To learn more, please view the links below:

Vanessa Chychrun, St. Andrews University experience: https://www.cds.on.ca/news-detail?pk=1395694&fromId=269458

#WomenInSport Wednesday features

Michelle Xing: https://gao.ca/2021/02/03/women-in-sport-wednesdays-michelle-xing-edition/

Kelly Zhao: https://gao.ca/2021/02/10/women-in-sport-wednesdays-kelly-zhao-edition/

Katie Cranston: https://gao.ca/2021/01/13/women-in-sport-wednesdays-katie-cranston-edition/

Natasha Stasiuk: https://gao.ca/2021/02/17/women-in-sport-wednesdays-natasha-stasiuk-edition/

Sydney Naro: https://gao.ca/2021/02/24/women-in-sport-wednesdays-sydney-naro-edition/

Nonie Marler: https://gao.ca/2021/01/20/women-in-sport-wednesdays-nonie-marler-edition/

Terrill Samuel: https://gao.ca/2021/01/27/women-in-sport-wednesdays-terrill-samuel-edition/

LPGA Partnership: https://gao.ca/2021/01/28/announcing-an-exciting-new-lpga-foundation-golf-ontario-partnership/

2021 Ontario Junior Boys Championship, Along With Whistle Bear Golf Club and the support of PGA Tour player Michael Gligic, to Support Autism Ontario

Uxbridge, ON – Golf Ontario, in partnership with Whistle Bear Golf Club – the host of the 2021 Ontario Junior Boys Championship, is proud to announce that the Waterloo Region Chapter of Autism Ontario has been named as the local charity for this year’s Ontario Junior Boys Championship.

With the upcoming 2021 Junior Boys Championship set for July 5-8, Golf Ontario historically has included the opportunity for participating amateur golfers to donate to a cause as part of the registration process. In 2020, the donations supported Frontline Workers and local hospitals in championship communities. For 2021, in partnership with Whistle Bear GC, along with the support of PGA Tour player Michael Gligic, donations from the registration of the 2021 Ontario Junior Boys Championship will go to the Waterloo Region Chapter of Autism Ontario. These proceeds will be used to develop and fund programming focused on healthy, active lifestyle opportunities for those with autism.

Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario, is thrilled to be partnering with Whistle Bear Golf Club, along with the support of alumni Michael Gligic, to deliver this donation opportunity to Autism Ontario. “Whistle Bear Golf Club will be a great host for our Ontario Junior Boys Championship, and we are thrilled to be able to partner with the club to give back to the local community from this event. This community support was an important consideration for Whistle Bear in deciding to host this event this year, and we know that not only will they put on a great event, but that this donation back to Autism Ontario will help in the community” said Kelly.

Adam Tobin, Director of Golf for Whistle Bear Golf Club, also expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative. “Whistle Bear is a family-focused facility that is strongly rooted in the community. It is exciting for us to be able to host the Ontario Junior Boys Championship and showcase our world class facility, and equally exciting for us to be able to use this event to give back to our community, through the Waterloo Region Chapter of Autism Ontario”

“This support from Whistle Bear Golf Club and Golf Ontario is the type of support that is crucial to the families in the Waterloo Region”, said Marg Spoelstra, Executive Director of Autism Ontario. “Proceeds and donations raised through this event will be used for programs that will directly benefit children and adults on the autism spectrum so they can more fully participate in their local community.”

Registration for the Ontario Junior Boys Championship opens on March 3, and a link will be provided for registrants to donate in $10 increments to this great cause. If any other parties are interested in donating as well, please email jlawrence@gao.ca.

All funds generated through these donations will be collected and presented on behalf of Whistle Bear Golf Club and is an important part of their ongoing efforts to be deeply rooted in the local community.

About the Ontario Junior Boys Championship:
First contested in 1923, the Ontario Junior (U19) Boys’ Championship has been won by past champions Gary Cowan, Stu Hamilton, Mike Weir, and Albin Choi. In 2021, the Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship will be hosted by the exceptional Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ontario.

About Whistle Bear Golf Club
Whistle Bear is a premier private golf club with outstanding dining facilities and a first-class golf course. With a rich history, the course was built on 178 acres with all 18 holes named after previous landowners. Whistle Bear’s goal is to build a community through its members, their families and guests focused around recreational activities, exceptional golf and a place to celebrate life’s milestones.

