The Fairmont Chateau Whistler And Arbutus Ridge In Victoria Are Among 30 Golf Courses Across Canada That Have Committed To Growing Milkweed As Part Of The Monarchs In The Rough Program Devoted To Increasing The Population Of Monarch Butterflies - Image Courtesy Pixabay

By SUSAN LAZARUK - Vancouver Sun

Numbers of the majestic monarch butterfly have been in a free fall and a plan hatched with the help of golf courses across North America, including two in B.C., is hoping to bring them flying back. The number of the summer visitors to flower gardens and wildflower fields has plummeted 90 per cent over the past 20 years, according to Audubon International.

“And it’s worse in the western population, where you are, where there’s been a 95 per cent drop in numbers,” said Marcus Gray of Audubon International.

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Victoria’s Arbutus Ridge golf courses are among the 30 courses across Canada and the 250 so far across the U.S. that have committed to growing the flowers on a half hectare of land on their courses.

CLICK HERE to read complete story in Vancouver Sun.

For only the second time, the World Deaf Golf Championships will be played in Ireland after the IDGU won the bidding process to host the championships in July 2014 at the Grand Traverse Resort, Michigan, USA.

The Championships will be held July 21st-28th,  2018at the Carton House Golf Club. The Men’s Individual/Team Championships will be playing on the Montgomerie Course while the Ladies’ & Senior’s Individual/Team Championships will be playing on the O’Meara Golf Course.

Team Canada will compete in the Men’s event, Senior Men’s event and Ladies’ event.

Golf Canada National Team Members Have Found A Good Home At Victoria's Bear Mountain Golf Resort - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

LANGFORD -- Golf Canada has gone all-in on player development and for that chief sport officer Jeff Thompson makes no apologies. Golf Canada, with the help of some key corporate sponsors, spends big bucks funding national amateur, developmental and young pro squads and Thompson gave a spirited defence of that strategy at a recent media event at Bear Mountain, the site of Golf Canada’s new national training facility.

“I get often asked why do we spend so much money on so few players and my answer is quite simple,” Thompson said. “Our philosophy from the very top of the organization is we believe in the power of creating champions, creating heroes. That inspires a nation to play our sport.”

BC Team Coach Matt Cella Works With Emma Yang In Advance Of The Canadian Junior Girls Championship July 31-Aug. 3 At Beach Grove Golf Club In Tsawwassen - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Debbie Pyne is determined to do everything she can to give British Columbia’s top players an edge when they play in this summer’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship. That event is not being held until July 31-Aug. 3 at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, but Pyne and her team of coaches from British Columbia Golf have been preparing for the championship for months.

Pyne, the managing director of player development with British Columbia Golf, has arranged for a select group of B.C’s top juniors to attend a series of camps designed to help them become intimately familiar with Beach Grove.

Golf Canada President Leslie Dunning With Distinguished Service Award Recipient Cam Cole - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf (Special To Golf Canada)

Cam Cole seems to have this retirement thing down pat.

“I am playing way more than I ever have in my life,” he says over the phone between rounds at his new home course, The Harvest, in Kelowna. “I am probably playing three or four times a week. The game has not become less a part of my life after retirement. It has become even bigger. I am enjoying that.”

For many years, so many Canadians enjoyed Cole’s beautifully crafted columns from golf’s major championships. By his count, Cole covered 66 majors, along with seven Ryder Cups and six Presidents Cups, nine (RBC) Canadian Opens and several (CP) Canadian Women’s Opens before retiring in December 2016 after an exemplary 41-year career as one of this country’s top sportswriters.

Daniel Campbell Of The University Of The Fraser Valley Has Helped Put The Cascades Golf Program On The Map After Leading His Team To The Canadian University/College Championship Men's Title at Chilliwack Golf Club - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

CHILLIWACK -- Respect has been hard to come by for the University of the Fraser Valley’s men’s golf team, which has played in the shadows of more established programs at the University of B.C., the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University.

That should no longer be a problem. The title Canadian University champions changes everything for the Cascades and their hard-working coach, Chris Bertram. “This is the biggest win we’ve ever had and probably one of the biggest team victories we have had as a university since we got involved a few years ago,” Bertram said after his UFV men’s team won the Canadian University/College Championship at Chilliwack Golf Club in convincing fashion.

Avril Li Led The Way For The UBC T'Birds Women's Squad Winning The Individual Title At Chilliwack Golf Club - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

CHILLIWACK -- The University of British Columbia’s women’s golf team did what they nearly always do on Friday by capping off their season with another Canadian University/College Championship.

