Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce the hires of Bri-ann Tokariwski as the Head Coach for the Junior Women’s Development Program and Derrik Goodwin as Head Coach for the Junior Men’s Development Program.

As development team coaches, Tokariwski and Goodwin will lead Golf Manitoba in the skill development of Manitoba’s top and aspiring junior golfers. Both will take on a number of responsibilities including designing and administering a provincial development program, providing ongoing coaching support to targeted athletes on the competitive pathway, coaching at regional, provincial and national competitions and collaborating with allied partners to support enhanced excellence.

Tokariwski joins Golf Manitoba as the organization’s first female development head coach and is no stranger to coaching and high-performance golf.  An alumni of the Golf Manitoba junior development program, Tokariwski has won eleven Golf Manitoba titles including three women’s amateur championships, a junior championship and represented the province ten times on six amateur and four junior women’s interprovincial teams. She was also the head coach of the University of Manitoba Bison women’s golf program from 2016-19. For the past three years, she assisted Golf Manitoba with its junior women’s development program and was head coach of Team Manitoba in the women’s golf competition at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games.

This past summer, Bri-ann was accepted into the Golf Canada Women in Coaching Program, an initiative designed to provide PGA of Canada women professionals with the tools necessary to coach at the highest levels. Bri-ann is a PGA of Canada assistant professional at the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and was recently recognized as the 2020 PGA of Canada Manitoba Zone Apprentice of the Year.

“I am very honoured and excited to be the Junior Girl’s Development Coach. I have watched so many fantastic juniors go through this program and I am excited to work with the next generation of golfers in the province,” said Tokariwski. “It is really special to have been apart of the first group that went through this program as a junior and know how much this program means to the members of the team. I truly believe that programs like these can show young girls that they not only can make golf a lifelong sport, but they can excel at anything they put their minds to. Garth created such an inspiring and strong program that has grown the game, I know I have some big shoes to fill!”

Derrik Goodwin also brings with him an extensive background in coaching and high-performance golf.  The 2016 and 2018 PGA of Canada Manitoba Zone Player of the Year is entering his fifth year of coaching, two as head coach, with the University of Bison men’s golf program. He is an associate golf professional at the St. Charles Country Club and was recently recognized as a four-time award recipient by the PGA of Canada Manitoba Zone as 2020 Teacher of the Year, Junior Leader of the Year, Class A Professional of the Year and the Professional Development Award.

“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to grow the sport of golf on a provincial level,” said Derrik Goodwin. I admire the things Garth Goodbrandson has done for athlete development and look forward to the challenge of growing this program even further.”

“Both Bri-ann and Derrik have a tremendous energy and enthusiasm for junior golf and coaching and we are thrilled to have them lead our junior development teams,” said Jared Ladobruk, Executive Director of Golf Manitoba. “We are excited about the leadership and expertise they bring as our association strives to provide opportunities for excellence for Manitoba’s top and aspiring young golfers.”

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is provincial sport organization (PSO) for amateur golf in Manitoba. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario for the benefit of all participants.

For more information:

Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204-925-5729
jared@golfmb.ca

WINNIPEG – The selection committee for the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to announce the class of 2020. This year’s honoured inductees include Brian Gilhuly, Tom Kinsman, Rhonda Orr and the 1967 Manitoba Junior Boys Canadian Inter-provincial Team Champions.

Brian Gilhuly, 1940-2017 (Builder)

• Selkirk Golf & Country Club member of the Board of Directors (1960-1974 & 1986-2017)
• Selkirk Golf & Country Club Treasurer (1988-2017)
• Golf Manitoba volunteer from 1980 to 2017
• Golf Manitoba member of the Board of Directors (1989-2010)
• Finance Chair for Golf Manitoba (1980-2005)
• Golf Manitoba Course Rater (1991-2017)
• Golf Manitoba Handicap & Course Rating Chair (2001-2017)
• Rated over 300 golf courses in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario
• Bequeathed over $100,000 to the Selkirk Golf & Country Club
• Donated over $100,000 to the Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund

Tom Kinsman (Builder)

• PGA of Canada head professional at the Southwood Golf & Country Club 1991-2018
• PGA of Manitoba Professional of the Year (1995)
• PGA of Manitoba member of the Board of Directors (1995-2002)
• PGA of Manitoba President (1998-2000)
• Four-time PGA of Manitoba Teacher of the Year (1999, 2000, 2004 & 2011)
• Won six PGA zone professional titles
• Players coached won 39 provincial championships and 4 national championships

Rhonda Orr (Athlete)

