Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Seniors Golf Association (CSGA) announced today the introduction of a golf scholarship named in honour of long-time golf supporter and 2017 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame honouree, Jim Fraser.

Continuing the CSGA’s tradition of honouring those who have made significant contributions to the game, the Jim Fraser Scholarship will be awarded to students participating in recognized golf programs at university or college in Canada.

A scholarship presented in his honour is a fitting legacy for the former Executive Director of the Canadian Golf Foundation (now the Golf Canada Foundation) and long-time member of the CSGA. Jim is passionate about assisting young Canadian golfers pursuing post-secondary opportunities in Canada and in the United States. The creation of the Canadian University College Championship and Canadian University Golf Support Program are two of the meaningful initiatives launched during his tenure with the Foundation.

“Jim Fraser’s contributions to the game—as a volunteer and administrator as well as a fundraiser and donor—have been outstanding and we are extremely grateful to Jim and the CSGA,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO Martin Barnard. “It is fitting that the Jim Fraser Scholarship will connect his many contributions with the CSGA and Golf Canada Foundation to aspiring Canadian student athletes pursuing post-secondary opportunities.”

In a 2016 profile for LondonOntarioGolf.com, Fraser reflected – “Golf has been an important part of my life, and it has given back to me so much more than what I have done for the game. I owe so much to golf, as it has provided me with a lifetime of pleasures.”

Fraser, a member at Toronto Golf Club and Beaconsfield Golf Club in Montreal, has held several positions as a volunteer and then an employee of the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) over a career spanning nearly 40 years. He volunteered with the Association as a governor for a decade prior becoming a full-time staff member in 1993. During his tenure with the National Sport Federation, he served various Director roles with portfolios that included Rules, Handicapping and Amateur Status; Player Development and Junior Golf; Member Programs; Handicap and Course Rating; and Amateur Competitions. Following retirement, he remained active as a volunteer in a rules capacity and later supporting the library archives of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Among a multitude of accolades, Fraser has been honoured with the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) Distinguished Service Award (2007); Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award (2007); elected as a Patron of the Canadian Seniors Golf Association; was made a Golf Journalist’s Association of Canada honorary member; and was voted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Builder category.

Over his tenure, Fraser held a special regard for helping students and institutions through the Foundation’s collegiate scholarships and grants program, serving on the scholarships and grants committee for 34 years.

A native of Montreal, Fraser served as club president of Beaconsfield Golf Club in Point-Claire, Que. in 1976 and 1977. The club was founded in 1902 by Fraser’s great grandfather, Benjamin Tooke.

The CSGA has similarly honoured fellow CSGA member and executive director John Powell for his impact on the game. The CSGA’s executive director Ian Gibson said, “Jim Fraser has made a significant contribution to golf and the CSGA. Jim is a patron of our Association working tirelessly on projects like our recently published Centennial book and directing our charitable donations, and we’re proud to continue the tradition of honouring those who have given back so much to the sport.”

To donate to the Jim Fraser Scholarship Fund, please click here.

***with files from LondonOntarioGolf.com

TORONTO (September 12, 2019) –Golf Canada Foundation in partnership with Golf Canada are proud to announce that Gord Nixon has been named the 2019 recipient of the Legacy Award for exceptional contribution to the sport of golf in Canada. The award was presented to Nixon, the inaugural recipient, at Golf Canada Foundation’s signature annual donor event, the Trustee Cup on Monday, September 9.

A truly transformative leader in golf as former chief executive for RBC, Nixon led the resurgence of the RBC Canadian Open and an unprecedented investment in the sport across North America. More than $20 million was donated to charity through the RBC Canadian Open as well as the RBC Heritage during his tenure. RBC’s investment in the game also helped drive growth in Golf Canada’s National Team Program and was the catalyst for Team RBC—a roster of global ambassadors including Canadian and international stars on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour.

“It was through Gord’s leadership that RBC set the groundwork to become the most invested corporate supporter of Canadian golf and it is deserving that his vision and commitment to the game be recognized with as our inaugural recipient of the Legacy Award,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO Martin Barnard. “It is special individuals like Gord, either as corporate leaders or philanthropic champions, that have truly made an impact through their investment in the game.”

Held at Nixon’s home course, Rosedale Golf Club in Toronto, Nixon was joined by PGA TOUR star and RBC Ambassador Graeme McDowell, along with more than 100 Foundation donors and 25 amateur and professional golfers representing Team Canada and all levels of the professional game including the Mackenzie Tour/PGA Tour Canada, Symetra Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA TOUR. The event raised more than $600,000 to support grassroots programs and develop the next generation of Canadian players.

Recipients of the Legacy Award, as selected by Golf Canada Foundation, are to be housed within the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum as “Golf Canada Foundation Legacy Honourees” ─ a separate distinction from those individuals inducted as “Honoured Members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame” who are elected by the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

The 2019 Trustee Cup at Rosedale was the third iteration of Golf Canada Foundation’s signature fundraising event which was previously held at Calgary Golf and Country Club in 2018 and Memphremagog Golf Club in 2017.

