LONG-TIME RADIO PERSONALITY RYAN SPENCE WINS 16TH ANNUAL HEART AWARD
LONDONONTARIOGOLF.COM HONOURS FIRST MEDIA MEMBER WITH 2026 AWARD
Photo (L-R): Ryan Spence with LondonOntarioGolf.com publisher and editor Jeffrey Reed.
January 8, 2026 (London, ONT) – LondonOntarioGolf.com (est. 2004), the Voice of Golf in Southwestern Ontario, announces long-time London radio personality Ryan Spence of Dorchester as winner of the 2026 LondonOntarioGolf.com Heart Award. Spence is the first media member to win the Heart Award.
Presented annually since 2011, the Heart Award honours members of the Southwestern Ontario golf community who unselfishly give back to golf while growing the game. LondonOntarioGolf.com is an award-winning publication from publisher and editor Jeffrey Reed, who has covered the golf industry for a local and national audience since 1980. Since 2015, LondonOntarioGolf.com has been published in its entirety at parent publication LondonOntarioSports.com, London’s Trusted Source for Sports News & Information.
Ryan Spence at the 1290 CJBK controls.
For three decades, Spence, 51, filled a variety of roles at 1290 CJBK-AM. A champion for the game of golf, Spence was a morning show co-host, producer, writer, and for a decade host of the weekly one-hour Golf Show. He was also host of Ask The Experts for 25 years, and the Saturday Morning Oldies Show on FM sister station BX-93. He worked along other local radio industry giants including Steve Garrison, Pete James, Mike Stubbs, Andy Oudman and Jim Chapman. But it was Spence’s passion for golf which always stood out amongst his myriad of talents on the air and behind the scenes.
“For 30 years, Ryan, known affectionately as ‘The 1-Wood,’ championed the game of golf on the air at 1290 CJBK-AM,” said Reed. “As a long-time media member, I know how time challenging it can be to acknowledge individuals and groups who are deserved of recognition. Ryan was not just doing his job as an announcer and producer; rather, he worked unselfishly and tirelessly to acknowledge golf’s importance to Southwestern Ontario’s identity and how the game is an integral part of the local economy. His on-air and behind-the-scenes work for 30 years drove home the fact to a large, loyal audience that golf is the greatest game, and essential to London’s history, identity, economy and future. Ryan’s knowledge of the game is impeccable, and we are thrilled to honour him as the first media member to win the Heart Award.”
Ryan Spence
Spence’s Golf Show was highlighted on the calendar of every avid local golfer. Shining the spotlight on every aspect of the local golf industry – from junior golf tournaments to hosting LPGA Tour events, and including local courses, charity events and the thousands of local golf community members whose accomplishments and efforts were worth noting – Spence teed up the most popular radio golf show in the history of local broadcasting. Over 10 years, he conducted close to 1,000 interviews – including with past winners of the LondonOntarioGolf.com Heart Award, the trophy that now includes him as a winner.
When 1290 CJBK-AM went silent in June 2023, Spence turned his efforts to spending more time with his wife, Wendy, and to fulfilling what he calls a “childhood dream” – working at a golf course. A friendly face at London’s Crumlin Creek Golf Club, Spence is now “lucky enough to talk about the great game of golf with golfers every day. Everyone has a story, and at the course I get to hear great, new stories every day.”
Spence can play, too. In 2007 at Club de golf Rosemère Fontainebleu, he captured the Canadian Media Golf Championship on the Monday of the Presidents Cup. No surprise, his uncle, Garry Spence of London, is a champion golfer on the local and provincial senior circuits.
“I am truly at a loss for words in trying to express my appreciation for this acknowledgment,” said Spence. “The list of past recipients is a who’s who in not only the local golf community for what they have done to advance the game of golf, but also on a broader level inspiring integrity, respect and sportsmanship that transcends beyond the game. To be in the same company of just the Mikes on the list of past winners seems surreal. Promoting the great game of golf is something that will never be hard to do. Thanks to Jeffrey and Elizabeth Reed, and the committee at LondonOntarioGolf.com, for even considering me for this accolade.”
LondonOntarioGolf.com will present Spence with the 2026 Heart Award on Friday, April 17 at RiverBend Golf Community in London. Ticket purchases will be available soon – watch LondonOntarioGolf.com and its social media platforms for details.
LondonOntarioGolf.com Heart Award Winners – Bios at londonontariosports.com/the-heart-award/
2011 Mike Olizarevitch
2012 Fred Kern
2013 Patty Howard
2014 Mike Weir
2015 East Park Golf
2016 Bob Martin
2017 Mike Silver
2018 Lindsey Edmunds
2019 Rene Muylaert
2020 Steve Bennett
2021 Walt Cherwaty
2022 Caradoc Sands Golf Club
2023 Tim Webb
2024 Jim Waite
2025 Jason Wyatt
2026 Ryan Spence
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For more information and images, please contact:
Jeffrey Reed, Publisher & Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com 519/643-6334 jeff@londonontariogolf.com
Ryan Spence 519/268-1092 ryanspence1974@gmail.com
About the LondonOntarioGolf.com Heart Award
Est. 2011, the LondonOntarioGolf.com Heart Award is presented annually to a member of the Southwestern Ontario golf community who unselfishly gives back to golf while growing the game. LondonOntarioGolf.com publisher and editor Jeffrey Reed established the award in order to recognize members of the local golf community whose service to the London and area golf industry has been invaluable. 2003 Masters Tournament winner Mike Weir captured the Heart Award in 2014. Since 2004, LondonOntarioGolf.com and parent publication LondonOntarioSports.com have surpassed $150,000 in local charitable giving. Heart & Stroke is their Official Charity of Choice.
