By BRENT LONG

To say that the 2013 PGA of Ontario Teacher of the Year is a man in motion might be a bit of an understatement.  The past 12 months have been a whirlwind for Nick Starchuk who splits his teaching time between the Golf Lounge in Richmond Hill, The Golf Lab in Vaughan, The Oakville Indoor Golf Center and at Mississaugua G&CC from April 1 to October 1.

That’s quite the busy schedule – and when you add in his work on YouTube . . . www.youtube.com/smartergolflessons which is closing in  on 1,000,000 views, his 3,200 followers on Twitter @nickstarchuk, Facebook at /starchuk.nick, his personal business web site www.nrsgolf.com, it seems that Starchuk is just about everywhere.

It hasn’t always been that way for the 36-year-old Ottawa native who moved to Oakville to kick-start his professional golf teaching career back in 2005. He’d just spent two years playing mini-tours and didn’t seem to find the groove, so he joined the PGA of Canada and turned his attention to teaching. He fondly remembers duking it out on the range at Glen Abbey GC in 2005 and 2006 with the likes of Reggie Millage, Connor O’Shea, Sean Casey and Sean Foley as they fought to find their place in the golf teaching/coaching landscape.

“I think once I found that I could do this for a living with other “truth seekers” I was hooked.  By 2006 I had a full schedule teaching 10 to 12 hours a day, but half of those lessons were free,” says Starchuk who first picked up the game going into Grade 9 when his parents bought a home backing onto Kanata Lakes GC and he joined Royal Ottawa GC and Hylands GC shortly thereafter. “That was the business model for the first few years, get out there and teach and learn and get some exposure so people would see you and get to know your name.”

“Today, I don’t have to take everything that comes my way. Most of my students sign up for six months to a year,” says Starchuk, who married his long-time sweetheart, Krystyna, back in September.  She was the first person he met when he showed up for work at Glen Abbey in 2005? “I like to keep it one-on-one when it comes to teaching. I’m not a big fan of group lessons. I believe you need face time with your students and you really have to listen to what they are saying and feeling about their game.”

Starchuk, who relies heavily on FlightScope for his teaching, has an insatiable appetite for learning and understanding more about the golfers’ swing, mind, and body. As a professional, he has travelled all over North America to learn from the best instructors, trainers, coaches, scientists and mentors to feed his desire for answers. He has attended over 300 hours of professional development seminars on topics such as fitness, biomechanics and the mental game of golf. Starchuk is also a member of the Proponent Group which is a worldwide group of the leading golf instructors who help golf professionals create brands and learn how to market, advertise, and align themselves with other groups as the days of simply being a PGA member at a club are gone.

While the PGA of Ontario and PGA of Canada Teacher of the Year Award have been on his radar for the last two or three years, it was probably his work at Mississaugua this past season that finally pushed him over the top. He received the green light from the club’s Director of Golf, Dennis Firth to launch The Academy at Mississaugua. “Nick’s state of the art programs covered all areas; highlighted by specialty schools such as Wedge Masters and The 4 Keys to Putting. His teaching style gracefully balances state of the art technology & teaching aids with timeless fundamentals,” Firth says.

Starchuk also revived the virtually dead junior golf program at the club with over 40 juniors enrolling in its first year. He created and championed a brand new initiative called 3.6.9. Junior Golf Night (think 3, 6, 9 holes of golf based on age and ability). This fun and informative weekly program, provided 30 minutes of supervised coaching followed by 90 minutes of on-course activities and games. Different from traditional instructional program, juniors aged 7 thru 18, were introduced to etiquette, course care, different golf formats while understanding the respect of rules and camaraderie for their playing partners.

Two junior programs he’s most proud of are the Muskoka Woods Golf Academy and a junior program at St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School in Oakville. Both were founded in 2006 to offer juniors the ability to experience golf at an early age and have impacted hundreds of youngsters over the years.

Along the way he also spent the 2009/2010 school year working full-time at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy in Orlando training nine international teenagers, several who spoke very little English. Starchuk was responsible for overseeing their daily golf practice, workouts, school and traveling for tournaments and the experience allowed him to truly evolve into a golf coach for elite juniors.

