Golf Canada To Honour Quebec Trio

Golf Canada will honour Debbie Savoy Morel, Réal Labbé and Roger H. Legault for their contributions to golf as co-recipients of the Distinguished Service Awards, which will be presented this Saturday at the association’s annual general meeting in Montreal.

“In their own special way, Debbie, Roger and Réal have had a significant impact on the game of golf. Their commitment and passion for the sport makes each of them a truly deserving recipient,” said Golf Canada executive director Scott Simmons.

DEBBIE SAVOY-MOREL

Following an accomplished amateur playing career, Debbie Savoy-Morel joined the teaching professional ranks in 1993.
In 1997, she became the first woman in Canada to be appointed head golf professional of a 36-hole golf facility, Le Mirage Golf Club in Terrebonne, Que.

Since 2007, Savoy-Morel has worked closely with Golf Québec, assisting in the planning and presentation of training clinics through which the provincial association encourages women to play the game.

To recognize Savoy-Morel’s efforts, Golf Québec created the Debbie Savoy Morel Cup in 2010, one of the three events comprising the Jocelyne Bourassa Series.

In 2006, Savoy-Morel released an instructional DVD for golfers of all levels entitled “A Swing for a Lifetime”, in collaboration with Anne Chouinard, formerly the director of golf at the Canadian Golf Academy in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Savoy-Morel has worked with all-French sports television station RDS, providing analysis of LPGA Tour events.

ROGER LEGAULT

A former chairman of the Québec Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee from 2001 to 2010, Roger H. Legault played a prominent role in the creation of the Québec Golf Hall of Fame in 1996.

A long-time contributor to the development of golf in Québec and across Canada, Legault formerly served as director of the Eastern Townships with the Québec Golf Association (Golf Québec) before joining the association’s board of directors and eventually becoming president of Golf Quebec in 1990.

Nominated as a governor of the Royal Canadian Golf Association (Golf Canada) in 1991, Legault was a Level 4 rules official and officiated at numerous amateur, professional and international championships.

A member at the Club de golf Venise in Magog, Que., Legault was also notably involved with the Quebec Open and served as co-chair of the 1997 Canadian Open at Royal Montreal and the 1999 Canadian Senior Open at Richelieu Valley Golf Club.

RÉAL LABBÉ

A sports journalist since 1967, primarily with Le Soleil newspaper in Québec City, Réal Labbé has provided coverage of countless professional and amateur sporting events in and around the Quebec City area during the course of his career.

A member of the Golf Writers’ Association of America, Labbé has covered numerous provincial and national golf competitions, as well as professional tournaments including the Masters.

Labbé currently works as a special columnist with Le Soleil, focusing on golf, and also serves as a radio commentator and editorial commentator on Québec City radio.

Results Are What Counts In Golf Canada Hiring

There’s been a lot of discussion on both sides regarding the hiring of Tristan Mullally of Ireland as head coach of the women’s national team by Golf Canada.

I’ve got an Aussie working for me in the shop here and, from my perspective, he’s the best guy for the job and that’s what matters.

I get the fact that you want to hire from within and I think that’s fair, but you want the best coach to produce the best possible players for the national team. You would think we have that person in Canada, but maybe, we didn’t have anyone available for that position.

With such hirings, you have a certain void to fill. Optics aside, that may mean hiring somebody from another country. When people obtain their visas, they need to prove they fill a void that somebody from the country where he or she hopes to be employed can’t fill.

I’m not familiar with Tristan Mullally, but whoever was doing the hiring felt he was the best individual for the job, so I’ll accept that. He’s still got to prove himself, the same as a Canadian would in that job.

Do I wish a Canadian had filled the position? Sure I do, but if this move ends up producing quality players for the national team, so be it.

Golf Canada Hiring Is A Slap In The Face

As much as the PGA of Canada is on board with Golf Canada’s hiring of Tristan Mullally of Ireland as coach of the women’s national team, I believe it’s a slap in the face of the association.

If there isn’t a qualified candidate in Canada, then we need to burn it to the ground and start all over again. I can’t for the life of me believe that there isn’t a qualified candidate in Canada.

From my vantage point, I wonder how much actual coaching a head coach does because every person I’ve ever met who is on a Team Canada has his/her own instructor. It seems to me that the head coach is more of an administrator.

I don’t think this hiring sends a good message and I’ll be very curious to see what it does for Golf Canada going forward in its fundraising program.

