Uncategorized - Golf Saskatchewan

Regina’s Chad McCormick is very pleased he has a Golf Canada membership.

McCormick was in Kelowna last year for a family wedding celebration when a vehicle in the parking lot at the course he was playing was broken into. The vehicle was “cleaned out” according to McCormick with many wedding gifts being swiped as well as clubs belonging to several players, including McCormick. With thousands of dollars worth of goods snatched, the group filed a police report and went through all protocols required in a theft. Thinking about claiming the stolen golf merchandise through his sister’s home insurance the club pro in Kelowna suggested using the Golf Canada benefits package if they were members. McCormick, a member at the Royal Regina Golf Club admitted he didn’t know much about membership benefits.

“I’ve actually told multiple people about it now that if something like this happens,” he said. “I was skeptical about it at the start honestly because I didn’t know anything about it and it worked out really well.”

McCormick, and the other members with stolen property all filed their claims through the Golf Canada website and within a couple weeks had compensation for their stolen property. McCormick said the process was smooth and very pleasant.

“This for me was unbelievable,” McCormick added. “It was so easy, much cheaper, the premiums aren’t changing on my house, the premiums aren’t changing on the vehicle because of the insurance that was here. It’s a no-brainer for me not to. You are crazy not to.”

To see more about McCormick’s experience with Golf Canada’s benefits watch his interview with Golf Saskatchewan below.

Regina’s Chad McCormick is very pleased he has a Golf Canada membership.

McCormick was in Kelowna last year for a family wedding celebration when a vehicle in the parking lot at the course he was playing was broken into. The vehicle was “cleaned out” according to McCormick with many wedding gifts being swiped as well as clubs belonging to several players, including McCormick. With thousands of dollars worth of goods snatched, the group filed a police report and went through all protocols required in a theft. Thinking about claiming the stolen golf merchandise through his sister’s home insurance the club pro in Kelowna suggested using the Golf Canada benefits package if they were members. McCormick, a member at the Royal Regina Golf Club admitted he didn’t know much about membership benefits.

“I’ve actually told multiple people about it now that if something like this happens,” he said. “I was skeptical about it at the start honestly because I didn’t know anything about it and it worked out really well.”

McCormick, and the other members with stolen property all filed their claims through the Golf Canada website and within a couple weeks had compensation for their stolen property. McCormick said the process was smooth and very pleasant.

“This for me was unbelievable,” McCormick added. “It was so easy, much cheaper, the premiums aren’t changing on my house, the premiums aren’t changing on the vehicle because of the insurance that was here. It’s a no-brainer for me not to. You are crazy not to.”

To see more about McCormick’s experience with Golf Canada’s benefits watch his interview with Golf Saskatchewan below.

TORONTO – Golf Canada and title sponsor RBC have confirmed that the membership of St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto have strongly supported the hosting of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, with nearby Islington Golf Club serving as the official practice facility for the tournament.

St. George’s and Islington re-committing their involvement for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open follows two years of cancellations due to international travel and government restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 RBC Canadian Open was scheduled to be held June 7-13.

“I am so pleased that the membership of St. George’s Golf and Country Club as well as Islington Golf Club will join us in hosting the 2022 RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “We are already looking forward to the return of the PGA TOUR to Canada and so grateful that both clubs including their respective membership and our host volunteer committee continue to work towards the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open.”

“Together with our partners at RBC and the PGA TOUR, we welcome both clubs to be a part of what is sure to be a special moment in Canadian golf.”

“RBC is proud to be title sponsor of Canada’s National Open Championship, one of the oldest events on the PGA TOUR schedule with a strong history of celebrating the importance of golf to Canadians,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “We are looking forward to welcoming back defending champion Rory McIlroy, our Team RBC golfers, and inspiring the next generation of golf talent at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.”

St. George’s Golf and Country Club has previously hosted the RBC Canadian Open on five occasions, dating as far back as 1933 and most recently in 2010.

