The entire staff at Golf Manitoba hopes you enjoy a safe and happy holiday season and we extend our best wishes for the New Year.

Please be advised of our hours of operation for the Golf Manitoba office during the holidays:

• Closed beginning Friday, December 20, 2019 at 3 p.m. and will reopen at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2020.

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., and ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Nov. 4, 2019) – The World Handicap System (WHS) is ready to be launched in January 2020 and will provide golfers with a unified and more inclusive handicapping system for the first time.

Though many countries are planning to adopt the new system in January, the system will go live in other parts of the world throughout the year to accommodate different implementation plans and variations in the golf calendar.

Developed by the USGA and The R&A in close coordination with existing handicapping authorities, the WHS will provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability, with handicaps calculated in the same way wherever they are in the world.

A key objective of the initiative was to develop a modern system, enabling as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index. Golfers will be able to transport their Handicap Index globally and compete or play a casual round with players from other regions on a fair basis. It will also indicate the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving the next time they go out to play.

The table lists the estimated implementation timeframes for a selection of countries:

The WHS has two main components – the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System. The Rules of Handicapping are encompassed within seven Rules to inform administrators and golfers on how an official Handicap Index is calculated and administered, with some flexibility given to national associations based on how the sport is played and enjoyed in their region. The Course Rating System, based on the USGA Course Rating System first adopted nearly 50 years ago and already adopted on nearly every continent, sets out a consistent method of determining a course’s difficulty. Together, these components become the foundational elements in determining a golfer’s Handicap Index.

“When the golf community works together, everyone benefits,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA.  “We have seen the benefit that handicapping has provided for decades, providing greater enjoyment for all who play. To have a single set of Rules of Handicapping for the game will connect golfers from country to country, and we are excited to bring the best of all worlds together through this initiative.

“It is one of the many ways we are investing in golf’s future, to strengthen and foster growth of the entire game for years to come.”

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “The game of golf is transforming to meet the needs of the modern-day golfer; modernizing the Rules this year was an important step forward in that regard and the World Handicap System will be another.

“Our hope is that the launch of the WHS will be a catalyst for change; signalling the start of a new era of golfer engagement, being inclusive by embracing all golfers, whatever their level of ability, and broadening its appeal to a much wider audience.”

“Change also means opportunity and, managed appropriately, this can only be good for the game. It does mean there will be a period of adjustment, as we saw with the new Rules, but once it beds in golfers and golf clubs will benefit in many ways from the new system.”

In preparation for the launch of the WHS, more than 3,000 golf courses have been rated for the first time and an extensive education program has been delivered. By the end of 2019, more than 90 National Associations will have attended an educational seminar and a robust library of resources is hosted on WHS.com to support regional education.

Rules of Handicapping books are being produced and will be translated and delivered through national associations.

In addition, the USGA and The R&A have developed a series of golfer-focused materials, including videos, infographics and posters, which can be used by national associations and shared with golf clubs for the benefit of golfers.

This includes a promotional video which can be seen here featuring Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player and voices of recreational golfers from around the world to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap.

The materials explain the system’s key features, including:

• Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes and ensuring that a Handicap Index reflects demonstrated ability
• A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; with the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap being 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds (with some discretion available for national or regional associations)
• An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores and factoring in memory of demonstrated ability for better responsiveness/control
• A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day
• Timely handicap revisions
• A limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only)
• A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game
• The formation of a World Handicap System was first conceived in 2011 between the USGA and The R&A in an effort to engage more golfers in the game and promote equity, no matter where golf is played. The effort unites six existing handicapping systems into one, while embracing the many ways the game is played across cultures.

Beginning in 2020, the new WHS will be governed by the USGA and The R&A and administered by national and regional golf associations around the world.

The existing six handicapping authorities, Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA, represent approximately 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a golf handicap.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support the USGA’s and The R&A’s efforts to implement the World Handicap System.

