By John Gordon/Golf Canada

SO WHY HAVEN’T YOU?
Adopted a school, that is.

As a prospective adopter of a school, you may think you need to be a corporate giant like Golf Town, which has adopted almost 100 schools, or the formidable twosome of Golf Lab founder Liam Mucklow, a well-known champion of junior golf, who along with auto sales magnate Edward Wong has done the same for almost 20.

Or maybe, as a facility or a PGA of Canada professional, you are overawed by Manitoba’s Golf Mentor Academy, the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura, Facility of the Year. Thanks to the dedication of PGA of Canada professionals Glen Sirkis and Adam Boge, they welcomed more than 2,000 juniors to their facility last year.

Well-deserved kudos to all of them and the other companies and facilities who have supported the Adopt a School program, part of Golf Canada’s comprehensive Golf in Schools initiative over the past decade.

The Picturesque Bear Mountain Golf Resort Will Host The 2018  Future Links, Driven By Acura Pacific Championship This Week - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

VICTORIA, B.C. – Golf Canada’s first regional junior golf championship of 2018 is set to take place this week as the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship gets underway at Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria, B.C., from May 11-13.

With support from British Columbia Golf, the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship is the first of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament begins with a practice round on May 10 before the tournament gets underway with round one action on May 11.

Jimmy Jones, The Son Of Former LPGA Tour Winner Dawn Coe-Jones From Lake Cowichan, BC, Has Received A Sponsor’s Exemption To Play In The Freedom 55 Financial Open At Point Grey GC - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jimmy Jones will begin his professional career later this month at Point Grey Golf & Country Club, the same Vancouver course where 15 years ago his mom, Dawn Coe-Jones, was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Jones attended that ceremony, held the week of the Canadian Women’s Open, but doesn’t remember much about it. He was only seven years old, after all. “I have seen some pictures and I remember one of my mom’s friends was there and he played for the Islanders and had four Stanley Cup rings and I was hockey player at the time, so that got my attention,” Jones recalled during a telephone interview from his Florida home.

Sign and Image Credit: The Links at Brunello/Nova Scotia

Those who play, watch, follow, volunteer in, administrate or are somehow involved with golf will be the first to attest that there are very unique elements to the game that fascinate and contribute to it being such a passion-inducing pursuit.

One particular editor we know has come to respond to the question of 'What is it that you like most about golf?' with the simple observation that, "It's where you get to be..." as in, outside on a golf course, with friends and/or others who share your love of being in that environment for all the right reasons.

West Vancouver's Matt Matheson (L) And Langley's Khan Lee (R) Were Your Top Two Qualfiers At The RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier Held At Ledgeview GC In Abbotsford, BC - Image Credit Brad Ziemer

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

ABBOTSFORD -- Matt Matheson tries to make sure he has fun every time he plays golf. Some days are easier than others. Take Tuesday, for example, when the 24-year-old West Vancouver amateur rolled in a 40-foot putt for eagle on the 18th green to shoot a five-under 65 and top the field at the RBC Canadian Open regional qualifier being held at Ledgeview Golf Course in Abbotsford.

Monday, mind you, wasn’t quite as much fun. Matheson travelled to the Seattle area and played in a U.S. Open local qualifier and shot a six-over 78. So he won’t be teeing it up this summer at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

But thanks to Tuesday’s round, Glen Abbey Golf Club remains a distinct possibility. The top six players and ties from Ledgeview’s 39-man field earned a spot in the Monday qualifier for this summer’s RBC Canadian Open.

Big Sky Golf Club In Pemberton, BC Is Up For Sale - Image Courtesy Big Sky GC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Big Sky Golf Club, the Pemberton layout that has long been regarded as one of British Columbia’s best courses, has been put up for sale by its original owners. Designed by Bob Cupp, Big Sky opened in 1993 and sits in the shadow of Mount Currie. It is owned by the Belkorp Group of Companies, controlled by Vancouver’s Belkin family.

The course, which sits on 179.4 acres, includes a pro shop, golf academy, double-ended grass-tee driving range, five-hole practice facility and a maintenance building. It has been listed for sale at $8.9 million by commercial real estate company Cushman & Wakefield.

“Essentially, the owners are looking to pass the torch after nearly 25 years of ownership,” said Cushman & Wakefield vice-president Brad Newman-Bennett, who happens to be a former (1999) B.C. Amateur champion. “Hopefully we can find someone as passionate about golf as they are.”

British Columbia Golf Is Pleased To Announce The Addition Of Brian Jung (L) & Lindsay Manion (R) To Their Staff Of Coaches

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

British Columbia has a rich history of producing terrific junior golf talent and Debbie Pyne wants to make sure that continues.

Pyne, managing director of player development with British Columbia Golf, has made two additions to the organization’s staff that she thinks will further aid in the development of the province’s elite junior players.

Brian Jung has been appointed a regional coach and Lindsay Manion has been brought on board as a strength and conditioning specialist. They will be working with head provincial coaches Jennifer Greggain and Colin Lavers. Both bring a wealth of experience to their new roles.

