OTTAWA, Canada – The National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) is an industry coalition consisting of the five national golf associations in Canada – Golf Canada; National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Canada; the Club Management Association of Canada (CMAC); Professional Golfers Association of Canada (PGA of Canada); and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA).

Each association represents a unique sector of the golf industry – its purpose is to advocate as a single voice about issues that affect golfers and golf businesses, and subsequently their employee groups, and related stakeholders. Since 2011, NAGA has executed an annual lobby day, referred to as National Golf Day, as an event to highlight the positive virtues of Canadian golf and build relationships with key legislative decision-makers both federally and provincially.

NAGA is delighted to advise that after a four-year pause due to COVID-19, we will again be conducting the annual National Golf Day initiative on May 22-23, 2024, with a press conference on Parliament Hill, followed by targeted advocacy meetings with MPs and Senators in Ottawa.

Golf: Many Benefits

Golf flourished during the pandemic as the nature of the sport easily allowed for social distancing while delivering a social recreation experience for both avid and new players . Several clubs now have waitlists due to the increased interest in golf as more people took up the sport when travel or other recreational activities were adversely impacted. Post-COVID, golf enthusiasts have continued their renewed (or new) interest in the sport because of its many benefits, whether health, mental, or social.

Current data suggests that hundreds of thousands of participants have entered the sport in recent years, totaling nearly six million golfers in Canada, just under 20% of the entire Canadian population. New golfers are increasingly likely to be female with active women golfers growing by 6% in 2023 vs 2022. New golfers are also ever more likely to be BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) as evidenced by a 33% lift in BIPOC active golfers in 2023 vs 2022.

Economic Impact Study

Complementary to the advocacy work of NAGA, the coalition conducts an economic impact study every five years to measure the financial, employment, charitable, tourism and environmental impact that the sport and the business of golf contributes to communities across Canada. The survey was executed in February 2024 and the results will be released just prior to National Golf Day 2024. The study will highlight economic insights for each of the 10 provinces and three territories from coast-to-coast.

Given that this study will be the first since COVID and the interest spike that followed, NAGA anticipates the results to be dramatically different than prior years.

Call to Action

In the lead-up to National Golf Day 2024, NAGA invites its association members to encourage your networks to get involved in the sport, whether that be playing a round of golf, experience family time at your local course, introducing a new player to the game, taking a lesson, or enjoying a meal at your local course clubhouse.

NAGA stakeholders are encouraged to consider running a special National Golf Day promotion to support the day and join in the wonderful momentum that golf is currently experiencing.

Sincerely,

National Allied Golf Associations

Austin Nesbitt has another podium finish on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) as the first Saskatchewan event nears.

On May 4 and 5 at the Kildonan Park Golf Course in the Manitoba capital, the Pilot Butte Junior was second in the bantam (under-15) age group with a 36-hole score of 149 after rounds of 78 and 71. The Wascana Country Club member was just three shots off the leader.

Nesbitt placed third at an MJT event in Lethbridge in late April.

Also in the field in Winnipeg was Warman’s Tina and Kevin Liu.

Tina was fourth in the 15-19 girls category with a score of 202 (100, 102) while Kevin was 11th in the bantam boys group after rounds of 96 and 95.

The first Saskatchewan MJT event will also open the Junior Order of Merit Tour season on May 11 and 12 in Estevan at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club.

To register, click here.

The 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games will be held in Lloydminster this summer with the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre being the host of the golf championships.

Nine district qualifiers will be held around the province before the Games begin on July 21. Teams will consist of three females and three males, a manager, and a coach. Players must be under 17 years of age as of the final day of the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. The date for females is July 25, for the males it’s Aug. 16.

The Saskatchewan Summer Games golf championships will be a 72-hole, four day competition running from July 21 to 24.

Each qualifier will be an 18-hole, one day event. Players do not need to be Golf Saskatchewan members, but if a player does qualify for their district that player will need to become a member and have a valid Handicap Index. The Saskatoon qualifier will be hosted by The Willows Club and will be combined with the course’s Saskatoon Junior Open. Scores from Saturday’s round will be used to choose the Saskatoon qualifiers.