Golf Manitoba wishes to extend our sincere thanks to our member clubs who have made their golf facilities available to host Golf Manitoba events in 2019:

• Carman Golf & Curling Club
• Breezy Bend Country Club
• Elmhurst Golf & Country Club
• Glendale Golf & Country Club
• Links at the Lake
• Minnewasta Golf & Country Club
• Neepawa Golf & Country Club
• Pine Ridge Golf Club
• Portage Golf Club
• Quarry Oaks Golf Course
• Rossmere Country Club
• Selkirk Golf & Country Club

TARRAGONA, Spain – Canadian golfer Aaron Cockerill has earned a European Tour playing card for the 2019-20 season.

The native of Stony Mountain, Man., finished Wednesday’s sixth and final round tied for fifth at the tour’s final qualifying tournament, putting him well inside the top-25 cutoff for a full card.

Cockerill, 27, was 16 under for the tournament, nine strokes behind winner Benjamin Poke of Denmark.

Cockerill played on the Challenge Tour, the top feeder to the European Tour, this year. He finished 49th in the standings.

Cockerill made the trek overseas after spending the past three years on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada following a four-year NCAA run at the University of Idaho.

The European Tour often is called the second best tour in the world, behind the PGA Tour.

The 2019-20 season begins Nov. 28-Dec. 1 with the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

Golf Manitoba is pleased to introduce the 2019/2020 Board of Directors. Five members of the eleven member board were recently re-elected and two new members were elected at the Golf Manitoba Annual General Meeting held on October 23, 2019 at the St. Charles Country Club. The Board includes the following individuals (in alphabetical order):

Michael Berney (Director) has served as a member of the Golf Manitoba Board since 2016 and has been active in the Manitoba golf community since the early 80s. Mike has competed in numerous Golf Manitoba and Golf Canada sanctioned events both regionally and nationally.

Mike has been a member of Transcona Golf Club for over 35 years and has served on their Board of Directors both in the 90s and most recently from 2011 until 2017 in the role of Golf Director. He has extensive experience organizing successful tournaments.

Mike is a life long Manitoban residing in Winnipeg retired from the railroad in 2010 after 37 years of service.

Susan Wright Cassan (Vice-President) has been an active Board member since 2016. She is also on the Tournament Committee and Chair of the Membership Committee. Sue earned her Community Coaching Certificate in the spring of 2018 and has been organizing Golf in School programs in Thunder Bay for the last 4 years. Sue also organizes and runs a mixed fun event with all raised funds supporting the Golf in Schools program.

Some additional golf, volunteer and career highlights include the following:

• President of the Superior North Ladies Golf Association.
• Chair on the McKenzie Tour Staal Open in Thunder Bay for the last 5 years.
• Volunteered for the Ryder Cup in 2016 and the LPGA event held at St. Charles.
• Past President (15 years) of Emerald Greens Golf Course
• Course rating for 14 years with Golf Manitoba and also an active tournament participant in provincial women’s championships.
• Sue grew up in Hamiota, Manitoba and currently resides in Thunder Bay where she retired from CIBC as a Manager.

Michelle Gisiger (Director) joined the Board in the fall of 2019.  Michelle was a former elementary school teacher with the Pembina Trails School Division for 29 years in the areas of physical education, counselling and head teaching. Michelle is a former lacrosse player and represented Canada playing in two world cups. Michelle also has an extensive coaching background with both elementary and high school aged student athletes. She has also coached lacrosse at the provincial junior and senior levels.

Michelle is an avid golfer and currently plays out of Quarry Oaks Golf Course in Steinbach, Manitoba. In 2019, Michelle finished in 4th place in the Senior Women’s Championship and went on to represent Manitoba as a member of the Senior Women’s Provincial Team that competed in the 2019 Golf Canada Senior Women’s Championship.

James (Jim) Gosman (Director) has served as a Golf Manitoba board director since 2014 and the Rules Chairman for 1 year. He started with GM as a rules official in 2012 and has since obtained a level 4 ranking, officiating, 6-8 golf tournaments each year.  Jim was a teacher for 32 years and has been associated with sport as a player, coach, and referee for over 60 years.  He has coached basketball at the Junior High, High School, and the Provincial Levels and was the coach of a silver medal team at the Canada Games. Jim spent 30 years as a NCCP Theory of Coaching facilitator at all levels receiving the 2014 Community NCCP Coach Development Award from Sport Canada. In addition to officiating golf, he has refereed basketball and volleyball for many years. James has been part of the mission staff for Sport Manitoba at the Manitoba Games, the Western Canada Games, and the Canada Games.  He is a long-time member of the Southwood Golf and Country Club and since retirement has maintained a membership in the EDG (every day golfers) group.

