Three Youngsters Enjoy A Game Of A Golf At Quilchena GC In Richmond - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By Zephyr Melton / Golf.com

Golf is a beautiful game for many reasons, but one of the most notable is that it can be enjoyed your entire life.

From the time you are old enough to stand and hold a club until you are collecting social security benefits, golf is a constant.

Nick Taylor - Golf Canada Photo 

By Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

SO CLOSE AT SONY: Nick Taylor didn’t have quite the weekend he’d hoped for, but still tied for 11th at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Taylor entered the weekend with a two-shot lead after firing an eight-under 62 in Friday’s second round.

He closed with weekend rounds of 68 and 67 on the par-70 Waialae Country Club layout in Honolulu to finish the event at 17-under par, four shots behind winner Kevin Na.

Sunday’s finish was Taylor’s best on the PGA TOUR since winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am nearly one year ago. Taylor earned $153,450 on Sunday and completed a nice two-week visit to Hawaii.

He tied for 29th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua’s Plantation course in Maui the previous week.

A Happy, Smiling, Maddox Hadwin Celebrated Her 1st Birthday Last Week - Image Courtesy Jessica & Adam Hadwin

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin and his wife Jessica recently celebrated the first birthday of their daughter Maddox, a day in which they reflected on not only the joy she has brought to their lives but the struggle they faced bringing her into the world.

Adam and Jessica went through many ups and downs, including two failed pregnancies, in their attempts to start a family.

With the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF), Maddox arrived on January 8, 2020. The struggles they endured and the fact they were in a financial position to use IVF led the Hadwins to think about trying to help others facing similar challenges. Late last year they started The Hadwin Family Foundation.

British Columbia Golf will be holding two Provincial Rules seminars online beginning in February of 2021.

Please see the information below for details and to pick which option may be of interest to you.

Please Note:

The Player Development Trust Fund Program Is Being Restructured - The PDTF Program Committee Will Have Updated Information To Announce Soon  

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Courtesy John Gordon/Golf Canada

Anyone who knows me knows, I love Christmas. Heck, I even own a Santa suit and still think my grandson believes I’m the real thing when I show up at his house on Christmas morning.

So, as you read on, please don’t label me the Golfing Grinch.

With that disclaimer, and I am sure I speak on behalf of avid golfers everywhere, spare us the trinkets and trash when buying a gift for us this year.

image courtesy georgetakei.com/www.picpedia.org

Just a friendly reminder to all golfers in British Columbia that as much as this is the time of year for giving and celebrating, there are unfortunately also those who will look to take advantage of the 'seasonal goodwill' that flows during this time. 

We received a reminder of this from our friends down south at the Arizona Golf Associaton who shared a scam attempt sent to their members with a fake GoFundMe campaign. We've pasted the warning they shared with us below and wish to remind all of you to always be on the lookout and be aware of this type of communication.

Accomplished Executive, Administrator, Coach And high-performance golfer, Kevin Blue, Returns To Canada After Serving The Past Five Years As NCAA Division I Athletics Director At UC Davis - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Via Press Release

(December 3, 2020) — Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Kevin Blue has joined the National Sport Federation as its new Chief Sport Officer.

A dynamic and accomplished executive, coach, and high-performance golfer, Blue joins the Executive Team of the National Sport Federation after serving nearly five years as Director of Athletics for the University of California, Davis, an NCAA Division I institute.

Written by Brent Long/ Courtesy Golf Canada

Canadians golfers are playing golf and adapting to new technology such as the Golf Canada App like never before.

In a year where record numbers of recreational rounds were registered with Golf Canada through June (1.2 million), July (1.6M), August (1.5M), September (1.5M) and October (618,500) embracing technology and new apps has become a way of life for most Canadians who have spent much of 2020 learning to deal with COVID-19 lockdowns, quarantines and social distancing measures.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the names of the 29 athletes, male and female, who have been selected to represent Team Canada as part of the 2021 National Amateur and Junior Squads.

Fifteen athletes will compete on Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, consisting of eight players on the men’s squad and seven on the women’s squad.

The announcement marks a significant increase in roster size, adding six athletes to the previous year’s team. The roster expansion is due in large part to a restructuring of team resources in addition to increased funding support from the Golf Canada Foundation’s network of Trustee partners.

Abbotsford, BC's Nick Taylor Has His Eye On A Return To The Masters After His First Experience At Augusta - File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Nick Taylor’s first Masters experience included 17 birdies, a four-putt, an anxious Friday night and Saturday morning sweating out the cut and countless great memories of his week at Augusta National.

He hopes to do it all again someday soon.

“I was hoping for a really low one today to maybe sneak into that top 12, but I will do everything I can to get back here, that’s for sure,” Taylor said over the phone after Sunday’s final round.

British Columbia Golf President Michelle Collens Is Excited About The Sport’s Growing Popularity - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(November 13, 2020) - When Michelle Collens joined the board of directors of British Columbia Golf a few years ago, she really wasn’t much of a golfer.

Collens would tee it up a couple of times a year in charity ‘Scramble’ events and that was about it. She enjoyed those outings, but never took the game too seriously. Back in those days, the rules of golf for Collens could be summed up something like this: Hit the ball, go find it... and then hit it again.

“I was just playing best-ball tournaments,” Collens says. “I was a really good best-ball player, just hit it and let’s see what we have to do next.”

In Flanders Fields...

