William Deck Will Be Looking To Improve On His Best BC Amateur Finish At Pheasant Glen In 2016 When He Tees It Up At A Familiar Okanagan GC Bear Course - BC Golf Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

William Deck’s golfing roots run deep in Kelowna. His dad, Garrett, helped build Harvest Golf Club and has been course superintendent there for more than 20 years.

Will played his collegiate golf at the University of B.C.’s Okanagan campus while pursuing a kinesiology degree.

The golf team played and practised at the Okanagan Golf Club, whose Bear Course plays host to the 118th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship July 28-30.

Jackson Rothwell Hoists The Bostock Trophy After His Victory In The BC Amateur Last Year At Big Sky. Who Are This Year's Conteders? - BC Golf File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The 118th B.C. Amateur Championship begins Tuesday at Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear course in Kelowna. This year’s event is 54 holes, not the normal 72, with no cut. The Junior Boys and Mid-Amateur championships are also being contested at Okanagan Golf Club. The 156-player field will adhere to strict COVID-19 protocols that include no caddies and no spectators. 

Brad Ziemer looks at 10 players who have a chance to win the B.C. Amateur championship. - ed

Gudmund Lindbjerg 1948 -2020 - image courtesy Twitter/WA Golf 

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Gudmund Lindbjerg, a longtime Pitt Meadows Golf Club member who won four straight B.C. Senior Men’s titles starting in 2008, has died following a battle with cancer. He was 71.

Lindbjerg produced a rather remarkable amateur golf career despite not playing the game until he was 29. He emigrated from Denmark in his early 20s and at that time was more interested in hunting ducks than chasing birdies on a golf course.

Players And Coaches From Team BC Had A Very Successful Performance Camp At Mayfair Lakes GC - All images credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The nine members of the inaugural British Columbia Golf Performance Program are pumped about the opportunities they are getting to improve their games.

Team B.C. just completed a three-day camp at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club in Richmond, where coaches ran them through a series of challenging practice sessions. Everyone seemed to be smiling. 

“It has been a really cool experience,” says Martina Yu of Coquitlam. “I have never really experienced something like this, being together with a team. I have learned a lot, not just skills-wise, but also team work, mental strategy and it’s just really fun being part of a team.”

Richmond's Chris Crisologo, Seen Here Playing As An Amateur At Vancouver's Mackenzie Tour Event, Will Now Be In The Field As A Pro At Bear Mountain - image credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

There will be plenty of British Columbia content at the first two events of the Mackenzie Tour’s Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain next month.

Apart from several sponsor exemptions, the tentative fields have been set for the two 54-hole events at Bear Mountain’s Valley and Mountain courses in the Victoria suburb of Langford. 

B.C. players listed in the Bear Mountain fields include James Allenby of Langley, Chris Crisologo of Richmond, Zach Anderson of Nanaimo, Callum Davison of Duncan, Mike Belle of Burnaby, Adam Cornelson of Langley, John Mlikotic of Kelowna, Jim Rutledge of Victoria, Cory Renfrew of Victoria, Kaleb Gorbahn of Smithers, Zahidali Natu of Richmond, Lawren Rowe of Victoria, Oliver Tubb of Vancouver, Finlay Young of Kelowna, Brady Stead of Vernon, Scott Kerr of Vancouver and Trevor Yu of Vancouver.

Team BC Rescheduled Their Previously Planned 5-Day Arizona Peformance Camp For Beautiful BC's Mayfair Lakes G&CC - All Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was Mayfair Lakes, not Mesa, but no one was complaining. 

COVID-19 has created challenges for the new British Columbia Golf Performance Program, which was just getting started when the pandemic struck.

But rather than worry about what they could not do, British Columbia Golf Performance Coach Colin Lavers and his team decided to focus on what they could do for the nine junior golfers who are part of the program. So that five-day camp scheduled for Arizona during spring break had to be rescheduled for Mayfair Lakes in July. It wasn’t quite Arizona, but the sun was shining.

image courtesy golfinbritishcolumbia.com

Golf in British Columbia have put together some amazing packages for golf trips in BC. Please take some time to check out the information and terrific golf destinations that British Columbia has to offer below.

