In keeping with the tradition of offering top-level coaching and support for aspiring young golfers in BC, British Columbia Golf is pleased to present the latest additions to the High Performance team with British Columbia Golf. 

Debbie Pyne, BC Golf's Managing Director of Player Performance - and recent recipient of Sport BC's In Her Footsteps...Celebrating Women In Sport Award, identified a need for regional representation for the Performance Coach positions and as such now welcomes Patrick Lago as the Vancouver-based Performance Coach and Conner Kozak as the Okanagan-based Performance Coach.

Image courtesy pexels/pixabay

OTTAWA, May 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) launches its month-long Sun Awareness Month campaign, urging Canadians to learn about the causes and early warning signs of skin cancer.

“With melanoma being the 5th most common cancer type found in youth and young adults (15-29) and 4th most common cancer type found in middle-aged adults (30-49), it should be a priority for Canadians to learn how to conduct a skin cancer self-examination and know the warning signs,” says National Chair of the CDA Sun Awareness Working Group and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Sunil Kalia.

For the full month of May, the CDA is dedicated to sharing important sun awareness messages and resources for Canadians, including steps to conduct a self-examination and preventative actions across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, the CDA website, media, and more.

The 2nd Annual GolfBC GROUP BC WOMEN’S OPEN Presented by Boyd Autobody & Glass is a 36-Hole Stroke Play Championship contested at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club on June 10 & 11th, 2023.

The event is open to both Female Professionals and Female Amateurs with a registered Golf Canada or USGA handicap of 26.0 or less.

A tremendous opportunity for female golfers of all abilities, the event features very generous prizing expected to be over $10,000 in value for both the professional and amateur divisions (based on full field entry for both divisions).

See below for more details and how to enter.

Vancouver's Adam Fine Found Golf Helped Him Through A Life-Threatening Illness - YouTube Photo Capture

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Fine grew up not far from Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park, where he and his buddies were regulars at the local pitch and putt course. “It is possible I played there a thousand times,” Fine says.

Yet he didn’t consider himself a golfer.

“Pitch and putt I always loved, golf itself was an absolute non-starter,” he says. Then golf helped save his life and everything changed for Fine. He’s now not only an avid golfer, but the game he embraced during a life-threatening illness provides him his living.

Spring is here and we are looking ahead to the 2023 CP Women’s Open. In its 49th playing, Canada’s National Women’s Open is coming to Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver for the first time ever!

Delta, BC's Jace Minni - Image Courtesy Gonzaga University

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The Gonzaga golf drought is over, thanks to Delta’s Jace Minni.

The former B.C. Juvenile Boys champion earned his first collegiate win in impressive fashion last week by capturing Seattle University’s Redhawk Invitational at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., by four shots.

It was the first individual win by a Gonzaga University player since 2016 and Minni’s final-round 65 matched the low round in the history of the golf program at the Spokane school.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A former B.C. Bantam Boys champion now living in South Africa has made world-wide headlines after winning a prestigious junior tournament by 21 shots.

Daniel Bennett, a former Victoria-area resident who played out of Gorge Vale Golf Club, won the 2020 Bantam Boys title by six shots at Mount Brenton Golf Course in Chemainus. Shortly afterward, he and his family returned to their native South Africa.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to join Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.

image courtesy FairwayVision/Duncan O'Brien

Back in 2019, British Columbia Golf held its Annual General Meeting at Tsawwassen Springs with some special invited guest speakers. One of those guest speakers was USGA Agronomist Larry Gilhuly. Mr. Gilhuly's presentation at that time focussed on the growing need to recognize the value of 'forward tees' for a large portion of the golf population, and definitely not just women. BC Golf writer/reporter Brad Ziemer wrote about Gilhuly's thoughts and reasonings on the subject and you can read that story HERE. Below we share a story written recently by Libby Gilliland for GolfPass.com. She carries on the conversation from a woman's perspective and makes some excellent points. 

By Libby Gilliland/GolfPass.com

Part of the reason golfers love the game is its variety.

The morning maintenance crew sets up a new course every day, making each round a new challenge. New pin locations, varying green speeds and thickness of the rough are all alterable factors that change the way the game needs to be approached.

These physical changes add excitement to each round, but beyond that, there is one key decision every golfer makes when he or she tees it up: picking which tee box to play. This has led to what I believe to be one of the most negative stereotypes in golf - the notion of "ladies tees." It's a term I'd love to see disappear. So would a lot of other women.

Click HERE to see the complete story...

Vancouver hometown tennis athlete Rebecca Marino and her Team Canada teammates, Leylah Fernandez, Bianca Andreescu and Gabriela Dabrowski will take on Belgium right here in Vancouver, at the Pacific Coliseum, April 14-15, in the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers, the World Cup of Women's Tennis. 

The tie is going to be a fabulous showcase of some of the best athletes our country, and the world, has to offer. By attending, watching and following, you're directly supporting and elevating women's sport in Canada.

BC Golf members can get 20% off single-day tickets to cheer on Team Canada at the Pacific Coliseum. See promo code details below.

Family Feud Canada is dedicated to finding a variety of contestants nationwide and for our fifth season we want to step it up a notch.

