• Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Jared du Toit’s worldwide golfing odyssey rolls on; Taylor ties for 12th at Bay Hill; Hadwin makes cameo appearance in Full Swing on Netflix; UBC sweeps Vegas tourney; Penticton GC first to open in Okanagan

    BC's Jared du Toit Is Seeing Some Promising Results From All His Hard Work - Golf Canada Photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    The plan was to take a couple of weeks off, return to his Arizona home and rest after a gruelling four-week stretch that saw Jared du Toit tee it up in Malaysia, Oman, New Zealand and Chile.

    But the Kimberley native had a change of heart. After tying for eighth at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Astara Chile Classic, he headed for the Santiago airport and instead boarded a flight to Hong Kong where he will play in this week’s International Series Macau event on the Asian Tour.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Leah John’s super senior season continues with another win; world traveller du Toit ties for 40th in New Zealand Open; Newlands Golf Course in Langley up for sale

    Leah John Is No Stranger To Winning, With 2 BC Women's Am Trophies Prior To Her Stellar College Career - Image Of Leah With Causeway Trophy Courtesy U of Nevada Athletic Communications

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Vancouver’s Leah John has played five events in her senior year at the University of Nevada and has won three of them.

    It’s obviously been a very good year and one that is setting the table for a professional career that is now just three months away.

    “I will turn professional immediately after graduation and hop on the Epson Tour,” John said in an interview after finishing as co-medalist at the Causeway Invitational in Sacramento last week.

  • The 2024 BDO National Golf League Season Is Almost Here!

    Victoria's Royal Colwood Is A NGL Participating Club - Image Courtesy Royal Colwood

    League registration is now open for the 2024 BDO National Golf League in support of First Tee – Canada! Make sure your league gets a spot by letting your league operator know about the opportunity!

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Hadwin T4 at Riviera; Langley’s Chaewon Baek earns 1st collegiate win; Du Toit top-10s in Asian Tour debut; Macdonald earns spot in PGA TOUR’s Mexico Open; Vancouver GC to play host to U.S. Women’s Open qualifier

    Adam Hadwin Had A Solid Showing At Riviera CC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Another week, another British Columbian contends on the PGA TOUR. This time it was Adam Hadwin, who followed up fellow Abbotsford native Nick Taylor’s win at the WM Phoenix Open with a nice run of his own at the Genesis Invitational at storied Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

    Hadwin began his final round with three straight birdies en route to shooting 30 on Riviera’s front side. At one point, he was within two shots of the lead, but settled for a tie for fourth finish at 13-under par. That was four shots behind winner Hideki Matsuyama of Japan. Hadwin carded a six-under 65 on Sunday after firing a four-under 67 on Saturday.

  • Golf Canada Releases 2024 Championship Schedule

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce its full 2024 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

    The 2024 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s two signature National Open Championships — the RBC Canadian Open, returning to the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. May 28 – June 2, and the 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open to be held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, July 23-28.

    Golf Canada’s 2024 competition calendar also includes 11 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Three new previously announced championships for the 2024 season include the BDO National Golf League Finals, the Canadian U15 Championship, and the Canadian Collegiate Invitational.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Taylor rides hot putter to Phoenix Open playoff win; UBC, SFU golfers back on course; Du Toit to make Asian Tour debut at Malaysian Open

    BC's Nick Taylor Putted Brilliantly At The WM Phoenix Open - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Nick Taylor did more than win the WM Phoenix Open in dramatic fashion by birdieing three of his final four holes and then adding two more in a sudden-death playoff with Charley Hoffman.

    Taylor served notice that he is right now Canada’s best male player and, quite frankly, a world-class talent who seems to have that ability to rise to the occasion and perform at his best in the big moments.

  • Red and White Reign Supreme: Canada's Nick Taylor and the Kansas City Chiefs Seize the Day

    It Was A Super Sunday For Nick Taylor And Patrick Mahomes Fans - Images Credit Shayain Gustavsp

    What a Sunday for the books! Our very own Canadian, Nick Taylor, waves the red and white high and proud, clinching the 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open in a heart-stopping playoff against Charley Hoffman. Taylor's putter was nothing short of magical, a testament to perseverance and precision under pressure.

    Parallel to our golfing triumph, the red and white Kansas City Chiefs staged a comeback reminiscent of a Hollywood script in the Super Bowl, turning a game of "butterfingers" into a victory dance in overtime against the 49ers. It's a red and white double-header that'll be etched in the annals of sports history.

  • RBC PGA Scramble Announces Regional Final Dates And Locations For 2024

    The BC West Regional Final Is Slated For Crown Isle Resort (Pictured) - Image Courtesy Crown Isle

    (Acton, ON) - The PGA of Canada is pleased to announce that some of Canada’s top courses have been secured as host sites for the 2024 RBC PGA Scramble Regional Finals.

