Comprehensive report developed in partnership with the National Golf Foundation provides a definitive snapshot of golf facilities and development in Canada 

[OAKVILLE, ONT.]—Golf Canada, in partnership with the PGA of Canada, has released Golf Facilities in Canada 2015—the definitive report on golf facilities and development in Canada.

Golf Facilities in Canada 2015 is the result of a collaborative effort between Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and the National Golf Foundation (NGF), a golf industry knowledge research firm which delivers independent and objective market intelligence, insights and trends.

The report identifies all existing public and private facilities in the country; and defines supply by province, type and number of holes. The report also includes information on facility openings and closings, as well as the number and type of facilities currently in development.

“Canadian golf facilities are the foundation for major sport participation, economic impact, tourism, charitable giving and environmental stewardship and the Golf Facilities in Canada 2015 report provides a comprehensive breakdown of the golf courses and projects that form that Canadian golf landscape,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “Canada represents 7 per cent of the total world’s supply of golf courses and this first ever Canadian report offers an in-depth summary of national and provincial data.”

“The PGA of Canada in partnership with Golf Canada is excited to present this captivating study of golf facilities in Canada compiled by one of the world’s leading research firms, the National Golf Foundation,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard.  “As the second oldest and third largest professional golf association in the world, the PGA of Canada and its 3,700 members are proud to be a driving force at golf facilities from coast to coast.”

A snapshot of data captured in Golf Facilities in Canada 2015:

• Canada is home to 2,346 public and private golf facilities; ranking it third in the world in total supply.

• Seventy-seven per cent of the total golf supply is located in Canada’s four most populated provinces—Ontario, Québec, Alberta and British Columbia.

• While course construction has slowed during the past several years (a trend mirrored in many mature and developed golf nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom) golf remains extremely accessible in Canada. A little more than 90 per cent of the country’s supply is open to the public.

• Of the 2,126 public facilities in Canada, half are located in Ontario and Québec, which together account for 61 per cent of the country’s total population. Furthermore, the two provinces are also home to 73 per cent of Canada’s 220 private clubs.

• Nine-hole golf accounts for almost 37 per cent of Canada’s total supply, which outnumbers

18-hole supply in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In Saskatchewan, 18-hole courses are outnumbered 3 to 1 by 9-hole courses.

• Canada features nine 12-hole facilities (six of which are in Ontario) and three 6-hole facilities.

• Resort golf, though a small segment of Canada’s overall supply, is a significant contributor to tourism in several provinces. Countrywide, 167 facilities (or approximately 7 per cent) of total supply are connected to a resort or a resort/real estate operation.

• Course construction peaked in the 1960s with the opening of more than 420 facilities. A second significant growth spurt occurred in the period between 1990 and 1999, when more than 310 courses—13 per cent of total supply —opened. The growth was highlighted by the opening of 257 facilities in the four largest provinces: Ontario, Québec, Alberta and British Columbia.

• Since 2010, 29 facilities have opened in six different provinces. In recent years, Canada has seen only moderate growth, and currently has 31 18-hole equivalent facilities in various stages of development.

• Of those facilities in various stages of development, 17 have broken ground including seven in Alberta and four in Nova Scotia. Nearly 60 per cent of new projects are tied to a real estate development.

• In the past five to 10 years, 158 facilities have closed. One in five of those closures were located in Ontario, which is home to 35 per cent of the total supply of Canada’s facilities. Three of Canada’s 10 provinces have seen fewer than five facility closures during the past decade.

The complete Golf Facilities in Canada 2015 report including national and provincial data is available for download here.

The Golf Facilities in Canada 2015 report aligns with the Canadian data featured in the World Facilities Report released earlier this year by the R&A in partnership with the NGF. The world report revealed by the end of 2014, there were 34,011 golf facilities in 204 countries around the world. It shows that nearly 80 per cent of these facilities are located in 10 countries: the United States, Japan, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, France, Scotland, South Africa and Sweden. The world report also revealed by the end of 2014, Canada ranked third* in total number of golf facilities by country behind only the United States and Japan (*The UK combined has the third-most course in the world overall, however when viewed as separate countries, Canada is third and England is fourth). For more on the world report, visit www.randa.org.