SFU's Chris Crisologo (L) Is The GNAC POY For 2017-18 While His Coach, Matthew Steinbach (R) Was Honoured By His Peers As The GNAC Coach Of The Year - Images BC Golf/SFU(Gabe Lynn)

PORTLAND, Ore. – Ending his career as arguably the most dominant player in conference history, Simon Fraser senior Chris Crisologo is once again the Great Northwest Athletic Conference  Player of the Year, headlining four selections to the 2017-18 GNAC Men’s Golf All-Conference Team.

Crisologo, now a three-time GNAC Player of the Year, is the first four-time First Team All-GNAC men’s golf selection. The senior was named the GNAC Player of the Week on four occasions this season and leads the conference with a 70.6 stroke average.

He had seven top-five finishes, which includes a tie for fifth at the GNAC Championships and a first-place finish in October’s Concordia Invitational. Crisologo will also make his fourth appearance at the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional next week in Amarillo, Texas.

Attention all golfers who'd like the opportunity to test out and be fitted for Titleist golf clubs. Titleist will be holding complimentary fittings at two different BC locations.  Over the next 7 Thursdays at Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey as well as 4 of the next 5 Thursdays at the Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna.

Check the schedule below, then go to the Titleist website for more information and to book online.

British Columbia Golf members and staff would like to join in offering condolences to the Western Canada Turfgrass Association, its members and friends and most particularly the family and friends of longtime WCTA Executive Administrator Viola Greer who passed away on April 25th. 

She is remembered and honoured in the following letter from WCTA Executive Director Jerry Rousseau.

Dear WCTA Members and Friends,

We were very saddened to learn yesterday that Viola Freer, Executive Administrator of the WCTA for nineteen years retiring in 2012, passed away on Wednesday, April 25th in Prince George.

Left with loving memories of Viola’s kindness, sincerity and selflessness are husband Roger and son Douglas, and of course all WCTA members and friends who knew her during those formative years for the association.

Viola’s careful attention to our members’ needs and good-hearted demeanour with everyone she served within the turfgrass community helped imbue a positive and friendly culture that has carried on to this day. We’ll remember Viola for this gift and hope we can continue to learn and grow from such a wonderful example of ‘how to be’.

On behalf of the WCTA, we would like to offer Roger, Douglas and all of Viola’s family and many friends, our sincere condolences.

Unfortunately we have no information regarding a service or celebration of life at this time but will pass along any further information we receive.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Jerry Rousseau
Executive Director
Western Canada Turfgrass Association

Former B.C. Amateur Champion Jared du Toit Is Competing On The PGA Tour - LatinoAmerica Circuit - Image Courtesy British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Playing the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica circuit has been part golf, part adventure for Jared du Toit. The former B.C. Amateur champion from Kimberley acknowledges he hasn’t yet played as well as he’d like, but repeatedly uses the same four-letter word to describe his experiences through the first four events: cool.

“The travel days can be pretty long, but a lot of places we get to go are really cool,” du Toit says in a telephone interview from Montego Bay, the site of this week’s BMW Jamaica Classic. “I probably wouldn’t have the opportunity or desire to go to a lot of these places if I wasn’t playing golf. So it is very cool to just have the opportunity to check out these places and see some new parts of the world. It has definitely been very cool.”

Langley's James Allenby Took The Vancouver Golf Tour's JM Media Group Masters With Consecutive Rounds Of 64 This Past Week - Image Courtesy VGT/Fraser Mulholland

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

James Allenby dominated the Vancouver Golf Tour in 2017 and the Langley pro has sent an early message that 2018 might be more of the same.

Allenby shot back-to-back rounds of eight-under 64 to win the JM Media Group VGT Masters at Morgan Creek Golf Club in Surrey. Allenby’s 36-hole total of 16-under 128 was seven shots better than Riley Wheeldon of Comox.

Allenby earned $3,000 for the win and now leads the VGT’s Order of Merit. Wheeldon, who is competing in this week’s Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada qualifying school at Crown Isle Golf Club in Courtenay, made $1,800 for his runner-up finish. Kevin Stinson of Mission finished third at four-under par and took home $1,200.

SFU Clan Men's Golf Team, The 2018 GNAC Champions Are Headed To The NCAA Super Regional Tournament - Image Courtesy SFU Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – For the fourth time in five years the Simon Fraser University men's golf team has been selected to compete in the NCAA Super Regional.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion Simon Fraser will be the No. 6 seed from the West Region at the 2018 NCAA Division II Men's Golf West/South Central Regional, which will be held May 7-9 in Amarillo, Texas. The Clan also participated in the Super Regional in 2016, 2015 and 2014.

The tournament will be held at the Tascosa Golf Club and will feature 20 teams and eight individuals. A total of 10 teams and four individuals comprise each region. Chico State represents the West Region as the No. 1 seed while UC Colorado Springs is the top seed in the South Central Region.

