St Andrews, Scotland & Oakville, Ont. – The R&A announced new participation figures that show an increase of more than three million adult golfers playing the sport.  

According to new research undertaken for the governing body, there are now 42.7 million on-course golfers (9 and 18-hole) in R&A affiliated markets (outside the USA and Mexico).

The research figures for 2023 indicate a growth of 3.1 million on-course golfers since 2022. The growth trend began before the onset of Covid-19 and is now accelerating faster than the 2020-2022 pandemic period when there was an average of 2.5 million new on-course golfers per annum. The sport continues to increase in popularity, now up 44% from 29.6 million on-course players in 2016.

The new data is provided by national federations in The R&A’s affiliated markets in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

The research also shows that 62.3 million adults (outside the USA and Mexico) consume the sport in some format, an increase of 1.1 million since 2022. It is just the second time an estimate has been made beyond on-course activity to include alternative-only formats, such as pitch & putt, indoor simulator golf and driving range use.

“Golf’s popularity continues to grow with a significant increase in the number of people playing the sport both on and off the course,” said Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A. “There are now 13 million more golfers playing on the course since 2016 in R&A affiliated markets, while there are also millions of others enjoying alternative formats of golf, such as driving ranges, adventure golf and simulator golf, which are vital to the growth of the sport.

“New golfer participation programmes with appealing propositions, promotion and imagery are important for encouraging more people into the sport and retaining them in greater numbers. This is why we continue to work collaboratively with our affiliated national federations and stakeholders to build on this momentum and ensure golf continues to thrive.”

The top five on-course adult golfer markets overall reported are in:

• Japan (11.4 million)
• Republic of Korea (8.7 million)
• Canada (6.3 million)
• England (4.2 million)
• Germany (2.4 million)

Asia is the leading region for people engaging with golf among R&A affiliated regions, with total adult engagement in golf of 26.2 million. Europe is next highest with 19.7 million adults having some form of golf engagement.

The number of adult registered golfers (those members of a golf club within their national association or affiliated through a direct subscription) increased from 8 million in 2022 to 8.2 million in 2023, with an overall growth of 10% since 2020. Registered women golfers have grown from 1.5 million in 2020 to 1.6 million in 2023.

There was a decrease in those adults who only played formats other than 9 or 18-hole golf  – 21.6 million in 2022 to 19.6 million in 2023 – but this is likely to positively reflect on those moving instead to full-length on-course golf. The percentage of golfers only using alternative formats that are women did grow from 47% in 2022 to 52% in 2023, specifically in key golfing markets.

Golf Canada is now accepting nominations for its 2024 National Facility Awards for Junior Golf, presented by HUMI. 

This award program was created with the intention of celebrating and recognizing facilities across Canada who are making outstanding contributions to junior golf in their communities. Our hope is that these awards will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary support of junior golf by these facilities and set a positive example for others to follow. 

Please consider nominating your facility based on the six categories below: 

Junior Golf Opportunity Award 

Awarded to a facility that provides exceptional access and membership opportunities for junior golfers. Special consideration is given to facilities with strong non-family sponsored junior programs and facilities with fundraising programs to help athletes compete at provincial, national, and international competitions. 

2023 Winner: Sawmill Golf Club (Fenwick, Ontario) 

Competitive Junior Program of the Year 

Awarded to a facility or academy program with many junior athletes competing in provincial and national championships and earning strong results in those championships. 
 
2023 Winner: Royal Ottawa Golf Club (Gatineau, Quebec) 

Grassroots Junior Program of the Year 

Awarded to a facility or academy program that is excelling at creating new junior golfers through local programming. 
 
2023 Winner: Deep River Golf Club (Deep River, Ontario) 

Tournament Host of the Year 

Awarded to a facility that gives back to junior golf by embracing the opportunity to host junior competitions. The facility creates an excellent tournament experience for players and involves the local community through volunteers and fundraising support. 
 
