two young sons. Are they golf enthusiasts?

Everyone plays, including my wife. We have a family membership at Knowlton Golf Club and the boys and I play nine holes almost every weekend there in the summer. They’re showing a keen interest, which is exciting.

I am sure that your responsibilities as a father and husband take you in many different directions. On-top of that you work full-time and volunteer your time extensively. With that, how important is it to maintain a good work-life balance?

It’s very challenging, but it’s essential. There’s always a tension between the two and you just have to do the best that you can. It’s a juggling act. It helps if you have a supportive spouse or partner, and I am lucky to have that.

How would you describe your golf game today?

(Laughs) I’d say that I am pleased with it, considering my age and how often I play. I am very happy to break 80 on any given day.

Finally, what is something that we should know about you, beyond reading your bio?

I am a very communicative and open person. I am an open book. I want to be accessible so if anybody ever wants to reach me, please do not be shy. Pick up the phone or send the email if I can help with anything.