His goal down the road is to provide his students the best opportunity to reach their full potential. To do that he’ll continue to focus on mind, body and swing for golfers of all ages and abilities.

Inaugural international junior girls’ championship to be conducted September 26^th to October 1^st at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.  

Golf Canada to conduct the 16-Team, 72-hole U18 competition

In partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario;

Championship to receive grant funding through the

Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport 

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the creation of a World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship beginning in 2014.

The inaugural international championship – which will be contested September 26^th to October 1^st at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. – will be conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario.

The championship will feature three-player teams of athletes under the age of 18 representing 15 countries. As host country, Canada will field a second squad in the competition.

The 16-team field will compete over 72 holes for both individual and team honours. Qualifying countries for the inaugural championship will be invited based on their performances at the 2012 World Amateur in Turkey.

The 2014 World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship will mark the first official playing of a female junior championship of its kind – the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup is a boys’ only event that has been contested for almost 20 years.

“The creation of the World Junior Girls Golf Championship provides a world-class international championship for Canada’s top female junior golfers to benchmark themselves against the world’s best,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “For nearly two decades, the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup has provided an incredible opportunity for the world’s top junior boys to compete internationally. It’s exciting to partner with the Golf Association of Ontario in creating an event that we strongly believe will evolve into the premiere junior girls’ team and individual golf competition in the world.”

The creation of the World Junior Girls Golf Championship will see Golf Canada work closely with the Golf Association of Ontario in conducting the international competition for a minimum of three years in the province of Ontario.

“The World Junior Girls Golf Championship represents an exciting opportunity for the Golf Association of Ontario and Golf Canada to further align and work collaboratively to produce a world class event,” said Golf Association of Ontario Executive Director Steve Carroll.  “With the support of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, golf development in Ontario and Canada will benefit from important legacy components associated with the championship including skill development clinics, officials training initiatives, officials mentoring activities and a coaching summit.”

In addition to a 72-hole competition, the championship will include skills competitions, an international golf coaches’ summit and golf clinics outside of tournament play in the spirit of establishing an interactive junior golf festival around the championship.

The event – which is supported by the International Golf Federation, will receive grant funding by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

“The Government of Ontario values the power of sport hosting as an excellent opportunity to showcase our beautiful province, encourage the development of sport infrastructure and generate increased economic activity in communities across the province,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport for the Pan/Parapan American Games “We welcome the World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship to Ontario — as a celebration of our athletes and an opportunity to build our reputation as a premier destination to host international sporting events.”

The Angus Glen Golf Club will also play host to the debut of golf at the 2015 Pan Am Games from July 16-19, 2015. The World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship will provide training opportunities for officials and volunteers registered for the historic event that is set for the south course at Angus Glen.

GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.

Golf Canada is the National Sports Organization and governing body for golf in Canada representing close to 322,000 golfers at nearly 1,500 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

ABOUT THE GOLF ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO

The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 450 member clubs, the GAO is one of the largest golf associations in the world.  From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and getting the game of golf into our school systems, to keeping the Ontario golf community aware of all relevant issues and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, the Golf Association of Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to making golf better for everyone in Ontario. We share a love and passion for golf, while preserving its past, fostering its future, and championing golf’s best interests for everyone who enjoys the sport.

Qualifying tournament registration for the Golf Association of Ontario’s 2014 schedule is now open online and can be accessed at: http://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao14/schedule/index.htm. Registration is limited so don’t delay!

Barbara Allan and the late Norm Woods to be honoured Saturday, February 8th during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting in London, Ont.

Doug Alexander of London, Ont. to be introduced as the 111th president of Golf Canada

Oakville, Ont.(Golf Canada) – Longtime golf volunteer Barbara Allan of Kingston, Ont. as well as the late Norm Woods of Kitchener, Ont. – founder of both GolfScene magazine and the former GolfScene Junior Tour – will be honoured for their contributions to the game of golf as the 2014 co-recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Awards will be presented to Allan as well as Woods’ son Steve, on Saturday, February 8th as part of the National Sport Organization’s Annual General Meeting to be held at the London Hilton Hotel in London, Ont.

