Two-Day Gathering Draws Golf’s Leaders to Vancouver March 6-7

(Feb. 28, 2017) – Entrepreneur and technology investor Jerry Yang will headline a noteworthy lineup of speakers at the 2017 North American Golf Innovation Symposium, which will be hosted by the USGA in conjunction with Golf Canada and the Mexican Golf Federation on March 6-7, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The co-founder and former CEO of Yahoo! and the founding partner of AME Cloud Ventures, Yang exemplifies the focus on data, innovative thinking and transformative technology that are keystones of the symposium and bedrocks of the USGA’s work in advancing the game toward a stronger, more sustainable future.

The RBC Cordova Bay Invitational will take place from June 26-29th at Cordova Bay Golf Course in Victoria, BC.  This event will host 69 elite, world-ranked amateur golfers in a 54 hole medal competition. 

If you are interested in participating in this event, please fill out the short form attached.

Courtesy Golf Canada

TORONTO – Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting culminated on Saturday, February 25th with the election of Roland A. Deveau of Bedford, N.S., to serve a second term as the National Sport Federation’s President.

Deveau’s election to serve a second term is historic as he joins Alfred Collyer (1930-31), F.A. Rolph (1915-1919), A.W. Austin (1907 & 1910) and Col. George A. Sweeny (1898, 1901 & 1909) as only the fifth President to serve multiple or consecutive terms since the association’s formation in 1895.

Bill Klein (L) & George McLeod (R) Volunteer Duo Recognized During Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

by Golf Canada

Toronto (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Bill Klein of Parksville, B.C. along with George McLeod of Brandon, Man. have been named co-recipients of Golf Canada’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year.

The pair were acknowledged during the closing dinner of Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 25th at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Hotel.

Kimberley, BC Product Jared du Toit Breaks Through With A Four-Stroke Victory After Nine Top-10 Finishes With The Sun Devils

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

With the clock ticking on his collegiate golf career, Kimberley’s Jared du Toit desperately wanted to win before he finished his senior year at Arizona State University.

He had come oh, so close. Du Toit had registered nine top 10s since transferring to ASU from the University of Idaho after his sophomore year, including a playoff loss at a tournament in Kona, Hawaii in early February.

Victoria's Leslie Crawford Will Once Again Be Heading Up The Volunteer Committee For This Year's Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship In September

by Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

The 51st Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards are coming up March 8th and at that time Sport BC will also be recognizing the Presidents' Award winners in various levels of sport including golf.

The Presidents’ Awards are presented annually to volunteers from Sport BC member organizations who "represent the spirit of volunteerism, and whose dedication, energy, and commitment contribute to the development of their sport or organization in the province of British Columbia."

The recipeint of a Presidents' Award this year for the sport of golf is Victoria's Leslie Crawford who counts among the many roles she has taken on, the position of Volunteer Chair for the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

British Columbia Golf Staff Members L-R: Elizabeth Dunn, Andy Fung And Corrie Wong Wear Pink To Support The Erase Bullying Campaign On Pink Shirt Day

As part of the #ERASEbullying program being run in conjunction by viaSport and the Government of BC, many Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO) are taking part in the initiative both by signing the Declaration of Commitment and on this special day, February 22nd, by wearing pink to symbolize the commitment to promoting positive, respectful, engaging, accessible and inclusive environments for all participants in sport.

TAKE THE PLEDGE TODAY TO #ERASEBULLYING IN SPORT

Bullying is unwelcome or aggressive behaviour that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and can take many forms including physical, verbal, emotional or other types of intimidating or humiliating behaviours. The behaviour is often repeated and can occur on or away from the playing field, court or arena.

A sport environment in which participants - athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials – are exposed to negative experiences, such as bullying, can be harmful and cause individuals to quit, and viaSport and the Government of B.C. want to ensure participants at every level of sport are aware that bullying of any form cannot be tolerated.