About Autism Ontario:
Autism Ontario is a charitable organization with a history of over 47 years representing the thousands of people on the autism spectrum and their families across Ontario. Made up of knowledgeable parents, professionals, and autistic self-advocates who can speak to the key issues that impact those with autism and their families, Autism Ontario is the province’s leading source of information and referral on autism, and one of the largest collective voices representing the autism community. Members are connected through a volunteer network of 25 Chapters throughout the Province of Ontario.

About Golf Ontario:
Golf Ontario 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, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario
To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook. Make sure to visit our website for further information.

For more information please contact:

Brianna Christopher,
Assistant, Marketing Communications, Golf Ontario;
BChristopher@gao.ca

Peter MacKellar,
Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario;
PMacKellar@gao.ca

Just thirteen weeks out from the tee-off of Golf Ontario’s 2021 Championship season, we return for the final round of our highlight feature, Women in Sport Wednesday’s! This campaign brings our female 2020 Ontario Champions to the forefront, displaying their passion for the game, their accomplishments in the sport, and interesting facts about each champion.

Growing up in Thailand on the Burapha Golf Club, Sydney Naro spent quite a bit of time on the course but didn’t pick up a golf club until around the age of 10. As her skills for the game grew, so did her passion and she began competing in tournaments at 13 years old. Since then, having signed a full-ride scholarship to Michigan State University, Naro has had the privilege to play some of the nicest private courses in Naples during spring break training. Looking to defend her crown in 2021, Naro also plans to compete in the 2021 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Read below the full interview with the 2020 Ontario Women’s Amateur Champion, Sydney Naro…

How did you get into Golf? 

I actually grew up in Thailand on a golf course, and my Dad and my brother played golf. At first, I didn’t really like golf but as I started practicing more and was able to hit the ball better, my passion for the game grew. I started to play competitive golf when I came back home to Canada.

I was around 10 years old when I first picked up a golf club and 13 years old when I started competing in tournaments.

Why are you passionate about golf?

I’ve always loved the challenge as golf has never come easy for me. I know a lot of kids say they’re born with natural talent and for me, it has always been a challenge, whether it’s mental or physical. But I think that has always excited me because I like a sport that’s constantly challenging you, no matter how many hours of work you put in, there’s always some sort of challenge around the corner.

What other sports were you involved in growing up?

Growing up I was a swimmer, I played soccer and a little bit of volleyball and basketball – pretty much everything up until high school. In grade 9 I became more serious and focused only on golf.

Top 3 favorite golf courses?

• Burapah Golf & Resort, Thailand – Course I grew up on
• Calusa Pines Golf Club, Naples, FL
• Whistle Bear Golf Club, Cambridge, ON

Favorite club in your bag?

My 60-degree wedge. I think chipping is probably my favorite part of the game, just because there are so many different shots you can play.

How do you mark your ball? 

Any colour sharpie, with a line through the logo and my initials “SN”

Biggest accomplishments to date?

• Winning the 2020 Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship was a big one

• • I’ve been playing in the Women’s Am since Brooke Henderson won and I remember practicing next to her on the range, and thinking I just wanted to play in the same group as her. I’ve been trying to win the Women’s Am since that year, so winning this summer was a pretty big accomplishment.

• Full ride scholarship to Michigan State University
  • My journey with MSU started around 2017/2018 when I was playing in a U.S. Junior Girls tournament. The assistant coach was watching me at the time and after she saw me play there, she reached during signing time. I was never really thinking about going to Michigan State because I always felt like I wanted to go down south. I went to visit the campus and loved the facilities, the coaches, and what they had to offer me, so I committed to MSU.
  • I would definitely recommend becoming a varsity/collegiate athlete when going to school. You get to meet so many different people, from so many different backgrounds and places, and you can grow your connections within golf and academics. You can meet so many influential people and they treat you well. It has been a great experience.
  • We get to travel to some pretty cool places too. Every spring break we travel down to Naples and play some of the nicest private golf courses there. We have some great donors that love golf and the opportunity to play with the Men’s and Women’s golf teams. We usually play there for the whole week when they take us down, so that’s been pretty awesome.

