The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) is continuing its partnership with Bloom Education as the official education and career consulting partner.

Bloom Education first signed on with the MJT in 2020 to provide players new opportunities for education and careers beyond junior golf. Bloom Education specializes in finding the right fit for all individuals and their post secondary journey from both the academic and athletic recruitment side of university/college. Founder Salima Rasul told Golf Saskatchewan that her organization will work alongside the MJT and assist in developing plans for student-athletes.

“Are they taking the right kinds of courses to get them to their end goal? What kind of universities should they be looking at from an academic perspective? If academics precede golf a little bit what can we do to use academics and golf hand in hand to make sure they are getting the right kinds of opportunities. We had a lot in synergies, it just made sense to come together,” she said.

Founded by Rasul in 2014, Bloom Education serves as a global consulting firm that provides education and career solutions to people and institutions across the globe. Trent Matson, the MJT national director of operations said the MJT is happy to build on the partnership that was created ahead of last season but slowed due to the pandemic.

“The MJT recruitment program has been around probably fives years now and we’ve done a good job, we’ve placed a lot of players but there was a component missing,” he said. “When we talked to Salima it was just a perfect fit. The questions that come out that I can’t answer she’s amazing with.”

Bloom’s services and expertise in the fields of education and career consulting, standardized testing and subject tutoring, are available to MJT members at discounted rates.

As for the MJT Saskatchewan based events there are five booked for this coming season and the MJT Mini-Tour schedule will be released in the next few weeks.

You can see more of the interview on Golf Saskatchewan’s YouTube page.

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) is continuing its partnership with Bloom Education as the official education and career consulting partner.

Bloom Education first signed on with the MJT in 2020 to provide players new opportunities for education and careers beyond junior golf. Bloom Education specializes in finding the right fit for all individuals and their post secondary journey from both the academic and athletic recruitment side of university/college. Founder Salima Rasul told Golf Saskatchewan that her organization will work alongside the MJT and assist in developing plans for student-athletes.

“Are they taking the right kinds of courses to get them to their end goal? What kind of universities should they be looking at from an academic perspective? If academics precede golf a little bit what can we do to use academics and golf hand in hand to make sure they are getting the right kinds of opportunities. We had a lot in synergies, it just made sense to come together,” she said.

Founded by Rasul in 2014, Bloom Education serves as a global consulting firm that provides education and career solutions to people and institutions across the globe. Trent Matson, the MJT national director of operations said the MJT is happy to build on the partnership that was created ahead of last season but slowed due to the pandemic.

“The MJT recruitment program has been around probably fives years now and we’ve done a good job, we’ve placed a lot of players but there was a component missing,” he said. “When we talked to Salima it was just a perfect fit. The questions that come out that I can’t answer she’s amazing with.”

Bloom’s services and expertise in the fields of education and career consulting, standardized testing and subject tutoring, are available to MJT members at discounted rates.

As for the MJT Saskatchewan based events there are five booked for this coming season and the MJT Mini-Tour schedule will be released in the next few weeks.

You can see more of the interview on Golf Saskatchewan’s YouTube page.

In 2008 during the 100th Saskatchewan Amateur Men’s Championship at the Royal Regina Golf Club, event sponsor Access Communications sat down with some of the best players the province has ever produced.

Dr. Doug McAlpine was a two-time provincial champion and long-time RCGA board member.

He also enjoyed an amazing 48 year medical career and was a veteran.

Dr. McAlpine passed away in 2011.

Liz Hoffman has served on Golf Canada’s Board of Directors since 2012 and has been a recognized leader in Canadian sport as an athlete, coach, and administrator.

She honed her executive leadership skills over a 39-year career with the University of Toronto including 16 years as Director of Athletics and High-Performance. She has been active with many sport organizations, serving as a past president of Canadian USport and Ontario University Athletics and as an officer and board member of both Ontario and Field Hockey Canada. She also served on the Board of Directors of Coaches of Canada and as a member of the Sport Development Committee of Swim Canada.

During her time with Golf Canada, she has contributed across a multitude of committees, councils and working groups including most recently serving as Chair of the Compensation Committee, the World Junior Girls Steering Committee and as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Renewal. She has previously chaired the Amateur Competitions, Sport Development and Human Resources Committees, as well as the Ad Hoc Committee to Review the COC Report. She has been a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Diversity Enhancement Working Group, and the Volunteer Services Working Group. Hoffman is also a member the Board of Directors of the Golf Canada Foundation, serving on the Executive Committee as Secretary and chairing both the Scholarships & Grants and the Women’s Fund Committees.

