Golf Newfoundland Labrador - Golf NL

Record breaking forty-four players take to Terra Nova for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz Junior Tour Championship.

Conditions are ideal as the players take on Eagle Creek for eighteen holes this afternoon as Twin Rivers awaits the final round tomorrow morning.

Follow scoring here -> https://www.golfgenius.com/websites/12596948325476911555?preview=false

18 Holes! 18 Questions!

Hudson Stratton

Glendenning Golf Course

Bio: For work I've had a small Paint/Plaster company for 20 years. Although many people know me from back in the day when I worked on George Street - mostly Benders On George - one of the greatest bars in the history of George street! People have so many great memories of that place.

I grew up in New-Wes-Valley then moved to the big city when I was 18. So that's a long time being "in town" but I am Bay all the way!

When I'm not golfing I enjoy fishing and/or heading for a hike and a boil-up. Anything in the woods is just fine by me.

1. What is your full name?
Hudson Bart Stratton

2. Where were you born? Where do you live today?
I was born in Brookfield (Now New-Wes-Valley), Newfoundland and I now live in St. John's.

3. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I used to teach country line dancing while working in a country bar in my young 20’s. Plus I like classical music – I am a big fan of CBC Radio 2.

4. Are you a member of a golf club and what club? Who do you regularly play golf with?
I am currently a member of Glendenning Golf Club. I have 3 different groups – my Baly Haly friends Greg Winter, Jim Yee, Dean Hong, and Todd Osmond; my Glendenning friends Dave Brentnal, Bob Stead and Terry Bell along with my non member friends Rhodie Smith, Paul Anderson and Grant Mitchell.
But lately I regularly golf with who ever has room in their group late evenings at Glendenning. You get to meet so many good people this way. Don’t ever be shy about joining a group!

5. What's your favorite course that you have played? What course would you like to play anywhere in the world?
I’ve yet to play a fancy destination course only playing regular public courses outside of Newfoundland. Hopefully someday soon. So I will name a tie between Pitcher’s Pond, Terra Nova and Grande Meadows as my favorite courses. I would love to play any course in Hawaii!

6. Where and when did you start golfing?
This is a 2-part answer. Growing up in rural Newfoundland and having never ever seen a golf course other than on TV at age 13 I was introduced to golf by my older cousin Larry Spurrell who took me to Lumsden North Beach where we hit balls up and down the beach!
But like so many others I started golfing for real with my friend Sean Dowden on Captain’s Hill Pippy Park - then Admirals Green.

7. Can you (briefly) tell us your most memorable golf experience.
Watching my young son Dutch Stratton make his first real birdie. It was Hole #13 at Baly Haly North. He hit his tee shot to 6 ft and then made the putt. I am so praying he gets hooked (lol) - a great excuse to golf anytime!

8. Can you (briefly) tell us your funniest golf experience.
I had my first eagle by shanking my second shot on a par 4 50 yards left into the woods off a rock, back onto the green and in the hole!

9. What is your greatest golf accomplishment?
The two I like the most - I held off Grant (In-The-Middle) Mitchell in 2015 to win the Black Duck Club Championship. And in 2024 I won the Senior Club championship (over 50) at Baly Haly, being only 2 over total for two days. Finishing 4th overall total gross. So many great golfers at Baly Haly.

10. How do you like to relax?
I like to cook but I also enjoy filling the Sienna with my 14yr old son along with as many of his friends that can fit and going on adventures!

11. What is your most treasured golf possession?
A very old Callaway Diablo 23 degree Hybrid. I bought it on sale for $45. I tried replacing it several times with new ones but it keeps coming back.

12. What is your best/worst quality on the golf course?
My best quality is I love meeting new people and being on a golf course, especially in a team situation. Nothing I like more than a good team event like 2 vs 2 or even better a 4 or 5 person event. Worst quality is that I get bored easy and lose concentration. When play is slow I drift.

13. What 3 professional golfers would complete your dream foursome for a round of golf?
It would have to be Padraig Harrington because he’d be nicely giving tips all day; Tommy Fleetwood just because, and Ernie Els, not just his silky swing tempo but I hear his razz game is second to none.