2023 Winner: South Muskoka Curling & Golf Club (Bracebridge, Ontario) 

First Tee – Canada Program Location of the Year 

Awarded to a First Tee – Canada Program Location that demonstrates excellent enrolment in First Tee – Canada programming and makes a significant impact on growing participation among new juniors within its community. 
 
2023 Winner: Fraserview Golf Course (Vancouver, British Columbia) 

Youth on Course  Program Location of the Year 

Awarded to the facility that provides the largest number of Youth on Course green fee subsidies to junior golfers in the calendar year.  
 
2023 Winner: Shaganappi Point Golf Course (Calgary, Alberta) 

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Click the button below to nominate a facility for an award for 2024.

National Facility Awards for Junior Golf 

Nominations are set to close Friday, Nov. 15, 2024  and we will announce the 2024 Awards Winners at the Golf Canada Annual General Meeting in early 2025. 

If you have any questions regarding the awards or nomination process, please feel free to email NFAJG@golfcanada.ca. 

Alex Swinnerton is now a four time college champion after winning the Hannastown Invitational this week for Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

The Saskatoon product has started the fall season for the Crimson Hawks on a torrid pace finishing second, third, and now first at the Hannastown Golf Club. Swinnerton shot an opening round of 70, then carded back-to-back rounds of 69 to win by a shot over Robin Duzman.

Swinnerton’s results, plus Waskesiu junior graduate Guillermo Salazar’s tie for fifth helped IUP take the team title as well. Salazar, who resides in Calgary but spend many summers in Waskesiu went 70, 71, and 72.

Next up for the Crimson Hawks is the Howard “Bud” Elwell Invitational in Erie, PA. beginning on Oct. 7.

In Lake City, Minn. on Sept. 24 and 25 the Minot State University (MSU) Beavers were in action for the Watkins Fall Invitational at The Jewel Golf Club. Loaded with Saskatchewan talent, the Beavers were fourth out of 13 schools at the event led by Estevan’s Chase Gedak. He shot 72 and 71, good enough for a tie for 12^th place overall.

Winston Grayson (Kipling) opened with a 77 but bounced back beautifully with a 70 in round two, he tied for 20^th.

Jace Carlisle, also of Estevan tied for 22^nd at 5-over par, 148 (72, 76). Darien Herlick of Weyburn started with a 77, the Golf Kenosee member chopped a handful of strokes off inn the second round tying for 26^th at 6-over par, 249.

In the women’s event, Holly Knudsen of Chaplin shot 81 and 79 for a two day total of 160, she tied for 32^nd overall.

The women Beavers’ team was eighth in the squad competition.

MSU will head to Bismarck, N.D. for the Marauder Fall Invitational at Hawktree Golf Course beginning Sept. 30.

In Robinsonville, Miss. the Milsaps Majors and Saskatoon’s Will Danielson were in action at the Tunica National Golf and Tennis on Sept. 23 and 24. The Riverside Country Club member opened the event with a 77, , he followed that with a 78, but played much better in the final round shooting 72 and vaulting 13 spots up the leaderboard on the final day eventually placing in a tie for 40^th.

The Majors were 14^th as a team and will look to rebound on that finish at the West Pines Collegiate in Douglasville, Ga. On Oct. 7 and 8.

Saskatoon’s Caden Loeppky was on the course competing for the Waldorf University Warriors on Sept. 21 and 22. Loeppky was in Storm Lake, IA. for the Buena Vista Invite, he shot 83 and 91 at the Lake Creek Country Club, that left him in 43^rd place. The Warriors team placed eighth.

Next stop is the Waldorf Invitational in Albert Lea, Minn. starting Sept. 29.

In Shelby, Mont. on Sept. 23 and 24 there was plenty of Saskatchewan talent on display. Besides a match-play event earlier in September, Swift Current’s Makstyr McIntyre got his college career off and running. The Elmwood Golf Club member is attending Rocky Mountain College, his first full stroke play event was 54 holes where McIntyre shot 78, 72, and 81 for a solid 13^th place finish. He was competing as an individual.

Also in the field was Colby Friedrich of North Battleford and Reigna’s Adam Husli competing for the University of Providence Argos. Husli, shot 81, 76, and 76, he was 15^th. Friedrich was 25^th after posting rounds of 86, 85, and 76.