What’s your pre-tournament routine? How do you get into the right headspace?

One thing that I try to do before I go out on the golf course is, I try to play a few holes on the driving range. I’ll just pretend that I’m playing the first few holes and that helps to calm my nerves down. I’ll hit a few different shots in a row and just kind of visualize myself out there. It’s just a good way to prepare myself to go out there and play.

Favorite golfer to watch? 

• Brooke Henderson of course, I think every Canadian girl kind of looks up to her
• The Korda sisters are players that I follow – Jessica and Nelly Korda

If you could play a round of golf with anyone, who would be in your foursome?

• My brother – he’s the one that got me into golf and we always have a lot of fun on the course
• Tiger Woods – PGA
• Annika Sorenstam – retired LPGA

Goals for 2021?

• I’d like to defend my title at the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship
• I’ll be playing in the Canadian Women’s Amateur (pending COVID)

I’m not one to set too many goals in terms of placement in tournaments, rather it’s making sure I’m going through the right processes, in the right headspace, and just doing the best I can each time I’m out there. I think when doing that as opposed to setting goals in terms of which place I finish, that helps me perform a lot better.

About the Ontario Women’s Am & Mid Am Championship

First played in 1904, the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship is Ontario’s oldest provincial championship and is the pinnacle of women’s golf in the province. The event features the best female golfers from across Ontario in a 72-hole stroke play format.

The Women’s Amateur has produced a rich history of champions throughout the tournament’s long and cherished existence. Past winners include 1968 LPGA Tour players Sandra Post (1964), Alena Sharp (1989), Jennifer Kirby (2009, 2010), Augusta James (2011), Brittany Marchand (2012), Brooke Henderson (2014), Maddie Szeryk and Team Canada standout Brigitte Thibault (2019). World, Canadian and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member, Marlene Stewart Streit, holds the record for the most titles with 11 (’51, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’72, ’74, ’76, and ’77).

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario 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, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario

To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook. Make sure to visit our website for further information.

For more information please contact:

Brianna Christopher, Assistant, Marketing Communications.
Golf Ontario
BChristopher@gao.ca

Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications.
Golf Ontario
PMacKellar@gao.ca

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Michael Blackett. Our beloved friend and volunteer passed away on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021.

Michael had a love for the game and always had a deep dedication to our vision – Towards a Nation Golfing.  For well over 20 years he shared his time and expertise at the local, provincial and national levels.

He was very passionate about the Rules of Golf and Junior Golf.   You could always tell which rule official it was on course by seeing him with his signature cowboy hat on everywhere he went.

The golfing community will miss Michael. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

As we wait patiently for the snow to melt and the grass to grow, we welcome you to another round of Golf Ontario’s highlight feature, Women in Sport Wednesday’s! This campaign illuminates our female 2020 Ontario Champions, their passion, their accomplishments in the sport, and some interesting facts about each winner.

As the defending female champion of the Ontario Disability, Natasha Stasiuk is looking to defend her title for the third time in the upcoming 2021 championship season. The two-time champion is thrilled to get back on the course this summer and has set some great goals for the 2021 season. Looking to also defend her home club Heron Point Women’s Championship title, Stasiuk hopes to be able to play in the Canadian Amputee and Disabled National Open Golf Championship, and the United States Disabled Championship pending COVID-19.

Read the full interview with 2020 Ontario Disability Champion, Natasha Stasiuk below…

How did you get into Golf? 

I was 8 years old and I first touched a golf club in my gym class. From there my Dad continued to put the club in my hand and my parents signed me up for golf lessons, so I began to love it. I played other sports though too! I used to play hockey and softball, and swimming competitively; freestyle (front stroke) was my favorite. I still play hockey and swim for fun, as golf is my main sport now.

What does the sport of golf do for you?

It’s helped me become who I am today and grow as a person. It has helped with a lot of my self-confidence too.

Favorite golf courses?

• Cabot Cliffs, Cape Breton
• Crowbush Cove, PEI – first 18 holes!!
• Woodington Lakes Golf Club – host of the Ontario Disability
• Heron Point Golf Links – home club

Favorite club in your bag?

My driver, because I can hit it long and straight!

