The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada is busy preparing for another strong season, announcing on Thursday the dates and sites for its six 2019 Qualifying Tournaments, events that determine the membership of the Mackenzie Tour.

The six sites will be: TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, TX (February 25-March 1), Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howie-In-The-Hills, FL (March 4-8), Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee, CA (March 25-29), Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, AZ (April 1-5), TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (April 22-26) and Crown Isle Resort & Golf Club in Courtenay, BC (April 29-May 3).

Each event is a 72-hole, no-cut qualifying tournament, with fields of 120 players.

Courtesy Cordova Bay Golf Club

Laurie Carroll - June 20, 1929 - November 14 2018

Victoria's golf community has lost an icon. After more than 7 decades involved in the world of golf, Laurie has walked his final fairway. He passed away peacefully on November 14, predeceased by his wife of 54 years Doreen in 2011 and his brother Richard in 2015. He will be lovingly remembered by his son Scott (Chris), daughter Susanne (Shawn) Quast and grandchildren Nicole and Adam.

Laurie's career had stops as the Assistant Professional and later the Head Professional at the Victoria Golf Club. Later he became the owner and operator of Douglas Golf Lands, a driving range and par 3 course that started on Vanalman Avenue but ended up occupying Cordova Bay's current driving range and parts of hole 1,9,10, and 18. Laurie spent his days there dispensing his vast knowledge on golf and life from the lesson tee. Generous with his time, particularly with young people, he taught and he taught and he taught. Always quick with a story, we listened to stories about Hope, Crosby, Nelson, Player and others that he encountered over his career. We were captivated to hear about a life in the game.

In the early days of Cordova Bay Laurie transitioned to our lesson tee, some 75 yards away. Laurie Carroll taught Victoria how to golf. To this day, all you have to do is work in the pro shop for one week and you will be convinced that there is not a single golfer in Victoria over the age of 40 that has not taken a golf lesson from him, usually their first.

As Cordova Bay's first Director of Golf he was relied upon heavily for advice by the developers of the course and is directly responsible for much of Cordova Bay's current success. After 10 years or so Laurie "retired" from teaching but he did not leave the lesson tee. Laurie was a fixture at the driving range, dispensing advice and encouragement as he walked past. "Here give me that G'd' thing... watch... now hit it like this". "Did I tell you the story about...".

Please join us for a celebration of Laurie's life at Bill Mattick's Restaurant on Sunday, December 2nd from 12 -3 pm.

All members are welcome to attend and spend the afternoon remembering Laurie and all his stories.

British Columbia Golf members and staff would like to offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of Emily Mae Beauchamp (Ringheim) following her passing in September. There is a celebration of her life being planned for July 27th, 2019.

The Kimberley, BC native was heavily involved in junior golf in our province and was a tremendous influence in the community volunteering her time in many capacities. 

Below is an excerpt from her obituary posted by Thompson Funeral Service in Nelson, BC.

Marine Drive Golf Club's Leah John, Seen Here Teeing Off At Her Home Course In The Canadian Women's Amateur This Summer, Is Headed To The University Of Nevada In Reno On A Full Ride Golf Scholarship - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

Courtesy Nevada Wolf Pack Women's Athletics

RENO, Nev. – Nevada women's golf coach Kathleen Takaishi signed three young players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, with Vancouver's Leah John being one of them.

"I am very excited about this recruiting class," said Takaishi. "Their hard work and dedication exemplify the values and culture we have built over the past few years. Each of them brings a unique aspect to our team. I anticipate this class making a big impact on our success moving forward."

One Of BC's Most Decorated Golfers, Procter's Jackie Little, Has Been Recognized By The Global Golf Post As A First Team All-Amateur Selection - Image Courtesy Global Golf Post

Global Golf Post has named their 6th Annual Global Golf Post All-Amateur Teams. Selections were made for Men & Women's Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Senior categories with some 199 players from 24 nations being honoured.

Guided mostly by the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the selection committee also put in a lot of hours scouring results and national rankings to come up with who they consider had the best years as amateur players around the globe.

