By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Ward Stouffer, who spent more than 20 years as head professional and director of golf at Fairwinds Golf Club in Nanoose Bay, passed away Thursday, January 5th. He was 56.

Friends and playing competitors remember Stouffer, who stood about 6-feet, 8 inches, as a gentle giant with a heart of gold who hit the ball a mile.

The Golf Journalists Association of Canada Players of The Year. From Top L-R Clockwise: Brooke Henderson, Mackenzie Hughes, Jared du Toit And Naomi Ko. Image Courtesy GJAC

For Immediate Release

TORONTO – Brooke Henderson won twice on the LPGA Tour in 2016, and before the year ended, she added two more honours to her ever-growing trophy case.

The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is proud to announce Henderson, Mackenzie Hughes, Kimberley, BC's Jared du Toit, and Naomi Ko of Victoria, BC as the 2016 Players of the Year as voted by GJAC members across the country. Henderson’s two-win season was also named the Canadian Golf Story of the Year.

Canada's Players Of The Year From L-R: Mary Parsons, Maddie Szeryk, Jared du Toit And A.J. Ewart - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

By Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

Team Canada athletes Maddie Szeryk and Jared du Toit finished first in the women’s and men’s National Order of Merits, respectively, to claim honours as the top amateur athlete in each division and be named Canada’s 2016 Players of the Year.

On the Junior Order of Merits, two-time Development Squad athlete A.J. Ewart captured the boys’ title, while Development Squad rookie Mary Parsons took home the honours for the girls.

“We’re pleased to recognize the outstanding accomplishments that these athletes have worked so hard to achieve through this past season,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer.

 Kimberley, BC's Jared du Toit Saw His Fine Play All Year, Including A Top 10 At The RBC Canadian Open, Boost Him In The WAGR To 29th In The World - Image Credit Mike du Toit

Courtesy Golf Canada

PLEASE NOTE: This is the final Weekly Top 10 for 2016. The next Weekly Top 10 will be published January 11th, 2017.

Kimberley, BC's Jared du Toit was the number one ranked Canadian Amateur Male golfer for all but five weeks of 2016 and moved up an incredible 973 places in the Wordl Amateur Golf Rankings to finish the year ranked at No. 29 in the world.

Making the biggest leap up the WAGR was Victoria's Lawren Roweas his play for the the University of Victoria Vikes vaulted him 1,207 places to become Canada's number 4 ranked amateur. 

By Dan Pino/ Golf Canada

Lighthouse has been selected as the firm to lead the CEO search

Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson has been appointed as interim CEO effective January 9, 2017

With the recent announcement that CEO Scott Simmons will be leaving the organization, Golf Canada’s Board of Directors is engaged in the process to search for a new CEO.

Golf Canada wishes to take an inclusive and comprehensive approach with this CEO search. The process will involve garnering input from key stakeholders in the golf industry to design the optimal CEO profile.

Proposals were sought from executive recruitment firms that expressed interest in participating in the search for Golf Canada’s new CEO.

Image Credit Enrique Berardi/PGA TOUR -  Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brian Decker/ Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada

A late rally by the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada fell short on Saturday at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf, giving PGA TOUR Latinoamérica victory in the first-ever Aruba Cup.

Though the Mackenzie Tour put together a valiant charge, winning five of the first seven singles matches of the day, it wasn’t enough to overcome a daunting 8.5-1.5 deficit, with Latinoamérica prevailing by a 13-7 final score over the three-day match play competition between the two Tours.

(Image credit - Chuck Russell/Golf Canada)

Courtesy Adam Helmer/ Golf Canada

Golf Canada’s second installment of the Tournament Administration and Referees’ School (TARS) will be held at the Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport in Richmond, B.C., from April 27th to 30th.

New for 2017, they are extending the invitation to all certified level 2 rules officials and PGA of Canada professionals!

The objective of the Tournament Administration and Referees’ School is to get championship volunteers and staff members from key golf associations/clubs in Canada assembled to discuss important topics related to tournament administration and competitions.

Chief Executive Of The R&A, Martin Slumbers - Image Courtesy Twitter

courtesy Golf Canada with files from the R&A

St Andrews, Scotland – The merger of the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) and The R&A has been finalized and will come into effect January 1, 2017.

The heads of agreement between the two organisations was signed in June leading to the integration of the LGU’s business operations and its members of staff into The R&A group of companies. An agreed governance structure has also been implemented to give LGU Board members representation on relevant R&A Committees.

Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin Has Moved Into The Number 3 Position In Canada Among The Professional Men

via Golf Canada

BC Golfers are once again prominent among those ranked nationally in Golf Canada's Weekly Top-10 rankings. Led by Abbotsford natives Adam Hadwin (3) and Nick Taylor (5), BC has 4 of the top 10 ranked male pro golfers in Canada. Hadwin and Taylor are followed closely by Merritt's Roger Sloan at no. 7 and Surrey's Adam Svensson in 9th spot.

 Matthew Steinbach (Inset) Will Become SFU's New Golf Coach Beginning In January Of 2017, Taking Over From John Buchanan (Pictured With SFU Golf Bag)

Courtesy Steve Frost/ SFU Athletics

BURNABY, BC – Former Simon Fraser University men’s golf captain, Matthew Steinbach, has been appointed Interim Head Coach of the men’s and women’s golf programs while long-time coach John Buchanan is on medical leave from the University, Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation Theresa Hanson announced today.

Buchanan, the legendary SFU Athletics Hall of Fame coach, who started the Clan men’s soccer and golf programs, has worked at the University for almost 50 years until recently.

