In recent years, some people have called for municipalities to repurpose city-owned public golf courses for other uses like housing or parks. They believe that golf is a sport exclusive to the affluent and that the land used for municipal golf courses does not cater to a broad or diverse group of residents.

As the national governing body for golf in Canada, we fundamentally disagree and encourage people who hold this view to learn more about the modern realities of our sport. Golf will be played by approximately 6 million Canadians from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds this year. In fact, golf is now the most-played sport in Canada.

Municipal courses provide affordable golf opportunities for people of various ages and economic means. They also serve as community hubs for recreation, events and gatherings that bring together people from all walks of life. In Canada’s major cities, it’s common to see people hopping on public transit or riding their bicycles with golf bags on their back as they head to their local municipal golf course for social time outdoors and away from their screens.

City governments should treat municipal golf courses as community resources that support the health and well-being of residents. Recent research has shown golf is a sport that encourages physical activity, mental well-being, cardiovascular health and muscular strength and flexibility, while also providing safe and fun opportunities for in-person social interaction. Golfers walk between six and eight kilometres over 18 holes, burning up to 2,000 calories.

Municipal golf courses are especially welcoming for kids and offer high-quality youth recreation at an affordable price. For example, an annual junior pass providing access to all five of Toronto’s municipal courses costs $378, with financial aid also available for qualifying families. An annual pass to Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria costs $325. Membership at a municipal golf course provides kids with an entire spring, summer and fall’s worth of outdoor activity and in-person social time for a cost that is more affordable than many other activities.

Some junior golfers at municipal courses dream of becoming the next Brooke Henderson or Nick Taylor, while others simply enjoy having fun with their friends. Several municipal golf courses across Canada allow junior golfers to play for only $5 per round through Golf Canada’s Youth on Course program. And other municipal courses also operate First Tee, a program that introduces golf to Canadian youth of all backgrounds and teaches them life skills through the sport. RBC, a major sponsor of professional golf, including the RBC Canadian Open, has also invested significantly in these grassroots programs to help them thrive at municipal courses.

In addition to being affordable, municipal golf courses are highly utilized outdoor green spaces. They are constantly occupied from sunrise to sunset due to golf’s format, which allows for a continuous flow of players. Different than soccer fields and baseball fields, municipal golf courses are used all day by golfers engaging in physical activity, whether it be during early morning tee times or late afternoon rounds. And in winter months, municipal golf courses are used for non-golf outdoor recreational activities of all kinds, such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Municipal golf courses are important sources of health and physical activity for a broad cross section of Canadians from varied socioeconomic backgrounds. By prioritizing them, municipalities can demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of their communities, while also providing accessible and affordable opportunities for residents to enjoy the numerous benefits that golf offers. We encourage city governments to think of municipal golf courses just as they do other recreational facilities — as key contributors to healthier, more connected and inclusive communities.

Written by: Kevin Blue, Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer

A look at the Kenora Golf & Country Club with Facility Manager & Head Professional Jennifer Hollins.

For more details on the Kenora Golf & Country Club, click here.

Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) and Crystal Zamzow (Team Manitoba / Swan River Golf & Country Club) each carded a two under par 69 in their final round to win their respective division championship Sunday at the 2023 Elmhurst Invitational.

Trstenjak’s 138 two day total was good for a one stroke victory over fellow club member Ryan McMillan.

Zamzow started the day with three consecutive bogies before making seven birdies on her way to a one stroke victory in the Junior Girls Division over Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club).

Junior Boys Division Champion Grady Chuback (Team Manitoba / St. Charles) was the only player that did not go right to the wire. He shot a 73 in his final round, good for an eight stroke decision over Zostrianos Gross (Shilo Country Club).

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

As previously announced in February, thanks to the generous contributions of the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and in partnership with the Elmhurst Golf & Country and Golf Manitoba, the winners of each division in the 2023 event received a spot in the respective Golf Canada Canadian Junior Championship along with financial travel support.

Once again this year, an exemption was available to either the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship or the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion for the winner in this year’s men’s field.

The province’s top amateur golfers are at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club this weekend competing in the Elmhurst Invitational Amateur Championship.

The 36 hole event teed off yesterday and will conclude tonight with the crowning of a junior girls, junior boys and men’s division champion.

Entering today’s final round:

Junior Girls: Addison Kartusch +2, 75 (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) has a five stroke lead on Crystal Zamzow +7, 80 (Team Manitoba / Swan River Golf & Country Club).