It was the 13th win in the 16-year history of the event for the Thunderbird women. And it doesn’t figure to be their last. The four members of Friday’s winning team at Chilliwack Golf Club included three freshmen and a junior. In other words, the future is bright.

University Of Victoria Vikes' Lawren Rowe Is The Embodiement Of Much Of What Is So Great About The Canadian University/College Championship - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

CHILLIWACK -- This is his collegiate golf swansong and Lawren Rowe insists he has no regrets. The University of Victoria senior knows he made the right decision four years ago when he chose to play his collegiate golf close to home.

“I was always curious about that in the beginning,” Rowe said Thursday before he played the third round of the Canadian University/College Championship at Chilliwack Golf Club.

“I thought that maybe I would regret not having gone down to the States, but I am definitely thrilled to be out at UVic and thankful for the opportunities I have had. It is so great to be close to home and be able to play in tournaments like these. It was definitely the right choice.”

The University Of The Fraser Valley, Led By Zach Olson, Leads The Men’s Division By 12 Shots At The Halfway Point Of The 2018 Canadian University/College Championships At Chilliwack GC - Image Courtesy Dan Kinvig (UFV)

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

CHILLIWACK -- The University of the Fraser Valley men’s golf team does not look like it is going to come back to the rest of the field at the Canadian University/College Championship at Chilliwack Golf Club.

Someone is going to have to catch the Cascades and it doesn’t figure to be easy. The Cascades went deep Wednesday for the second straight day, posting a second-round score of 11-under par to finish 36 holes at 21-under par. They lead second-place University of B.C. by 12 shots. The Cascades, who have never finished better than fourth at this event, are halfway to history.

Adopt a School Week is a Golf Canada junior initiative to drive interest and fundraising efforts to support the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program.

Key points about the program:

• Provides golf curriculum and equipment to grades 1-12
• Your donation can be directed to the school of your choice
• The program reaches 420,000 students annually coast-to-coast
• Since inception in 2009, 50% of the 3,500 registered schools were adopted
• In 2017, 266 new schools were adopted

You can contribute to the continued growth of the program and help us reach the remaining 85% of schools yet to be a registered as a Golf in Schools site. Invest in the health of our sport by adopting a school in your community!

Donate now as the first 30 adoptions will be matched with a second school of your choice!

Please visit golfcanada.ca/adoptaschool to donate or learn more about Future Links Golf in Schools.

UBC Freshman Kelly Hellman Helped Lead The Thunderbirds To A First-round Lead At The Canadian University/College Championships In Chilliwack - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

CHILLIWACK -- Compared to most of the young women competing at this week’s Canadian University/College Championship, Kelly Hellman started golf late. It wasn’t until the summer of her Grade 9 year that Hellman swung her first golf club. Her grandfather could no longer play and she inherited his clubs. Her mom took her for a golf lesson and that was it. Hellman was hooked.

“I was a bit skeptical (about golf) but after the first lesson I just absolutely fell in love with the sport and every day I was out at the course,” the 19-year-old Hellman said after she opened with an even-par 72 that helped her UBC Thunderbirds grab the women’s team division lead at Chilliwack Golf Club.

Speakers Chyloe Kurdas (Golf Australia), Hazel Irvine (BBC), Sarah Stirk (Sky Sports), Nick Pink (England Golf), Liz Dimmock (Moving Ahead) and Martin Slumbers (The R&A) At The Launch Of The Women In Golf Charter Staged At The View From The Shard, London - Image Courtesy R&A/Twitter

The R&A today unveiled a new Women in Golf Charter as part of the organization’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the golf industry.

The Women in Golf Charter aims to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf around the world and to enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential at all levels of the sport.

Representatives Of Golf Associations From Across Canada Including BC Golf President Patrick Kelly (7th from left) And Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum (8th from right) Participate In “National Golf Day” On The Front Lawn Of Parliament Hill - Image Credit Kris Jonasson/BC Golf

(OTTAWA), May 29, 2018 – Today, to mark Canada’s first annual National Golf Day, Canadians are invited to take a swing on Parliament Hill with a number of We Are Golf interactive golf activities.

As well, PGA of Canada professionals will be on hand to provide golf tips and share their enthusiasm for the game with golfers and Ottawa-area school students.

The event is aimed at raising awareness among the public and government decision-makers on the many positive health, economic, social, environmental and charitable impacts of the golf industry across Canada.

CHILLIWACK, B.C. – Canada’s top student-athlete golfers will descend on Chilliwack Golf Club in Chilliwack, B.C., from May 29 – June 1 for the 2018 Canadian University/College Championship.

