West Vancouver's Jennifer Gu - Image Credit Jerome Goddard/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

PARKSVILLE -- Jennifer Gu bounced back nicely from some double trouble early on her back nine and grabbed the first-round lead at the B.C. Junior Girls Championship with a two-under par 70 at Morningstar Golf Club.

Gu, who finished second at last week’s B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship in Summerland, doubled the par 4 12th hole after hitting her tee shot into a penalty area.

The 18-year-old from West Vancouver didn’t let that bother her as she quickly birdied the next two holes to get her round back on track.

Vancouver's Leah John Is The 2021 B.C. Women's Amateur Champion - image credit Jerome Goddard/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SUMMERLAND -- A win is sometimes that much sweeter when it has been preceded by so much hard work and occasional setbacks. Perhaps that’s why Leah John seemed so delighted with her win Friday at the116th playing of the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship at Summerland Golf Club.

Like that noted philosopher Ringo Starr, John knows better than most that moments like this one don’t come easy.

Perseverance paid off for the 21-year-old Vancouver resident, who plays out of Marine Drive Golf Club and collegiately at the University of Nevada. John had come oh so close on a couple of previous occasions at British Columbia Golf championships.

Leah John Has Grabbed The Lead After Round 3 At The BC Women's Am - image credit Brad Ziemer

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SUMMERLAND -- The wind can really howl at times in Reno, where Leah John plays her collegiate golf at the University of Nevada. 

So when it began to blow hard in Thursday’s third round of the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship at Summerland Golf Club, John didn’t get flustered. Far from it. The 21-year-old Vancouver native flourished in a stiff wind that blew especially hard on the back nine.

John matched the low round of the tournament with a three-under par 71 and will take a two-shot lead over Jennifer Gu of West Vancouver into Friday’s final round of the 116th playing of the championship.

With the 2021 British Columbia Junior Championships starting June 29th, the host venue, Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville on Vancouver Island, are prepared to offer a solid challenge to the top junior golfers in the province. 

In the video below Director of Golf John Randle, with the help of junior Brendan O'Brien, previews the difficult par 5 9th hole at his club in advance of the British Columbia Golf Boys & Girls Junior Championships.

Jennifer Gu Continues To Lead The BC Women's Amateur After Round 2 At Summerland GC - Golf Canada/CRussell/file photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SUMMERLAND -- Jennifer Gu is a bit of a free spirit so when things got off to a shaky start in the second round of the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship, she decided to try something a little different to snap out of it.  After a pair of sloppy bogeys to open her day, Gu planted herself down on the third tee block and . . . did some yoga. 

“I did some Sun Salutations,” the 18-year-old West Vancouver native said with a smile after her round.

“It’s kind of like a circuit of stretches, but is very calming. . .I was doing anything to keep me calm. The heart was pulsating a little bit. Hey, it’s the B.C. Am, kind of a big deal out here.”

West Vancouver's Jennifer Gu Leads The BC Women's Amateur After Round One At Summerland GC - image credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SUMMERLAND -- Summerland Golf Club is set up as a par 74 for this week’s 116th playing of the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship, but Jennifer Gu tried not to pay attention to that number in Tuesday’s first round. 

The 18-year-old West Vancouver resident had a rather simple formula she tried to follow and it seemed to work wonderfully as recorded a three-under 71 to grab the early lead. “I did not look at the pars on any of the holes,” Gu said after her round.

“I just tried to get the ball in the hole as quick as possible because I know the par 5s are very gettable and if I maybe think of a hole as a par 5 I will play it a little different, which I don’t want to do. I just want to get the ball in the hole as fast as I can.”

Nanaimo's Sandy Harper Is Seen Here Teeing Off In The 2018 Canadian Men's Mid-Amateur At Victoria Golf Club - Image Courtesy Golf Canada/Chuck Russell

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Sandy Harper has always taken pride in the way he has conducted himself on the golf course, where his excellence over many years earned the Nanaimo resident a place in the British Columbia Golf Hall of Fame. 

No matter if he had registered a birdie, par, bogey, double-bogey or worse, Harper remained unflappable.

That has become more difficult in the past 10 months as the 64-year-old Harper recovered from a stroke he suffered last August. Don’t get Harper wrong. He feels blessed by his recovery.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

British Columbia Golf’s championship season tees off June 22-25 when Summerland Golf & Country Club plays host to the 116th playing of the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship. 

