Statement from ‘We Are Golf’ about COVID-19
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.
Golfers of the Year recognized at Sport Manitoba Night of Champions
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 11th 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 >>.
Garth Goodbrandson honoured as Male Coach of the Year
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.
Golf Manitoba Office Closure: updated April 6
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
Coaching seminar tees off golf for the 2020 Manitoba Summer Games
WINNIPEG, MB – The coaching staff for golf for the 2020 Manitoba Summer games met on Monday, March 9 for a learning and development session in preparation for the Dauphin 2020 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro. This was the first meeting for the coaching staff that included a coaching development session lead by PGA of Canada professional, head coach of the 2020 men’s Canadian Olympic golf team and PGA Tour coach, Derek Ingram. Also in attendance was three-time PGA of Canada Manitoba Zone Coach of the Year and Golf Manitoba Director of Player Development, Garth Goodbrandson.
This will be the 5th year that golf will be included in the provincial multi-sport games event with the first participation taking place in 2004. The City of Dauphin will be hosting over 1500 athletes at the 2020 Manitoba Games from August 9 – 15, 2020 with golf athletes competing on the gorgeous Gilbert Plains Golf & Country Club.
Regional coaching staff for golf include current and former members of the PGA of Canada and include Dave Scinocca (West), Dean North (South), Ryan MacKenzie (East), Greg Hesom (Winnipeg) and Bri-ann Tokariwski (Winnipeg). For more information on the 2020 coaching staff, please click HERE >>.
Athlete Eligibility
In addition to athletes meeting the General Eligibility Rules of the Manitoba Games, boys ages 15 and under and girls ages 17 and under (as of August 1, 2020) will be eligible to represent their respective region. Five regions will be represented with teams of four competing in both genders over 36-holes that will include both a team and individual competition. For more information on the games, athlete eligibility and how to qualify, please visit the Manitoba Games golf page at golfmb.ca.
Funding for this seminar was generously supported by the 1991 Grey Cup Legacy Committee Fund.
About the Grey Cup Legacy Fund: The 1991 Grey Cup Legacy Fund was established by the Grey Cup Festival Committee, with the surplus funds arising from holding the 1991 Grey Cup Game in Winnipeg, to promote excellence in football and other sports in Manitoba through the development of coaching expertise.
The FUND is held in trust and administered by the University of Manitoba in consultation with an Award Committee consisting of representatives from the Government of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, the universities of Brandon, Winnipeg and Manitoba, the Blue Bombers Football Club and Coaching Manitoba.
About Golf Manitoba: Golf Manitoba is recognized by Sport Manitoba as the Provincial Sport Organization and governing body of amateur for golf in the province. 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.
Golf Canada Announces 2020 Junior National Skills Challenge Event
Golf Canada is pleased to announce its 2020 Future Links Junior Skills Challenge program schedule, which now includes 10 Provincial Qualifiers hosted at member clubs across Canada and will conclude with the 12th edition of the Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, BC on August 29-30.
Important Dates for 2020:
- Facility Events:
July 19, 2019 – June 22, 2020 at local Future Links facilities
- Local Provincial Qualifier:
July 5, 2020 at St. Charles Country Club
- National Event:
August 29-30, 2020 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, BC
To become an official Future Links Junior Skills Challenge site, a facility must register with Future Links – providing access to program materials and online login information. Offered to golf facilities across Canada at no cost, the objective of the program is to develop key golf skills, while serving as an important introduction to competition.
Following registration, facilities can host a Junior Skills Challenge event at a date of their choosing (not required to report to Golf Canada). Once the event has been completed, players scores are entered to the National Leaderboard by the site coordinators. Participants can track their results to see how they measure up to other players in their age category across their own province or across Canada. The four age categories are 8 and under, 9 to 11, 12 to 14 and 15 to 18 years old. Future Links facilities will host Junior Skills Challenge events between July 19, 2019 and June 22, 2020.
Beginning in 2020, the program structure includes the addition of another level of qualifying events, at the provincial level. On Monday, June 22, 2020 at 12:00pm ET, Golf Canada will select the top four (4) ranked players in each province, in each age and gender category and invite them to compete in their respective Future Links Junior Skills Challenge Provincial Qualifiers. Each province will host a Provincial Qualifier between July 3, 2020 and July 20, 2020 and report scores to Golf Canada thereafter.
Following the Provincial Qualifiers, the top four competitors, in each age and gender category, with the highest scores nationally will be invited to compete in the 2020 Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event, hosted by Golf Canada. The National Event will take place on August 29-30, 2020 at the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, BC.
For more information and to renew your registration or to register your facility, please visit or log-in at https://futurelinks.golfcanada.ca/
Attention all Manitoba U15 male and U17 female golfers!
The 2020 Manitoba Games are coming to Dauphin. Want a chance to represent your region in the sport of golf?
The City of Dauphin will be hosting over 1500 athletes at the 2020 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro from August 9 – 15, 2020, and once again Golf will be teeing it up. Golf athletes will be competing on the gorgeous Gilbert Plains Golf & Country Club from August 9 – 11.
Athlete Eligibility
In addition to athletes meeting the General Eligibility Rules of the Manitoba Games the following are the eligible age categories for Golf:
- Boys: 15 and under as of August 1, 2020
- Girls: 17 and under as of August 1, 2020
Athletes must be a minimum of ten (10) years old as of January 1, in the Games year. This is based on the demanding Games environment including travel, competition schedule, communal accommodations and dining schedules.
