Hall of Famer
Jocelyne Bourassa
Inducted in 2015
Member Details
Career Highlights
Named a Member of the Order of Canada
Won the LPGA Rookie of the Year Award and was awarded the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year
Became the first Canadian to win an LPGA event in Canada
Created the du Maurier Ltd. Series to develop Canadian Women professional golfers, growing the number from 20 to 150 over ten years
Inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame (Panthéon des sports du Québec)
Inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
Won the LPGA Eloise Trainer Award for her contribution to women’s golf
![Hall of Famer Jocelyne Bourassa](/media/member_files/upload/From Jocelyne.jpg)
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Story
Jocelyne Bourassa established herself as one of the top golf athletes and builders in Canada. Jocelyne was a Université de Montréal graduate, who played on the men’s golf team since there was no women’s team, making a lasting impression that would drive her desire to support female golfers. In her playing career she won three Québec Junior crowns in a row (1963, 1964 & 1965), four Québec Amateur championships (1963, 1969, 1970 & 1971) and was a member of Québec’s teams on eight occasions between 1962 and 1971. Jocelyne was also successful nationally, capturing two Canadian Open Championship crowns (1965 and 1971) and was runner-up in 1968. Internationally, she won the Scottish Girls title (Scotland, 1967) and the New Zealand amateur crown in 1971 and was a member of Canadian teams in the 1970 World Championships and 1971 Commonwealth Matches. In 1973 Jocelyne became the only Canadian to have ever won an LPGA event on home soil before being forced to end her playing career due to a knee injury in 1979.
Jocelyne’s contributions and commitment to golf have gone well beyond her outstanding athletic career to have been one of golf’s exemplary builders. In a male dominated sport, Jocelyne championed the development of women’s golf and led a tradition of excellence. She has worked with Canadian golf associations and the Canadian PGA to initiate developmental programs for young female golf professionals. In 2013, her 40th anniversary of winning the LPGA event called la Canadienne sponsored by Jean-Louis Lévesque, as part of a “Give to the Next Gernation” initiative, Jocelyne financially supported a young golf professional to help her integrate into the LPGA tour. When Jocelyne founded the du Maurier Series in 1980 what would become the Canadian Women’s Open in 1980 there were less than 20 professional women golfers. Today, thanks to her tireless efforts, there are over 150. Jocelyne served as the Executive Director of the duMaurier Classic Canadian Women’s Open for over 20 years. She also served on the LPGA Board of Sponsors including a role as Vice President.
Jocelyne is a role model and mentor to women golfers across Canada and has served as a senior consultant with Golf Quebec that developed a program to brings golf to primary schools. The Royal Canadian Golf Association created the Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the the Year Award, in recognition of her tremendous contribution to the game of golf, that is given annually to the Canadian Women’s Tour player who is the top finisher on the Tour’s Order of Merit. Jocelyne became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1973. Highly respected, Jocelyne is affectionally considered Canada’s ambassador of golf.