How do you mark your ball? 

Honestly, it depends on my mood! I have two go-to ball markings. It’s either three dots on my ball in the dimples or the letter “N”. It all depends on my mood and my nerves.

Biggest accomplishments to date?

• Winning the Ontario Disability Championship for a second time
• Winning the Heron Point Women’s Championship

What’s your pre-tournament routine? How do you get into the right headspace?

I usually arrive an hour before the tournament and I start with thirty minutes on the range. Then I’ll spend some time putting and make sure I take a restroom break before we tee-off. I like to listen to music before too to help get me in the right headspace.

Favorite golfers, to watch?

Brooke Henderson! It used to be Paula Creamer but she hasn’t been playing much.

If you could play a round of golf with anyone, who would be in your foursome?

• Moe Norman
• Brooke Henderson
• Arnold Palmer

Cool fact about you?

I’m adopted – I was adopted at thirteen months old.

Goals for 2021?

• Defend my titles
  • Ontario Disability Championship
  • Heron Point Women’s Championship
• Make the cut for the Ontario Women’s Amateur
• Play in…
  • The Canadian Amputee and Disabled National Open Golf Championship
  • The United States Disabled Championship
  • An International event

About The Ontario Disability Championship

In 2019, Woodington Lake Golf Club hosted the inaugural Ontario Disability Championship. Played over a 36-hole competition for Men and Women, the Ontario Disability Championship is an inclusive event in which athletes with disabilities compete in a provincial championship environment. The championship promotes awareness and participation for golfers with disabilities and provides a platform for future talent identification. The Ontario Disability Championship is a counting event on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD).

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario 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, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario

To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook. Make sure to visit our website for further information.

For more information please contact:

Brianna Christopher, Assistant, Marketing Communications.
Golf Ontario
BChristopher@gao.ca

Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications.
Golf Ontario
PMacKellar@gao.ca

Welcoming More Women and Girls to the Game of Golf: Announcing an Exciting New LPGA Foundation & Golf Ontario Partnership

Uxbridge, ON – Golf Ontario is pleased to announce an exciting and mutually beneficial partnership with a global leader in women’s sports, the LPGA Foundation. This partnership is aimed at increasing participation among women and girls, with a focus on enhancing and creating opportunities for females to become involved in and enjoy the game of golf. With the support of the LPGA Foundation’s LPGA*USGA Girls Golf and LPGA Amateur Golf Association (LPGA Amateurs) programs, Golf Ontario will aim to welcome females to the game of golf through TRY, LEARN & PLAY programs, events, and e-learning opportunities.

Executive Director of Golf Ontario, Mike Kelly, believes “our affiliation with the LPGA will substantially enhance Golf Ontario’s effort to establish these Participation Pathways as part of our commitment to leading, creating, and promoting positive golf experiences. Working together with the LPGA Headquarters and the Ontario-based LPGA Amateurs Chapters, we are developing and piloting a Participation Pathway for women to Try, Learn and Play golf.”

The partnership will also address the development of a Participation Pathway for girls. A cornerstone of this will be the establishment of new LPGA*USGA Girls Golf sites in Ontario. “Our intent is to continue to build the Pathway for girls over the coming years as we assess the extent to which TRY & Play programming from the First Tee and Youth on Course could contribute to the pathway within LPGA*USGA Girls Golf,” explained Golf Ontario’s Manager of Participation, Mallory Dayman.

“The LPGA Foundation is excited to partner with Golf Ontario,” said LPGA Foundation Vice-President Mary-Lee Cobick. “We are especially pleased with the additional support of our existing LPGA Amateurs Chapters and look forward to offering new golf opportunities for both women and girls in Ontario.”

One of the core pillars of the Golf Ontario strategic plan is Participation, and this new partnership with the LPGA Foundation will be a huge step in ensuring a strong focus on growing and retaining women and girls in the game. At the same time, all planning for these Try, Learn and Play Golf events in 2021 will be done keeping COVID-19 protocols and the health and safety of all participants at the forefront.

About The LPGA Foundation
Established in 1991, The LPGA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental and humanitarian golf initiatives.

