Recently two of British Columbia Golf's Performance Team coaches, Jennifer Greggain and Colin Lavers, were recognized by the PGA of BC for their outstanding contributions to the advancement, education and betterment of junior golf. 

Kimberley, BC's Jared du Toit, Is Shown Here During The Golf Canada Camp At Bear Mtn - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

One of Jared du Toit’s lasting memories of 2020 will be of the long hours spent in his car, alone with his golf clubs, in search of somewhere to play. 

When the PGA Tour Latino-America circuit went on hiatus after just one event in March, du Toit had nowhere to play. He went back home to Kimberley for a time before venturing out on the road.

“It has been super weird,” du Toit says. “I had a work visa in the U.S. and I was allowed to enter the country so I kind of made a plan for the summer to just travel around in my car and play as many events as I could.”

As part of British Columbia Golf's mandate "...building participation and supporting the sport by providing resources, education and competition for British Columbians" a Performance Program is in place to offer assistance to aspiring competitive golfers. 

A recent Performance Camp held at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club in Richmond provided an opportunity to speak with the program's leader, Colin Lavers, along with some of the players participating in the camp.

The following video gives us a good insight as to what the program offers and what its participants see as the benefits of such a program.

by Golf Canada

PGA of Canada member Jennifer Greggain has been named coach of the National Junior Squads by Golf Canada.

Working alongside head coach Robert Ratcliffe, Jennifer Greggain will help guide mental performance, physiotherapy, biomechanics and nutrition for the Canada’s top athletes.

Coaching will be based at the national training centre at Bear Mountain in Victoria, B.C., featuring a centralized component from March through June which provides accommodation and education for athletes during their high school second semester.

bigsky_hole_5_chomlackphoto

Courtesy Golf Business News

BASEL, Switzerland — New members at golf clubs say stress relief has been an important reason to join during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahead of World Mental Health Day (October 10), a snapshot survey of 250 golfers in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, indicated that more than half (55%) of those who had joined a club in the past six months cited ‘mental wellbeing’ as their primary reason for joining.

courtesy Golf Canada/PGGCC Board of Directors

Golf Canada is saddened to share the news that former President and Honorary Life Governor Findlay Young of Prince George, B.C. passed away suddenly on Friday, October 9, 2020 at the age of 92.

For many of our volunteers and past Presidents, Findlay was a great friend and mentor whose passion for golf and contributions to the game left a lasting impact on our organization and our sport.

The Chris Macdonald-Led UBC Women's Golf Team Swept The First Two Events Of The BC Rivalry Series - Image Credit: Wilson Wong/UBC Athletics

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The BC Rivalry Series continues this week with one-day events scheduled for Wednesday at Sandpiper Golf Course in Harrison Mills and Thursday at Mayfair Lakes Golf Course in Richmond.

The series, featuring the UBC, University of the Fraser Valley and UBC-Okanagan men’s and women’s golf teams, got started earlier this month with two one-day events played at Okanagan Golf Club Bear Course in Kelowna.

BC's Callum Davison Is Headed Across The Pond To Attend The PGA EuroPro Tour Q-School - Image Credit: Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Duncan’s Callum Davison has headed to England to try and earn a spot on the PGA EuroPro Tour. The 20-year-old Davison, a former B.C. Bantam Boys champion, will tee it up Tuesday and Wednesday at a first-stage Q-school site at Donnington Grove Golf Club in Newbury, England, about 80 kilometres west of London.

He hopes to advance to the final stage of Q-school which goes next week in Oxford, England. “It’s a tour I played on when I was 18,” Davison says. “With COVID I just want to make sure I have somewhere to play full-time next year. I’d rather play on the Mackenzie Tour but the way I look at it, if you don’t have a full schedule you don’t have a chance to go anywhere.”

image credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

Written by Leslie Dunning/Courtesy Golf Canada & CSCM

The Invictus Games, held in Toronto in September 2017, included a golf event hosted by St. George’s Golf Club where spectators were treated to outstanding performances by the athletes. Those of us fortunate enough to attend the event could not help but imagine the opportunities of engaging more people with disabilities in golf.

“This was the most memorable and inspirational event we have been a part of,” said Jason Clarke, CCM, who was general manager at St. George’s during the Games.

image courtesy Golf Canada/R&A 

Written by The R&A/Courtesy Golf Canada

An international research study backed by The R&A has found new evidence to suggest golf can provide significant health benefits to older participants in the form of improved muscle strength and balance.

Muscle strength and balance exercises form an important part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended guidelines to tackle physical inactivity in older people about which little was previously known for golf.

The Strength and Balance Study, carried out with two sample groups over two years by Professor Maria Stokes OBE at the University of Southampton and Dr George Salem at the University of Southern California (USC), has indicated that older golfers have and develop strength and balance benefits.

An Aerial Shot Of Bootleg Gap GC In Kimberley, BC - Image Credit bootleggapgolf.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A year after putting it on the market, the City of Kimberley is still trying to sell Bootleg Gap Golf Course. Scott Sommerville, chief administrative officer with the City of Kimberley, says a deal with a prospective purchaser appears to be dead.

“I think because of the pandemic the deal with the preferred proponent that we had identified is falling apart,” Sommerville said in a recent interview. “It's kind of in-camera with (city) council right now.”

Ruby and Pals is a fun read where children, parents and grandparents can relate to different characters. This series is for children of all ages. Ruby and Pals has 25 Book titles with different concepts in each. Of course, golf lingo, golf rules and etiquette will be described and explained.

