Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk is pleased to announce Sean Murray has been named the new Director of Player Development.

Murray, a PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional, will provide dedicated support and strategic oversight for Team Manitoba, with a focus on elevating the program to new levels of excellence ensuring that each athlete receives the guidance, structure, and high-performance support necessary to reach their full potential.

A graduate of Sisler High School, Sean brings an impressive background in athlete development, coaching, and instructional leadership. He holds a diploma in Business Administration with a major in Marketing from Red River College.

Over the years, Murray has held several impactful roles, including:

• Junior Boys’ Head Coach for Team Manitoba since 2022, where he led team selection,
  developed training plans, and oversaw athlete development;
• Director of Instruction & Junior Coordinator at St. Charles Country Club, where he will
  continue to manage the club’s instructional programs;
• Associate Professional at The Royal Montreal Golf Club, contributing to junior coaching and
  daily golf operations;
• Coaching roles at John Abbott Cegep, University of Calgary, and Alberta Golf, focusing on
  competitive training and tournament preparation.
  
  Murray has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including:
• 2024 PGA of Canada Tex Noble Professional Development Award
• 2024 PGA of Manitoba Coach of the Year
• 2017 PGA of Canada Moe Norman Assistant of the Year
  
  In addition to his coaching accolades, Murray’s professional development includes certifications such as Trackman Level 2, TPI, Flatstick Academy, and AimPoint, as well as mentorship under several leading PGA Tour coaches.
  
  Related to this announcement, Bri-ann Tokariwski will now take on the role of Team Manitoba Assistant Coach.
  
  Tokariwski is a PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and 2023 PGA of Canada Tex Noble Award recipient. She has been an integral part of Team Manitoba’s coaching staff and will continue to provide support with a particular focus on the junior girl’s program.
  
  Brett Thompson, a PGA of Canada Associate Professional at St. Charles Country Club, will support the junior boys program as an Assistant Coach.

Golf Manitoba would like to congratulate Payne Wood (Team Manitoba / St. Boniface Golf Club) on signing with Park University.

Golf Manitoba Director of Communications & Development Brian Munz caught up with Wood to talk about joining the Pirates.

Golf Manitoba, in association with A Little Pizza Heaven, is pleased to announce Golf Manitoba members now receive 40% off their order at A Little Pizza Heaven.

This promotion cannot be used along with other promotions and customers must pick up their order in store.

Simply show your Golf Manitoba membership card located in the “More” menu on the Golf Canada app upon payment in store.

A Little Pizza Heaven is locally owned and operated in Winnipeg with five locations:

• Osbourne Village (120 Osbourne Street)

• Pembina University (2525 Pembina Highway)

• Portage (3111 Portage Avenue)

• St. Vital (160 St. Anne’s Road)

• Transcona (101 Regent Avenue East)
  
  To join the Golf Manitoba membership, click here to purchase a membership.

An Active Season is the period of time when acceptable scores from Golf Manitoba / Canada member courses should be submitted for handicap purposes.

The Rules of Handicapping stipulates that every player is responsible for submitting all acceptable scores into one’s scoring record for rounds played on courses during the active season.

It is the responsibility of authorized provincial golf association to declare active and inactive seasons, with area clubs and players required to observe these dates for score posting purposes. To make this process easier, the Golf Canada Score Centre automatically considers the active season of the course being played when a score is posted and whether it should be included in calculating a player’s Handicap Index.

In Canada, the active season in each province is as follows:

BC =     Mar.1 – Nov.15
AB =     Mar.1 – Oct.31
SK =     Apr.15 – Oct.31
MB =    Apr.15 – Oct.31
ON =    Apr.15 – Oct.31
QC =    Apr.15 – Oct.31
NS =     Apr.15 – Oct.31
NB =     May.1 – Oct.31
PE =     Apr.16 – Nov.14
NL =     Apr.1 – Nov. 30

Scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes, even if the golf club where the player is a member is observing an inactive season. The club’s Handicap Committee must make it possible for a player to post these away scores at the beginning of the active season.

