• What is the BDO National Golf League? How does it work?

    The BDO National Golf League is a nationwide network of leagues that culminates in Provincial Championship leading into a national championship contested at the host site of the following years RBC Canadian Open. The BDO National Golf League competition format will be a 9-hole net stableford competition taking place during 6 weeks in your club’s league season. Within those 6 weeks of competition, the best 4 scores will be used to determine individuals that will advance to the next stage of competition – the Provincial Championships.

    Each qualifier for the Provincial Championships will be able to bring along a partner from their NGL league to form a 2-person team and compete at premium golf courses from coast-to-coast.

    Qualifiers from the Provincial Championships will advance to the BDO NGL National Championship, contested at the site of the following years RBC Canadian Open.

  • Who is eligible to compete in the BDO National Golf League?

    The BDO National Golf League is open to all! Women, Men, Seniors, Juniors – everyone can participate in the BDO National Golf League with a valid Golf Canada handicap.

  • Does the BDO National Golf League change our existing league play?

    No. Your league and its traditions will continue as it has. Six weeks of your league season will be designated as major weeks by your League Administrator. Your top four weeks will contribute to your overall standing in the national league and chance to play in the Provincial and National Championships.

  • How many players from my league will qualify for the Provincial Championships?

    The number of qualifying spots to the Provincial Championships for each league is based on the size of that league. Men’s leagues receive 1 spot for every 30 participants. Women’s leagues receive 1 spot for every 20 participants. Mixed leagues receive 1 spot for every 25 participants.

    In addition, each playoff qualifier will select a partner from their BDO National Golf League league as their guest teammate for the playoffs.

    For example, in a women’s league of 60 players, there will be 3 qualifying spots available for the Provincial Championships, and each of these 3 qualifiers will also be able to invite a guest teammate (i.e., for a total of 6 playoff participants – 3 teams of 2 – from this local BDO National Golf League women’s league).

    The NGL Provincial Championships and BDO National Golf League Championship are net competitions that are inclusive of all golfers, regardless of gender, and will take place in September and October 2023.

  • What scoring system are you using?

    We will be using a Net Stableford competition for the regular season (click here for more info)

  • How are the Stableford Points calculated?
    Score on Hole Points
    Net Double Bogey or Worse 0
    Net Bogey 1
    Net Par 2
    Net Birdie 3
    Net Eagle 4
    Net 3 under par 5
    Net 4 under par 6

     

  • How will the BDO National Golf League scores be accumulated? What scoring software do you recommend for our club?

    We will be exclusively using Golf Genius TMS to aggregate all league scores to determine your club’s leaderboard and finalize who will be qualifying for the Provincial Championships at your club.

    Each club will be responsible to identify 6 weeks on their league calendar from June 1st through August 31st for NGL league competition, called BDO National Golf League Majors.

    Once your club has registered to participate in the BDO National Golf League, within your GolfGenius account, you’ll be able to create a specific BDO National Golf League league to:

    1. A) Set your roster of BDO National Golf League participants
    2. B) Determine which 9-hole course you’d like to count towards your club’s BDO National Golf League leaderboard
    3. C) Select which days will be known as BDO National Golf League Major Weeks.
  • Is there a registration fee to participate in the BDO National Golf League?

    No, there is no registration fee to participate. However, we are asking each league to make a donation to their local First Tee chapter. The amount for this donation is $25 per league member. League’s are encouraged to fundraise through a variety of methods to reach this goal.

    Golf Canada membership is required for participation to ensure handicap equity between participants.

    There will be an entry fee for the Provincial Championships, which will be contested at premium golf courses across Canada. The NGL National Championship is an all-expenses paid experience.

  • Why is Golf Canada membership required to participate in BDO National Golf League?

    Golf Canada membership is required to ensure that official Handicap Indexes are used. Equity, through the Handicap Index, is important to ensure national consistency and integrity of competition.

  • How do I register my league to be a BDO National Golf League participating league in 2023? (for league operators)

    Please contact your local Golf Canada Regional Director (contact information below) to let us know of your interest in participating in the BDO National Golf League in 2023.

    A limited number of spots remain available for your league to participate in the BDO National Golf League in our first year of operations, so please act quickly.

    Once confirmed, we will work with Golf Genius to ensure your club has the ability to create the BDO National Golf League league within your Golf Genius account.

  • I am a league player how do I join the BDO National Golf League?

    To participate in the BDO National Golf League an individual must be participating in a league that is a registered BDO National Golf League location. Locations with open registration will be listed on the website when they are confirmed.

