Golf

CAF SPORTS SUPPORT STAFF

• 

  Major-General C.J. Zimmer

  PATRON (Outgoing) View Bio
  

  2021 - Present

  Major-General C.J. Zimmer

  PATRON (Outgoing)

  “I had the privilege of being born into a very active golf family. I learned to swing a club at a very early age and I quite literally lived at the golf course through most of my summers. I have played a great many sports in my day but golf sits apart from the rest for a whole variety of reasons. As anyone who has a love of the game will know, there are few finer moments in sport than to hear the crack of a solid first drive down a long par 4 fairway during an early morning sunrise on a lush and dew drenched first hole! And there is no equal to the feeling of striking a ball clean and watching it soar towards the green with a nervous anticipation that you gave it just the right amount of swing to land in right to that hole. But make no mistake about it, golf may be a highly technical sport, sure, but like a game of chess it is ball placement strategy and mental fortitude that reigns supreme in terms of separating the good from the great.” How many technically proficient golfers have you seen who come entirely unhinged at the first sign of a double bogey. However, the feature I love most about golf and the one that opens it up to some amount criticism and scorn, is the fact that it is largely a social sport that permits its competitors to square off against one another on a scorecard but still walk down the fairway talking and laughing together as friends. Few other sports permit for such a refined level of sportsmanship and skill. For all of these reasons, is truly an honour and a privilege to be able to represent our CAF golf members who share in this same passion. As your golf patron, I look forward to the opportunity to support the advancement of our sport inside of the CAF.”

  PREVIOUS PATRONS
  2019 - 2020	Major-General D.W. Lowthian
  2018	Rear-Admiral H. Edmundson
  2017	Brigadier-General M.A.J. Carignan
  2016	Brigadier-General K.D. Meloche
  2013 - 2015	Colonel K.L. Goheen
  2011 - 2012	Major-General P.J. Forgues
  2009 - 2011	Major-General J.P.Y.D. Gosselin

• 

  BGen Steeve Belley

  PATRON (Incoming) View Bio
  

  Incoming

  BGen Steeve Belley

  PATRON (Incoming)

  "It is with a profound sense of pride that I assume the role of Co-Patron for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Golf Program. As a lifelong golfer, I look forward to this unique opportunity to advance the program and advocate for the sport within our military community.

  My passion for golf began in my youth, inspired by my father’s own love for the game. This early interest was further developed through formal instruction during my CEGEP years, where I spent hours refining the technical foundations of my swing. Over the years, this dedication has remained a constant, leading me from the golf course to the driving range where I now watch my two sons practice. I am proud to pass on the values of the game to them as they prepare to join me on the course for their first rounds.

  Golf is a demanding discipline that, despite its technical challenges, offers unparalleled satisfaction. Beyond individual performance, it serves as an exceptional vehicle for camaraderie and integrity. While competition is a core element, it is always balanced by mutual respect and mental composure—qualities that are central to our identity as military members.

  The pursuit of a passion is a fundamental pillar of overall well-being, supporting both mental health and physical fitness. As Co-Patron, I am committed to promoting golf throughout the CAF, ensuring our members have the opportunity to build lifelong bonds and strengthen the esprit de corps through the sport they love.

  I look forward to meeting our athletes, coaches, and support staff on the golf course."

• 

  MWO Carey Boozan

  CO-PATRON View Bio
  

  Incoming

  MWO Carey Boozan

  CO-PATRON

  Master Warrant Officer Carey Boozan joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2002 as an Aircraft Structures Technician. Born and raised in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia—a town rich in sporting history—he grew up in an active family environment that fostered a lifelong passion for athletics.

  During the early years of his CAF career, MWO Boozan concentrated on hockey, ball hockey, and slow pitch, competing at a high level and participating in multiple national hockey championships. Following a significant on-ice injury in 2006, he transitioned toward a lower-impact sport and began dedicating himself more seriously to golf.

  After a strong performance at the 2014 CAF Golf National Championship in Kingston, Ontario, MWO Boozan earned the opportunity to attend his first CISM Golf Training Camp in Pensacola, Florida. At that time, the CAF golf program was very different, and his team-first mentality, leadership, and personality contributed positively to the growth, cohesion, and culture of the program.

  From 2013 to 2024, MWO Boozan competed in every CAF Golf National Championship, except for 2018, when the CISM Golf Team was preparing for the World Military Golf Championship in Germany. Internationally, he represented Canada at four CISM World Military Golf Championships: Sri Lanka (2017), Germany (2018), Zimbabwe (2024), and Kenya (2025).

  Career highlights include two top-ten overall individual finishes at World Military Golf Championships in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe, MWO Boozan also earned a bronze medal in the Senior category; however, the most meaningful accomplishment of his CISM playing career was contributing to the Canadian men’s team earning a silver medal that same year, an achievement that reflected the collective effort, cohesion, and pride of representing Canada on the world stage.

