Season 14 of The ModGolf Podcast wrapped up with episode 12 and the Brad Schweigert from PXG interview. The ModGolf team is currently working on the next twelve episodes for Season 15, which launches in February.

Colin Weston and his team heard some amazing stories from a diverse group of guests who discussed how inclusion, technology, entertainment, music, celebrity, hospitality and community building intersect to shape the future of golf.

BC's Nick Taylor Putted Brilliantly At The WM Phoenix Open - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Nick Taylor did more than win the WM Phoenix Open in dramatic fashion by birdieing three of his final four holes and then adding two more in a sudden-death playoff with Charley Hoffman.

Taylor served notice that he is right now Canada’s best male player and, quite frankly, a world-class talent who seems to have that ability to rise to the occasion and perform at his best in the big moments.

It Was A Super Sunday For Nick Taylor And Patrick Mahomes Fans - Images Credit Shayain Gustavsp

What a Sunday for the books! Our very own Canadian, Nick Taylor, waves the red and white high and proud, clinching the 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open in a heart-stopping playoff against Charley Hoffman. Taylor's putter was nothing short of magical, a testament to perseverance and precision under pressure.

Parallel to our golfing triumph, the red and white Kansas City Chiefs staged a comeback reminiscent of a Hollywood script in the Super Bowl, turning a game of "butterfingers" into a victory dance in overtime against the 49ers. It's a red and white double-header that'll be etched in the annals of sports history.

It Was A Very Canadian Atomosphere On Day Two At The WM Phoenix Open - Image Credit Shayain Gustavsp

Editor's Note:This week, BC's Golf contributor, Shayain Gustavsp ('Coach Shayain' to many of her students and social media followers), has flown south to take in the very unique spectacle that is the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. Shayain will be posting daily observations from the 'Greatest Show on Grass' offering a wide-eyed Canadian's perspective on both the golf and the party-like atomosphere that surrounds the TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course.

By Shayain Gustavsp (Special To BC Golf)

Stepping into the grounds of the WM Phoenix Open on a bustling Friday felt like a Canadian reunion in the heart of Arizona. With an estimated 115,000 attendees, it seemed as though a sea of Canadian accents and cheerful 'eh's filled the air, creating a familiar echo amidst the desert landscape.

From New Brunswick to Vancouver, the Canadian spirit was unmistakable, proudly donned in attire that ranged from nostalgic Vancouver Grizzlies jackets to the vibrant hues of a bachelor party from North Vancouver.

Shayain Gustavsp Is In Scottdale To Experience The WM Phoenix Open -  Image Credit: Shayain Gustavsp

Editor's Note:This week, BC's Golf contributor, Shayain Gustavsp ('Coach Shayain' to many of her students and social media followers), has flown south to take in the very unique spectacle that is the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. Shayain will be posting daily observations from the 'Greatest Show on Grass' offering a wide-eyed Canadian's perspective on both the golf and the party-like atomosphere that surrounds the TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course.

By Shayain Gustavsp (Special To BC Golf)

Heading to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, I was buzzing with the excitement of a snowbird fleeing the chill, ready to soak up Scottsdale's desert sun. Yet, Mother Nature had a twist in store, swapping my sunhat for a tuque as Vancouver's signature drizzle followed me to Arizona.

Who knew the desert could feel like a brisk day by the Pacific? Thank goodness for my stash of Lululemon layers – a shoutout to my Canadian roots and a lifesaver for weather-whiplashed golf enthusiasts like me. Lesson learned: even in the land of cacti, layering is key!

HOLLABACK! HAS CHANGED ITS NAME TO RIGHT TO BE.

"We believe a world that respects our right to be isn’t some far-off destination. It’s something we’re building every day. This is your call to power, to build a world free of harassment. How do you want to get started?"

Right To Be started out as…a conversation in 2005 among seven young people: Lauren Larken Scuderi, Kaja Trejak, Samuel Carter, Anna Weichselbraun, Colin Weatherby, Emily May, and Elan Abrell. As the women told story after story of their experiences of harassment, the men became increasingly concerned. Collectively, they resolved to make change.