This book not only teaches the values of etiquette, manners, and sportsmanship, but also demonstrates conflict resolution and instills problem solving techniques that readers can use in their everyday life.

The creators/writers of this series believe that learning to be a good friend and competitor is just as important as learning the rules and options of golf.

Written by Adam Stanley/ Golf Canada

Golf is both thrilling and maddening, a way to have a singular escape or meet with friends, and a game for a lifetime that can be played by both the health-conscious and those who take it as an opportunity to raise a Steamwhistle and crush a hot dog.

But, when you’re looking for something even more for your next 18 holes, we’ve got you covered with an explainer of some fun games you could play with your group.

Kelowna's Norm Bradley Beat Mike Mannion On The First Hole Of A Playoff To Capture The B.C. Senior Men’s Championship - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

ROBERTS CREEK -- Norm Bradley had a feeling that when he finally broke through and won his first British Columbia Golf championship it would not come easy. 

But no one could have possibly imagined it would be quite this hard.

For the first 16 holes of the final round of the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship, the 62-year-old Kelowna resident seemed to have it on cruise control. He stepped up to the 17th tee at Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club with a five-shot lead.

But like Yogi Berra once said, it’s never over ’til it’s over.

By 2021 Canada Games Host Society

The Canada Games Council and the 2021 Canada Games Host Society have decided to postpone the 2021 Canada Summer Games until the summer of 2022

September 16, 2020 (Niagara, ON) – The Canada Games Council (CGC) and the 2021 Canada Games Host Society, after consulting with the Niagara Region, the Province of Ontario and the Federal Government, have made the difficult decision to postpone next year’s Niagara 2021 Canada Summer Games.

The Games were originally scheduled to take place in August 2021 but, due to continued public health concerns relating to the coronavirus pandemic, they will be rescheduled to the summer of 2022.

ANY PLAYERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO ATTENDING THE BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF CANADA SUMMER GAMES ID CAMPS, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LETTER FROM PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, DEBBIE PYNE, ADDRESSING THOSE CAMPS, WHICH ARE BEING SCHEDULED TO GO AHEAD ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH.

Norm Bradley Will Be Trying To Win His First BC Golf Championship On Thursday At Sunshine Coast G&CC - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

ROBERTS CREEK -- Norm Bradley figures he has two things he needs to manage in Thursday’s final round of the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship. The golf course and himself.

Bradley fired a bogey-free three-under 69 in Wednesday’s second round at Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club. At four-under par through 36 holes, the 62-year-old Kelowna Golf Club member has a one-shot lead on Mike Mannion of Gibsons.

Harry Ferguson of Invermere and Greg Bismeyer of Mission are another shot back at two-under.

The Legends On The Niagara Was Slated Play Host To The Golf Competition In The 2021 Canada Summer Games, Now Postponed To 2022 - Image Courtesy Facility

BC Golf is inviting provincial athletes to apply to attend one of three Canada Summer Games ID Camps taking place across the Province of BC.

They will be held in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Interior on Sunday, September 27^th, 2020. A total of 12 athletes will be accepted into each camp. Selection will be done by a committee of three.

These camps are the first step in getting accepted to the Canada Summer Games Team BC squad.

PLEASE NOTE THE CANADA SUMMER GAMES HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY POSTPONED UNTIL 2022. BC GOLF IS STILL SCHEDULING THEIR SELECTION CAMPS - PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE LETTER FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, DEBBIE PYNE WITH REGARD TO HOW THE CAMPS WILL BE UTILIZED FOR SELECTION AND THE OPTIONS PLAYERS HAVE.

Norm Bradley Of Kelowna (Shown Here), Greg Bismeyer Of Mission And Mike Mannion Of Gibsons All Fired One-under 71's - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

ROBERTS CREEK -- Norm Bradley has Doug Roxburgh right where he wants him. That would be behind him. Now the challenge is to keep him there.

“Usually, we're trailing Doug by five or six shots,” Bradley said after posting a one-under par 71 Tuesday to grab a share of the first-round lead at the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship at Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club.

The Kelowna resident shares the lead with Greg Bismeyer of Mission and Mike Mannion of Gibsons.

Dear members of the BC sport community,

The Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport (CCMHS) is hosting 60-minute virtual information sessions for parents, coaches, health practitioners, sport leaders, administrators and volunteers affiliated with local and provincial / territorial competitive sport clubs / organizations.

The CCMHS is a registered charity that offers sport-informed mental health care in-person and virtually from coast to coast to coast. We invite you to come learn more about how we can support your athletes, coaches, and support staff to reach optimal levels of well-being and performance!

Duncan, BC's Callum Davison Was The Beneficiary When Canada Life Series Winner, Amateur Laurent Desmarchais, Was Not Eligible To Collect The $9,000 1st-place Cheque - BC Golf  File Photo/JKam Photos

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Any disappointment Duncan’s Callum Davison was feeling about coming up one shot short in the Canada Life Series finale at TPC Toronto was softened when the 20-year-old realized he would be receiving first-place money.

The event was won by 19-year-old Quebec amateur Laurent Desmarchais, who was not eligible to accept the $9,000 first-place cheque. That went instead to Davison, who had a good couple of weeks in Toronto. He tied for second in the first of two Canada Life Series events at TPC Toronto.

“I clued in after the fact that I was going to get the winning cheque, so that was nice,” Davison said in a telephone interview.