14. What 3 Newfoundlanders, past or present, would you like to join you at a dream dinner?
This is a tough one! My Great Grandfather Stratton whom I never met. (I can listen to family/Newfoundland rural history forever). Allan Doyle – we're about the same age. He seems like a really nice guy and I bet he would have tons of stories. Gordon Pinsent – Loved that guy!

15. Have you ever had a hole-in-one? What is your best score ever? When and where?
I’ve only had one. It was Hole #12 at Clovelly Osprey course, back right corner pin. Maybe 10 years ago. I have shot 1 under par on 3 or 4 different times but in tournament competition my best is par several times.

16. What is your favorite/least favorite golfing hole on a Newfoundland & Labrador golf course?
My favorite is Hole #2 at Pitcher's Pond while Hole #5 at Grande Meadows is my least favorite by a mile.

17. What do you think is the worst rule in golf and how would you change it?
I get the need for Out of Bounds stroke and distance penalty to protect specific areas. But everything else should be played as a hazard. Red stake it all. Take a drop move on.

18. What advice would you give to a young golfer starting to play golf today?
Outside of get a couple lessons, spend more time practicing chipping and putting instead of just trying to pound a driver. Also play a lot of best ball with your friends. Takes the pressure off.

Get tickets while you still can! 🎟️ Support NL junior golf and increase your odds of winning with every ticket you purchase in our online 50/50 raffle, ending August 31st. 🏌️

Get your tickets now: https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/golfnl

NL Ticket Lottery Licence No. 26-10125300LT

NL Summer Games Golf Competition Concludes at Blomidon Golf Club

The golf competition at the 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games has officially concluded following two rounds of competition at Blomidon Golf Club.

Young golfers representing regions from across the province competed over two days, with medals decided in both the team and individual competitions.

St. John’s North Claims Boys Team Title

St. John’s North captured the boys team title after rounds of 155 and 151 for a two-round total of 306 (+26).

Avalon finished second at 314 (+34), while Central and Labrador finished tied at 337 (+57). Central earned third place through the USGA tiebreaker method, with Labrador finishing fourth. Western rounded out the top five at 338 (+58).

Host Region Takes Girls Team Title

The Host region delivered a strong performance in the girls team competition, finishing with rounds of 181 and 172 for a total of 353 (+73) to claim the title.

Western finished second at 448 (+168), while Labrador placed third with a total of 644 (+364).

Hiscock Captures Boys Individual Title

Ben Hiscock of St. John’s North produced the lowest round of the final day, firing an even-par 72 to move into first place and capture the boys individual title.

Hiscock followed his opening-round 77 with the 72 to finish at 149 (+9) for the championship.

His St. John’s North teammate Rylan Mullowney finished second at 157 (+17) after rounds of 78 and 79. Avalon’s Declan Flynn finished third at 160 (+20), followed closely by Ryder Parsons at 161 (+21) and Host golfer Jonah Sharpe at 163 (+23).

Allen Wins Girls Individual Competition

Rosie Allen of the Host region completed an impressive two days by following her opening 89 with an 85 in the final round. She finished at 174 (+34) to secure the girls individual title.

Host teammate Kali Gill placed second at 179 (+39) after rounds of 92 and 87.

Brooklyn Stride finished third at 194 (+54), one stroke ahead of Host golfer Adelyn Kelly at 195 (+55). Maddy Schwartz rounded out the top five at 219 (+79).

The conclusion of the competition capped off two great days of junior golf at Blomidon Golf Club and provided the athletes with the opportunity to represent their regions on the provincial stage.

Golf Newfoundland and Labrador would like to congratulate all athletes on their performances and thank the coaches, volunteers, officials, families and Blomidon Golf Club for their contributions to a successful Summer Games golf competition.

Congratulations to all of the 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games golfers!

18 Holes! 18 Questions!

Ethan Efford

Bally Haly Country Club

Bio: I was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and have a younger sister named Brooklyn. I grew up swinging little plastic clubs around the house, but my love for golf came after my dad took me to the driving range for the first time when I was 7 years old. I still vividly remember my first ever shot and I have been hooked ever since!