It’s important to note that if you are travelling to other countries or regions, you should confirm their active seasons to ensure all acceptable scores are posted. Your home club needs all acceptable scores (even if played during a Canadian “off-season”) to ensure that your Handicap Index is accurate and reflects your demonstrated ability.

For example, if a player belonging to a golf club in Manitoba plays golf in Florida (which observes a year-round active season) during January, any score(s) made in Florida are acceptable and must be submitted to the player’s scoring record. If the player is also a member of a golf club in Florida and Manitoba, it is important to remember that all acceptable scores must be posted to each scoring record. 

The Golf Canada Score Centre has tools available to link Canadian and USGA accounts, so that a score posted to one account is automatically transferred to the other.  For more information, or to set up this link, please contact members@golfcanada.ca or phone 1-800-263-0009 X399.

For a detailed list of active and inactive schedule in the United States, click here.

For more information on handicapping, click here.

FOR AN OFFICIAL HANDICAP INDEX, BECOME A GOLF MANITOBA / CANADA MEMBER HERE.

Registration for Golf Manitoba championships is now open.

To be eligible to compete in all Golf Manitoba competitions, players must be an active Golf Manitoba/Canada member and must also hold a current Golf Canada Handicap Index.

To view the 2025 championship schedule and register, click here.

For players who do not have an active Golf Manitoba/Canada membership through a member club or league, click here to learn more and join.

The championship registration process is easier, less time consuming and accessible through Golf Canada’s Score Centre.

To enter all Golf Manitoba events, you must first log into your Golf Canada Score Centre profile using a web browser and select the competitions tab found under the user menu on the top right-hand side of the web page.

Please note that personal Golf Genius accounts that are active at the club level will not permit you to register for any Golf Manitoba Championship. 

Reminder, entry deadlines for most events will close 14 days prior to the start of the championship.

If you have any questions regarding registration, please do not hesitate to contact Golf Manitoba’s Director of Administration Amy Coggan via email at amy@golfmb.ca.

Jeri Lafleche (Niakwa Country Club) had another strong performance this weekend in Florida finishing in second place on the leaderboard at the Walt Disney Classic at Lake Buena Vista.

Lafleche carded rounds of 74 and 73 to finish the 36 hole event at 147, just three strokes off the lead in the Girls 14-18 division.

Jewel Lafleche (Niakwa) had rounds of 84-80 to finish T16 on the leaderboard in same division.

Hudson Hunnie (Team Manitoba / Rossmere Country Club) competed in the Boys 16-18 division. He finished T35 after an 87 and 81.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Recognizing the fact that the game of golf is one with many physical and mental health benefits, Golf Manitoba has extended its partnership with Manitoba Blue Cross as their Official Health & Wellness Partner for three more years. This further reinforces the goal of both organizations to support golfers and their well-being on and off the links.

“We are incredibly grateful to Manitoba Blue Cross for their ongoing support of amateur golf in our region,” said Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk. “As a not-for-profit organization, Manitoba Blue Cross is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of Manitobans with industry-leading health care programs and solutions for its members. This partnership perfectly aligns with the physical, social, mental and emotional benefits that playing the sport of golf can provide.”

As part of the partnership, Golf Manitoba members receive a 10 per cent discount on travel health coverage from Manitoba Blue Cross. This benefit extends to eligible family members traveling with the member, ensuring comprehensive health protection when away from home.

“We have built a strong foundation with Golf Manitoba in supporting the well-being of golfers across Manitoba, both at home and while away,” said Manitoba Blue Cross President and CEO Benjamin Graham. “With every swing, we are facilitating golfers of all ages to prioritize their physical and mental health, while contributing to a healthier, happier community across the province.”

Manitoba Blue Cross will also continue to have a presence at select Golf Manitoba events and championships, and will offer health tips and strategies that support golfers in many ways, from their golf game to their overall health and wellness.

About Manitoba Blue Cross

Manitoba Blue Cross is a Manitoba-based health benefits provider with coverage that is among the best in the industry. With the added advantage of a national network, they provide the utmost care for their members living both locally and out of province.

