Homestead Farms GC Is Offering Some Great Deals For Canadians Ready To Play Down South Again - Image Courtesy Homestead Farms GC/Pixabay

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The British Columbians are back and no one is happier about that than the folks at Homestead Farms Golf Course in Lynden. Homestead has always relied heavily on British Columbia traffic, so when the border closed more than two years ago due to Covid-19, it had a devastating effect on the course. 

“I would say it is at least half of our business,” says Trevor Parsons, who works in the Homestead pro shop. “We’re right on the border so the last couple of years have been tough. We have been missing the Canadians.” 

As of April 1, costly Covid testing requirements that kept B.C. golfers north of the border, were dropped. Whatcom County courses are obviously hoping to see lots of B.C. golfers this spring and summer.

It Remains To Be Seen How Busy The Border May Get With Golfers Heading South - Larry LarRose Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When the Canada-U.S border was closed to non-essential traffic back in March of 2020, Nathan Vickers feared the worst. 

Vickers, the longtime head professional at North Bellingham Golf Course, wondered how his course would survive without the steady flow of British Columbia players who accounted for more than 30 per cent of the rounds played at North Bellingham.

But Vickers has been pleasantly surprised. Just like it has on this side of the border, golf has boomed in Washington state.

Once Dubbed 'Disco Dick' For Wearing A Sony Walkman While Playing On The PGA TOUR, Richard Zokol Was Inducted Into The BC Sports Hall of Fame As Part Of The Class of 2024 - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Perseverance has always been one of Richard Zokol’s biggest assets. Zokol made his childhood dreams of becoming a professional golfer come true through a lot of hard work and self-belief.

He was inspired as a junior golfer at Marine Drive Golf Club by the likes of Stan Leonard, Johnny Johnston, Alvie Thompson and a young Doug Roxburgh. “The club had a spirit of champions and it just seemed so appealing to me,” Zokol says. “I wanted to follow in that path and fill those shoes.”

Zokol found himself doing lots of reflecting on his golf journey when he got the news that became official last week. He is being inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame.

Coquitlam, BC's A.J. Ewart - image courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Coquitlam’s A.J. Ewart keeps winning at Barry University in south Florida and his game is reminding his college coach of another British Columbia recruit. 

That would be PGA TOUR regular Adam Svensson of Surrey, who honed his game at Barry before turning pro. Svensson won nine tournaments -- seven in his sophomore year -- before leaving Barry part way through his junior year to chase his pro golf dream.

Ewart, just starting his junior year at Barry, won his fourth event last week.

UBC Thunderbirds Men's Golf Team Members Ziggy Nathu (Right In Large Photo/Left In Inset) And Andy Kim Are Off To the PGA WORKS Championship - Inset Image Courtesy UBC Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A huge month of May for the University of B.C. Thunderbirds men’s golf team has become even bigger for Ziggy Nathu and Andy Kim.

The two UBC players are heading to Florida to compete in the 33rd PGA WORKS Championship. The 54-hole event runs May 10-12 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

For its first 32 years, the tournament was known as the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship, but it has been rebranded this year as the PGA WORKS Championship. UBC is the first Canadian school to send athletes to compete in the event.