“We are proud to continue along the path that we dedicated the club and our membership to for 2020,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Chair Mark Teskey. “With more than 200 volunteer members having devoted countless hours and many others lending their support in a meaningful way, we are excited to continue with those efforts to make the 111^th RBC Canadian Open a great success.”

“Islington Golf Club is very happy to be partnering with Golf Canada and St. George’s to deliver a fantastic experience for players, volunteers and Canadian golf fans at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Tournament Co-Chair Chris Tortorice. “We are very excited to welcome the PGA TOUR back to Toronto in 2022.”

Part of the FedExCup Regular Season and conducted by Golf Canada for more than a century, the RBC Canadian Open provides an opportunity for Canada’s top talents to compete against the world’s best golfers while also creating a positive impact in the event’s host community. Established in 1904, Canada’s national open golf championship is the third-oldest national open golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC, Audi, Acushnet, Steam Whistle, Hilton, Levelwear, Sargent Farms, Coca-Cola and the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada. The RBC Canadian Open is proud to support the Golf Canada Foundation as the event’s official charity partner.

TORONTO – Golf Canada and title sponsor RBC have confirmed that the membership of St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto have strongly supported the hosting of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, with nearby Islington Golf Club serving as the official practice facility for the tournament.

St. George’s and Islington re-committing their involvement for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open follows two years of cancellations due to international travel and government restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 RBC Canadian Open was scheduled to be held June 7-13.

“I am so pleased that the membership of St. George’s Golf and Country Club as well as Islington Golf Club will join us in hosting the 2022 RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “We are already looking forward to the return of the PGA TOUR to Canada and so grateful that both clubs including their respective membership and our host volunteer committee continue to work towards the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open.”

“Together with our partners at RBC and the PGA TOUR, we welcome both clubs to be a part of what is sure to be a special moment in Canadian golf.”

“RBC is proud to be title sponsor of Canada’s National Open Championship, one of the oldest events on the PGA TOUR schedule with a strong history of celebrating the importance of golf to Canadians,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “We are looking forward to welcoming back defending champion Rory McIlroy, our Team RBC golfers, and inspiring the next generation of golf talent at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.”

St. George’s Golf and Country Club has previously hosted the RBC Canadian Open on five occasions, dating as far back as 1933 and most recently in 2010.

“We are proud to continue along the path that we dedicated the club and our membership to for 2020,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Chair Mark Teskey. “With more than 200 volunteer members having devoted countless hours and many others lending their support in a meaningful way, we are excited to continue with those efforts to make the 111^th RBC Canadian Open a great success.”

“Islington Golf Club is very happy to be partnering with Golf Canada and St. George’s to deliver a fantastic experience for players, volunteers and Canadian golf fans at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Tournament Co-Chair Chris Tortorice. “We are very excited to welcome the PGA TOUR back to Toronto in 2022.”

Part of the FedExCup Regular Season and conducted by Golf Canada for more than a century, the RBC Canadian Open provides an opportunity for Canada’s top talents to compete against the world’s best golfers while also creating a positive impact in the event’s host community. Established in 1904, Canada’s national open golf championship is the third-oldest national open golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC, Audi, Acushnet, Steam Whistle, Hilton, Levelwear, Sargent Farms, Coca-Cola and the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada. The RBC Canadian Open is proud to support the Golf Canada Foundation as the event’s official charity partner.

It was another busy week south of the border for Saskatchewan’s student athletes.

Kade Johnson was up to his old tricks for the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders. The Yorkton product carded rounds of 73 and 74 for a 36-hole total of 147, five-over par at the 6,873-yard Shoal Creek Golf Club in Kansas City, Missouri on Monday and Tuesday. Johnson’s score left him in a tie for fourth in the 2021 NSIC Preview.

Teammate Roman Timmerman of Saskatoon finished alone in 17^th place. Timmerman shot 75 on day one and followed that with a 76 to finish at nine-over, 151.