Both Friedrich and Husli suit up for the Argos men’s hockey team as well with Friedrich serving as the captain.

Rocky Mountain College won the four team event, Providence was fourth.

The Battlin’ Bears host their next action on Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 in Billings, Mont. for the Beartooth Invitational, the Argos will be in the event as well.

The MSSU Fall Invitational took place at Shangri La Resort on Sept. 23 and 24^th with the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders in the tournament.

The weather shortened the event to 36 holes with Regina’s Luke Cote and Will Blake in the field competing for SAU. Cote shot 74 and 75, he was tied for 40^th, Blake posted a 77 and 75, he was tied for 58^th.

The Muleriders were 15^th as a team. SAU will travel to Hot Springs, Ark. for the Battle for the Belt on Sept. 30 at Hot Springs Country Club.

From Sept. 15 to 17 Regina’s Hallie Crozier and the Ferris State Bulldogs were in Allendale, Mich. for the Folds of Honour Qualifier at The Meadows at Grand Valley State. The Royal Regina Golf Club member led the team with a top 10 performance. Crozier shot 77, 79, and a solid 73 to finish at 229, 16 strokes off the winner.

Ferris collected the bronze medal as a team led by Crozier’s finish. The Bulldogs are in Findlay, Oh. for the Beall Fall Classic on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

Cole Taylor of Nipawin and the Park University Buccaneers were at Las Colinas Golf Club on Sept. 23 and 24 for the Park Gilbert Fall Invitational. The Evergreen Golf Course player and staffer played well tying for 16^th at 1-under par, 212. He shot rounds of 73, 71, and 68.

Team standings were not available. Park will be in Surprise, Ariz. for the OUAZ Fall Invitational kicking off an Sept. 30 at Sterling Grove Golf and Country Club.

At the Tot Hill Farm Invitational on Sept. 23 and 24 Ella Kozak and the Western Carolina University Catamounts were in action. Competing in Asheboro, N.C. the Yorkton product helped the team to a seventh place finish by shooting 80, 75, and 81 and ending up in 38^th place overall.

Western Carolina University is off until Oct. 11 when they head to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational.

Justin Miller of Saskatoon continued his rookie season for the Southwestern Community College (SCC) Spartans over the last week as well. On Sept. 19 the team competed in the one day stroke play Graceland Fall Invitational in Lamoni. Cal. Playing as an individual Miller shot 10-over par 82, he tied for 22^nd. The Spartans won the team portion of the event.

Their next event is the NJCAA Division II Men’s National Championship Preview at Swan lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind. teeing off on Sept. 30.

Here in Canada, Myles Johnson and the University of Victoria Vikes golf team opened their season at the Simon Fraser University True North Classic in Burnaby, B.C. on Sept. 23 and 24. Competing at the Riverway Golf Course, the Martensville product opened his fall season with a 39^th overall finish at 20-over par 236 (82, 75, 79).

The Vikes were sixth as a team. The team will travel south and meet up with Taylor and potentially Solomon Ness at the OUAZ Fall Invitational on Sept. 30.

Over 60 golfers travelled to Hillcrest Golf Club Saturday for the Champions Cup, the ultimate team event that wraps up the provincial tournament season.

Moose Jaw’s Hillcrest was host of the third running of the event that allows member clubs to send up to eight players (four of each sex in the junior, amateur, senior, and super senior categories) if they hosted a championship at their club level.

Players use a Stableford Points system and compete in each category plus chase the team prize, the Champions Cup that was retained by Wascana Country Club for the third straight year. Wascana edged the Royal Regina Golf Club by just two points in the one day event. The host team from Hillcrest was third.

The age group winners were:
Tayla Perry (Wascana) (JR Women’s) 17 Points
Alex Schmidt (Royal) (AM Women’s) 32 Points
Kim Walker (Wascana) (SR Women’s) 32 Points
Lori Beale (Royal) (SSR Women’s) 14 Points
Isaac Shanks (Royal) (JR Men’s) 28 Points
Ryan McNall (Wascana) Mitch Matichuk (Royal) AM Men’s) 34 Points
Kevin Ryan (Hillcrest) (SR Men’s) 34 Points
Tom Plosz (Hillcrest) (SR Men’s) 29 Points

The complete results of the event can be found here.