As an independent licensee of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans and together with its subsidiary, Blue Cross Life, they provide health, dental, employee assistance, life, disability, wellness and travel coverage for over half a million people. Their personal and group plans fill the gap between government health plans and what Manitobans want and need.

About Golf Manitoba

Golf Manitoba is the Provincial Sports Organization and governing body for golf in Manitoba representing over 10,000 golfers and 101 member clubs across the province. A proud partner of Golf Canada, Golf Manitoba’s mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the game of golf for the benefit of all participants. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our vision is to be a leader in delivering quality, innovative and accessible golf programs and services.

Follow Golf Manitoba & Taylormade Canada on Facebook, Instagram & “X” for your chance to win 12 Taylormade TP5x golf balls!

One lucky winner will be chosen at the end of April, May, June, July and August.

* golf balls must be pick up at Golf Manitoba office

Despite being one of the best Canadian golfers on the PGA Tour, Taylor Pendrith didn’t really grow up dreaming of playing in the Masters.

Instead, his goal was to play in Major League Baseball or the NHL.

Pendrith, who was the MVP of his high school baseball team in Richmond Hill, Ont., and also played junior A hockey, will make his Augusta National Golf Club debut on Thursday. 

“Honestly, even the first few years in college playing college golf, I didn’t really know I was going to play professionally,” Pendrith told reporters on Tuesday. “So obviously I watched the Masters tournament and followed golf, but never really thought I would be here until probably the last year of college.

“Once I got my PGA Tour card it became more of a reality that, ‘hey, if I do play well I could get here.’”

Pendrith played at Kent State University before turning pro in 2014, working his way up from the PGA Tour Canada to the Korn Ferry Tour and finally the PGA Tour. The 33-year-old qualified for the Masters, the first major of the men’s golf season, when he won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on May 5.

“I had been a couple times as a spectator and it will be a really special week,” said Pendrith. “It’s already been such a cool week, and to have all my family and friends here, it’s awesome.”

Pendrith will be joined at Augusta by Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont.

Conners and Pendrith played together at Kent State and were the best men at each other’s weddings. They’ve gone on to play together on Golf Canada’s national team and were twice members of the International Team at the Presidents Cup.

“(Pendrith) looked great out there,” said Conners after the four Canadians practised together. “It was awesome to share that experience with him. 

“Tried to tell him a few of the things that I learned over the years. But I think this golf course is great for him.”

Conners is the highest ranked Canadian on the FedEx Cup standings, sitting sixth heading into the Masters. He’s played in the tournament seven times, finishing in the top 10 in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“I think there is an added comfort level knowing you had some good rounds out here, knowing what it takes to play well,” said Conners, who is also 33. “I think that’s definitely huge here compared to some of the weeks.

“Obviously, it’s the biggest golf tournament in the world. Just fun to be here any time, but definitely having had some decent results, there is lots of positives I can draw from.”

Taylor is 16th on the FedEx Cup rankings and Pendrith is 39th. 

The 54-year-old Weir primarily plays on the Champions Tour and is therefore unranked on the PGA Tour, but automatically qualifies for the Masters as the 2003 champion. Weir is still the only Canadian man to win a major.

Taylor, 36, has won on the PGA Tour five times, including three playoffs. He thinks a major win could be close for him.

“I know I’m not far off, it’s just getting through that barrier of probably the belief standpoint and then I’ve played well enough at a vast majority of golf courses that there’s no reason I can’t compete out here,” said Taylor, who will be competing at the Masters for a third time. “So getting that belief is definitely probably the next step and then from there I can shoot some good scores.”

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome Shooters Family Golf Centre as our newest member club.

Located along Main Street in Winnipeg, this executive18 hole par 57 golf course can be played from three sets of tee boxes ranging from 2,076 to 2,879 yards.

Shooters Family Golf Centre also features a 100 stall driving range, mini golf course, putting green and a full service restaurant for all guests to enjoy.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at Shooters Family Golf Centre are acceptable for handicap purposes and may be recorded toward establishing or maintaining an official Golf Canada Handicap Index.

To reserve a tee time or for more information, call the proshop at (204) 339-2326 or go online www.shootersgolf.ca.