Richmond's Chris Crisologo Will Be One To Watch This Week At The B.C. Amateur Championship At Rivershore Golf Links In Kamloops - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A new champion will be crowned at this week’s 116th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship at Rivershore Golf Linksin Kamloops. A strong field has been assembled for British Columbia’s premier amateur golf event, but it does not include 2017 champion Jake DuVallof Victoria, who turned pro earlier this year.

Favourites at Rivershore include recently graduated Simon Fraser University standout Chris Crisologo of Richmond, two-time Canadian Mid-Amateur champion Kevin Carrigan of Victoria, current B.C. Mid-Amateur champion Jay Snyder of Vancouver and recently reinstated amateur Dan Swanson of Abbotsford.

Thirteen-time champion Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver will play in his 52nd straight B.C. Amateur championship. Roxburgh, the current B.C. Senior Men’s champion, recently won the annual Overlander tournament at Rivershore.

2018 BC Men's Mid-Amateur Champion Jay Snyder - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SICAMOUS -- Jay Snyder has played more tournament golf the last few weeks than he has in years and all that work paid off Thursday when he won the B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship. Now he pledges to spend more time with his wife, Sophie, who is expecting their first child in December.

“My wife right now is very unhappy with me because I was away for a week at Winged Foot (in New York), then I played the Squamish Amateur, the Marine Drive Amateur and then I played this, so in June I haven’t seen a lot of my wife and she is pregnant and cranky so . . .,” Snyder said with a smile. He didn’t finish the sentence so we will.

He’d better put the clubs away for a while. 

Team Proteau Is At It Again As Christina And Husband Jim Along With Their Sons Jameson And Thatcher Are All Pulling Together Toward Another BC Golf Title For Mom - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SICAMOUS -- They are not just golf tournaments, they are more like family adventures when Christina and Jim Proteau hit the road these days.

They are packing much more precious cargo than Christina’s clubs, which happen to have won a collection of provincial titles. The Proteaus are also bringing along their two young sons -- Jameson, who is three and a half, and eight-month-old Thatcher -- and that makes things interesting.

Proteau, who grabbed the first round lead in the B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship on Tuesday, insists she and her husband wouldn’t change a thing.

Avril Li Led The Way For The UBC T'Birds Women's Squad Winning The Individual Title At Chilliwack Golf Club - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

CHILLIWACK -- The University of British Columbia’s women’s golf team did what they nearly always do on Friday by capping off their season with another Canadian University/College Championship.

It was the 13th win in the 16-year history of the event for the Thunderbird women. And it doesn’t figure to be their last. The four members of Friday’s winning team at Chilliwack Golf Club included three freshmen and a junior. In other words, the future is bright.

For Immediate Release

To Celebrate The Occasion Of National Golf Day On May 29th, British Columbia Golf Will Be Closing Their Office At 12 Noon So That The Staff Can Go Play Golf! 

"We would encourage all our members to do something similar" - Kris Jonasson/CEO British Columbia Golf

(OTTAWA), May 3, 2018 – Today, Canada’s national golf industry associations announced the first annual National Golf Day, May 29, an event aimed at raising awareness to the public and government decision makers on the many positive impacts of the golf industry.

“More Canadians play golf than any other participation sport and our industry is #1 in driving economic impact, employment and charity fundraising,” said Jeff Calderwood, National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) and We Are Golf Chair. “Combined with golf’s diversity, healthy fitness benefits and environmental stewardship, we really do have such a positive message to communicate.”

National Golf Day provides the opportunity for Canada’s golf industry leaders to discuss these wide-reaching benefits of the sport directly with MPs, Senators and policy advisors at Parliament Hill. A May 28 evening reception will also be held in Centre Block, and NAGA will be hosting a day of interactive golf activities on the front lawn where MPs and visitors will be able to participate. This day of outdoor golf activities will include a focus on junior golf.