Their work focuses on turning the care we have for each other into simple, creative, effective action. They want to build a world that’s free of harassment and filled with humanity. Every day, Right To Be trains hundreds of people to respond to, intervene in, and heal from harassment.

For more information on the training, click here.

Click HERE to learn more about Right To Be and their training programs...

Jared du Toit Tees Off In 2022 RBC Canadian Open - Bernard Brault/Golf Canada Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jared du Toit has his Asian Tour card and now just has to sort out what that means.

On the surface it looks like a terrific opportunity for the 28-year-old Kimberley product, who tied for 12th at the final stage of the Asian Tour qualifying school last week in Hua Hin, Thailand. “I think it’s a good opportunity,” du Toit said over the phone from Thailand.

“I don’t really know how it is all going to shake out.”

Lauren Kim With Her Augusta National Women’s Amateur Invite - (X-Formerly Twitter pic) / Augusta 16th Redbud credit Ryan Schreiber

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Lauren Kim was just 13 years old when she watched the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur back in the spring of 2019.

The Surrey native was just beginning a promising junior golf career back then and as she sat in front of her television and watched Jennifer Kupcho, now a LPGA Tour regular, win that event at Augusta National Golf Club, Kim allowed herself to dream about one day playing in the tournament.

That dream got real last week when Kim, now a freshman at the University of Texas and the reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, received her invitation to this year’s event.

In this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, show creator and host, Colin Weston, speaks with Brad Schweigert, PXG Chief Product Officer.

"Mike Nicolette - who at that time worked for me at Ping - met Bob Parsons by chance playing nine holes of golf on a Friday afternoon. They had a good time and traded numbers afterwards and Bob would then call Mike all the time asking questions about golf equipment. Fast forward two years later, Bob had divested from GoDaddy and had an idea that he wanted to do something to change the golf industry."

- Brad Schweigert, PXG Chief Product Officer

Merritt, BC's Roger Sloan - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s a necessity for players like Roger Sloan who are joining the PGA TOUR via the Korn Ferry Tour or qualifying school.

The addition of eight lucrative Signature events to this season’s schedule has created a two-tier tour of sorts. Those Signature tournaments, with $20-million purses and limited fields, are off limits to the rank and file members of the PGA TOUR, who now must play when they can.

Sloan, who is rejoining the PGA TOUR after graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour this past summer, had hoped to begin his season at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii.

The Sony is not a Signature event, but follows one and the fact that several players who competed at last week’s season-opening Sentry tournament at Kapalua on Maui have made the short hop to Oahu to play in the Sony, means Sloan did not draw into the field.

The 11th Green At Kapalua GC In Maui, Site Of The Sentry TOC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Five Canadians, including British Columbians Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin and Adam Svensson, are in the field for The Sentry, this week’s season-opening PGA TOUR event at Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

A $20-million purse will be up for grabs for the 59-player field. There is no cut in the 72-hole tournament, which is one of the PGA TOUR’s ‘Signature’ events. Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes are the other Canadians in the field.

The Sentry will not have its 2023 winner back to defend his title as Jon Rahm has defected to LIV Golf. That move benefitted Hughes, who moved up one spot on the FedEx Cup points list to No. 50 and qualified to play in all of the Signature events this year.

Adam Hadwin Is Tackled By A Security Guard Trying To Celebrate Pal Nick Taylor's RBC Canadian Open Victory - Photo Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

BY BEN FLEMING / Golf Monthly

It's been a year unlike any other for golf, with the sport embroiled in legal battles, senate hearings, shock mergers and controversial changes – and that’s before even mentioning any of the on-course action.

While many fans have become sick and tired of the boardroom politics dominating the sport's airwaves, it hasn't all been doom and gloom. So, as the year draws to a close, let's take a look at some of the funniest, most viral and light-hearted moments that got people talking on social media this past year.

Click HERE for complete story...

PGA TOUR Hopefuls Jared du Toit (L) & Stuart Macdonald Came Up Short At Q-School - File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

They each began their week with a double-bogey and that seemed to set the tone for British Columbians Jared du Toit and Stuart Macdonald at the final stage of the PGA/Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school.

Both had headed to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., full of optimism after surviving the second stage of qualifying and dreaming about securing one of the PGA TOUR cards that were handed out to the top five and ties.