The dates and locations are as follows:

• Regina (Joanne Goulet Golf Course) | June 1
• Southwest (Chinook Golf Course, Swift Current) | June 9
• Southeast (TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club, Estevan) | June 8
• Rivers West (Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre, Lloydminster) | June 8
• Parkland Valley (Deer Park Municipal Golf Course, Yorkton) | June 9
• Northern (Eagle Point Resort, La Ronge) | June 9
• Saskatoon (The Willows Club) | June 22
• Prairie Central (Humboldt Golf Club, Humboldt) | June 23
• Lakeland (Cooke Municipal Golf Course, Prince Albert) | July 7

Participants will pay their fees at the golf course on the day of their respective tryout, the deadline to register for each event is 10 days prior to the date.

To register click here.

If anyone is interested in becoming a team manager or coach contact Golf Saskatchewan Executive Director Brian Lee at Blee@golfsaskatchewan.org.

The Minot State University (MSU) Beavers spring golf season is over, so are the years for Holly Knudsen and Chase Gedak.

Knudsen and the women’s team was in Smithville, Mo. for the NSIC Championship at Paradise Pointe – Outlaw from April 26 to 28. The Chaplin product carried the number one bag for the team and was the lowest Beaver tying for 21^st. Knudsen shot 85 in round one, bounced back nicely with a 77 on day two, and finished with an 83 for a 54-hole total of 245.

The team was ninth overall.

Gedak has had a strong finish to his season with the Beavers men’s team after transferring from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Coming off a tie for fifth (78,73) at the Augustana Spring Invitational on April 8 and 9 in Sioux Falls, S.D. at Elmwood Golf Course, the Estevan product’s top-notch play continued at the NSIC Championship from April 19 to 21 at Adams Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs, Mo.

Also leading the team into the event, Gedak went 75, 73, and 72 for a three-round score of 220, that left him in eighth place overall. MSU was ninth as a team in the season concluding championship.

Both Knudsen and Gedak are expected to return to the Beavers in the fall.

Will Danielson’s junior season along with Davin Karst’s freshman campaign at Milsaps College are over.

The Majors were in Dickson, Tex. for the SAA Conference Championship from April 26 to 28 at Greystone Golf Club.

Saskatoon’s Danielson carded rounds of 77, 76, and 81, at 234 he was 39^th. Karst opened with an 80, responded with a 74 in the middle round, and an 84 on the final day. The Assiniboia product was 42^nd.

The team was sixth. Teammate Preston Severs tied for third and now awaits a chance at the national event.

Colby Friedrich of Battleford was in action this week in Victoria, Tex. at the Victoria Country Club for the University of Providence Argos at the Red River and Frontier Conference Championship. Friedrich led the team and had his best result with the school. After opening with an 81, the North Battleford Golf & Country Club member shot back-to-back 77’s for a 54-hole total of 235. Tying for 22^nd.

The team ended their season with a ninth-place finish.

More regionals will be played next week with several student-athletes still chasing national spots.

The Canadian University/College Championships will take place June 3.

The collegiate golf career for TJ Baker has come to an end.

The Prince Albert product and summer staffer at Waskesiu Golf Course wrapped up his career at the University of Arkansas at Monticello last week at the Great America Conference Tournament with a solid tie for 22nd place.

Although Baker wasn’t able to collect a collegiate win with the Weevils, the Carlton Comprehensive High School graduate was a steady force in the UAM men’s golf lineup weekly, many times leading the team at events across the southern United States.

Baker received his degree in Finance and Marketing and will graduate after a couple finals this week.

He spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his career, what he’d do differently, and what is next personally, and in golf.

With several school records and a collegiate win under his belt, Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy is proud of his college career at Robert Morris University.

After five years at the Pennsylvania based NCAA Div. 1 school, the reigning Saskatchewan Amateur Men’s Champion will graduate in the next few days and begin his post-education golf journey.

Golf Saskatchewan chatted with the Riverside Country Club member following his last college event last week.

