This week is National Volunteer Week, and we want to thank all Golf Manitoba volunteers for your hard work and dedication! 

Volunteers have been at the heart of our organization since its founding in 2003 and prior to that for both the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association and the Manitoba Golf Association. Each volunteer opportunity contributes an important part to the organization as a whole and allows Golf Manitoba to provide the services we do to help the sport of golf prosper. This past year, our 80+ volunteers donated over 1,700 hours of their time in helping us to deliver our events, programs and championships.

Thank you Golf Manitoba volunteers, we couldn’t do it without you!

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Golf Manitoba, please visit golfmb.ca/volunteering

It is with great sadness that Golf Manitoba has learned of the passing of Peggy Colonello on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at the age of 97.

Peggy Colonello made a huge impact on women’s golf in Manitoba and Canada as an administrator.  Her volunteerism spanned decades and started in 1974 where she served as president of the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association until 1976. Peggy continued her administrative work in golf serving a two-year term as president of the Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association from 1982-83. During her time on the national executive, Peggy attended World and Commonwealth championships in Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Columbia, Britain and Switzerland, including the various Canadian events in which she participated. Peggy, for her contributions to the sport, was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and was an inaugural inductee into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame on September 29, 2003.

In addition to her volunteerism, Peggy also enjoyed the competitive side of golf. She represented Manitoba on three Manitoba Senior Provincial golf teams, and many winning Nassau teams for Elmhurst. Peggy was very active in the affairs of her home club, the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club in Winnipeg, where she and her husband Alex had been members since the 1940s.

The Colonello name was well known in golf and not only for Peggy’s contributions. Her husband Alex Colonello first moved to Winnipeg in 1941. In 1973, Alex purchased and become president of the Bay Bronze company and eventually acquired the golf accessory line from Bayco Industries to form Bayco Golf Inc. Bayco golf ball washers can still be found on the tee boxes of golf courses all over the world. Alex Colonello passed away in 2013 at the age of 93.

In 2018 and at the age of 94, Peggy Colonello established the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation with a mandate to support junior golf in the province of Manitoba. The Foundation established an unprecedented endowment of $3 million dollars that will aid in supporting the development of new generations of golfers through grassroots golf initiatives and high-performance programming. Since 2019, the Foundation had committed $130,000 to junior golf programs including the Golf in Schools initiative, provincial junior team development and the University of Manitoba Bisons golf program.  The Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame also received support in recognizing and celebrating contributions to golf at the annual Hall of Fame Induction ceremony and will continue to be supported from the Foundation.

Because of her continued devotion to grow the sport for which she and Alex loved so much, the legacy of Alex & Peggy Colonello will carry on through junior golf and for generations to come.

To read Mrs. Colonello’s obituary, please click here >>

 – Golf Canada and RBC will now pivot all efforts towards planning for a celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open in 2021 – 

TORONTO – With continued public health concerns as well as international travel and government restrictions due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the PGA TOUR, in consultation with Golf Canada and RBC, has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 RBC Canadian Open.

The event was scheduled for June 8-14 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club with Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility. The cancellation of the 2020 RBC Canadian Open also includes the RBCxMusic Concert Series which was scheduled to take place June 12-13 at Richview Collegiate Institute, featuring headline performances by The Chainsmokers and Keith Urban.

“The RBC Canadian Open has always been a rallying point for Canadian golf and while we share in the crushing disappointment with our fans, players, volunteers and many event partners, our primary responsibility is the safety of our people and our communities,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “It is now our full intention to push forward together with RBC, the PGA TOUR, the City of Toronto and our host clubs with the goal to bring the 2021 RBC Canadian Open to St. George’s Golf and Country Club with Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.”

“Our foremost consideration is the health and safety of everyone in our community, including the players, spectators, our staff and volunteers, the media and the thousands of supporters who contribute to the success of our event,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “The international travel restrictions, required quarantine measures and government mandates were critical factors that contributed to the decision to cancel our event this year. We have no doubt that the incredible momentum we’ve built together with our partners will make the 2021 RBC Canadian Open a world-class experience.”