The busy fall collegiate golf season continued this week in several parts of the United States with plenty of Saskatchewan talent on the course.

Autumn Neiszner of Regina made her season debut at Keiser University competing as an individual in the Seahawk Shootout at PGA National Resort. The Wascana Country Club player shot 84 and 79 on Sept. 16 and 17, she placed in a tie for 50^th.

Keiser won the team competition led by Neiszner’s teammate Carolin Alblas who won the event.

The Seahawks are in Hattiesburg, Miss. on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 for the Crusader Classic.

In Hudson, Wis. at the Troy Burne Golf Club the Minot State University (MSU) Beavers were in action at the Fall Brawl hosted by Minnesota State. Holly Knudsen of Chaplin had the top female performance of the week tying for fifth place overall. She shot 78 in round one and fired an 81 in the second round to finish at 159, 10 strokes back of the winner.

The Beavers women’s team was eighth in the school standings.

On the men’s side, MSU was fifth in the team competition during the same event in Hudson. Chase Gedak of Estevan was the top Beaver local tying for 14^th place. Gedak carded a 72 and 75 on Monday and Tuesday.

Winston Grayson of Kipling is continuing to build on his strong college start, he earned a top 10 finish in his debut last week, in Wisconsin he shot 73 and 76 to place in a tie for 23^rd.

Weyburn’s Darien Herlick tied for 28^th, he posted an opening round 76 and followed that up with a 74.

Veteran Jace Carlisle tied for 56^th place in the event after rounds of 78 and 81.

On Sept. 23 and 24 the Beavers travel to Lake City, Minn. for the Watkins Fall Invitational at The Jewel Golf Club.

In Muskogee Okla. on Sept. 16 and 17 the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders started their season. Regina’s Luke Cote was tied for 15^th. The Royal Regina Golf Club (RRGC) member shot 73 in round one, 68 in round two, and 71 during the third round. Fellow RRGC, player Will Blake was also inside the top 20 placing in a tie for 19^th. Blake shot 70, 72, and 73 over the two days.

The Muleriders reached the podium with a third place finish. Next up is the NSU Men’s Classic on Sept. 23 and 24 at Shangri La Resort in Monkey Island, Okla.

Saskatoon golfer Caden Loeppky has been active so far this season. The Waldorf Warriors and Loeppky were in Monmouth, Ill. On Sept. 14 and 15 for the Monmouth Invitational at Gibson Woods Golf Course. He fired back-to-back rounds of 86 leaving him in a tie for 48^th place. The Waldorf ‘B’ team and Loeppky were 10^th as a team. The Waldorf ‘A’ team was second in the team competition.

The Warriors were also in Mason City, IA on Sept. 17 competing in the one day NIACC Fall Invitational. Loeppky posted an 84 playing as an individual.

Next up is the Buena Vista Invitational in Storm Lake, IA. this weekend.

Coming off a second place team performance to start the season, the Indianna University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks were in Plymouth, Mich. for the Hillsdale Invitational on Sept. 16 and 17.

Alex Swinnerton (Saskatoon) has another top three finish after coming in second last week. The Riverside Country Club player opened with a 71, shot 72 in round two and a 74 in the third and final round, his 217 was just a shot back of the winner.

Waskesiu junior graduate Guillermo Salazar was ninth overall for IUP at 220 (70, 73, 74).

The team was fifth overall. The Crimson Hawks are in Greensburg, Pa. on Sept 23 and 24 for the Hannastown Collegiate Invitational at the Hannastown Golf Club.

More events will feature Saskatchewan players this weekend and several more open tournaments on Sept. 23.

The Willows Club hosted the Saskatchewan National Golf League final Wednesday where six players earned their way to the national final.