The competitive season is open for a trio of Saskatchewan juniors after the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) kicked off their Alberta schedule in Lethbridge this past weekend.

The Global Sport Academy Spring Classic at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort had three bantam (U15) players from Saskatchewan in the field. Leading the way was Pilot Butte’s Austin Nesbitt. The youngest player in the field in his age group, last year’s under-13 Order of Merit (OMT) winner placed third in the 36-hole event. The Wascana Country Club member opened with an 80 but bounced back with a 76 to place third overall, seven shots back of the winner.

Saskatoon’s Hudson Diederichs went 82 and 83, he tied for seventh, and Ian Davis, also of Saskatoon was 10^th at 169 (85,84).

The first Saskatchewan MJT event will also open the OMT season on May 11 and 12 in Estevan at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club. To register, click here.

The winners of the OMT’s from this season will receive exemptions into a provincial championship of their choosing next season.

For more information on the OMT schedules, click here.

The spring college golf season south of the border continued this week with a plethora of action across the United States.

In Bedford, Pa. at the Old Course at Bedford Springs, Saskatoon’s Alex Swinnerton placed in the top-5 for the second straight week with the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks. On April 22 and 23 the Riverside Country Club member shot rounds of 75 and 78 to finish in a tie for fifth at 9-over par.

Fellow Crimson Hawk and former Waskesiu junior golfer Guillermo Salazar also tied for fifth at 153 by shooting 79 and 74. The team was second thanks to the strong performances of the two players.

Next for IUP is the NCAA Atlantic/East Super Regional from May 9 to 11 in Wheeling, W.V. at Oglebay Resort – Jones Course.

On April 22 and 23 at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, W.V. where Swinnerton and Salazar will play next week, Estevan’s Jace Carlisle was in action for Post University at a regional preview. On day one the TS&M Woodlawn staff member stroked an 80, but rebounded nicely on day two shooting 76, vaulting 36 spots up the leaderboard placing in 37^th.

The Eagles placed ninth as a team out of a 26 school field, like Carlisle, the club jumped up the leaderboard on day two by five spots. Post is now scheduled to attend the NCAA Regionals joining the Crimson Hawks in the field in May.

Hallie Crozier helped the Ferris State Bulldogs to a fourth place finish in their latest event. The Regina golfer was at the GLIAC Championships in Augusta, Mich. from April 18 to 19 at Stonehedge Golf Club. Crozier shot 79 and 81 in the 36-hole tournament, good enough for a tie for 20^th.

The NCAA East Regional from May 6 to 8 in Indianapolis, Ind. is next for Ferris State.

Cole Obrigewitsch is having a solid season for California State University – San Bernardino and that continued this week in Santa Rosa, Cal. at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club. The Coyotes placed seventh as a team at the CCAA Championships, Obrigewitsch tied for 30^th with a 54-hole score of 222. The Deer Valley resident opened with a 79 but fired back a 71 and 72 over the final couple rounds on April 22 to 24.

 The Coyotes are off to Las Cruces, N.M. on May 8 for the NCAA Regionals.

Caden Loeppky of Saskatoon has had a busy month of April for the Waldorf University Warriors. On April 20 and 21 the team was in Decorah, Ia. for the Luther Spring Classic at the Oneota Golf and Country Club. Competing for the Warriors ‘B’ team Loeppky shot 82 and 84, he tied for 49^th place at 22-over par. The team was 11^th.

The NSAA Championship is listed as Waldorf’s next event on April 29 and 30.

Josh Nagy’s impressive collegiate career has come to an end at Robert Morris University (RMU).

The reigning Saskatchewan Amateur Men’s Champion wrapped up his five-year stint with the Colonials in Howey-in-the-Hills, Flo. this week at the El Campeon Golf Course. Nagy led RMU again with a tie for 25^th place. He carded rounds of 75, 75, and 76 to finish at 226.

The team was 10^th overall in their final event of the season.

TJ Baker’s collegiate career ended for the University of Arkansas – Monticello this week. The Prince Albert product and his Weevil teammates were in Broken Arrow, Okla. on April 22 and 23 for the Great American Conference Tournament at the Club at Forest Ridge. Baker played well at the event, he bookended the three-round event with 76’s, the Waskesiu Golf Course player shot 81 in round two, overall, he finished a solid tie for 22^nd place.

