Golf Ontario is excited to be on location at the Toronto Golf & Travel Show this weekend! Visit our booth for a chance to win 5 dozen TaylorMade MySymbol golf balls by correctly guessing the number of balls in the glass tank. Plus, get all the details on the highly anticipated 1000 Ball Challenge Kickoff Event, launching this April at the Metro Golf Sportsplex. Find out how you can get involved and WIN a Foursome to Wooden Sticks Golf Club, Adidas Gift Cards and more! Visit to www.1000ball.ca/kickoff to learn more.

Golf Ontario experts from Rules & Competitions, Junior Performance, Participation, and Memberships will also be on-site, ready to answer any golf-related questions.

As an added bonus, attendees can enjoy a $5 discount on their tickets by using the code GOLF25 when purchasing online.

The event takes place at The International Centre, Hall 5, in Mississauga, from Friday, January 31, to Sunday, February 2. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to connect with fellow golf enthusiasts, test your skills, and gear up for the upcoming season! Get your tickets now at www.torontogolfshow.com/tickets.

The International Centre
6900 Airport Road, Hall 5, Mississauga ON L4V 1E8

Show Hours:
Friday Jan 31 Noon – 7pm
Saturday February 1 10am – 5pm
Sunday February 2 10am – 4pm

With an exciting year ahead, the schedule highlights a mix of renowned and new venues, spanning the province to provide a platform for Ontario’s top talent to shine 

Golf Ontario is thrilled to unveil its 2025 championship schedule.  

This year’s schedule features 12 prestigious venues from SCOREGolf’s 2024 Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada list, alongside several beloved courses that continue to be favourites among players. 

With an exciting year ahead, the schedule highlights a mix of renowned and new venues, spanning the province to provide a platform for Ontario’s top talent to shine. 

“We’re thrilled to present one of the most dynamic and inclusive championship schedules in amateur golf, designed to cater to Ontario’s competitive golfers while partnering with some of the province’s most prestigious golf clubs,” said Golf Ontario Director of Competitions and Performance, John Lawrence. “The 2025 venues promise an exciting season, bringing the spirit of competition to communities across Ontario. We extend our sincere gratitude to the clubs that have graciously agreed to host our events. 

Highlights and Important Notes for the 2025 Championship Schedule: 

• Golf Ontario’s championships remain true to their core mission, but their names have been updated to ensure consistency across events and alignment with the standards set by golf’s governing bodies. These updates enhance clarity and continuity, making it easier for players, partners, and media to engage while preserving the rich traditions of the sport. 
   

• The 2025 Championship season will officially begin on March 10-11 with the highly anticipated return of the Ontario Junior Players Invitational at Legends Golf Resort – Parkland Course in Myrtle Beach, S.C. This 54-hole competition will once again grow its field, welcoming 84 of Ontario’s top junior boys and girls. 
   

• The Ontario Champion of Champions tournament will return to The Club at Bond Head on May 14th, utilizing both the North and South courses. This prestigious event is open to Men’s, Women’s, Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s, and Junior Boys’ & Girls’ club champions from the 2024 season. Clubs are encouraged to submit their champions to Golf Ontario to facilitate registration and approval for the event. 
   

• The 2025 Ontario Junior Boys’ & Girls’ Spring Classic marks its 30th anniversary as one of the province’s most esteemed junior tournaments. Consistently drawing Ontario’s top young golfers, the milestone event will take place at two exceptional courses—Wooden Sticks Golf Club and FireRock Golf Club. This tournament continues to serve as a proving ground for rising stars, offering a world-class stage to showcase their talent and a critical step in their competitive golf journey. 
   

• New for 2025, the Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship will debut the Senior Women’s Match Play Championship, open to players aged 50 and older. Featuring a shorter yardage setup, this new division provides a competitive yet accessible environment for senior golfers. Qualifying rounds will determine the top eight players who will advance to match play, expanding inclusivity and creating more opportunities for senior women to compete. 
   

• The 2025 Ontario Men’s Senior Amateur Championship introduces expanded qualifying for the 70-and-older division, with separate east and west qualifiers offering more entry opportunities. This enhancement eliminates the need for a practice-round qualifier, with 70-and-older spots determined through the two regional qualifiers. 

Golf Ontario extends its deepest gratitude to the clubs hosting our championships and qualifiers in 2025. Their unwavering support is instrumental in the continued success of amateur golf in Ontario. We greatly value these partnerships and look forward to another exceptional championship season. 

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW to view the full 2025 Championship Schedule and Registration Opening Dates. 