    The program looks to build upon its biggest year yet in 2023, when over 12,000 amateur players participated at over 170 local qualifiers across the country. Players can once again look forward to the continued program improvements, including two guaranteed spots in the National Final at Cabot Cape Breton for all-female teams, low-gross qualifying positions and an increased emphasis on handicap integrity and verification.

  • Keri Moffat, Brian McDonald & Kevin Stinson Honoured With PGA Of Canada Awards

    Keri Moffatt, Brian McDonald and Kevin Stinson - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

    Courtesy PGA of BC

    January 30, 2024 - The PGA of BC is thrilled to share that Keri Moffat (Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club), Brian McDonald (Fairview Mountain Golf Club) and Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course) were honoured January 24 at Canada Night in Orlando, Florida as recipients of PGA of Canada National Awards.

    Moffat was recognized as the 2023 Ben Kern Coach of the Year. She has been a provincial coach with BC Golf, coach with the University of British Columbia, sat on the Golf Canada Future Links Junior Golf Board, attended numerous conferences, facilitated coaching sessions, and has won many Team Championships with UBC, including five NAIA titles.

  • Video: BC's Keri Moffat Wins PGA of Canada Coach Of The Year

    Keri Moffat Accepts PGA of Canada Coach Of The Year Award - Youtube screen grab

    In what has been a much-deserved year of recognition, UBC Thunderbirds and BC Golf Coach, Keri Moffat, was recognized on Wednesday evening at Canada Night during the PGA Show in Orlando as the PGA of Canada's Ben Kern Coach of The Year.

    Keri, who has been teaching out of Mayfair Lakes Golf Club in Richmond for several years, was on hand and gave an emotional speech as she accepted the award and acknowledged a moment with one of her young students that has helped define both her beliefs and experience in the field of teaching/coaching young athletes and in particular young female athletes. 

    Keri's award and acceptance speech start at approximately the 7:25 minute mark of the video, which covers the evening's awards and Hall of Fame inductions. 

    Click HERE to see video

    {youtube aAcsbDj_Lx0?si}

  • BC Golf Supports Right To Be’s Bystander Intervention Training

    HOLLABACK! HAS CHANGED ITS NAME TO RIGHT TO BE.

    "We believe a world that respects our right to be isn’t some far-off destination. It’s something we’re building every day. This is your call to power, to build a world free of harassment. How do you want to get started?"

    Right To Be started out as…a conversation in 2005 among seven young people: Lauren Larken Scuderi, Kaja Trejak, Samuel Carter, Anna Weichselbraun, Colin Weatherby, Emily May, and Elan Abrell. As the women told story after story of their experiences of harassment, the men became increasingly concerned. Collectively, they resolved to make change.

    Their work focuses on turning the care we have for each other into simple, creative, effective action. They want to build a world that’s free of harassment and filled with humanity. Every day, Right To Be trains hundreds of people to respond to, intervene in, and heal from harassment.

    For more information on the training, click here.

    Click HERE to learn more about Right To Be and their training programs...

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Du Toit earns Asian Tour card and now tries to sort out his schedule; Another strong showing in desert by Hadwin; Zhang fourth at Annika Invitational

    Jared du Toit Tees Off In 2022 RBC Canadian Open - Bernard Brault/Golf Canada Photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Jared du Toit has his Asian Tour card and now just has to sort out what that means.

    On the surface it looks like a terrific opportunity for the 28-year-old Kimberley product, who tied for 12th at the final stage of the Asian Tour qualifying school last week in Hua Hin, Thailand. “I think it’s a good opportunity,” du Toit said over the phone from Thailand.

    “I don’t really know how it is all going to shake out.”

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Lauren Kim has Georgia on her mind after receiving Augusta invite; Taylor repeats tie for seventh performance in Hawaii; Sloan set for PGA Tour return in La Quinta

    Lauren Kim With Her Augusta National Women’s Amateur Invite - (X-Formerly Twitter pic) / Augusta 16th Redbud credit Ryan Schreiber

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Lauren Kim was just 13 years old when she watched the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur back in the spring of 2019.

    The Surrey native was just beginning a promising junior golf career back then and as she sat in front of her television and watched Jennifer Kupcho, now a LPGA Tour regular, win that event at Augusta National Golf Club, Kim allowed herself to dream about one day playing in the tournament.

    That dream got real last week when Kim, now a freshman at the University of Texas and the reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, received her invitation to this year’s event.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Desert debut for Sloan; Hadwin T14 in Maui; du Toit, Lane off to Thailand for Asian Tour Q-school finals; Dry December helps courses finish year strong

    Merritt, BC's Roger Sloan - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s a necessity for players like Roger Sloan who are joining the PGA TOUR via the Korn Ferry Tour or qualifying school.

