Summerland, B.C.'s Rachelle Nielsen (R) Recieves The Premier's Award For Aboriginal Youth Excellence In Sport From British Columbia Premier Christy Clark - Image Courtesy BC Gov News

On Monday evening Premier Christy Clark gave out awards to six men and six women whose athletic accomplishments were as extraordinary as their commitment to their community and future aspirations.

Among those honoured was Summerland, B.C.'s Rachelle Nielsen who attends Texas A&M Kingsville playing as a freshman on the women's golf team.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, and BRAMPTON, Ontario (Adam Stanley/Golf Canada) — There will be a first for Canadian golf in 2016. For the first time ever, two Canadian clubs will play host to U.S. Amateur championship qualifiers.

Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver will host a qualifier for the men on July 18, while Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont., will host a qualifier for the women on June 27.

“Golf Canada has been working on several initiatives with the USGA to strengthen our partnership and these qualifiers are the beginning of what we hope to be larger collaborations,” says Mary Beth McKenna, manager of rules and competitions for Golf Canada. “With Canadian golfers experiencing more and more success on the professional and amateur level, it was likely a natural fit for the USGA to expand these qualifiers into Canada.”

Matt Cella Will Now Lead Olympic View’s GBC Golf Academy.
Image Courtesy Facility.

Olympic View’s GBC Golf Academy is extremely excited to welcome Matt Cella as their new Director of Instruction.

Cella brings a wealth of golf swing knowledge and coaching experience. He is currently a lead coach with British Columbia Golf, working with some of BC’s best golfers at the provincial and national level.

The Royal Oak Closure Is Ironic, Given That As A Par Three, It Served A Growing Segment Of The Golf Population.Image Courtesy Facility.

The 9-hole par three course located in Saanich has closed its doors permanently.

In an email to club members, the owners said, “We struggled the last four years and now face the reality that our golf course is not economically viable. We have invested dearly and have put our best efforts forward to keep the course open. The only option now is to cease operations.”

This is the Fourth Year That Osborne Pond Has Served as a Nursery for Juvenile Coho.
Image Courtesy Bear Mountain.

Late last year, the Ecoasis-owned Bear Mountain partnered with the Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association to once again stock their “Osborne” pond on the Valley Course’s 15th hole with 5,000 juvenile Coho salmon.

The juvenile Coho salmon (coincidentally called “parr”) came from the Howard English Hatchery.

In a Post to Facebook, Golf Canada Said, “Another Great Training Camp at Bear Mountain Golf Club!”  Image Courtesy Golf Canada.

Golf Canada and Bear Mountain Resort have got their four-year partnership underway, in which Bear Mountain serves as the official Canadian training centre for Team Canada’s National Squads.

The Golf Canada’s Women's Development Team were at the 36-hole facility for a training camp in late February 2016.

Lori Shown with PGA of Canada Professional Garry Meyer (Right) Who Served as Emcee and Auctioneer.Image Courtesy Olympic View GC.

In late February, Olympic View Golf Club played host to a fundraiser for one of their own. More than 200 people came out in support.

Lori Hamstra, one of the facility’s instructors, was diagnosed with breast and inflammatory cancer last June 2015. Since she been undergoing chemotherapy and bone infusions.

Norm Boden Was The Person Behind March Meadows Golf Club.
Images Courtesy The Boden Family March Meadows.

March Meadows creator and Dawn Coe Jones teacher Norm Boden has died.

An avid golfer from an early age, Bdoen turned pro at 19 years old while at Gorge Vale Golf Course in Victoria. He was the first hired pro at Chemainus Golf Course from 1961 to 1965 and then greenskeeper at Cowichan G&CC for 6 years.

Inaugural Event To Host Up To 10,000 Athletes From Around The Globe

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA – Be part of history as Vancouver welcomes up to 10,000 masters aged athletes to the first ever America's Masters Games. Relive the thrill of hosting a major international sport competition from Aug 26 to Sept 4 2016.

2500 volunteers are needed to stage this spectacular event of inspiring ceremonies and celebrations in Canada Place (Jack Poole Plaza), exciting competition in 24 different sports at venues across the city and memorable social interactions with people from around the world.

If you’re looking at getting more involved in junior golf at your facility and want to help your PGA of Canada professional with their Junior Golf Programming, this workshop is designed for the Community Golf Coach who is, or would like to, work with children or youth introducing the basic skills of golf.

The goal is to help prepare YOU to be competent in the skills required by a community coach.