“Golf Canada is proud to acknowledge Barbara Allan and Norm Woods and celebrate their outstanding contributions to the game of golf as our 2014 Distinguished Service Award recipients,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “In their own unique way, Barbara and Norm have made a significant impact on the game within their communities and across Canada. Their commitment and passion for our sport makes each of them a truly deserving recipient.”

Created in 1993, Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award has been awarded annually to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada.

Recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award are traditionally selected from within the province of the organization’s incoming president. On Saturday, February 8th, Doug Alexander of London, Ont. will be sworn in as Golf Canada’s 111th President.

As President-elect, Alexander will succeed 2013 President Mike Carroll of Vancouver.

Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting and presidential appointment will conclude four days of meetings, February 5-8, at the London Hilton Hotel in London, Ont.

BARBARA ALLAN 

Barbara Allan has devoted over 20 years of her adult life to the game of golf in Ontario and across the country. Allan’s passion for golf began in the 1980’s when her husband encouraged her to get into the sport.

Allan had an immediate connection with the game and began volunteering in the early 1990’s where she first served as the District Teams Assistant for the (former) Ontario Ladies Golf Association (OLG). She would later become the District Chair for the Association from 1998-2002. From 2001-2006, Allan served as a board member for the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) and was welcomed as the President of the Association in 2005.

With a strong passion for women’s golf, Allan was invited to join Golf Canada as a volunteer Governor in 2006, serving as the Women’s Division Vice-Chair before becoming the Women’s Division Chair in 2007. She has served Golf Canada in numerous capacities since the (former) Canadian Ladies Golf Association’s amalgamation with Golf Canada in 2005, sitting on the Executive Committee from 2006-2008; the Board of Directors from 2009-2012 and also on the Governors’ Council from 2009-2013 where she served as the Chair from 2009-2012.

In addition to serving as a past Chair of the Women’s Fund, Allan’s volunteer efforts with Golf Canada will continue in 2014 as a member of Governors’ Council as well as Chair of both the Amateur Championships and Heritage Committees. As well, she currently volunteers at the club, provincial and district level and is also a past Ladies Captain of Garrison Golf Club in Kingston where she serves as the Chair of Handicap and Rules.

Highlights from her time volunteering include becoming Level 4 Rules certified with Golf Canada in 2012; serving as the non-playing captain at the Five Nations Cup in South Africa in 2007; acting as a Tournament Chair at numerous Golf Canada championships and also being a member of the duty roster of officials at each of Canada’s National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

NORM WOODS (1944-2011)

Norm Woods is remembered as a passionate sport enthusiast who strived to give individuals the opportunity to experience the game of golf. He was devoted to the benefits of health and fitness, receiving a Physical Education degree from the University of Waterloo in 1967 as well as a Masters degree in Physical Education from the University of Oregon in 1971.

He spent considerable time affiliated with the YMCA, first working as the Physical Education Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA before later becoming a program coordinator with the Regina Saskatchewan YMCA where he spearheaded programs such as KinderSwim and KinderGym. In 1975, he was one of eight Canadians selected by Concordia University to travel to Russia to experience how Russian athletes trained and would later be named Director of Preventative Health for the Saskatchewan Government.

He returned to Ontario in 1976 and while working as Vice-President of the Institute of Canadian Advertisers, was involved in the launch of the national PARTICIPACTION program as well as the building of PARTICIPARKs.

He would also become an advocate for providing scholarships to student athletes and in 1991 he purchased the regional franchise for College Prospects of America, opening the door for many student athletes across the country. His College Prospects franchise provided upwards of $5 million in scholarships for Canadian athletes including numerous competitive golfers and many others who would go on to work in the golf industry.