The Weevils were ninth overall.

In Kerrville, Tex., Chase Pochylko and Tommy Danielson’s rookie seasons for Nicholls University concluded at the Southland Conference Championship at Comanche Trace on April 22 – 24. Danielson was the teams’ low player going 74, 73, and 75 to place tied for 15^th overall. Pochylko started with a tough 87, the 2022 Saskatchewan Junior Champion was much better in the second round shooting 74, he closed with an 82, tying for 44^th at 243.

The Colonels were ninth in the team standings in the final event of their season.

More events will begin on April 26 for a handful of players before the busy weekend of May 9 to 12.

The 2024 golf season officially opened in Saskatchewan on April 15, but now that spring looks to have sprung, courses around the province are taking tee times or will open later this week.

With the opening of the season, now is time to purchase your Golf Canada/Saskatchewan membership and take advantage of the long list of benefits that come with being a member.

Members can play and travel knowing they are protected, easy access to post scores and track your World Handicap Index, get deals from companies nationwide, compete in championships both provincially and nationally, plus be part of Canada’s largest golfing community.

2024 Individual Golfer Fees:

• Golf SK participating Member GC 17 & under $42.00 + GST = $44.10
• Golf SK participating Member GC $42.00 + GST & PST = $46.62
• Golf SK Public Players Club) $59.95 + GST & PST = $66.55

*Junior male and females must be 18 and under as of Aug. 1, 2024.

There are also plenty of benefits for facilities that join Golf Saskatchewan including up to $5,000 in incident protection for member players, course rating, handicapping, and Rules instruction, access to the Golf Canada Score Centre and app, membership funding (MAP Grants), member support, grassroot fundraising opportunities, the chance to host Golf Saskatchewan or Golf Canada events, plus an all new Golf Genius partnership.

For details on any of the membership opportunities provided, click here.

The third time is the charm for Gary Faubert in the Rotary Club of Saskatoon’s Masters Golf Pool. The 70-year-old golf fan from Fort Qu’Appelle chose the right combination of golfers earning a $5,000 grand prize.

A life-long fan of the sport and third time entrant into the annual pool hosted by the non-profit Bridge City based organization, Faubert’s selections of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott, and Dustin Johnson collected a total of $9,345,400. Faubert, after two years of finishing “not even close, way out of it,” used some personal experience in his choices.

“I picked Scheffler, I figured everybody is going to pick him,” he said. “I followed him around the Phoenix Open a couple years ago and I liked his style. I figure the Masters has become so big, there has to be so much pressure, I picked the guys I figured that could handle the pressure.”

The driving force in Faubert’s winning team was likely Ludvig Aberg. The Swede finished second overall behind Scheffler. He admitted to not knowing much about Aberg but appreciated his name.

“I hardly knew anything about him, I looked, how could you not pick Ludwig?” Faubert chuckled.

As the tournament moved on into the weekend the Echo Ridge Golf Course member estimated he would be in the running for the grand prize. He said watching on Sunday was more exciting than receiving the phone call from the Rotary Club.

“I added up my winnings and that, I looked at last years, but this year there was a lot more money in there. I figured I’d be close, I thought I had a chance. Anticipating was better than actually winning it,” he added.

Faubert said this won his first somewhat sizable prize, he won $1,000 in the Fort Knox Junior ‘B’ Hockey Team’s annual raffle once.

Aside from the win, Faubert appreciates the game and how it can connect a family. His son recommended he get into the Rotary pool. He plays approximately 70 rounds at Echo Ridge and got in about 30 in Arizona this past winter. He plays with his son and his son in law is playing the game too. Plus, Faubert now has swagger within the family after his win.

“When the Rotary called, they said, you have the bragging rights. There was two other Faubert’s in the pool, my wife and son, so that’s great,” he said.

Only one other entrant was over the $9M mark, that was Mark Nedila of Saskatoon.

The full results can be found here.