The golf industry is worth more than $14.3-billion to the Canadian economy and represents more than 1 per cent of our nation’s total GDP. The $5-billion in direct revenues generated by Canada’s 2,346 facilities are more than the revenues generated by all other participation sports and recreational facilities combined ($4.8 billion). The numbers reinforce the massive financial, charitable, and environmental impact that golf has in communities across Canada including hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions in taxes, and a major tourism driver both domestic and international. Canadian golf facilities are a channel for major charitable giving with close to 37,000 events at Canadian courses raising more than $533-million annually for worthwhile causes. Canadians are passionate about the game of golf with a participation base of 5.7-million Canadians who enjoy more than 60-million rounds annually. For more information about the robust impact of golf in Canada visit www.canadagolfs.ca.

On January 22, the PGA of Canada honoured it’s 2014 national award winners at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show, in Orlando, Florida, as part of Canada Night. Congratulations to Jeff Overholt, Liam Mucklow and Henry Brunton who were all honoured at the event.

Jeff Overholt 2014 Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year Award Winner

Liam Mucklow 2014 George Knudson Teacher of the Year Award Winner

Henry Brunton 2014 Ben Kern Coach of the Year Award Winner

By Brent Long

Imagine being a 12-year-old and landing your very first job washing golf carts at a nine-hole course in Kemptville, Ont. Well, that’s where it all began as Henry Brunton discovered a passion for golf at Rideau Glen Golf Club that drove him to become a world-leader in coaching, education and junior golf development.

Brunton took his thirst for learning to nearby Rideau View Country Club as a young assistant working for PGA of Canada Head Professional Paul Sherratt, then to the University of Ottawa where he earned a Bachelor degree in Physical Education and has never stopped reading, learning, teaching, coaching and mentoring others.

Over the years, Brunton has picked up many awards as he has been on the leading edge of golf development for more than 25-years. However, Brunton was deeply touched earlier this year when he picked up the PGA of Canada Tex Noble Award, for Professional Development at a presentation ceremony during Canada Night at the PGA 2014 Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL.

“I only knew Tex Noble as a pen pal of sorts. I never met him in person. As an apprentice at Rideau View, I had to fill out my progress reports at the end of each year and submit them to Tex, who was the Education Director for the PGA of Canada at the time,” Brunton says of the process that went on for five years. “From the comments that I got back from him, I could tell he was a gentleman who genuinely read the reports and provided positive feedback and encouragement. For me it was very stimulating to read his comments, so to receive an award with his name on it is very gratifying.” In 2009, Henry was named National Junior Leader of the Year by the Canadian PGA.

Fast forward to 2014 and Brunton is still turning pages and heads. Anyone who has followed Brunton’s career knows he published, “Journey to Excellence” in 2009 and “High Performance Golf” in 2012. What you probably don’t know is that booth books have been translated into Chinese and will be released next month in China – which is sure to increase his international exposure.

Also on the horizon is a trip to Australia is September to make presentations at the World Scientific Congress of Golf and the Australian PGA Coaching Summit.

Before that www.collegegolfplacement.com will be launched by Henry Brunton Golf as a consulting service for young golfers and their parents from around the world who are looking for guidance when it comes to pursuing and NCAA golf scholarship. The focus is to work with 12 to 17-year-olds as they move along the pathway and to highlight their accomplishments and videos on the site for NCAA coaches to review.

On the U.S. front, Brunton is expecting his VISA any day now, which would also allow him to set up shop in the United States. He’s also been contracted by several American PGA Sections to make professional development presentations later this year and into 2015. Brunton’s partnership with Dr. Rick Jensen from Boca Raton, FL., also continues to grow as they will announce up to 12 seminars for LPGA and PGA golf teachers and coaches across the US for 2014, including at least one in Canada for the very first time.

On the home front, Henry Brunton Golf continues to flourish with a wide selection of programs for both adults and junior golfers at Eagles Nest GC and Bathurst Glen GC, near Toronto, with winter programs conducted at The Metro Golf Dome & The Golf Lab and at the PGA Center for Learning and Performance in Port St. Lucie, FL. This spring, Brunton, a PGA of Canada Master Professional, will also assume duties as National Spokesman for the National Golf Course Owners’ Association Canada Kids Play Golf initiative to increase awareness around the sport and point children and parents to local PGA of Canada professionals for learning opportunities.

It all goes to show that you should never under estimate a youngster with passion who is working in the back shop cleaning golf carts or taking his first lesson with a PGA of Canada member – that passion could change the world as we know it!