‘Fore Words’ From the Inbox …

CANADIAN PGA AND RCGA TO COMBINE FORCES IN RULES OF GOLF

The Canadian PGA and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) are pleased to announce their latest partnership in national education. It is now a requirement for all Canadian PGA apprentices to complete their Level 2 Rules of Golf online through the RCGA.

“This new initiative of our two associations will ensure that there is accessible and consistent learning across the country, available to all of our golf professionals,” states Gary Bernard, Director of Education at the Canadian PGA. “The RCGA Rules of Golf program demands strong results in order to move through each level and this partnership will ensure that our members at the Canadian PGA receive the highest standard of education.”

The RCGA holds the exclusive rights to publish and distribute the Rules of Golf in Canada. In addition to publishing the Rules, the RCGA monitors and administers the national rules education program that leads to national certification as a rules official.

“As the governing body of golf in Canada, we see this partnership as a tremendous opportunity to expand our Rules of Golf education program across the country,” said Brent McLaughlin, RCGA Director of Rules, Competitions and Amateur Status. “CPGA members are key stakeholders in growing the game and this consolidated initiative will help to ensure a consistent level of Rules education and officiating nationally.”

Rules are updated every four years through a joint committee of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Scotland and the United States Golf Association. Canada is the only country outside the US and the UK to have a seat on the committee charged with revising, modernizing and improving the Rules of Golf and the Decisions on the Rules of Golf. These two documents form the complete Rules of Golf that are used universally throughout the world of golf.

Becoming a Canadian PGA Professional is an exciting and rewarding career path in which the steps to becoming one are designed to support and assist candidates in achieving his or her goals. The Canadian PGA’s philosophy is to provide the Canadian golf industry with the highest quality professional administrators, teachers, players and promoters of the game, through superior training, education and member development.

The Canadian PGA ELITE (Enhanced Learning and Innovative Training and Education) is the Canadian PGA’s Apprenticeship Program. It involves an intensive eight stage process that will provide aspiring Canadian PGA Professionals the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the golf industry through formal education studies, teaching certification, professional development and golf-specific workshop studies. The addition of this new requirement through the RCGA is another example of how Canadian PGA Professionals remain the highest quality golf professionals in the industry.

 CANADIAN TOUR EXPANDS INTO TOUR OF AMERICAS

Canadian Tour Commissioner Richard Janes and Henrique Lavie Commissioner of the South American Tour de las Americas (TLA) have finalized a joint venture that will expand the Canadian Tour into Central and South America beginning November 2008. The three tournament schedule of events will be part of the 2009 Canadian Tour schedule and includes stops in Chile, Argentina and Costa Rica.

“This is a comprehensive agreement that will provide new opportunities for our members as part of a long-term plan to extend our playing season” said Janes. “It involves a schedule of events co-sanctioned by the Canadian Tour and TLA that will eventually form part of a total Fall Series leading up to PGA TOUR Qualifying School.”

Tour de las Americas Commissioner Henrique Lavie views this as a major step forward for TLA.

“It is very important to be co-sanctioned with a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours,” said Mr. Lavie. “This gives our players an opportunity to earn world ranking points and gives the TLA the respect on the world golf stage that it deserves. We are very excited by this agreement.”

The top-50 available Canadian Tour members from the 2008 Order of Merit are eligible for the co-sanctioned events. Prize money earned will be official money on the 2009 Canadian Tour Order of Merit. In addition to various other exemptions, tournament winners will earn fully exempt status on both tours.

As a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours the involvement of the Canadian Tour will also make the co-sanctioned events eligible for Official World Ranking Points.

DATE EVENT VENUE PURSE ($USD)

Nov. 27-30 Sports Frances Open Sports Frances GC, Santiago, Chile $180,000

Dec. 4-7 Argentina Masters Olivos GC, Buenos Aires, Argentina $150,000

Dec. 11-14 Costa Rica Masters Reserva Conchal, Costa Rica $125,000

2008 Canadian Tour Order of Merit :Top 30

LISA WALTERS INDUCTED INTO CANADIAN GOLF HALL OF FAME

Former LPGA Tour standout enshrined as newest legend of Canadian golf during 2008 CN Canadian Women’s Open

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) are pleased to welcome Lisa (Young) Walters as the 63rd honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Walters’ induction ceremony took place in a familiar setting as the Prince Rupert, B.C. native was inducted at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club following Thursday’s opening round of the 2008 CN Canadian Women’s Open.

“The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame seeks to recognize excellence as golfers, contributors and supporters of the game,” said David Shaw, Chair of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. “Lisa Walters has amassed her own unique golf-related legacy and is fine example of what makes golf the game it is. She has made a tremendous contribution to the game and it is only fitting that as such, she is recognized for her accomplishments.”

Throughout her illustrious playing career, Walters, 48, distinguished herself as one of Canada’s top female professional golfers. Among her many accomplishments, she is a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour (1992-93 Hawaiian Ladies’ Open; 1998 Oldsmobile Classic). Walters’ record on Tour ties her with fellow Hall of Fame member Dawn Coe-Jones for LPGA Tour victories (3). In a career plagued by injury, knee, back, rib, shoulder, and wrist problems ultimately cut short her professional playing career. Prior to turning pro, Walters was a three-time winner of the British Columbia Ladies Amateur Championship (1979-81) and former British Columbia Junior Champion (1977) as well as being named an All-American in 1981 while attending Florida State.

NEW WEBSITE TARGETS GOLF TRADE INDUSTRY

Talking In Your Backswing columnist Ian Hutchinson will remain on the pages of GolfScene, but he is launching his multitude of opinions on Canadian golf into cyberspace on Sept.15 at www.GolfNewsNow.ca

During his 30-year career as a journalist, Hutchinson has written for several national golf publications and websites throughout Canada and the United States.

The golf columnist for the Toronto Sun is well-known in the golf industry after 11 years of working as senior writer and copy editor for a Canadian trade publication. The industry is the focus of GolfNewsNow.

“One of the frustrations that I had when I was working for the trade magazine was that I would write a story just before it was put to bed, but readers wouldn’t see it until over a month later due to the time needed for printing and mailing,” said Hutchinson. “By then, it was old news.”

“I want to emphasize the word ‘Now’ in GolfNewsNow. The great thing about the Internet is that we can get a news item or a new product introduction and have it posted almost immediately,” he added.

Hutchinson, 53, will write a regular blog on GNN, which will also have sections devoted to trade news and the latest in golf equipment, apparel and accessories, as well as people on the move within the golf industry.

Feature stories will explore the trends in equipment and fashion and deal with various issues that affect the Canadian golf industry, which will have its say through regular polls that will appear on GNN.

“The immediacy of GNN will be its most important asset. We have a niche that needs to be addressed because the golf industry is on a need-to-know basis for news and product introductions,” said Hutchinson, adding that consumers may also want to check out GNN. “The focus is on the golf industry itself and some aspects may not interest golfers, but many people outside the industry are really into staying up to date on the latest on golf equipment and fashion trends,” he said.

Hutchinson can be reached at hutch@golfnewsnow.ca