• Seven-time Manitoba senior women’s champion (2013-14, 2016-20)
• Seven-time Manitoba senior women’s interprovincial team member (2013-19)
• Qualified for the USGA Senior Women’s Championship (2016, 2018 & 2019) making it to the round of 32 in 2019
• Seven top-20 finishes in the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship (T13 – 2013, T19 – 2014, 8th – 2015, T4th – 2016, T13 2017, T18 – 2018, T11th – 2019)
• Three-time Golf Manitoba Female Amateur Golfer of the Year award winner (2016, 2018 & 2019)

1967 Manitoba Junior Boys Canadian Inter-provincial Team Champions

• Steve Bannatyne – Winnipeg, MB
• Manfred Broavac – Port Arthur, ON
• Dave Hill – Winnipeg, MB
• Kenneth Redfern – Winnipeg, MB
• Dr. Dwight Parkinson – Winnipeg, MB (non-playing captain)

Feature image above (left to right): Manfred Broavac, Steve Bannatyne, Kenneth Redfern, Dave Hill, Dr. Dwight Parkinson (non-playing captain)

The 1967 Manitoba Junior Men’s Interprovincial team finished in 1st place shooting a 36-hole team score of 619 and seven shots ahead of second place Team British Columbia (626).  The team championship was conducted during the first two days of 1967 Canadian Junior Men’s Championship that was held August 21-24 at the Toronto Golf Club in Toronto, Ontario.

An Induction Ceremony for the 2020 Class will be held when it is safe to do so and a further announcement will be made when a date is selected.

About the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Inc. – The Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Inc. was formed to acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments made by Manitobans as competitors, both amateur and professional, builders and course superintendents to the game of golf.  It is a tripartite organization, the partners being Golf Manitoba, Manitoba Golf Superintendents’ Association and the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of Manitoba. The annual induction ceremony is sponsored by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation.

Individual members and member clubs wishing to nominate an individual (amateur or professional golfers, superintendents, builders, media, etc.) for the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame may obtain nomination forms through any of the three member organizations or at manitobagolfhalloffame.com.

Christmas shopping will certainly be different this year, but it’s also an opportunity to think about new ways to give the gifts of the season. For those with a golfer on their list, below are a number of ways to be creative and put something special under the tree while supporting the local golf economy too.

Gift cards

Consider purchasing a gift card for a family member, friend or even for yourself! Many public and semi-private golf courses offer gift cards or pre-paid multi-game packs available by calling or emailing the pro shop. Check out our member club directory for a listing of golf courses in your region.

Lessons

Could the golfer on your list benefit from a lesson or two or a spring tune-up? If so, consider contacting your local PGA of Canada professional to purchase a lesson, lesson package or even lessons for the whole family! With some of the best instructors in the country located right here in Manitoba, pre-paid lessons are a great gift idea and helps to support your pro during the off-season.  Click here for the local PGA of Canada pro directory.

Gear & tech

Nothing brings more joy to the avid golfer than unwrapping a dozen of the latest and greatest golf balls, new kicks or the hottest golf gadet. Many local pro-shops carry a great selection of stock during the off-season and have access to supplier inventories to help you find the perfect gift for your golfer. Contact your local pro or favourite club and find out what products and services they are providing and if they offer curb-side pick-up or delivery.

Golf Manitoba/Canada membership

The Golf Manitoba/Canada membership is a must-have for every Canadian golfer. From annual equipment protection coverage, keeping an official handicap index and exclusive access to special offers and discounts, members enjoy the following suite of game-enhancing benefits:

• Incident protection of up $6,000 in total annual coverage for damaged, lost or stolen golf equipment and golf cart and window damage coverage
• An Official Golf Canada Handicap Index through the NEW World Handicap System
• Access the Golf Canada Score Centre to post scores and track golf stats
• Golf Canada App that includes GPS distances for over 1,400 courses in Canada
• Exclusive offers on event tickets & merchandise
• Exclusive offers from Golf Canada, Levelwear, AVIS and Hilton
• Golf benefits with RBC Insurance for home and auto
• Free access to online rules education access
• Membership dues are reinvested into Grow the Game programs such as Golf in Schools, mobile clinics and junior development teams

For more information on the Golf Manitoba/Golf Canada membership and to purchase, please visit join.golfcanada.ca. You can also contact the Golf Manitoba office HERE.

Winnipeg, MB – After 23 years with Golf Manitoba, Garth Goodbrandson will retire as the Director of Player Development at the end of 2020.

Goodbrandson first began his career with Golf Manitoba in 1997 after 16 years as a PGA of Canada club professional. The move into coaching and leadership as the Director of Player Development for Golf Manitoba made him the first full time coach hired by any provincial golf association.

