Manitoba will have strong representation starting Friday morning at 7:30am as the NextGen Prairie Championship begins with a field of 84 Junior golfers set to compete at the Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  

The starting field will feature – 64 Junior Boys and 20 Junior Girls competing for spots each into their respective Canadian Junior Championships this summer. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 53 Junior Boys and top 17 Junior Girls, including ties. 

Representing Manitoba are:

Adam Blair (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge), Aris Mercury (Team Manitoba / Glendale), Brady Comaskey (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge), Brayden Boge (Team Manitoba / Rossmere), Carson Chapman (Glendale), Carson Inman (Team Manitoba / Breezy Bend / Portage), Emerson Kollinger (Glendale), Finn Kydd (St. Charles), Gavin Carver (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Player), Hunter Oakden (Team Manitoba / Glendale), Jackson Delaurier (Team Manitoba / Dauphin Lake), Jacob Taweel (Elmhurst), Jeri Lafleche (Niakwa), Jewel Lafleche (Niakwa), Kaleb Lambert (Team Manitoba / Elmhurst), Liam Comaskey (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge), Luka Hanson (Rossmere), Maisy Shewchuk (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Player), Owen Conrad (Team Manitoba / St. Charles), Payne Wood (Team Manitoba / St. Boniface), Payton Bailey (Wheat City), Payton Oakden (Team Manitoba / Glendale), Ryan Tuck (St. Boniface), Spence Mott (Team Manitoba / Shilo), Terence Rafferty (Team Manitoba / Southwood), Ty Brewster (Team Manitoba / Steinbach Fly-In).

For the opening round tee times, click here.
For the opening round leaderboard, click here. 

“Hosting the Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship is a tremendous honour for Whitewater Golf Club and for the Thunder Bay community. This event not only showcases the talent and dedication of junior golfers from across the country but also highlights the exceptional quality of our course and the natural beauty of Northwestern Ontario,” states Director of Whitewater Golf Club, Matt Simmons. “We are excited to welcome these young athletes and provide them with a challenging and memorable experience & it’s an opportunity for our club to contribute to the growth of the game, support the next generation of golfing stars, and proudly represent our region on a national stage.” 

Practice rounds are scheduled for Thursday, June 6 before the official 54-hole tournament kicks off on Friday, June 7. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, June 9 and will determine who has qualified to compete in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.  

The Whitewater Golf Club stretches north from the banks of the Kaministiquia River and is known for its two McBroom designed courses – the Forest and River – which is one of the finest 18- hole golf courses in the province.  The golf course features a chipping, putting green and a 400-yard driving range, allowing all golfers to enjoy various aspects of the game. Off course additions are continuing to be developed with a planned community of 500 homes, a resort hotel, community amenities and new recreational activities.  

“We really look forward to hosting the 2024 NextGen Prairie Championship this week. Our team of Volunteers in place strive to run an efficient and quality NextGen Championship and we certainly can’t thank you enough for travelling to Thunder Bay,” said NextGen Prairie Tournament Host Chairman, Chris Gardner. “On a deeper level, this has been a long time coming for our community and we celebrate it with respect and gratitude. We really want to show you our Northern Touch with great hospitality and genuineness at its finest. To all the competitors, I wish you so much luck but most of all I wish you great memories to take away from this Championship. Play hard and go get it.” 

This week’s tournament marks the fourth stop on the NextGen Series schedule for the 2024 golf season. The NextGen Prairie Championship is one of Golf Canada’s six regional junior championships. Kye Fisher of Leduc, Alta. and Cala Korman of Killarney, Man. claimed their respective divisions in the 2023 NextGen Prairie Championship last season. 

About the NextGen Championships 

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six 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 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf 

– with files courtesy Golf Canada

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome Sandy Hook Golf Club as our newest member club.

Located 50 minutes north of Winnipeg between Highways 8 and 9 just north of Winnipeg Beach, this 18 hole course can be played from two sets of tee boxes ranging from 4,875 to 5,840 yards.

Sandy Hook Golf Golf also features a putting green and part time fully licensed restaurant. The pro shop offers both club and power cart rentals.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at Sandy Hook Golf Club 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) 389-5466 or click here for their website.

Tim Charles and Peter Morse have been crowned the inaugural champions of the BDO National Golf League following a playoff win over Reid Middleton and Brian Thorne at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont. on Saturday.

Three teams represented Manitoba with Brett Charette and Nicolas Hince of St. Boniface Golf Club finishing the highest with 18 stableford points. Josh Blatt and Curtis Markusson of St. Charles Country Club along with Daniel Beaupre and Benoit Mowbray of Glen Lea Golf Course each finished with 14 points.

