Eric Johnson, Taylormade Canada Territory Sales Manager for Manitoba, takes us through the options of the new Taylormade Stealth Drivers.

Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk announced today a new multi-year partnership with Manitoba Blue Cross.

Under the agreement, Manitoba Blue Cross will have a presence at select Golf Manitoba championships and events to provide golfers with on-the-spot wellness support. The health benefits provider will also offer monthly physical and mental health tips and strategies to support a golfer’s game and their overall well-being. To protect health when away from home, Golf Manitoba members can also save 10 per cent on travel health coverage from Manitoba Blue Cross. This discount will also be applied to any eligible family members listed on the policy who are travelling with the member.

“We are looking forward to embarking on this new relationship with Manitoba Blue Cross” said Ladobruk. “The avenues that Manitoba Blue Cross makes available to support the health and wellness of Manitobans is second to none.  That is why this partnership is a natural fit for us. Their mission aligns with our desire for more individuals to start to understand and appreciate the game’s wider range of health benefits.”

“Our new partnership with Golf Manitoba is fitting as we continue to support Manitobans to live better and healthier lives,” says Benjamin Graham, Manitoba Blue Cross President and CEO. “We are excited to support golfers throughout the province in preventing injury and strengthening mental health as they play the game and appreciate all the ways the sport can benefit them on and off the green.”

Manitoba Blue Cross and Golf Manitoba encourage more Manitobans to experience the benefits of golf. Throughout the pandemic, golf played a valuable role in many people’s lives as it was one of the few ways that friends and family were able to safely connect while experiencing the physical, social, mental and emotional benefits of the game.

About Manitoba Blue Cross

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.
Learn more at www.2.mb.bluecross.ca.

About Golf Manitoba

Golf Manitoba is the Provincial Sports Organization and governing body for golf in Manitoba representing 9,000 golfers and 80 member clubs across the province. A proud partner of the 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 at golfmb.ca

Golf Manitoba Director of Communications Brian Munz takes you on the course at Breezy Bend Country Club with Braxton Kuntz and Eric Johnson, Taylormade Canada Territory Sales Manager for Manitoba and Ontario, Lake Head.

Golf Manitoba is pleased to welcome St. Vital Dental Centre as our newest corporate partner.

With today’s announcement, our Match Play event will be known as the Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

“Having St. Vital Dental Centre’s support of our Match Play Championship is another step in continuing to build to the excitement of the first major on the 2022 calendar” said Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk. “Dr. Terry has been valued member of the golf community for years and we thank him for partnering with us to enhance everyone’s experience moving forward”.

St. Vital Dental Centre has been providing high-quality patient-centered dentistry since 1963. The St. Vital Dental Centre team is currently led by Dr. Terry James and recently moved to its new location at 167 St. Anne’s Road in Winnipeg. He and his dedicated team of dental hygienists, dental assistants, front-desk staff, and associate work together to provide care to patients 6 months old to 99+ years old. 

“As far as my motivation or enthusiasm for the project, I think it mostly lies in an appreciation for the game of golf and all my past experiences in golf competitions across the country” said Dr. Terry James. “Golf has grown tremendously over the past couple years as an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment from the pandemic, and although this is great, we need to maintain the integrity of the sport and that will always exist with healthy competitive amateur golf in our province. It has always been a dream of mine to give back to those who helped me when I was younger, and this is one of the ways I am living that dream”.

The Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre will be played May 28 to June 5th with the qualifying round held at the Carman Golf & Curling Club followed by the championships matches at Quarry Oaks Golf Course in Steinbach.

For more information about the St. Vital Dental Centre, visit stvitaldentalcentre.ca.

Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk announced today TaylorMade Canada has agreed to extend its partnership 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 2022 season.

“Over the past four seasons, we have been fortunate to build a successful partnership with TaylorMade Canada,” said Ladobruk. “As we look forward to 2022 and the continuing growth of our sport for both amateur and competitive players, we are thrilled to work in association with Eric and the Taylormade staff. This agreement guarantees our provincial team will be equipped with TaylorMade high-performance carry bags, TP5 balls and headwear giving them a great opportunity to play at their highest capabilities.

“We at TaylorMade Canada are very excited to continue our partnership with Golf Manitoba for the upcoming 2022 golf season” said Eric Johnson, Territory Sales Manager for Manitoba and Ontario, Lake Head. “It’s great to be able to pair the province’s best amateur golfers with the best performance golf brand in the world. We are thrilled to continue supporting amateur and junior golf in the province of Manitoba and can’t wait for another fantastic competitive season”.

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 Stealth Carbonwood metalwoods, Stealth irons, milled grind 3 wedge, 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, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, 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

Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce its 2022 Championship schedule. The provincial amateur golf governing body will host 14 events at member clubs across Manitoba. The first official event of the 2022 season will begin with the Manitoba Match Play Championship qualifier May 28 at the Carman Golf & Curling Club.

