Bob Wong to be Honoured with RCGA Distinguished Service Award

Award will be presented at the Association’s 2009 Annual General Meeting in Halifax

Halifax, N.S. (RCGA) – The award will be presented on Saturday, January 17th at the Association’s Annual General Meeting at the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in Halifax, N.S.

“I am truly honoured to be receiving this award from the RCGA, although it comes as a pleasant surprise because I know there are so many people who make significant contributions to the game,” said Wong. “I’m passionate about the sport of golf and that’s always been my main motivation - although, it is nice to be recognized for your hard work.”

Wong has had a renowned impact on helping to shape the game of golf in Canada. During his tenure as an RCGA Governor (1982-1991) and Associate Governor (1992-1997), he served on both the Rules and Handicap and Course Rating Committees.

In 1989, Wong made a most important contribution to the game of golf in Canada. As Chair of the Handicap and Course Rating Committee (1987-1991), he brought forth a recommendation that the RCGA adopt the USGA Slope System. The RCGA went on to approve the use of the Slope System at the 1990 Semi-Annual Meeting.

The process of Slope rating all RCGA courses began in 1991 and was fully adopted by all provincial golf associations in 1995, allowing Canadian golfers’ handicaps to be adjusted from course to course.

Under Wong’s leadership, the Handicap and Course Rating Committee went on to conduct Slope System training seminars across Canada, training more than 125 course raters in becoming fully versed in the Slope System.

Throughout the years, Wong was also a member of the USGA Handicap Procedures Committee where he worked closely with the USGA’s “Pope of Slope” Dean Knuth. Other accolades included certification as a Rules official; refereeing at the Canadian Open; acting as Head Referee at the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship; and being one of only four individuals to serve two terms as NSGA President (1979 and 1980).

A standout golfer past and present and an endeared humanitarian, Wong is well respected in the Nova Scotia golf community and spends a great deal of his time building the junior golf program at his home club - Pictou Golf Club in Nova Scotia. He was also inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1998.

“I can’t say enough how truly thankful the RCGA is for the inspired efforts of Bob Wong,” said 2008 RCGA President Andrew Cook. “With a tireless passion for the game of golf, he is emblematic of how one individual can certainly make a difference. He is indeed a most worthy recipient of the 2009 RCGA Distinguished Service Award.”

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATIONThe 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 http://www.blogger.com/.