Written by Clark Stork (reprinted with permission)

Regina’s Chad McCormick is very pleased he has a Golf Canada membership.

McCormick was in Kelowna for a family wedding celebration when a vehicle in the parking lot at the course he was playing was broken into. The vehicle was “cleaned out” according to McCormick with many wedding gifts being swiped as well as clubs belonging to several players, including McCormick.

ModGolf Podcast creator and host, Colin Weston, recently returned from the 2022 PGA Show in Orlando, FLA after missing the event last year due to COVID restrictions. He found a slightly different but still extremely informative and enjoyable show presentation on this visit and put together this blog to share with us about his observations and experiences at 'golf's biggest industry event'. - editor

The ModGolf Podcast at The 2022 PGA Show

Contributed by Colin Weston/ModGolf (reposted with permission)

It's been two long years since I last attended The PGA Show in Orlando and although I was apprehensive about getting on a plane from Vancouver with the Omicron variant still swirling around us, I'm glad I made the decision to go.

After hundreds of Zoom video calls over the past 24 months has pushed me to the point of burnout, reconnecting with old golf industry friends and meeting some new ones face-to-face was exactly the medicine my spirit needed.

So here's a recap of my eight days in central Florida and my takeaways from golf's biggest industry event.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A small British Columbia company specializing in handcrafted tartan golf head covers and accessories is teaming with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Plaid for Dad campaign to help raise money for prostate cancer research.

Vernon residents Henry and Sandra Goy started Maggie’s Celtic Golf Collection about five years ago. Recently retired and both avid golfers, the couple was looking for something to do during the off-season. “How it started is kind of an interesting story,” Henry says.

MADDIE SZERYK WON THE BC WOMEN'S AMATEUR IN 2017 - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski/BC Golf

By Lara Kuipers/Golf Canada

With a new year comes a new group of players on the LPGA Tour, and 2022 will be no different.

While 10-time LPGA Tour winner Brooke Henderson will no doubt continue to push the envelope for Canadian golf, there’s some new and familiar faces ready to join the Smiths Falls, Ont., native on the 2022 schedule, which includes the return of the CP Women’s Open at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club from Aug. 22-28.

Veteran Alena Sharp will carry Symetra Tour status. She’ll have the opportunity to play LPGA events through sponsor exemptions and Monday qualifiers.

Adam Stanley/ Golf Canada

Golf continues to provide a record number of Canadians safe refuge during the COVID-19 global pandemic as a proven activity that benefits physical and mental health.

As we look ahead to 2022, there is comfort in knowing golf can continue to be a haven for safe gathering and fitness – for all.

And beyond just the ability to continue to play the game, the world of golf has given Canadians much to be excited about as we look ahead to a new year!

Courtesy Golf Canada

OAKVILLE – (Golf Canada) – Some golfers claim their favourite aspect of the game is recanting highlights (and maybe even some lowlights) with friends following a round of golf.

Now, members of Golf Canada and their respective provincial golf association who track their games with Golf Canada Score Centre can do just that… digitally.

Introducing Golf Canada #MyGolfYear – a retrospective of a member’s golf year generated by the scoring data posted to the Golf Canada Score Centre in 2021.

Courtesy Golf Canada

Calgary, AB – Canadian Pacific (CP) is proud to announce that fundraising efforts over the past two years for the CP Women’s Open (CPWO) have helped raise more than $2.8 million to support important equipment purchases and research at BC Children’s Hospital, along with an additional $557,000 for Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital.

“CP is honored to support BC Children’s Hospital in their critical efforts to improve cardiac care for children,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO.

Seven Sites, Including Courtenay, BC's Crowne Isle Resort, Will Host The PGA TOUR Canada's 2022 Qualifying Tournaments - Image Courtesy Golf Vancouver Island

FOR RELEASE: December 28, 2021

TORONTO—The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announced December 28 it will hold 2022 Qualifying Tournaments at seven separate sites over a six-week period, beginning in mid-February and concluding in late-April at Courtenay, BC's Crowne Isle Resort.

While the global pandemic made it difficult for PGA TOUR Canada to conduct its season as it had since its 2013 inception, the Tour did play a series of eight tournaments for players living in Canada this past summer on top of a set of four events it held in 2020. The 2022 campaign will be the first full season in two years that features a complete complement of members.

Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

Courtesy Golf Canada via R & A

(St. Andrews, Scotland) – New research figures revealed by The R&A and Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) show golf has enjoyed a significant increase in popularity worldwide since 2016 with over five-and-a-half million additional golfers taking up the sport.

