This past month British Columbia Golf held its Annual General Meeting in Richmond and reported on a number of elements affecting the overall state of the governing body for golf in the province of BC.

As a summary of that gathering we present here the views of British Columbia Golf President, Patrick Kelly. As a means of explaining the organization's performance of late, Mr. Kelly uses as a platform the 'Industry Scorecard' which was created a couple of years ago

The Allied Golf Association (AGA) in conjunction with British Columbia Golf produced a 'scorecard' which grades the various components of the golf industry with respect to performance in those areas by comparing it against par on a typical golf scorecard.

You can see how the golf industry saw its own performance at that time below. And as with any competitor who wishes to excel, the goal is to bring that score in line with improved results and aim to submit the best score possible.

The 2018 PNGA Cup is being held this year from May 2-4, 2018 at the Seattle Golf Clubin Shoreline, WA.

This Ryder-Cup style championship features some of the most notable amateur golfers in the Pacific Northwest region with 12-member teams representing the regional golf associations that makeup the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, which includes British Columbia Golf, Idaho Golf Association, Oregon Golf Association, and Washington State Golf Association.

Courtesy Uplands Golf Club Newsletter (Jan Allen - editor)/Prepared by UGC Member Nancy Greer

In Memoriam - Joan Lawson

This past month brought with it the sad news of the passing of a very special member of the Women's Division, Honorary Life Member, Joan Lawson, in her 98th year.

Joan began golfing as a 15-year-old junior member of Uplands in 1935, just 13 years after Uplands was founded. Her first major win in a truly outstanding amateur golf career came just 3 years later in 1938 when she won the Empress Midwinter Tournament.

This was followed by a long list of wins, not the least of which was being our Ladies Club Champion 21 times and Runner Up 3 times between 1942 to 1978, a truly remarkable feat to remain in top competitive form over this span of 36 years.

Images Labelled For Reuse

Now that the governing bodies of golf have finalized the 'modernized' version of golf's rules, due to be brought into effect January 1, 2019, we thought we would bring to everyone's attention an article published in the Globe and Mail recently that harkens back to the original rules of the game from 1744.

Once upon a time, golf was played under a 13 rule format and although in many ways it was a much simpler game, it was also a far more difficult game, certainly at least when you take into account how often the initial laws essentially inferred that it was, 'tough luck old chap' when a number of unfortunate occurences took place.

PGA of BC Golf Professionals Will Be Introducing Children To The Sport During Spring Break This Month At Camps Taking Place In Several Locations Across The Province - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

via PGA of BC

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- With a two-week break from the classroom coming up for British Columbia students this month, many PGA of BC facilities are offering the perfect way to keep children active and occupied over Spring Break.

Kids of all ages can learn the game from PGA of BC Golf Professionals at one of many camps taking place across the province during the Spring Break period, providing a chance for youth to pick up golf through the sport’s most trusted instructors at an affordable price.

The 2018 Members of British Columbia Golf's NPJL Team: Clockwise From Top Left: Kathrine Chan, Claire Lovan, Phoebe Yue, Angel Lin, Tiffany Kong And Akari Hayashi 

This year is the 32nd edition of the North Pacific Junior Ladies' Team Matches and will see squads from British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington competing May 25th - May 27th at the Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon.

British Columbia Golf is looking for a 'Three-peat' in 2018 having won the last two versions, on home soil at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in 2016 and then defending their title at Illahe Hills Country Club in Salem, Oregon last year.

BC Provincial Coach Colin Lavers Addresses A Group Of Young Players At The BC Provincial Titleist Performance Camp Held Recently At Northview GC In Surrey - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Like a lot of golfers, Dustin Franko is guilty of getting a little down on himself when things aren’t going his way on the course. “I feel like I am not as mentally strong as I need to be,” said Franko, a 17-year-old North Delta resident. “It is probably the weakest part of my game. I find myself getting mad at myself quite a bit.”

Franko left the recent two-day B.C. Provincial Titleist Performance Camp at Northview Golf Course in Surrey feeling like he is now better equipped to deal with some of those inevitable challenging moments on the golf course.