2025 Championship Schedule 

Registration Opening Dates  

Tournament website links will be available on GAO.ca on Friday, Feb. 7, this will include all information related to tournament eligibility, exemptions, entry fees, and other important information.  

Registrations for the 2025 Golf Ontario championship season will begin on Friday, Feb. 14 with a schedule of opening dates across the championships to follow.  

All registrations will open at 12 p.m. each day this year.  

Golf Ontario will continue to make announcements once confirmation of dates are made on the outstanding championship locations and to make announcements of any additional dates and venues or changes moving forward. 

For more information, visit the Golf Ontario Provincial Championships page, or contact our tournaments department at tournaments@gao.ca. 

Golf Ontario is proud to announce the continuation of its longstanding partnership with adidas Golf Canada, celebrating over a decade of collaboration. 
 

As part of the renewed agreement, adidas Golf Canada remains the Official Golf Clothing and Footwear provider of Golf Ontario. 
 

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with adidas Golf Canada,” says Golf Ontario’s CEO, Kyle McFarlane. “It’s exciting to work with a global brand that shares our passion and commitment to growing the game of golf in Ontario. Their dedication to helping Ontario athletes perform at their best is invaluable, and we’re pleased to have their continued support for Golf Ontario’s participation, fundraising, and performance initiatives.” 
 

The Woodbridge-based company will also continue its support of Golf Ontario’s high-performance Team Ontario program, as well as participation initiatives like the Women’s Try Golf series and fundraising efforts such as the Junior Golf Drive. 
 

“We are so pleased to extend our longstanding partnership with Golf Ontario,” says Jeff Feltrin, General Manager of adidas Golf Canada. “One of adidas Golf Canada’s core goals is to connect with amateur golfers of all levels—from elite juniors to newcomers to the game—and this partnership allows us to do exactly that.” 

Golf Ontario is deeply saddened by the loss of former colleague and recent Golf Canada Board member Teri Yamada of Collingwood, Ont. who passed away peacefully on January 8, 2025, at the age of 66 following a difficult battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

A personal obituary written by Teri Yamada along with visitation details is available here:

https://www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com/memorials/teri-yamada/5536387/index.php

Golf Ontario’s Board of Directors along with staff both current and past extend its sincere condolences to Teri’s partner, Doug Moxon, along with her family and the extensive personal and professional network of friends and golf industry peers who knew and admired her genius, expertise, work ethic, friendship and incredible generosity to charitable causes that meant so much to her. 

One of Canadian golf’s leading voices in agronomy, turfgrass and environmental research, Yamada served the Canadian golf industry for nearly 40 years, including the past 16 years as owner of TY Environmental Strategic Ltd. supporting golf courses’ use of science to minimize their environmental impact. She was a leading voice in the agronomic and business analysis of golf course operations and specialized in government relations, industry communication and interpreting complex scientific information.

Yamada spent 18 years with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) across several senior leadership roles. She served as the association’s tournament agronomist for National Open and Amateur Championships, working with host clubs and their superintendents to set up and condition golf courses hosting all national championships.

She joined the organization in 1990 as National Director, Greens Section (1990-98), which at the time was Golf Canada’s turfgrass research and consulting division providing the Canadian golf industry with turfgrass information and best practices. In 1993, she authored the Environmental Guidelines for Canadian Golf Courses following an 18-month consultative process with regulators, environmental interest groups and the golf industry leaders.

Yamada then spent 10 years (1996-2006) as the association’s Managing Director, Golf Programs and Services supporting Golf Canada member club programs and services (handicapping, junior golf, amateur status, heritage, etc.) in addition to turfgrass and environmental research.

From 2005-2008, the role evolved into Managing Director, Communications and Government Relations, serving as a leading government liaison on issues affecting the Canadian golf industry. During this period, she also spent two years (2006-2008) as Executive Director of the RCGA Foundation (now Golf Canada Foundation) and has since supported the Foundation as a generous donor.

Yamada returned to Golf Canada as a volunteer in 2021, serving three years a member of the Governance Committee, two years as a member of the Governors Council (2022-2023) and two years on the HR Committee. In 2023, she joined Golf Canada’s Board of Directors becoming one of the few individuals to have served the association in both a staff and Board of Directors capacity. 

During her accomplished career, Yamada served the Canadian and global golf community in a variety of roles including an invitation to participate in the development of the Environmental Principles for Golf Courses in the United States and was referenced in An Environmental Strategy for Golf in Europe.