Golf Canada and RBC would like to thank golf fans across the nation for their understanding and in particular, our  many corporate partners, ticket and hospitality purchasers, as well as the countless volunteers for their continued support through this unprecedented time.

Golf Canada, the PGA TOUR and RBC have continued to monitor the guidelines provided by federal, provincial and municipal government health authorities in order to prevent the spread of the virus within our communities. With this decision, Golf Canada and RBC will now turn their focus towards the 2021 RBC Canadian Open.

Dating back to its inception in 1904, the cancellation of the 2020 RBC Canadian Open marks only the seventh time that Canada’s National Open Championship has not been conducted, including wartime cancellations from 1915-18 as well as 1943-44.

All corporate hospitality buyers will be contacted by their Golf Canada sales representative over the coming days to plan forward for 2021 and individual ticket purchases made via Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded within the next 30 days. The same refund policy applies for RBC clients who purchased RBCxMusic Tickets.

For more information, visit www.rbccanadianopen.com.

Written by Bison Sports

Pat Gill Legacy Award

Garth Goodbrandson

The Pat Gill Legacy Award was created in 2013-14 in the spirit of Pat Gill, who was the long-serving Faculty of Kinesiology & Recreation Management member and Bisons football team manager for over 40 years starting in the mid-1960s before passing away in December 2011.
The seventh recipient of the award is Garth Goodbrandson, head coach and co-founder of the University of Manitoba golf program.

Created in 1999, the goal and directive for Bisons golf was to give talented Manitoba players the opportunity to continue development as golfers while receiving a quality education at home. From day one, the mission statement has always been to develop champions on and off the course.

Goodbrandson has a long history in the sport before creating the Bisons golf program. He was a golf professional at Tuxedo (Assistant, 1982-86), Halcrow Lake (Head 1987-90), Breezy Bend (Associate 1991) and Minnewasta (Head 1992-97). He’s been the Golf Manitoba Director of Player Development since 1997 and was the first coach hired full-time by a provincial golf association.

As a coach, he’s led over 20 provincial teams at national events since 1998 and was named a top 50 teacher in Canada by the National Post in 2007. He’s earned the PGA of Manitoba’s Professional Development Award in 2014 and the Junior Leader of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

All that experience has fed success at UM, where Goodbrandson has been a tireless fundraiser, a great coach, and a real gentleman.

“I think Garth’s work with the Bisons golf team speaks for itself,” said Derrik Goodwin, who assumed head coaching duties of the men’s team in 2019 while Goodbrandson managed the program and led fundraising efforts.

“He basically funded the program out of his own pocket, took his own vehicle to tournaments, and created fundraising initiatives to help the program get established and thrive. I know Garth always speaks very highly of the university and is committed to doing the right thing. He’s a great representative for the program and university.”

As head coach of the Bisons men’s team, Goodbrandson led Manitoba to a national win at the 2014 Canadian University Championship and was named the Canadian University Coach of the Year. Afterwards, he was given the City of Winnipeg Outstanding Achievement Award and the team was a finalist for the 2014 Sportswriters/Sportscasters Team of the Year.

Under Goodbrandson’s direction, there have been 36 overall team tournament victories for the Bisons since their start in 1999.

Garth Goodbrandson is this year’s Pat Gill Legacy Award recipient.

To All Golf Canada Members and Member Clubs,

Along with the rest of the globe, Canada is dealing with a debilitating health crisis with COVID-19.

Golf Canada is committed to fostering a safe sport environment. Together with our partners at the Provincial Golf Associations, that commitment includes the health and well-being of golfers as well as every Canadian in the communities where we live and play.

