RBC Canadian Open returns to Glen Abbey in 2013

Oakville, ON (July 9, 2012) – 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.