VANCOUVER, BC (April 4, 2018) — Sport BC is very proud to announce the athletes, coaches and officials who were the successful recipients of the 2018 Athlete of the Year Awards, held in Vancouver on March 28, 2018.

The Province of BC proudly supported the 52nd Annual Athlete of the Year Awards with the Honourable Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture in attendance to honour the recipients. These extraordinary individuals were honoured for their excellence in and contribution to sport in front of 500 guests at the Westin Bayshore Vancouver Hotel.

You're invited to the 23rd Annual KidSport Golf Tournament hosted by Morgan Creek Golf Course.

They will be hosting once again at Morgan Creek on Monday, June 18th. Last year was a big success and they are hoping to build on that success again this year. Please check out the registration links below as a full field of golfers means more kids will have the opportunity to play a season of sport.

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley Made An Historical Announcement Today Regarding The Establishment Of The Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship - Image Courtesy Twitter

Via Masters.com 

AUGUSTA, GA (April 4, 2018) - Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, announced today the establishment of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, which will be held annually the week prior to the Masters and will culminate with the final round taking place at Augusta National.

“Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts left behind a legacy of always trying to contribute meaningfully to the game of golf,” Ridley said. “The Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship embodies that principle, and we believe this event will have a significant and lasting impact on the future of the women’s game. Our hope and expectation is that this event will further energize those who already love the sport and inspire others through the dream of competing at Augusta National.”

The 54-hole, stroke play tournament will feature an international field of 72 players. Invitees will be determined by awarding winners of other recognized championships and using the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking.

CLICK HERE to read full story. 

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.

Janson Chapman And Becca Covey At Government House In Victoria, Where Chapman Was Honoured For Saving Covey's Life - Photograph By TIMES COLONIST

A hiking date on Vancouver Island for two friends turned into a life-saving rescue from the edge of a frigid waterfall that earned Janson Chapman a bravery medal and a lifetime partner.

Chapman, a golf course greens keeper from Colwood, was one of 46 people honoured Wednesday with medals of service by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette during a ceremony at British Columbia's government house.

Twenty-two-year-old Chapman said he was on a date last March with Becca Covey near Gold River when she slipped on ice, fell about 15 metres and ended up clinging from a log at the edge of the Lower Myra Falls.

CLICK HERE to see full story

WHISTLER, British Columbia — Despite a thick blanket of snow covering much of the course, the staff at Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club is busy preparing to welcome its 25th golf season. The projected opening is early May, and guests will enjoy special spring pricing of $119 CAD per player through May 25th. From May 26th through September 30th, rates will be $189 CAD weekdays and $199 CAD weekends.

The 2018 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Schedule Kicks Off With The Freedom 55 Financial Open At Point Grey G&CC Where Last Year Richmond, BC's Chris Crisologo With Caddy Alisha Lau Finished As The Low Canadian For The Event - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

Coast-to-coast schedule features 13 events and increased prize money

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA – The 2018 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada schedule was announced on Tuesday, featuring 13 official tournaments from May to September and a $25,000 increase for all tournament purses as players compete to make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR.

The season will begin with the Freedom 55 Financial Open (May 28-June 3) at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia, with purses of $200,000 (CA$) for all regular events and a $225,000 (CA$) purse for the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship (Sept. 10-16) at Highland Country Club in London.

Twelve Outstanding Aboriginal Athletes Received The Premier’s Award For Aboriginal Youth Excellence In Sport Including Penticton's Kylie Jack In Golf (Back Row, 4th From Right) - Image Courtesy BC Government and I·SPARC

Richmond, BC - The 2017 Premier's Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport were presented in Richmond on Tuesday, March 20 to twelve outstanding Aboriginal youth athletes from British Columbia. Their athletic accomplishments are as extraordinary as their commitment to their community and future aspirations.

The awards were presented by the Honourable Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, during a formal celebration held during the opening ceremonies of the Gathering Our Voices Youth Conference at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel in Richmond, B.C.

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 Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club Is Taking Steps To Ensure The Venerable Club Remains One Of The Best In Not Only B.C. But The Entire Country Even As It Eyes The End Of Its Lease In 2033 - Image Courtesy Shaughnessy G&CC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

As the clock ticks on its lease with the Musqueam band, there is no period of mourning planned at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club. Instead, there is a celebration of life going on, one intended to make the final 15 years of the private club’s existence its best ever.

Shaughnessy, it seems, is determined to go out on a high note. “There is no doom and gloom here at all,” says general manager Jason Sigurdson. “We are really confidently looking forward to the future.”

That future will last until 2033, when the Shaughnessy property along Southwest Marine Drive on Vancouver’s posh west side, is returned to the Musqueam band. The club has leased the property from the band since 1958.

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.

Laminated Densified Wood Consists Of Beech Veneers, Which Are Joined Together With Synthetic Resins Under Pressure And Heat.

Ontario-based Keith Holden has taken putters back to their roots.

For Immediate Release

Burnaby, B.C. - In the tradition of The Masters Tournament played annually in Augusta, Georgia, the Grizzly Golf Tour (GGT) announces the first Major of the season.

The 36-hole GGT Masters is set for March 31 and April 1 at Burnaby’s Central Park and Kensington Park Pitch & Putt golf courses. The tournament is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 15 years with competition in five divisions.

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.

The 8th annual First Tee Million Dollar Pro-Am Challenge is all about raising funds to ensure vulnerable kids and youth can have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the game of golf.

The First Tee of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver enables kids ages 6-17 to learn how to set goals and build character while learning fundamental golf skills. Through the game of golf, kids also learn essential life skills and positive values have a whole lot of fun. Let’s face it—kids learn best when they’re having fun!

This exciting shotgun tournament will offer amateur players an intimate experience to compete in an 18 hole team scramble with one of Canada’s premier golf professionals. Held at the exclusive Richmond Country Club, eight lucky participants will be randomly drawn and will have an opportunity to sink a hole-in-one shot to win $1,000,000.

2017 British Columbia Golf Junior Boys Champion Christian Zalli Takes A Drop During The Championship At Squamish Valley GC - Image(s) Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

The USGA nd The R&A have unveiled the new Rules of Golf, to be implemented on 1 January 2019. 

The USGA and The R&A finalized golf’s new Rules this month after an extensive review that included a request for feedback from the global golf community on the proposed changes. Golfers can now access the official 2019 Rules of Golf by visiting www.RandA.org or www.usga.org/rules.

The process to modernize the Rules began in 2012 and was initiated to ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to make the game more attractive and accessible for newcomers.

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'. 

Image Courtesy Golf Canada

For Immediate Publication

(5 March 2018, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, NJ, USA) - The R&A and the USGA have completed the annual review of driving distance in golf, producing a research report that documents and evaluates important findings from the 2017 season.

Introduced in 2015, the annual report examines driving distance data from seven of the major worldwide professional golf tours, based on nearly 300,000 drives per year. The data from studies of male and female amateur golfers is also included.