The Best Golfers in Canadian History

Golf is a sport that seems coated in luxury; after all, many tournaments are held at luxurious golf courses, including various Keno casinos, so it’s easy to forget that golf isn’t just about the venue. Golf also requires a great deal of skill to succeed in. And, while Canada may be recognized more for its hockey players, it’s also home to some highly awarded golfers.

A select number of Canadian golfers have made themselves known for their prowess and skill, not just within Canada but around the world. In this article, we’ll look at ten of these golfers, as identified by the PGA itself, who are considered the best in Canada’s history. 

10. Stan Leonard

Stan Leonard has won many tournaments over his professional golf career and achieved top ten spots in the Masters tournament three times. Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, he’s played professionally since his early twenties. While he passed in 2005, he’s still regarded as one of Canada’s best golfers and has even earned himself a place in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

9. Al Balding

Al Balding had an impressive career that has had him inducted into multiple halls of fame, including Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, Ontario’s Golf Hall of Fame, and Canada’s Golf Hall of Fame. These speak to his professional skill as a golfer and highlight his many victories throughout his PGA Tours. He’s even partnered with another well-known Canadian golfer, George Knudson, to win the World Cup.

8. Stephen Ames

While Stephen Ames was born in Trinidad and Tobago, he’s since become a Canadian citizen and a well-known and respected golfer playing under the Canadian flag. Since his professional golf career started, he’s earned several huge victories on the green through his PGA tours, a highlight being the Players Championship. He continues to play today and has been inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

7. Moe Norman

Moe Norman, from Kitchener, Ontario, is a golfer recognized by many, including other top golfers, for his swing’s unique polish. His eccentric personality and style, which broke the mould of what’s expected of golfers, also set him apart on the course. 

He played in various tournaments and championships throughout his golf career, including the Canadian Tour, the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, and even the Masters. In addition to playing in these prestigious leagues, he’s been inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and Golf Hall of Fame.

6. Lorie Kane

Hailing from Prince Edward Island, Lorie Kane began golfing at the age of five. She became the two-time champion of the PEI Junior Girls Championship. Later, she won the women’s championship and tour with the LPGA. Over the course of her career, she was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. However, her athletic skill extends to more than just golf, as she also played college-level basketball and loves hockey — like a true Canadian. 

5. Marlene Stewart Streit

Marlene Stewart Streit played her entire career as an amateur, but her sheer number of wins — thirty, to be exact — makes this feel like an inadequate designation for this skilled player. Her career saw her win the Amateur Championships for the US, Australian, British, and Canadian tournaments. Like most golfers on this list, Streit was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, given the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. 

Streit was born in Cereal, Alberta, though she learned to play in Fonthill, Ontario. Most of her championship victories happened while she was in her twenties, but she has continued to polish her passion and skill. At the age of 69, she won the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur tournament.

4. George Knudson

George Knudson was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1968. Throughout his career, he won on the PGA Tour eight times and represented Canada at the World Cup. He’s played as an individual and part of a team with Al Balding. He passed at just 51, but today is still celebrated as one of the best golfers in Canada’s history.

3. Sandra Post

Sandra Post is considered Canada’s first professional female golfer. From Oakville, Ontario, she started learning the sport and practicing her skills at the nearby Milton’s Trafalgar Golf and Country Club at the age of 11. By 1968, when she was just 19, she joined the LPGA and won her first tour. 

Her career was filled with trailblazing wins that led the way for future Canadian professional golfers. Throughout her career, she’s also become a golf teacher and instructor at the Sandra Post Golf School at Glen Eagle. 

2. Mike Weir

Mike Weir hails from Sarnia, Ontario, and his career has made him one of the most well-known Canadian names in the golf sphere. He’s won the PGA tour and the Masters tournament eight times and inspired many players on their path to professional golfing. He’s earned many distinguished titles and awards, including the Order of Canada and a place in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. 

1. Brooke Henderson

The number-one golfer in Canadian history is Brooke Henderson. She’s a leader on golf scoreboards, with more championship wins than any other Canadian golfer, man or woman. Henderson hails from Smiths Falls, Ontario, and has earned the title of Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year twice — and she’s only 26! She’s been playing professionally since the age of 16, with her performance making Canadian headlines. The following year, she won her first LPGA tour, setting up her career for the success she continues to see on the green today.

Canada Might Have a Reputation for Hockey, but Its Golfers Stand Out on the World Stage Too

These ten players, plus honourable mentions like Pat Fletcher and George Lyon and hopefuls like Corey Conners presently making waves, have shown that Canadians bring serious skill to the sport. They also bring pride to their hometowns and Canadian golf fans nationwide.