I think constantly about those personally affected by the virus including their families, our most vulnerable citizens and the incredible health care workers confronting the pandemic on the front lines. I worry about the impact to the golf community—owners, operators, PGA of Canada professionals, club managers, superintendents, industry stakeholders, fans and supporters of our championships and every Canadian golf enthusiast that just wants to get out and play. I also applaud the superintendents and their teams, who are taking the strictest precautions to maintain our essential golf properties during this crisis.  

Golf Canada fully supports the recommendations and guidelines of Health Canada, the World Health Organization and regional public health experts to prevent the community spread of COVID-19. Currently, most provinces have enacted complete suspensions on all recreational activities and gatherings, including golf facilities. Many clubs throughout Canada have, on their own initiative, instituted temporary suspensions of operations for the wellness of their staff, their golfers and their community at large. I know that those not yet mandated to close are taking every precaution and I respect the pressure felt by those with that immense responsibility.  

Golf Canada continues to evaluate all aspects of our business and take measures to protect  our athletes, staff, coaches, partners and volunteers. Severe cost controls and risk mitigation protocols have been enacted and we are in constant consultation with provincial, national and international experts along with our member clubs to gather the information we need to make informed and responsible decisions through the crisis.  

You will find a toolkit of information here in our COVID-19 Resource Page, which we hope will serve as a  reference for everything that can be done today and, in the future, when it is safe to return to golf. I am incredibly proud of the work done by our team, our partners and global stakeholders to put this compendium of information together for all golfers.

This is a turbulent moment and Golf Canada is committed to supporting the golf community through these challenges to the best of our ability. I am encouraged to see the resiliency of our industry—people and facilities engaging to share ideas and best practices, further professional development and provide levity and support for each other through this difficult period.

When the time is right for Canadians to return to recreational normalcy, golf will be well positioned to emerge and thrive, with possible attributes recommended by the appropriate authorities including physical distancing, exaggerated tee-times, personal protective equipment, and the many precautionary health measures that club operators will have in place. I also know that when that recovery comes, courses will be ready to safely welcome golfers back to the tee. Golf will bring us closer together.

For now, as we all make our way through a time of unprecedented uncertainty, let’s commit to what is in our control—to take every precaution to ensure our physical and mental health; to protect our families, staff, volunteers and golfers; and to rally as a community to keep each other safe.
—
Laurence Applebaum
Chief Executive Officer
Golf Canada

(UPDATED April 4)

The Manitoba government has issued a new public health order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in an effort to protect the health and safety of all Manitobans, Premier Brian Pallister announced on Monday, March 30.  All non-essential businesses are to close effective 12:01am April 1 to April 14, 2020.  Golf courses were not-listed as an essential service within the health order and would therefore be required to close.

An interpretation of a provision within the public health order would allow businesses such as golf courses to access the grounds to be able to continue with maintenance and repairs.  As of April 1, it was confirmed by the provincial government that golf courses can continue to employee staff for maintenance. Additionally, if the golf course has a shop they can provide goods online or by telephone for delivery or pickup. Additionally, workplaces should still follow social distancing practices as recommended by the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer.

Manitoba health officials clarify business operations >>

The closure of non-essential business services was announced just 10 days after the province declared a state of emergency in an effort to protect the public and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

For more information on the public health order, please click HERE >>.

For golf facility managers and owners looking for more information about how to navigate operations during this time, the National Golf Course Owners Association has populated their website with some resources for your reference.  Please see below:

NGCOA Corona Virus and your Golf Business >>

We Are Golf (The National Allied Golf Associations/NAGA) are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our members, golfers, staff, volunteers and industry stakeholders as well as every Canadian in the communities where we live, work and play.

The COVID-19 crisis is an unprecedented and difficult time for Canadians. We Are Golf fully supports the recommendations and guidelines of Health Canada, the World Health Organization and regional public health experts to stop the community spread of the virus. As leaders in an industry that employs more than 300,000 Canadians and includes nearly six million golfers from coast to coast, our priority above all else is the health and safety of our people and our communities.

