Sunset Over The Top Of The Rock Par 3 Jack Nicklaus Designed Course At Big Cedar Lodge In Missouri - Image Courtesy Big Cedar Lodge

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

RIDGEDALE, Mo. -- His business is all about hunting and fishing, so it seems a tad surprising that Johnny Morris is intent on turning this community in the Ozark Mountains of southwest Missouri into a world-class golf destination.

Morris, the founder of the Bass Pro Shops outdoors chain, is much more comfortable with a fly rod in his hand than a five-iron. But instead of fish, Morris has landed some of golf’s biggest names to design five courses near his renowned Big Cedar Lodge wilderness resort.

How is this for a list? Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player, Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw and -- drum roll, please -- Tiger Woods, whose Payne’s Valley layout is scheduled to open in 2019.

Abbotsford Pro Adam Hadwin Says He Has Lots To Learn About Links Golf Before Teeing It Up At Royal Birkdale - Image Courtesy adamhadwin.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin doesn’t quite know what to expect, on or off the golf course, as he heads to England for his first Open Championship.“I haven’t been over there, I have never been to Europe, not even to vacation or anything,” Hadwin tells British Columbia Golf. “It is going to be different, but I am looking forward to that challenge.”

Well, for starters, Adam, they drive on the left side of the road over there. Seriously, that figures to be the least of Hadwin’s worries. He is more concerned about the crash course in links golf that will begin when he arrives at Royal Birkdale, site of the July 20-23 Open Championship.

June 1, 2014
Morgan Bell (Golf Canada)

The accolades keep rolling in for Team Canada’s Adam Svensson who recently captured his second straight NCAA Division II Team Championship with the Barry University Buccaneers.

The UBC T'Birds Men's Golf Squad Is Off To The NAIA National Championships After Defending Their A.I.I. Title Earning An Automatic Berth In The Tournament - Image Courtesy UBC Athleticis/Indiana Northwest Athletics

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Metro Vancouver’s cold winter and soggy spring have presented some considerable challenges to the men’s and women’s golf teams at the University of British Columbia.

It was tough to find a place to practice. Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, which for years has been UBC’s main practice facility, was shut down due to the weather for much of the winter and early spring. So were Point Grey and Marine Drive.

A.J. Ewart, a 14-year-old from Coquitlam, claimed victory at the Future Collegians World Tour event hosted by the Sandpiper GC in Santa Barbara, CA from February 15-16.

Coquitlam's AJ Ewart Is Shown Above With The Trophy After Winning Last Month's British Columbia Golf Boy's Juvenile Championship At Spallumcheen - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

Reigning British Columbia Juvenile Boy’s Golf champion AJ Ewart is continuing to make waves in the world of golf.

Less than a month after winning at Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club in Vernon, Ewart won the AJGA Sunriver Junior Open in Oregon and competed in the Duke of York Cup in Kent, England.

Nanoose Bay Resident Shelly Stouffer (L) Has No Regrets After She Dropped A Close Semi-final Match To Ellen Port (R) At The U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship - Image Courtesy Judith Kyrinis/Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Disappointed? Of course she is. But Shelly Stouffer is also justifiably proud of the run she made at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in Clear Point, Alabama. 

That run took the Nanoose Bay resident all the way to the semi-finals where she lost a hard-fought match on the 18th hole at The Lakewood Club to a woman who is something of a United States Golf Association legend.

Stouffer had a blast. “It was amazing,” she said over the phone from Alabama. “I can’t complain about anything. I had a fabulous time, the people were amazing, the course is awesome. It was just lots of fun.”

New Zealand's Amelia Garvey Tees Off On No. 10 At Vancouver Golf Club - BC Golf Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

There just seems to be something about Kiwis and Vancouver Golf Club. New Zealand’s most famous golf export, Lydia Ko, has won a pair of LPGA events at the Coquitlam layout and now Christchurch native Amelia Garvey has produced a little magic of her own.

Garvey dominated a 36-hole U.S. Women’s Open qualifier, shooting rounds of 69 and 71 to finish four shots clear of the field. “I guess I should have called Lydia for some advice,” Garvey said. “I didn’t know she had won on this course.”

November 10, 2014

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

If you don’t have the coin to golf Chambers Bay, site of the 2015 US Open, then this might be the best alternative. And at $40, it gives you many hours of enjoyment and sheer wonderment that an old sand and gravel pit in the middle of literally nowhere will be hosting the Pacific Northwest’s first US Open in less than nine months.

Blaine Newnham and Tom Cade have put together a truly amazing book which chronicles the history of Chambers, from the vision of Pierce County executive John Ladenburg to the belief of the USGA’s Mike Davis that the US Open could be contested in Tacoma.

Dear Masters Athlete,

Spring is arriving the way one would hope as it's gracing us with its beauty here in Vancouver – the host city for the inaugural Americas Masters Games. The Americas Masters Games wants to let you know of a special registration incentive courtesy of their great partners.

WestJet is giving everybody who has registered by April 30th a chance to win two flights for anywhere they fly in Canada. Plus, you’ll get four free nights at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel where you will be right in the heart of the action. What do you need to do?