She spent 14 years (2009-2023) as Executive Director of the IPM Council of Canada (Integrated Pest Management) which administered the IPM Accreditation program for golf courses, public works (hydro and railway corridors) and specialty turf.

Yamada also served as President, Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System of Canada Inc. (1996-2007); Executive Secretary and past Board member with the Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation (CTRF) (1992 – 2008); was a past Board Member of the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation (2009-2012); member of the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee (2007-2025); was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and Environmental Programs committee member, Environmental Institute for Golf, Kansas (2003-2007); served as a USGA Turfgrass & Environmental Research Committee member (1996-2004); member and Past Chair of the Ontario Pesticide Advisory Committee (2009-2020); Chair, Scientific Program Committee for 9th International Turfgrass Research Conference (2000-2001); and was an Advisory Committee member with the Selkirk College Golf Management Program – Nelson, BC (1996-2001).

She graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture and Environmental Horticulture).

A passionate golfer and proud member of Mad River Golf Club (as well as the York Downs Golf and Country Club prior), Yamada was a very active volunteer giving back to both clubs across a variety of roles including four years on the Member Board of Directors with Mad River (2019-2023) as well as the Grounds Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, and the Governance and Nominating Committee. She also served four years on the Board of York Downs as well as two years as the club’s Green Committee Chair. 

Yamada was also one of three Canadian women members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland.

A visitation will be held on January 23 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm with tributes taking place at 3:00pm at Fawcett Funeral Home at 82 Pine Street in Collingwood. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

As the weather turns cooler and courses across Ontario transition into winter conditions, golfers may notice a shift from an “active” to an “inactive” posting season for their Handicap Index®. But what exactly does this mean? Here’s everything you need to know about the inactive season, why it exists, and how it impacts your scores.

What is the Inactive Season?

The inactive season is a designated period when scores from rounds played in Ontario no longer count toward your Handicap Index.

Why Don’t Scores Count During the Inactive Season?

The inactive season helps ensure fairness by accounting for the impact of weather on course conditions. Golf Canada issues a Course Rating and Slope Rating for each set of tees based on normal playing conditions. During the colder months, courses in Ontario may remain open but often cannot maintain typical playing conditions. Counting these scores could lead to inaccurate Handicap Index calculations.

What if I Play in a Region That’s Still Active?

If you play golf outside of Ontario during the inactive season (e.g., in Florida or Arizona), those scores still count. Just be sure to post your score as an “Away” round when submitting it to your Handicap Index.

Who Decides the Inactive Season?

The start and end of Ontario’s inactive season are determined by Golf Ontario, based on local weather patterns and course conditions. While Ontario has an inactive season, some regions, such as British Columbia or southern U.S. states, remain active year-round due to favourable climates.

Where Can I Learn More?

Golf Canada and Golf Ontario provide many resources to help you understand your Handicap Index, including FAQs, articles, and instructional videos. For more details, visit the Golf Canada Handicapping hub or contact Golf Ontario directly.

Stay informed and enjoy the off-season responsibly!

As the 2024 golf season comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your progress and accomplishments on the course. Golf Ontario is excited to offer you the opportunity to review your year in detail with your Annual Golf Ontario Performance Report, now available in your Score Centre record.

What’s in Your Report?

Your Performance Report provides a comprehensive overview of your game, including:

• Rounds Played: See how many times you hit the course this year.
• Handicap Summary: Track changes in your handicap over the season.
• High/Low Scores: Celebrate your best rounds and reflect on areas for growth.
• Monthly Stats: Review your activity and performance month by month.

You can also access reports from previous years through a drop-down menu, allowing you to compare your progress year over year.

How to Access Your Report

Accessing your Performance Report is simple:

1. Log in to the Members Area of the Score Centre. Click here to log in.
2. Click “View History” in the title bar.
3. Select “Performance Report” from the menu.

Important Note

The Golf Ontario Performance Report is only available through the desktop version of the Score Centre and cannot be viewed on the mobile app.

Celebrate Your Growth

Your Performance Report is more than just numbers—it’s a testament to your dedication and love for the game. Whether you’re analyzing your stats to fine-tune your skills or simply reliving great moments, this report is a valuable tool to help you improve and enjoy your golf journey.

Log in today to view your 2024 report and celebrate another fantastic season on the green!