In this edition of the ModGolf Podcast, show host and creator, Colin Weston, has a fascinating conversation with LPGA Tour veteran pro, Christina Kim.

"Everybody has trauma, so being able to work through that has been huge for my golf game. Funnily enough, I need to remember that I'm a person before I'm a golfer."

- Christina Kim, LPGA Tour pro

On the LPGA Tour Christina Kim is known for her bubbly, fun, positive personality. After more than a decade of professional golf that veneer cracked, leaving Christina exhausted, depressed and contemplating suicide. On this compelling episode Christina and host Colin Weston share stories of trauma, rejuvenation and a newfound joy in both life and golf.

Adam Hadwin Is Pumped About Getting Pumped - Golf Canada Photo/Bernard Brault

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

He won’t be mistaken for The Incredible Hulk, but Adam Hadwin has used the longest break of his professional golf career to try and add a little muscle.

After a highly successful 2023 season that ended in early October with a runner-up finish at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas, Hadwin could have rested on his laurels.

And he’s certainly enjoyed plenty of down time with his wife Jessica and their soon to be four-year-old daughter Maddox. But Hadwin has also been hitting the gym harder than he ever has.

Image Attribution: Yair Aronshtam from Israel, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Hanukkah (also spelled “Chanukah”) is an eight-day winter “festival of lights,” which begins each year on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.

Because the Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle, the dates of Jewish holidays according to the Gregorian calendar change from year to year. For this reason, the beginning of Hanukkah can range from late November to late December.

In short, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and of spirituality over materiality. 

In 2023, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Thursday, December 7th and continues through Friday, December 15th. The first candle is lit on the Chanukiah (menorah) on the first night of Hanukkah.

BC's Jared du Toit (L) And Stuart Macdonald (R) Are Off To Q-School Finals - Golf Canada Player Photos

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was one of the toughest weeks of their golfing lives, but Jared du Toit and Stu Macdonald both survived to play another day.

Another week, actually, as both players have earned the right to play in the finals of the Korn Ferry/PGA TOUR qualifying school later this month. It did not come easy.

“It was probably the hardest week for me in my career,” Vancouver native Macdonald said of surviving a second-stage qualifier in Valencia, Calif.

New Men’s Intercollegiate Team Championship At Öviinbyrd Golf Club Will Mark The First NCAA Division I Golf Event Held In Canada

Mike Masaro/Golf Canada

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the creation of the Canadian Collegiate Invitational tournament that will take place at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. from September 15 – 17, 2024.

The tournament will be conducted by Golf Canada and co-hosted by Kent State University and Penn State University who are both led by Canadian head coaches, Jon Mills (Kent State) and Mark Leon (Penn State).

The tournament will feature NCAA Division I men’s golf teams with prominent Canadian ties along with the team champions of the 2024 Canadian University/College Championship.

Click HERE to see complete story...

In this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, show creator and host, Colin Weston, interviewed Amy Bockerstette who first came to prominence in the public eye during the moment that Colin describes below. 

"On Jan. 29, 2019 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open’s Dream Day on the famous 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, Amy Bockerstette, who has Down syndrome, demonstrated to the golfing world what a determined athlete with self-confidence and a positive attitude can achieve.

While playing with PGA TOUR players Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar during the Tuesday practice round, Amy hit the par 3 tee shot 117 yards into a greenside bunker, splashed her sand shot to within 8 feet of the pin, and made her par putt in front of a roaring crowd."

The I GOT THIS Foundation was born out of this moment, which was captured on video and has since gone viral, receiving more than 54 million views on social media platforms.

SFU Red Leaf Stalwart Freshmen Golfers Dana Smith (L) & Denby Carswell (R) - BC Golf Photos

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Recruiting can be a hit-or-miss game for collegiate golf coaches, who are always on the lookout for promising juniors who can help replenish their teams.

Those new recruits often need time to develop before they are ready to play regularly and make an impact with their college squads. That is why Simon Fraser University coach Matthew Steinbach feels blessed after seeing how two of his freshmen have performed this season.

Dana Smith of Campbell River and Denby Carswell of Burnaby have led the women’s and men’s teams this fall.