In 1999, he was instrumental in bringing some of the top U.S. golf coaches to Angus Glen Golf Club to showcase 144 of Ontario’s top golfers and coaches. His showcase provided many players with scholarships to U.S. universities including David Hearn as well as Sean Foley, who later went on the write his first series of instruction articles in GolfScene – a regional golf publication Woods launched in 2000 serving southwestern Ontario.

The GolfScene publication originated as a tabloid that was hand-delivered throughout the golf community. In 2008, the publication evolved into a magazine and continues to be delivered to over 340 courses and facilities.

Woods’ passion for junior golf lead to the development of the GolfScene Junior Tour, a recreational tour dedicated to providing fun golf competitions for juniors that instilled values such as integrity and fair play. The junior tour – which also encouraged parents and grandparents to play – saw Woods become a mentor, father figure and friend to countless golfers including the 2014 LPGA Tour rookie Jennifer Kirby, Team Canada members such as Corey Conners and Garrett Rank, Web.com TOUR rookie Cam Burke and PGA TOUR Canada players such as Michael Gligic.

Before his passing in 2011 at the age of 67, Woods – a past member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada – was a social golfer who most enjoyed health benefits of walking the golf course, along with the camaraderie of friends. A mentor to many and lifelong proponent of health and wellness, Woods taught by example and provided opportunity to many enthusiasts who may have never been introduced to the game of golf.

By BRENT LONG

Most people wouldn’t see golf as a team sport, but maybe that’s what separates Jeff Overholt apart from the rest.

Turns out the PGA of Ontario Coach of the Year for 2013 is a real team player who believes it’s one of the key ingredients for growing the game as the sport moves forward. “Developing a team concept for junior golfers is important to keep the kids engaged in the game,” says the 31-year-old who co-owns Golf Performance Coaches which runs coaching programs at several locations such as Carrying Place & Coppinwood GC.

“You look at other major sports like hockey or soccer and players don’t practice and play in isolation, they’re part of a team, with their friends and having fun together and that is what has been missing from golf in the past. It’s a key piece to keeping them in the game and continuing to progress and improve to a higher skill level.

Over the last few years Overholt, who started his own family team when his wife Amy gave birth to their first child this past June, has been busy designing and implementing coaching programs at club, regional and provincial levels. From 2009 through 2013 Overholt was the strength and conditioning coach for the Golf Association of Ontario’s Team Ontario High Performance Program. He’s taking on new duties for 2014 and just started working with the best under-17 players as head coach of the York Regional Team, one of three feeder teams leading towards the GAO’s provincial team.

“As a coach I really enjoy the relationships I build with the athletes I work with and the time we spend together working both on and off the course,” he says. “I really try to spend time with athletes out on the golf course, watching them compete and then working with them to improve their overall game and strategies as a result of what I observed in competition.”

Over the past three years Overholt, a Class A member of the PGA of Canada for the past eight years, has been involved in the creation of the Junior Golf Development Centre (JGDC) initiative through the GAO which was adopted as a National program through Golf Canada in 2012. Extensive time was spent creating the “New Competitor” program handbook template and supporting resources, which is now available to all JGDC coaches.

As a Lead Coach for Golf Performance Coaches, Overholt and 2012 Coach of the Year, Jon Roy provide holistic junior golf coaching programs for introductory and competitive junior golfers between the ages of 10 to 18 years of age – the PGA Junior League, New Competitor Team and Developing Competitor Team. The goal of the year-round program that is offered at locations such as Coppinwood GC, Carrying Place GC, Wooden Sticks GC, The Golf Lab and the Metro Golf Dome is to deliver comprehensive support in the four pillars of performance – technical, physical, mental, and tactical – in all aspects of development for junior golfers and provide guidance to families on navigating the competitive junior golf landscape. He has also worked with the Crescent School Golf Team on player development and feels working with private schools will be one of his major opportunities for growth in the future.

He also offers a “Mid-Am” coaching program: This year-long program is designed for the competitive amateur golfer between the age of 20 to 45. This program offers a holistic approach to golf skills development for amateur golfers which have already had established careers in competitive golf and would like to continue to compete and train at a high level while working a full-time job.