During his tenure with Golf Manitoba, Garth introduced thousands of young people to the sport of golf through golf in schools and rural instruction programs. In addition to grassroots programming, Garth became one of the top high-performance golf coaches in the country with many of his athletes achieving success at the junior, collegiate, amateur, and professional levels.

Photo: Bison Sports

In 1999, Goodbrandson, along with co-founder Derek Ingram, had a vision to expand high-performance golf opportunities by establishing the University of Manitoba golf program. Since the program’s inception, Goodbrandson has coached every Bison team until his retirement in the fall of 2019.  During his 20-year career with the Bisons, Goodbrandson’s teams amassed over 30 wins with the most notable coming in 2014 when the men’s team won the Canadian University & College Championship.  In recognition for winning the national championship, Goodbrandson was named Canadian University Golf Coach of the Year in 2014 and received the City of Winnipeg Outstanding Achievement Award in the same year.  The golf team was names as a finalist for the 2014 Manitoba Sportswriter/Sportscaster Team of the Year.

Throughout his career, Goodbrandson has been recognized by his peers and numerous golf and sports associations for his dedication and commitment to coaching. Some notable highlights include being inducted to the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame in 2016, awarded the PGA of Manitoba Coach of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and most recently, he was honored as the

Sport Manitoba Male Coach of the Year in the spring of 2020.

“As the long-time coach of Golf Manitoba’s Development programs, Garth was a leader and pioneer in many areas.  Passion, dedication and care went into every program he developed but he was also extremely successful at the provincial and national level,” said Derek Ingram, Golf Canada Men’s National Amateur and Olympic Team Coach when reflecting on his fellow professional and long-time friend.

“Garth is an expert coach and has one of the best records over a long career, consistently punching above the provinces weight class. A lot of provincial and even national programs that exist now are an offshoot of Garth’s Golf Manitoba programs that he crafted. More important than his record, Garth is of the highest character, caring, thoughtful and loved by students, coaches, professionals and industry leaders alike.”

Goodbrandson, in addition to providing support for the introductory to elite level players, has coached over 20 provincial teams at national events since 1998 and has been instrumental in establishing ongoing development programs for Canada, Western Canada and Manitoba Summer Games golf teams in the province.  He was a member of the Golf Canada Coaching Team from 2004 through 2007 and the Tournament Director with the Maple leaf Junior Tour from 2004-2020.

“Garth’s contributions to golfers in Manitoba are unmatched and we are thankful to have had him on our team for the past 23 years,” Golf Manitoba President Ken Warwick said, “He will be greatly missed.”

Garth Goodbrandson

Resume:

• PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional since 1982
• PGA of Canada Level IV Teaching & Coaching Certification
• Director of Player Development for Golf Manitoba 1997-2020
• Co-founder and head coach of the University of Manitoba Golf Team 1999-2019
• Bison Men won 2014 Canadian University Championship
• Bison Men named as finalist for the 2014 Manitoba Sportswriter/Sportscaster Team of the Year
• Member of the Golf Canada Provincial Coaching Staff 2004-2007
• Trained in the PGA of Canada NCCP New Competitive Development Program in 2009
• PGA of Canada Coach of Developing Competitors certification in 2013
• Head Coach for Team Manitoba at the Canada Summer Games 2009, 2013 & 2017
• Coached at the Manitoba Summer Games in 2012 and 2016
• Head Coach for Team Manitoba Western Canada Summer Games 2011, 2015 & 2019

Recognition & Industry Awards:

• PGA of Canada Junior Leader of the Year in 1999
• PGA of Manitoba Junior Leader of the Year in 1999 & 2000
• Nominated for 2006 Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Instructors in North America
• Named on the National Post’s top 50 teachers in Canada in 2007
• Received City of Winnipeg Outstanding Achievement Award in 2014
• Received the 2014 PGA of Manitoba Professional Development Award
• University of Manitoba 2012/13 Coach of the Year
• Golf Canada’s 2014 Award for the Canadian University Male Coach of the Year
• Inducted into Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame & Museum in 2016
• PGA of Manitoba Coach of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2019
• Recipient of the University of Manitoba Pat Gill Legacy Award in 2019
• Recipient Sport Manitoba Janet Arnott Memorial Train to Train Award in 2020
• Sport Manitoba Male Coach of the Year Award in 2020

“Golf Manitoba owes a debt of gratitude to Garth for all he has done for our association and our golf community,” Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk said. “Throughout his career, Garth has shown an incredible passion for coaching and has created many wonderful opportunities for young Manitoba golfers. He is a gentleman, a consummate professional and has been a tremendous ambassador of our association and of golf over the years. We are sad to see him move on but at the same time extremely happy for him as he begins this new adventure.”

