Procter, BC's Jackie Little Is Chasing Her Sixth B.C. Senior Women's Championship Crown This Week At, Appropriately Enough, Crown Isle Golf Resort In Courtenay - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

She is one of British Columbia’s most accomplished players and Jackie Little served notice Tuesday that she has lots of competitive golf left in her. Little already has five B.C. Senior Women’s Championships and could be on her way to a sixth after opening this year’s tourney with a one-under par 71 at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay.

The First Annual Charity Golf Club Drive by The First Tee of Greater Vancouver is taking place this Saturday, June 23rd at the Rupert Park Pitch & Putt course on Charles Street in Vancouver. 

To see how you can get some great brand name used golf equipment at terrific values, check out the details of the event in the poster below. Not only can you get great deals on equipment for yourself, friends or family members, you'll be helping the YMCA's First Tee of Greater Vancouver introduce the game to youth from across the Lower Mainland.

Kimberley/Cranbrook 2018 55+ BC Games – September 11-15, 2018

The 31st Annual 55+ BC Games is taking place in Kimberley/Cranbrook this year from September 11th to 15th. Over 2,500 participants aged 55+ from 12 zones across British Columbia are expected to compete in 23 sports and activities. The registration deadline is fast approaching. 

Don’t miss out on participating in your favourite sport while discovering the beautiful East Kootenays. Please get in touch with your Zone Sport Coordinator for more information.

For more information, please visit https://www.55plusbcgames.org/.

Jared du Toit Was In Contention Throughout The GolfBC Championship Earning Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player Of The Week Honours - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By BRAD ZIEMER, British Columbia Golf

Kimberley’s Jared du Toit recorded a career-best fifth-place finish at the GolfBC Championship in Kelowna.

Du Toit fired a four-under 67 in Sunday’s final round of the $200,000 Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada event at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club to finish at 16-under par. That left the 23-year-old four strokes behind winner George Cunningham of Tucson, Ariz.

“I feel very positive,” du Toit said. “I was up on the leaderboard pretty much all week it felt like. And to be there and to be in the mix basically until I made a bogey on 16 felt good. My old college coach used to say the main goal is to be in the mix on the back nine on Sunday and I did that today, so I am pretty optimistic about where things are at.”

Margaret Todd Is Shown Here With Two Other BC Golf Legends, Doug Roxburgh And Alison Murdoch At Murdoch's 2013 Hall Of Fame Induction In Victoria - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

On the occasion of one of British Columbia's and indeed Canada's all-time great Amateur Golfers reaching a milestone birthday, British Columbia Golf, its staff and membership would all like to join in celebrating and congratulating Margaret Todd who turned the magical age of 100 on May 31st.

The Shot Clock Masters 2018 Cover Photo - Image Courtesy European Tour

In this week's edition of the Globalgolfpost.com, contributing writer Lewine Mair's column The Take, offers an eye-opening perspective on some of the European Tour's efforts at addressing slow play, a topic that has become a very hot issue in recent years. 

A major proponent of 'actions speak louder than words' Canada's Keith Pelley, the European Tour's Chief Executive, has put into action some new ideas to test the waters as far as effecting change in the way the game of golf has appeared to slow to a snail's pace. Case in point is the recently played Shot Clock Masters at the Diamond Country Club in Austria. 

Mair goes in depth in her story on not only the event itself but the overall reaction and possible ramifications of golf tournaments where players are timed in 50 seconds or less for each shot, depending on certain circumstances, with the threat of an immediate penalty hanging over them should they fail to pull the trigger in time. 

Read the complete story HERE.

Click HERE to see a video of Keith Pelley discussing the effects of this type of event. 

Duncan Meadows Golf Course Is Co-Hosting The 2018 Canadian Men's Amateur 

In advance of the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship being held this August 6th - 9th at Duncan Meadows Golf Club in Duncan and Pheasant Glen Golf Club in Qualicum Beach, Duncan Meadows is holding an Exemption Qualifier at their course on Saturday, June 23rd at 10 a.m.

This is in addition to the Golf Canada Qualifier taking place on Friday, August 3rd at Duncan Meadows. Information on that event can be found HERE.

For information on the June 23rd Exemption Qualifier at Duncan Meadows please refer to the poster below. 