A new champion will be crowned as Vancouver’s Michelle Liu, who at age 13 became the youngest winner of the championship last summer at Campbell River Golf Club, is not defending her title.

It would not be surprising to see another teenage winner hoist the Flumerfelt Cup as the field includes several top junior players.

With the 2021 British Columbia Junior Championships  starting June 29th, the host venue, Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville on Vancouver Island, are prepared to offer a solid challenge to the top junior golfers in the province. 

In the video below Director of Golf John Randle and General Manager Barrie McWha welcome players to the upcoming event and provide some insight into the course itself, with the help of junior Brendan O'Brien.

In 2020, Golf Canada partnered with First Tee to launch First Tee – Canada. Together, the partnership will bring First Tee’s youth development emphasis to strengthen Golf Canada’s junior golf activities – previously conducted under the Future Links brand – that reach kids in communities, schools, and golf facilities.

Golf Canada will serve as the national headquarters of First Tee – Canada. First Tee chapters are being established in markets across Canada to deliver programs in their respective regions, with First Tee British Columbia being the first out of the gate.

The ' Cedar Hill Birdie Bunch' Were Just One Of The 112 Teams That Entered The BC Golf Women's Golf Day 'Cloud Scramble' - Image Courtesy Cedar Hill Birdie Bunch

Between May 25th and Tuesday, June 1st, coinciding with International Women's Golf Day, British Columbia Golf ran a 'Cloud Scramble' for teams put together across the province. Players created their own team, played at the location of their choice and submitted results. Prizes were done on a draw basis with the focus of the event to get out, participate and have fun.

It appears that's exactly what happened as participation was terrific with over 100 teams entering. 

Superintendent Dave Fair And His Trusty Companion Max, Have Had A Particularly Busy Time At Work At Northview GC This Season - Image Courtesy Dave Fair

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Golf courses are busy, almost as busy as the men and women who maintain them. The current golf boom has most courses nearly fully booked from dawn to dusk. All that play means more divots in the fairways, more ball marks on greens, more overall wear and tear on courses.

And that has presented challenges for golf course superintendents and their crews as they attempt to present their properties in the best possible condition for their guests.

Article Reprinted Courtesy Inside Golf

The Qualicum Beach facility takes a very controversial approach to aerating greens... they don't.

If there is one thing golfers don't like, it is arriving at a course to find the greens have been recently aerated. But most golfers will grudgingly accept the necessity.

That is not the case at Pheasant Glen, a course well known for good manicure and smooth putting surfaces... good enough to co-host the BC Amateur in 2018.

Victoria's Dale Jackson Has Gone From Making A Rules Inquiry Playing In An Event To Becoming This Country's Pre-eminent Rules Official - Image Courtesy Dale Jackson 

By Jeff Sutherland / iG

When Dale Jackson asked a rules question 20 years ago, it would have been hard to imagine what that would lead to.

The member at Royal Colwood Golf Club on Vancouver Island may modestly say that his rise to the upper echelons of Canadian golf may be about being in the “right place at the right time,” but, other than the original incident that sparked his interest, chance really has had little to do with it.

It all started when Jackson was playing in the Colwood Amateur in 2001 and was unable to get a clear answer to a rules question.

As part of this year's Women's Golf Day celebration, British Columbia Golf is holding a 'Cloud Scramble' and you can win prizes by entering your own team. The Scramble format has proven to be a fun way to play and to have everyone get a chance to contribute to the team. 

There will be prizes drawn from the scorecard images entered by each team, thus the 'awards' are strictly based on participation. Have fun, it's called 'playing' Golf ????

Teams will receive clarification on the basics of the rules upon entering the event from Tyler McKay. See more details below. 

Golf is Calling! Golf is good for you! Get out and play! 

During the annual SportBC awards held in March of this year, after a delay due to Covid-19 from 2020, the very first 'Delivering On Diversity' award was handed out by the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport, the Honourable Minister Melanie Mark. 

The awards were held on a virtual basis and Minister Mark made the announcement to open the proceedings. The award recognizes a "Provincial, disability or multi-sport organization that has demonstrated a committment towards advancing accessibility and inclusion."

In celebration of Golf Canada's 50th anniversary they have created the 'most influential 50 moments' in Canadian golf history.

Vote to help create the top 10 moments which will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 8th during the RBC Hall of Fame Day presented by Nike Golf.

Review all of the top 50 moments and vote on your favourite.