Junior Boys: Grady Chuback -2, 69 (Team Manitoba / St. Charles) has a five stroke lead on Terence Rafferty +3, 74 (Team Manitoba / Southwood Golf & Country Club)

Men’s: Ryan McMillan -5, 66 (Elmhurst) has a three stroke lead on Jack Werhun (Elmhurst), Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst), Neel Soni (St. Charles) and Grady Chuback (Team Manitoba / St. Charles) -2, 69.

SUNDAY’S TEE TIMES

LIVE LEADERBOARD

Congratulations to Taylormade Canada’s Eric Johnson (Breezy Bend Country Club) on a hole in one during his opening round acing the 11th hole.

As previously announced in February, this year’s championship will see the addition of Golf Manitoba’s top junior boys and girls players to the field. Thanks to the generous contributions of the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and in partnership with the Elmhurst Golf & Country and Golf Manitoba, the winners of each division in the 2023 event receive a spot in the respective Golf Canada Canadian Junior Championship along with financial travel support.

“I am thrilled to see this opportunity presented to our junior players” said Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk. “The Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation has been such a tremendous partner in helping us to grow our junior programming and this is another example of their dedication to junior golf in Manitoba. I also want to thank the membership of the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club for their support of player development in our province in adding a junior division to this great event.”

“We are delighted as a club to be able to carry on the Colonello name and its legacy of supporting junior golf,” added Elmhurst Golf & Country Club Director of Golf Operations Dave McMillan. “Alex and Peggy were both honorary life members of Elmhurst and did so much for the club and continue to give back to Manitoba Golf through their foundation. We are happy to be able to affiliate The Elmhurst Invitational with Alex and Peggy’s vision of providing opportunities for junior golfers at their long-time golf home. I want to thank Golf Manitoba’s Jared Ladobruk for their partnership, supporting the event through the years, and moving ahead with this new initiative. Special thanks to the members of Elmhurst, long-time member and former champion John Multan and Head Professional Matt Lorenz for keeping the event alive and well. We look forward to celebrating the event’s rich tradition and adding the Colonello foundation’s support will only enhance the event for years to come.”

Once again this year, an exemption will be available to either the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship or the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion for the winner in this year’s men’s field. Invitation criteria will be adjusted and subject to the approval of the tournament committee as well as Golf Manitoba being able to accommodate the junior players on the field.

Founded in 2003 by long-time Elmhurst member John Multan, the Elmhurst Invitational Amateur Championship has become one of the highest regarded amateur events held in the province outside of the Golf Manitoba championship calendar. The field is continually one of the strongest of the year with most of the province’s top players taking part.

Past champions include the likes of the DP World Tour’s Aaron Cockerill, along with past Manitoba Men’s Amateur Champions Garth Collings, Derek East, Todd Fanning, Matt Johnston, Brad Kirton, Justin McDonald, Peter More and Marco Trstenjak.

Southwood Golf & Country Club is hosting the 2023 CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open August 24 – 27, 2023 and the Volunteer Tournament Committee is actively recruiting volunteers to help make this year’s event another success, not only for the charity it supports, but for our golfing community and our city as a whole.

In 2022, $115,00 was raised for the True North Youth Foundation (TNYF)  and we are excited to announce that TNYF will once again be the charitable partner with the tournament will once again donate all net proceeds to the Foundation’s Project 11 Mental Wellness Program and Camp Manitou.

Your $39.00 registration fee entitles you to a CenterPort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open logoed uniform (shirt / hat combo with retail value of $90), plus a minimum of one daily breakfast or lunch buffet during your volunteer shift(s) (retail value $25 each).

Charity, merchandise and great food, plus an “inside the ropes” experience at the PGA TOUR Canada’s only stop in Manitoba, is a combination that is hard to beat! Volunteer positions in scoring, admissions, marshaling, hospitality and event setup are just some of the ways you can get involved.

Please consider supporting the golfing community by volunteering. To register, go to: www.manitobaopen.com

Have questions or need help registering? Please contact Pat MacKichan at volunteerservices@manitobaopen.com.

The world just turned its attention to Toronto for the PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian Open. Meanwhile, First Tee – Canada is also taking a moment to reflect in honour of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day.  

This month serves as a reminder to acknowledge that we live, work, and play on the unceded traditional homelands of Indigenous communities, stand with those who are impacted by residential school systems and ongoing colonial structures and policies, and celebrate Indigenous cultures, traditions, and heritage together.  

Canada recognizes three groups of Indigenous peoples: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, each with unique histories, languages, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs. Nearly two million Canadians identify as Indigenous.

First Tee – Canada is made up of five chapters: First Tee – British Columbia, First Tee – Premier départ Quebec, First Tee – Atlantic, First Tee – Ontario, and First Tee – Prairies, with First Tee – Alberta launching later this year.  

