The Evans Caddie Scholarship Program Exists At The Victoria Golf Club Due To The Tremendous Efforts Of Berne Neufeld, Pictured Here Alongside Angela Bowers, The First Female Caddie From VGC And Canada, To Be A Finalist For The Evans Scholarship - Images Courtesy VGC

By Jenny Dobell

Berne Neufeld is my golf partner. When she hits a great drive I shout, much to her embarrassment, “Feel the Berne!” She didn’t get the reference to that American Bernie, so often in the headlines. While I first did it to tease her (which is easy), I now do it because she is a person whose commitment to a cause reminds me of a political candidate in the heat of a campaign battle.  

And Berne’s cause is the Evans Caddie Scholarship Program.

We lost another great friend and golfer on Friday, February 7th, as Diane Rands (Phillips), an honorary Life Member of Uplands Golf Club, passed away following a courageous fight with cancer. British Columbia Golf and the entire golf community wish to pass along our deepest condolences and best wishes to Diane's family and friends. 

Aside from her stellar nursing career and family life, Diane was an extremely accomplished competitive golfer, still holding the Uplands women's course record of 67, and indeed this past Fall the Uplands Women's Club Championship trophy was renamed the Diane (Phillips) Rands trophy. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Uplands Golf Club on Sunday, March 15, 2020 from 2pm – 4pm.

Below is the memoriam posted on the McCall Gardens website. 

British Columbia Golf will present World Handicap Certification seminars across the province, details and registration links are below.

Cost $25.00 (taxes in) Lunch included

January 1, 2020 Golf Associations around the world started moving to a single handicap system introduced and administered jointly by the R&A and the USGA. This seminar is a detailed look at WHS and is appropriate for staff and volunteers who will be involved in handicapping at the club level.

Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

Via Golf Canada

The USGA and The R&A have issued the Distance Insights Report, which provides comprehensive research and analysis on the contributors to, and long-term impacts of, hitting distance in golf.

After extensive stakeholder research, the report features more than 100 years of data, informed by a library of 56 supporting documents. It is accompanied by a 15-page conclusions paper from the governing bodies that summarizes their perspectives on the long-term implications for the sport.

The weather outside of late may not have been condusive to actual play, but this is the West Coast so we know that getting out on the links regularly is not far away.

One of the best ways to get into the spirit of the coming golf season is always the Vancouver GolfExpo, where enthusiasts can try out the newest equipment, shop for some great deals at the on-site merchandise outlet, visit booths set up by many of the outstanding golf facilities throughout the Pacific Northwest, learn about some enticing golf travel opportunities, as well as take in some terrific lesson and tip presentations by BC's finest teaching professionals.

Of course one of the most popular reasons to visit the GolfExpo is the opportunity to take advantage of the great deals available at so many of the exhibitor's booths. 

Bell Let’s Talk Day 2020 

On January 29th, Bell will donate five cents to Canadian mental health for every text message and mobile and long distance call made by a Bell, Bell Cause pour la cause, Bell MTS or Bell Aliant customer, tweet using #BellLetsTalk, view of the Bell Let’s Talk video on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, and use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat filter.

Background 

Bell Let’s Talk is a campaign dedicated to moving mental health forward in Canada. The strategy is built on four pillars: anti-stigma, improving access to care, supporting world-class research, and leading by example in workplace mental health. 

Bell Let’s Talk is not only changing the landscape of mental health funding in Canada, but is also contributing to changes in attitudes and behaviours. 85% of Canadians think attitudes about mental health have changed for the better in the past 5 years, and 75% believe the stigma around mental illness has been reduced. 

With the help of Canadians and people around the world, Bell Let’s Talk Day has now surpassed 1 billion messages of support sent and over $100 million in Bell funding towards mental health.

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Please Be Advised That The Application Process For The 2020 Team BC Performance Program Is NOW CLOSED

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 As British Columbia Golf gets into full swing with its 2020 Team BC Performance Program, Coach Colin Lavers has some thoughts on the program and its goals:

Dear BC Juniors

British Columbia Golf is excited to launch its NEW 2020 Team BC Performance Program!

To start the new decade, our goal is to inspire an exceptional experience through golf to lead players on a journey – one of excellence and performance.

Our VISION with the annual performance program is to develop Excellent Golfers, Exceptional Athletes and Extraordinary People.

The Expression of Interest Application Form is located on our website, just follow the link on the attachment below this message.

Carefully view the Selection Criteria document for the new program, all juniors are invited who meet the standard of performance required to be selected. 

There is a selection process in place and final selections are done by a Committee.

If you have any questions on the annual Team BC program, please feel free to contact me at coach@britishcolumbiagolf.org

 Colin Lavers, Head Performance Coach

British Columbia Golf

Please click HERE to see full details on the Team BC 2020 Performance Program

Sport BC has announced the finalists to be celebrated at the upcoming 54th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards taking place on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at the Vancouver Convention Centre East.

The event, to be hosted by CBC’s Scott Russell, recognizes the province’s best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, teams, and officials for outstanding performances in their sport over the 2019 season.

Click HERE see the video by Golf Canada on how your handicap will be calculated by the World Handicap System starting in Canada from January 8th, 2020.

Watch more RULES AND HANDICAPPING on Golf Canada TV

Courtesy Golf Canada

The World Handicap System will ensure handicaps are calculated consistently around the world.

Click here for more information.

British Columbia Golf is sad to report the passing of a longtime friend and contributor as former Board member and staff employee, Dick Lyle, passed away on December 29th.

As a tribute and in memory of Dick we present here the official obituary as published online at the vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca

British Columbia Golf was saddened to have learned over the Christmas break of the passing of Victoria's Marion Andrews on December 16th at the age of 95.

