The PEI Junior Development Team will be selling raffle tickets to help support a summer season of tournaments and associated travel costs.  They have a busy schedule that includes the East Coast Junior Championship at the Covered Bridge Golf Club in New Brunswick and The Future Links Driven by Acura Atlantic Championship at The Mactaquac Golf Club, also in New Brunswick.  Both tournaments will have players from all over Atlantic Canada and some coming from as far away as Ontario to compete.

Their complete season schedule includes:

1.  The CJGA Spring Classic at Eagles Glenn
2. The Countryview Open
3. The East Coast Junior Championship
4. The PEI Junior Championship
5. Future Links Driven by Acura Atlantic Championship
6. The Canadian Junior Championship (select players)
7. The CJGA Atlantic Junior Championship at Mill River

The raffle tickets (lotto license # 15133) are $10 each with the following prizes available to win:

1.  4 x VIP Tickets to David Feherty on his “Off Tour ” in Moncton, NB on Friday July 26th.
   • For more information on the show and the VIP tickets please click HERE.
2. A Taylormade M6 Driver
3. A Taylormade Golf Bag
4. A dozen Taylormade Golf Balls & Hat

Junior Raffle Winners

902-330-5476

peiga@peiga.ca

Thank you for your support!

The PEI Golf Association is mourning the loss of one if its greatest ambassadors & volunteers, Cliff Goodwin.

Cliff was responsible for starting the Senior Men’s Golf Tour in the late 1990s. He won the Toby MacMillan award for volunteerism, and outstanding contribution to golf on PEI. He won the PEI Senior Player of the Year at least five times and participated in several Canadian Senior Championships as a captain of the Island team, as well as being a competitor.  Cliff was a member of the PEI Golf Association Board of Directors and also the Board of Golf Canada.

He was respected for his mild demeanor on and off the course, but also for his fairness and competitiveness.

If you were to ask any of the Senior players over the past twenty years, you would not find anyone who didn’t respect him for his play, and for his leadership in promoting the game/tour.

Cliff was part of a group of three people from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI who developed the Maritime Senior Challenge, a yearly Match Play team event between the three provinces, that has been played for the last dozen or so years. Cliff was invited to attend the event this year in Moncton by the Commissioner of the competition, where he was to be honored for his years as a competitor, and for being the Island representative. According to the Commissioner, he put off confirming his attendance to see how he was feeling, he passed away a week or so after that conversation.

The PEI Golf Association would like to pass along our condolences to the Goodwin family.

Cliff Goodwins obituary can be found HERE

Visitation will be on Friday, April 26th, at Princetown United Church in Malpeque from 1:00pm to 3:00pm followed by a Memorial Service at 3:00pm. After the service, all are invited to celebrate Cliff’s life at an ice cream social at the Malpeque Hall across the road.

Future Links Learn to Play Clinics

We are pleased to be offering Future Links clinics every Saturday for the month of June across the province.  These introductory clinics are designed for kids ages 6 to 10 with little golf experience for only $5.

The schedule and registration can be found HERE

The Cooke Insurance PEI Amateur Championship

 Excel Accounting Services Senior Women’s Tour

Any questions can be directed to Sean Joyce at 902-330-5476 or peiga@peiga.ca

Luke Reeves-Rollins Returns as Sport Development Coordinator

The PEI Golf Association is pleased to have Luke Reeves-Rollins return as the Sport Development Coordinator for 2019.  Luke will be responsible for delivering the Golf in Schools Program and Future Links across the province again this season.  Luke is a former PEI Junior Team member who participated in several Atlantic Championships and a Canadian Junior Championship who started working for the PEI Golf Association in 2018.  Luke just finished his third year of Business at UPEI  and is also a Community Golf Coach.

Luke will be very busy before school ends for the summer as he visits close to 15 schools all across the province.  The goal of the program is have fun during their Phys-Ed class and provide them with some information on a local junior program at one of our member clubs.

