Written By John Gordon/Courtesy Golf Canada

"It would not be a bad idea to require each golfer to pass a written examination on the Rules of Golf…”

Don’t panic. That was just the opinion of J.T. Clark, editor of the Toronto Star.

In 1915.

With the 2019 Annual General Meeting coming up, British Columbia Golf, the governing body of amateur golf in our province, is using the occasion to shine a light on three of the most important elements identified as part of the continued growth and well-being of the game as we look ahead with '2020' vision.

This year's meeting will take place on Saturday, March 30th from 8:30am (registration) - 3pm at Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club, 5099 Springs Boulevard, Tsawwassen, B.C .

Courtesy Golf Canada

Golf Canada is pleased to announce its 2019 championship schedule, which includes a record setting 31 amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

The 2019 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s premier professional championships — the RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., and the CP Women’s Open, to be conducted August 19-25 at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.

The 2019 competition calendar includes eight national amateur championships, eight Future Links, driven by Acura regional junior competitions and two international women’s championships.

This month we feature the two most recent episodes of The ModGolf Podcast as part of our effort to bring you golf’s best innovation and entrepreneurship stories.

Surrey, BC's Adam Svensson Holds Up His PGA TOUR Card Last Fall After Graduating From The Web.com Circuit. Top Left: Adam Holds The B.C. Junior Boys Trophy He Won In Trail In 2011 

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Svensson is now a PGA TOUR regular and that’s a surprise to, well, just about no one.

After all, that’s always been the plan for Svensson, a 25-year-old Surrey native who is off to a solid start in his rookie campaign on golf’s biggest stage.

“To tell you the honest truth, we anticipated that Adam would do very well in his career at a very young age,” says Svensson’s dad, Frank. “I just knew he had the talent. We did go abroad and tested his talent at a very young age and he did well there. He was just destined to end up on the PGA TOUR, so it’s not really not that much of a surprise to us.”

(Delta, BC) - British Columbia Golf is pleased to announce the addition of Doug Hastie to their staff as the new Manager Field Operations/Tournament Director for BC Golf.

Doug will officially assume his role with British Columbia Golf commencing on Friday, March 1st, 2019.

Doug's primary role will be to organize and conduct all British Columbia Golf Amateur Championships. The Manager Field Operations/Tournament Director supports this function through the negotiation, setup and delivery of each event. This individual also acts as a resource available to golfers and member facilities providing interpretations and answers related to the rules of golf and rules of handicapping.

British Columbia Golf is looking for a qualified Performance Coach. 

The position is a part-time, one (1) year contract with a salary pending qualifications and experience, with a three month probation period. Travel allowances and coach education benefits are provided.

There is potential for the contract to be extended to a two-year period.

Interested applicants please CLICK HERE for complete details.

Application  deadline is 12 Noon, February 15th, 2019.

By John Gordon/Courtesy Golf Canada

As you have heard, a historic reworking of the Rules of Golf came into effect on Jan. 1.

To gain a better understanding of how it affects recreational golfers like me, I invited Adam Helmer, Golf Canada’s director of Rules, competitions and amateur status, to play nine holes with me at my home club. While the round is fictional—it is minus 8 in Central Ontario and Midland G&CC is snow-covered as I write this—the new Rules are anything but.

British Columbia Golf is pleased to announce that Chilliwack's Ray Flynn is to be recognized at the 2019 Sport BC Awards Banquet with the prestigious Presidents Award. 

Founded in 1994, Sport BC’s Annual Presidents’ Awards promote and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism by giving member organizations an opportunity to acknowledge and thank an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to their sport.

Some of the new Rules of Golf appear to have confused people.

This may help, a video highlighting the main changes with the new 2019 Rules of Golf.

Golf’s new Rules have been published by the The R&A and USGA in partnership with Golf Canada with the effective date of Jan. 1, 2019.

For the first time, a new Player’s Edition of the Rules of Golf is being introduced to provide a shorter, more user-friendly version of the Rules for golfers at all levels of the game.

 Via Press Release

Federal Way, Wash. – The 7,248-yard, par-72 Championship Course at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque will host the world’s most accomplished amateur golfers for the 53rd installment of the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship.

The 53rd Pacific Coast Amateur Championship, hosted by the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association (SCAGA), will take place July 23-26, 2019. This will be the first time in history that the Pacific Coast Amateur will be played in New Mexico.

With the recent celebration of International Volunteer Day (IVD) across the globe, British Columbia Golf would like to take this opportunity to both acknowledge and sincerely thank the many women, men and young people who regularly give of their time and expertise to help make the championship events held in our province run smoothly and efficiently and indeed, allowing them to take place at all.

By RYAN HERRINGTON, Golf Digest

As January 1, 2019, approaches, it’s time to consider what New Year’s resolutions you’ll be making to help your golf game in 2019.

For those who haven’t come up with any, here’s a suggestion: Learn the Rules of Golf. (No, really learn them this time.)

Perhaps you’ve tried, only to find that by February, the copy of the rules book you picked up is covered with as much dust as that Peloton you bought to get into shape.

Yet here’s the thing: There’s no better time than now to give it another shot because a new, modernized version of the rules goes into effect on New Year’s Day.

Click here for the full story...

Courtesy the good folks at Global Golf Post and YouTube, we'd like to share this inspiring video from 2013.

Each Christmas at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, there are a few kids who are too sick to go home. Watch how Arnold Palmer helped deliver some Christmas Miracles just in time!

Video created with love by strong films (http://strongfilms.org)

"Auld Lang Syne" and "Jingle Bells" performed by Ben Rector, used with permission!

British Columbia Golf members and staff would like to offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of Emily Mae Beauchamp (Ringheim) following her passing in September. There is a celebration of her life being planned for July 27th, 2019.

The Kimberley, BC native was heavily involved in junior golf in our province and was a tremendous influence in the community volunteering her time in many capacities. 

Below is an excerpt from her obituary posted by Thompson Funeral Service in Nelson, BC.

Named To Golf Canada's 2019 Team Canada Squad From B.C. Are From L-R: Richmond's Chris Crisologo and Victoria's Namoi Ko And Jeevan Sihota - Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

Golf Canada is proud to announce the 17 athletes who have been chosen to represent Team Canada as part of the 2019 National Amateur and Junior Squads.

In all, seven athletes comprise Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad including four players on the men’s team and three on the women’s team. The 10-member Junior Squad will include five women and five men.