Jared du Toit of Kimberley, BC has been nominated for the Sport BC Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award for 2015. Winners of the various categories are announced at the awards dinner on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Surrey's Michelle Kim Has Been Recognized By The CJGA For Her Outstanding 2015 Year On And Off The Golf Course - Image Credit Alfie Lau

courtesy CJGA

Richmond Hill, Ont. (December 18, 2015) - The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is pleased to announce Michelle Kim as the recipient of the 2015 Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award.

Kim, an 18-year old CJGA member living in Surrey, B.C. is the first British Columbian to earn the honourable distinction for an award that recognizes sportsmanship, dedication, and commitment in the game of golf.

The award is named after Helena Harbridge, an outstanding junior golfer and CJGA alum that passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University.

Herb Fung/ Golf Canada

Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., and dual citizen Maddie Szeryk who hails from London, Ont., as well as Allen, Texas, have been recognized as Canada’s top male and female amateur golfers after finishing atop their respective National Orders of Merit for the 2015 season.

Charles-Éric Bélanger and Michelle Kim claimed top honours on their respective CN Future Links Junior Orders of Merit.

via Golf Canada with files from the R&A

St. Andrews, Scotland – The R&A is conducting an industry forum in St. Andrews this week to examine the issues surrounding pace of play and the time it takes to play golf.

The Time for Golf conference, which is taking place today and tomorrow (Nov. 24-25) will bring together representatives of national affiliated bodies with figures from some of the key organizations involved in administering the sport to discuss factors such as the golf course, management and player behaviour.

Dale Jackson, chair of Golf Canada’s Rules Committee, is there representing Canada.

by Dan Pino/ Golf Canada

It is with great sadness that Golf Canada, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the entire golf community mourns the loss of Daniel (Dan) Albert Halldorson who passed away on November 18, 2015 at the age of 63.

Halldorson suffered a major stroke on Monday, November 16 at his home in Cambridge, Illinois and passed away two days later in hospital. He is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Angela, son Mark, three grandchildren and countless friends across the Canadian and International golf community.

British Columbia Golf is taking part in a joint training session for P2F (Playground To Fairway) and SOAR (Sharing Our Activities And Resources) in early December - Jody Jackson, LPGA will be the master trainer for golf for this training workshop.

SOAR is a program developed by three provincial sport organizations, Tennis BC, British Columbia Golf and Curl BC, to help elementary school students experience three great sports.

Courtenay's Abigail Rigsby Will Be An Eagle In 2016 As She Has Signed A Letter Of Intent With The Oklahoma Christian University Women's Golf Program - Image Credit Alfie Lau

courtesy Oklahoma Christian University Athletics

COURTENAY, British Columbia (Nov. 17, 2015) – Abigail Rigsby, who won a provincial title in her native country of Canada, has signed a letter of intent to play college golf at Oklahoma Christian, OC women's coach Greg Lynn said Tuesday.

Richmond, B.C.'s Diego San Pedro, Seen Here Holding The 2014 BC Juvenile Boys Championship Trophy, Has Signed A National Letter Of Intent To Join The Oregon State Men's Golf Team Program For The 2016-17 Season - Image Courtesy Richmond-News.com

via OSU Beavers website

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State men’s golf head coach Jon Reehoorn has announced that three student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2016-17 season.

The class includes Kyosuke Hara from Honolulu, Hawai’i, Shawn Lu, from Honolulu, Hawai’i and Diego San Pedro from Richmond, British Columbia.

(Richmond, B.C.) - British Columbia Golf announced this week the addition of Bryan Outram to their staff in the capacity of Communications Manager and Website Editor.

Bryan joins British Columbia Golf in a role that is intended to grow the company's profile through an increased online presence via their interactive website, monthly digital magazine and regular regional e-newsletters. He will also be responsible for maintaining the strong relationship that media outlets have enjoyed with British Columbia Golf for many years.

Federal Way, Wash. – The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) has announced the 2015 Players of the Year.

Those honored include Men's Player of the Year, Charles Kern of Mercer Island, Wash.; Women's, Gigi Stoll of Tigard, Ore.; Men's Mid-Amateur, Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho; Women's Mid-Amateur, Amanda Jacobs of Seattle, Wash.; Senior Men's, Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Wash.; Senior Women's, Leilani Norman of Eugene, Ore.; Junior Boys', Joshua Gliege of Eagle, Idaho; and Junior Girls', Ellie Slama of Salem, Ore.

Alvie Thompson Accepts His Award From Jim Sutherland (Left) And Dawn Chubai As He Enters The BC Golf Hall of Fame - Image Courtesy Mike Riste

BC Golf House Society president Jim Sutherland wrote in the program accompanying the awards dinner for the 2015 BC Golf Hall of Fame affair that every two years the induction ceremony is held and that, “Every two years it seems less and less likely that the Golf Hall of Fame of British Columbia will be able to maintain the standards to which it has become accustomed.”

Much to his and many other’s delight, the class of 2015 more than lived up to those lofty standards as it witnessed the inclusion of Lyle Crawford, Rick Gibson, Gail Graham, Alvie Thompson and Jennifer Wyatt into the hallowed hall.