“Transitioning kids from the schools to the course is the Association’s number one priority in junior golf right now,” says Sean Joyce, PEI Golf Association Executive Director.  “We are working to help our member clubs grow their junior golf programs by sharing information with the schools on the clubs’ clinics, camps and memberships.  We are hoping this will lead to more juniors playing on a regular basis and lead to long-term membership for our member clubs”.

When the Golf in Schools season is over Luke is scheduled to run the Future Links program along with coordinating the PEI Junior Golf Tour. 

The PEI Golf Association has schedule several outdoor Future Links clinics across the province on Saturdays in June.

Anyone looking for more information can go to www.peiga.ca or contact Sean Joyce at peiga@peiga.ca

The idea for a new, unified system was conceived by the USGA and The R&A and developed following an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities, going into effect on January 1, 2020. Here are nine things to know about the new system:

1. The World Handicap System (WHS) supports golf globally

Golf already has a single set of playing Rules, a single set of equipment Rules and a single set of Rules of Amateur Status overseen by the USGA and The R&A. Yet, today there are six different handicap systems used around the world. Each is well developed and successfully provides equity for play locally, but each of the different systems produces slightly differing results. The WHS will unify the six systems into a single system that will:

• enable golfers of different ability to play and compete on a fair and equitable basis, in any format, on any course, anywhere around
• be easy to understand and implement, without sacrificing accuracy; and
• meet the varied needs and expectations of golfers, golf clubs and golf authorities all around the world and be adaptable to suit all golfing cultures.

After significant engagement and collaboration with the existing handicapping authorities and other National Associations, it has been agreed that the time is right to bring the different handicapping systems together as a fourth set of Rules, in support of the global game. In addition, this project has provided an opportunity for the existing handicapping authorities to come together and share their combined experiences to produce a system which is modern and relevant for the way the game is played today around the world. The WHS will encompass both the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System (formerly the USGA Course Rating and Slope System).

2. There are many benefits to the World Handicap System.

As the world becomes a smaller place with a much greater frequency of international play (as demonstrated by golf returning to the Olympics in 2016), we believe the development of a single handicap system will result in easier administration of international events and, potentially, allow National Associations more opportunity to focus attention on golf development and strategic planning to support the sport. It would also provide the opportunity to evaluate de-personal golfing data to help monitor the health of the game.

3. Existing scoring records will be retained.

Existing scoring records will be retained and, where possible, be used to calculate a handicap under the WHS. For most players, their handicap will change only slightly as they will be coming from systems which are generally similar to the WHS. However, this will be dependent on many factors – including the number of scores available upon which the calculation of a handicap can be based. National Associations are being encouraged to communicate this message to clubs and golfers, i.e. that the more scores available in the scoring record at the time of transition, the less impact golfers will feel on their handicap.

4. It is tailored to accommodate all cultures.

It is not our intention to try to force a change on the way that golf is played around the world or to try and remove the variations. The cultural diversity that exists within the game, including different formats of play and degrees of competitiveness, is what makes the sport so universally popular. Through collaboration with National Associations, the goal has been to try to accommodate those cultural differences within a single WHS.

5. All six handicapping authorities are fully behind the new system.

A series of briefing sessions was conducted all around the world in 2015, which aimed to cover as many National Associations as possible. The reaction was very positive. It is also worth emphasizing that the development of the WHS is a collaborative effort and all the existing handicapping authorities and National Associations who are directly involved in the process are very supportive of the initiative. Each of the six existing handicapping authorities have recently gone through their own internal approval processes, and all of them have confirmed their support for the new system. While the USGA and The R&A will oversee the WHS, the day-to-day administration of handicapping will continue to be the responsibility of the existing handicapping authorities and individual National Associations.

6. Feedback from golfers helped shape the new structure.

We have solicited the opinions of golfers and golf club administrators all around the world via an online survey, to which we received over 52,000 responses. We have also conducted focus group sessions in five markets throughout Europe, the USA and South America. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive; for example, 76% surveyed are supportive, 22% undecided at this stage and only 2% opposed.

7. The WHS goes into effect on January 1, 2020.

We are planning to make the WHS available for implementation by National Associations beginning in January 2020, after an extensive schedule of testing, communication, promotion and education.