Where governments have not mandated the temporary closure of golf courses, operators of those facilities should take every health and safety precaution. We Are Golf also advocates for the essential need for golf course property maintenance during any of the temporary closures to be ready for operation while taking every health and safety precaution.

We look forward to better and healthier days and when the time is right for Canadians to return to recreational normalcy, clubs and courses will be ready to welcome golfers back to the tee.

WINNIPEG – Each year, Sport Manitoba’s annual Night of Champions celebrates sports excellence in Manitoba. In recognition of their outstanding golf achievements in 2019, Southwood Golf & Country Club’s Rhonda Orr and Colwyn Abgrall were honored during this year’s event by being nominated in the Female and Male Open Athletes of the Year categories. This year’s event was cancelled to reduce the public health risks associated with COVID-19, however Sport Manitoba recognized all nominees and winners on its website and through social media.

Rhonda Orr – Golf

Golfer Rhonda Orr extended an impressive streak in 2019, winning the Manitoba Women’s Seniors Championshipfor a fourth straight year. She also finished 11^th out of 118 players at the Canadian Women’s Seniors Championship, and she also qualified for the United States Women’s Seniors Championship for the second straight year, playing in the round of 32 and winning her first match while competing against golfers from all over the world. From golf, Rhonda Orr.

Colwyn  Abgrall – Golf

Niverville’s own Colwyn Abgrall is putting the tiny Manitoba town on the map. The 23-year-old golfer had several highlights in 2019, none more noteworthy than winning the Nott Autocorp Manitoba Amateur Championship. He was also a member of the Manitoba Men’s Provincial Amateur Team, and his success even took him south of the border, where he qualified for and competed in the United States Amateur Championship in North Carolina. From golf, Colwyn Abgrall.

Manitoba is rich with countless remarkable sport people of all ages with amazing stories of success, service and dedication. The Night of Champions recognizes these accomplishments in sport across the spectrum including athletes and teams, coaches, officials and volunteers.

For more information on this year’s full list of nominees and award winners, please click HERE >>.

WINNIPEG – Garth Goodbrandson, Director of Player Development with Golf Manitoba, was honoured this past weekend where he was awarded both the Janet Arnott Memorial Award and the Male Coach of the Year award as presented by Sport Manitoba and Club Regent Casino & Event Centre. This year’s event was cancelled to reduce the public health risks associated with COVID-19, however Sport Manitoba recognized all nominees and winners on its website and through social media.

The Sport Manitoba Coaching Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements and significant contributions coaches have made to their athletes and sport over the past year. The selection of recipients is based on their unique contribution to sport through the continued development of their athletes.

For the past 23 years, Garth has been at the helm of Golf Manitoba’s player development program. A 37-year member of the PGA of Canada, Garth’s resume includes coaching at eight multi-sport games competitions including two Manitoba Summer Games, three Western Canada Summer Games and two Canada Summer Games. Additionally, Garth is the lead coach of the Golf Manitoba Junior Development Teams, has coached numerous athletes who have played on Golf Manitoba Provincial Junior Teams and is the co-founder and past Head Coach of the University of Manitoba Bison Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams.

About Sport Manitoba – Sport Manitoba is a  not-for-profit organization and the lead planning, programming and funding agency for the development of amateur sport in Manitoba. Sport Manitoba partners with over 100 organizations to deliver sport in the province and is responsible for programs including the Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro, Sport Manitoba Coaching, Team Manitoba, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Fit Kids Healthy Kids and KidSport. Services provided include the Sport Manitoba Clinic, Sport Manitoba Performance, Sport Manitoba Fitness Centre, and the Paul Robson Resource Centre for Leadership and Coaching.

With heightened uncertainty and global concern related to COVID-19, the Golf Manitoba office will continue to be closed until further notice.  Office staff will continue with operations remotely during this closure from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm daily.  If you have any questions or wish to contact a staff member directly, please visit our staff contact page for email and phone number information.

More updates on operations to follow as they become available.

Please stay safe and we hope to see you on the links soon!

Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director, Golf Manitoba