As a team the Muleriders placed sixth out of 26 schools. They are back on the course in two weeks at the NSU Classic in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Connor Scissons had a great showing this week. The Saskatoon native picked up a 10^th place finish at the ACU Spring Invitational. The Arizona Christian University junior put up rounds of 73 and 71 on Monday and Tuesday to finish at even par at the almost 7,200-yard Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix, Arizona. Scissons was just nine strokes back of the winner.

The Firestorm placed third in the team competition that included eight colleges. Scissons and the team will travel to Sun City West, Arizona on April 27 and 28 for the GSAC Championships.

Prince Albert’s TJ Baker’s season continued this week. The freshman at Arkansas-Monticello was competing in the Bulldog Bash at Canebrake Golf Club in Athens, Alabama. Baker improved on every round shooting 79, 76, and 75 for a 54-hole score of 14-over, 230. That left him in a tie for 44^th. The Arkansas-Monticello team placed sixth out of ten. They are scheduled to travel to Northeastern State University in Muskogee, Oklahoma on April 12 and 13.

Jacob Kydd and the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats were in action in Indianapolis for the Butler Spring Invitational. The Regina product fired rounds of 76, 77, and 78 over two days at the Highland Golf and Country Club. Kydd’s 21-over, 231 left him in a tie for 48^th.

The Wildcats team finished seventh out of 11 universities. They travel to Noblesville, Indiana on April 2 and 3 for the Purgatory Intercollegiate for their next event.

Reigning Saskatchewan amateur champion Ty Campbell competed this week as well. Campbell, in his final season at Southern Wesleyan University was in Lenoir City, Tennessee for the River Rumble.

Campbell ended up tied for 54^th in the 98-player field. The Saskatoon resident posted rounds of 76, 75, and 73 for a 54-hole total of plus-eight, 224.

Campbell and the Warriors placed 14^th out of 18 teams. Their next event is the Conference Carolinas Men’s Championship from April 18 to 20.

Golf Canada – Golf Canada will tee it up in 2021 to conduct national amateur championships and is working with public health authorities in host communities to finalize operational protocols so that the competitions may proceed safely.

Following a 2020 season that saw the cancellation of all Golf Canada competitions due to the pandemic, the 2021 scheduled will feature nine National Amateur Championships, eight NextGen Championships for junior-aged golfers, and several USGA qualifiers which will be hosted at member clubs across Canada.

“We are taking a measured but optimistic approach to conducting our 2021 championship season and we are excited to welcome the athletes back to our competitions,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “Golf Canada will continue to prioritize the safety of players, volunteers, host club and tournament staff, and host communities and will work with regional health authorities and our host clubs to get our national amateur competitions back on the tee. We also want to thank our roster of host clubs and volunteer committees for giving back to the game and joining us in this journey.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE GOLF CANADA’S 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Operational protocols for each competition will align with local and provincial health and safety guidelines that have allowed golf courses to open for regular play. Should public health guidelines or interprovincial travel restrictions warrant, Golf Canada will make modifications to the competition schedule including a change to the size and composition of tournament fields or an outright event cancellation should circumstances dictate.

National Amateur Championship registration will open on Wednesday, April 7 at 12 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. Sask time) while registration for all NextGen Championships will open on Monday, March 29 at 12 p.m. EDT.

Applications will be open to any Golf Canada members who meet the eligibility criteria. Given the current federal travel restrictions in place, Golf Canada will not be accepting registration from foreign residents for our championships at this time. More information on the application procedure will be available on each championship information page.

Please visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/ to register for Golf Canada competitions.

Golf Canada will also resume calculation of the NextGen National Junior Order of Merit to identify and give recognition to top-performing junior girls and boys across Canada who have achieved success during the 2021 season. The 2021 NextGen National Junior Order of Merit schedule can be viewed here and consists of Canadian events from the period January 1 to August 15, 2021 with a maximum of five (5) counting events for a player’s ranking.

With continued COVID-19 limitations and international travel restrictions, Golf Canada will not track a National Amateur Order of Merit in 2021. Golf Canada is carefully following the impact of the pandemic on international travel and competition and how those factors might impact the Team Canada Selection criteria for 2021/22, which are currently under review and can be accessed here once published.