There is no better time to explore and enjoy golf in BC than right now.

The Green Mini-Rake That Will Be Issued To Players For Use During BC Golf Championships As GC Rakes Have Been Removed Due To Covid-19 Protocols - Image Courtesy Fairway Products

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Competitors at British Columbia Golf championships this summer will each receive their own mini-rake. “It’s kind of an interesting tee gift,” jokes Doug Hastie, senior manager of field operations and tournament director with British Columbia Golf.

It’s not really a gift, of course, but a way for players to be able to rake bunkers after playing shots out of them.

2019 BC Amateur Champion Jackson Rothwell Is Looking To Defend His Title This Year At Okanagan GC's Bear Course - BC Golf File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A championship season that has risen from the ashes is proving to be extremely popular with British Columbia golfers.

For the longest time, it looked like British Columbia Golf’s entire championship schedule might fall victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it turns out that champions will be crowned in all events in a new condensed season.

And the top amateur players in the province are clamouring to get on board. The season tees off July 28-30 with the 118th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship at the Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear course in Kelowna.

2020 Langley Concrete Chilliwack Men's Open Champion Zach Olson (Middle) Is Flanked By Low Gross Amateur Winner Jace Minni (L) & Overall Net Champion Alex Walker (R) - Image Courtesy VGT/Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

This professional golf thing seems to working out quite nicely for Zach Olson. The former University of the Fraser Valley standout finished fourth in his pro debut last week at the Vancouver Golf Tour’s Ledgeview Open.

It turns out that was just his warm-up act. Olson on Sunday made a clutch up-and-down on the 18th hole to win the VGT’s Chilliwack Men’s Open at Chilliwack Golf Club.

13-Time B.C. Amateur Champion Doug Roxburgh Will Miss His First B.C. Am Appearance Since 1966 Due To The Late Date Change Of Tournament Creating Conflict With His Son’s Wedding - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski(JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The 118th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship later this month is going to be missing a very familiar face. After playing in the event for 53 straight years -- and winning it 13 times -- Doug Roxburgh will not be there.

The date for this year’s B.C. Amateur, which is being played at the Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear course in Kelowna, was recently moved from mid-July to July 28-30. That created a problem for Roxburgh, whose son James is getting married on Aug. 1.

BC Golf Museum's Opening 'Salvo' Was Fired By Kelowna's Dave Barr In May 1989. Now, New Members Are Being Sought To Help The BC Golf Museum Continue Its Work In 'Preserving This Province’s Rich Golfing Heritage' - Image Courtesy BC Golf House Society

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

British Columbia golf courses may be full these days, but the same can not be said for the B.C. Golf Museum coffers.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has helped create an unprecedented demand for tee times, it has also effectively eliminated a significant chunk of the money raised to operate the museum.

The Tradition, the B.C. Golf Museum’s annual fund-raising tourney, had to be cancelled this spring due to COVID-19. Museum curator Mike Riste also lost all the revenue raised by his popular hickory shaft exhibitions at charity events all over the province that have also been called off this summer.

It's All In A Day's Work For These Four-Legged Golf Course Superintendent's Assistants. From L-R: Beans, Jordy & Klay - Images Courtesy Respective Owners As Per Below

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

We’ll start with the obvious: The subjects of this story are all very good boys and girls. They are also very lucky dogs.

What a life they live, up before the crack of dawn and free to run all day on the golf course with their owners.

Now more than ever, the Golf Canada Foundation understands the financial uncertainty that student athletes are facing as the 2020 school year approaches, and it is our pleasure to announce that all Golf Canada Foundation Scholarships will be available to eligible student athletes once again this year.