Golf Ontario is proud to unveil the 2024 Junior Golf Pathway Players of the Year, recognizing outstanding performances across multiple age groups. This year’s honourees include:

• Girls U15, U17 and U19: Nobelle Park
• Girls U13: Riviera Lindholm
• Boys U19: Gabriella Mainella
• Boys U17: Jager Pain
• Boys U15: Joseph Totino
• Boys U13: Wilson Doornekamp
  

The Ontario Junior Golf Pathway Ranking system is used to recognize the top-performing Ontario junior golfers who succeed over the course of the golf season. Junior golfers can earn points through each event they play in, with their best eight results counting towards the rankings.

2024 Honourees

For more information about the Junior Golf Pathway Rankings, CLICK HERE.

If you have ever examined a scorecard or posted a score for handicap purposes, you have probably seen the terms Course Rating and Slope Rating. While most golfers know they pertain to course difficulty, there are misconceptions about how they are determined, what they represent and how they impact players of different skill levels.

To set the record straight, here’s everything you need to know about these two key terms within the Rules of Handicapping:

How are they are determined?

When a golf course is rated by Golf Ontario, the rating team determines the effective playing length for each set of tees – which is the measured length adjusted for things like roll, forced lay-ups, and elevation changes that make the course play longer or shorter. The rating team also evaluates how obstacles such as bunkers, penalty areas, fairway widths, rough heights, green speed/contours impact two model  players: the scratch player (with a Handicap Index of 0.0), and the bogey player (with a Handicap Index of 20.0 for men and 24.0 for women).

From the data collected during the rating procedure, a Course Rating, Bogey Rating and Slope Rating are all calculated based on weightings and formulas that reflect the impact of each item evaluated.

What do they represent?

Let’s start with Course Rating – which is  an indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the scratch player under normal course and weather conditions. In other words, a Course Rating of 71.2 means that a scratch player can expect to shoot around 71 when they play well.

An additional term that isn’t well known is Bogey Rating – which is an indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the bogey player. In other words, a Bogey Rating of 95.5 means that a bogey player can expect to shoot around 95 or 96 when they play well. Although Bogey Ratings are generally not printed on scorecards or displayed within score-posting apps, they can be found for each course on the Course Rating and Slope Database™.

Once the Course Rating and Bogey Rating  are established, they are compared to determine the Slope Rating – which represents the relative difficulty of a course for non-scratch players compared to those who are scratch players. To put it simply, the larger the difference is between the Course Rating and the Bogey Rating, the higher the Slope Rating will be.

For example:

• With a Course Rating of 71.0 and a Bogey Rating of 92.5, Course A has a Slope Rating of 116.
• With a Course Rating of 71.0 and a Bogey Rating of 95.5, Course B has a Slope Rating of 132.

What does this mean for you?

It depends on your ability – i.e., your Handicap Index. Since low-handicap players tend to find the fairways and hit greens wherever they play, their scores do not increase much when faced with obstacles that can impact wayward shots.

On the other hand, for higher-handicap players, increasing length or the presence of severe obstacles, such as forced carries, long rough, and deep bunkers, can lead to much higher scores – and that’s where Slope Rating comes into play.

For example, if we go back to Course A, with a Course Rating of 71.0, Slope Rating of 116 and par of 71:

• A 1.0 Handicap Index player would have a Course Handicap of 1 and an 18.0 Handicap Index player would have a Course Handicap of 18.

However, if we go back to Course B, with a Course Rating of 71.0,  Slope Rating of 132, and par of 71:

• The 1.0 Handicap Index player would still have a Course Handicap of 1, but the 18.0 Handicap Index player’s Course Handicap would increase from 18 to 21.

In summary

The Course Rating and Slope Rating allows you, and any other player with a Handicap Index, to get the strokes you need to have a fair game wherever you decide to tee it up.

For more information about the World Handicap System, visit www.usga.org/whs.

Golf Ontario is proud to unveil the 2024 Players of the Year, recognizing outstanding performances across multiple categories. This year’s honourees include:

• Men’s Amateur: Ashton McCulloch
• Women’s Amateur: Nicole Gal
• Women’s Mid-Amateur: Alexandra Taylor
• Men’s Mid-Amateur: Charles Fitzsimmons
• Men’s Senior: Dave Bunker
• Women’s Senior: Terrill Samuel
  

The Player of the Year awards are determined based on the BioSteel Golf Ontario Amateur Order of Merit Rankings, which utilize a points system. Points are awarded according to a player’s finishing position in sanctioned events, with event weighting and strength of the field factored in at Golf Ontario’s discretion.

2024 Honourees

For more information about the BioSteel Golf Ontario Amateur Order of Merit Rankings, please CLICK HERE or contact Golf Ontario’s Connor Doyle at cdoyle@gao.ca.