With our host Gerry Dee being an avid golfer and an enthusiastic fan of the sport, we are excited at the potential of inviting like-minded players and their families onto the show.

If you’re new to the sport and always end up in the bunker, an old pro waiting to brag about your hole-in-one & share your funniest golfing stories, or anywhere in between, British Columbia has some of the most beautiful golf courses in the country and we’re looking forward to hearing from the golfers who play them.

Not to mention golfers usually have the competitive edge we’re looking FORE!

Click HEREto apply to be on Canada's Family Feud. 

Uplands GC Will Host BC's Only PGA Tour Canada Event This Year - Image Courtesy Uplands GC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

PGA Tour Canada has released its 2023 schedule and as expected it includes only one British Columbia event, the season-opening Royal Beach Victoria Open which goes June 15-18 at Uplands Golf Club.

B.C. has had as many as three PGA Tour Canada events in the past. But the former tournament held at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver was last played in 2019.

And the Kelowna stop at Gallagher’s Canyon in Kelowna ended after last summer’s event when GolfBC chose not to renew its sponsorship of the tournament.

BC's Victoria Liu Wins Third Ivy League Title This Year - Image Courtesy GoPrincetonTigers.com

Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Victoria Liu headed to Princeton University with more than a little apprehension about how she would balance the academic challenges of an Ivy League school with playing college golf.

It turns out the Lord Byng high school graduate from Vancouver need not have worried. Liu is registering excellent grades as she pursues a computer science degree at Princeton and is absolutely acing things on the golf course.

In the words of Vancouverite Adam Fine, "Golf helped me persevere through the most difficult chapter of my life."

As Fine explains:

"In 2015 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune liver disease. I began playing twilight golf at Harding Park in San Francisco to distract myself from the slow deterioration of my health. My passion for golf grew into an obsession, and I played frequently until I received a liver transplant in 2018. After recovering from my surgery, I was fortunate to enjoy playing rounds of golf at Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, and other bucket list golf courses."

He goes on to tell the story about one of the first things he found out about the person from whom he received his life-saving opportunity, "Later, I learned that I share a special connection with my liver donor, who shared my passion for golf."

In this video Adam Fine explains the hugely important role the game of golf played in not only dealing with his situation but in his rehabilitation and his life going forward.

Christna Proteau Holds The Canadian Women's Mid-Amateur Trophy In 2021 - Golf Canada Image

Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Christina Proteau is a multiple winner of national and provincial golf championships and also qualified to play in the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open.

She cherishes each of those victories and all of the special moments she’s had playing the game she loves, but perhaps none of those events will be as meaningful as the one the Port Alberni native will compete in at the end of May.

Proteau will not only play in the inaugural Indigenous Championship British Columbia, she has also agreed to serve as chair of the tournament, which goes May 28-30 at Nk’mip Canyon Desert Golf Course in Oliver.

Shelly Stouffer Was Recongized For Her Tremendous 2022 Season At The Sport BC AOY Dinner - Image Credit BBrault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Nanoose Bay’s Shelly Stouffer, UBC coach Chris Macdonald, the UBC women’s golf team and Debbie Pyne, the longtime managing director of player development at British Columbia Golf, were all recognized at Sport BC’s 55th annual athlete of the year awards ceremony.

Stouffer was selected master athlete of the year after an incredible 2022 season that saw the 53-year-old become the first British Columbian to win a United States Golf Association championship when she captured the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in Alaska.

Image Courtesy CK Golf Solutions/Facebook

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jeff Ciecko’s love of golf evolved into a passion for the golf business and he devoted much of his professional life to helping golf clubs improve their bottom lines.

Ciecko, who started CK Golf Solutions with his wife Tara in 2008, died March 10 after a battle with cancer at the age of 49. He is being remembered by his many friends in the golf community as someone who made a huge contribution to the health of the golf business.

“I think Jeff helped transform the golf business in terms of what he and Tara did with their company,” said Troy Peverley, vice president of the West Coast Golf Group and a close friend of Ciecko’s.

Shelly Stouffer Was Recognized For Her Tremendous 2022 Season At The Sport BC AOY Dinner - Image Credit BBrault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Nanoose Bay’s Shelly Stouffer, UBC coach Chris Macdonald, the UBC women’s golf team and Debbie Pyne, the longtime managing director of player development at British Columbia Golf, were all recognized at Sport BC’s 55th annual athlete of the year awards ceremony.

President of British Columbia Golf, Greg Moody - BC Golf Photo

by Jim Sutherland

The Pacific Coast Amateur is easily one of the most illustrious championships in amateur golf.

For proof, one need only glance at results from the 2015 edition, held at the Eugene Country Club.

That year, current PGA TOUR player Aaron Wise topped the leaderboard, trailed in order by Beau Hossler, Maverick McNealy, Bryson DeChambeau and Will Zalatoris, with Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa further down the list. Big names all, now on the pro circuit.

And that wasn’t a one-off.

Every year the leaderboard is sprinkled with big names. In 2016 and 2017, Wise was followed as winner by Zalatoris and Doug Ghim, yet another pro in waiting.

This year’s Pacific Coast Amateur will be held July 25-28, at Capilano Golf and Country Club in West Vancouver, and you’d expect Championship Chair Greg Moody to be stoked.

Click HERE to read full article...