UXBRIDGE, ON— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is pleased to announce the formation of three regional junior teams comprised of some of the best U17 athletes in the province, a first for the association. The GAO Team Ontario program formerly was made up of a U19 and U17 team, now the provincial team features the 12 best U19 athletes, regardless of age, while three regional teams in the Ottawa, York and Waterloo regions have been set up for an additional 36 male and female athletes under the age of 17 (12 on each squad).

The teams were created in the Fall based on combines held in the three regions. Each region features a head coach and a strength and condition coach to help the athletes train during the winter months.

The pilot project was made possible thanks to a grant from the Sport Priority Funding Program through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.  It focuses on two educational components: technical and physical. The technical aspect identifies gaps in the athlete’s game, then targets and monitors improvements. As for the physical side, the athletes get a biomechanical assessment followed by custom workout and nutrition plans.

“The GAO is thrilled to be expanding the pool of talented athletes and coaches in Ontario and the opportunity to enhance our support to members clubs and families in all parts of this great province,” said GAO Managing Director, Sport Mike Kelly. “As we inch closer to golf’s return to the Olympic program in 2016 and 2015 Pan-Para Pan-Am Games in Toronto, investments like these will clear the path for podium performances in the near future, hopefully paved in gold!”

The program will run during the months of November to March and is comprised of 11 three-hour training sessions (approximately two per month). The teams will conclude the program with a five-day training camp and Regional Team Competition during March Break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Team Ottawa 

Team Ottawa is made up of athletes from Ottawa and surrounding area stretching from Almonte to Kingston. The team is led by Head Coach Adam Holden, a PGA Canada and PGA Australia Class ‘A’ Professional.  Holden is in his 12^th year coaching at the Kevin Haime Golf School in Kanata. Allen Hicks is the team’s strength and condition coach. He brings more than 20-years of experience as a physiotherapist and strength coach.

Team Ottawa consists of: Jake Bryson, 14, from Dunrobin, a GAO Public Player, coached by Kevin Haime; Christopher Carwardine, 14, from Kanata and Kanata Lakes Golf & Country Club; Ty Celone, 14, from Long Sault and Summerheights Golf Links; David Iaderosa, 15, from Ottawa, a GAO Public Player, coached by Kevin Haime; James Parsons, 15, from Almonte and Mississippi Golf Club, coached by Adam Holden; Tyler Read, 13, from Brockville and Brockville Golf & Country Club, coached by Matt Wilson; Nicolas Valiquette, 15, from Cornwall and Canadian Golf & Country Club; Sarah Cushing, 14, from Brockville and the Brockville Golf & Country Club, coached by Derek McDonald; Danielle Humilde, 14, from Greeley and Greyhawk Golf Club, coached by Marty Rog; Lilian Klekner-Alt, 15, from Ottawa and Camelot Golf Club, coached by Dale Trafford; Diana McDonald, 15, from Kingston and Loyalist Country Club, coached by Matt Robinson; and Kiley Rodrigues, 13, from Kingston and Cataraqui Golf & Country Club, coached by Kevin Dickey.

Team York 

The York team pulls together athletes from the Toronto area as far east as Peterborough and the Oakville area in the west. They are coached PGA of Canada Class ‘A’ Professional Jeff Overholt. Overholt has worked with Team Ontario in the past and is the Head Coach of the Toronto North Junior Golf Development Centre.  He was named 2013 Coach of the Year by the PGA of Ontario. Kathryn Robinson is the team’s strength and condition coach. Robinson is currently the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Specialist at York University.