Each chapter has unique and dynamic relationships with local Indigenous communities. 

BC has the greatest diversity of Indigenous cultures in Canada. First Tee – British Columbia opened its first program location, The Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy, on traditional Musqueam First Nation territory in 2021.  

Since then, it has expanded to over 53 program spaces and sold out every session this year. This summer, CPCK Women’s Open will be held at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, which is also located on Musqueam traditional territory. During tournament week, First Tee – British Columbia will host youth clinics at Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy, offer behind-the-scenes tours of the event grounds for local community groups, and provide children with positive experiences through golf.

Being home to more than 200 First Nations, First Tee – British Columbia hopes to continue to strengthen its existing relationships with Indigenous communities, but also strives to expand its network and collaborate with additional Indigenous communities across the province. 

In Quebec, there are over 40 Indigenous communities across the province. First Tee – Premier départ Quebec currently collaborates with the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, the Cree community of Waskaganish, and the First Nation of Mashteuiatsh through First Tee golf course, school, and community programming.  

The Quebec team also works closely with the Club 24 Athletics Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting young Indigenous leaders through sport and education.  

Last year, First Tee – Premier départ Quebec hosted programming for 18 Indigenous participants. The team hopes to more than double that number this year. 

In the Kahnawake First Nations reserve, there are seven golf courses in under 50 km. The community’s volunteer coaches are introducing as many children as possible to golf through First Tee, developing multisport athletes to open more doors in their futures.

First Tee – Premier départ Quebec has been able to provide most programming at no cost to participants, with an entirely Indigenous coaching staff.

Ontario is home to over 23 percent of all Indigenous peoples in Canada.

First Tee – Ontario currently works with Anishnabeg Outreach Kitchener and Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre to offer First Tee community programming at their locations throughout the summer and will provide an on-course fun day at nearby golf courses this summer, too. Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board has also come on board and will offer First Tee school programming this fall.

Additionally, last week, First Tee – Ontario coaches supported Golf Ontario’s Indigenous Try Golf Day event held at Sandusk Golf Club and led First Tee programming for children who attended the event.

First Tee – Prairies and First Tee – Atlantic are in the beginning stages of building relationships with Indigenous communities within their provinces, but hope to launch programming soon, some even this summer.  

The continued focus for First Tee – Canada is to build out community hubs of accessible pathways for golf participation through community centres, schools, and golf courses, ensuring the sport of golf reflects the strengths of Canada’s diversity.

Each chapter is dedicated to building trusting and authentic relationships with community organizations, stakeholders, and volunteers in their provinces to provide support for equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous communities.  

Click here for learning resources about First Nations, Inuit, and Metis across Canada. Visit firstteecanada.ca to learn more about program efforts across the country. 

A look at Glen Lea Golf Course with General Manager Jason Earl.

For more details on Glen Lea Golf Course, click here.

Killarney’s Cala Korman, a member of Team Manitoba, shot a one under par 71 in her final round at the Evergreen Golf Club in Nipawin, Saskatchewan to win the NextGen Prairie Junior Girls Championship.

Korman’s 226 tournament total was three strokes better than Regina’s Hallie Crozier.

Addison Kartusch of Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club carded a final round 79 to finish in third place at 232.

Terence Rafferty of Team Manitoba / Southwood Golf & Country Club finished as the top Manitoban in the Junior Boys Championship in a three way tie for sixth place at 222 following a 73 today.

For the complete leaderboard featuring all Manitoba born competitors, click here.

Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz finished in a tie for ninth place on the leaderboard at the 2023 Digital Commerce Bank Glencoe Invitational in Calgary.

The Breezy Bend Country Club member carded a 75 in his final round Saturday to finish the 54 hole event at four over par 220.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) has a one stroke lead over Regina’s Hallie Crozier entering Sunday’s final round of the NextGen Prairie Championship at the Evergreen Golf Club in Nipawin, Saskatchewan.

Kartusch shot a 79 Saturday for a two round total 153.

Cala Korman (Team Manitoba / Killarney) is only two strokes off the lead in third place following a 78 today.

Team Manitoba / Dauphin Lake Golf Club’s Jackson Delaurier is four strokes off the lead in the junior boys championship following a 74. His 36 hole total is 147.

For the complete junior boys and girls leaderboards, click here.

The top six players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 14-17, at North Bay Golf and Country Club Ltd. in North Bay, Ont. The top six players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 24-27, at Hampton Golf Course in Hampton, N.B.

encourage more visitors to our golf course.”

About the NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2023 national championships. Two additional Fall Series events will be hosted to close the season. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. For more information on the NextGen Prairie Championship, click here.