As a PGA of Canada member and a supporter of Golf Canada, I’m not a fan of this move. I don’t know Tristan Mullally at all. He could be Butch Harmon for all I know, but it’s nothing personal. From an optics point of view, it doesn’t look good.

Golf Canada Should Hire Credentials Over Nationality

I believe that if we are to become a force in the game of golf, we have to go on credentials rather than nationality, so personally, I’m not disappointed in the hiring by Golf Canada of Tristan Mullally from Ireland to coach Team Canada women’s golf.

We have some great teachers in this country and many of them are great friends of mine, but if it’s an Australian, an American or Canadian, let’s go with the best person. We can’t settle for second-best when it comes to our national teams.

By that statement, I don’t mean that Canadians are second-best, but maybe, our best Canadian coaches weren’t available for this position for a variety of reasons, or maybe, the new coach had specific experience that caught Golf Canada’s attention.

Look how many Canadians are coaching hockey in Europe and other places around the world. You see it at the Olympics, where maybe one of another country’s coaches in a variety of sports might be a Canadian.

Those countries are hiring on the basis of experience and credentials. Just because it’s Golf Canada, it doesn’t mean it has to hire exclusively Canadians.

It’s about getting the best person who can help your team, especially at that level. Like any other coach in any other sport, that coach still has to produce once he lands the job.

Should Golf Canada Always Hire Canadian?

I wondered if it would become an issue when Golf Canada last week announced that it had hired Tristan Mullally of Ireland as head coach of the national women’s team. You can read that story here.

I didn’t receive any phone calls or e-mails, but apparently Bob Weeks and Robert Thompson did from unnamed objectors and you can read their blogs here and here. With RT’s blog, you will have to scroll down to find the blog on this subject.

Judging from the comments below Weeks’ blog, there are some who do object to the hiring of a non-Canadian, even if Mullally does plan to obtain PGA of Canada credentials. A case could be made that a woman should be coaching the women’s program as well, but that’s another argument. Read more

Golf Canada Rounds Out Coaching Staff

Tristan Mullally of Ireland has been brought on as the new national women’s coach for Golf Canada

As a member of the Irish Ladies Golf Union high performance coaching staff, he was a travelling coach to a number of international events, including the 2011 European Ladies Championship, where Irish players finished first, second, fourth and 10th.

Mullally, 32, is a former player on the Irish and Swedish tours and served as personal coach, technical consultant or short game coach to several Irish touring professionals, including Graeme McDowell since 2003.

A member of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, Mullally will also work on PGA of Canada certification and will be relocating to Oakville, Ont., and work out of the Golf Canada office.

“Our goal was to find a coach that has demonstrated success working with elite female players and who could build on the success the program has experienced over the past couple of years,” said Jeff Thompson, chief sport development officer for Golf Canada.

“We feel very fortunate to have Tristan as part of the program and committed to taking the program to the next level,” added Thompson.

“In addition to his experience as a competitor, Tristan’s extensive international coaching background with both amateur and professional golfers will be a great asset as we move the program forward,” he said.

Mullally replaces former women’s head coach Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, who was named men’s head coach in September.

Former women’s assistant coach Robert Ratcliffe of Comox, B.C. will become the new men’s assistant coach.

Originally from South Africa, Ratcliffe has played and coached golf all over the world. A member of both the Canadian and British PGA, he coached in England, Florida, Egypt, Alberta and British Columbia before joining Team Canada in 2007.

The 2009 recipient of the BCPGA Teacher of the Year Award has previously coached at a provincial level with Alberta Golf (2004-2006), as well as at the intercollegiate level as men’s head coach with the University of Alberta (2003-2006).

Ratcliffe also spent four years as touring professional from 1997-2000.  He has also worked as director of instruction with Crown Isle Resort in Courtney, B.C. (2007-2009) and RedTail Landing Golf Academy in Edmonton (2003-2006).

Rounding out the coaching staff is Ann Carroll of Mississauga, Ont. who has been named women’s assistant coach.

A native of Vancouver, Carroll has been a member of the PGA of Canada for 20 years and served as a provincial coach with the Golf Association of Ontario from 2007-2011.

A graduate of Florida State University, Carroll is a two-time Ontario Amateur champion (1984-85).

“We are thrilled with the coaching staff brought together to lead Canada’s national team program,” said Thompson.

“Each of our men’s and women’s team coaches bring unique talents, competitive experiences and coaching credentials that we feel can help fuel Canadian success on the international golfing stage,” he said.