BY JOHN MCCRAE

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

obituary courtesy Times Colonist

SANDERSON, James Richard "Jim" February 24, 1933 - November 5, 2020

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, James (Jim) Richard Sanderson. Jim passed away peacefully at age 87 on November 5, 2020, with his family close. He is survived by his wife Helen, daughter Margaret, son William (Deborah), grandchildren Timothy, Sophie and Trevor, and his niece Patty Bonacorsi (Chris and family of Chico, CA).

Jim was born in Holden, AB to Bertha (Dorin) and Alfred Sanderson. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering. In 1957 he married Helen Bramley-Moore and they moved to Stoney Creek, ON, as Jim had accepted a job in Hamilton with Proctor & Gamble where he worked for 33 years, holding various management positions. Jim's passion was golf, playing at Glendale Golf and Country Club and serving as Director and Rules Official with the Ontario Golf Association for 11 years.

In 1991 Jim and Helen retired and moved to Duncan B.C. where Jim was a member of the Cowichan Golf Club, volunteering in some capacity in every club activity. Jim was a "volunteer extraordinaire" with the British Columbia Golf Association, working as a tireless leader in golf for 16 years. Jim was an active and diligent Canadian Certified Rules Official for 25 years. Jim was honoured with the B.C. Golf Association's Distinguished Service Award in 2008, and also the Sport B.C. President's Award in recognition of dedication to sports in British Columbia.

Jim was a gentleman who had the respect of all players and volunteers alike. He was always the first to arrive and the last to leave a tournament site. Throughout his long life, Jim and Helen enjoyed many road trips, cruises and 25 years of wintering in Hawaii. He was a faithful member of the United Church of Canada. Jim and Helen moved to Victoria in 2007, and he enjoyed the last year of his life at Berwick House.

At the age of 35 Jim suffered a severe heart attack. The family is grateful for all the amazing years of care from Jim's many cardiologists. We also wish to thank Dr. Caroline Stigant for the care she provided to Jim when he had kidney disease. A private celebration of life was held at McCall's.

Donations remembering Jim may be made to a charity of your choice or to First Metropolitan United Church, 932 Balmoral Road, Victoria, B.C. V8T 1A8.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallgardens.com.

Longtime Seymour Golf Club member Craig Lennon has died. Lennon entered Lions Gate Hospital October 31st and passed away peacefully on November 4th, 2020. He was 68.

Affectionately known as 'Uncle Buck' to some of his pals at Seymour, Lennon spent many winters running the bar in the Alumni Suite at Canuck games, keeping the lads refreshed. A heart attack and surgery several years ago curtailed that activity.

It was Junior golf that was his true passion. A past Director of British Columbia Golf, Lennon also served as Junior Coordinator at Seymour for many years and he was the Junior Chair for Zone 4. It was his involvement with the kids that will be his legacy.

When Seymour member Phoebe Yue heard that he was in the hospital, she reached out to some of Lennon’s many proteges to produce the video here. RIP Craig. You were loved by many.

Click HERE to downlowd and see the tribute video for Craig. 

Written by National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA)/Courtesy Golf Canada

The Canadian golf industry generated $18.2B in economic benefits across our nation in 2019, according to a recent economic analysis conducted by Group ATN Consulting Inc. on behalf of the National Allied Golf Associations (We Are Golf).

According to The Economic Impact of Golf in Canada (2019), the Canadian golf industry employs the equivalent of nearly 249,000 people through direct and spin-off effects and contributed to $10.6B in household income. The industry also contributed $4.5B in government tax revenue ($1.8B federal and $2.1B provincial) used to support a variety of programs for all Canadians.

UBC Thunderbirds Golf Coach, Chris Macdonald - Image Credit Wilson Wong/UBC Athletics

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Having just completed a successful fall schedule, the B.C. Rivalry Series will return in mid-February with several more one-day events. “I don’t think it could have gone any better than it did,” says UBC golf coach Chris Macdonald, who created the series when the regular collegiate golf season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

“We were very lucky, the weather was fantastic, the courses were all really supportive of us being there and it was a great experience for the students.” Eight one-day events were held in the fall, with the final two tournaments played last week at Chilliwack Golf Club and Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey.

By Golf Canada

The World Handicap System stipulates every player is responsible for returning all acceptable scores into one’s scoring record from rounds played on courses observing their active season, which is part of the golf season when courses have acceptable playing conditions.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of authorized provincial golf association to declare active and inactive periods, and it is the responsibility of the area club and golfers to observe these dates for posting purposes.

Each year, provincial associations analyze numerous factors to determine their active seasons. This ensures consistency of when scores would be posted by the majority of golfers to help keep Handicap Indexes accurate.

Courtesy Golf Canada

As the golf season begins to wind down across Canada, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the educational opportunities available to you as a Golf Canada member.

RULES OF HANDICAPPING
With the release of the World Handicapping System (WHS) in January, it is important to understand the changes and how it impacts you – the golfer!

For those that are interested in learning more about the World Handicapping System, we have created an online presentation that highlights the major changes to the Rules of Handicapping.

Tobiano GC In Kamloops Was One Of Many Courses In BC That Found A Way To Flourish During 2020 And The Covid-19 Pandemic - image credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

You will have to forgive British Columbia golf course operators if they happen to be humming a hit song by country music artist Eric Church from a couple of years ago.

After all, many of them have had a Record Year. Take Tobiano in Kamloops, for example. General manager Terry Smith and his staff recently closed the facility for the winter and Smith reports it was a year like no other in the resort’s 12-year history. “We had our best year ever,” Smith says.