Golf Ontario is thrilled to introduce the 2025 Team Ontario roster, showcasing 17 of the province’s top-performing U19 golfers.

These exceptional athletes have earned their spots through outstanding skill, unwavering dedication, and impressive results.

This year’s team features a strong mix of experience and fresh talent, with eight returning members and nine new athletes joining the ranks.

Meet the 2025 Team Ontario Roster

Girls:

• Nobelle Park (RattleSnake Point Golf Club) – 2024 Ontario Women’s Amateur champion
• Kaprice Park (RattleSnake Point Golf Club) – Six major top 10 finishes in 2024
• Alexis Card (Galt Country Club)- No.2 on Junior Golf Pathway U15 Rankings
• Claire Roberts (Whistle Bear Golf Club) – International Junior Masters Match Play Quarterfinalist
• Amelia McFarlane (Ottawa Hunt Club) – 2024 Ontario Summer Games champion
• Avery Nordman (Canadian Golf & Country Club) – 2024 Ontario Juvenile champion
• Sadie Wu (Station Creek Golf Club) – 2024 Next Wave Development Program member
• Kaylan Green (Scarborough Golf Club) – 2024 Ontario Junior Girls Match Play champion

Boys:

• Jordan Hwang (Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club) – 2024 OFSAA Champion
• Luke Smith (Thornhill Club) – 2024 Super Camp champion
• Bode Stephen (Cataraqui Golf & Country Club) – 2024 Next Gen Atlantic champion
• Rylan Hall (Whistle Bear Golf Club) – Three Ontario podium finishes in 2024
• Dawson Lew (Wyndance Golf Club) – 2024 Ontario Juvenile champion
• Chase Jerome (Royal Ottawa Golf Club) – 2024 AJGA JR All Star Team
• Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club) – 2024 Ontario Junior Boys champion
• Spencer Shropshire (Hawk Ridge Golf Club) – 2024 Canadian U17 champion
• Joseph Totino (Summit Golf & Country Club) – 2024 Ontario Bantam champion

Leadership from a Proven Coach

The 2025 team will be guided by head coach Reggie Millage, a PGA of Canada Class “A” professional entering his 12th season coaching Team Ontario.

“This team is one of the most accomplished we have ever had. Twelve athletes won major events in 2024 and all 17 have proven they can contend at the highest level of junior golf,” Millage says. “What sets them apart is their hunger for more—they’ve already created a hard-working and highly competitive environment.”

A Program Designed for Excellence

The Team Ontario program is dedicated to developing the province’s top junior golfers into world-class athletes, both on and off the course. This unique program provides identified athletes with access to premier coaching, cutting-edge training, competitive opportunities, and a supportive peer environment as they strive for excellence in golf and life.

With a focus on fostering lifelong success, the program emphasizes comprehensive development. Athletes receive expert guidance in critical areas, including time management, self-discipline, strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, tactical strategies, and technical skill enhancement.

Team Ontario is more than a golf program—it’s a foundation for personal and athletic growth that equips young athletes for the challenges of the game and beyond.

World-Class Coaching and Support

In addition to Millage, the team is supported by an exceptional group of experts, including:

• Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons: One of Ontario’s leading mental performance coaches and a two-time Canadian Mid-Am Champion, providing invaluable guidance in mental preparation and focus.
• Dr. Nick Martichenko: A renowned physical performance coach whose expertise has benefitted elite athletes, including professional tennis star Denis Shapovalov.
• Alexandra Taylor: Golf Ontario’s Manager of Junior Performance and the 2024 Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion. With NCAA competitive experience from Grand Valley State University, Alexandra brings a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to the team.

This world-class staff is dedicated to fostering growth, development, and excellence in every athlete.

Preparing for Competition

The 2025 season officially kicked off with the October Kick-Off Camp at Whistle Bear Golf. Later this month, the team will travel to the International Junior Golf Academy at Bishop’s Gate in Orlando, Fla., for intensive training, team-building activities, and preparation for the Can-Am Matches.

Winter training will include specialized sessions at the Humber College Golf Lab, followed by additional camps in Florida and Myrtle Beach. These efforts lead up to key events like the Ontario Junior Players Invitational and the Can-Am Matches.

The offseason will conclude with a final spring camp in Niagara, ensuring the team is well-prepared for a successful competitive season. Throughout the summer, athletes will receive continued support from the coaching staff during team training days, seamlessly integrated into their busy tournament schedules.

This comprehensive approach ensures every athlete is primed for peak performance both on and off the course.

For more information about Team Ontario, CLICK HERE.