Golf Manitoba is also excited to announce that it has received long-term championship hosting commitments from nine Winnipeg-area private and semi-private member clubs until 2035.  Under the agreement, the nine member clubs will form a rotation to host up to three Golf Manitoba major championships per year including the Match Play, Junior, Women’s Amateur and Men’s Mid-Amateur, Men’s Amateur and Senior Championships.  The multi-year hosting commitment schedule is as follows:

• Breezy Bend Country Club: 2025 Senior, 2028 Men’s Amateur, 2031 Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur, 2034 Junior
• Elmhurst Golf & Country Club:  2025 Match Play, 2028 Junior, 2031 Match Play, 2034 Senior
• Glendale Golf & Country Club: 2023 Match Play, 2026 Senior, 2029 Men’s Amateur, 2032 Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur, 2035 Junior
• Niakwa Country Club: 2024 Junior, 2027 Match Play, 2030 Senior, 2033 Men’s Amateur
• Pine Ridge Golf Club: 2023 Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur, 2026 Junior, 2029 Match Play, 2032 Senior, 2035 Men’s Amateur
• Rossmere Country Club: 2024 Men’s Amateur, 2027 Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur, 2030 Junior, 2033 Match Play
• St. Boniface Golf Club: 2023 Senior, 2026 Men’s Amateur, 2029 Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur, 2032 Junior, 2035 Match Play
• St. Charles Country Club: 2025 Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur, 2028 Senior, 2031 Men’s Amateur, 2034 Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur
• Southwood Golf & Country Club: 2027 Men’s Amateur, 2030 Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur, 2033 Junior

“Since inception in 1915, Golf Manitoba has had the tremendous support of its member clubs in hosting golf events and competitions, and we are extremely appreciative of those clubs that have committed to host in 2022,” said Wayne McWhirter, President of Golf Manitoba.  “Today’s long-term schedule announcement is a major step forward in securing the long-term viability and future of our provincial golf championships. To receive this kind of commitment is a tremendous recognition of and investment in both player development and amateur golf by our city member clubs and our association cannot be more appreciative of this show of support.”

The 111th Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur will see a change in 2022 moving from a 72-hole to a 54-hole event with a cut after 36 holes. “This change was necessary to allow Golf Manitoba to successfully conduct this event for years to come,” said Jared Ladobruk, Executive Director of Golf Manitoba. “With increased demand on tee-sheets and member access, this move was crucial to the viability of this championship. We of course, cannot conduct this event without the support of our member clubs and they have been very receptive to this change and are excited to host this championship in its new format.”

2022 Golf Manitoba Championship Schedule

• Match Play Championship Qualifier – Carman Golf & Curling Club (May 28)
• Match Play Championship Matches – Quarry Oaks Golf Course (June 2-5)
• Women’s City & District & Junior Bantam Championships – TBA (June 25 & 26)
• Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships – Granite Hills Golf Club (July 6-8)
• Junior Girls & Boys Championship – St. Charles Country Club (July 13-15)
• Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship – Elmhurst Golf & Country Club (July 21-23)
• Hodson Financial Women’s & Men’s Senior Championship – Larters at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club (August 10-12)
• Women’s Interclub Championship – St. Boniface Golf Club (August 23)
• Men’s Senior Interclub Championship – Oak Island Golf Resort (August 26)
• Men’s Provincial Interclub Championship – Southwood Golf & Country Club (September 20)

Also on the local golf calendar for 2022 is the Golf Canada junior NextGen Prairie Championship being held at the Quarry Oaks Golf Course from June 10-12 in Steinbach, Manitoba. Golf Canada’s NextGen program aims to support and develop Canada’s next wave of future Team Canada athletes.

More information on Golf Manitoba championships including dates, times, eligibility, how to register and host venue will be available in the coming weeks on the competitions schedule page at golfmb.ca. Registration for most Golf Manitoba championships is set to open at 12pm on April 15, 2022.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook

To stay informed on Golf Manitoba’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

For more information:

Brian Munz
Director of Communications
Golf Manitoba
204.899.1092
brian@golfmb.ca

It was another active year for Golf Manitoba members posting over 260,833 rounds to the Golf Canada Score Centre in 2021. The season total represents a 17% increase over 2020 (223,711) and a 28% increase over 2019 (205,384).

The top five member clubs for score posting were as follows:

1. Breezy Bend Country Club – 23,051
2. St. Charles Country Club – 20,203
3. Pine Ridge Golf Club – 17,513
4. Niakwa Country Club – 17,409
5. Elmhurst Golf & Country Club – 16,846

There was a total of 4,101 members who posted 25 scores or more. Two hundred and seventy-six (276) members posted over 100 scores.

Below is a summary of Golf Manitoba member golfers, categorized by gender and Handicap Index (as of November 9, 2021):

Handicap Index	Women	Men
Less than 0	2	104
0.0 – 4.9	20	627
5.0 – 9.0	63	1,353
10.0 – 14.9	130	1,868
15.0 – 19.9	258	1,373
20.0 – 24.0	327	692
25.0 – 29.9	326	237
30.0 – 34.9	231	70
35.0 – 39.9	151	35
40.0 – 44.9	48	9
45.0 – 49.9	43	5
50.0 +	21	5
No Handicap	354	1,315
Total	1,974	7,693