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is provincial sport organization (PSO) for amateur golf in Manitoba. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario for the benefit of all participants.

For more information:

Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204-925-5729
jared@golfmb.ca

JOHANNESBURG – Canadian Adam Cockerill has posted a career-best fourth-place finish on the European tour.

Cockerill, from Stone Mountain, Man., ended with a 68 for 13-under at the Joburg Open on Sunday, tied with South African Brandon Stone and Steve Surry of England.

The trio were six strokes back of winner Joachim B. Hansen.

“Personal best T-4 finish on the European Tour this week,” Cockerill said in a post to his Twitter and Instagram accounts. “Getting closer and closer.”

Currently ranked 118th, the 28-year-old is the only Canadian on the tour.

Hansen of Denmark overturned a three-shot deficit with nine holes remaining to win his first European Tour title Sunday.

Hansen closed with a composed, bogey-free 67 to win on 19 under par, two shots clear of 20-year-old Wilco Nienaber of South Africa. Nienaber carded a final-round 70 and saw his chance at a first tour title slip away with bogeys on his last two holes.

Nienaber took a one-stroke lead into the final round at Randpark Golf Club and extended his advantage to three with three birdies from No. 4.

Hansen birdied Nos. 10, 12 and 14 to get into a tie for the lead before Nienaber bogeyed No. 17 after almost finding the water to the left of the green.

Nienaber then dropped another shot on the last as Hansen saved par from a greenside bunker to seal his victory.

“It was a fun battle out there with Wilco,” Hansen said. “I kept the head calm out there and we stuck to the plan in terms of where we wanted to hit our drives and approaches. I kept pushing. It started slowly but suddenly the birdies came on the back nine.”

Shaun Norris of South Africa was third on 16 under after finishing with a 66.

The Joburg Open returned to the European Tour schedule this year for the first time since 2017. It’s the first of three straight tournaments in South Africa before the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai from Dec. 10-13.

JOHANNESBURG — South Africans Wilco Nienaber and Shaun Norris both shot an 8-under 63 Thursday to share the first-round lead at the Joburg Open, which made its return to the European Tour schedule for the first time since 2017.

Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., who played his first round bogey-free and made two birdies on his last three. Cockerill ended the day one back of the lead at 7-under 64.

American Johannes Veerman joined Cockerill in a tie for 3rd — both players completed late-afternoon runs at Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg.

Rhys Enoch, Adilson da Silva, Richard McEvoy, Benjamin Follett-Smith and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano all carded 65s and were another shot back.

On a morning of low scores, Nienaber and Norris both made eagles at the par-5 No. 12. Nienaber also had nine birdies but was held back by three bogeys. Norris made six birdies to go with his eagle and didn’t drop a shot all round.

The 20-year-old Nienaber turned pro last year and his best finish in a tour event is fourth. His power was on show at Randpark as he unleashed a 439-yard drive off the tee on the par-5 No. 4. He nearly picked up a second eagle there as his putt hit the cup but didn’t drop.

Norris is also seeking a first European Tour title, although he’s won twice on the Asian Tour. He put together a strong finish by making five birdies on his last seven holes.

The Joburg Open is the first of three straight European Tour tournaments in South Africa before the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai on Dec. 10-13.

Golf Manitoba is mourning the passing of past-president and long-time volunteer, Sydney (Syd) Cohan, who passed away at the age of 89 on November 7, 2020 after a brief struggle with illness.

Mr. Cohan was President of the Manitoba Golf Association from 1996 to 1997 and was a founding member of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Inc. He also volunteered for many years as a Rules Referee in addition to serving as the non-playing captain of the Manitoba Willingdon Cup team that competed at the 1997 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championships. Mr. Cohan was a longtime member of Glendale Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg, MB.

To view Mr. Cohan’s obituary, please click HERE.

Golf Manitoba released its annual report during its annual general meeting that was held virtually on October 28, 2020.

Click HERE to view the report which includes a summary of the association’s highlights and successes from the 2020 season including financials for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020.

In a year unlike any other, 2020 amplified the many benefits of golf to the world. In Manitoba and Northwest Ontario, the outstanding and altruistic acts of generosity by our sponsors has enriched Golf Manitoba programs for all golfers. It is with sincere gratitude that Golf Manitoba thanks its sponsors and encourages our golf community to continue to support our sponsors through your patronage:

adidas Golf Canada and territory sales and marketing manager, Paige Lawrence. adidas Golf is the official performance apparel partner of Golf Manitoba and features the latest in high-performance golf apparel technologies proudly worn by Golf Manitoba teams, staff and volunteers.