Royal Regina Golf Club (RRGC) duo Kiet Ly and Hop Huynh won the event with 45 Stableford Points. There was a tie for second at 44 Stableford Points with Willows players Samuel Wabugwe and Cael Sullivan and RRGC Chad Lincoln and Chad Sinclair.

The three teams that qualified will take part in the national event prior to the 2025 RBC Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in June.

The field included 10 teams.

It’s been quite the season for Saskatoon’s Ryan Mosher.

He started the year with a win at the NextGen Prairie Championship in Thunder Bay, he then won the Saskatchewan Junior Championship and now the 16-year-old has just wrapped up a three-round, two day Golf Canada Selection Camp gauntlet at Oviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont on Tuesday.

The Riverside Country Club member shot 80 in round one, an 81 in round two on Monday, in the final round Mosher carded a 76 for a 54-hole total of 21-over par, 237.

Charlie Gillespie won the event won the event in a playoff at even par. He will now join Team Canada – Next Gen.

Brad Phelps of Saskatoon will finish as the top Saskatchewan golfer at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championships that concluded on Sunday.

The Holiday Park Golf Course member was extremely consistent for four days at the Saugeen Golf Club shooting 74, 75, 74, and 76, good enough for a tie for 24th at 11-over par, 299.

Ken Rodgers of Regina moved up 16 spots on the leaderboard during the final day thanks to a 74 in round four. Rodgers opened with a 79, bounced back with a 74 to make the cut, shot 78 during round three, he was 17-over par at the end of 72 holes.

Weyburn product Rick Hallberg tied for 58th at 20-over par, 308 and Bent Wotypka of Swift Current also played all four rounds, he was 67th at 23-over par.

The team was eighth overall in the inter-provincial competition.

To see the compete results of the championships click here.

The Canadian Senior Men’s Championships is now set for the final day at Saugeen Golf Club with four Saskatchewan competitors still in the championship.

Brad Phelps of Saskatoon was the top local through 36 holes shooting 74 and 75, Rick Hallberg of Weyburn bounced back after an opening round of 78, shooting 74 in round two Friday, Ken Rodgers of Regina also improved nicely from round one to two, the Regina resident shot 79 in the opening round and 74 during round two, and Brent Wotypka of Swift Current carded back-to-back 77’s, all good enough to make the cut.

Martin Ring of Prince Albert was 11-over par (79, 76), Rob Schneider from Regina shot 83 and 78, Saskatoon golfer Warren Proctor carded rounds of 80 and 84, and Colin Coben posted back-to-back 82’s to conclude the local contigent.

The team made up of Coben, Wotypka, and Rodgers placed eighth in the inter-provincial championship.

Round 3 Update

Phelps continued his solid golf in round three carding another 74, the Holiday Park Golf Course member is tied for 22nd going into Sunday’s championship round.

Hallberg shot 76 Saturday, the Golf Kenosee player is tied for 44th, Rodgers carded a 78, he’s tied for 63rd, and Wotypka posted an an 82 in round three, the Elmwood member is tied for 73rd.

All the results can be seen here.

Will Danielson has started his senior year at Milsaps College with a third place finish in the Majors first event of the fall season, the Greystone Fall Invitational.

Competing in Dickson, Tenn. at the Greystone Golf Club on Sept. 8 and 9, the Saskatoon product carded rounds of 70 and 71, good enough for a tie for third place in the field. The team was 12^th.

Next up for the Majors is the Rhodes Fall Invitational in Tunica Resorts, Miss. on Sept. 23 and 24.

Speaking of strong starts, Alex Swinnerton was a shot off the pace for Indianna University of Pennsylvania (IUP) at the Crimson Hawks first event of the season. The Saskatoon resident shot 72, 68, and 67 at Edgewood Country Club on Sept. 9 and 10 during the University of Charleston Invitational. Swinnerton’s 207 was just a shot behind event champion Erik Ulvang.

Fellow Waskesiu junior graduate Guillermo Salazar of Calgary was also inside the top 10 at 215 (71, 71, 73).