Courtenay, BC's Abigail Rigsby, Shown Above Playing On BC's Winning Team In The 2016 North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches, Won Her 1st Collegiate Title, Taking The Midwestern State Invitational - Image(s) Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/ OCU Athletics

Courtesy Oklahoma Christian University Athletics/Women's Golf

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (March 13, 2018) – Abigail Rigsby had been close to winning her first collegiate tournament so many times and the Oklahoma Christian golfer finally busted down the door to victory on Tuesday.

Rigsby pulled away from the field in her typical steady fashion, turning a one-shot lead to start the day into a four-shot runaway in the Midwestern State Invitational at Wichita Falls Country Club. Her final-round 4-over-par 76 gave the sophomore from Courtenay, British Columbia, a two-day total of 149 over the 5,843-yard course.

Fast approaching year 3, Women’s Golf Day is a one-day event celebrating girls and women playing golf and learning the skills that last a lifetime. 

In less than three years, one woman’s idea has blossomed into a global movement that is quickly becoming the next big thing in golf. The organizers at WGD are excited to bring you better technology, advanced features, new events, and more as #wgdinspires on June 5, 2018!

As part of this valuable and exciting venture, it is all-important to have as many golf facilities as possible on board and assist with hosting women of all ages for this event as the game continues to grow and welcome everyone who has an interest in 'golf, a sport for life'.

British Columbia Golf is proud to represent over 300 member golf clubs throughout our province. There's an old saying that "Membership has its privileges" and while that's true, being a member of a golf facility provides so much more than merely privileges.

The benefits to all involved are numerous and often it's merely a matter of knowing what is available in order to make a solid choice and begin enjoying those benefits right away.

With that in mind, we present here links to British Columbia Golf member clubs who are offering membership opportunities and just what those opportunities entail as far as categories, price ranges etc. 

Please click on the links associated with the clubs listed below to see what is being offered and how you can begin getting the most out of your 'golf time'. 

British Columbia Golf wishes to extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of Cherie A. Baker (Harrison) who passed away on February 8th. As such, we offer a memoriam from her family here in commemoration of Cherie's life and long involvement with the game of golf. 

Cherie A. Baker (nee Harrison)

April 8th, 1947 – February 8th, 2018

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Cherie A. Baker (Harrison), age 70, of Creston, BC, who passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, AB, where she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

The BC Provincial Titleist Performance Camp is fast approaching, Saturday March 10th - Sunday March 11th at Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey.

THIS CAMP IS NOW SOLD OUT

Dear Players/Parents

The 2018 BC Golf Provincial Titleist Performance camp has been well oversubscribed with almost 40 registrants to date. Therefore, the registration has been closed early due to the high demand. Every effort is being made to set-up additional camps on a regional basis or to accommodate as many players as possible who are seeking provincial level training for future team selection.

Originally 16 spots were available, we have expanded this to 20 spots. The Performance Camp Selection Committee will meet in the next couple of days to decide the players who will be accepted for the 20 spots for the March 10-11, 2018 camp at Northview Golf Course.

Players will be notified no later than Thursday afternoon, March 1st, 2018.

If you were intending to still register for the camp and are interested in training, please feel free to send a note to elizabeth@britishcolumbiagolf.org and she will place you on our wait list to be notified when the additional camps are confirmed. This includes a camp on Vancouver Island.

Best regards, Debbie Pyne

Managing Director of Player Development

2018 British Columbia Golf Instagram Contest

Each month of 2018 (excluding January) British Columbia Golf will be giving away a logo shirt (similar to the one worn by 2017 Provincial Order of Merit Winner Chris Crisologo in the picture above) to one of our Instagram followers through our Instagram Contest.

Here is how you enter:

1. Take a photo of yourself or your friends doing any golf related activity (mini golf, driving range, virtual golf etc…)
2. Post that photo to your Instagram page
3. Tag us (@britishcolumbiagolf) and use the hashtag #BCGOLF
4. Follow us on Instagram

Your name goes into a draw at the end of the month to win the shirt.