The Alex and Peggy Colonello Foundation and foundation president, Marg Homenuik. The Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation’s unprecedented support of Golf Manitoba’s grassroots and high-performance junior girl’s and junior boy’s programs continued in a challenging year for youth. Additionally, the Alex and Peggy Colonello Foundation continued its support of the University of Manitoba’s female and male golf programs as well as the induction ceremony conducted by the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum.

Diamond Athletic Medical Supplies and Gerald Diamond. Diamond Athletic is one of the most respected sports medicine healthcare and rehabilitation companies in all of Canada and is based in Winnipeg since 1946. Diamond Athletics continued and enhanced its sponsorship for both the Women’s Amateur and Men’s Mid-Amateur.

Nott Autocorp and president, Trevor Nott. NOTT Autocorp’s long-term commitment to amateur golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario through its vehicle donations is an example of its community and charitable support that has been invaluable in allowing Golf Manitoba to provide and enhance our exposure in the golf community.

TaylorMade Golf Canada and sales and marketing territory manager, Eric Johnson. TaylorMade Golf Canada is the official equipment performance partner of Golf Manitoba and continued to donate high performance golf products to Golf Manitoba to help players of all skill levels reach their potential.

The Golf Dome and owner Janet Robertsen. The Golf Dome continues to support Golf Manitoba’s offseason training and player development in a spacious and enjoyable environment that is not weather dependent.

Last and certainly not least, we wish to acknowledge the tremendous support we receive from Golf Canada and Sport Manitoba, funding, and programming partners of Golf Manitoba. We also wish to extend our thanks to our partners at the PGA of Manitoba.

If your business is interested in learning more about joining Golf Manitoba as sponsor in 2021, please contact Jared Ladobruk, Executive Director of Golf Manitoba at 204.925.5729 or at jared@golfmb.ca.

They are some of Canada’s most renowned golf legends, a list amassed of professional and amateur players, course architects and administrators. They have all contributed to the growth of the game of golf in this country. However, their contributions to golf pale in comparison to their contributions to the fabric of our nation.

November 11 is Remembrance Day. A day we remember and pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. What better day to remember Canadian golfers of the past who helped our nation during its greatest times of need.

The following are just some of the contributions Canadian golf legends made to the Allied forces during the First and Second World Wars.

Florence Harvey

During World War I, Hamilton, Ont. native Florence Harvey, along with other women golfers in Canada, raised enough money to purchase an ambulance for use in Serbia.

A staunch advocate of women’s golf, Harvey founded and held the position of Secretary of the Canadian Ladies Golf Union – later known as the former Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association (CLGA).

One of the top players of her day, Harvey won the 1903 and 1904 Canadian Ladies’ championship, while capturing the Ontario Ladies Championship on four occasions.

During WWII, the CLGA also raised money, this time their money went towards the purchase of a Spitfire plane.

Karl Keffer is best known for becoming the first Canadian-born golfer to win our national championship – the Canadian Open – in 1909. He also won in 1914.

Keffer, from Tottenham, Ont., was a founding member of the PGA of Canada and held numerous positions during his 29-year involvement with the association including; secretary-treasurer, captain and president. Keffer, a war veteran, pleaded with other golf professionals of his day to join the war effort.

Stanley Thompson

Stanley Thompson

Most golf enthusiasts will know Stanley Thompson as a renowned Canadian golf course architect. Thompson, who was born in Toronto, has 200 course designs to his credit throughout an illustrious career as an architect with a majority of them residing in Canada.

However, many don’t know Thompson was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in WWI.

Donald Carrick

Donald Carrick, born in Thunder Bay, Ont., was a standout amateur golfer. A two time Canadian Amateur champion, Carrick also won the 1924 US Junior Boy’s Championship, several Ontario amateur titles and played for Canada against the British Walker Cup team before retiring from competitive golf in 1933 to focus on his family and law practice. Carrick would become a political figure and also competed as a boxer in the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Carrick also received the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E) for his service in the Royal Artillery during WWII.

Winnipeg’s Geoffrey Cornish, one of the legendary Stanley Thompson’s protégés, fashioned a career in golf course architecture. He was one of the best Canada has ever produced. With a career that included more than 200 golf course designs or remodellings, Cornish turned his attention towards chronicling the history of his field, becoming an author and penning several internationally-acclaimed books on golf course architecture in the later part of his career.

Cornish was a Major in the Canadian Army, serving in Europe from 1940-45.

To these and other notable figures in Canadian golf who have supported our troops as well as all of the brave men and women who have served our country – thank you.