British Columbia Golf Volunteer And Member Of The Leq:amel First Nation (Sto:lo Nation) In The Fraser Valley, Patrick Kelly, Addresses The AGA "Golf Awareness Day" Assembly - Image Credit Jeff Sutherland

by Jeff Sutherland, Inside Golf

When the Allied Golf Association of BC (AGA BC) was formed four years ago, one of its chief aims was to present the needs and position of Golf in BC to government.

And if the fourth annual "Golf Awareness Day" held in late April in Victoria was any indication, they are doing a great job. Twenty MLA's came to a luncheon and got an update on where golf in BC is and where it is headed.

 There Are Nine Par 4's At Two Eagles GC In West Kelowna

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

The province’s best 14-and-under golfers will descend on Two Eagles Golf Course in West Kelowna Aug. 24 and 25 for the 2015 British Columbia Golf Boys’ & Girls’ Bantam & Novice Championships.

When they get there and see a scorecard that tops out at 5,005 yards from the black tees and 3,793 yards from the red tees, they may mistakenly think Two Eagles is a pushover, but after playing the course, they’ll realize the course is more than tough enough.

 Vernon's Spallumcheen G&CC Is No Stranger To Hosting Championships

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

Just 10 minutes outside of Vernon, champions have been produced at the Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club. 

The 6,423-yard track, which most recently played host to the 2013 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, has also hosted the BC Junior Championship, the BC Senior Men’s Championship, the BC Senior Ladies’ Championship, the BC Men’s Amateur (with Vernon Golf & Country Club) and the BC Ladies’ Amateur.

So it’s no surprise that Spallumcheen will be hosting the best 16-and-under golfers for the British Columbia Golf Juvenile Championships Aug. 18-20.

 The 'Jewel' Of The South Okanangan, Fairview Mountain GC, Is Ready To Host The Best Male Amateur Golfers In The Province This Summer

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

Known by locals as the Jewel of the South Okanagan, the Fairview Mountain Golf Club is set to surprise, bedevil and enthrall the province’s best amateur golfers this July when it hosts the 113th British Columbia Amateur Championship.

The big prize may be the Bostock Trophy, which was won last year by Vancouver’s Jordan Lu in a thrilling five-hole playoff over Michael Belle, but every golfer lucky enough to tee it up at Fairview Mountain will come away impressed with how well-conditioned, challenging and fun the course is for all golfers.

The results From The Nike Golf Picking The Majors Contest are now tabulated.

The Grand Prize Winner is Omineca Golf & Country Club member Michelle Naka from Vanderhoof, BC .

For only the second time in the six year history of the Picking The Majors (21 separate contests), the winning entry did not make all ten picks correctly.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Dick White on Saturday, April 18th at the BC Golf Museum located at 2545 Blanca Street, Vancouver, BC from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.

Known as a kind and gentle man who led by example and cared deeply for his family, friends and community, White was instrumental in working with the provincial government to cut through all the red tape so that the then newly-formed society could take possession of the old University Golf Course clubhouse and start renovations to create what is now the BC Golf Museum. 

Outside of work and family, Dick was passionate about golf. In addition to being a member of Marine Drive Golf Club and Beach Grove Golf Club, Dick was president of the B.C. Golf Association, captain of Beach Grove Golf Club and co-founder of the B.C. Golf House Society. In later years, he also found time to volunteer at the Tsawwassen Community Police Station.

Please contact BC Golf Museum if you plan to attend. Call the Museum at (604)-222-4653 or e-mail them at office@bcgolfhouse.com

by David Atkinson, British Columbia Golf

British Columbia Golf  Past President David Atkinson has been a major part of a process to revitalize the Association and re-align its mission, vision and values to be in keeping with the needs of all the province’s golfers.

B.C's Top Female Amateur Golfers Will Compete At The Challenging Duncan Meadows Layout This June - Image Credit Jeff Sutherland

by Bryan Outram, Inside Golf

Duncan Meadows first opened for play in the early 1990's. In its early years, the course was operated by various owners, under different names, and without much success, until Grace and Ming Hui purchased the property out of bankruptcy in the fall of 1996.

By then, the course had been allowed to deteriorate to the point that it appeared well on its way back to its dairy farm origins. However, Grace and Ming saw the potential of the rolling terrain, abundant wildlife, the impressive backdrop of Mt. Prevost and the solid existing course layout.

During the next several years, the Hui's incorporated a hands-on management style and put in endless hours of good old-fashioned work to essentially rescue the course, and develop it into a site that became capable of hosting elite level events.

