Image Courtesy Golden Eagle Golf Course

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kwadwo 'Kojo' Frempong spends a lot of his working day on the golf course and it seems many people are a little jealous about that. “I get asked a lot, how did you get that job, and how do I get a job like you,” Frempong says with a chuckle. “And I say, 'You have to wait until I die.' Then I add that it’s very stressful.”

Frempong’s job is to do the course and slope ratings for golf courses in the province for British Columbia Golf. And that entails spending a lot of time on the course. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it.

Kimberley, BC's Jared du Toit Has Had A Pretty Solid Start To His Pro Career, Earning Canadian Player Of The Year Honours On The PGA Tour Canada-Mackenzie Tour Circuit - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

He wasn’t happy with the way he finished his round, but Kimberley’s Jared du Toit hung on to win Canadian Player of the Year honours on the PGA Tour Canada-Mackenzie Tour circuit.

That award, sponsored by Freedom 55 Financial, carries a hefty $25,000 bonus and du Toit said it helped soothe the frustration he was feeling about ending his round Sunday with three straight bogeys.

Du Toit closed with an even-par 70 to finish the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship in London, Ont., at 10-under par and tied for 17th place. He finished the season 23rd on the money list with $26,233, although he made more than that in unofficial money on Sunday.

The Saga Of Sagebrush Golf Club Has Taken Another Turn As The Future Of The Property Outside Of Merritt, BC Remains Up In The Air - Image Courtesy Sagebrush Life

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Two key executives of Sagebrush Golf Club have resigned and the course had some of its maintenance equipment and power carts repossessed earlier this summer.

Sagebrush, located about 15 minutes north of Merritt in Quilchena, has remained closed since Newmark Group, a Langley-based residential development company, bought the course from its original owners nearly two years ago.

Coquitlam, BC's Euna Han Is In Ottawa As A Member Of Team Canada For The World Junior Girls Championship At The Marshes Golf Club - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/ BC Golf

Two Teams Will Fly The Flag For Canada At The Marshes Golf Club In Ottawa

OAKVILLE, Ont. – The world’s top 18-and-under female junior golfers will head to Ottawa for the fourth edition of the World Junior Girls Championship from Sept. 26-29 at The Marshes Golf Club. As host nation, Canada will send two teams of three athletes to compete for the international title of World Junior Girls champion.

“It is an honour to host this prestigious event and we look forward to welcoming these players to Canada,” said tournament director Mary Beth McKenna. “The course is in fantastic shape and we are thrilled to host some of the world’s best juniors at this historic club. Our partners at The Marshes Golf Club and the communities in the surrounding area have come together to make this a truly memorable event for our competitors.”

2017 BC Junior Boys Champion Christian Zalli Will Be Studying And Playing Golf At UBC This Fall - All Images Credit: Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When Christian Zalli won the B.C. Junior Boys Championship in July at Squamish Valley Golf & Country Club, the Vancouver resident was adamant that college golf was not in his future. 

He was going to the University of B.C. to focus on his studies and would not be playing golf. End of story. But Zalli has had a change of heart and UBC golf coach Chris MacDonald is thankful about that.

Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin Clinched His Automatic Selection This Weekend To The International Squad For This Year's Presidents Cup Competition In New Jersey - Image Courtesy adamhadwin.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It wasn’t quite the round he had hoped for on Monday, but Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin still accomplished a huge goal by clinching a spot on the International team for this fall’s Presidents Cup.

That Presidents Cup berth is the cherry atop what has been a spectacular year for Hadwin, who shot a 59 at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January and earned his first PGA Tour win two months later at the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Hadwin finished 10th on the International team points list for the Presidents Cup, which goes Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. International captain Nick Price will make his two captain’s picks later this week.

British Columbia Golf's Manager Of Golf Participation, Tyler McKay, Seen Here With A Budding Golf Superhero, Is Bringing The Concept Of The Game To Youngsters In A Fun Fashion - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/ British Columbia Golf

Tyler McKay discovered golf as a kid growing up in the West Kootenay community of Rossland and it wasn’t long before he became hooked on the game.

Years later, it’s now McKay’s job to get British Columbia youngsters interested in golf and he relishes that challenge. McKay, British Columbia Golf’s new Manager of Golf Participation, figures the game sells itself.

His biggest challenge is getting kids exposed to golf, so he spends most of his days doing just that. McKay sets up shop in parks and lets children take their first swings.

The focus of the upcoming 2017 British Columbia Regional Camp being held October 14th at Chilliwack Golf & Country Club is to identify female players in a particular region on the competitive stream and to align Provincial Coaching support with them for the 2018 competitions.