Vince Mariani (Past-President) has been a Golf Manitoba board member since 2011 and has served as Treasurer and Vice-President.  Vince has been a proud member of Elmhurst Golf and Country Club since 1992 and served on the board of directors for several years and as president in 2009 and 2010.  A CPA, CMA, Vince is currently the Secretary-Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the River East Transcona School Division.

Craig Martin (Treasurer) is an Assistant Professor of Business and Organizational Administration in the Redekop School of Business at Canadian Mennonite University.  He has a PhD in Agricultural Economics and Business from the University of Guelph and is a CPA, CMA.  He joined the Board of Assiniboine Golf Club in July of 2016.  He became President of the Assiniboine Golf Club in 2017.  He joined the Board of Golf Manitoba in 2017.

Wayne McWhirter (President Elect) has been a Golf Manitoba Board Member since 2015 and is currently the Treasurer and Vice President. He also is the Chair of the Course Rating Committee. Wayne is a member of Southwood Golf and Country Club, and was President of the Club in 2013-2014. As part of his Community involvement, he was Chair of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and a Board member of Winnipeg and Canadian Chambers of Commerce. He retired in 2016 as a partner in MNP LLP , a national accounting firm.  He was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

F. (Bob) Peters (Director) has served as a Golf Manitoba Director since 2017 and was appointed Chair of the Sponsorship Committee this year. Bob is a Partner with the law firm Fillmore Riley LLP. and practices primarily in the area of Regulatory Law and Administrative Law representing clients in the relationship between government and its citizens. Bob has, throughout his advocacy practice, appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Manitoba Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Court of Queen’s Bench, the Public Utilities Board, Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission, and numerous other Administrative Tribunals. Bob is involved with golf through St. Charles Country Club where he was a member of the committee that brought Brooke Henderson to Winnipeg in July 2018 in support of junior golf in Manitoba.

Fred Smith (Director) joined the Board in the fall of 2019. Fred spent 30 years in the public education system where he spent 15 years as a teacher in early years and post-secondary studies, 15 years as a school administrator and 17 years in private consulting.

Fred has served on many Boards including the Director/Vice-chair of the Lake of the Woods & District Property Owners Association, Director/Vice-chair for the Organization for Cooperation in Overseas Development, Director for the CanAsia Educational Teacher Exchange and as a Director for the Condominium Corporation at 703 Riverwood Avenue in Winnipeg.

In the 1970’s, while teaching at the Kelvin High School, Fred initiated, organized and supervised the first Winnipeg School Division Annual High School Golf Championship with 10 schools competing. This event has since grown annually to include all high schools in the Greater Winnipeg area.

Fred currently is a member at the Wildewood Golf Club in Winnipeg.

Kathy Turner (Director) – retired Assistant Commissioner Canada Revenue Agency. Kathy’s working background is in accounting, finance, information technology and tax policy and she has significant senior management experience. She has board and volunteer experience in golf at the club level and with the former CLGA.  Kathy also has board experience with charitable organizations such as the United Way and Citizen’s Advocacy of Ottawa (an organization that works with adults with disabilities).  Kathy was a founding director of Camelot Golf and Country Club.

Ken Warwick (President) has served as a Golf Manitoba Board member since 2014. Has represented Manitoba Golf on many occasions at the National level. Member of Niakwa Country Club since 1986 and has been on the Social and Competition Committee for 10 years. Greens Committee for many years before that. Current Captain of the Senior Putter Golf Team and Past Captain of the Mundie Putter Team. A Licensed Realtor since 1988 and has been with Century 21 Bachman & Associates since 1993.

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the game of golf in Manitoba and North West Ontario for the benefit of all participants.  To learn more about Golf Manitoba or programs and services available to amateur golfers, visit Golf Manitoba at golfmb.ca.