Key priorities include: LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, LPGA Amateur Golf Association, The LPGA Leadership Academy, scholarships and the Dolores Hope LPGA Financial Assistance Initiative for those in the golf industry who are experiencing severe hardship. The LPGA Foundation is supported by corporate and private donations, foundation grants and contributions from LPGA members. For more information on how to contribute to The LPGA Foundation, please contact LPGA Headquarters, 100 International Golf Drive, Daytona Beach, FL 32124, or by phone, +1 386-274-6200 and on the web: https://www.girlsgolf.org/donate-foundation.

About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario 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, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario
To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

For more information please contact:

Brianna Christopher,
Assistant, Marketing Communications, Golf Ontario;
BChristopher@gao.ca

Peter MacKellar,
Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario;
PMacKellar@gao.ca

LPGA Media Contact:
Leia Schwartz,
Content Producer, LPGA;
leia.schwartz@lpga.com, 386-274-6247

Welcome back to another round of Golf Ontario’s newest feature, Women in Sport Wednesday’s! This campaign embraces our female 2020 Ontario Champions, their passion for the game, their accomplishments in the sport, and some interesting facts about each champion.

A modest golfer with great talent and a lengthy list of championship titles, Terrill Samuel is a two-time Ontario Women’s Amateur, three-time Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur, and two-time Ontario Senior Women’s champion. In 2018, Samuel was inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame, joining the Class of 2018 in the Amateur Golfer category. In 2021, the number one thing for Samuel is “to still enjoy the game and get out for some great rounds with some really good people. And if you play well, that’s a bonus!”

Read the full interview with 2020 Ontario Senior Women’s champion, Terrill Samuel below…

How did you get into Golf? 

My Mum would take us to visit her parents in England and they got me into golf for a couple of weeks at the end of our summer break. They had a little nine-hole course near them and they signed me up, so that’s how I got involved in golf. I was probably around 7 or 8 years old when I first picked up a club. I didn’t play in Canada until I was 21, which is a big birthday for us Brits, so I asked for golf clubs! I was 23 when I played in my first competitive tournament.

What does the sport of golf do for you?

I think especially in Amateur golf, it’s more about friendships. I’ve been out with a few injuries and you truly miss that, but once you get back it’s really nice to see all your friends and you have these friendships for life. Also just enjoying being out in the fresh air, especially this last season, just getting out of the house and having golf since it was one of the only things you could do.

It’s a lot of fun and the comradery that’s out there in Amateur golf is great. You get to meet new people and playing in tournament golf allows you to go to different places in the world, which I think is another great aspect of golf. I’ve been able to visit New Zealand, Sweden, France, and a lot of other really nice places. I’ve been all over the States and in Canada, you get to see every province, which is pretty fun too.

What other sports were you involved in growing up?

Both my brother and I were actually swimmers, and we swam competitively so that’s why we never really got into golf at a young age in Canada. Swimming took up a lot of time as it was about four hours of practice every day; two hours in the morning and two hours at night. I competed in about every stroke except breaststroke.

Favorite golf course?

Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle UK (Northern Ireland) – that was my favorite!

Favorite club in your bag?

I would probably say my 8 iron! My 8 iron and my 5 hybrid are the ones that I take to the range and practice with the most.

How do you mark your ball? 

I put a happy face on one side and the letter “T” on the other.

Biggest accomplishments to date?

• Winning the 2015 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship
• Crowned the 2015 Senior (50+), Mid-Master (40+), and Mid-Amateur (25+) champion
• Losing to Judith Kyrinis in the 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship
  – Terrill would be the runner-up for the 56th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship (USGA)
  – Judith is a longtime friend and competitor of Terrill’s

What’s your pre-tournament routine? How do you get into the right headspace?

I’m one of those golfers that just hits it and chases it, I don’t really think too much about it. I admire people that like to analyze their game, but once golf is over I don’t really talk about my round either.

I’m probably known as a pretty fast player (we’d agree – it’s hard to get a picture of Terrill off the tee!!). I just figure out the yardage, pull a club, and go. This is my one saying – Slow players always get to play at their pace, but fast players never do. My dream round would be first off, with two other fast players and no crossover.

Favorite golfers, to watch?

LPGA – Nancy Lopez and Patty Sheehan

PGA – Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods

If you could play a round of golf with anyone, who would be in your foursome?