Kent Grice of Richmond Hill  is the lucky winner of the 2019 CP Women’s Open 50/50 prize of $30,000. On Saturday, August 24th, Kent attended the national women’s event at the beautiful Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario where he purchased his winning ticket from a Golf Canada Foundation 50/50 volunteer.

From Wednesday afternoon through Sunday of tournament week, Golf Canada Foundation volunteers sold 50/50 tickets on-site at Magna Golf Club. Proceeds from on-site and online sales for the raffle will benefit junior golf initiatives, and help to grow the game in Ontario and across the nation. Thank you to everyone who participated and bought a 50/50 ticket.

Stay tuned for information on 2020 Golf Canada Foundation 50/50 raffles!

Golf Canada Foundation and Angus Glen Golf Club are thrilled to invite you to attend the 2019 Swing at the World Junior Girls Championship, on Sunday, September 22^nd.

This women’s-only afternoon will feature:

• Three golf clinics for all levels of ability;
• The Swing Marketplace with some awesome shopping;
• Complimentary beverages and snacks.

We are also offering FREE Junior Clinics for up to 2 children with a registered adult. Best of all, participants are given FREE access to attend the Opening Ceremonies for the World Junior Girls’ at Angus Glen that same afternoon.

Join us to grow your game, make new friends, and support girls in golf from around the world!

Please visit www.theswing.ca for all the details and to get your tickets today!

Event Details

1:30pm-2:30pm – Registration & Marketplace open

2:30pm-4:00pm – Golf Clinics (& Junior Clinic – see below!)

4:00pm – 5:30pm – Swing Marketplace

5:30pm – Opening Ceremonies – World Junior Girls

JUNIOR CLINICS & FUN!

While our Swing participants (16 years old+) enjoy themselves, the younger golfers in your life are welcome to participate in a Golf Ontario Future Champions Golf Clinic for FREE! Your kids may also have the opportunity to be flag bearers for the World Junior Girls Opening Ceremonies.

Open to children ages 5-15, must be registered with a paying participant of The Swing. Maximum 2 children per participant. Children MUST be registered while purchasing your Swing ticket please.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Congratulations to Allyson Teodoridis of Ancaster, Ontario, the winner of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open 50/50 sponsored by GOLFTEC! From Wednesday afternoon through Sunday of tournament week, Golf Canada Foundation volunteers sold 50/50 tickets on-site at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

With the addition of pre-tournament online 50/50 ticket sales, over $100,000 was raised; Golf Canada Foundation’s highest 50/50 draw to date! Proceeds from the raffle will benefit junior golf initiatives, and help to grow the game in Ontario and across the nation.

Thank you to everyone who participated and bought a 50/50 ticket. Stay tuned for the CP Women’s Open 50/50 online ticket sales announcement coming soon!

Golf Canada is proud to celebrate the 66 adoptions that occurred during Adopt a School Week thanks to the efforts of golf enthusiasts and industry partners across the country.

In total, the figure translates to an additional 7,920 students being introduced to the sport through the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program. The coast-to-coast campaign was elevated by support from Canadian industry partners—the Provincial Associations, PGA of Canada, the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), Canadian Society of Club Managers and Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.

A matching program for the first 30 adoptions was made possible by the Canadian Seniors Golf Association, who continue to be a leader in supporting Adopt a School Week. In the campaign’s four years of running, the CSGA has helped to adopt over 100 schools in Canadian communities from coast-to-coast.

Since the program’s inception in 2009, adoptions have accounted for close to 50% of over 3,800 registered schools delivering the curriculum. For Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer, that number presents a great opportunity to build community relationships.

“The vision is to help establish a connection between golf facilities and schools in respective communities across Canada through the Golf in Schools program,” said Thompson. “Nurturing these relationships will enhance the delivery of the program and build a connection that will last for many years to come.”

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GOLF IN SCHOOLS.

As the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regionals gets underway today, we are thrilled to follow seven Canadian golfers have qualified for their respective regional competitions.

Four regional tournaments will be conducted from May 6-8 to determine the field for the season ending Final Championships. A total of 384 participants have been selected for regional competition. Of these players, 132 will advance to the Championships. Six teams and three individuals will advance from each regional.

Here is the official list of Canadians playing, represented in three of four regional sites:

• East Lansing Regional
  • Mary Parsons, 19 years old (Indiana University)
    Delta, BC
  • Sydney Naro, 19 years old (Michigan State University)
    Toronto, ON
  • Phoebe Yue, 19 years old (UCLA)
    West Vancouver, BC

• Norman Regional
  • Kathrine Chan, 19 years old (Pepperdine University)
    Richmond, BC
  • Naomi Ko, 21 years old (North Carolina State)
    Victoria, BC

• Auburn Regional
  • Brigitte Thibault, 20 years old (Fresno State) *Individual Qualifier
    Rosemère, QC
  • Sarah-Eve Rhéaume, 18 years old (Furman)
    Québec, QC

The national championships will be May 17-22 at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas hosted by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The final three days of the championships will be televised live by the Golf Channel.