The number of total golfers globally has increased from 61 million to 66.6 million in a five-year growth period, surpassing the previous high mark of 61.6 million set in 2012.

The measure includes club members and non-member independent golfers playing nine or 18 holes and users of driving ranges in markets where course availability is limited.

One of the longest running amateur golf tournaments in south Florida is being contested this week with many Canadians in the field.

Dating to 1924 in the Men’s Division, the Women’s tournament was added in 2002 and the event has grown to such a stature that it now attracts fields of players from around the world.

Both the men and women will play this week from December 16-19 with the men tackling Eagle Trace Golf Club and the women taking on Palm Aire Country Club.

The Charles Schwab Challenge Grant is providing a transformational opportunity to help First Tee – Canada deepen your impact by matching funds raised until the end of 2021!

First Tee is an internationally recognized grassroots life skill development program that builds character, instills life-enhancing values and promotes healthy choices for young people through the game of golf.

In 2021, Golf Canada launched three inaugural First Tee chapters in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

Our goal is to have 5,000 participants in each of our launched chapters by the end of 2022 and add new chapters serving all provinces by the end of 2023.

Great news, this year your tax-deductible gift will be matched 1:2 ($1 is matched for every $2 raised) through the Charles Schwab Challenge Grant! With your support, we can help deliver exceptional life-skills programming through the game of golf.

By John Gordon/ Courtesy Golf Canada

This time of year, we are inundated with “gift guides for the golfer in your life.” I’m here to tell you I am that golfer and I don’t want most of that stuff.

Why the greatest game has the cheesiest accessories is beyond me. You’ve seen them: Caddyshack gopher head covers, ugly sweaters and those visors with the fake hair sprouting out the top.

Note to my family: Buy me one of those and the next time you see one while walking through the local thrift store and remark, “Hey, that’s just like the one we got Uncle John for Christmas,” rest assured it is the same one.

So here’s the real stuff the golfer in your life (and likely you) want for Christmas.

L-R: Savannah Grewal, Salimah Mussani (Assistant Coach) And Noémie Paré - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

via Golf Canada

Together with the PGA of Canada, Golf Canada is excited to announce the continuation of the National Women in Coaching program and formally open applications for the 2022 cohort.

The Women in Coaching program is an initiative started in 2021 with nine participants, that strives to reach a stronger gender balance among high-performance coaches.

Each participant receives in-depth career development support that is focused on four main areas: individualized learning plans, virtual and in-person coaching education, hands-on training experiences with coaches and top players, and new for 2022, integration with the PGA of Canada mentorship program.

By John Gordon - Courtesy Golf Canada

Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in southern British Columbia, most Canadian golfers are looking at a golf season of about six months. That leaves us the other half of the year to … do what?

Watch golf, think about golf, dream about golf, do just about everything except play golf.

But if you’re serious about hitting the first tee next spring in mid-season form, there are many ways to do that: Eating healthier, getting or staying in shape, improving your swing, practicing your putting and short game and more.

Courtesy GOLF CANADA

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the group of 46 junior and amateur athletes selected as part of the Team Canada player development program for 2022.

Professional players who will be part of Team Canada in 2022 will be determined and announced in January.

Martin Slumbers Image Courtesy R&A/St. Andrews Image Courtesy Of Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Jason Logan, representing the Golf Journalists Association of Canada recently conducted an interview with CEO of the R & A, Martin Slumbers, regarding the 'state of golf' today.

Slumbers was appointed Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 2015.

November 8th is Indigenous Veterans Day, when Canada honours First Nation, Metis and Inuit soldiers and veterans, and their long, distinguished legacy of serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.

British Columbia would like to join all of our province in thanking these veterans along with noting we are free to play golf today thanks to their sacrifice.

Team Canada At The 2021 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship: L-R Johnny Travale, Henry Lee, Noemie Pare and Savannah Grewal - Twitter Image

The 2021 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship is underway. The Spirit brings together the best amateur golfers from 20 countries and six continents for three days of competition. Two female and two male amateurs from each country will play for a "chance at gold" in five concurrent competitions.

Canada is represented by Noemie Pare, Savannah Grewal, Johnny Travale and Henry Lee who is from Coquitlam, BC. At present the men and the combined team from Canada are leading the biennial event in Texas.

The happy festival of Diwali is upon us again. Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance.

It is celebrated in honour of Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after an exile of fourteen years. The festival is also linked to Goddess Lakshmi - the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Also known as the festival of lights, Diwali is traditionally celebrated by lighting diyas and candles, praying to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh and meeting friends and family to exchange Diwali greetings and gifts.