Play was stopped on two occasions Saturday morning due to inclement weather. In order to complete play, tournament formatting was altered with pairings playing their respective nine holes, with the top teams from the back and front nine then meeting in a playoff for the championship. Play resumed shortly before 1 p.m. local time for all 52 pairings (104 golfers).

Charles of North Kentville, N.S. and Morse of New Minas, N.S. earned 22 stableford points from the front nine to advance to the playoff, Middleton and Thorne of New Brunswick posted a similar score of 22 points to emerge as the top team on the back nine.

Both pairings competed on the 18th hole in-front of an enthusiastic crowd, all with par putts awaiting them. After the duo from New Brunswick narrowly missed their putts, Morse drained a lengthy putt to claim the championship for the Nova Scotia duo.

“Just out of this world, I couldn’t describe it for you. We came here to play and have a good time and if we managed to get in and win this thing, Peter had already planned to go to the British Open and now apparently, I have to go with him and I’m really looking forward,” said an elated Charles following the playoff.

This marked the second of two playoff wins for the duo, having won in a playoff in their provincial championship.

“I wanted to win it again because I was able to the first time around, but I didn’t get a chance because Peter made his putt, now in the long run, really happy he made it,” laughed Charles.

Travel issues played a role as their flights were cancelled late on Thursday night. They were able to secure early morning flights on Friday on very little sleep to get to Hamilton to compete.

“We were excited about the whole experience, playing this golf course, having the opportunity to be here when it’s set up for the RBC Canadian Open, nobody else gets that,” said Charles.

“We just like to have fun, we’re not low handicappers and that’s why this is such a great event in my opinion, anybody can do well at it, the guys we played with today were awesome, we had so much fun and that’s what golf’s all about,” added Morse.

Along with becoming the inaugural champions, Charles and Morse will be heading to Royal Troon in Troon, Scotland to represent Canada in The R&A 9 Hole Challenge one-week prior to the 152nd Open Championship. Morse already had plans to attend as a fan.

“I plan to go and take in the full experience and go there, that’s how much it means to me and to go there and play is even cooler. Thanks to Golf Canada, just unbelievable that they’ve done this for us and given us this opportunity,” said Morse.

“I hope my wife is aware that I’m going to have to spend a week there now. Could be news to her,” added Charles with a laugh.

This championship means a little more for Morse, a vice principal at Horton High School in Wolfville, N.S. In 2015, he was involved in a serious car accident, where he suffered 14 fractures and had to learn to walk again.

“To be concerned I wouldn’t be able to walk and then I started playing golf, shooting 99-100, just slowly working my way back to low 80’s, high 70’s and it means the world to me because I can’t play any other sports now. I can’t run, my legs just don’t do it. As someone who played a lot of sports it’s hard on the head, mental health as everyone knows is a big deal, so for me to be able to go out twice a week and golf with my friends and hack it up has just made all the difference in the world for me to be honest,” Morse said with a smile as he walked off the 18th green a national champion.

The BDO National Golf League was launched by Golf Canada ahead of the 2023 season as a nationwide, season-long competition to enhance weekly recreational league experiences for men, women and junior golfers. The inaugural season saw 10,000 participants from 107 leagues from coast-to-coast. Scoring followed a 9-hole net stableford format that took place during a six-week period of a club’s league season. Within those six weeks, the best four scores were used to determine the individuals that would advance to the provincial championships.

The provincial championships were contested in the fall of 2023 over 13 regional tournaments across all 10 provinces between September and October, competing for spots into the league championship in Hamilton. Travel expenses to the BDO National Golf League Championship for all participants were covered by Golf Canada.

“Today’s championship represents the culmination and a celebration of a successful inaugural BDO National Golf League season. The inaugural season included roughly 10,000 participants from over 100 leagues hailing from every province across Canada. Our championship field of 104 golfers collected enough points in their respective league major weeks to qualify for provincial playoffs and successfully advanced to today’s championship,” said Tim McLaughlin, Chief Marketing Officer, Golf Canada. “It has been amazing to see players of all skill levels competing here today. Enhancing league play for all recreational golfers was a key goal of the BDO National Golf League. This friendly competition has also made significant impact on creating a brighter and more inclusive future for golf in our country as 100 per cent of the proceeds will be directed to First Tee – Canada.”

Registration is now open for the 2024 BDO National Golf League.

To sign-up or for more information, please visit nationalgolfleague.ca.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome Gladstone Golf & Country Club as our newest member club.

Located 25 kilometers north of the Trans Canada Highway or four kilometers south of the Town of Gladstone along Provincial Trunk Highway 34, this nine hole course can be played from two sets of tee boxes ranging from 2,725 to 3,051 yards.