Justin Shin From Maple Ridge Was The Top Finisher From BC Among The 10 Canadians Who Took Part In The Final Stage At Web.com Tour Q-School Coming In T35 - Image Golf Canada

Golf Canada

Winter Garden, FL - Thornhill, Ont., native Ben Silverman tied for 6th and led the way for the 10-player Canadian contingent taking part in the final stage of Web.com Tour qualifying at Orange County National near Orlando, Fla.

Silverman birdied three of his last five holes to finish at four under on the day and 10-under overall, seven shots back of the winning score. By virtue of finishing in the top 10, Silverman is guaranteed spots in the Tour’s first 12 events of 2017.

Calgary’s Ryan Yip carded had a 70 on Sunday to tie for 23rd at 6-under. Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C., fired a 69 for a share of 35th at 4-under. Listowel, Ont., native and Team Canada Young Pro Corey Conners tied for 42nd at 3-under.

The University Of Victoria Vikes Men's Golf Team Are The Best University/College Golf Team In Canada At The Mid-Point Of The 2016-17 Season According To The Golf Coaches Association of Canada - Image Courtesy UVic Athletics

Golf Coaches Association of Canada

The University of Victoria Vikes Men’s Golf Team (50 points) have been named the best University/College golf team in Canada at the mid-season point of the 2016-17 golf season, as selected by the Golf Coaches Association of Canada. 

The Vikes earned all five 1st place votes based on results from various Conference championships and fall team scoring averages. 

Adam Helmer/ Golf Canada

As golf’s governing body in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), today announced a new Local Rule which will come into effect January 1, 2017.

Along with the R&A and USGA, Golf Canada holds a unique position as the only other governing body that sits on the Joint Rules Committee.

Golf Canada will be implementing this Local Rule as part of their Standard Local Rules which will be formally ratified at our annual general meeting by the Rules and Amateur Status Committee.

The 2016 Winner Of The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship, Colin Montgomerie, Advocated For Having The Event Return To Victoria Locale And He'll Get His Wish - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

Courtesy Golf Canada

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The Champions Tour announced today its 2017 tournament schedule, featuring 26 official tournaments and two “Challenge Season” events.

The 23-event regular season will again highlight the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, which will be used to determine the season-long Charles Schwab Cup champion. The Tour will contest events in four countries and 18 states, with total prize money of $55.7 million (U.S).

Canada will once again have two Champions Tour stops. The Shaw Charity Classic will be played September 1-3 at Canyon Meadows G & Country Club in Calgary.

The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship will be contested at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C. from September 15 – 17.

Mackenzie Hughes (Claus Andersen/ Mackenzie PGA Tour Canada)

MEN’S TOP-10

One week after claiming the No. 1 ranking in Canada, Mackenzie Hughes remained in the top perch. The Golf Canada Young Pro squad member was the only one in the Top-10 to maintain his world standing as every other golfer lost ground in the rankings.

Syngenta Golf Ambassador Carin Koch & Syngenta Global Head of Lawn & Garden Jeff Cox Launched The New Report At The HSBC Golf Business Forum. (Photo/Syngenta)

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom — Women account for just 24% of golfers worldwide, yet the number of prospective female players could add $35 billion to the global golf economy.

These are the findings of a groundbreaking global study into female golf participation commissioned by Syngenta and conducted by an independent international market research company.

The new report, ‘The Global Economic Value of Increased Female Participation in Golf,’ surveyed 14,000 people in eight markets in North America, Europe and Asia.

Scott Simmons, CEO Of Golf Canada, And Jeff Calderwood, CEO Of The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, Advocate For Tax Fairness For The Golf Industry At Parliament Hill In Ottawa - Image Courtesy YouTube

OTTAWA – The National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) paid a visit to Parliament Hill recently conducting their National Golf Day and meeting with Parliamentarians to discuss the business of golf in Canada.

“Golf is one of Canada’s most beloved sports with more people playing the game than any other sport,” said Scott Simmons, NAGA Chair and Golf Canada CEO. “There are an estimated 5.7 million Canadian golfers and there are 2,400 golf courses and practice ranges in Canada and the industry contributes more than $14 billion to the GDP per year.”

While golf continues to be a favourite pastime for Canadians, it’s important to note that the small businesses involved in the golf industry have felt the impact of the weak economy over the past several years.

Both participation rates and employment have significantly decreased. The outdated federal tax legislation ‎that places all golf businesses at an unfair competitive disadvantage can no longer be sustained.

BC's Amateur Golfers Hold The Top Spot In The Country's Rankings In Three Of Four Categories And Are Second In The Other. Clockwise Top L-R: Jared du Toit, Naomi Ko, A.J. Ewart And Mary Parsons

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Golf, at the competitive level, is all about the leaderboard. After all, that is ultimately how players are judged.

Right now, British Columbia amateur golfers are enjoying the view from the top. As we head down the 18th fairway and prepare to put a wrap on another year, it is not a stretch to say that 2016 has been a very good one for British Columbia Golf. No wonder Debbie Pyne is smiling.

Scott Simmons Will Be Stepping Down From His Position Of 10 Years Come February 2017 - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

By Scott Simmons, CEO Golf Canada

As the 2016 golf season comes to a close, I would like to thank you for supporting the game of golf through your membership with Golf Canada and your provincial golf association.

Cabot Links Golf Course In Nova Scotia - Image Courtesy Cabotlinks.com

Devon Evershed/ Golf Canada

OAKVILE, Ont. - Golf Canada’s Great Canadian East-West Contest came to an end October 31, 2016 with more than 7 million member-posted scores from 2016 counting towards entry for a “golf trip of a life-time.”

A random winner was drawn by Golf Canada’s membership team at Golf House on November 15th, with Bob Thompson from Sundre, Alta., being the lucky contestant.