In 2007, Kaneff Golf aligned with the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) as the title sponsor of the inaugural Kaneff Junior Series.  The seven tournaments were conducted at various Kaneff Golf properties in Ontario on the CJGA Junior Tour, allowing aspiring golfers an opportunity to experience a competitive, single-day event. 

Boris Uvakov is the current Vice President of Kaneff Golf Corporation though the road to his current position may not be what you would expect.  Uvakov began his career in the hotel industry, which brought him to Egypt in the early 90’s where he was hired as a project manager for a golf property in the region.  During the planning process, he contacted Igor Kaneff, the president of Kaneff Golf Corporation and the man behind the opening of Lionhead Golf & Country Club in 1991.  

“We kept in contact over the years and next thing I know I’m back in Canada in 1999,” says Boris.

He has since grown to become the Vice President of Kaneff and General Manager and Executive Professional of Lionhead Golf & Country Club in Brampton, Ont.  Under his tenure, Kaneff has increased its golf course properties from three to its current number of six with plans to add a seventh in Caledon, Ont. over the next year or two.  It’s expected the new property will be 27 holes as a middle to high-end facility.

“Sure, I consider Kaneff to be innovators in the golf industry,” admits Uvakov.  “When Lionhead opened in 1991, it established the model for what it is to be a high-end corporate, public facility.  Others like Angus Glen and Eagle’s Nest have used a similar model since.”

Kaneff Golf has also realized that the future of golf is in need of competitive venues in which to develop.

“Mr. Kaneff and I established that there was a need to support juniors in this country,” says Boris.  “We held an event last August at Lionhead (the CJGA Nike Golf Junior Championship) that really impressed us with the organization of the CJGA and the young golfers who competed.  The next step for us was to sponsor some events and each Kaneff property donated the tee-times for each CJGA event.”

The inaugural Kaneff Junior Series has been deemed a success as each event filled to capacity.  Tournaments were held at Century Pines in Flamborough, Royal Niagara in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Carlisle Golf Club in Carlisle, Streetsville Glen and Lionhead in Brampton, and Royal Ontario in Milton.  The series culminated with the two-day Kaneff Junior Championship at Royal Niagara in late August.

Royal Niagara will also host the inaugural Canadian International Junior Challenge from September 17th to 20th as the course will welcome eight of the world’s top golfing nations for a three-day team stroke-play event that will surely become one of the most prestigious junior invitationals on a global scale.

“It’s a golf course that hosted the 2003 Telus Skins Game and any golf course can be made difficult with a proper setup,” says Boris.  “You look at Angus Glen’s North Course at the Canadian Open this year and what it came down to was putting.”  Currently, Royal Niagara is ranked as one of the toughest in the province.”

The event is also supported by Nike Golf Canada, an organization that has enjoyed a successful relationship with Kaneff in the past.

“Three years ago, we recognized Nike Golf as a leader in the golf marketplace,” says Uvakov.  “They continue to make inroads with their equipment as they pour capital into their research & development.  We realized that the Nike apparel was head and shoulders above everyone else and it’s currently the only line we carry other than the Kaneff signature brand.”

“I’m really looking forward to watching the Canadian International Junior Challenge and on a grander scale, it’s great to see golf entering a period of cooperativeness in Canada with the CJGA and RCGA working together on this event,” he says.  “The CJGA has done a great job of providing a competitive arena for our junior golfers.” 

With the support of organizations such as Kaneff, junior golfers in Canada will continue to gather experience as they prepare for the next level.

Visit Kaneff on the web at: http://www.kaneffgolf.com/