To achieve this, the B.C. sport sector is committed to promoting positive, respectful, engaging, accessible and inclusive environments for all participants, and to ensuring a safe, welcoming and positive sport culture and environment for all British Columbians.

The #ERASEbullying campaign is an important part of this initiative and a key highlight will be on Pink Shirt Day, Wednesday, February 22, 2017, when provincial sport organizations are invited to come together to celebrate the Province’s first Declaration of Commitmentto erase bullying in sport throughout B.C.

So, stand with us, take the pledge and encourage your sport organizations to support this initiative to #ERASEbullying in sport.

Patricia and Kenneth W. Mariash Sr., the developers behind Victoria's Bayview Place have supported top-tier pro golf in BC's capital city for more than a decade. Now they are adding support for the amateur side… and more.

The 2017 Canada Summer Games will be hosted in Winnipeg, Manitoba from August 9-12th for the sport of golf. 

The 2nd of 3 Canada Games BC Team Selection Camps is coming up March 4th and 5th at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club.

The games was established in 1967 as part of Canada's Centennial Celebrations promoting unity through sport as it provides an opportunity for amatuer athletes progressing to national and international level competitions.

The Games is Canada's largest multi-sport competition for young athletes. Athletes from the 13 Provinces and Territories across the Nation compete for the Canada Games Flag and Centennial Cup.

The 2017 Canada Summer Games BC Team Selection process includes a series of selection camps with the Final Team Selection to be done by a BC Golf Canada Games Selection Committee of a minimum of 5 individuals: including Coaches, BC Golf Board member(s), BC Golf Staff, including the Managing Director of Player Development.

A Charter Member Of The SFU Athletics Hall Of Fame, John Buchanan Worked At The University For 50 Years Until Recently, Starting The Clan Men’s Soccer Program And Leading The Team To The NAIA National Title In 1976, And Later Re-Establishing The Golf Programs - Image Courtesy SFU Athletics

By Steve Frost - Sports Information Director (sfrost@sfu.ca)

BURNABY, BC – The Simon Fraser University community is saddened to learn of the passing of legendary men's soccer and golf coach John Buchanan, who passed away peacefully at home with his family on January 19th at the age of 77.

By Patrick Kelly

As we get ready to head full on into the new golf year for 2017 and the British Columbia Golf Annual General Meeting is to take place March 5th, I am pleased to highlight a number of notable BC Golf accomplishments over the past year.

SFU's Sy Lovan Fired A 3-Under 69 In The Second Round To Finish In A T13 With Teammate Chris Crisologo - Image Courtesy SFU Athletics

Stockton, CA – The final round of the Stockton Cactus Thaw saw freshman Sy Lovan turn in one of his best performances as a member of the SFU Clan men's golf team, as the Clan ended the two-day competition in a tied for 19th overall. After posting a an 11-over-par 299 yesterday, SFU finished with a six-over-par 294 on day two, totalling 593 strokes over the two rounds.

Reigning Canadian Junior Girls Champion Naomi Ko Of Victoria, BC Won Her First Event On The NCAA Collegiate Circuit In Puerto Rico - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Courtesy Golf Canada

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico – Team Canada’s Naomi Ko of Victoria, BC, had a day to remember on Tuesday, hoisting her first collegiate trophy after a playoff victory at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic.

Ko, a sophomore at N.C. State, closed the 54-hole event at the Rio Mar Country Club with a score of 1-under par (74-71-70) to enter a five-way tie for first. The Royal Colwood GC member went on to capture medallist honours by way of a scorecard playoff.

KICK OFF THE GOLF SEASON WITH SOME FUN!

The 2017 Vancouver Golf & Travel Show is upon us to help get the golf season started. Come on down to the PNE this weekend, February 18th & 19th for great deals and a chance to see & try all the exciting new equipment, take part in fun contests, draws for terrific prizes and so much more.