BC's Phil Jonas Has Played His Way Into The U.S. Senior Open For The Second Straight Year - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Phil Jonas is getting another crack at the U.S. Senior Open. Jonas played his way into the event for the second straight year, winning the lone spot up for grabs at a qualifier Monday in Sequim, Wash.

The 56-year-old Jonas, who runs a golf academy in his name at Hazelmere Golf Club in Surrey, shot a three-under 69 at The Cedars at Dungeness to beat a field of 51 players by two shots. 

“I played decently today after playing so poorly last week at the PGA of B.C. Seniors tourney,” Jonas said in a telephone interview. “I was happy with the way I played.

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler And Arbutus Ridge In Victoria Are Among 30 Golf Courses Across Canada That Have Committed To Growing Milkweed As Part Of The Monarchs In The Rough Program Devoted To Increasing The Population Of Monarch Butterflies - Image Courtesy Pixabay

By SUSAN LAZARUK - Vancouver Sun

Numbers of the majestic monarch butterfly have been in a free fall and a plan hatched with the help of golf courses across North America, including two in B.C., is hoping to bring them flying back. The number of the summer visitors to flower gardens and wildflower fields has plummeted 90 per cent over the past 20 years, according to Audubon International.

“And it’s worse in the western population, where you are, where there’s been a 95 per cent drop in numbers,” said Marcus Gray of Audubon International.

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Victoria’s Arbutus Ridge golf courses are among the 30 courses across Canada and the 250 so far across the U.S. that have committed to growing the flowers on a half hectare of land on their courses.

CLICK HERE to read complete story in Vancouver Sun.

Kimberely, BC's Jared du Toit Was Alone In 3rd Heading Into The Final Round But Had A Tough Sunday At The Bayview Place DCBank Open Falling To 23rd Overall. He Was Still The Low Player From BC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The Canadian drought continues on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit. There were plenty of Canadian flags on the leaderboard heading into the weekend, but not many left when the final round of the Bayview Place DCBank Open was completed Sunday at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria.

Texan Sam Fidone, who had a two-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round, closed with a bogey-free five-under 65 and won by five shots with a 72-hole total of 19-under par. Calgary’s Wes Heffernan was the only Canadian in the top 10. Heffernan, who shot a 68 on Sunday, finished tied for sixth at 11-under. That earned him the weekly bonus of $2,500 from Freedom 55 Financial for being low Canadian.

Kimberley’s Jared du Toit, who began the day alone in third place, struggled to a five-over 75 Sunday and finished tied for 23rd place at six-under par. Manitoba’s Aaron Cockerill (T14 at eight-under) and Ontario’s Taylor Pendrith (T23) were the other Canadians inside the top 25. A Canadian hasn’t won on the Mackenzie Tour since Langley’s Adam Cornelson won at Uplands in 2016.

Sam Fidone Holds The Winner's Trophy From The Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist - Image Credit Kevin Light/Mackenzie Tour

Courtesy Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada—After his third round, Sam Fidone mentioned he would likely be feeling some nerves on his stroll up to the first tee Sunday at the Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist.

Fidone appeared to make that stroll with all the confidence in the world, striping his first tee shot down the Uplands Golf Club fairway to begin his march toward a bogey-free 65 and commanding five-stroke victory.

For only the second time, the World Deaf Golf Championships will be played in Ireland after the IDGU won the bidding process to host the championships in July 2014 at the Grand Traverse Resort, Michigan, USA.

The Championships will be held July 21st-28th,  2018at the Carton House Golf Club. The Men’s Individual/Team Championships will be playing on the Montgomerie Course while the Ladies’ & Senior’s Individual/Team Championships will be playing on the O’Meara Golf Course.

Team Canada will compete in the Men’s event, Senior Men’s event and Ladies’ event.

British Columbia Golf Director Michelle Collens (Inset) Has Been Named As A Council Member Of The Newly Formed Minister’s Tourism Engagement Council - Image Courtesy (flickr.com)

BC Government News Release

A new Minister’s Tourism Engagement Council (MTEC), with a diverse membership to help guide government's tourism policy, strategy and program implementation, has been announced by Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Beare made the announcement to media and tourism industry stakeholders prior to the first official gathering of the council last Friday (June 1st).

“This council brings a fresh approach to tourism industry discussions in B.C., drawing on expertise from a wide range of sectors, across all tourism regions of the province, and giving arts, culture and sport a greater voice,” Beare said.

