Canada's National Open Championship returns to Oakville for first time since 2009;
Chris Rudge named as 2013 Tournament Chair
OAKVILLE, ON (Golf Canada), July 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Golf Canada and RBC announced today that Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. will host the 2013 RBC Canadian Open. The event will take place July 22-28, 2013.
Renowned as the longtime home of the Canadian Open, Glen Abbey will play host to Canada's National Open Championship for a record 26th time. The announcement marks the return of the RBC Canadian Open to the ClubLink-owned facility for the first time since 2009.
"In partnership with RBC, we are very pleased to confirm that the RBC Canadian Open will return to Glen Abbey Golf Club in 2013," said Golf Canada Executive Director and CEO Scott Simmons. "Glen Abbey has challenged the world's best on 25 occasions and played host to many of the most memorable finishes in Canadian Open history. As the most fan-friendly spectator course I've ever seen, the Abbey and the Canadian Open share a special connection in Canadian golf and we're thrilled to add to that legacy once again in 2013."
"It is exciting to see the tournament return to Glen Abbey, given its history and success," noted Andrew Shibata, head, Brand Marketing, RBC. "RBC and Golf Canada are committed to bringing the RBC Canadian Open to the best golf courses across the country and we look forward to welcoming the world's top golfers and our dedicated fans back to this prestigious golf course."
"We are very pleased to welcome the RBC Canadian Open back to Glen Abbey for a record 26th time," said Rai Sahi, ClubLink President and CEO. "It is only fitting that Canada's most famous course plays host to our National Open Championship. Since the Canadian Open was first played on this Jack Nicklaus Signature course in 1977, Glen Abbey has produced many worthy champions including Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, and Curtis Strange. We look forward to a great tournament week and another outstanding champion in 2013."
Glen Abbey was owned and operated by Golf Canada (previously known as the Royal Canadian Golf Association) from 1982 - 1998 before selling the property to ClubLink in the fall of 1998. As the longtime home of Canada's National Open Championship, 'The Abbey' hosted 22 Canadian Opens between 1977 and 2000 as well as 2004, 2008 and 2009. Golf Canada's head office as well as the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum are located on the grounds of Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Golf Canada also announced that former Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Rudge will serve as Tournament Chair for the 2013 RBC Canadian Open. Rudge, who sits on Golf Canada's Board of Directors, is currently Executive Chairman of the Toronto Argonauts and the 100th Grey Cup Festival set for Toronto in 2012.
"It's an honour to be asked to serve as Tournament Chair of the 2013 RBC Canadian Open," said Rudge, the former Chairman of the Own the Podium steering committee. "With more than a century of storied history and incredible golfing moments, we want Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast to rally around the event, embrace as the proud history of our National Open Golf Championship and celebrate what this fabulous championship means to the sport of golf in this country. It is also exciting to be involved as golf re-enters the Olympic world where it will be contested in Toronto during the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro where Canada will defend as the reigning gold medalist in golf."
The 2012 RBC Canadian Open will take place July 23-29 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. The event will once again raise money in support of national charity partner - the Mike Weir Foundation - as well as the recently announced Community Child Abuse Council (CCAC) in Hamilton as the local charity beneficiary.
For information about tickets, volunteer opportunities or corporate hospitality, please visit www.rbccanadianopen.com.
ABOUT THE 2012 RBC CANADIAN OPEN
Part of the FedEx Cup, stars of the PGA TOUR will compete for $5.2 million (US) at the RBC Canadian Open, July 23-29, 2012 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. 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, BMW Group Canada, C.F.F Stainless Steels, Molson Canadian 67, TaylorMade adidas Golf, The Glenlivet, The Globe and Mail, Reader's Digest and the City of Hamilton, with funding provided by the Government of Ontario. For tournament information please visit www.rbccanadianopen.com or call 1-800-571-6736.
ABOUT CLUBLINK
ClubLink is engaged in golf club and resort operations under the trade-mark "ClubLink One Membership More Golf." ClubLink is Canada's largest owner and operator of golf clubs with 53½, 18-hole equivalent championship and six 18-hole equivalent academy courses at 44 locations, primarily in Ontario, Quebec and Florida.
ClubLink is also engaged in rail, tourism and port operations based in Skagway, Alaska, which operates under the trade name "White Pass & Yukon Route." The railway stretches approximately 177 kilometres from Skagway, Alaska, through British Columbia to Whitehorse, Yukon. In addition, ClubLink operates three docks primarily for cruise ships.
For more information, visit www.clublink.ca or call 1-800-661-1818.
RBC GOLF
RBC proudly supports golf around the world through high profile relationships with the PGA TOUR, the PGA of America and Golf Canada. RBC is the Official Banking and Financial Services partner of touring professionals Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Matt Kuchar, Mike Weir, Stephen Ames, Fred Couples, Hunter Mahan and Morgan Pressel. As the Official Bank of the PGA of America and title sponsor of both the RBC Heritage and the RBC Canadian Open, RBC also supports emerging Canadian golfers through Golf Canada's grassroots developmental programming, their Canadian Amateur Golf Championships and high performance national team. Outside of golf, RBC sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots to national sport associations. RBC is one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies and among the largest banks in the world, as measured by market capitalization.
GOLF CANADA - LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing more than 340,000 members at close to 1,500 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sport Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, Golf Canada's mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game.
A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada conducts championships, programs and services to help shape the present and future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, Golf in Schools presented by Callaway, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, CN Canadian Women's Tour and CN Future Links - Canada's national junior golf program - are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. As the authority for golf in Canada, the association also administers the Rules of Golf, amateur status and handicapping and course rating. In addition, Golf Canada 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 provide world class competitive opportunities for Canada's top golfers to showcase their talents.
For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit us online at www.golfcanada.ca.
Media Contacts:
Dan Pino
Director, Corporate Communications
Golf Canada
(t) 1-800-263-0009 ext. 406
(c) 416-434-5525
(e) [email protected]
Jackie Braden
Senior Manager, Brand Communications
RBC
(t) 416-974-1724
(e) jack[email protected]
John Gordon
Director, Communications
ClubLink
(p) 905-841-5364
(c) 647-202-6644
(e) [email protected]
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