Athletes on Team York  are:  Kyle MacDonald, 15, from Oakville and Rattlesnake Point Golf Club, coached by Rich Storey; Sam Meek, 15, from Peterborough and Kawartha Golf & Country Club, coached by Mark Ahrens; Nicklaus Naumovski, 14, from Halton Hills and Brampton Golf Club; Lachlan O’Hara, 14, from Mississauga and Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, coached by Jerry Anderson; Mathew Suarez, 15, from Toronto and Mad River Golf Club, coached by Jeff Overholt and Andrew Love; James Wyndham-West, 15, from King City and King’s Riding Golf Club, coached by Henry Brunton; David Yoon, 15, from Richmond Hill and Station Creek Golf Club; Delana Basanisi, 13, from Mississauga and Trafalgar Golf Club, coached by Gary Hay; Ellice Hong, 14, from Thornhill and Glendale Golf & Country Club, coached by Don Lee; Hailey McLaughlin, 12, from Markham and Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club, coached by Cameron Carty; Alexandra Naumovski, 16, from Hornby and Brampton Golf Club; and Emily Zhu, 9, from Richmond Hill and Station Creek Golf Club, coached by Jason Helman.

Team Waterloo 

The Team Waterloo region includes Kitchener-Waterloo and everything south and west to the U.S. boarder. Mike Martz, PGA Class ‘A’ Professional, is the Head Coach for this team. He has more than 25 years of experience. Most recently Mike has become Certified as a Coach for New Competitors and trained as a Coach for Developing Competitors with the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada. The team’s strength and conditioning coach is Angella Lee. She is currently the strength and conditioning coach of the Whistle Bear Junior Team in Cambridge.

The athletes on the team are: Jackson Bowery, 16, from London and Greenhills Golf Club, coached by Len Foran; Drake Jefferson, 15, from Bayfield and Bluewater Golf Club, coached by Brian Gallant; Vince Friyia, 15, from Niagara Falls and St. Catharines Golf Club; Mackenzie Raines, 14, from Kitchener and Whistle Bear Golf Club, coached by Mark Wilson; Thomas Code, 16, from Dorchester, GAO Public Player, coached by Dean Code; Justin DiCienzo, 13, from Niagara Falls and St. Catherines Golf Club, coached by John White; Sparky MacLean, 14, from Niagara Falls and St. Catherines Golf Club, coached by John White; Madeline Marck-Sherk, 16, from Ridgeway and Bridgewater Golf & Country Club, coached by Mary Kraus; Isabella Portokalis, 12, from London and London Hunt and Country Club, coached by Chris Lawson; Haley Barclay, 13, from Strathroy and Sawmill Creek Golf; Kristen Giles, 13, from Georgetown and Cutten Fields, coached by Bradlee Ryall; and Taylor Kehoe, 9, from Strathroy and Whistle Bear Golf Club, coached by Dave Smallwood and Carrie Vaughn.

UXBRIDGE, ON— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is proud to announce its 2014 tournament schedule that will again feature some of the best golf courses in Ontario.

Kicking off the schedule is the Men’s Better-Ball Championship on May 15 at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. “I think we have strong clubs lined up for 2014, especially for our major event,” said Director of Rules and Competitions Dave Colling.

The GAO is also pleased to return to Northern Ontario at the Timberwolf Golf Club, just outside of Sudbury, for the Investors Group Junior Boys’ Championship, July 15-18. The Junior Boys’ event will feature final qualifying this year, similar to what has been used with the Men’s Amateur.

This year, both the Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships will take place at the same time, July 8-11, in the same area. The Brampton Golf Club will welcome the ladies, while The Club at North Halton, in Georgetown, will host the men. A pair of changes to the Women’s Amateur Championship in 2014 are that it will be a 72-hole event, a first for the tournament, and there will be a reduction in the eligible handicap from 12 to 8.4. “This is to ensure the highest level of competition,” said Colling. “It will reduce the field down to 90.”

The GAO is also returning to Eastern Ontario with the Bantam (U15) Boys’ and Girls’ Championships at the Canadian Golf and Country Club in Kanata. There will be off-site qualifying for this event at three different courses.

The 2014 Juvenile (U17) Boys’ and Girls’ Championships will be run as part of the Ontario Summer Games Aug. 8-10 at Roseland Golf and Country Club in Windsor. This year’s field has been expanded to include 90 players, 60 boys and 30 girls.

Finally, the George S. Lyon Team Challenge, Sept. 2 at The Club at Bond Head, reverts to an open format in 2014 after a senior tournament in 2013. The event will continue to alternate between the two formats in future years.