Coaching and training will serve to support player growth and encourage the development of an annual training plan for the upcoming competitive season. In addition, players and families of competitive juniors will be informed and guided on all aspects of the Long Term Player Development Pathway inclusive of leading them to the next stage.

Coquitlam's Steven Diack, Shown Here Getting Set To Tee Off In The VGT Golden Ears Open At Pitt Meadows GC, Is Raring To Get His Pro Career Under Way - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When Steven Diack decided he was going to turn pro, there was an obvious place to start the next phase of his golfing life. The Vancouver Golf Tour’s Vancouver Open is being played Sept. 22-24 at Northview Golf Club in Surrey, a place that has been good to Diack in the past.

“Once I saw the Vancouver Open was at Northview I was like, that is so good for me,” Diack said in an interview. “I love that place and I can’t wait to go out and start this new chapter in golf. I have actually won two tournaments out there. I won a MJT (Maple Leaf Junior Tour) tournament a long, long time ago and I won the VGT Spring Championship out there as well.”

Quesnel, BC's Kathy Gook Was One Of The Top Instructors Recognized From More Than 1,700 LPGA Certified Professionals Worldwide - BC Golf Image

Via Press Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., August 28, 2017 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) membership announced today the launch of an annual recognition of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional’s Top 50 LPGA Teachers, presented in partnership with Women’s Golf Journal.

This new initiative will identify and recognize the best LPGA instructors from more than 1,700 LPGA certified professionals worldwide.

All LPGA Class A Members in good standing who meet the eligibility requirements were invited to apply. An independent golf industry selection committee reviewed eligible applications and identified the LPGA Top 50 Teachers, utilizing a weighted points formula.

One of those recognized was Quesnel, British Columbia's own Kathy Gook who moved to Phoenix in 1985 after graduating from Simon Fraser University to pursue a career in golf.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It is the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs this week on the PGA TOUR and Nick Taylor must be feeling a little like he’s about to play Game 7. It’s do or die for the Abbotsford native.

After missing the cut in last week’s playoff opener, The Northern Trust in Old Westbury, N.Y., Taylor fell to No. 92 on the FedEx Cup points list. The top 100 advanced to this week’s Dell Technologies Championship near Boston, but only the top 70 will move on to the third of four playoff events, the BMW Championship near Chicago.

Surrey's Angela Arora (Centre) Is The B.C. Bantam Girls Champion While Jennifer Gu Of West Vancouver (L) Was Shot Back In 2nd, With Sherri Yang Of Richmond (R) In Third - Image Credit Susan White/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Angela Arora fully expected to win the B.C. Bantam Girls Championship, but not until next year. The 13-year-old from Surrey really didn’t think her game would be good enough for a provincial championship until she was 14. Turns out she was wrong.

Arora sank a clutch 10-foot putt for par on the 18th hole at Christina Lake Golf Club on Tuesday to win the Bantam Girls title by one shot over Jennifer Gu of West Vancouver.

13-Year-Old Jeevan Sihota From Victoria (R) Held Off A Stiff Challenge From Burnaby’s Leo Harper (M) While Richmond's Brycen Ko (L) Came Third In The B.C. Boys Bantam Championship At Christina Lake GC - Image Credit Susan White/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota claimed his second provincial championship in less than a week Tuesday. This one wasn’t nearly as easy as the first.

The 13-year-old played a near perfect round Tuesday and it turned out he had to. His second straight four-under 68 at Christina Lake Golf Club gave him a one-shot win at the B.C. Bantam Boys Championship over Burnaby’s Leo Harper. Tuesday’s win followed a convincing 11-shot victory at last week’s B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship at Granite Pointe Golf Club in Nelson.

Victoria's Jeevan Sihota Is Back At The Top Of The Leaderboard In A B.C. Golf Championship, But This Time He's Got Company In Burnaby's Leo Harper - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jeevan Sihota hopes to see fewer trees and more fairways in Tuesday’s final round of the B.C. Bantam Boys Championship at Christina Lake Golf Club.

The 13-year-old from Victoria shot a four-under 68 Monday to grab a share of the first-round lead with Burnaby’s Leo Harper, but was lamenting the number of times he was playing out of the trees bordering Christina Lake’s fairways.

Kevin Carrigan, Seen Here At Last Month's BC Amateur At Morgan Creek GC, Goes For His Third Canadian Mid-Amateur Title This Week - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan will be trying to complete a hat trick of sorts at this week’s Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wascana Country Club in Regina.

The 31-year-old Carrigan won the event in 2012 and 2013. He showed good form at last month’s B.C. Amateur Championship at Morgan Creek in Surrey, where he finished third, just one shot behind winner Jake DuVall of Victoria.