As a team IUP was second behind the host school. The Crimson Hawks next event is the Hillsdale Invitational in Plymouth, Mich. on Sept. 16 and 17.

The Minot State University (MSU) Beavers teams were in Bemidji, Minn. for the BSU Invite on Sept. 9 and 10.

Winston Grayson of Kipling had a fantastic debut shooting 71 and 75 at the Bemidji Town and Country Club, that left him in ninth in his collegiate debut.

Jace Carlisle of Estevan is finishing his college career at MSU this year, he fired back-to-back rounds of 75 to place tied for 17^th.

Darien Herlick of Weyburn was also making his first college start for MSU, the Golf Kenosee member shot 78 and 75, he was tied for 32^nd.

Chase Gedak, also of Estevan shot 76 and 79 for the Beavers, he was tied for 41^st.

As a team the Beavers were fifth out of nine schools competing. The team heads to Hudson, Wis. on Sept. 16 for the CSP-MSU Fall Brawl at the Troy Burne Golf Club.

Carter Degelman of Saskatoon made a mark in his first collegiate event on Sept. 9 and 10 for the Dominican University of California Penguins program. Making his debut at Quail Lodge and Golf Club in Carmel Valley, Cal. the Riverside Country Club member shot 77 and 72, god enough for a tie for eighth overall.

Fellow Saskatonian and Riverside player Carter Bell was 21^st overall. He opened with an 81 in round one but bounced back beautifully with a 76 in the second round.

The Penguins won the team event with both players’ assistance. Their second event of the fall season is the Bishop Invitational in DuPont, Wash. on Sept. 26 and 27.

This week also marked the opening of the fall season for Tommy Danielson and Chase Pochylo of Saskatoon and the Nicholls Colonels. They were in Choudrant, LA. for the Argent Financial Classic on Sept. 9 and 10. Pochylko shot 229 and placed 80^th, Danielson was 10 shots higher at 239, he was 94^th. The team was 18^th.

The Colonels are in Jackson, Tenn. on Sept. 16 and 17 for the Grover Page Classic in their next action.

The women’s MSU team and Holly Knudsen of Chaplin were also in Bemidji this week for the Tracy Lane Memorial at the same venue. Knudsen shot 83 and 87, good enough for a tie for eighth place to start her senior year.

As a team the Beavers were third. Knudsen will be in Hudson, Wisc. On Sept. 16 and 17 as well.

Regina’s Hallie Crozier’s second collegiate season is underway at Ferris State. The Bulldogs were in Peru, Ind. for the Midwest Ladies Collegiate at Rock Hollow Golf Course. The Royal Regina Golf Club member posted rounds of 83, 82, and 87, she was tied for 66^th.

The Bulldogs were seventh out of 16 schools in the field. Next up for Ferris State is the Beall Fall Classic in Findlay, Oh. on Sept. 30 to Oct. 1.

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak is two events into her college career at Western Carolina University competing for the Catamounts.

On Aug. 26 Western Carolina was in Clemson, S.C. for the one day, 36-hole Tiger Classic at The Walker Golf Course. The 2024 Saskatchewan Junior Women’s champion shot 77 and 82, she was 78^th overall. The Catamounts were 14^th overall.

On Sept. 9 and 10 Kozak was in Avondale, LA. for the Green Wave Invitational at TPC Louisiana. The Yorkton product improved immensely in her second start, shooting 76, 77, and 72 finishing in a tie for 18^th overall.

The Catamounts also jumped up the leaderboard placing sixth. Their next action is the Tot Hill Farm Invitational on Sept. 23 and 24 in Asheboro, N.C.

Saskatoon’s Justin Miller is the last Saskatchewan competitor to make his college debut this week. Playing for Southwestern Community College, the Spartans were in Fort Dodge, Iowa for the Iowa Central Fall Kickoff at the Fort Dodge Country Club on Sept. 9. He shot 86 and placed 65^th. The Spartans were third as a squad.

Next up is the North Iowa Area Fall Invitational at Highland Park Golf Course in Mason City, IA on Sept. 17.

Several other players will start their fall seasons on Sept. 16.