Peak Golf has been a part of the Vancouver Golf & Travel Show for many years and we are happy to have the Peak Golf Retail Centre here again. Peak Golf will offer some terrific deals on apparel, accessories, shoes, bags, equipment and more! Don't miss this year's event to get your golf season started in all the right gear.

Innovations Golf again brings us the BC Putting Championship. Prove that you are the best putter in BC and win a new Innovations Golf putter and a $100 Peak Golf Gift Card. You get three putts for only $5 with the entry going to support our Golf Show charity. The finals begin on Sunday at 2pm with a head-to-head battle. If you qualify you will receive a free ticket to Sunday's show.

Don't miss out on all this fun!

Kimberley, B.C.'s Jared du Toit continues to lead his Arizona State Sun Devils golf squad in heroic fashion as his three-way tie for top spot at the Amer Ari Invitational in Hawaii paced his team to a 4th place finish in the NCAA event. 

It was du Toit's fourth Top-10 this year for the Sun Devils and orchestrated a career high ranking in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. 

From L-R: Jared du Doit, Naomi Ko and A.J. Ewart Are All Finalists For Sport BC Athlete Of The Year Awards

Three out of four golfers nominated by British Columbia Golf for a Sport BC Athlete of the Year Award have been chosen as finalists for their particular category.

Jared du Toit of Kimberley is a finalist for the Male Senior AOY, with Victoria’s Namoi Ko as Female Senior Athlete and Coquitlam’s A.J. Ewart in the Male Junior Athlete categories also being acknowledged as finalists with the winners to be announced March 8th at the annual Sport BC AOY awards dinner.

Former BC Golf Zone 3 Chair And Long-Time Contributor To The Game In British Columbia Peter Dobson (December 21, 1931 ~ January 5, 2017)

Peter Dobson, a long-time resident of Abbotsford and Mission, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 5, at Menno Home in Abbotsford. He was 85. 

Peter was an avid, low-handicap golfer throughout his adult life as well as maintaining an interest in boxing.

He received the Sports BC Award of Community Sports Hero for his decades as community advisor and leader: mentoring youth in the Restorative Justice program, training young golfers, Chairing British Columbia Golf Zone 3, volunteering for the Western Canada Summer Games and serving as Director of the BC Amateur Boxing Association.

Vancouver, BC's Stuart Macdonald Recorded A T5 In The Avondale Amateur In Australia After A Final Round 68 - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia – Team Canada Amateur Squad member Stuart Macdonald continued his Australian swing in strong fashion on Thursday, collecting a T5 result at the Avondale Amateur, a 72-hole stroke-play event.

Macdonald—a Vancouver product and Purdue University graduate—leaped eight spots up the leaderboard at the Avondale Golf Club with a final round 68 (-3) to hold a two-way share of fifth at 6-under par for the tournament (75-65-70-68).

Clockwise From Top Left: Devin Carrey, David Rose, Patrick Williams, Matt Hill, Russell Budd & Ally Tidcombe Have All Earned Status On The PGA TOUR Lationamérica Circuit For 2017

courtesy Golf Canada

The remaining two of four PGA Tour Latinoamérica Qualifying Tournaments came to a close on Friday in Argentina and Colombia, with three more Canadians earning status in 2017.

In total, six Canadians have earned status on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica by way of Q-school. The Canucks were led by Nova Scotia’s Ally Tidcombe, who finished solo fourth at the Argentina event for the strongest finish by a Canadian. With the result, Tidcombe is exempt through the first half of the season (subject to reshuffle for second half).

Shelly Stouffer's Strong 2016 Season Sees Her Nominated For Female Athlete Of The Year By The Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards - Image Courtesy GaugeDesigns.com/Shelly Stouffer 

Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay has been announced as a finalist for the Female Individual Athlete of the Year by the Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards.

The Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards were established in 2006. The awards recognize those within the sport community who, during the course of the year, have made a significant contribution to the community in which he or she lives.

The nominee must be a resident of the Nanaimo area (Ladysmith to Nanoose).