The Vancouver Open Charity Pro-Am put on by The Vancouver Golf Tour (VGT) takes place on Wednesday, September 20th at Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey and they are actively looking for those interested in playing in the tournament and also for additional volunteers.

VGT Commissioner Fraser Mulholland has put out the following release and information on the event:

The 2017 British Columbia Golf Bantam & Novice Championships take place Monday, August 21st - Tuesday, August 22nd at Christina Lake Golf Club in Grand Forks alongside the Kettle River in BC's beautiful Kooteny/Rockies region.

The Bantam Championships are open to players aged 14 and younger as of August 1st. There are two Championships - Bantam Boys & Bantam Girls. Each event is a 36-hole stroke play (2 rounds) - gross event.

For the Novice Championships (Boys & Girls), players will play off a shorter set of tees. Entry into the novice events will be for players with a higher handicap factor, to be determined by the final field. The Championship is a Net Stableford. Maximum field size is 90 players.

Jeevan Sihota (L) And Claire Lovan Are The 2017 B.C. Juvenile Boys' & Girl's Champions - Image BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Both went wire to wire and both won big. Jeevan Sihota of Victoria and Claire Lovan of Surrey simply dominated their competition at the B.C. Juvenile Championships at Granite Pointe Golf Club in Nelson.

The 13-year-old Sihota won the boys’ title by 11 shots, while Lovan, 15, took the girls’ championship by eight strokes. Everyone else was playing for second place.

Jeevan Sihota (L) And Claire Lovan Are Your Two Leaders At The BC Juvenile Championships At Granite Pointe GC In Nelson Going Into The Final Round - BC Golf Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota fired a two-under 70 Thursday and increased his lead to seven shots heading into Friday’s final round of the B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship at Granite Pointe Golf Club in Nelson. 

The B.C. Juvenile Girls Championship is also being played at Granite Pointe and Claire Lovan of Surrey retained her four-shot lead after firing a four-over 77 on Thursday.

The 2017 British Columbia Golf Juvenile Championships teed off Wednesday morning in the B.C. Kootenay region at the beautiful Granite Pointe GC in Nelson. Granite Pointe GC is a course rich with history dating back to 1919 when a group of men felt a golf course was absolutely essential for any town with the 'pretension' of being up to date.

Granite Pointe’s first year of operations as a 9-hole course was in 1920. Membership fees were $10 for men and $5 for ladies. A lot has changed since then as the course underwent a major overhaul and expansion to 18 holes in 1993, but it remains a vital part of the Nelson Community.

The front nine traverses through mountainous terrain with some holes offering elevated tee boxes. The three hole stretch known by Granite Pointe members as ‘Our Three Aces, holes 6, 7 and 8, offer some very good scoring opportunities. In fact the signature hole, no. 7, was voted one of the top holes in BC.

You’ll also notice a monster-sized chunk of Granite partially blocking the view of the flag on the 9th. The route continues over the back nine with park-like settings, generous fairways and some great water hazards.

Notes on the BC Juvenile Championships at Granite Pointe GC in Nelson:

• The BC Juvenile Championships are open to players age 16 and younger as of August 1st 
• The Juvenile Boys' is a 54 holes gross stroke play event with no cut for 2017
• The Juvenile Girl's is also 54 hole gross stroke play event with no cut for 2017
• The Juvenile Zone Team Competition is held over the first two days of the championship. Zone teams are made up of 3-4 players, with scoring based on best 3 scores on each day of the competition 
• Best-Ball Competition -  Players may make up their own 2-person teams from the field. Teams wishing to participate must identify themselves before play begins on day 1. This championship is a best ball conducted over 54 holes. The top 5 teams from the first 36 holes will be confirmed into the draw, regardless as to whether the players are in the top field or not

The Boys 2016 BC Juvenile Champion was Langley's Khan Lee, who recorded a brilliant 6-under 66 in the final round to defeat runner-up Jeevan Sihota by 2 shots. Lee is not in the event this year as he has moved on to the Junior category. Victoria's Sihota will be back to see if he can take that next step.

The 2016 Girls BC Juvenile Champion was Surrey's Hannah Lee whose 5-under total for the 3 rounds was the only under par score for the girls event. She was a 5-shot winner over Victoria's Akari Hayashi.

As with the Boys, last year's champion Lee will not be in the field as she too has moved on to the Junior level. At the same time last year's runner-up, Hayashi, who opened the tournament with a terrific 4-under 68, will be back looking to take the title this time around. 

For more information, tee times and live scoring beginning Wednesday, August 16 through to Friday the 18th please CLICK HERE