We wish to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Marion and share the following memoriam as per the Times Colonist Newspaper and Zone 5 Secretary Barb Rainey.

Dr. Jack Lamey Was a PNGA Representative From 2004-2019, And Also Served As PNGA President In 2010-2012

British Columbia Golf wishes to join the Pacific Northwest Golf Association and indeed the entire golf community in expressing our sadness upon the loss of Dr. Jack Lamey over the Christmas Holidays. Dr. Lamey was a very thoughtful and passionate giver to the game of golf and he will be missed by his family, all his friends and acquaintences in and around golf as well as all who knew him. 

We share with you here an announcement put out through the PNGA by its Executive Director, Troy Andrew. 

By John Gordon/Golf Canada

Welcome to Golf Handicaps for Dummies: Why having a handicap is not a handicap.

No, I’m not calling you a dummy, but if you’re a golfer of any ability who doesn’t maintain an accurate and consistent handicap, you’re not taking advantage of one of the fundamentals that makes golf the most democratic of sports. And that’s just dumb.

With all due respect, you can’t go one-on-one with a pro basketball player or hope to score on an NHL goalie. They’re not going to let you shoot at a basket that’s lower than regulation or a net that’s 10 feet wide and six feet high.

But golf’s handicap system allows you to compete on an equitable basis with players who are more or less accomplished than you are. Maintaining a handicap also allows you to monitor your progress every time you play. It’s an integral part of your golf experience.

And, starting Jan. 8, the new World Handicap System makes that scenario even more attractive. More user-friendly, in other words.

British Columbia Performance Coach Colin Lavers Is Excited About The New Program's Focus And Goals For BC's Best Going Forward - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A new program designed to provide some of this province’s top junior golfers with the resources to help them take their games to the next level is a key initiative for British Columbia Golf in 2020.

The British Columbia Golf Performance Program is being rolled out in January, when eight athletes will be selected as the program’s first participants.

The goal, quite simply, is to help more British Columbia junior golfers play their way onto Golf Canada’s national teams. “This is a major enhancement to our existing programs and services,” says Debbie Pyne, Managing Director of Player Development for British Columbia Golf.

Image Courtesy WAGR®

(20 November 2019, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, N.J., USA): The R&A and the USGA today announced the World Amateur Golf Ranking ® (WAGR ®) will be determined by a new system called the Power Method beginning with the first update in January 2020.

The Power Method aims to better reflect the current performance of golfers by placing greater emphasis on current form and results by improving the algorithms used to determine the WAGR.

In the new structure, every event in the world will earn a Power based on the strength of its starting field which will then determine the total number of ranking points on offer to the field. This will extend to a maximum of 1000 for amateur events with players also able to gain ranking points from playing in professional tournaments.

Bellevue, WA's Ian Siebers Was Named PNGA Junior Boy's POY For The 2nd Straight Year - Image Courtesy PNGA

For Immediate Release

Federal Way, Wash. – The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) has announced the 2019 Players of the Year for the region. Those honored include Men's Player of the Year, Joe Highsmith of Lakewood, Wash.; Women’s, Ellie Slama of Salem, Ore.; Men's Mid-Amateur, Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho; Women's Mid-Amateur, Gretchen Johnson of Portland, Ore.; Senior Men's, Pat O’Donnell of Happy Valley, Ore.; Senior Women's, Lara Tennant of Portland, Ore.; Junior Boys', Ian Siebers of Bellevue, Wash.; and Junior Girls', Gihoe Seo of Mercer Island, Wash.

Click here for a list of playing accomplishments of this year’s recipients, and here for a complete history of all past PNGA Player of the Year recipients. 

For Immediate Release

(4 November 2019, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, N.J., USA): The World Handicap System (WHS) is ready to be launched from January 2020 and will provide golfers with a unified and more inclusive handicapping system for the first time.

Though many countries are planning to adopt the new system in January, the system will go live in other parts of the world throughout the year to accommodate different implementation plans and variations in the golfing calendar.

(Delta, BC) – British Columbia Golf has announced their 2019 PNGA Player of the Year nominees. These are the players nominated for their respective categories for the PNGA annual awards this fall. 

The category nominees are as follows: Men’s, Chris Crisologo of Richmond; Women's, Mary Parsons of Delta; Men's Mid-Amateur, Mike Aizawa of Richmond; Women's Mid-Amateur, Nonie Marler of Vancouver; Senior Men's, Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver; Senior Women's, Jackie Little of Procter; Junior Boys', Jace Minni of Delta ; and Junior Girls', Michelle Liu of Vancouver .

PNGA Senior Women's Champion Leslie Folsom (L) And Super Senior Champion Holly Horwood (R) - PNGA Photo

Via Press Release

Spokane, Wash. – Leslie Folsom of Tukwila, Wash. shot rounds of 73-76 to win the 33rd Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur; while Holly Horwood of Vancouver, B.C. successfully defended her title by winning the 8th Super Senior Women’s Amateur, her third consecutive title in this championship.

Both 36-hole championships were held concurrently this week at Kalispel Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Wash., and were conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Visit thepnga.org for complete final scoring of both championships.

RBC Canadian Open (Marcus Oleniuk/ Golf Canada)

Whether you’re a club member, an avid public player or a new enthusiast to the game, spending on the sport of golf drives massive benefit to communities across Canada.

The impact of golf on the Canadian economy is enormous—an economic impact in excess of $14B is only part of the story. Golf courses and the industry at large account for hundreds of thousands of jobs. Canadians and international visitors plan golf vacations to communities that market themselves as golf destinations and resorts offer golf packages that result in millions of tourism dollars.