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

Neel Soni of the St. Charles Country Club, has won the 2019 Maple Leaf Junior Tour Junior Boys National Championship.

The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, concluded its 21st season on November 10th with the final round of the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf at The Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, FL, which played host to four days of golf including a practice round and three rounds of competition and a record-sized field of elite young golfers from across Canada.

Eight Manitobans were in the season ending championship with Soni taking top honours in the Junior Boys division as well posting the top finish of all Manitobans in the field.  Soni, the 2019 Manitoba Order of Merit winner, shot a total score 2019 including an final round 71 that propelled him to a four shot victory over Nicholas Rimmer of Edmonton, Alberta.

Ryan Hargreaves of the Shilo Country Club was next in the Junior Boys division finishing in 9th place with 239. Rossmere Country Club clubmates Lachlan Allerton and Carter Johnson finished T19th and 24th place respectively.

In the Juvenile Boys division, Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club finished 5 shots back of the winner and in 4th place overall for a 219 total. Noah Fiks of Bel Acres was the next Manitoban in the field finishing in 9th and Trey Ross of Rossmere finished T19th.

In the Pee Wee division, Spence Mott of Shilo Country Club finished in 6th place with a 251 total.

Complete final round results are available HERE >>.

WINNIPEG, MB – Southwood Golf & Country Club’s Rhonda Orr and Colwyn Abgrall were awarded the Golf Manitoba Female and Male Golfer of the Year Awards at the Golf Manitoba Annual Awards Reception on Wednesday, October 23 at the St. Charles Country Club.

Rhonda Orr started her 2019 campaign with a 5th place finish in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. Orr then went on to win the Manitoba Women’s Senior Championship; her fourth straight title in the event and 6th in the last 7 years. The win helped secure a spot for Orr to represent Manitoba at the 2019 Golf Canada Senior Women’s Inter-provincial Team Competition where the team finished in 5th. Individually, Orr was the low Manitoban finishing in 11th place overall.  Orr also went on to qualify for a second straight year to compete in the 2019 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship where she qualified for the match play portion of the event and winning her first match and making it to the round of 32. The Golfer of the Year Award is Orr’s second in a row and third in the last four years.

The other finalists for Female Amateur Golfer of the Year were Hannah Diamond of St. Charles Country Club and Charmaine Mackid of Breezy Bend Country Club. Four female golfers received honourable mention for their performance in 2019 and include Kate Gregoire of Quarry Oaks Golf Club,  Cala Korman of Killarney Lakeside Golf Club, Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge  and Crystal Zamzow of Swan River Golf Club.

Colwyn Abgrall had a successful start to his year with a runner-up finish in the Match Play Championship. He followed that performance with a 7th place finish in the Grey Owl and a T3rd finish at the Elmhurst Invitational. At the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur, Abgrall led the event after the second round and completed the run for his first Amateur title. The win earned Abgrall a spot on Team Manitoba and the chance to compete at the 2019 Golf Canada Men’s Amateur Championship; the team finished in 5th place. Abgrall continued his fine play by tying for medallist honours at the regional Qualifier in Fargo, ND and earning a spot in the United States Amateur that was held at the Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina, USA. The Golfer of the Year Award is the first for Abgrall.

The finalists for the Male Golfer of the Year Award included Jacob Armstrong of the St. Boniface Golf Club and Austin Dobrescu of Shilo County Club. Six male golfers received honourable mention for their play in 2019 and include Garth Collings, Eric Johnson and Braxton Kuntz of Bend Country Club, Drew Jones of Shilo Country Club,  Jordy Lutz of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and Neel Soni of St. Charles Country Club.

The Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award was presented for the 45th time at this year’s Award Ceremony.

About the Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award – The Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year award recognizes outstanding performance by Manitoba golfers in all levels of competition with the first award presented in 1975. In 2015, the award was re-established to include both a female and male category.

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and North West Ontario for the benefit of all participants.