No Stranger To Winning Titles, Karen Pultz Has Added A 7th Sweeny Cup Trophy To Her Mantlepiece - Image Credit Bob Potter/Sweeny Cup

Courtesy Sweeny Cup

Karen Pultz of Peace Portal GC in South Surrey, BC has captured the Sweeny Cup title as the season-long leader of the prestigious competition named after and started by B.C. and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Violet Pooley Sweeny.

Pooley Sweeny started the Sweeny Cup competition in 1936, organizing the best female golfers from a variety of clubs to participate in a competitive golf environment.

The Sweeny Cup is a season-long golf competition open to ladies living in the Lower Mainland who are 19 years of age or older, are members in good standing of British Columbia Golf (Zone 3 or 4), and have a current handicap factor of 10.0 or less. The Sweeny Cup season typically runs from March until October with a series of one-day events at both private and public golf courses across the Lower Mainland. 

Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club, With 27 Holes, Will Make You Feel Challenged Like Some Of The World’s Best - Image Courtesy Gallagher's Canyon G&CC

Written by Adam Stanley/ Golf Canada

Whether you’re actually outdoorsy – and you enjoy hiking, cycling, or camping – or if you’re “outdoorsy” – and a round of golf or a craft cocktail on a patio is more your style – then Kelowna has it all.

Kelowna gets approximately 2,000 hours of sunshine every summer, and while it’s long been known as a spot for retirees escaping the hustle of Vancouver, it’s recently become a hotbed for young residents getting away from Vancouver’s sky-high real estate prices.

And it’s got some of the best golf in the country.

Named To Golf Canada's 2019 Team Canada Squad From B.C. Are From L-R: Richmond's Chris Crisologo and Victoria's Namoi Ko And Jeevan Sihota - Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

Golf Canada is proud to announce the 17 athletes who have been chosen to represent Team Canada as part of the 2019 National Amateur and Junior Squads.

In all, seven athletes comprise Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad including four players on the men’s team and three on the women’s team. The 10-member Junior Squad will include five women and five men.

Courtesy Golf Canada/Written by John Gordon

No matter how many times we talk about the benefits and amenities included with a Golf Canada Gold-level membership (most recently, here), it doesn’t strike home until, well, it strikes home.

A little while ago, I saw a tweet from a member at a local golf club. “Somebody stole my putter out of my bag while I was at the range right before my match. My red TaylorMade Spider…,” he lamented, adding a few expletives directed at the thief.

At last check, that putter retails for close to $400. He thought he was out of pocket for a replacement.

Flickr Image

Via Press Release

(13 November 2018, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, N.J., USA): The R&A and the USGA will administer a global ranking for golfers with disabilities, which will help to grow participation and competition around the world and to promote inclusivity within the sport.

The World Ranking for Golfers with Disability will launch on January 1st, 2019 and will be administered in tandem with the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) for both men and women via www.WAGR.com.

British Columbia Golf is proud to announce our support of The ModGolf Podcast. We encourage you to listen to these unique golf innovation stories that align with our vision to grow the game.

Host Colin Weston (who works and lives in Vancouver) speaks with industry influencers, innovators, disruptors and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of golf.

Launched in May 2017 and now 50 episodes in, The ModGolf Podcast shines the spotlight on a diverse range of golf industry guests who share their engaging stories.

A group of Canadian hopefuls has been looking to advance through one of five Web.com Tour qualifying events across the United States from Oct. 30 – Nov. 9.

Field sizes at each event are approximately 75 players with no cut. The number of applicants advancing from each site will be on a pro rata basis (i.e., approximately the same percentage from each site will advance), and such number will be announced during the Second Qualifying Stage.

All applicants tying for the last qualifying position at the conclusion of play at each site will advance.

OC Junior Abigail Rigsby Holds The Trophy From Her Second Collegiate Win At The Oklahoma Intercollegiate - Image Courtesy OCU Athletics

Courtesy OCU Women's Golf

LAWTON, Okla. (Oct. 23, 2018) – Oklahoma Christian's Abigail Rigsby played brilliantly at Lawton Country Club, but she still needed to put on a steely display of endurance in a four-hole playoff for medalist honors.