For more information on how you can compete and represent your region, please visit our Manitoba Summer Games webpage HERE >>
TaylorMade Canada extends partnership for 2020
TaylorMade Canada has agreed to extend its partnership with Golf Manitoba as the association’s official performance partner. Under the agreement, TaylorMade Canada will continue as the sole provider of performance equipment for Golf Manitoba for the 2020 season.
“TaylorMade Canada is excited to extend this partnership with Golf Manitoba,” said Eric Johnson, Territory Sales Manager for Manitoba and Ontario, Lake Head. “Our partnerships with many of the provincial golf associations around the country like Golf Manitoba is something we are very proud of here at TaylorMade Golf Canada,” said TaylorMade Golf Canada GM David Bradley. “We are so excited about continuing our partnership this year and supporting amateur and junior golf in the province of Manitoba.”
“We have been fortunate to have had a successful partnership with TaylorMade Canada over the past two seasons,” said Jared Ladobruk, Executive Director of Golf Manitoba. “And we are looking forward to continuing this relationship for another year. TaylorMade is well recognized as one of the premier ball and equipment manufacturers in golf and we are thrilled to extend the benefits of this relationship to our competitors and provincial teams.”
In 2018 and 2019, TaylorMade Canada equipped all provincial teams with TaylorMade high-performance carry bags, TP5 balls and headwear. Additionally, Golf Manitoba competitors received TP5 balls when playing in events.
About TaylorMade Golf Company
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade Golf is a leading manufacturer of high performance golf equipment with industry-leading innovative products like SIM metalwoods, SIM irons, TP5/TP5X golf balls and Spider putters. A major force on the PGA TOUR, TaylorMade has an unrivaled athlete portfolio that includes Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa.
Follow TaylorMade Canada at taylormadegolf.ca
About Golf Manitoba
Golf Manitoba is recognized by Sport Manitoba as the Provincial Sport Organization and governing body of amateur for golf in the province. 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.
Follow Golf Manitoba at golfmb.ca
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204.925.5729
jared@golfmb.ca
Golf Manitoba finalizes 2020 championship schedule
Golf Manitoba is pleased to release its 2020 Championship schedule.
The provincial amateur golf governing body will host 11 championships at 11 different clubs across the province. Golfers who tee it up in Golf Manitoba competitions in 2020 will get a chance to compete at some of the province’s top facilities.
“We are very excited to release our championship schedule for 2020,“ said Jared Ladobruk, Executive Director for Golf Manitoba. “When planning our event calendar, we were fortunate to have so many quality facilities willing to host a Golf Manitoba championship and we are extremely appreciative of their commitment to support our events. Consequently, our participants will be able to experience and test their game on many of our provinces top golf courses.”
The 2020 championship season will officially kick off with the Match Play Championship with the qualifying matches being held May 23 & 24 at the Winkler Golf Club. The championship matches will then move to the St. Charles Country Club from May 30 to June 7.
2020 Championship Schedule
Match Play Championship – Winkler Golf Club / St. Charles Country Club (May 23-June 7)
Women’s City & District & Junior Bantam Championships – Portage Golf Club (June 27 & 28)
Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur and Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships – Bel Acres Golf & Country Club (July 6-8)
Manitoba Junior Men’s & Women’s Championship – Selkirk Golf & Country Club (July 12-14)
Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship – Minnewasta Golf & Country Club / Glendale Golf & Country Club (July 16-19)
Senior Men’s & Women’s Championship – Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club (July 27-29)
Ladies Interclub Championship – Carman Golf & Curling Club (August 27)
Men’s Provincial Interclub Championship – Neepawa Golf & Country Club (August 28)
Men’s Senior Interclub Championship – Grand Pines Golf Club (September 1)
Other events on the local golf calendar for 2020 include the Golf Canada junior Future Links driven by Acura Prairie Championship June 12-14 at Quarry Oaks Golf Course in Steinbach, Manitoba and also the Manitoba Summer Games that will run August 9-11 at the Gilbert Plains Country Club in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba.
Entry for registration for most Golf Manitoba championships opens on April 1, 2020. For more information on the events including dates, times, eligibility, host venue and more, please visit our competitions schedule page at golfmb.ca.
Junior Development Teams begin winter program
While the frigid January temperatures would suggest otherwise, golf season has officially begun for the 2020 Golf Manitoba Junior Development Teams.
Seventeen U18 boys and ten U18 girls started their training at the Golf Dome in early January and will continue to do so until the end of March. The program includes weekly practice sessions where the athletes will work on skills development under the guidance of Golf Manitoba’s Director of Player Development and 2019 PGA of Manitoba Coach of the Year, Garth Goodbrandson. Also helping with the program is Elmhurst Golf & Country Club Assistant Professional Bri-Ann Tokariwski along with players from the University of Manitoba Men’s Golf team.
Upon completion of the winter program, the teams will start their green grass season with a two-day development camp in early May and then move into club season where the teams will compete in the men’s Mundie Putter and women’s Nassau leagues.
For more information on the Golf Manitoba Junior Development Teams, contact Garth Goodbrandson at garth@golfmb.ca.