Gladstone Golf & Country Club also features a driving range, putting green and a full service restaurant. The pro shop offers club rentals, pull and power cart rentals, basic golf supplies, and apparel.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at Gladstone Golf & Country Club 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) 385-2998 or go online gladstonegolf.com.

PUMA Golf has launched its latest Maple Leaf Collection, marking the third consecutive season of creating exclusive gear for Canadian golfers. This new collection features over a dozen fresh styles of apparel and headwear designed to unite the nearly 6 million Canadians passionate about the sport.

Inspired by Canada’s iconic maple leaf, PUMA’s Maple Leaf Collection transforms this national symbol into contemporary designs suitable for both on and off the golf course. The collection represents the maple leaf’s elegance while presenting a sophisticated, fashion-forward aesthetic that celebrates Canadian golf.

“No matter if it’s a pivotal shot at your local club or a crucial putt on a grand stage, Canadians are always ready to seize the moment,” said Dwayne Boecker, Vice President at COBRA PUMA GOLF. “Our bold designs reflect this competitive spirit, allowing golfers to perform at their best while representing Canada with pride. This collection showcases our unique perspective on the game at PUMA.”

The collection prominently features a red, white, and black color palette, traditional for Canadian gear. Highlights include the Maple Dot Polo, showcasing a distinctive maple leaf and ditsy dot pattern, available in both men’s and women’s sizes. The Maple AOP Polo features an all-over print of repeating black and red maple leaves, creating a dynamic and visually striking design perfect for any Canadian. Additionally, the Women’s Microdot Polo adds texture and visual interest with a black base adorned with small red microdots, offering a subtle contrast that’s sure to become a wardrobe staple.

Each piece in the Maple Leaf Collection is crafted with PUMA’s premium-quality materials, including tech-forward fabrics that wick moisture and keep players cool under pressure. Additional features include contrasting plackets, solid collar stands, and recycled materials, ensuring both performance and sustainability.

“Our team captured Canada’s essence through the Maple Leaf, reflecting a shared national identity,” said Chris MacNeill, Teamhead, PLM – Golf Apparel & Accessories, PUMA Golf. “Incorporating this symbol into our products fosters a cultural connection among fans and golfers across the country and beyond.”

The collection also includes stylish headwear options. The Canada Snapback Cap features a structured, flat-brim design with a classic six-panel construction, adorned with a maple leaf emblem whose stems are mini golf clubs. The Reversible Bucket Hat offers a versatile design with a wide brim for sun protection, featuring a playful print on one side and a more subtle dual-colored stripe on the other.

Four Manitobans are in central Alberta this weekend competing in the NextGen Western Championship at the Leduc Golf Club in Leduc, Alberta.

Team Manitoba‘s Adam Blair of Pine Ridge Golf Club, Payne Wood of St. Boniface Golf Club and Shilo Country Club‘s Spence Mott along with Zostrianos Gross of Shilo tee off today in the 54 hole championship that concludes on Sunday.

For the opening round tee times, click here.

For the leaderboard, click here.

After a four-year pause due to COVID-19, the National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) are on Parliament Hill leading National Golf Day and discussing with Parliamentarians the many positive benefits of golf for Canadians.

The golf industry representatives are also releasing the results of a new Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study highlighting golf’s financial contributions and incredible popularity as the number one participation sport in Canada.

National Golf Day also celebrates golf’s physical and mental health benefits, its safe sport attributes, social merits, environmental stewardship, diversity, life skills for youth, and economic value to the business community. National data indicates that hundreds of thousands of Canadians have entered the sport since Covid-19, totaling six million Canadian golfers and further strengthening golf’s status as the number one participation sport in the country.

“Canadians played 74 million rounds of golf in 2023, a considerable 24% increase from the last Study in 2019,” stated Jeff Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, and Chair of NAGA.

“Existing golfers have been playing more often and new golfers have been taking up the game at impressive levels,” said Calderwood. “The broad appeal of golf as a safe, healthy, outdoor recreation that can be enjoyed by all ages, genders, abilities, and budgets, anywhere in Canada, generates continued growth in the game. The impressive economic impacts that are then generated reflect that popularity.”

NAGA conducts an economic impact study every five years to measure such financial contributions as employment, charitable support, tourism, and gross domestic product. The sport and business of golf are thriving post-pandemic and continue to be an important economic engine for Canadians and their communities across Canada. Some of the highlights from the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study include:

• Golf contributes a massive amount to Canada’s GDP at $23.2 billion, an increase of $4 billion since the previous Study.
• Golf supports 237,000 person-years of employment, illustrating its importance as a vital source of livelihood for countless Canadians. Nearly 135,000 Canadians work directly in golf, with 45,000 being student employment.
• Golf-related activities generated over $14.2 billion in labour income, sustaining families and generating significant economic spin-off spending.
• $382 million was raised through golf activities for charities across Canada, a return to the pre-Covid-19 range and tops among all participation sports.
• Approximately 6 million Canadians played golf in 2023, an all-time high for the number one participation sport in the country, generating 74 million rounds played.
• Golfer spending totalled $14.2 billion in 2023.
• Golf course operations contributed $8.1 billion to Canada’s GDP.
• Capital expenditure by golf course operations in 2023 was $907 million.
• Taxes paid to governments by the Canadian golf industry were $4.7 billion in 2023.

