10/29/2009
- Islington golf community to share in welcoming Canada’s national Open championship back to Toronto for the first time since 1968 -
Toronto (RCGA) – The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is pleased to announce that Islington Golf Club will host the practice facility for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open.
Competitors challenging for Canada’s national Open championship at St. George’s Golf and Country Club from July 19-25 will use neighbouring Islington Golf Club where a practice facility will be constructed using the club’s first and second holes. Islington Golf Club is a private Stanley Thompson designed course located slightly more than two kilometres south of St. George’s along Islington Avenue in the west-end of Toronto.
“We are delighted to have Islington Golf Club host the practice facilities for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open,” said Scott Simmons, Executive Director and CEO of the RCGA. “Not only does it make sense from a logistical perspective but it also affords us an opportunity to welcome one of our member clubs as a proud partner in the 2010 RBC Canadian Open. On behalf of the RCGA and everyone involved with Canada’s national Open championship, I want to thank the entire membership of Islington Golf Club for becoming a big part of the Open.”
“On behalf of the Islington Golf Club, I am very proud that our club will host the practice facility for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open,” said Bill Chisholm, President of Islington Golf Club. “We were honoured when the RCGA came to us to present the opportunity and given the unique circumstances of an offsite practice facility for the event, we thought it would be a tremendous opportunity for our club to get involved in the Open and show our support for Canadian golf.”
Offsite practice facilities had been considered a significant logistical hurdle in conducting the 2010 RBC Canadian Open as the current practice range at St. George’s lacks the space and length to accommodate the practice needs of PGA TOUR players. Initially, the RCGA considered a plan to construct a practice facility at Eglinton Flats, a community park located approximately seven kilometres from St. George’s.
Hosting the practice facility at Islington Golf Club not only offers a closer solution for the tournament, but also extends a unique opportunity for the Islington golf community to play an important role in the Canadian Open’s return to Toronto for the first time since 1968.
Construction of the temporary practice facility at Islington Golf Club will begin immediately and will be open to spectators attending the 2010 RBC Canadian Open.
ABOUT THE 2010 RBC CANADIAN OPEN
An exciting new era has arrived for Canada's national championship. Part of the FedEx Cup, stars of the PGA TOUR will compete for $5.1 million (US) at the RBC Canadian Open, July 19-25 at the historic St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto. Established in 1904, the tournament is the third-oldest national open golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC, Bell and BMW Group Canada. For updated corporate hospitality, tickets, volunteer and sponsorship information please visit www.rbccanadianopen.ca or call 1-800-571-OPEN.
RBC AND THE RBC CANADIAN OPEN
In partnership with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA), RBC is the title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open, the third oldest national golf championship worldwide, next only to the British Open and the U.S. Open. With a history of great players and premier fields, the RBC Canadian Open provides golf fans with the opportunity to experience the excitement of a world class event on Canadian soil. RBC also sponsors all levels of amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport organizations and elite-level athletes.
ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA’s mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.
For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support golf in your community please visit www.rcga.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Pino
Director, Media and Public Relations
Royal Canadian Golf Association
t: 905-849-9700 ext. 406
c: 416-434-5525 (cell)
e: dpino@rcga.org