Though we understand collegiate golf may be modified, postponed to the spring, or even cancelled, our scholarship committee has made the decision to continue to honour and support athletes who have made the team and are enrolled as full-time students in the fall.

For eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit our scholarship page.

Ailey​ Jarvis
Coordinator, Scholarship & Events
Coordonnatrice, Bourses d’études et événements
Golf Canada Foundation
Suite 1‑1333 Dorval Drive, Oakville, ON L6M 4X7
T 905.849.9700 x266
1.800.263.0009
ajarvis@golfcanada.ca

Via Press Release

Federal Way, Wash. – With the recent spike in cases surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the concerns with contestants traveling from all parts of the Pacific Northwest and throughout the U.S. to compete, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of their 2020 championship season, effective immediately.

The PNGA Executive Committee held a special meeting on Friday, June 26 to discuss the spike in cases and the concerns and risks of contestants traveling from across state borders, staying in local hotels, going to local restaurants and bars, grocery stores, and other venues.

The 118th Playing Of The B.C. Amateur Championship Will Go July 28-30 At Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear Course In Kelowna - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The formal announcement of the easing of travel restrictions has allowed British Columbia Golf to salvage part of its championship schedule. Premier John Horgan has given British Columbians the all-clear to travel about the province and that means the 118th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship will go July 28-30 at Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna.

Kris Jonasson, chief executive officer of British Columbia Golf, is delighted that tournaments will be played this summer.

“It is really pleasing that we are able to get part of our championship season in,” Jonasson said. “It only really happened because Golf Canada unfortunately had to cancel all of the national championships because we needed to move into those time slots to make it happen.”

Trail Native And Former Burnaby Mountain Assistant Kate Weir Is The New Head Pro At Rivershore, A Robert Trent Jones Sr. Layout In Kamloops - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Ask Kate Weir how she got started playing golf and the new head pro at Rivershore Golf Links will tell you that she really didn’t have a choice. 

Her parents golfed and they were determined their daughter would, too, so Weir accompanied them to Rossland-Trail Country Club (now called Birchbank Golf Course). 

It wasn’t exactly love at first swing.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Commissioner Michael Whan likes to refer to the LPGA Tour as family, one that has grown with the addition of three British Columbia chapters to the LPGA Amateur Golf Association.

Whan was part of a recent conference call welcoming British Columbia to the association, an organization that aims to connect women who play the game. “Whether you play the game professionally, whether you teach it, whether you are helping young girls learn it, or whether you just play with your friends on a nine and dine, we all want to be engaged in this together,” Whan said.

LPGA Commisioner Michael Whan & Canadian Golf Hall Of Fame Member Lorie Kane Will Be On Hand For The Online Announcement Of BC's LPGA Amateur Golf Association Chapters And Canadian Women's Open Champ Brooke Henderson Will Have A Recorded Message To Share - Images Courtesy LPGA and BC Golf/JKam photos

Recently, British Columbia Golf became one of the latest golf associations to affiliate with the LPGA Amateur Golf Association, with the creation of 3 'Chapters' in B.C., the Vancouver Island chapter, Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley chapter and the Okanagan/Kamloops/Shuswap chapter.

The LPGA Amateurs focus on creating opportunities for women of all ages to become involved in and enjoy the game of golf. Here is the 'About Us' message as taken from their website:

Walking A Golf Course Is One Of The Most Health Beneficial Activities We Can Take Part In - Image Courtesy wallpaperflare.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was another frustrating day on the golf course, where a round that had shown considerable early promise was derailed once again by sloppy play. But my numbers were not all bad. Despite my less than stellar score, there were some positives about that recent round at Peace Portal Golf Course in Surrey.

When I checked the step-counter on my phone, it told me that I had taken more than 13,000 steps during the round and walked about nine kilometres. (Clearly, I did not hit every shot straight down the middle).

I also climbed the equivalent of 23 floors, which is testament to Peace Portal’s hilly terrain. It is numbers like these, rather than the ones I mark on my scorecard, that have convinced me that golf is good for me.