Golf Canada National Team Members Have Found A Good Home At Victoria's Bear Mountain Golf Resort - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

LANGFORD -- Golf Canada has gone all-in on player development and for that chief sport officer Jeff Thompson makes no apologies. Golf Canada, with the help of some key corporate sponsors, spends big bucks funding national amateur, developmental and young pro squads and Thompson gave a spirited defence of that strategy at a recent media event at Bear Mountain, the site of Golf Canada’s new national training facility.

“I get often asked why do we spend so much money on so few players and my answer is quite simple,” Thompson said. “Our philosophy from the very top of the organization is we believe in the power of creating champions, creating heroes. That inspires a nation to play our sport.”

Walnut Grove Defended Their  B.C. AAA High School Golf Championship, Collingwood Took The AA Title, While Aberdeen Hall (Pictured) Claimed The A Crown - Image Courtesy Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The second one wasn’t quite so easy for Langley’s Walnut Grove Gators, who successfully defended their B.C. AAA High School Golf Championship on Wednesday.

The Gators held off the hosts from Dover Bay Secondary at Nanaimo Golf Club to win the 36-hole championship by five shots. Last year, the Gators won their first title by 42 shots over St. George’s at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford. “This one was very close,” said Walnut Grove coach Dana Ferguson. “The host team played fantastic golf and gave us a run for our money.”

BC Team Coach Matt Cella Works With Emma Yang In Advance Of The Canadian Junior Girls Championship July 31-Aug. 3 At Beach Grove Golf Club In Tsawwassen - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Debbie Pyne is determined to do everything she can to give British Columbia’s top players an edge when they play in this summer’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship. That event is not being held until July 31-Aug. 3 at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, but Pyne and her team of coaches from British Columbia Golf have been preparing for the championship for months.

Pyne, the managing director of player development with British Columbia Golf, has arranged for a select group of B.C’s top juniors to attend a series of camps designed to help them become intimately familiar with Beach Grove.

PGA of BC 2018 Assistants Champion Oliver Tubb - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

JUNE 5, 2018

VICTORIA, BC (PGA of British Columbia) - Oliver Tubb won his third title in the PGA of BC Assistants' Championship presented by Irene Strong, Mortgage Professional Tuesday, getting past Brad Clapp on the third playoff hole on the Mountain Course at Bear Mountain Resort Community.

Norm Jarvis, meanwhile, won the PGA of BC Seniors' Championship for a second time, earning a four-shot victory powered by his tournament-low 72 in Tuesday's final round of the 36-hole event.

Golf Canada President Leslie Dunning With Distinguished Service Award Recipient Cam Cole - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf (Special To Golf Canada)

Cam Cole seems to have this retirement thing down pat.

“I am playing way more than I ever have in my life,” he says over the phone between rounds at his new home course, The Harvest, in Kelowna. “I am probably playing three or four times a week. The game has not become less a part of my life after retirement. It has become even bigger. I am enjoying that.”

For many years, so many Canadians enjoyed Cole’s beautifully crafted columns from golf’s major championships. By his count, Cole covered 66 majors, along with seven Ryder Cups and six Presidents Cups, nine (RBC) Canadian Opens and several (CP) Canadian Women’s Opens before retiring in December 2016 after an exemplary 41-year career as one of this country’s top sportswriters.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jordan Niebrugge hopes his win Sunday at the Freedom 55 Financial Open will be his Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada swansong. The 24-year-old Oklahoma State University graduate has conditional status on the Web.com Tour, where he will play this week in Illinois, and hopes he won’t be making a return trip north.

“If I can get on a roll and keep playing well my focus will probably be down there a little more,” he said.

Former B.C. Junior Champ Riley Wheeldon Finished T10 At The Freedom 55 Financial Open Also Taking Low-Canadian Honours And The Bonus Cheque - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

No one said it was going to be easy and Riley Wheeldon would be the first to tell you it has been anything but. The former B.C. Junior Boys champion from Comox has taken a long and winding road in his journey as a professional golfer. He has hit more than a few speed bumps along the way.

“It has been a roller-coaster,” Wheeldon said after Sunday’s final round of the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver. “Obviously, my first couple of years out here were a nice steady incline and then a steady decline and hopefully now we’re back on the up.”