A past President of the Golf Association of Ontario, she was also the non-playing captain of Canada’s Women’s Team at the 2012, 2014 and 2016 World Amateur Team Championships and served as Golf Canada’s delegate to the Biennial meeting of the International Golf Federation in 2018. In 2020, she participated as a program mentor in the R&A’s Women in Golf Leadership Development Program and also joined the PGA of Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. She has been active as a tournament chair and starting & scoring official at Golf Canada amateur, professional, and international competitions.

A former provincial, national, and international golfer who won both the Ontario Junior and Quebec Women’s Amateur Championship, Hoffman is a member of both the Thornhill Golf Club and the Mad River Golf Club and shares her passion for the game with her husband Rick and their sons Matt and Mark.

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Nancy Spineti Delle Donne of Montreal has been named the 2020 recipient of the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award. A presentation of the award will take place on Thursday, March 4 as part of Golf Canada’s Virtual Annual Meeting.

For more than 20 years, Nancy has been a major contributor to Golf Quebec and Golf Canada as an expert in Handicapping and Course Rating.

In 2014, Nancy was named Chair of the Golf Canada Course Rating and Handicap Committee, a position she held proudly until the end of 2020. During this time, she played an integral  role in the national launch of the new World Handicap System which was rolled globally in 2020.

“Volunteers are a driving force behind golf in this country and we are proud to recognize Nancy Spineti Delle Donne for her deep contributions to Handicapping and Course Rating this past year and over the last 20 years,” said Liz Hoffman, Golf Canada’s 1^st Vice President who will sworn in as the Association’s 119^th President during the Annual Meeting. “Nancy’s contribution to the game and her support in the execution of an important golf service has made and major impact. She has carried those responsibilities with excellence and is truly deserving of this recognition.”

Nancy was Chair of the Golf Québec Course Rating and Handicap Committee from 2008 to 2020 and served on the Golf Québec Board of Director from 2008 to 2015.

During her tenure with Golf Quebec, Nancy helped to train course rating teams across eight regional associations. She would visit 40+ member clubs a year and has rated nearly 90 courses. Her commitment to the craft included meticulous data collection and support documentation to ensure the highest standard of Golf Quebec’s course rating services.

Nancy has also served as Golf Quebec’s feature presenter for handicap seminars and played an instrumental role in training a province-wide network of club Handicap Committees who supported countless members in establishing a valid Handicap Index. From 2011 to 2014, she was also Chairperson of the Golf Québec Membership Committee.

A public player with provincial contributions dating back to 1997, Nancy was recognized for her exceptional service as Golf Quebec’s 2004 Volunteer of the Year, and in 2020, Golf Québec Board of Directors celebrated her retirement from the association by naming her an Honorary Governor.

Now in its 15^th year, candidates for the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award are put forth to Golf Canada for consideration by the respective provincial golf associations in acknowledgment of significant contributions to the game of golf in their community.

The Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award is named in recognition of Toronto native Bruce Mitchell who in 2017-18 was the first Canadian to serve as captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A). Born in Victoria and raised in Edmonton, the former president of the Toronto Golf Club and R&A member since 1988 was just the ninth internationally appointed captain of the R&A, one of the most prestigious volunteer positions in the world of golf. Duties as captain included representing the R&A as a global ambassador and aiding in the R&A’s effort to develop golf around the world.

Congratulations to Nancy Spineti Delle Donne of Montreal, Que. on being named the 2020 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year!

Golf Canada’s 2021 Annual Meeting culminated on Thursday, March 4^th with the election of Thornhill, Ont. native Liz Hoffman as the 116^th President of the National Sport Federation.

Hoffman, a past President of Golf Ontario who spent 39 years with the University of Toronto including 16 as Director of Athletics and High-Performance, succeeds Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que. who served consecutive terms as President in 2019-20.

“It is an honour to represent our member clubs, and golfers from coast to coast as the 119^th President of Golf Canada,” said Hoffman. “To follow in the path of friends, mentors, and colleagues who have empowered my journey with this storied organization. We have a really special opportunity in this current environment to advance the sport of golf, and together with the Board of Directors, our CEO Laurence Applebaum, our talented staff and volunteers and so many partners across the golf and sport community, I look forward to being a part of it.”

Click here for a detailed bio on Golf Canada’s 116^th President, Liz Hoffman.

Hoffman is joined by Vice-President Dale Jackson of Victoria, B.C. in leading the 13-member Board of Directors who will work closely with Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. Based on the report of Golf Canada’s Nominating Committee, Hoffman and Jackson will be joined on the 2021 Board of Directors by David McCarthy of Toronto, Ont., Susan MacKinnon of Calgary, Alta., Adam Daifallah of Montreal, Que., Jean Stone-Séguin of Ottawa, Ont., Patrick Kelly of Victoria, B.C., Shawn Evans of Kitchener, Ont., Rai Sahi of Mississauga, Ont. and Alison Chisholm of Rothesay, N.B. New additions to the Board included Peter Major of Calgary, Alta., along with Diane Drury-Clarke and Jean-Sebastien Monty, both of Montreal, Que.