I played a lot of different sports throughout my childhood, but I was average (at best) for most of them. I played my first NL Provincial Championship at age 11 and loved the feeling of competitive golf which is something I still carry today. In grade 10 I decided to give up the other sports and focus on golf. I graduated from Gonzaga High School in 2021 and was fortunate to receive an offer to play NCAA DI Men’s Golf at Utah Valley University, following in the footsteps of a longtime mentor, coach, and friend of mine, Blair Bursey. I moved to Utah just two months after graduating high school at 17 years old and spent four years playing and studying at UVU.

In May of 2025 I graduated from Utah Valley with my Bachelor of Finance degree and moved back to St. John’s for work. Currently, I am a Junior Investment Analyst with Provident10 and have been there a little over a year, and I am working towards my CFA designation.

N. B. Ethan recently captured his first Newfoundland and Labrador Men's Amateur Golf Championship at Harmon Seaside Links, finishing at 3-under par over three rounds (72, 70 and 71) to claim the provincial title. His consistent play throughout the championship earned him a memorable first victory in one of the province's premier amateur golf events.

1. What is your full name?
Ethan Isaac Efford

2. Where were you born? Where do you live today?
I was born in St. John’s, NL and today I live in the same house I grew up in!

3. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have a color defect with the colors red, green and brown, (red-green colorblind) so red flags give me some issues.

4. Are you a member of a golf club and what club? Who do you regularly play golf with?
Yes, I am a member of Bally Haly Country Club. I usually play with my good friends Brandon Powell, Dylan Yee, and Nick O’Reilly, but will play with anyone who has an open spot or would like to play. My dad, Dean, is also a member now so I try to play with him as much as I can as well.

5. What's your favorite course that you have played? What course would you like to play anywhere in the world?
Any of the five courses at Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Oregon, but I have a soft spot for the original Bandon Dunes course. My top pick would be Augusta National, but I would also love to play Royal County Down Golf Course in Northern Ireland.

6. Where and when did you start golfing?
I began golfing when I was 7 years old at the original Clovelly golf course and learned the game from Jamie Moran through the junior clinics there.

7. Can you (briefly) tell us your most memorable golf experience.
Getting a collegiate team win at Palm Valley in Arizona. 3 out of 4 of our counting scores birdied their last hole to win by one shot over Marquette. I was lucky enough to be one of the 3 birdies!

8. Can you (briefly) tell us your funniest golf experience.
One of my teammates was recording a swing video for another guy, and when he sliced it my teammate recording continued to pan the camera up and to the right into the sky. By the time he stopped recording he basically had the camera pointing at the moon. It was hilarious.

9. What is your greatest golf accomplishment?
I would say winning my first tournament off the island. It was a Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) tournament at Fox Harb’r Resort in Nova Scotia, and I won in a playoff with my family and grandparents watching. That was the first moment when I realized that I wanted to compete at a higher level.

10. How do you like to relax?
I don’t do well with relaxation, but when I am I’m usually listening to music and having a coffee or drink. I also really like to watch movies and shows.

11. What is your most treasured golf possession?
I used to have a valuables pouch where I kept my favorite ball markers and one marker I had was the shape of an F-22 Raptor and it was from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. My valuables pouch sadly went missing and since then I have tried to not get attached to physical stuff.

12. What is your best/worst quality on the golf course?
My best quality is my determination and grit, my worst quality would be my negative self-talk.

13. What 3 professional golfers would complete your dream foursome for a round of golf?
The three would be Tiger Woods, Payne Stewart, and Scottie Scheffler.

14. What 3 Newfoundlanders, past or present, would you like to join you at a dream dinner?
I would love to sit down with Craig Dobbin, Terry Ryan, and my grandmother Bishop (who passed before I was born).

15. Have you ever had a hole-in-one? What is your best score ever? When and where?
I have never made a hole-in-one while my lowest score ever is a 63 which I shot just a few days ago at Blue Devil Golf Club in Calgary.

16. What is your favorite/least favorite golfing hole on a Newfoundland & Labrador golf course?
My favorite hole is probably Hole #11 at Humber Valley Resort and my least favorite hole was Hole #17 at the old Bally course, and Hole #11 at Terra Nova.