8. More golfers will be encouraged to play the game.

Further details of the WHS will emerge over the coming months. However, we want to emphasize that it is being designed to be as accessible and inclusive as possible, while still providing golfers with the portability, accuracy and consistency they expect. Offering a couple of examples, golfers will be able to obtain a handicap after returning a minimal number of scores – the recommendation being as few as three 18-hole scores, six 9-hole scores or a combination of both to comprise 54 holes. Handicaps will not lapse after a period of inactivity and the maximum handicap will be 54.0, regardless of gender. These elements are designed to clear a pathway into the game, enabling players new to the sport to feel more welcomed into the golf community. While the WHS is intended to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance, it must enhance the enjoyment of all golfers. Therefore, it will be important for clubs to ensure that new golfers with higher handicaps pick up at the maximum hole score and maintain a good pace-of-play.

9. National Associations are tasked with educating the golf community.

The education roll-out is scheduled to commence in January 2019, and we have already started to work on a strategy for the development of a ‘global-ready’ education plan to support implementation and ongoing operations. National Associations will continue to carry out the responsibility of educating its membership.

OAKVILLE, ON (Golf Canada) – Today, RBC and Golf Canada announced that world ranked No. 4 – Rory McIlroy – will compete in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Fresh off an impressive victory at the 2019 PLAYERS Championship, McIlroy joins an already strong field of players, including world No. 1 and Team RBC Ambassador Dustin Johnson, alongside team members Jim Furyk, Adam Hadwin, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker.

“I‘m really excited to play in my first  RBC Canadian Open,” said McIlroy. “There continues to be a lot of momentum around this historic tournament, with a new date, new location and now a new concert series. I’ve had the opportunity to see the passion that Canada has for our sport and I look forward to seeing the energy of Canadian golf fans first hand. I’m also looking forward to squaring off with DJ, Adam and the rest of Team RBC for Canada’s National Open Championship.”

The 29-year old international superstar from Northern Ireland currently holds the No. 1 spot on the 2019 FedEx Cup Ranking. His results also include:

• Four-time Major Champion (US Open 2011, PGA Championship 2012, 2014, and The Open Championship 2014)
• Two-time WGC Champion (2014, 2015) and 2019 The PLAYERS Champion
• 15-time PGA TOUR Winner including 2016 FedEx Cup Champion, 24 worldwide wins overall
• Five appearances (four Team Europe wins) in the biennial Ryder Cup
• Two-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year (2012 and 2014)
• Three-time Race to Dubai Champion (2012, 2014 and 2015)
• Held world #1 in Official World Golf Ranking for 95 weeks over his career

“Rory is one of the game’s most accomplished and iconic young stars – his win at THE PLAYERS Championship this past weekend was incredible,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC. “We are so pleased that he has added the 2019 RBC Canadian Open to his schedule and are looking forward to giving him a warm welcome to Canada for his first-ever start at the tournament. I’m sure that Canadian golf fans, young and old, will show him our enthusiasm for this great sport.”

Tickets for the RBC Canadian Open are available HERE.

McIlroy’s commitment to play in his first RBC Canadian Open builds on an earlier announcement this week introducing a two-night RBCxMusic Concert Series at the tournament. The concerts will feature Grammy nominated and internationally acclaimed duo Florida Georgia Line on Friday, June 7, and JUNO award-winning homegrown rock band The Glorious Sons on Saturday, June 8.

 

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Welcome to the RBC Canadian Open, @rorymcilroy – see you in JUNE! ?? #SummersOpen #RBCCO

A post shared by RBC Canadian Open (@rbccanadianopen) on Mar 21, 2019 at 5:01am PDT

“We have seen incredible momentum for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open with the move to our new June date,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “The exciting news that Rory McIlroy will be joining the field at Canada’s National Open Championship will be really special for golf fans at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Together with RBC, our goal has always been to continually elevate this tournament, for players and golf fans alike. Having Rory join other big names like Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson and Jim Furyk will no doubt make this a ground-breaking year at our Open.”