For more information:

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

Volunteers have been at the heart of Golf Manitoba since its founding in 2003 and prior to that for both the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association and the Manitoba Golf Association. The time and expertise volunteers donate year after year enable Golf Manitoba to achieve its goals.  The volunteer contribution, dedication and commitment are vital to the growth of the organization.

Each year, Golf Manitoba recognizes the outstanding individual contributions of a long-serving volunteer through its Distiguished Service Award. The criteria for the award is long-time service to Golf Manitoba (including Manitoba Golf Association & Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association); going above and beyond the expectations of a volunteer; proving to be an advocate for the game and the Association, demonstrated commitment to amateur golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario and displaying qualities of a positive role model for other volunteers.

After 27-plus years of service to the game of golf, Lou Spado, will be honored with the Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award on October 23 at the St. Charles Country Club during the 2019 Golf Manitoba Annual Awards Reception.

Lou’s impactful volunteer career started in 1992 where he joined the Manitoba Golf Association as a starter and scorer for tournaments. In 1994, Lou served as the MGA representative for his home club, the St. Boniface Golf Club. His passion for volunteerism lead the retired Winnipeg police detective to obtain his certification as a Rules Official in 1996, a credential that he still holds to this day. In 2000, Lou joined the MGA Board of Directors which ultimately led to his two year term as President of Golf Manitoba from 2005 to 2007. More recently, Lou received his Level 3 Rules Referee certification through Golf Canada. In addition to these roles, Lou has served on a variety of Golf Manitoba sub-committees including co-chair of the Rules Committee, marketing, membership and tournament committees.

Golf Manitoba is very pleased to honour Mr. Lou Spado as the Distinguished Service Award Recipient for 2019.

WINNIPEG, MB – The Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award Selection Committee has announced the finalists for the 2019 Male and Female Amateur Golfers of the Year award, which will both be presented during the Annual General Meeting and Awards Reception on Wednesday, October 23 at the St. Charles Country Club.

The female nominees for 2019, and in alphabetical order, are: Hannah Diamond (St. Charles Country Club), Charmaine Mackid (Breezy Bend Country Club) and Rhonda Orr (Southwood Golf & Country Club).

Hannah Diamond of St Charles started the year with a win at the Golf Manitoba Women’s Match Play Championship. The win was her second in a row in the event. She followed her Match Play victory with a runner-up finish in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. The runner-up finish in the amateur helped to earn Diamond the opportunity to represent Manitoba in the inter-provincial team competition at the 2019 Golf Canada Women’s Amateur Championship where the team finished 5^th in the event.

Charmaine Mackid started her 2019 competitive campaign by making it to the semi-finals in the Women’s Match Play Championship. She also took the first women’s stroke play event of the year with a win at the City & District Championship and also finished 4th in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship.

Rhonda Orr won the 2019 Women’s Senior Championship; it was her fourth straight title in the event and 6th Senior crown in the last 7 years. Orr went on to represent Manitoba in the 2019 Golf Canada Senior Women’s Inter-provincial Team Competition where the team finished 5th. Individually, Orr finished 11th in the stroke play portion of the championship. Orr also finished 5th in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. Orr also qualified for a second straight year to compete in the 2019 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship where she qualified for the match play portion of the event and winning her first match and making it to the round of 32.

Four female golfers received honourable mention for their performance in 2019 and include Kate Gregoire of Quarry Oaks Golf Club (2019 Manitoba Junior Women’s Championship and 7th in the Women’s Amateur), Cala Korman of Kilarney Lakeside Golf Club (2nd in the Junior Bantam Championship and 3rd in the Manitoba Junior), Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge (3rd in the Women’s Amateur) and Crystal Zamzow of Swan River Golf Club (Junior Women’s Bantam Champion and 4th in the Manitoba Junior Women’s Championship).

The Male Amateur Golfer of the Year nominees for 2019, and in alphabetical order, are: Colwyn Abgrall (Southwood Golf & Country Club), Jacob Armstrong (St. Boniface Golf Club) and Austin Dobrescu (Shilo Country Club).