Golf Canada – Golf Canada will tee it up in 2021 to conduct national amateur championships and is working with public health authorities in host communities to finalize operational protocols so that the competitions may proceed safely.

Following a 2020 season that saw the cancellation of all Golf Canada competitions due to the pandemic, the 2021 scheduled will feature nine National Amateur Championships, eight NextGen Championships for junior-aged golfers, and several USGA qualifiers which will be hosted at member clubs across Canada.

“We are taking a measured but optimistic approach to conducting our 2021 championship season and we are excited to welcome the athletes back to our competitions,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “Golf Canada will continue to prioritize the safety of players, volunteers, host club and tournament staff, and host communities and will work with regional health authorities and our host clubs to get our national amateur competitions back on the tee. We also want to thank our roster of host clubs and volunteer committees for giving back to the game and joining us in this journey.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE GOLF CANADA’S 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Operational protocols for each competition will align with local and provincial health and safety guidelines that have allowed golf courses to open for regular play. Should public health guidelines or interprovincial travel restrictions warrant, Golf Canada will make modifications to the competition schedule including a change to the size and composition of tournament fields or an outright event cancellation should circumstances dictate.

National Amateur Championship registration will open on Wednesday, April 7 at 12 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. Sask time) while registration for all NextGen Championships will open on Monday, March 29 at 12 p.m. EDT.

Applications will be open to any Golf Canada members who meet the eligibility criteria. Given the current federal travel restrictions in place, Golf Canada will not be accepting registration from foreign residents for our championships at this time. More information on the application procedure will be available on each championship information page.

Please visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/ to register for Golf Canada competitions.

Golf Canada will also resume calculation of the NextGen National Junior Order of Merit to identify and give recognition to top-performing junior girls and boys across Canada who have achieved success during the 2021 season. The 2021 NextGen National Junior Order of Merit schedule can be viewed here and consists of Canadian events from the period January 1 to August 15, 2021 with a maximum of five (5) counting events for a player’s ranking.

With continued COVID-19 limitations and international travel restrictions, Golf Canada will not track a National Amateur Order of Merit in 2021. Golf Canada is carefully following the impact of the pandemic on international travel and competition and how those factors might impact the Team Canada Selection criteria for 2021/22, which are currently under review and can be accessed here once published.

Alex Schmidt is continuing to turn heads in the college golf world.

The Regina junior at Lewis-Clark State College earned her second straight third-place finish for the Warriors at the LC State Invite on Tuesday. Schmidt, a member and employee at the Royal Regina Golf Club in the summers carded rounds of 80 and 76, three shots back of teammate Lauren Hamm, the 36-hole event winner.

Schmidt’s score of 156 helped Lewis-State win the team competition in Idaho at the Lewiston Golf and Country Club.

She will look to keep her strong season going at the Bushnell Invitational in Eugene, Oregon on April 12 and 13.

Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy was back on the college course for the first time in 2021 playing as an individual in the Carpetbagger at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana, Maryland.

Nagy, a sophomore at Robert Morris University just outside Pittsburgh shot a first-round score of 79 followed by a second-round card showing of 75. Nagy said it was great to get back on the course in a competitive event.

“It felt really good to be out on the course, I was in Arizona for Christmas and didn’t go home so I was able to work on my game every day until I came back,” he explained on Tuesday afternoon. It was good to get out and see the ball really fly again.”

The 75 Nagy navigated during the second day of the tournament was his collegiate career low out of three events. He ended tied for 30^th in the 62-player field. He said he hopes the confidence and momentum will continue into his next start.

“The course was incredibly difficult, so I was very pleased with how I played and am looking forward to continuing to get better at each tournament,” he said.

The Colonials next scheduled tournament is April 2 and 3 in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania at the Penn National Golf Club for the Fairleigh Dickinson Invitational.

Six other Saskatchewan student athletes will be back in action on March 29 and 30 across the United States including Kade Johnson, Roman Timmerman, Ty Campbell, Connor Scissons, Jacob Kydd, and TJ Baker.