• Nancy Lopez – for sure!
• Jack Nicklaus
• Payton Manning

About The Ontario Senior Women’s Championship

The inaugural Ontario Senior Women’s Championship was conducted in 1962 and since then has been contested annually featuring the province’s best female amateurs age 50 and over.

The event has had several notable past champions including World, Canadian, and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Stewart Streit, who captured the title six times. Also, Canadian and Ontario Golf Hall of Famer Gayle Borthwick, who also picked up the trophy six times. Recent winners include Ivy Steinberg (2008 and 2009), Terrill Samuel (2011, 2020) as well as Golf Ontario Hall of Fame members Mary Ann Hayward (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2019) and 2017 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Champion Judith Kyrinis (2016, 2017, and 2018).

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario 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, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario

To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

For more information please contact:

Brianna Christopher, Assistant, Marketing Communications.
Golf Ontario
BChristopher@gao.ca

Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications.
Golf Ontario
PMacKellar@gao.ca

Welcome back to the second round of Golf Ontario’s newest feature, Women in Sport Wednesday’s! This campaign showcases our female 2020 Ontario Champions, highlighting their accomplishments in the sport, how their passion for golf came to be, and some interesting facts about each champion.

Golfing from a young age, one of Marler’s first golf coaches was Fraser Mulholland, who is the current Commissioner of the Vancouver Golf Tour. A Guelph Gryphon for four years, Marler would captain her golf team before moving to Europe and taking a break from golf. Recently returning to competitive play, 2020 presented Marler with two provincial titles and several wins on the Vancouver Golf Tour. Following three near flawless rounds at Dalewood Golf Club this past season, Nonie Marler would be crowned our 2020 Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion.

Read the full interview with Marler below…

1. How did you get into Golf?

I come from a family of golf lovers, as my dad and my brother are really avid golfers. My brother is actually a part of the Agronomy crew at Bear Mountain in Victoria, British Columbia (Bear Mountain is the Official Training Centre of Golf Canada’s National Junior Squad). I’ve always been passionate about playing and I’m a competitive person in general. Golf was one of those things on family holidays that was a fun activity to do together and although my mom is a non-golfer, she’s an avid spectator. She liked to come along and ride in the cart. As a high energy child, my parents threw me in pretty much every sport growing up. Golf was something I took to a little bit later as a teenager and when I went to university in Canada, it was only when I arrived on campus that I found out the school had a golf team. I figured I’d give it a whirl and I ended up captaining the Golf Team at the University of Guelph during my time there.

Following university, I ended up staying in Ontario for a few years, moving up to Georgian Bay where I played quite a bit of tournament golf in addition to working at Georgian Bay Club. After a short stint living back in Vancouver, I moved to the UK where I pursued my MBA and then went on to stay and work there for 10 years; so golf kind of took a back seat, but I continued to play casually and kept it up because golf is one of those sports where it doesn’t matter what you’re doing in your life, you can always play it wherever you are. While living in London I headed up Corporate Hospitality and Events for a global IT company called Ricoh (which has a long standing partnership with Women’s golf), so I was involved in the golf realm from a professional standpoint but never in a competitive manner.

When I moved back to Vancouver about three and a half years ago now, I had the time to pick golf back up. On the advice of someone saying ‘hey you’re not so bad, you should try to play in some tournaments’, I was like ah yeah okay and so funnily enough the first tournament I played I actually ended up winning! And from that experience it kind of got my competitive juices flowing and now it’s something I love doing outside of my career, which is taking care of operations for Cushman & Wakefield’s Equity, Debt & Structured Finance platform in Canada.

So I have really only just picked up tournament golf again, and over the last season and a half, it’s cool to be having a lot of fun and seeing some success with it.

2. Why are you so passionate about golf? What does the sport do for you?

For sure, it definitely feeds my competitive nature. Just with my personality and anything I do, I really throw myself into things I’m passionate about – I’m somewhat of an all or nothing type of person. And while I enjoy playing recreational golf with my friends and family, I just love the competitive drive and energy I tap into playing in tournaments. Golf itself is a great equalizer age and gender wise, whether you’re playing in a foursome with guys and kicking their butt, there are not too many sports you can play where you can sort of have that healthy competition. And in the Women’s Mid-Am where it’s 25 years and older, I get to play with a true variety of women age range wise and it’s a really great level of competition across the board. With golf in general, it’s neat that you can have such diversity in playing the sport.

