Acushnet, the parent company of global golf brands Titleist and FootJoy, has demonstrated its commitment to creating a more inclusive culture within golf by becoming a signatory of The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter.

(March 23, 2021 – Golf Canada) – Canadians needing a social outlet and a sense of recreational normalcy during the uncertainty of the pandemic in 2020 turned to golf in a major way.

Now Golf Canada, with the support of industry partners, will build on the excitement, increased interest, and elevated levels of play with a national golfer retention campaign to welcome new and returning players back to the golf course in 2021.

Brad Clapp Is The New General Manager At Abbotsford's Ledgeview GC - Images Courtesy PGA of BC/Ledgeview GC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Brad Clapp’s timing seems to be just about perfect as he joins Ledgeview Golf Club as general manager of the storied Abbotsford facility.

Golf is booming, thanks in no small part to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Ledgeview is about to open a brand new clubhouse. The future looks bright for the course that has produced the likes of PGA TOUR winners Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, and Clapp is delighted to be a part of it.

The arrival of spring means a new group of sports and leagues are getting underway. We know that you may have questions about what is allowed under the current PHO Order on Gatherings and Events.

viaSport and BC Recreation and Parks Association would like to provide clarity around travel and the intention of the Order.

• Under current restrictions on travel for sport, participants can travel to their home club, even if it is outside their immediate community. Home club is defined by the PHO as the sport organization, club, or facility at which a person is registered for ongoing sport programming. For example:

                o     a skier who is part of the local ski club can travel to their local mountain, which might cross a regional health authority border;
                o     an archer may need to travel to a neighbouring community because their community does not have an archery club;
                o     a high-performance athlete may need to travel to a nearby community to receive specialized training

• Although there is some flexibility to allow for participants to travel short distances to reach a home club, the intention of the Order is to minimize travel for sport activities, and to stay close to home. For example:

                o     participants from Vancouver Island should not travel to the Lower Mainland, from the Kootenays to the Okanagan, or from the North to Okanagan.

• Remember, the Public Health Order does not specifically address every individual situation. When interpreting the Order, please remember the intention of the Order is important. That intention is to stay local as much as possible. This will help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and keep sports safe.

Wayne Vollmer Accepts A Plaque In Recognition Of His Club's Hosting The 2017 BC Amateur From Past President David Atkinson - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

After a long and accomplished career in the golf business, Wayne Vollmer acknowledges that retirement feels a little different. “It’s been a couple of weeks now and I am trying to get over the overwhelming feeling of not going into work every day,” Vollmer says with a chuckle.

Vollmer, 75, had been director of golf and head professional at Morgan Creek Golf Course since the Surrey club opened in 1995. But his golf career stretches back much farther than that.

After the sudden passing of her beloved husband Mike three years ago, Kathy Erikson made a life-changing decision: dedicate her energy to crate a golf experience that appeals to everyone, year round, 24 hours a day.

ModGolf Podcast creator and host, Colin Weston, sat down with Kathy Erikson to learn about the passion that drives her to create an indoor golf arena that started with an AHA moment almost thirty years ago.

via Golf Canada and The R&A

The R&A is keen to understand the importance of health messaging and how to best communicate health benefits to existing and potential golfers.

We would very much appreciate your feedback on your experiences and perceptions of the health benefits of playing golf and your thoughts for promoting this in the future.

As a thank you for your time you will have an opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a £200 voucher for Auchterlonies golf shop in St Andrew’s (worldwide shipping)

To take part in the survey please click on the survey link below:

The survey is being undertaken by independent research agency Sports Marketing Surveys. Please be assured that the information that you provide will remain confidential.

Longtime Morgan Creek Head Pro & Director Of Golf Wayne Vollmer Accepts A Plaque Of Appreciation At His Course During The 2017 BC Amateur From BC Golf Director David Atkinson - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

After a long and accomplished career in the golf business, Wayne Vollmer acknowledges that retirement feels a little different. “It’s been a couple of weeks now and I am trying to get over the overwhelming feeling of not going into work every day,” Vollmer says with a chuckle.

Vollmer, 75, had been director of golf and head professional at Morgan Creek Golf Course since the Surrey club opened in 1995. But his golf career stretches back much farther than that.

Victoria, BC's Jeevan Sihota - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By  BRENTLEY ROMINE/golfchannel.com

Bryson DeChambeau's thought of driving it over the lake and into the ninth fairway while playing No. 18 this week at TPC Sawgrass isn't unprecedented.

The aggressive line is already known as “The Sihota Line.”

Last September at the AJGA Junior Players Championship, Jeevan Sihota, a high-school junior from Victoria, British Columbia, played the Stadium Course's par-4 finishing hole down the ninth all three days.

“It’s a lot wider target to hit,” Sihota told GolfChannel.com on Tuesday. “I knew I had speeds capable of doing it, so I figured why not? It leaves you a better angle into the green and basically takes the water out of play.”

Click HERE to read complete story...

Understanding Customer Needs To Create Value For The Golf Industry - James Cronk, Co-Founder Of Golf Industry Guru

ModGolf Podcast creator and host Colin Weston recently sat down with Golf Industry Guru Co-Founder James Cronk to learn how his team puts the customer first to create new value in a traditional market space.