To that end Duncan Meadows will play host to this year's British Columbia Golf Women’s Amateur & Mid-Amateur Championships starting on June 30th.

by Bryan Outram, Inside Golf

The Cowichan Golf Club first opened for play on June 24, 1922 as a 9-hole AV Macan design on just over 31 acres in the Cowichan Valley where the Duncan mall is located today.

It was ultimately Macan who would also design the next layout that opened on August 21, 1949 eventually seeing it expand in June of 1985 to the 18-hole track it is now .

On June 24 of this year, exactly 93 years to the day it first opened for play, the Cowichan GC will play host to British Columbia Golf’s Mid-Master, Senior, Super-Senior and Stableford Women’s Championships.

Talking Rock's Par 3 15th Hole - courtesy Talking Rock GC

by Bryan Outram, Inside Golf

British Columbia Golf opens their 2015 Championship schedule on June 2nd with the Men’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master events taking place at the Talking Rock Course at Quaaout Lodge in Chase, B.C.

 Junior Boys Titleist Order Of Merit Award Winner Alex Francois Accepts His Plaque From David Atkinson At The British Columbia Golf AGM

by Alfie Lau

Ten amateur golfers were honoured on March 28th with Titleist Order of Merit plaques at the British Columbia Golf Annual General Meeting.

While only three of them were on hand to receive their plaques in person, that doesn’t diminish the great seasons they had in 2014 on the golf course.

Distinguished Service Award Winner Karen Vanzella, Centre, Receives Her Award From British Columbia Golf President David Atkinson, Left, And Executive Director Kris Jonasson, Right, At The March 28 British Columbia Golf Annual General Meeting In Richmond

by Alfie Lau

Volunteers who’ve given countless hours to amateur golf were amongst the attendees at the 12th Annual General Meeting for the British Columbia Golf Association on March 28th at the Executive Airport Plaza in Richmond.

They were there to hear an informative presentation from Executive Director Kris Jonasson on the USGA’s Pace of Play Research Findings, hear about the Association’s financials, and give thanks to Karen Vanzella, this year’s Distinguished Service Award winner.

The Picking The Majors Contest powered by Inside Golf... Make your picks to win a Nike Vapor Driver!

Port Alberni's Christina Spence Proteau Will Proudly Carry The Canadian Hopes At Pacific Dunes In Bandon, Oregon - image credit USGA/Fred Vuich

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

When 64 two-women teams tee it up from May 9-13 at the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Oregon, there will only be one Canadian, Port Alberni’s Christina Spence Proteau, in the field.

But if you think that thought scares the 31-year-old, think again.

image credit SportBox PR

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

Surrey’s Adam Svensson has left Barry University, turned professional and signed on with SportBox Entertainment Group, which also represents Canadian PGA Tour stalwarts Graham DeLaet, David Hearn, Roger Sloan and Mike Weir.

Jordan Lu And Naomi Ko Were Both Winners At The 49th Sport BC Athlete Of The Year Awards

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

British Columbia Golf had many reasons to be happy at the 49th Athlete of the Year Awards held on March 12 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Both Naomi Ko and Jordan Lu were victorious in their categories, being named Female Junior Athlete and Male High School Athlete respectively.

Jordan Lu (L) Awaits The Announcement Of His Male High School Athlete Of The Year Award As Coach Todd Kuspira (R) Looks On - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

The honours keep coming the way of University of Washington Huskies freshman Jordan Lu.

Lu, the reigning British Columbia Amateur Champion and two-time British Columbia AAA High School Champion, was named Sport BC’s Male High School Athlete of the Year at the March 12 Sport BC Dinner held at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

A Smiling Naomi Ko Hears Her Name Called As The Sport BC Junior Female Athlete Of The Year Winner. Her Mother Adriana (R) Heartily Approves - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

Naomi Ko of Victoria was a big winner at the Sport BC Dinner on March 12.

Ko beat out cyclist Maggie Coles-Lyster and swimmer Emily Overholt to win the Junior Female Athlete of the Year Award.

image courtesy Meredith Botta

February 2, 2015

For Immediate Release

British Columbia Golf announced today that is has taken the pledge, and joined “The Better Transit and Transportation Coalition”.

David Atkinson, President of British Columbia Golf stated, “All our research indicates that golfers would play more golf if they had more time.

Golf Canada

In addition to the Rules of Golf, clubs and committees may implement Local Rules that pertain specifically to their golf course or competition. Local Rules are created to deal with unusual or abnormal conditions on the golf course. At the club level, these often appear on the score card or posted in the locker rooms. For competition, local rules must not be introduced or altered after a stroke play round has started, but in some cases may be introduced or altered between rounds.