Rules:

1. To be entered you must be following British Columbia Golf on Instgram
2. Only one entry per person per month

For further information contact either Tyler McKay at tyler@britishcolumbiagolf.org or Bryan Outram at bryan@britishcolumbiagolf.org 

USGA and The R&A Release Key Features

Golf Canada To Adopt All Features Of The Proposed New World Handicap System

For Immediate Release

February 20, 2018

Liberty Corner, N.J., USA and St Andrews, Scotland – The R&A and the USGA announce key features of the proposed new World Handicap System (WHS), designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability globally.

The idea for a new, unified system was conceived by the USGA and The R&A and developed following an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities - Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The 2018 Chinese New Year begins on Friday, February 16. Chinese New Year takes place on a different date each year, because it is based on the lunar calendar.

New Year's Day normally falls between January 21 and February 20.

The global celebrations are an explosion of light and sound, involving bell ringing, lighting firecrackers and watching traditional lion dances. Chinese families gather together for a reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, and clean their houses to sweep away bad fortune on New Year's Day.

Traditionally, kids would be given red envelopes stuffed with 'lucky money' and positive wishes on New Year's Day.

2018 is a Year of the Dog. In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle. 2018 is an Earth Dog Year.

Years of the Dog include 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, and 2030... The Dog occupies the eleventh position in the Chinese zodiac, after the Rooster, and before the Pig.

For more information on Chinese New Year please CLICK HERE

With the Vancouver GOLFEXPO coming up this weekend, Feb. 17 & 18 at the PNE Forum, you can now preview who is taking part and what there is to see and do in this great kick-start to the golf year.

Simply CLICK HEREor on the image below to see the live, mobile-friendly version of the GOLFEXPO show program with the floor plan of where to find your favourite equipment manufacturers, golf facilities, travel opportunities, instructors, associations and organizations and so much more at this year's show.

Yes, it's that time of year again. Thank goodness. With the start of each new year comes the desire to get ready to head out onto the local golf links in our fine province as Spring is surely just around the corner. 

And one of the harbingers of that time of year is of course the Vancouver GOLFEXPO, where golf enthusiasts can get an early start on special deals for their favourite courses, see the latest exciting equipment that's being offered and do some great pre-season shopping for apparel as well.

The Vancouver GOLFEXPO is now under the management of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) of Canada and with that there promises to be a host of new and different experiences at the show so be sure to come and check it out.

Find out more details and get the discount PROMO CODE for your ticket below. 

A Photo From A Junior Event Held At Westwood Plateau A Few Years Back With A Young Chris Crisologo (3rd From Left Standing, Middle Row) And His Acknowledged Mentor Harry White (Back Row, Centre) - Image Courtesy Brad Ewart (Kneeling, Far Right In Photo) 

One of Harry White's most gracious and talented young disciples, Chris Crisologo, pays tribute to the gentleman who helped him fall in love with the game, but more importantly, as Chris iterates, taught him so many valuable life lessons.

By Chris Crisologo (reprinted with permission)

The one question I get asked often is ‘why did you choose golf?’ The short and quick answer I like to give is that my dad thought it was a good idea to introduce me to all sports and see which one stuck.

Here’s the long story that got me hooked to competitive golf, one that seems very fitting.

Everyone at British Columbia Golf would like to wish all golfers and their friends and family a wonderful Holiday season, however you choose to celebrate. 

Please be safe and enjoy your loved ones as we all look fore-ward (sorry...) to a new and exciting year in golf in 2018.

Note that the British Columbia Golf office will be closed from Friday, December 15th, 2017 - Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018.

See you all in the New Year!

Best Wishes For The Holidays and The New Year From Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum (Tall Gentleman In The Middle) And BC Golf Staff From L-R: Kojo Frempong, Susan White, Corrie Wong, (Mr. Applebaum), Elizabeth Dunn And British Columbia Golf CEO Kris Jonasson. (Missing from photo: Debbie Pyne, Tyler McKay, Andy Fung and Bryan Outram) - Image Credit Bryan Outram

image courtesy viaSport British Columbia

This is an open letter and invitation from viaSport's Chief Executive Officer, Sheila Bouman, to parents and sport leaders of young people who take part in sports in our B.C. communities on how they as mentors and coaches can be involved in positively affecting the experience our youngsters have within sports environments in British Columbia.