Adam Helmer/ Golf Canada's Director of Rules and Competitions

Oakville, Ont. – As golf’s governing body in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), announce the new revisions to the Rules of Golf for 2016.

In accordance with the Joint Rules Committee’s four-year review cycle of the Rules of Golf, the new changes will come into effect on January 1, 2016.

There is a full time position with British Columbia Golf available for qualified candidates as outlined below.

About British Columbia Golf

British Columbia Golf is the Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) recognized by Government and Golf Canada as the organization responsible for golf within British Columbia. The organization is non-profit operating with a volunteer board. Incorporated in 1922 British Columbia Golf has roots extending back to 1893 within the province.

Image Courtesy Vancouver Sun

Arv Olson (Left) From The Book Jacket Cover Of His Definitive History Of BC Golf, "Backspin," and (Right) From His Early Days At The Vancouver Sun As The Golf Beat Writer 

by Kent Gilchrist

We lost Arv Olson Wednesday. I use the collective “we” because golf has lost him, hockey and rugby have lost him and all his friends and family have, too.

And we will really miss him.

Sisters Taylor (L) And Michelle Kim Are Two Very Supportive Sibling Rivals Who Now Find Themselves Both Ranked In The Top 10 Amateurs In The Country - Image Credit Aflie Lau

Weekly Top 10 Rankings - Golf Canada - Week of October 19, 2015

It was quite a week for B.C.’s Kim sisters in the Top-10. Taylor Kim picked up eight spots to climb up to a career-best No. 3 in the Canadian rankings while younger sister Michelle Kim jumped 33 spots and up to No. 5 in Canada following a third place finish at the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invite.

The freshman at Idaho shot a career-best final round 69 which included a 30-foot putt on her final hole of the tournament. The result was enough to also land Kim 'Big Sky Conference Player of the Week' honours for the third time in four tournaments this fall.

Michelle is also tied for 17th in par-3 scoring in the U.S. “She has transitioned to college well and is building off the experience she gained this past summer at national events,” said her coach Lisa Johnson. That experience included winning the B.C. Women’s Amateur title over her older sister Taylor.

Michelle Kim, The British Columbia Women's And Junior Girls Champion Of 2015 Heads Up A Contingent Of 8 B.C. Players Who Will Represent Canada On The National Amateur Team Squads For 2016 - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by BCG editors with files from Golf Canada

OAKVILLE, Ont. – No fewer than 8 players from British Columbia have been named to the National Amateur Team squads for 2016. Those teams include the Men's and Women's National Amateur Teams as well as the Developmental Squad. The Young Pro Squad for 2016 is expected to be announced in mid-November.

SCGA 'Celebrities In Golf Carts' Host Mark Willard (Left) Watches As Brian Baumgartner (From TV's The Office) Successfully Completes The 'Chip A Golf Ball Into A Pitcher Of Beer' Challenge On The New Series Being Launched By The Southern California Golf Association 

The Southern California Golf Association, responsible for the SCGA Rules and Fitness tips seen here over the last few year, have now launched a new web series entitled “Celebrities in Golf Carts.”

In this golf and lifestyle series targeting sports and entertainment enthusiasts of all ages, host Mark Willard plays golf with popular stars and athletes, mixing in casual conversation before wrapping up with a brief competition and a beer.

B.C.'s Jared Du Toit (Shown Holding The BC Men's Amateur Trophy Has Been Nominated As The PNGA Men's Player Of The Year - Image Credit Alfie Lau

Courtesy Tom Cade and PNGA

At the end of each golfing season, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association selects the region’s Players of the Year in eight different categories: Men’s, Women’s, Mid-Amateur Men’s, Mid-Amateur Women’s, Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s, Junior Boys’, and Junior Girls’.

The players are voted on by the PNGA Championship Committee, and this committee extends to the NWGMA one vote in each category as part of the process.

Below are the nominees in each of the eight categories.

From Left, British Columbia Golf Executive Director Kris Jonasson, Retired Vancouver Province Editor, Reporter And Columnist And 2015 NWGMA Distinguished Service Award Recipient Kent “Cookie” Gilchrist And NWGMA President Tom Cade - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

It almost seemed like a roast when retired Vancouver Province editor, reporter and columnist Kent “Cookie” Gilchrist was named the 2015 recipient of the Northwest Golf Media Association Distinguished Service Award.

Kris Jonasson, executive director of the British Columbia Golf Association, nominated Gilchrist for the award and presented him to the 50-plus people who attended the NWGMA Awards Luncheon at Tacoma Golf & Country Club on Oct. 8.

Toni Taylor Shows Female Golfers Some Finger And Wrist Exercises At Richmond Country Club During A Women With Drive Workshop On Oct. 6 - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

All throughout the province, for most of September and October, women golfers have been getting together with certified PGA of Canada or LPGA coaches in Women With Drive, Get In The Game workshops funded by British Columbia Golf and the Golf Canada Foundation Women’s Fund.

“We’ve organized clinics all throughout the province which will enhance opportunities for women to gain interest and develop their golf skills so that we can continue to grow women’s golf,” said Debbie Pyne, the managing director for player development for British Columbia Golf. “We’ve had clinics all throughout the province and they have been well attended.”