Registration and qualifying info is set to go live on gao.ca at noon on Jan 27.

Tournament Schedule

Born on May 20, 1954 in Montreal and raised in Beaconsfield, Quebec.

Predeceased by mother Mary (Foster) Hayward. Survived by father Charles Hayward, brothers Doug and David, sister Mary Ann (Joey Bush) and nieces Kelly and Robin Lapointe.

John passed away with his friends and family by his side on January 15th at Southlake Hospital in Newmarket.

John was a Class A golf professional and a member of the PGA of Canada since 1981. He worked at various golf clubs in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba including Elm Ridge CC, Royal Montreal GC, Summerlea G &CC, Lionhead G & CC and Cardinal GC.

John was an exceptional coach in both golf and hockey. John coached his sister Mary Ann to 9 national and over 20 provincial golf titles.

John also had a very successful hockey coaching career culminating with being the head coach of the John Abbott College men’s hockey team in the early 1990’s.

John will be remembered by many for his true professionalism, quick wit and loyal friendship.

Many thanks to good friend, Matt Roppel , who cared for John over his final months as well as the medical staff at the Health Science Centre in Winnipeg.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.

A Celebration of Life will be held for John on Saturday, February 8th 1-3 pm at Cardinal Golf Club in King City, Ontario.

If you are looking for a different kind of getaway this June, one that combines your love of history along with passion for golf, Robb Lucy has the answer with Beaches and Bunkers.

Beaches and Bunkers is a trip of a lifetime created in honour of the 70^th anniversary of D-Day for the descendants of soldiers who took part in the storming of the beaches of Normandy, along with history and golf enthusiasts. The nine-day tour, from June 8-17, will visit historical sites in France, Belgium and Holland, but also has a golfing aspect that will allow the participants to play four different courses along the tour.

Lucy came up with the idea for the tour in part thanks to his father Bob who was among the soldiers that landed on the beaches as a gunner in 1944. A scratch golfer, Bob carried with him a lucky 3-iron, hitting rocks, twigs and lumps of dirt to ease the stress of war during his tour.

For the 50^th anniversary, Lucy and his father went back and followed the footsteps Bob had walked during his original tour. It inspired Bob to turn his stories into a book, Ubique-A Gunner’s Story. For Lucy, the experience made him want to do something else for others to see the history behind the event. Bob passed away four years ago, but it didn’t prevent Lucy, a passionate golfer himself, from trying to come up with the idea for a trip.  After attending a service on November 11, at the Cenotaph in Vancouver, Lucy began chatting with a friend about the idea. They wondered what they could add to make the trip more fun and that’s when it hit him to include golf stops along the way.

“I’m pleased to see so many of us at our local cenotaphs each November 11, but saddened so few really understand what happened 70 years ago,” says Lucy. “I hope this tour will be an admonition for people not to let the stories of their parents and grandparents disappear. These experiences forged their tools for life. And it is with those tools they raised us.”

The tour is open to singles, couples and foursomes and will visit key locations of the ‘39-’45 war, as well as Vimy, as the group travels from Paris to Dieppe, Normandy, Belgium and finally to Holland and Amsterdam.  The four golf courses that have been included are: Golf Omaha Beach in Normandy, that overlooks the beaches that were stormed, Golf Club Toxandria, De Hoge Dijk and Spaarnwoude all in Holland.

Guiding the tour is Canadian military historian Terry Copp. Copp is a long-serving professor at Wilfrid Laurier University and the founder of the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. He is the leading scholar of Canada’s military role in World War II.

Lucy connected with Copp before the trip with his father 20 years ago. He knew he would be the perfect guide for this tour.  “I knew we needed the best guy and Terry’s it. We talked a few times and Terry said ‘he’d love to’. With him on-board, we were a go.”

For those interested, more information about the trip is available at www.beachesandbunkers.ca.

UXBRIDGE, ON— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, is pleased to announce the 12-players and four coaches that will comprise Team Ontario for 2014. The team, which began its selection process in late September, is currently in the training portion of their program as they prepare for the start of the season in May with the Junior Spring Classic.