“Golf is a sport that brings so many benefits to Canadians – not just the economic contributions. It is also a holistic solution to many of life’s necessities and an activity that can enjoyed for a lifetime,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO, Golf Canada.

“Golf is a healthy, safe activity, promoting environmental stewardship, providing exceptional social value, and is great for business. And importantly, we’re seeing tremendous diversity in our growth with incredible levels of engagement,” said Applebaum. “In addition, the recent success of our Canadian LPGA and PGA Tour Pros has further propelled the enthusiasm for the sport, with such stars on the world stage as Brooke Henderson and Nick Taylor.”

Other attributes of Canadian golf include:

• 18 holes of golf burns up to 2000 calories, a very healthy 15 km walk and active exercise in nature.
• 95% of golfers in Canada feel that golf is very good for their mental health, which has also been clinically proven.
• 83% of Canadian golfers state that the social aspects of golf are important to them and improve their lives.
• Spectator interest in professional golf is at an all-time high. The RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open are setting records for attendance and commercial success.
• Golf is a trusted Safe Sport environment for both recreational and competitive play.
• Canadian golf has been experiencing great diversity, including a 6% increase in active women golfers and 33% growth in BIPOC golfers in 2023.
• Off-course golf including simulator play and virtual golf experiences have bolstered the growth in  participation.
• Sustainable golf has become a leading environmental stewardship movement in Canadian golf, with golf courses throughout the country embracing sustainability pledges and best practices.

Golf flourished during the pandemic as the nature of the sport easily allowed for social distancing while delivering a social recreation experience that could not be found elsewhere.

With golf now better recognized as an important part of the solution, and all of the health, social and economic benefits, the positive spotlight on golf and its impact on Canadian communities has since sustained most of that increased demand.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome Riverdale Golf Club as our newest member club.

Located seven kilometers west of the Town of Rivers off Highway 259, this 9 hole course can be played from two sets of tee boxes ranging from 2,854 to 3,030 yards.

“Our course is a gem that not many people from outside our area know about” said President Andy Gerrard. “It was established during World War Two as an old air force base course and has stood the test of time. A creek that runs through four of the holes keeps everyone on their toes.”

Riverdale Golf Club also features a putting green and a full service restaurant for all guests to enjoy.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at Riverdale Golf Club 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) 328-7122 or go online riverdalegolfclub.com.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome Shanks Driving Range & Grill as our newest off-course member facility.

Located just five minutes west of Brandon along Highway #1, this 30,000 square foot facility features 20 outdoor hitting bays with individual ball dispensing featuring the availability to aim at 8 various targets which automatically keeps track of your score using Top Tracer technology. All outdoor hitting bays have a gas powered 23 foot radius heating system along with 40 outdoor televisions.

“We are thrilled to open this new venture to provide Brandon and area residents a new level of sports entertainment” said Owner Ross Sheard. “Shanks is for all ages and levels of golf who are looking to spend time with family, friends and business associates in a unique atmosphere.”

Shanks Driving Range & Grill also features four indoor Golf Zon simulator bays, a fully licensed restaurant and lounge as well as club storage.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member facility, guests may purchase a Golf Manitoba / Canada membership at a special rate to take advantage of various benefits and to record scores at participating Golf Manitoba / Canada member clubs toward establishing or maintaining an official Golf Canada Handicap Index.

For more information, call Shanks Driving Range & Grill at (431) 432-GOLF or go online to www.shanksbrandon.ca.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome River Oaks Golf Course as our newest member club.

Located 10 minutes south of Winnipeg’s South Perimeter off Waverley Street, this 18 hole course can be played from three sets of tee boxes ranging from 4,993 to 5,837 yards.

“Our course has continued to develop over the past number of years and we are really excited to share it with everyone” said General Manager Caitlyn Jones. “We have added a water hazard between the fifth and eighth holes to enhance the playing experience for golfers on the front nine and you will also see a new patio at the clubhouse upon entry.”

River Oaks Golf Course also features a putting green and a full service restaurant for all guests to enjoy.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at River Oaks Golf Course 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) 261-4653 or go online riveroaksgolf.ca.