New Capilano GC Head Professional Mike Haraguchi

Taylor, Hadwin head to Pebble Beach and Netflix; Lauren Kim gets second crack at Augusta National; Sloan heads to Panama for season debut on Korn Ferry Tour

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(January 27, 2025) - You can count on one hand the number of head professionals Capilano Golf & Country Club has had since opening in 1939. Mike Haraguchi is honoured to be among them.

The highly regarded West Vancouver private club recently appointed the Richmond native as their new head pro.

He succeeds Mark Thirtle, who departed last year to become director of golf at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara, Calif.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(January 20, 2025) - The new owners of Westwood Plateau hope to restore the mountainside layout in Coquitlam to its former glory.

Coquitlam-based JK World Group finalized the purchase just before Christmas. The property includes a championship course, executive course, driving range and two restaurants.

Along with the new owners comes a new name. The facility is now known as GreenTee Country Club Westwood Plateau.

Westwood Plateau GC Is Now Known As GreenTee Country Club Westwood Plateau 

Taylor ties for 12th at American Express; Zalli set for Challenge Tour debut; Amy Lee a finalist for Sport BC award; Rivershore to play host to Canadian University/College Championship

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(January 20, 2025) - The new owners of Westwood Plateau hope to restore the mountainside layout in Coquitlam to its former glory.

Coquitlam-based JK World Group finalized the purchase just before Christmas. The property includes a championship course, executive course, driving range and two restaurants.

Along with the new owners comes a new name. The facility is now known as GreenTee Country Club Westwood Plateau.

Westwood’s Country Club course is now known as the Sky Course, while the executive layout has been renamed the Fine Course.

BC's Roger Sloan Is Looking To Play His Best Golf On The Korn Ferry Tour - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

Cooper Humphreys comes close on Asher Tour; Clara Ding wins in Florida; Lauren Kim named female amateur of the year

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(January 13, 2025) - Roger Sloan hasn’t spent a lot of time feeling sorry for himself since losing his PGA TOUR card. This isn’t the first time the former Merritt resident has been forced to return to golf’s minor leagues, where he must now play his way back to the PGA TOUR.

He’s been there, done that and now he has to do it again. It’s that simple. There’s no point dwelling on what was a poor 2024 season. “I have been through it before so I kind of know what to expect,” Sloan said in an interview with British Columbia Golf.

BC's Nick Taylor Won His 5th PGA TOUR Title At The Sony Open In Hawaii - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

For a good chunk of his PGA TOUR career, Nick Taylor flew under the radar. He was known as a steady, not spectacular, player who quietly went about his business.

Not anymore. Taylor has developed a flair for the dramatic. The bigger the moment, the better he plays. And when he gets in contention, Taylor just hits one clutch shot after another.

He did it again on a magical Sunday on the island of Oahu where Taylor chipped in for eagle on the 72nd hole and then beat Nico Echavarria of Colombia on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Below we repost with permission his obituary as it was run in his home club's newsletter. Also, please link to this page to see the official obituary as it ran in the Times Colonist. 

Adam Hadwin Is Shown Here In 2024 Sony Open In Hawaii (Image Credit: Bryan Outram/BC Golf)

Ziemer's Notes: Macdonald heads to Bahamas for Korn Ferry Tour opener; Zalli about to become a world traveller on DP Challenge Tour; Humphreys top-10s at Thunderbolt Invitational; Clara Ding impresses in Florida

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(January 6, 2025)  - A four-round total of 18-under par will usually get you a top 10, maybe even a win, most weeks on the PGA TOUR.

Not at Kapalua’s Plantation course, where the season-opening Sentry tournament is an absolute birdie-fest.

Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin had 24 birdies and an eagle in his 72 holes of golf at the Plantation and just eked out a top-30 finish by finishing 29th at 18-under par.

Capilano hires its new superintendent from within, now looking for new head pro; British Columbians blanked at Asian Tour Q-school; Anna Huang earns status on Ladies European Tour

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was a lost opportunity, one that had weighed heavily on Stuart Macdonald in recent months. After a fine season on the PGA Tour Americas circuit, the Vancouver pro had come agonizingly close this past fall to earning a promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour.

Ten Korn Ferry Tour cards were handed out when the PGA Tour Americas season ended in early September and Macdonald fell from 10th to 11th in the final event of the season. It’s not a stretch to say he was devastated.

But Macdonald’s story has a happy ending. You could call it a Christmas miracle of sorts.

Via: PGA of BC

Richmond, BC (December 19, 2024) - The PGA of BC is excited to announce its Championships Schedule for the 2025 season.

The PGA of BC is thrilled to welcome members to the following tournaments set to take place across the province next year. Returning to the Association's competitive slate in 2025, the Pro-Pro Championship will make its comeback September 8 & 9 at Tower Ranch Golf Club.

The schedule for the Jack McLaughlin Memorial Pro-Junior Series has yet to be finalized. The event will take place at four unique locations throughout BC during the month of July. The complete Pro-Junior Series schedule, including dates and locations, will be released in the new year.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

DELTA, BC (December 17, 2024) - British Columbia golfers continued to shine in 2024. Abbotsford, BC's Nick Taylor’s win at WM Phoenix Open highlights our top 10 best stories of the past year.

If anyone was wondering what Nick Taylor was going to do for an encore after his incredible win at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, the Abbotsford native delivered it early in 2024. Eight months after winning his national open, Taylor went out and won one of the PGA TOUR’s flagship events in what is now his second home.