17. What do you think is the worst rule in golf and how would you change it?
I think the worst rule in golf is getting penalized for being “late” for your tee time when you are still there before the listed time. If I tee off at 11am, and I show up at 10:57am and am ready to hit my ball when my name is called, why should I be penalized when my round hasn’t even started yet?

18. What advice would you give to a young golfer starting to play golf today?
Be patient, stay humble, and don't take the game too seriously. Golf will teach you a lot about yourself, especially how you respond to adversity. Learn to control your emotions, respect the game and the people you play with, and don't obsess over results, if you do, you'll eventually stop enjoying it.

Round One Complete at the 2026 Newfoundland & Labrador Summer Games Golf Competition

Round one of the 2026 Newfoundland & Labrador Summer Games golf competition is officially in the books at Blomidon Golf Club in Corner Brook, with athletes from across the province representing their regions in both team and individual competition.

The Boys Team competition could not be much tighter after the opening round. Avalon and St. John’s North share the lead at +15, while Labrador sits seven shots back at +22. Eastern (+26) and Western (+30) round out the top five heading into the final round.

On the Girls side, the Host team holds the lead at +41, followed by Western at +87 and Labrador at +193.

Individually, Quinn Greene of Labrador leads the Boys competition following an opening-round 76 (+6). Ryder Parsons of Avalon and Ben Hiscock of St. John’s North are just one shot back after matching rounds of 77 (+7). Declan Flynn and Rylan Mullowney are tied at +8 after rounds of 78.

In the Girls competition, Rosie Allen of the Host team leads after an opening-round 89 (+19). Teammates Kali Gill (+22) and Adelyn Kelly (+24) sit second and third, while Brooklyn Stride (+28) and Maddy Schwartz (+39) complete the top five.

With just one round remaining, several medals remain firmly up for grabs, highlighted by the deadlock between Avalon and St. John’s North in the Boys Team competition.

The championship concludes Monday, August 10, at Blomidon Golf Club, where the 2026 Newfoundland & Labrador Summer Games golf medalists will be crowned.

Good luck to all athletes in the final round! ⛳🏅

Golf Takes Centre Stage at the Newfoundland Summer Games

The golf competition at the 2026 Newfoundland Summer Games gets underway Sunday, August 9, as young athletes from across the province gather at Blomidon Golf Club for two days of competition.

Running August 9–10, the event will give some of Newfoundland and Labrador’s young golfers the opportunity to represent their respective regions while competing on one of the province’s most scenic and challenging courses.

Blomidon Golf Club will provide the stage for the two-day championship, with players looking to put together strong performances over both rounds as they compete for Summer Games honours.

The Newfoundland Summer Games provide an important opportunity for young athletes to experience multi-sport competition while representing their communities and competing alongside many of the province’s top developing athletes.

Golf continues to be an important part of that experience, giving junior players another opportunity to test their games in a competitive environment and build friendships with golfers from across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Competition begins Sunday, August 9, and concludes Monday, August 10 at Blomidon Golf Club.

Best of luck to all athletes competing in this year’s Newfoundland Summer Games!

2026 NL Summer Games @ Blomidon Event :: Welcome

Support junior golf in NL and get a chance to win big in our online provincial 50/50 raffle! 🎟️ This summer, we’re selling tickets to keep golf in our province strong. 🏌️

Get your tickets now: https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/golfnl

NL Ticket Lottery Licence No. 26-10125300LT

18 Holes! 18 Questions!

Marilyn Saunders

Blomidon Golf Course

Bio: I am a retired nurse who grew up in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. My husband Fred and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary this year. We have two daughters.

1. What is your full name?
Marilyn Saunders

2. Where were you born? Where do you live today?
I was born in North West River, Labrador and I reside in Corner Brook, NL.

3. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I was painfully shy as a child and wouldn’t talk to people if I didn’t know them.

4. Are you a member of a golf club and what club? Who do you regularly play golf with?
I've been a member of Blomidon Golf Club since 2000. During the week I golf with Alfreda Cassell, Maisie House and Melinda Coles. On the weekends my husband, Fred & I usually golf with other couples.

5. What's your favorite course that you have played?
My favorite course is Terra Nova, although Mill River in PEI is right up there as well. I would love to play the Old Course at St. Andrew’s, Scotland.