The junior from Courtenay, British Columbia, capped her final-round 1-under-par 70 with her second career playoff win to take top honors in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate, leading the 15th-ranked Lady Eagles to a runner-up team finish in the 12-team event.

As The PGA TOUR has quickly teed off on its new season, we note that two of Canada's top 3 ranked Male Professionals hail from Abbotsford, BC. Fitting also that Adam Hadwin (No.1) and Nick Taylor (No.3), will be partnering up to represent Canada at the upcoming World Cup of Golf in Melbourne next month.

Meanwhile, BC continues to see its fair share of players in both the Men's and Women's amateur and professional categories holding prominent positions in the Weekly Top Ten Powered by RBC Canadian Rankings.

A New 'Flagship' Golf Town Store Will Open At Brentwood Mall In 2019, With Others Planned To Come In B.C. Including Richmond, Also In 2019 - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Courtesy Golf Canada

TORONTO – Sporting Life Inc. and Golf Town Limited have announced they will merge to become Sporting Life Group Limited (“SLG”).

Sporting Life is a premium sports and lifestyle retailer that provides an assortment of high-end sport and lifestyle brands coupled with a focus on premium customer service.

It currently has 11 locations operating in Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, following the recent opening of a 27, 500 square foot store last week. In 2019, it will open another flagship store in the new “Amazing Brentwood” Mall in Vancouver.

By John Gordon/Courtesy Golf Canada

“I’m not good enough to keep track of my handicap.” Craig Loughry, Golf Canada’s Director of Handicap and Course Rating, is tired of hearing that.

“The purpose of the Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis,” the Golf Canada Handicap Manual states.

“If you’re playing golf regularly, you’re keeping track of your scores in some fashion,” he points out. “You’re golfing for a reason or reasons, whether it’s for the competition against yourself or others, recreation, socializing, whatever. It obviously is a significant part of your activity schedule, so why not keep track on an ongoing basis?

The GOLFTV Brand Will Underpin The First-Of-Its-Kind International Golf Streaming Service Launching On January 1st, 2019

For Immediate Release

NEW YORK – Discovery and the PGA TOUR have today revealed GOLFTV, powered by the PGA TOUR, the distinctive brand for the destination that will unite the community of golf fans around the world. The brand will underpin the new live and on-demand international video streaming service, which will launch globally outside the United States* on 1st January 2019.

GOLFTV will offer fans a one-stop destination to access the widest range of golf content. With a growing portfolio of content, it will feature many of the sport’s most exciting moments, superstar players and tournaments on every screen and device.

Every fall the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) votes on the Player of the Year Award for Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Men’s, Women’s, Mid-Amateur Men, Mid-Amateur Women, Senior Men, and Senior Women.

The PNGA Player of the Year candidates are nominated by the various state and provincial golf associations that comprise the PNGA (Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington), and are selected by a vote of the PNGA Championship Committee.

(L-R) European Tour Chief Medical Officer Andrew Murray, Professor Fiona Bull, LPGA Legend Annika Sorenstam, R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers, Professor Charlie Foster And MP Craig Tracey Were On Hand For The First International Congress on Golf and Health - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Written By The R&A/Courtesy Golf Canada

LONDON, England – A global consensus amongst leaders in public health, public policy and sport backs golf in the race to tackle physical inactivity and the prevention of a range of non-communicable disease (NCD) including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer of the breast and colon.

Evidence linking golf and health, commissioned by the World Golf Foundation and supported by The R&A, was presented this week in London at the 7th Congress of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH). The biennial scientific meeting is widely regarded as the world’s flagship physical activity and public health event attended by more than 1,000 delegates from 60 countries.

B.C.'s Kaleb Gorbahn Of Smithers (Shown Here) Is One Of Ten Canadians Who Are Moving On To The Second Stage Of The 2018 Web.com Tour Qualifying School As Play Concluded Friday (Oct. 12.) At Events Taking Place Across The United States - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

Written by Terry Lenyk/Golf Canada

Kaleb Gorbahn of Smithers, B.C., finished runner up at 8-under, while Hugo Bernard of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., tied for 17th after finishing 2-under at the Dayton Valley, Nev., qualifying event, where the top 22 positions and tied advanced.

Click here for the leaderboard.