Courtesy Golf Canada

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA AND TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA – Due to logistical challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the PGA TOUR, title sponsor Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Golf Canada announced today that the 2021 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for June 7-13 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Etobicoke, Ontario, has been cancelled.

“Even with an extensive health and safety plan in place, we faced a number of significant logistical challenges that led us to this decision,” said PGA TOUR President Tyler Dennis. “While we are disappointed to cancel Canada’s National Championship, we are thankful to our partners RBC and Golf Canada – along with our Canadian fans — for their unwavering support and cooperation throughout this process. We look forward to the RBC Canadian Open returning to our schedule next year.”

Osoyoos Golf Club In BC's Okanagan - Image Courtesy Facility

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Doug Robb has a warning for B.C. golf courses set to emerge from their annual winter hibernation.

Robb is general manager of Osoyoos Golf Club, which is usually among the first in the Okanagan to open for the season. And when the course did open, on Tuesday, March 2, Robb faced a virtual tsunami of golfers anxious to get out and play.

“The biggest conversation I had over the winter with industry guys was 'what is 2021 going to be like,'” Robb said in an interview. “All I can tell guys is if opening day is any indication, you should be battening down the hatches. This is like nothing I have ever seen before and I have been doing this a long time. This was my 35th opening day.”

Via The Golf Wire & Women's Golf Day

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- Monday March 8^th is International Women’s Day (IWD), an annual, global event celebrating women and their achievements.

Women’s Golf Day (WGD) will be encouraging male and female golfers to celebrate #IWD2021 this year by taking part in a #WGDUnites social media campaign by posting a photo of a golf ball marked with the name of a woman that drives, inspires, motivates, empowers or supports you.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp notwithstanding, the LPGA Tour is not exactly being over-run by Canadian content these days. But behind the scenes, one other Canadian is playing a significant role in another key area of the LPGA’s business.

Jody Jackson, a longtime resident of southern Vancouver Island and a former coach with British Columbia Golf, was named this past fall as the LPGA’s technical lead of instruction.

“It is really cool for them to have hired a Canuck as second in command on the teaching education side,” Jackson says with a touch of pride in her voice.

New Owners Plan To Re-Open Merritt-Area Course July 1st - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The new owners of Sagebrush, the highly acclaimed golf course near Merritt that has been closed since 2014, plan to re-open the facility this summer. July 1st has been set as the proposed opening date for the course.

A small group headed by Langley real estate developer Andrew Knott now own the long-term lease on the property, which sits above Nicola Lake. Knott and his partners had supplied former owner Mark Chandler with a private mortgage that Chandler used to buy Sagebrush in 2015.

The Future Is Looking Up For Victoria's Willy Bishop - Image Courtesy Fairways Golf Video Screen Capture

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When he won the B.C. Junior and Juvenile Boys Championships last summer, Victoria’s Willy Bishop hoped it might lead to some opportunities to further advance his game. That wish has certainly come true.

In November, Bishop was rewarded with a spot on Golf Canada’s national junior team.

His two wins last summer also created considerable interest from collegiate coaches and Bishop recently committed to join Kent State University’s golf program in the fall of 2022.

Abbotsford's PGA TOUR Duo Of Nick Taylor & Adam Hadwin (inset) And Merritt, BC's Roger Sloan - Courtesy VGT/BC Golf File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf 

BAY HILL BECKONS: The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla., is this week’ stop on the PGA TOUR. After a week off, the Abbotsford duo of Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor are both in the field.  In three previous appearances at Bay Hill, Hadwin has finished no worse than tied for 36th. Hadwin’s best finish came in 2017 when he was solo sixth. That was just a week after his win at the Valspar Championship. Taylor has made the cut in two of three previous appearances at Bay Hill. His best finish came in 2015 when he tied for 35th. Taylor enters the week 105th on the FedEx Cup points list, while Hadwin is 120th.

O Canada! Roger Sloan's outdoor rink at his home in Houston, Texas - Image Courtesy Roger Sloan 

The following is an excerpt from Postmedia National Golf Writer Jon McCarthy’s Monday Morning Golf newsletter.

by Jon McCarthy/Toronto Sun

You can take a Canadian out of Canada, but you can’t take Canada out of a Canadian. 

With all the news of snowstorms, blackouts and varying states of emergency coming out of Texas, it seemed like a good time to check in with our man in the Lone Star state, PGA Tour player Roger Sloan.

After missing the cut at Pebble Beach two weeks ago, he was anxious to get home to Houston and see if the forecasted winter weather was actually going to show up. He thought it might be fun for his two young kids to see snow on the ground in the backyard, something that happens maybe once a decade.

“We thought it would be cool but we really didn’t know what we were getting into,” Sloan said.

Click HEREto read full article...

Beginning in 2021, British Columbia Golf along with Golf Canada and the other provincial associations have changed Tournament Management Software.

British Columbia Golf will be using Golf Genius for the foreseeable future starting in 2021.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

TOP-20 FOR TAYLOR: Nick Taylor closed with a two-under 69 on Sunday to record a top-20 finish at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Taylor finished the event at three-under par and tied for 20th. That was nine shots behind winner Max Homa, who beat Tony Finau in a playoff. It was Taylor’s best finish in seven starts at Riviera. He earned $101,835.