From $6,000 in Incident Protection to the ability to track an Official Golf Canada Handicap Factor®, Golf Canada Goldhas something for everyone.

PLUS even more golfer benefits!

• Discounts on merchandise and event tickets
• Free or discounted access to online rules education
• Golf benefits with RBC Home Insurance
• Discounts on Golf Canada merchandise
• Discounts on event tickets to the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open

You may be good on bentgrass, but not with bent clubs.

• Golf Canada Incident Protection provides up to $2,500 reimbursement for damaged, lost or stolen equipment

Bad shots are now pane free.

• The only thing worse than an errant shot is one followed by a loud crash. Golf Canada Incident Protection provides relief in the event your ball damages a window on or near the course

Your drives rock, but your driving not so much?

• Golf Canada Incident Protection covers you in the event of an unfortunate, and potentially costly, golf cart accident

What’s your number?

• You hear it on the first tee of almost every round. Your Golf Canada Handicap Factor® is as much a part of the game as your putter

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.

You're invited to the 23rd Annual KidSport Golf Tournament hosted by Morgan Creek Golf Course.

They will be hosting once again at Morgan Creek on Monday, June 18th. Last year was a big success and they are hoping to build on that success again this year. Please check out the registration links below as a full field of golfers means more kids will have the opportunity to play a season of sport.

The 2018 PNGA Cup is being held this year from May 2-4, 2018 at the Seattle Golf Clubin Shoreline, WA.

This Ryder-Cup style championship features some of the most notable amateur golfers in the Pacific Northwest region with 12-member teams representing the regional golf associations that makeup the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, which includes British Columbia Golf, Idaho Golf Association, Oregon Golf Association, and Washington State Golf Association.

LPGA Legends Including BC's Gail Graham (Inset) And PEI's Lorie Kane Will Be In The Field For The Suquamish Clearwater Legends Cup - Images Courtesy The Legends Tour

Attention Female Amateur Golfers: Tee it up in the White Horse Women's Team Scramble on June 6, 2018 and if your group posts the lowest gross or net team score YOUR TWO-WOMAN TEAM will tee it up with an LPGA Legend in the Legends Cup Pro-Am on Friday, June 8.

The Suquamish Clearwater Legends Cup is a two-day Legends Tour event featuring 30 Legends of the LPGA to be played at White Horse Golf Club in Kingston, WA on Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10, 2018.

PGA of BC Golf Professionals Will Be Introducing Children To The Sport During Spring Break This Month At Camps Taking Place In Several Locations Across The Province - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

via PGA of BC

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- With a two-week break from the classroom coming up for British Columbia students this month, many PGA of BC facilities are offering the perfect way to keep children active and occupied over Spring Break.

Kids of all ages can learn the game from PGA of BC Golf Professionals at one of many camps taking place across the province during the Spring Break period, providing a chance for youth to pick up golf through the sport’s most trusted instructors at an affordable price.

BC Provincial Coach Colin Lavers Addresses A Group Of Young Players At The BC Provincial Titleist Performance Camp Held Recently At Northview GC In Surrey - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Like a lot of golfers, Dustin Franko is guilty of getting a little down on himself when things aren’t going his way on the course. “I feel like I am not as mentally strong as I need to be,” said Franko, a 17-year-old North Delta resident. “It is probably the weakest part of my game. I find myself getting mad at myself quite a bit.”

Franko left the recent two-day B.C. Provincial Titleist Performance Camp at Northview Golf Course in Surrey feeling like he is now better equipped to deal with some of those inevitable challenging moments on the golf course.

2017 British Columbia Golf Junior Boys Champion Christian Zalli Takes A Drop During The Championship At Squamish Valley GC - Image(s) Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

The USGA nd The R&A have unveiled the new Rules of Golf, to be implemented on 1 January 2019. 