    The addition of eight lucrative Signature events to this season’s schedule has created a two-tier tour of sorts. Those Signature tournaments, with $20-million purses and limited fields, are off limits to the rank and file members of the PGA TOUR, who now must play when they can.

    Sloan, who is rejoining the PGA TOUR after graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour this past summer, had hoped to begin his season at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii.

    The Sony is not a Signature event, but follows one and the fact that several players who competed at last week’s season-opening Sentry tournament at Kapalua on Maui have made the short hop to Oahu to play in the Sony, means Sloan did not draw into the field.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: New PGA TOUR season begins in Maui for B.C. trio; Stinson, Moffat and McDonald win PGA of Canada national awards; Martina Yu heading to Duke; Hadwin cautious on ball rollback

    The 11th Green At Kapalua GC In Maui, Site Of The Sentry TOC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Five Canadians, including British Columbians Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin and Adam Svensson, are in the field for The Sentry, this week’s season-opening PGA TOUR event at Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

    A $20-million purse will be up for grabs for the 59-player field. There is no cut in the 72-hole tournament, which is one of the PGA TOUR’s ‘Signature’ events. Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes are the other Canadians in the field.

    The Sentry will not have its 2023 winner back to defend his title as Jon Rahm has defected to LIV Golf. That move benefitted Hughes, who moved up one spot on the FedEx Cup points list to No. 50 and qualified to play in all of the Signature events this year.

  • 25 Viral Golf Moments That Sent Social Media Wild In 2023

    Adam Hadwin Is Tackled By A Security Guard Trying To Celebrate Pal Nick Taylor's RBC Canadian Open Victory - Photo Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

    BY 

    It's been a year unlike any other for golf, with the sport embroiled in legal battles, senate hearings, shock mergers and controversial changes – and that’s before even mentioning any of the on-course action.

    While many fans have become sick and tired of the boardroom politics dominating the sport's airwaves, it hasn't all been doom and gloom. So, as the year draws to a close, let's take a look at some of the funniest, most viral and light-hearted moments that got people talking on social media this past year.

    Click HERE for complete story...

  • PGA of Canada Announces 2023 National Award Winners

    Courtesy PGA of Canada

    By: Brendan Stasiewich, PGA of Canada with excerpts from Award Nomination Forms

    We're excited to present the winners of the 2023 PGA of Canada National Awards.

    Winners will be celebrated during Canada Night at the PGA Show in Orlando on January 24. Registration for the event can be found here. A link to a live stream of the event will be sent in the new year.

    Please click HERE to see complete article...

     

  • Following A Career Year, Nick Taylor Has Some Major Goals Heading Into 2024

    Abbotsford, BC's Nick Taylor Became The First Canadian To Win Our National Men's Open In 69 Years - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    It would be understandable if Nick Taylor was a tad reluctant to turn the page on 2023, which was a career-defining year for the Abbotsford native.

    Who will ever forget that dramatic win at the RBC Canadian Open, sealed on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff at Oakdale Country Club by a putt from somewhere just north of Hamilton.

    And Taylor was anything but a one-tournament wonder in 2023. In February, he almost won the WM Phoenix Open, finishing second to Scottie Scheffler. He and Abbotsford buddy Adam Hadwin were a solo second at the two-man team event in New Orleans. Taylor had six top-10s, 15 top-25s, finished 25th on the FedEx Cup points list and earned just over $6.2 million.

  • GJAC Announces Year End Player Of The Year And Story Of The Year Awards

    Nick Taylor - Photo Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

    TORONTO - The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is proud to announce the golf story of the year, as well as the various Player of the Year awards for the 2023 season.

    “GJAC is pleased to recognize Canadian professional and amateur golfers again this year with our year end player and Canadian golf story of the year awards,” said Mike Johnny, President of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.

    “Golf continues to thrive across Canada. Participation remains high and consistent with its success at the grassroots, the professional and amateur play of Canadians is also at an all-time high. Nick Taylor’s iconic victory at the RBC Canadian Open is symbolic of the successes enjoyed in the game of golf by Canadians across professional and amateur competition.”

    Without further ado; here is the story of the year and Players of the Year for the 2023 season:

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Disappointing week at Q-school finals for Macdonald and du Toit; Hadwin-Cruz partnership enters second decade; Taylor a finalist for Canada’s athlete of the year; Goodfellow 3rd in Spain

    PGA TOUR Hopefuls Jared du Toit (L) & Stuart Macdonald Came Up Short At Q-School - File Photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    They each began their week with a double-bogey and that seemed to set the tone for British Columbians Jared du Toit and Stuart Macdonald at the final stage of the PGA/Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school.

    Both had headed to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., full of optimism after surviving the second stage of qualifying and dreaming about securing one of the PGA TOUR cards that were handed out to the top five and ties.