  Beyond his CAF and CISM athletic achievements, MWO Boozan’s sports career also includes serving as a Canadian Hockey League scout for the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2015 to 2021. In this role, he was responsible for identifying and evaluating talent, further demonstrating his eye for development, leadership potential, and long-term program building.

  Unfortunately, ongoing injury challenges have curtailed MWO Boozan’s competitive playing career sooner than anticipated. While this marked the closing of one chapter, it also opened opportunities to continue serving the CAF sports community through mentorship, leadership, and stewardship of the game.

  “I am deeply honored to have been selected as the Canadian Armed Forces’ first Co-Patron for the sport of golf. This opportunity represents both a personal milestone and a responsibility I value greatly. While injury has shortened my time as a competitor, I am excited to continue my CISM career in this new role and remain committed to supporting CAF golfers, strengthening the national program, and contributing to the continued success of military golf on the international stage.”

• 

  Mr. Rick McKie

  CHIEF OFFICIAL View Bio
  

  2023 - Present

  Mr. Rick McKie

  CHIEF OFFICIAL

  Rick McKie is a graduate of Laurentian University’s Physical and Health Education program.  He has dedicated his life to Fitness and Sports (over 2 decades with PSP), and is the current Fitness, Sports & Recreation Manager in Garrison Petawawa, as well as the Ontario Regional Sports Manager.  
   
  Additionally, Rick has coached the Petawawa Women’s Slo-pitch team for a total of 10 years, being part of the 9 Ontario Region gold medal teams, 4 National silver medals, and 1 national gold medal.  Rick was also the recipient of the 3M Coaching Award recognizing outstanding contributions to the Canadian Forces Sport Coaching Program. 
  
  Having been swinging a golf club since he could walk, and an avid golfer his entire life, Rick wanted to get more involved with the sport of golf in the capacity of officiating.  
  
  “I am exceptionally grateful and humbled to be selected as the CAF Golf Chief Official.  Although I played multiple sports most of my life, golf has always been my sport of choice.  To me golf is a perfect game.  It’s a lifetime sport, yet every day you play it presents different adversity.  It can be played recreationally or ramped up to a competitive sport.  It can be played socially, or in solitude.  One of the most influential figures in the history of golf, Bobby Jones, said that ‘Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots–but you have to play the ball where it lies’.”
  
   

  PREVIOUS CHIEF OFFICIALS
  2021-2023	Mr. J. Mackenzie
  2019 - 2021	Mr. R. Larson
  2014 - 2017	Mr. J. Ingham
  2011 - 2012	Mr. R. Larson

• 

  Major C. Lowdon

  PRESIDENT OF CISM GOLF SPORTS COUNCIL View Bio
  

  2024 - 2028

  Major C. Lowdon

  PRESIDENT OF CISM GOLF SPORTS COUNCIL

  Major Lowdon is currently posted to CANELEMNORAD at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. He has been a key member of the CAF CISM Golf program since 1994. He says, “the great thing about golf is that it’s a sport that lends itself to longevity and can be played competitively at an advanced age”. Maj Lowdon’s last event as a CISM athlete was in 2016 where he rolled into the Technical Committee for CISM golf shortly thereafter. He looks forward to continuing to being involved in the organization of CISM world events and now, the opportunity to shape World Military Golf. After being a long-time player he says this will absolutely be a career highlight! 
  
  Maj Lowdon encourages those interested in CAF golf to get involved locally at base play downs, civilian tournaments, CAF Regionals, CAF Nationals and eventually this could lead you to being named to a CISM team.
• 

  WARRANT OFFICER PAUL SWANSBURG

  INTERNATIONAL TEAM MANAGER View Bio
  

  2024 - Present

  WARRANT OFFICER PAUL SWANSBURG

  INTERNATIONAL TEAM MANAGER

  Warrant Officer Rupert “Paul” Swansburg commenced his service with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1991 and has been stationed at 12 Wing Shearwater, 14 Wing Greenwood, and is currently assigned to 4 Wing Cold Lake. 
  
  As a dedicated athlete, he has made noteworthy contributions across various sports, securing a national silver medal in volleyball, multiple regional silver medals in hockey, and participated in slow pitch national competition. From 2009 to 2024, he has achieved two individual national titles and several team national titles in golf, as well as multiple regional championships within the Atlantic and Canada West Region.
  
  Since the early 2000s, Paul has been actively involved in the International Military Sports Council (CISM) Golf Program as a player. He has represented Canada at the CISM World Military Games in Wuhan, China, in 2019, and participated in three CISM World Military Golf Championships: Sun City, South Africa, in 2007; San Diego, USA, in 2023; and most recently, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in 2024, where he contributed to the team’s successful achievement of a silver medal.
  
  “I am grateful for the opportunities that military sports have afforded me throughout my career. It is a distinct honor to serve as the CISM Golf Team Manager. With my background and passion for the sport of golf, my aim is to cultivate a supportive atmosphere for CAF golfers and encourage the next generation of players to appreciate the friendships formed through sport and strive to support excellence in competition.”
  
  If you are interested in learning more about the CISM Golf program, please feel free to contact me.