Especially in business too, being able to play golf has been really helpful. From a networking standpoint, it’s pretty incredible that you can be anywhere in the world and by being able to play golf, you get invited to so many things. Golf is such a great connector and I am very grateful for the opportunities the sport has provided and continues to provide me.

3. What would be your alternate sport to compete competitively in?

Interestingly enough, probably skiing! I do love team sports and golf, especially playing at a high level and having a caddy and a team around you, it’s in many ways a team sport, but the end result ultimately lands on yourself. And I think with skiing too, ultimately, it’s just you yourself out there. I grew up skiing Whistler Blackcomb and Mt. Baker and I used to race as a kid. My parents put my brother and me in ski camp, so we were racers until our teenage years. I was big into horseback riding and gymnastics growing up too, I still love and follow both but there are only so many hours in a day!

4. Top 3 favorite golf courses?

• Kapalua – Plantation Course (Maui, Hawaii)
• Kingsbarns Golf Links – Scotland, UK
• Greywolf Golf Course – Panorama, British Columbia

5. Favorite club in your bag?

I’m really confident with my driver and I love hitting it. My wedges are a close second, I love the creativity you can have with them in your short game.

6. How do you mark your ball?

Titleist ProV1x – two colours always, three dots above and three dots below the logo on the diagonal.

7. Biggest accomplishments to date?

This past summer when I won both the British Columbia and Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships.

I think we have been really fortunate to still be able to play competitive golf, in light of the current circumstances over the last year. Winning two provincial titles during the summer of COVID was pretty cool and with the addition of several wins on the Vancouver Golf Tour, together it made the summer a pretty special season for me. I put a lot of time and effort into my game last summer, a lot of it had to do with the fact that there wasn’t too much else to do from sports and social standpoints. I’d say the 2020 summer season as a whole, in recent memory anyway, is among my biggest golf accomplishments to date.

8. What’s your pre-tournament routine? How do you get into the right headspace?

I just try to be as consistent as possible. I try not to treat the day any differently because I find when I move outside of my usual routine or do things differently, I can have a tendency to build things up more or treat the situation differently than I would under normal circumstances. I do take special care to make sure my nutrition and exercise programs are consistent, as well as getting lots of rest in the days leading up to any tournament.

Stretching is imperative for me before any round, and I always pick my outfits and do all my nutrition prep the night before so I can be focused on what’s ahead and in the proper mindset and headspace ahead of my tee time. It’s all about removing potential stressors and chaos in the lead up to a round. For me, preparation is key – fail to plan, plan to fail.

9. Who’s your favorite golfer to watch?

I always like cheering on the underdog or the player who has an interesting story, because in a lot of ways I can relate, especially since I’ve taken so many years off competitive golf and am only now coming back to it.

I like following fellow Canadians in any tournament so I always look out for them, but other than that I wouldn’t say I follow any one golfer in particular on a regular basis. I mean when Tiger is in the field, I always check out how he’s doing. I think by virtue of watching and playing so much golf myself, I like to leaderboard watch so I kind of follow everyone.

10. Goals for 2021?

• Defend my titles
• Play in our national championship
• Qualify for a USGA event
• Achieve five top five’s this summer

About the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship

First played in 1989, the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is open to female golfers aged 25 and over. In honour of her outstanding accomplishments at the Mid-Amateur level in Ontario, the trophy is rightfully named after 14-time champion Mary Ann Hayward. The event is contested annually in a 54-hole competition. Other notable past champions of the event include 2012 Canadian Senior Women’s Champion Terrill Samuel (1991, 2000, and 2010), Casey Ward (2015), and Golf Ontario Hall of Fame members Gayle Borthwick Hitchens (1992, 1993), and Judith Kyrinis (2017).

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario 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, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario

To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook. Make sure to visit our website for further information.

For more information please contact:

Brianna Christopher, Assistant, Marketing Communications.
Golf Ontario
BChristopher@gao.ca

Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications.
Golf Ontario
PMacKellar@gao.ca