Courtesy Golf Canada – Canadians needing a social outlet and a sense of recreational normalcy during the uncertainty of the pandemic in 2020 turned to golf in a major way. Now Golf Canada, with the support of industry partners, will build on the excitement, increased interest, and elevated levels of play with a national golfer retention campaign to welcome new and returning players back to the golf course in 2021.

The campaign – GOLF IS CALLING – is a Canada-wide marketing initiative to speak to new, younger golfers as well as the community of avid players, each uniquely drawn to the game whether it be for exercise, the social experience or the challenge of the sport.

The golfer retention campaign is being led in partnership with Golf Canada’s Industry Advisory Council, a group of industry professionals that includes course owners, operators, general managers, PGA of Canada professionals, superintendents, and other stakeholders in the game.

For Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum, golf’s emergence through the pandemic as a safe, social, and inclusive activity during an extremely challenging period was a silver lining for a sport enjoyed by nearly 6M Canadians annually.

“For so many Canadians who needed an outlet to play, be social and feel a sense of normal, golf was there for us,” said Applebaum.

“Golf is a sport of invitation, where we bring others along to experience and enjoy the game for a lifetime. GOLF IS CALLING is also a return invitation to the avid players and new enthusiasts who enjoyed the game in record numbers this past year. It is also an outreach and welcome to young and diverse audiences and a powerful confirmation that our sport offers the healthy attributes, safe environment, and industry capacity of nearly 2,300 facilities to support physical, social, and mental well-being in a meaningful way.”

GOLF IS CALLING features a vibrant and new look for golf. The campaign messaging and creative was informed by deep market research as well as creative trends from across industries and broader sport to reflect an industry-wide effort to promote golf participation. This season long, national marketing campaign features a fresh and inviting energy as the calling for Canadians to play more golf.

“As marketers and sport leaders, we look for moments to connect with golfers, and this past year has offered an unparalleled signature moment for the golf community to influence and entrench behaviours that will benefit our sport for the long run,” said Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Vanessa Morbi. “With more than 700 customizable assets that golf facilities and industry partners can leverage in their marketing efforts, this is a special moment to rally the full weight and collective voice of our sport to inspire more play in 2021.”

The suite of tools is available to golf courses and industry stakeholders to share in national roll-out of the golfer retention campaign. The bilingual campaign will be presented as SORTEZ, GOLFEZ across all French language assets and Golf Canada will support the campaign with a paid media buy executed across social and digital channels.

In conjunction with the campaign, Golf Canada has also relaunched its website as a portal to enhance the golfer experience and support tee-time booking through a national course look-up tool. This feature can be found on www.golfcanada.ca and will connect golfers with facilities across the country.

Despite a season suspended in most parts of Canada through early May, data from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) of Canada reported a 18.9% increase in total rounds played across the country in 2020. Golf Canada members as well as public players who track an official handicap index experienced a significant lift in play, posting a record 7.8M scores to the Golf Canada Score Centre, a 7% lift over the prior year with monthly score posting records set from June through October.

Canadian levels of engagement in the sport mirrored strong growth metrics across North America as new and avid players invested in tee times as well as memberships, equipment, league play, junior golf, and instruction.

As Canadian golf facilities continue to manage the impact of the pandemic on non-golf revenues, the game is thriving as a safe and healthy recreational option that drives significant economic, employment, tourism, environmental and charity benefits to communities across Canada.

Supported by comprehensive healthy and safety protocols enacted by the golf community as well as adjustments made to the golf course experience, the sport is well positioned with momentum.

“Creating a national campaign that speaks to golfers of varying abilities and connection to the game is no easy feat, and we continue to be extremely sensitive to the disastrous impact of the pandemic which has taken a significant emotional, economic and mental toll,” added Shawn Evans, President and CEO of GolfNorth Properties who is also Chair of the Golf Industry Advisory Council. “At the same time, we see the opportunity in golf’s emergence through the pandemic to present our sport in a fresh way to new audiences with a visceral consumer experience that will be noticed.”