6. Where and when did you start golfing?
I started golfing in a few fun tournaments and really enjoyed it. My husband surprised me with a membership at Blomidon in 2000. He taught me how to golf, I’ve never taken a lesson.

7. Can you (briefly) tell us your most memorable golf experience. What is your greatest golf accomplishment?
My most memorable golf experience and my greatest golfing accomplishment would have to be the same - winning the Ladies Championship at Blomidon in 2024.

8. Can you (briefly) tell us your funniest golf experience.
We went to Clovelly, St. John’s a few years ago and when we arrived at the first green, we didn’t have our putters. We’d been practicing in our basement and forgot to put them back in our golf bags. Luckily the gentleman we were golfing with allowed us to use his putter. We all had a great laugh over that.

9. How do you like to relax?
I like to relax by playing golf, reading and visiting our daughters. Someone asked me one time “ don’t you find golf stressful?” At the time I was working and I said, “I leave work stressed, I come up here and by the time I’ve reached hole #3, my stress is gone.”

10. What is your most treasured golf possession?
It’s a toss up between my $5 rock wedge (gets me out of trouble without damaging my good clubs) and my ball retriever. LOL!

11. What is your best/worst quality on the golf course?
My best quality is not allowing hazards to affect my game while my worst quality is my inconsistency with my chipping and putting.

12. What 3 professional golfers would complete your dream foursome for a round of golf?
I’d like to golf with Brooke Henderson, Cory Connors and Mike Weir.

13. What 3 Newfoundlanders, past or present, would you like to join you at a dream dinner?
My husband, Fred, brother, Russ and sister in law, Judy so we could reminisce about previous golf trips and plan future golf trips.

14. Have you ever had a hole-in-one? When and where?
I haven’t yet had a hole in one but hopefully there’s one in my future.

15. What is your best score ever? When and what course?
My best score ever is 82 at Blomidon in 2017.

16. What is your favorite/least favorite golfing hole on a Newfoundland & Labrador golf course?
My favorite hole is Hole #8 at Terra Nova and my least favorite is Hole #5 at Terra Nova.

17. What do you think is the worst rule in golf and how would you change it?
Playing out of a divot. I would reclassify it as ground under repair.

18. What advice would you give to a young golfer starting to play golf today?
Take lessons, have fun and don’t sweat the bad shots, even the pros have those. I always say “a great day, great company, a great round of golf is the bonus.”

Strong Field Takes on the 2026 Pippy Park Junior Open

The 2026 Pippy Park Junior Open was contested on Tuesday, August 4, with 41 junior golfers taking part in the one-round event at Pippy Park Golf Course.

The tournament featured five divisions and a strong mix of players from clubs across Newfoundland and Labrador. Rylan Mullowney captured the U19 Boys title with a round of 78, finishing one stroke ahead of Ben Hiscock. Mila Snook earned the U19 Girls championship after posting an 83.

In the U16 Boys division, Gavin Noel delivered the low round of the day, carding a 74 to claim the title by five strokes. Maddy Schwartz won the U14 Girls division with a score of 44, while Ben Fahey topped a closely contested U13 Boys leaderboard with a 43, one shot ahead of Nathan Hodder.

Division Results

U19 Boys
🥇 Rylan Mullowney – 78 (+7)
🥈 Ben Hiscock – 79 (+8)
🥉 Declan Flynn – 83 (+12)

U19 Girls
🥇 Mila Snook – 83 (+12)
🥈 Freya Snook – 87 (+16)

U16 Boys
🥇 Gavin Noel – 74 (+3)
🥈 Andrew Davis – 79 (+8)
🥉 Riley Moores – 81 (+10)

U14 Girls
🥇 Maddy Schwartz – 44 (+8)
🥈 Madison Roberts – 51 (+15)
🥉 Leah Costello – 55 (+19)

U13 Boys
🥇 Ben Fahey – 43 (+10)
🥈 Nathan Hodder – 44 (+11)
🥉 Christian Sleep – 45 (+12)

Congratulations to all competitors and division winners, and thank you to Pippy Park Golf Course for hosting a successful day of junior golf.