In the coming weeks, additional players, including Canadians and tournament exemptions, will be announced. PGA TOUR players have until Friday, May 31 to commit to the field of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.

More information about the 2019 RBC Canadian Open including tickets, corporate hospitality and volunteer information is available at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

For many of us trying to squeeze in the last few rounds of the season, or for those planning on heading south this winter, it’s important to note the “active season” in the region, province or country you’re playing in.

Golf Canada’s Handicap System stipulates every player is responsible for returning all acceptable scores into one’s scoring record from rounds played on courses observing their active season, which is part of the golf season when courses have acceptable playing conditions.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of authorized provincial golf association to declare active and inactive periods, and it is the responsibility of the area club and golfers to observe these dates for posting purposes.

Each year, provincial associations analyze numerous factors to determine their active seasons. This ensures consistency of when scores would be posted by the majority of golfers to help keep Handicap Factors accurate.

Scores made at any golf course observing an inactive season are not acceptable for handicap purposes. The rationale behind this is that posting scores during inactive seasons (periods of poor course conditions) could artificially increase a player’s Handicap Factor.

Scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes, even if the golf club from which the player receives a Handicap Factor is observing an inactive season. The club’s Handicap Committee must make it possible for a player to post these away scores at the beginning of the active season.

For example, if a player belonging to a golf club in Ontario plays golf in Florida during January, any scores made in Florida are acceptable and must be returned to the player’s Ontario golf club. If the player is also a member of a golf club in Florida, scores must be posted to the player’s Florida club.

In Canada, the active season in each province is as follows:

BC = Mar. 1 – Nov. 15
AB = Mar. 1 – Oct. 31
SK = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
MB = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
ON = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
QC = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
NS = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
NB = May. 1 – Oct. 31
PE = Apr. 16 – Nov. 14
NL = Apr. 1 – Nov. 30

It’s also important to note that if you are travelling to other countries, you should determine their active seasons to prevent posting unacceptable scores. Your home club needs all acceptable scores from the “off-season” as well to ensure your Handicap Factor is accurate once recalculated at the beginning of the season.

For a detailed list of active and inactive schedule in the United States, click here.

For more information on handicapping, click here.

To enter your scores for an official handicap, become a Golf Canada member here.

February 26, 2019

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Jeff Hutt of Fredericton, NB has been appointed as Golf Canada’s full-time Regional Director in Atlantic Canada.

Jeff, who was previously splitting his time between Golf Canada and his position as Director of Marketing with Golf New Brunswick, will now focus his time to better serve member clubs and support the execution of Golf Canada’s non-affiliated player strategy Atlantic Canada.

Jeff’s depth of industry insight, past experiences and established network of club contacts across the region will help strengthen the collaborative relationship between Golf Canada and the Atlantic Provincial Golf Associations while delivering enhanced service to our member clubs.

“I am really excited to be joining Golf Canada in a full-time capacity. “As I expand my role, my focus is to work with our provincial associations to better support our partner facilities in the implementation of our programs and services. I also look forward to helping grow an enhanced member experience for both non-affiliated players and members of partner facilities.”

Born in Halifax, N.S., Jeff moved to Fredericton, N.B. where he grew up in a golfing family. He was a member at Fredericton Golf Club where he participated in the junior program. As a teenager, he worked as a summer student at Kingswood Golf Course and went on to Holland College in P.E.I. where he enrolled in their Golf Club Management Program. After graduation, he returned to the University of New Brunswick to earn a degree in Hospitality and Tourism.

Over his 19-year career, Jeff has developed a strong skill set and industry network across the golf industry in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada.  He spent 10 years at Kingswood Resort in various roles before joining Golf New Brunswick as Manager of Marketing and Junior Programs. Over the next nine years, he held various roles with Golf N.B. including his most recent position as Director of Marketing. In 2015, Jeff added to his responsibilities and worked with Golf Canada on a part-time basis as the Regional Director for Atlantic Canada.

Jeff remains an avid golfer carrying a 5.8 handicap factor and enjoys playing the game both left and right handed.