Outgoing Golf Canada President Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que. was recognized for his leadership of the association as an Honorary Life Governor.

Liz Hoffman and Charlie Beaulieu at Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Meeting

Golf Canada’s 2021 Annual Meeting was conducted virtually over two days, March 3-4 with volunteers, staff, member clubs, and key industry stakeholders participating.

Annual Report & Financial Statements:

Click here to read Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Report, which includes a recap of the past season, as well as the organization’s 2020 Financial Statements, which were released during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting.

Feature Presentations

In addition to the formal business of the Annual General Meeting, a number of feature presentations delivered on March 3 outlined key Golf Canada initiatives for 2021 including:

• Golf Canada’s 2021 Outlook – presented by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum

• Golf Industry Advisory Council: National Golfer Retention Campaign – presented by Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Vanessa Morbi

• Keynote Presentation: Fireside Chat on Global Golf – hosted by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum featuring R&A CEO Martin Slumbers and the USGA’s outgoing CEO Mike Davis

• Overview of Golf Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Alliance – presented by Alliance Chair & Team Canada Sport Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood. The session also includes a panel discussion with Sandy Cross (Chief People Officer, PGA of America) as well as Teri Dennis-Davies (Senior Vice-President Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment).

• Sport Overview – presented by Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue

Tribute to Canadian Golf in 2020

To close its Annual Meeting, Golf Canada shared a video tribute to acknowledge the players, golf facilities and industry stakeholders across the Canadian golf community who supported the sport’s safe return and emergence in 2020 through the COVID-19 pandemic. The video acknowledges the entire Canadian Golf industry as the collective recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

Nancy Spineti Delle Donne selected as Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year

Nancy Spineti Delle Donne of Montreal was named the 2020 recipient of the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award. For more than 20 years, Nancy has been a major contributor to Golf Quebec and Golf Canada as an expert in Handicapping and Course Rating. In 2014, Nancy was named Chair of the Golf Canada Course Rating and Handicap Committee, a position she held proudly until the end of 2020. During this time, she played an integral  role in the national launch of the new World Handicap System which was rolled globally in 2020.

In 2008 during the 100th Saskatchewan Amateur Men’s Championship at the Royal Regina Golf Club, event sponsor Access Communications sat down with some of the best players the province has ever produced.

Dr. Doug McAlpine was a two-time provincial champion and long-time RCGA board member.

He also enjoyed an amazing 48 year medical career and was a veteran.

Dr. McAlpine passed away in 2011.

Golf Canada’s 2021 Annual Meeting shifts to a two-day virtual experience this week, March 3-4 as the National Sport Federation looks ahead in preparation for the 2021 season.

The event will bring together Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers as well as representatives from Canada’s provincial golf associations and other stakeholders.

The opening day session runs from 1-4 p.m. ET on Wednesday March 3^rd with a selection of feature presentations outlining key Golf Canada initiatives for 2021 including:

• Golf Canada’s 2021 Outlook – presented by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum

• Golf Industry Advisory Council: National Golfer Retention Campaign – presented by Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Vanessa Morbi

• Keynote Presentation: Fireside Chat on Global Golf –featuring R&A CEO Martin Slumbers and the USGA’s outgoing CEO Mike Davis, hosted by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum.

• Sport Overview – presented by Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue

• Overview of Golf Canada’s Diversity & Inclusion Alliance – presented by Alliance Chair & Team Canada Sport Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood. The session also includes a panel discussion with Sandy Cross (Chief People Officer, PGA of America) as well as Teri Dennis-Davies (Senior Vice-President Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment).***each of the feature presentations will be available online at golfcanada.ca.

The event will continue on Thursday March 4^th with a virtually conducted Annual General Meeting beginning at 1:00pm ET which will include the release of Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements posted to www.golfcanada.ca.

Golf Canada will also introduce its 2021 Board of Directors including the appointment of Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont. as the association’s 119^th President. Hoffman will take over the role from Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que. who served consecutive terms as President in 2019-20.

In addition, Golf Canada will celebrate outstanding contributions to the game of golf including a presentation of the 2020 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award to Handicap and Course Rating expert, Nancy Spineti Delle Donne of Montreal.

Regina’s Kirk McGregor was inducted into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame in 2018 commemorating a distinguished amateur career.

McGregor was a member of six Saskatchewan teams at national events including three Willingdon Cup teams. His 1994 showing in Montreal in the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship where he lost to eventual champion Graham Cooke in the semifinal goes down as his career highlight.

McGregor is still playing today and a member of the Royal Regina Golf Club where he was enshrined in 2018. He sat down with Golf Saskatchewan’s Director of Communications Clark Stork to talk about his career and the the game itself.