  • Are there any marketing materials or collateral that I can share with my golfers to let them know that we will be a BDO National Golf League participating club?

    Yes. Email templates and marketing materials will be provided to ease in the distribution of communication around your club’s BDO National Golf League participation. Once you confirm your BDO National Golf League roster, an email will go out to all participating golfers explaining the format and how the BDO National Golf League works.

    Please contact our team of Regional Directors (see below) to obtain marketing materials related to the BDO National Golf League. A Sizzle Reel, Explainer Video, Sell Sheets and BDO National Golf League Deck is also available to drive awareness and create excitement at your club.

  • When will the BDO National Golf League Regional Playoffs locations be announced?

    Provincial Championship locations will be announced in June of each season.

  • What is First Tee – Canada?

    First Tee is a youth development program that provides accessible pathways to golf participation at schools, community centres, and golf courses across the country. It was started in 1997 in the United States and was introduced in Canada in 2021.

    First Tee is growing across the country, and aims to provide Canadian youth from all backgrounds the opportunity to play golf and experience its associated life skills and other benefits.

  • How can my club participate in supporting the First Tee – Canada?

    All NGL participants will be asked to support First Tee – Canada as part of their participation. We would love every BDO National Golf League participant to support First Tee – Canada!

    All funds raised in your province will directly support your local First Tee chapter and help positively influence more children through golf.

    For more information on First Tee – Canada and our mission, please visit FirstTeeCanada.ca.

  • How do I get more involved or volunteer with the First Tee?

    Please visit www.firstteecanada.ca/chapters to find your local chapter’s website. Alternatively, you can email firsttee@golfcanada.ca and a First Tee – Canada team member will be in touch.

  • We don’t have First Tee at my club, how can we be a First Tee Canada program location?

    To become a First Tee program location, the PGA of Canada coaches at your facility are required to complete First Tee training. Your respective First Tee provincial chapter will work with you to determine what level of training is required for your facility. To find your local chapter’s website, click here.

    For more information on how your club can become a First Tee – Canada location, or how you can support First Tee at community centres and schools nearby, email firsttee@golfcanada.ca.

  • My friend plays at a different golf club, can they join a BDO National Golf League?

    BDO National Golf League registration is open to all leagues. Your friend should speak with their league operators about their league becoming a participating location.

  • Who runs the NGL?

    The BDO National Golf League is operated, sanctioned, and run by Golf Canada

  • How will Golf Canada administer the handicap component of the BDO National Golf League?

    The Golf Canada Handicap Index is an average of your best 8 scores of the most recent 20 rounds of golf. All golfers are required to have a valid Golf Canada Handicap Index to participate in the BDO National Golf League.

    Based on initial feedback we have received from league operators around the country, and in compliance with the World Handicap Authority, we are ready to launch a League Indicator feature in 2023.

    This calculation will be an adjustment to an individual’s playing handicap based on performance trends in the specific league night(s) they are participating in.

    By using the Golf Genius software, we’ll be able to accurately identify league scores, and subsequently create a League Indicator adjustment from their current Golf Canada Handicap Index on an as-requested basis in 2023.

    The League Indicator feature will be available for use in your league play, but the Official Golf Canada Handicap Index will be used for BDO National Golf League leaderboards and determining winners, etc.

    For League Operators interested in learning more, please consult the BDO National Golf League Operator Manual.

  • Is there a Registration Fee for the BDO National Golf League Regional Playoffs or the BDO National Golf League Championship?

    There will be a registration fee for the Provincial Championships taking place at premium courses across Canada.

    The BDO National Golf League National Championship will be completely covered. Participants will receive air fare, hotel for two nights, meals, your round of golf, and swag.

  • How will tie breakers be decided?

    Golf Canada recommends settling ties using the Golf Genius tie-breaking method that is suggested in the Operator Manual. Leagues may also choose to settle ties based on their own mechanisms at the local level.

    Ties at the Provincial Championships and National Championship will be decided using playoff holes.

Regional Director Contacts

Western Canada (BC/AB/SK/MB) – Doug Hastie (dhastie@golfcanada.ca)

Ontario – Mike Dinner (mdinner@golfcanada.ca)

Quebec – Rilla Kingston (rkingston@golfcanada.ca

Quebec – Maxime Desjardins (mdesjardins@golfcanada.ca

Atlantic Canada (NB/NS/NL/PEI) – Jeffrey Hutt (jhutt@golfcanada.ca)