LANGLEY, British Columbia — Newmark Golf Group announced that Scott Masse has been named the General Manager of Sagebrush. With the support of Troon Golf, Scott will be responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operation of Sagebrush and be accountable for motivating the team to be exceptional, dedicated and passionate about guest satisfaction and achieving identified company goals.

Ladysmith's Pat Irwin (L) Was Recognized By Golf Canada As The Volunteer Of The Year For 2015 At The Golf Canada AGM In Halifax - Image Credit Shanda Harris née Irwin

Herb Fung/ Golf Canada

HALIFAX – Golf Canada announced that Ladysmith, B.C., native Pat K. Irwin has been named its 2015 Volunteer of the Year. He received the honour at the Saturday, February 27 closing dinner of the 2016 Annual General Meeting at the Prince George Hotel in Halifax.

Individuals’ paths to the game of golf can travel many routes. Golfers often recall early years on the course with parents or grandparents and credit them as sources of inspiration. Pat Irwin’s journey to the game came about in a more unique fashion – he decided to quit smoking.

Adam Hadwin finished tied for 16th at PGA’s Northern Trust Open, his second straight Top-20 result of the season. His final-round 66 was the best score of the day and the finish marked his best career result at Riviera, which was good for a 15-spot gain in the world rankings for the No. 3 ranked golfer in Canada.

His gain of 4.95 world ranking points was his third points-paying finish in the last four tournaments. He has earned a total of almost 16 world ranking points over that span and if he can make up the 14-place gap between himself and No. 2 Graham DeLaet by the second week in July, he will qualify for one of two Olympic spots for Canada.

Fellow Abbotsford, B.C., native Nick Taylor made the biggest gain among the Top-10, picking up 28 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 26th at Riviera. That was good for 2.67 world ranking points – the second straight points-paying finish in as many weeks for the No. 4 ranked golfer in Canada.

Langley, B.C.'s Jessica Wallace Came Within One Shot Of Forcing A Playoff In The Season-Opening IOA Championship On The Symetra Tour - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

BEAUMONT, Calif. – Canada’s Jessica Wallace finished runner-up at the Symetra Tour’s season-opening IOA Championship on Sunday at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.

Wallace, a Langley, B.C., native, posted a final round 70 (-2), pushing a par-putt on 18 to just miss forcing a playoff with champion Erynne Lee of Los Angeles, Calif., who rallied with a final round 65 (-7) for the come-from-behind victory.

Kelowna's Megan Osland Is One Of Ten Canadians Including Four From British Columbia Teeing It Up In The Symetra Tour's Season Opener In California - Image Courtesy KelownaNow

Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

BEAUMONT, Calif. – Ten Canadians are set to kick-off the Symetra Tour’s 2016 season this Friday with the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa.

Courtesy Golf Canada

ADELAIDE, Australia – Canadian-based South Korean SooBin Kim shot a course-record 9-under 63 on Thursday to leave top-ranked Lydia Ko and Canadian sweetheart Brooke Henderson seven strokes behind at the Women’s Australian Open.

Kim’s bogey-free opening round came after starting on the 10th hole of The Grange’s West course. She had a three-stroke clubhouse lead over American Casey Grice with most of the afternoon groups, including five-time champion Karrie Webb, on the course.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — With less than 200 days to go until the inaugural Americas Masters Games in Vancouver, Games stakeholders and local organising committee are pleased to announce that registration for the 24 sport, global multi sport event is open and going strong. Organizers are encouraging masters athletes from across the country and around the globe to register early to take advantage of special discounted hotel rates until the deadline of February 29, 2016.

Up to 10,000 athletes aged 30 or older, supporters, coaches, spectators, family and friends are expected to attend the Americas Masters Games in Vancouver for the nine-day fun and festive event. Registration starts at $215 (approximately $150 USD) and $75 for each additional sport added (approximately $53USD).

Registration is now open for the 2016 BC Golf House Tradition Golf Classic!

The British Columbia Golf House Society is a registered nonprofit, created in 1987 with the express purpose of preserving, recording and displaying the history of golf and the golfers of the province. It is membership based Society and looks to golfers in British Columbia for support through memberships, sponsorships, and donations. The Tradition Golf Classic is the most important fundraiser each year for the BC Golf House Society.

Thanks to the generous support of Mr. David Ho and Michael Mather at the University Golf Course the 2016 Tradition Golf Classic will be held at the University course. All proceeds from the event will go to support the BC Golf House Society’s goal: “To preserve BC’s rich golfing history.”

Surrey’s Hannah Lee has been nominated for the Sport BC High School Female Athlete of The Year Award. 

The various category award winners will be announced at the awards banquet to be held Thursday, March 10th, 2016 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.