2017 B.C. Amateur Winner Jake DuVall Of Victoria Will Be Trying His Hand At The Crown Isle Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Q-School This Week - Images Courtesy Golf Canada/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Class will be in session once again at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay, where the last of five Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada spring qualifying schools is being held May 1-4.

It’s the last chance for players to earn a ticket to this year’s 13-stop Mackenzie Tour, which begins its season May 31-June 3 with the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver. Victoria’s Jake DuVall, last year’s B.C. Amateur champion, and 2014 B.C. Amateur runner-up Mike Belle of Burnaby are among the field of 132 players who will compete in the 72-hole competition at Crown Isle.

The 2018 BC Summer Games are being held in the beautiful Cowichan Valley this year from July 19 - 22nd. As part of the BC Summer Games lead-up, the golf competition holds zone qualifying events and the first one is set to get underway this weekend, on Sunday April 29th at the Squamish Valley Golf & Country Club.

All Images Courtesy African American Golfer's Digest

As We Move Closer To International Women’s Day, Here's A Great Example Of A Group Demonstrating How To Get More Women And Diversity Into The Game - (British Columbia Golf)

By James R. Beatty  (African American Golfer's Digest - reprinted with permission)

If you are even thinking about taking up the game of golf— and have found reason after reason to keep putting it off— then, you must read this story.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Many have either delayed or totally put off the one decision which can and will change your life. Read here about Clemmie Perry, founder and CEO of Women Of Color Golf (WOCG) and how she has helped to impact the lives of women in Tampa, Florida, forever by introducing them to all of the benefits that come with participating and enjoying the game.

Pay particular attention to the reflections of one of these women, who put it in perspective in her own words.

Golf Canada President Leslie Dunning Headed An Industry-Wide Working Group That Established A Ground-Breaking Initiative, The “Equity, Diversity And Inclusion Policy.” - Image Credit Golf Canada

By John Gordon/Golf Canada

Kris Jonasson is many things. All of them good, although I can’t speak to his golf game. 

Blunt is one of those admirable qualities.

When asked about the push for inclusivity in golf, he summarized it thusly: “Golf has bucked a bad reputation forever. Some of it is justified. We need to be a game for all of the people, not just rich white men.”

Since 1996, Jonasson has run British Columbia Golf, that province’s amateur association. In 2004, he led the successful movement to meld the separate men’s and women’s amateur associations into one entity.

For Immediate Release – Vancouver, BC (April 18th, 2018)

Maui Jim Canada Elevating BC Women's Golf In 2018

British Columbia Golf along with the Vancouver Golf Tour welcomes MAUI JIM CANADA as a Major Partner in developing BC Women’s Golf. Through the partnership British Columbia Golf has with the VGT, Maui Jim Canada has elevated their sponsorship to include a Presenting Sponsorship Role in all 7 of British Columbia Golf’s Women’s Championships in 2018.

The BC Golf Women's Championship events begin June 18th with the Women's Senior, Super-Senior and Net-Stableford Championship and conclude with the Juvenile Girls Championship August 23rd. At the same time the VGT will launch the MAUI JIM WOMEN’S SERIES.

CALLING ALL CADDIES
Carry a bag for a future PGA TOUR Professional!

WHAT – 1st stop of the Mackenzie tour PGA TOUR Canada – FREEDOM 55 FINANCIAL OPEN
WHERE – POINT GREY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, VANCOUVER
WHEN – MAY 30 – JUNE 3RD
WHO – Anyone that can carry a bag for 18 holes (training provided)

(Golfers from approximately 14 different countries compete. Over 20 past players currently have PGA TOUR cards including Adam Hadwin, Tony Finau, and Nick Taylor)

To sign up or get more information:
www.freedom55financialopen.com/caddie.html

_______________________________________________________________________________________
BE A VOLUNTEER!!
AMAZING GOLF -- AMAZING VENUE

Mackenzie Tour- PGA TOUR Canada’s first stop across Canada is here in Vancouver with the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey.

May 28 – June 3rd
Point Grey Golf Club in Vancouver

The Volunteer package includes the following:

• Official Tournament golf shirt as part of the volunteer uniform
• All meals and snacks included during volunteer shifts
• Volunteer appreciation party
• Free parking and transportation to and from course from designated parking lots
• Two tickets to a Vancouver Canucks regular season home game
• Short shuttle to parking; easy access by public transportation

(Golfers from approximately 14 different countries compete. Over 20 past players currently have PGA TOUR cards including Adam Hadwin, Tony Finau, and Nick Taylor)

sign up or get more information at :
www.freedom55financialopen.com

For many of us trying to squeeze in the last few rounds of the season, or for those planning on heading south during the winter, it’s important to note the “active season” in the region, province or country you’re playing in.

Golf Canada’s Handicap System stipulates every player is responsible for returning all acceptable scores into one’s scoring record from rounds played on courses observing their active season, which is part of the golf season when courses have acceptable playing conditions.