Click on the event site above to access the tournament leaderboard and follow our Canadian golfers during the week.

On a day-to-day basis Anne-Catherine Tanguay likes to focus on the process of being a professional golfer. But when she takes a step back from her daily regimen of practise, journaling, and evaluation, she does have some pretty lofty goals.

The Quebec City native is in the field at the LOTTE Championship that teed off on Wednesday along with fellow Canadians Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., Hamilton’s Alena Sharp, Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee and Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont.

Tanguay is the third-highest Canadian on the Race to the CME Globe rankings behind No. 20 Henderson and No. 39 Sharp. Although she’s not much of a rankings watcher, Tanguay’s aware that she needs to keep moving up from her current position of 90th to achieve some of her long-range goals.

“I think that this year it’s been more important for me to focus on the process rather than the results,” said Tanguay, who arrived in West Oahu, Hawaii, for the tournament on Sunday. “I feel like the rankings are more of a collateral to the rest of the work I put in toward my goals.”

Her most immediate goal? Representing Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

The top 15 world-ranked players will be eligible for the Olympics field of 60 women, with a limit of four players from any given country. Beyond the top 15, players will be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15. The women’s qualification period will end June 29, 2020.

“It’s brand new and I feel like it’s not really part of our culture in the golf industry to have this in mind, unlike every other sport where their ultimate goal is to make the Olympics,” said Tanguay. “For us it’s been more play majors, win majors. It’s become my focus more in the past year and more and more people are asking me about it.”

Tanguay is excited to be back at the Ko Olina Golf Club, home of the LOTTE Championship. She enjoys how the course plays and has been preparing all week for the windy conditions on the Hawaiian island.

“This is my third time here, so there’s no surprise that it’s going to be windy,” said Tanguay, who says she hardly has to consult her yardage book for the course. “I’ve been practising my side-hill lies but the No. 1 factor here is the wind. I just wanted to come prepared.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The last guy into the Masters left no doubt he deserved his spot.

Corey Conners followed up a thrill at the first tee – a greeting from Jack Nicklaus – with a 2-under 70 that put the Canadian in solid position after the opening round Thursday.

“I feel like I belong,” Conners said.

Playing in the first group of the day, he got a chance to watch Nicklaus and Gary Player hit the ceremonial tee shots that traditionally kick off the first major of the year. On his way back to the clubhouse after his one and only swing, the 79-year-old Nicklaus congratulated Conners on last weekend’s victory at the Valero Texas Open – the performance that got him into the Masters as the final entrant in the field.

“That felt pretty special,” Conners said. “It’s cool that that Jack Nicklaus knows who I am.”

 

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Golden moment ? #TheMasters #GolfCanada

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The 27-year-old native of Listowel, Ont., endured a sluggish start, playing the front nine at 1 over. He was solid off the tee, but a little too cautious on the treacherous greens. Then in the middle of the back side, Conners made his move.

He rolled in back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th holes before making eagle at the par-5 15th.

After a booming drive left only 212 yards to the green at the bottom of the hill, Conners launched his approach over the water, the ball coming to a stop just 6 feet past the cup for barely more than a tap-in.

A three-putt bogey at the final hole put a bit of a damper on his day.

But Conners wasn’t complaining.

Not after his improbable journey just to claim a spot in the first major of the year.

Since he’s currently ranked outside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup, Conners had to go through Monday qualifying just to get into the Texas Open. He made a 20-foot birdie at No. 18 to sneak into a six-man playoff for the final berth in the actual tournament. Then, with a birdie at the first extra hole, he eliminated the other five contenders.

With a 10-birdie round on Sunday, Conners captured the first PGA Tour victory of his career – and an invite to Augusta.

Conners certainly understands the enormity of the odds of everything falling into place the way it has.

“Look, I’m a math and stats guy,” he said, standing near the giant magnolia tree that shades the porch of the stately clubhouse. “I know I was very unlikely to be here. I can say with certainly that I didn’t think I would be here, but it worked out very well.”

Conners is off to a much better start than his only other appearance in the Masters.

The fun continues! @coreconn holds the lead at #TheMasters ?? pic.twitter.com/1ENLpNAK7U

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 11, 2019

After qualifying as an amateur in 2015, he opened with an 80 that left him no real chance of making the cut.

Now, with another solid round, he’ll be heading on to the weekend for the first time.

He has plenty of fans cheering him on.

“There are way more Canadian people than I was expecting – or at least people pretending to be Canadians – out there,” Conners quipped. “It was awesome.”

Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion and the only other Canadian in the field, shot a 72.