Celebration On Jack Poole Plaza Set To Welcome Athletes For 9 Days Of Celebration

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA – Be a part of history as Vancouver welcomes thousands of Masters-aged athletes to the first-ever Americas Masters Games, taking place August 26 to September 4. The Games’ organizers are thrilled with the progress of this inaugural sporting event, and look forward to hosting athletes competing in 24 sports at some of Vancouver’s most iconic venues and locations.

A celebration on Jack Poole Plaza (Celebration Site) will kick off the Games with the Opening Ceremonies on August 27. It is free to the public and will begin at 6 pm with a march of Masters athletes representing 30 different countries, and will include music, entertainment and speeches from local politicians, representatives from the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) in Switzerland, athletes, dignitaries and welcoming remarks from local First Nations elders.

The Games will be officially declared open with a ceremonial lighting of the Cauldron.

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA – Americas Masters Games organizers are pleased to announce that the full Athletics schedule is now finalized and available on line.

Organizers are encouraging masters from across the country and around the globe to register early to take advantage of special discounted hotel rates until the deadline of March 31st.

Up to 10,000 athletes aged 30 or older, supporters, coaches, spectators, family and friends are expected to attend the Americas Masters Games in Vancouver for the nine-day fun and festive event that runs from August 26th – September 4th.

The first-ever Americas Masters Games is taking place in the spectacular city of Vancouver.

Celebrating 'sport for all', participants from a variety of skill sets and ages come together in the name of healthy living to compete, socialize, and conquer personal goals. With 25 official sporting events, there is something for everybody, including you!

Anita Wicks (L) And Mary Ryan (R) Are The Senior & Super Senior PNGA Women's Amateur Champions For 2016 - Image Courtesy PNGA

Anita Wicks of Roseburg, Ore. shot a 2-over par 74 in the final round to come from behind first round leader Phyllis Laschuk of Vancouver, B.C. and win the 30th Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur; while Mary Ryan of Renton, Wash. put together another solid round in winning the 5th Pacific Northwest Super Senior Women’s Amateur.

Both championships were held concurrently at Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla, Ore. and were contested over 36 holes of stroke play. They were conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Jennifer Kupcho Of The United States Poses With The Trophy On The No. 12 Hole After Winning The Augusta National Women's Amateur, Saturday, April 6, 2019 - Image Courtesy ANWA Images

By Kris Jonasson/British Columbia Golf

A Masters Champion arrives on the first tee, then stands respectfully to the side as four legends in women’s golf, all World Golf Hall of Fame members, stroll across the tee and stand beside their clubs.

Bubba Watson listens intently as Augusta National Chairman, Fred Ridley, welcomes everyone to the final round of the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

BC's Shelly Stouffer Added Another Title To Her Resume At The PNGA Senior Women's Championship - Image Courtesy PNGA/Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Shelly Stouffer keeps crossing senior women’s golf titles off her list. A week after winning her third straight B.C. title, the reigning Canadian Senior Women’s champion from Nanoose Bay won the PNGA Senior Women’s Championship at the Suncadia resort east of Seattle.

Stouffer won the 54-hole event by eight shots, finishing the tournament in style by eagling the 18th hole at Suncadia’s Prospector Course.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When he began caddying for members at Victoria Golf Club two years ago, Aleksej Milojevic had no idea how profoundly it would change his life.

He was 15 and as green as the grass he walked on to complete his first caddying loops on the scenic oceanside layout. Milojevic knew very little about golf or life...

By JOEL BEALL, Golf Digest

It's a good thing professional golf does not have a "Number of Days Since Last Rules Controversy" sign placed at tournament sites. Because it would never crack double digits.

[In a span of one week], the sport has seen Lee Ann Walker assessed 58 penalty strokes for having her caddie improperly line her up on putts and Jesper Parnevik dinged for not taking a mulligan.

Joining those ill-famed ranks is Marcel Siem.

Click here for the full story...

Coquitlam, BC's Henry Lee Had A Very Solid Collegiate Career At The University Of Washington - Image Courtesy @UW_MGolf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

His collegiate golf career is over, but Henry Lee will never forget the five years he spent playing for the University of Washington Huskies. “I will always remember how much fun we had as a team,” Lee says.

“Golf is a very individual sport, but college is an exception because you play as a team. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything and I just gained so much as a person, as a player. They taught me so much along the way in terms of helping make me the best version of myself. They really transformed me.”

Image credit (Michael Schroeder/ Golf Canada)

By John Gordon/Courtesy Golf Canada

“Bifurcation” is a word we’re hearing more and more in the world of golf. It means to divide into two parts. But don’t let that simple definition fool you. It’s an increasingly controversial concept that strikes at the heart of the game as we know it.

The first area of the current bifurcation debate relates to the Rules of Golf. Should there be one set of guidelines for recreational golfers and another for elite amateurs and professionals?

The second bone of contention, which has set off near panic among many of my colleagues in the golf media and some golf administrators, is this: Are golf courses too short? Do we need to stretch them to 8,000 yards? Do we need to rein in the ever-advancing ball and club technology?

No. And no.