Colwyn Abgrall of Southwood had a successful start to his year with a runner-up finish in the Match Play Championship. He followed that performance with a 7th place in the Grey Owl and a 3rd at the Elmhurst Invitational. At the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur, he led the event after the second round and completed the run with a win, his first Amateur crown. Abgrall went on to represent Manitoba at the 2019 Golf Canada Men’s Amateur Championship where the team finished in 5th place. Abgrall completed his 2019 campaign by tying for medallist honours at the regional Qualifier in Fargo, ND to earn a spot in the United States Amateur that was held at the Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina, USA.

Jacob Armstrong of St. Boniface Golf Club kicked off his 2019 campaign with a T3rd in the Golf Canada Future Links Prairie Championship. The finish earned him direct entry into the 2019 Golf Canada Junior Amateur Championship. Armstrong didn’t require that exemption as he went on to win the Manitoba Junior Men’s Championship and a spot on team Manitoba. Armstrong helped the team to a 6th place showing and a T59th individually in the Golf Canada Junior Men’s Championship. Armstrong also finished T10th in the Elmhurst Invitational, won two Maple Leaf Junior Tour events and T12th in the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship.

Austin Dobrescu of Shilo Country Club took the first men’s event on the Golf Manitoba calendar with a win at the Match Play Championship. He followed that up with a 3rd place finish in the Elmhurst Invitational. That was followed up with a runner-up finish at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur which earned him a spot on team Manitoba that competed in the Golf Canada Men’s Amateur Championship. The team went on to finish in 5th place; Dobrescu was the only Manitoban to make the cut in the event where he finished in a tie for 31st overall and T11th among all Canadians to make the cut. Dobrescu also competed in the Players Cup where he posted opening rounds of 78-75.

Six male golfers received honourable mention for their play in 2019 and include Garth Collings of Breezy Bend (Senior Match Play Champion, T3rd in the Manitoba Senior, T15th Canadian Senior), Eric Johnson of Breezy Bend (2019 Mid-Amateur Champion), Drew Jones of Shilo Country Club (Semi-Finalist in Match Play Championship and winner of Elmhurst Invitational), Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend (2nd in Manitoba Junior and silver medalist in Western Canada Summer Games), Jordy Lutz of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club (3rd in Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur, 11th in Mid-Amateur and T38th Golf Canada Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship) and Neel Soni of St. Charles Country Club (T3rd in Future Links Prairie Championship, 3rd in Manitoba Junior and T72 in Golf Canada Junior Men’s Championship).

About the Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award – The Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year award recognizes outstanding performance by Manitoba golfers in all levels of competition with the first award presented in 1975. In 2015, the award was re-established to include both a female and male category.

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and North West Ontario for the benefit of all participants.

For more information:

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

Garth Goodbrandson, Director of Player Development with Golf Manitoba and PGA of Canada member, was recognized and honoured by his peers on October 8 when he was awarded the 2019 PGA of Canada Manitoba Zone Coach of the Year at the annual PGA of Canada Manitoba Zone Awards Ceremony.

Goodbrandson has been with Golf Manitoba since 1997 and was one of the first PGA of Canada members to assume the role of Player Development with a provincial golf association. Garth oversees all aspects of the Golf Manitoba Player Development portfolio including junior player development from grassroots to high-performance, multi-sport games team development and selection, coaching and technical sport instruction. In addition to his post with Golf Manitoba, Garth is the co-founder and former head coach of the University of Manitoba Bison Golf program where he recently celebrated 20 years with the team.  In 2014, Garth led the Bison men to their first ever national championship that was captured on the Bison’s home course at Southwood Golf & Country Club.

This year’s award is the third straight year that Garth has received recognition as Coach of the Year when he was also honored in 2017 and 2018.

About the PGA of Canada: The PGA of Canada was established in 1911 and is the second oldest and third largest professional golf association in the world. The PGA of Canada is a non-profit Association comprised of 3,700 golf professionals across the country. The PGA of Canada develops, promotes, and supports members in living a better life and earning a better living. The Association consists of the National Office located in Acton, Ontario and nine Zone Offices across the country.

The PGA of Manitoba are golf professionals and golf leaders in the community committed to preserving the well-being of the game within the province of Manitoba.