Tough Questions Need Answers At Golf Canada AGM

There have been times in this space when I’ve taken a media colleague to task, but in this case, I agree with ScoreGolf’s Bob Weeks who says here that the upcoming Golf Canada/Royal Canadian Golf Association annual general meeting will be more than the coronation of incoming president Diane Dunlop-Hebert.

It’s also expected to be announced soon that, to nobody’s surprise, Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., will be named the site of the 2013 RBC Canadian Open, but while that announcement will capture the public’s attention, what’s happening behind the scenes will also be interesting. Read more

Hughes, Lee-Bentham Earn Top Amateur Honours

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Richmond Hill, Ont., have been named Canada’s top male and female amateur golfers, respectively, based on final standings on the 2011 National Order of Merit.

Hughes, a member of the national team, posted several victories in 2011, including a win at the Canadian Amateur that earned the 21-year old an exemption into the 2012 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Hughes also captured the Glencoe Invitational, earned medalist honors at a U.S. Open Regional Qualifier and reached the round of 16 at the Western Amateur and the round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur.

As a junior at Kent State, Hughes won the Mid-American Conference (MAC) title and was named NCAA First Team All-MAC and NCAA Academic All-MAC.

Rounding out the top-five on the Men’s Order of Merit are Mitch Sutton of London, Ont., Albin Choi of Toronto, Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., and former Team Canada member Richard Jung of Toronto.
Lee-Bentham edged 2010 Order of Merit champion Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. to claim top spot in the women’s national ranking.

In 2011, the 19-year-old Team Canada graduate posted a victory at the Royale Cup Canadian Amateur, tied for fourth at a CN Canadian Women’s Tour event and reached the Round of 32 at the Ladies’ British Open Amateur.

She later earned full-time status on the LPGA Tour by tying for ninth at Q-school.

Rounding out the top-five in the women’s national ranking are Kirby and Augusta James of Bath, Ont. Nicole Zhang of Calgary finished fourth, while Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont., was fifth.

Wilson Bateman of Spruce Grove, Alta., and Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C., finished atop the CN Future Links Junior Boys and Junior Girls Order of Merit, respectively.

The following are the top-10 on the Men’s and Women’s 2011 National Orders of Merit:

Men

1. Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.)
2. Mitch Sutton (London, Ont.)
3. Albin Choi (Toronto, Ont.)
4. Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.)
5. Richard Jung (Toronto, Ont.)
6. Cory Renfrew Vancouver, B.C.)
7. Mark Hoffman (Ashburn, Ont.)
8. Wilson Bateman (Spruce Grove, Alta.)
9. Eric Banks (Truro, N.S.)
10. Jacob Patte (Oshawa, Ont.)

Women

1. Rebecca Lee-Bentham (Richmond Hill, Ont.)
2. Jennifer Kirby (Paris, Ont.)
3. Augusta James (Bath, Ont.)
4. Nicole Zhang (Calgary, Alta.)
5. Nicole Vandermade (Brantford, Ont.)
6. Jessica Wallace (Langley, B.C.)
7. Taylor Kim (Surrey, B.C.)
8. Jisoo Keel (Coquitlam, B.C.)
9. Brittany Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.)
10. Christine Wong (Richmond, B.C.)

For complete standings, click here.

The following are the Top-10 on the CN Future Links Boys and Girls 2011 National Orders of Merit:

Boys

1. Wilson Bateman (Spruce Grove, Alta.)
2. Richard Jung (Toronto, Ont.)
3. Kevin Kwon (Pitt Meadows, B.C.)
4. Jerry Christiansen (Saskatoon, Sask.)
5. Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.)
6. Eric Banks (Truro, N.S.)
7. Lucas Kim (Toronto, Ont.)
8. Riley Fleming (Airdrie, Alta.)
9. Chris Hemmerich (Kitchener, Ont.)
10. Myles Sullivan (Portage la Prairie, Man.)

Girls

1. Jisoo Keel (Coquitlam, B.C.)
2. Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.)
3. Augusta James (Bath, Ont.)
4. SooBin Kim (Coquitlam, B.C.)
5. Anica Yoo (Coquitlam, B.C.)
6. Taylor Kim (Surrey, B.C.)
7. Jennifer Yang (Coquitlam, B.C.)
8. Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alta.)
9. Brogan McKinnon (Mississauga, Ont.)
10. Anna (Youn Jin) Kim (Toronto, Ont.)

For complete standings, click here.

Changes To Canadian ESC Methodology For Handicapping

The Royal Canadian Golf Association (Golf Canada) has announced a change to the Canadian methodology as it relates to Equitable Stroke Control (ESC).