Contact Information

Jeff Hutt
Regional Director, Atlantic Canada
E – jhutt@golfcanada.ca
P – 1.506.260.6599

I’m the anti J.B. Holmes.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not “anti” J.B. Holmes.

When he won the Genesis Open for his fifth PGA Tour victory, I applauded the resurgence of someone who, by most accounts, is a good guy, a great husband and father who has survived brain surgery. Former Ryder Cupper, long hitter, great ball striker.

Also, alas, human rain delay.

On the other hand, I am the definition of the “dew sweeper.” At my club, Midland Golf and Country Club in Ontario, my group is given the first tee time on Sundays by default, by a unanimous vote by the rest of the members. We play in three hours or less.

“Ready golf” is our mantra but we may take the pace of play concept to extremes, admittedly. Last season, someone in our group couldn’t make it and we had a friend fill in. After completing the first hole, he said he made a par 4.

“Nope,” I said. “In this group, we count practice swings as strokes. You took three, so that’s a seven.”

So, as I said, a touch extreme.

You want to talk about extreme?

In the final round at the Genesis, Holmes’s threesome needed—no, that’s wrong—endured five hours and 28 minutes to complete their 18 holes. Thirteen minutes on the 13^th green alone. Twenty minutes behind the group in front. Professional golfers. Plumb-bobbing putts of less than a foot. (At least Holmes knew how to plumb bob. In my experience, most amateurs might as well close both eyes when they try that.)

At a time when it is widely acknowledged that one of the major challenges facing the game is pace of play, Holmes’s glacial approach deservedly lit up social media. Even his peers criticized him.

Taking my usual contrarian approach, perhaps Holmes should be applauded for elevating this debate.

None of us, except me, is exempt from this finger pointing.

At every level, from recreational golfer to the pro tours, slow play is a pernicious disease afflicting golf.

In 2018, the European Tour’s Shot Clock Masters addressed this by implementing a 40- or 50-second limit depending on the type of shot being played. Just four players received one-shot penalties for exceeding that limit. The reaction from the players was overwhelmingly positive.

“Rule 5.6b (3) lets a Committee set a specific pace of play policy,” says Adam Helmer, Golf Canada’s Director of Rules, Competitions and Amateur Status. “This policy may set a maximum time to complete a round, a hole or series of holes and a stroke, and it may set penalties for not following the Policy. The PGA Tour uses a hybrid of fines and penalties in their policy.

“Golf Canada adopts a group pace of play policy which outlines the allotted time for groups to play specific holes (1-5, 6-9, 10-14, 15-18). Groups are given warnings if they are over the allotted time and 14 minutes behind the group in front. If they miss a second checkpoint, they are liable to a one stroke penalty (and the penalty increases as they miss a third and potential fourth checkpoint). We only use individual pace of play at our qualifiers (Open and amateur events).”

I’m not advocating the kind of speed golf my group plays but if we—well, you all—paid more attention to pace of play, the game would be more enjoyable for everyone.

The new Rules recognize this through efforts like reducing the time allowed looking for a ball from five minutes to three and encouraging ready golf. What is ready golf?

Dispense with the “who’s away” concept. Hit when ready and when it is safe to do so. Prepare for your shot as you approach the ball. Have the appropriate club in hand. Putt out continuously. Mark your score at the next tee. Keep up with the group in front. Do your socializing after the round.

My well-learned lesson came years ago at Scotland’s North Berwick when our threesome, all male golfers of decent ability, let a foursome of lady members, with their bags on pull carts, play through. By the time we finished, they were enjoying a sandwich and a pint, accompanied by well-deserved withering glances in our direction.

I now enjoy directing those same glances at the pokey golfers at my club. Thanks, ladies.

Rule 5.6b advises that “A round of golf is meant to be played at a prompt pace. Each player should recognize that his or her pace of play is likely to affect how long it will take other players to play their rounds, including both those in the player’s own group and those in following groups.” The Rule also outlines pace of play recommendations.

Pace of play. It’s not about playing fast. It’s about playing efficiently and with consideration for others.