Taylor rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Charley Hoffman and capture the WM Phoenix Open title. That win, Taylor’s fourth on the PGA TOUR, is our selection as the top British Columbia golf story of 2024.

Taylor, who will soon be defending his title at TPC Scottsdale, spoke with British Columbia Golf and reminisced about that win in the Arizona desert.

Golf Canada via PGA TOUR Communications 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – (December 16, 2024)  - The PGA TOUR announced the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas schedule, which features 16 tournaments contested across eight countries, beginning in March and culminating in September at the Fortinet Cup Championship contested at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, British Columbia and where Korn Ferry Tour membership will be awarded to the top 10 finishers on the season-long Fortinet Cup standings.

For the second consecutive season, the top 10 players in the final Fortinet Cup standings will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the 2026 season. A $225,000 USD purse will be contested for at each of the 16 events, totaling a $3.6 million USD pot for the season. Additionally, a $100,000 bonus pool will be shared among the top 10 players, with $25,000 awarded to the points leader, courtesy of Fortinet.

Click HERE to see complete story & schedule. 

By: Brendan Stasiewich, PGA of Canada

MISSION INN RESORT, FLORIDA (December 12, 2024) -  Sometimes, placing in second is heartbreaking. A tournament can come down to one single shot, or one single mental mistake.

Sometimes, though, like this week for example at the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf and supported by G&G Brands, nobody was left thinking that.

Sometimes, a player gets on such a heater, no other player can even think about 13 strokes they could have shaved off.

After rounds of 67 and 68 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida, Stinson closed with a final-round 66, the low round of the tournament, for a commanding victory.

Click HERE to see complete story on PGA of Canada website. 

By Terry Lenyk/Golf Canada

(December 10, 2024) CALGARY – LaunchPad Golf is set to significantly expand its footprint with the opening of six new locations across Canada.

The new venues will include North Calgary (AB), South Edmonton (AB), Richmond (BC), Markham (ON), Kitchener-Waterloo (ON), and a new flagship 60-suite venue at Durham Live (www.dlive.ca) in Pickering (ON). The Pickering site will anchor the company’s expansion, featuring its largest facility yet as part of the Durham Live entertainment district.

Yeji Kwon misses cut at LPGA Q-school; Henry Lee advances to final stage of Asian Tour Q-school; Surrey council to debate Peace Portal redevelopment in New Year

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(December 9, 2024) - The second stage of PGA TOUR Q-school wrapped up last week and its long list of casualties included British Columbians Stuart Macdonald of Vancouver, Chris Crisologo of Richmond and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam.

For them and so many others, PGA TOUR regular Joel Dahmen had some words of encouragement he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “For every player who didn’t get thru 2nd stage this year, keep your head up,” Dahmen said in his post. “I never got through myself. Keep believing.”

Courtesy, PGA of BC

Richmond, BC (December 3, 2024)  - The PGA of BC Simulator Series presented by Club Champion debuted in spectacular fashion as professionals embraced the challenge of virtual competition.

The series' first event, which took place at St. Andrews Links, Old Course, concluded with a commanding performance by Matthew Palsenbarg (Point Grey Golf & Country Club) who claimed victory with an impressive 8-under-par 64.

"I knew the bar to beat was 4-under, and that 10-foot circle was all that mattered," said Palsenbarg. "I hit 18/18 greens and even drove the ninth to 68 feet for the 3-putt par. I was really happy with it and I can't lie, the nerves were real on the home stretch knowing that OB right was on every hole coming home."

(December 6, 2024) - Recently British Columbia Golf CEO Kris Jonasson spent some time answering a number of golf-related questions about the state of the game in our province on the ModGolf Live Podcast.

Check it out here:

Morgan Creek to play host to PGA Tour Americas’ Fortinet Cup Championship; Longtime McCleery, Langara pro Muncie Booth retiring

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(December 2, 2024)  - Yeji Kwon sailed through her first qualifying school test and now hopes she can ace the final exam.

That would be the final stage of the LPGA Tour’s Qualifying Series, which goes Dec. 5-9 in Mobile, Ala. The 18-year-old Port Coquitlam resident earned her spot in the final stage back in late October when she tied for 10th at second-stage qualifying.

That finish has earned her good Epson Tour status for 2025, but the former Canadian Junior Girls champion doesn’t want to settle for that.

Point Grey winner Dahmen comes up clutch in final round; Macdonald, Ewart, Crisologo prepare for second stage; du Toit makes cut in Hong Kong, now heads to Qatar

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The PGA TOUR wrapped up its 2024 season at last week’s RSM Classic on St. Simons Island in Georgia, where Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor didn’t play but got some good news anyway.

Taylor managed to hang on to his spot inside the top 60 on the Fed Ex Cup points list — finishing 60th — and that means he can add a couple of lucrative Signature events to his 2025 PGA TOUR schedule. Players finishing 51st to 60th on the points list earned invitations into two California Signature events, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the Monterey Peninsula and the Genesis Championship at Riviera Country Club in suburban Los Angeles.

The 2024 season was a mixed bag for the four British Columbians who had PGA TOUR status. Here’s how we grade their play in 2024.

British Columbia Golf is saddened to learn of the recent passing of longtime director, Wayne Haddad, of Cranbrook B.C. on November 18, 2024 at the age of 84. The entire BC Golf organization would like to offer our condolences to Wayne's family and friends.

Wayne was a director for 22 years (1982 to 2004) with the BC Golf Association. He thoroughly enjoyed his trips as a chaperone taking junior boys to various golf tournaments. 

Please go to this link to see the official obituary for Wayne.