2018 marks the 16th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best college and university golfers a chance to compete at a national championship. The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades will host the event this year on the magnificent tree lined fairways of Chilliwack Golf Club.

For Immediate Release

To Celebrate The Occasion Of National Golf Day On May 29th, British Columbia Golf Will Be Closing Their Office At 12 Noon So That The Staff Can Go Play Golf! 

"We would encourage all our members to do something similar" - Kris Jonasson/CEO British Columbia Golf

(OTTAWA), May 3, 2018 – Today, Canada’s national golf industry associations announced the first annual National Golf Day, May 29, an event aimed at raising awareness to the public and government decision makers on the many positive impacts of the golf industry.

“More Canadians play golf than any other participation sport and our industry is #1 in driving economic impact, employment and charity fundraising,” said Jeff Calderwood, National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) and We Are Golf Chair. “Combined with golf’s diversity, healthy fitness benefits and environmental stewardship, we really do have such a positive message to communicate.”

National Golf Day provides the opportunity for Canada’s golf industry leaders to discuss these wide-reaching benefits of the sport directly with MPs, Senators and policy advisors at Parliament Hill. A May 28 evening reception will also be held in Centre Block, and NAGA will be hosting a day of interactive golf activities on the front lawn where MPs and visitors will be able to participate. This day of outdoor golf activities will include a focus on junior golf.

Adam Hadwin. People know his name because he’s one of the top players on the PGA TOUR. His TOURJECTORY was the Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada. He was launched in 2012.

The Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada is proudly launching the PGA TOUR’s next generation of great players.

You can see the next Adam Hadwin on their BC Golf Swing - May 28 - June 17th in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. Read on to see how you can enter to win VIP tickets and golf. 

Distance Has Become A Major Topic Of Discussion In Golf Over The Recent Years, Not Only As It Affects The Pros, But At All Levels Of The Sport - Image Credit Sue Sapp (Labelled For Reuse)

For Immediate Release

(15 May 2018, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, NJ, USA): The R&A and the USGA have launched a comprehensive project to analyse distance in golf and gather perspectives from the worldwide golf community.

The Distance Insights project will examine distance through a multi-pronged approach that includes global stakeholder engagement, third-party data review and primary research. Focus groups and discussion forums will play an important role in the project, to secure a broad range of perspectives throughout golf.

Beginning today, anyone interested in the topic can provide feedback by visiting randa.org/distanceinsights or usga.org/distanceinsights or by emailing either organisation directly.

Future Links, Driven By Acura Pacific Championship Winners Cole Wilson And Monet Chun - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

VICTORIA, B.C. – Team Canada Development Squad member Monet Chun held on to her second-round lead, while Cole Wilson made a hard-fought comeback to earn medallist honours in their respective divisions at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific championship at Bear Mountain Golf Resort.

Sixteen-year-old Chun, who led going into the final round, carded a 3-under on the front nine. The Richmond Hill, Ont., product ended the day scoring a 2-over-par 74 to secure her place in the 2018 Junior Girls Championship being held from July 31-Aug. 3 at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, B.C.

“It’s my first tournament winning in B.C.,” said Chun of her third Future Links Championship win. “I think just being able to win a tournament in Quebec, Ontario and the Pacific just shows I have been improving a lot over the last few years, so I am happy.”

By John Gordon/Golf Canada

SO WHY HAVEN’T YOU?
Adopted a school, that is.

As a prospective adopter of a school, you may think you need to be a corporate giant like Golf Town, which has adopted almost 100 schools, or the formidable twosome of Golf Lab founder Liam Mucklow, a well-known champion of junior golf, who along with auto sales magnate Edward Wong has done the same for almost 20.

Or maybe, as a facility or a PGA of Canada professional, you are overawed by Manitoba’s Golf Mentor Academy, the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura, Facility of the Year. Thanks to the dedication of PGA of Canada professionals Glen Sirkis and Adam Boge, they welcomed more than 2,000 juniors to their facility last year.

Well-deserved kudos to all of them and the other companies and facilities who have supported the Adopt a School program, part of Golf Canada’s comprehensive Golf in Schools initiative over the past decade.

The Picturesque Bear Mountain Golf Resort Will Host The 2018  Future Links, Driven By Acura Pacific Championship This Week - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

VICTORIA, B.C. – Golf Canada’s first regional junior golf championship of 2018 is set to take place this week as the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship gets underway at Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria, B.C., from May 11-13.

With support from British Columbia Golf, the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship is the first of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament begins with a practice round on May 10 before the tournament gets underway with round one action on May 11.