The USGA and The R&A finalized golf’s new Rules this month after an extensive review that included a request for feedback from the global golf community on the proposed changes. Golfers can now access the official 2019 Rules of Golf by visiting www.RandA.org or www.usga.org/rules.

The process to modernize the Rules began in 2012 and was initiated to ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to make the game more attractive and accessible for newcomers.

Image Courtesy Golf Canada

For Immediate Publication

(February 27, 2018 - St Andrews, Scotland): A significant growth opportunity exists for golf if it can attract more women, girls and families into playing the sport more often according to a new research report published by The R&A.

Many countries are seeing a fall in the number of both males and females playing golf and the research report analyzes the factors which affect whole family participation in the sport, including women and girls, and details a number of useful practical recommendations for national golf bodies and golf clubs to help them encourage more women and girls to play.

2018 British Columbia Golf Instagram Contest

Each month of 2018 (excluding January) British Columbia Golf will be giving away a logo shirt (similar to the one worn by 2017 Provincial Order of Merit Winner Chris Crisologo in the picture above) to one of our Instagram followers through our Instagram Contest.

Here is how you enter:

1. Take a photo of yourself or your friends doing any golf related activity (mini golf, driving range, virtual golf etc…)
2. Post that photo to your Instagram page
3. Tag us (@britishcolumbiagolf) and use the hashtag #BCGOLF
4. Follow us on Instagram

Your name goes into a draw at the end of the month to win the shirt.

Rules:

1. To be entered you must be following British Columbia Golf on Instgram
2. Only one entry per person per month

For further information contact either Tyler McKay at tyler@britishcolumbiagolf.org or Bryan Outram at bryan@britishcolumbiagolf.org 

USGA and The R&A Release Key Features

Golf Canada To Adopt All Features Of The Proposed New World Handicap System

For Immediate Release

February 20, 2018

Liberty Corner, N.J., USA and St Andrews, Scotland – The R&A and the USGA announce key features of the proposed new World Handicap System (WHS), designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability globally.

The idea for a new, unified system was conceived by the USGA and The R&A and developed following an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities - Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Yes, it's that time of year again. Thank goodness. With the start of each new year comes the desire to get ready to head out onto the local golf links in our fine province as Spring is surely just around the corner. 

And one of the harbingers of that time of year is of course the Vancouver GOLFEXPO, where golf enthusiasts can get an early start on special deals for their favourite courses, see the latest exciting equipment that's being offered and do some great pre-season shopping for apparel as well.

The Vancouver GOLFEXPO is now under the management of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) of Canada and with that there promises to be a host of new and different experiences at the show so be sure to come and check it out.

Find out more details and get the discount PROMO CODE for your ticket below. 

The Golf Community Has Suffered Another Unfortunate Loss With The Passing Of Harry White, Seen Here At The BC Golf House Museum - Image Courtesy Brad Ewart

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The British Columbia golf community is mourning the passing of Harry White, a tireless promoter of junior golf who influenced the lives of countless youngsters and made an enormous contribution to the game.

White died Tuesday in Vancouver following a lengthy illness. He was 72. White was a longtime member of Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver and ran the Junior Linkster Golf Tour where kids as young as five years old learned the game.

After much research and a lot of interesting background work, the folks at Golf Canada have compiled a fascinating interactive map of Canada showing the history of golf course locations across the country dating from 1873 to the present.

The storied legacy of Canadian golf courses is presented through an interactive website mapping out 143 years of Canadian golf course history from coast to coast.

Image Courtesy Golden Eagle Golf Course

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kwadwo 'Kojo' Frempong spends a lot of his working day on the golf course and it seems many people are a little jealous about that. “I get asked a lot, how did you get that job, and how do I get a job like you,” Frempong says with a chuckle. “And I say, 'You have to wait until I die.' Then I add that it’s very stressful.”

Frempong’s job is to do the course and slope ratings for golf courses in the province for British Columbia Golf. And that entails spending a lot of time on the course. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it.