This change will bring the Canadian methodology into equivalency with current ESC calculations used by the United States Golf Association.

ESC is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make handicap factors more representative of a player’s potential scoring ability. It sets a maximum number that a golfer can post on any hole depending on the player’s course handicap.

A golfer with a one handicap. for example, should not be subject to the same ESC score adjustments as a player with an 18 handicap with such differing abilities, according to the RCGA.

The RCGA Handicapping and Course Rating Committee approved the change after commissioning statistical research that revealed the current ESC method causes differences in handicap factors that do not necessarily reflect a difference in ability.

By reducing the size of the handicap ranges within the ESC table, the new method provides a more even distribution across a wide range of handicaps.

Using maximum numbers, rather than adjustments based on hole-par, facilitates simpler application and comprehension of the ESC procedure, according to the RCGA. It also mitigates the effect of courses not allocating proper par to holes by RCGA guidelines.

According to the RCGA, in a head-to-head match, the lower handicap player has a better than 50 per cent chance of winning. The new ESC will bring the odds closer to 50 per cent.

Golf Canada will be communicating the changes to Equitable Stroke Control methodology to all Canadian golf industry groups including golf clubs that use Golf Canada’s Handicap Network and golfers that track an official handicap before the beginning of March.

For more on this story and the ESC table, click here.

First Priority: Education Or Golf?

There are many of us across Canada who wish Doug Roxburgh well as he steps away from his post as director of high performance for Golf Canada. Elite golfers and their development have been a focus for Roxburgh for the past dozen years.

During a discussion for this blog last week, Roxburgh got talking about the challenges facing Canada in developing its golfers and one of the topics the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member touched on was the effect of U.S. collegiate golf. Read more

U.S. College Golf A Challenge For Canadian Development: Roxburgh

It wasn’t a hasty decision to leave Golf Canada as director of high performance, but Doug Roxburgh had a couple of good reasons, not the least of which was continuing an amateur career that has already landed him in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

“I’m going to be turning 60,” said the four-time Canadian Amateur champion and 1970 Canadian Junior champ.

“I just got to thinking about the program and the things that are ahead of it and the things that I wanted to do and I just realized if I wanted to play some golf and enjoy the senior side of it, I was going to have to do that,” added the 13-time British Columbia Amateur winner.

“It’s also to the point where I think we are entering another phase of the player development with golf in the Olympics coming up (in 2016) and the Pan-Am Games and we’re in the youth Olympics and things like that,” said the two-time B.C. junior winner.

“It’s an opportunity to get somebody in that can work with (Golf Canada chief sport development officer) Jeff Thompson and spend the time and energy,” said Roxburgh, a member of 21 B.C. Willingdon Cup teams. Read more

Amateur Standout Retires From High Performance Program

After 12 years with Golf Canada’s high performance program Doug Roxburgh is retiring.

Roxburgh, 59, also played an important role in the development of the CN Future Links junior program and has also contributed to the development of Canada’s Long Term Player Development Guide and the Golf Canada national team program.

“My time with Golf Canada’s High Performance Program has been extremely rewarding both personally and professionally,” said Roxburgh.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of this country’s most gifted young athletes as well as an incredible number of very committed coaches and administrators determined to build Canada into a leading golf nation,” he added.

“It is a difficult decision to step away as Golf Canada heads toward exciting new competitions such as the Pan Am and Olympic Games,” he said.

“However, it is the right one as the association begins this next phase of player development,” he said.

Roxburgh also compiled numerous provincial, national and international victories throughout his 40-year amateur golfing career.

Inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1990, Roxburgh’s accomplished amateur career spans nearly four decades.

He won the 1970 Canadian Junior Championship and is a four-time Canadian Amateur champion (1972, 1974, 1982, and 1988).

He is also a two-time British Columbia Junior champion (1969, 1970), a 13-time B.C. Amateur champion (1969, 1972, 1973, 1976-1978, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996); and a member of 21 B.C. Willingdon Cup teams.

He has also represented Canada at several international team and individual competitions throughout his playing career. including seven World Amateur Team Championships.

A longtime member at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, Roxburgh is also a member of the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame, the British Columbia Golf Hall of Fame and Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame.

“As a competitor and an administrator, Doug Roxburgh has been an outstanding ambassador for Canada and a driving force behind high performance golf in this country,” said Golf Canada executive director Scott Simmons.

“His contributions to the game and leadership in the areas of long term player development, junior competition and high performance have been simply outstanding,” added Simmons.

“Throughout his career, he has earned the respect of his peers and fellow golfers in Canada and around the world,” he added.