The GAO made changes to the program this year by creating just one provincial U19 team as opposed to the combined U19 and U17 teams in the past. Now, the best golfers in Ontario will be on the provincial team while three regional feeder teams have been set up for an additional 36 players.

“It is a big shift for us from last year having 20 players on one team to having a provincial team and regional teams,” explained GAO Manager of Sport Performance Mary Ann Hayward. “We have selected the best players in the province that all have a realistic chance to move on to the national team,”

This year’s squad will see seven returning players join five new faces. On the girls side are: Monet Chun, 13, returnee, from Richmond Hill and The Summit Golf & Country Club, coached by Don Lee; Alyssa Getty, 17, rookie, from Leamington and Kingsville Golf & Country Club, coached by Sean Foley; Annika Haynes, 17, returnee, from Oakville and Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, coached by Ann Carroll; and Grace St-Germain, 15, returnee, from Orleans and Hylands Golf Club. The boys side includes: Jason Chung, 15, rookie, from Thornhill and Pheasant Run Golf Club, coached by Charlie Woo; Sam McNulty, 17, returnee, from Port Perry and Granite Golf Club; Tyler Nagano, 15, rookie, from Toronto and Station Creek Golf Club, coached by Jon Roy and Jeff Overholt; Trevor Ranton, 17, rookie, from Waterloo and Whistle Bear Golf Club, coached by Mike Skimson and Dave Smallwood; Max Sear, 17, rookie, from Markham and York Downs Golf & Country Club, coached by Ian Crebbin; Brendan Seys, 16, returnee, from Port Lambton and Maple City Golf & Country Club, coached by John Dengel; Connor Watt, 17, returnee, from Mississauga and Piper’s Heath Golf Club; and Chad Watts-Denyes, 17, returnee, from Hamilton and Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club.

Joining the players are four coaches. Reggie Millage, was named the GAO’s Head Provincial Coach in November and has been working with the team since the fall. Millage is a Class ‘A’ PGA of Canada professional who continues to play competitively. Joining Millage are Mental Skills Coach Judy Goss, Strength and Conditioning Coach Jordan Foley and Athletic Therapist Andrew Hoermann.

“This is a very talented young group of players,” added Hayward. “We are trying to keep the momentum going from last year where we put two boys on the National Team. Hopefully we’ll place more players on the team for 2015.”

The players themselves already have many accolades to their name. Chun finished 11^th at the Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship in 2012 as an 11-year-old and was second at the event in 2013. St-Germain won the 2013 Ontario Juvenile Girls’ Championship and 2013 Ontario Junior Girls’ Match Play. McNulty was the 2013 Ontario Juvenile Boys’ champion and also won the Canadian Junior Golf Association Mizuno National Golf Championship. Ranton was the International Junior Masters champion and Sear captured the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) title.

The team has already attended one training camp in Arizona and will travel back there in February for their second. Ten of the team members will play in Can-Am matches in Myrtle Beach during March Break before they all attend a final spring camp in Ontario.

About Team Ontario

The GAO Team Ontario program is a unique opportunity available to a select group of athletes in Ontario. These athletes can expect to receive the very best in coaching services, training/competitive opportunities, and peer support as they continue their journey towards excellence in golf. The Team Ontario program places considerable emphasis on developing “champion traits” in all facets of life and particularly in those that most impact golf development. As such, athletes in the program will receive guidance on themes like time and self-management, strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, tactical strategies, and technical feedback. Being selected to be part of the Team Ontario program is a tremendous accomplishment and offers unparalleled support and guidance to participating athletes and their families.

About the Golf Association of Ontario

The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 450 member clubs, the GAO is one of the largest golf associations in the world.  From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and getting the game of golf into our school systems, to keeping the Ontario golf community aware of all relevant issues and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, the Golf Association of Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to making golf better for everyone in Ontario. We share a love and passion for golf, while preserving its past, fostering its future, and championing golf’s best interests for everyone who enjoys the sport.