Roxburgh will remain in his position as director of high performance with Team Canada until the end of the year.

After his retirement, he will assume a consulting role with Golf Canada’s High Performance Program.

Team Canada Named For 2012

The 2012 national amateur golf team has been named by Golf Canada, with 11 players, six men and five women, comprising the team, which has five returnees and four newcomers from the development squad.

The following athletes have been selected to Team Canada:

MEN’S NATIONAL AMATEUR TEAM

Mackenzie Hughes, Dundas, Ont.

Albin Choi, Toronto

Mitch Sutton, London, Ont.

Eric Banks, Truro, N.S.

Charlie Hughes, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Garrett Rank, Elmira, Ont.

WOMEN’S NATIONAL AMATEUR TEAM

Christine Wong, Richmond, B.C.

Jennifer Kirby, Paris, Ont.

Augusta James, Bath, Ont.

Jisoo Keel, Coquitlam, B.C.

Brittany Marchand, Orangeville, Ont.

Golf Canada has also named a 22-and-under development team. Below are those players:

MEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Kevin Kwon, Pitt Meadows, B.C.

Adam Svensson, Surrey, B.C.

Riley Fleming, Airdrie, Alta.

Blair Hamilton, Burlington, Ont.

WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Mackenzie Brooke Henderson, Smiths Falls, Ont.

Anna Kim, Toronto

Anica Yoo, Port Coquitlam, B.C.

Taylor Kim, Surrey, B.C.

Brogan McKinnon, Mississauga, Ont.

The first event for the newly announced Team Canada athletes will be the 2011 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, Nov. 2-5 at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Texas.

Mackenzie Hughes and Garrett Rank will comprise the men’s team, while Taylor Kim and Mackenzie Brooke Henderson will challenge for the women’s title.

Rules Of Golf Revised

The Royal Canadian Golf Association (Golf Canada) has announced the publication of the new Rules of Golf for 2012-15.

Following a four-year review of golf’s 34 playing rules, nine principal rules have been amended to improve clarity and ensure penalties are proportionate.  Notable changes include:

Ball Moving After Address (Rule 18-2b). A new exception is added which exonerates the player from penalty if the ball moves after it has been addressed, when it is known or virtually certain that the player did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.

Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions (Rule 13-4). Exception two to this rule is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 (improving lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play) is not breached.

Time of Starting (Rule 6-3a). The rule is amended to provide that the penalty for starting late, but within five minutes of the starting time, is reduced from disqualification to loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Previously, this penalty reduction could be introduced as a condition of competition.

“Fundamentally, the Rules of Golf will remain the same,” said Brent McLaughlin, Golf Canada’s director of rules, competitions, and amateur status.

“The Joint Rules Committee conducted an extensive review and substantive changes were kept to a minimum,” added McLaughlin.

“The Rules of Golf are constantly reviewed and our hope is that the 2012-15 publication is clear to golfers and reflective of the demands of the modern game,” he said.

The Rules of Amateur Status also underwent revision with the most notable change relating to hole-in-one prizes.

Until now, prizes for holing a tee shot in amateur golf have been subject to the same restrictions as other competitions.

However, a Rule change which acknowledges the special nature of a hole in one during a round of golf means that restrictions on the prizes offered have been lifted.

The RCGA will publish in English and French a total of 85,000 copies of the Rules of Golf 2012-15, available which will be available on January 1.

A companion publication to the Rules of Golf, Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2012 – 2013 will also be available January 1.

More information about the Rules of Golf can be found by clicking here.

Industry Notes: October 11, 2011

Team Quebec defeated Team Ontario 17-7 in the Titleist Cup held last week at Toronto Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont. … Golf historian Jim Barclay has been inducted as a builder into the St. George’s Golf and Country Club Hall of Fame in Toronto. Barclay is also a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and is best known for his book Golf In Canada: A History … A successful grant application submitted by Golf Canada and Golf Quebec to the Quebec Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sport in connection with the province hosting the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open will go to the National Golf In Schools program. The grant funding will allow Golf Canada and Golf Quebec to bring the Golf In Schools program to more than 100 elementary schools in the province.

Henry’s A Hall Of Famer

Henry Brunton, former national men’s coach for Golf Canada, will be a 2011 inductee into the North Grenville Sports Hall of Fame.

Brunton, who goes into the hall as a builder, will be inducted at a ceremony on Oct. 27 in Kemptville, Ont.

For more information, contact Tammy Hurlbert at (613) 258-9569, ext. 123.

Next Page »