• Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Long winter delays Osoyoos Golf Club’s traditional early start to season; Svensson top-25s at Bay Hill; Parsons fourth on Cactus Tour; Chambers Bay to play host to PNGA Men’s Amateur

    Osyoos GC Facebook Photo From 2019

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Osoyoos Golf Club is usually among the first of the Okanagan courses to emerge from winter hibernation. That won’t be the case this year...

  • Earl Grey Golf Club In Calgary To Host 2024 CP Women’s Open

    2024 marks first time the historic club will play host to the stars of the LPGA Tour

    50th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship returns to Alberta for the 7th time and first since 2016

    Through Canadian Pacific’s community investment program, CP Has Heart, the event will once again be making a significant contribution to pediatric cardiac care in the host community

    February 28, 2023 – The stars of the LPGA Tour are headed back to Calgary as Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) have announced that the 2024 CP Women’s Open will be contested at the historic Earl Grey Golf Club from July 22-28, 2024.

    The 2024 CP Women’s Open will mark the 7th time that the province of Alberta has hosted Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship and first since 2016. The 2024 event will be the 50th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship and the first time that Earl Grey will challenge the stars of the LPGA Tour.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Taylor has Match Play and Masters on his mind; UBC’s Mackenzie Bickell starts tourney with a bang; Ledgeview to play host to Canadian Open regional qualifier

    Abbotsford, BC's Nick Taylor - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Nick Taylor has always been happy to give back to his home town, so when organizers of this past weekend’s Western Golf Expo at Abbotsford’s Tradex facility asked for a favour, Taylor was happy to oblige.

    Taylor lent his support to the show by appearing opening day via Zoom from his Scottsdale home for an interview with Vancouver Golf Tour commissioner Fraser Mulholland and Sportsnet 650’s Randip Janda.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Rutledge reflects on Hall of Fame call; Svensson top-10s at Genesis Invitational; Golf Expo goes big in Abbotsford; Victoria Liu impresses at Princeton

    Victoria, BC's Jim Rutledge - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    A half-century golfing odyssey has culminated with what Victoria’s Jim Rutledge calls the highlight of his incredible career.

    Rutledge was named last week as one of two new inductees into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. “The list of honoured members is in itself almost overwhelming and to join that distinguished group is the highlight of my golfing career,” Rutledge told a media conference call.

  • BC's Nick Taylor Finishes Second In Phoenix Earning Career Best Payday

    Abbotsford, BC's Nick Taylor - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Nick Taylor went head to head with two of the best players in the world and never blinked. And while the Abbotsford native had to settle for second place, he earned one heck of a nice consolation prize at the PGA TOUR’s WM Phoenix Open.

    Taylor took home $2.18 million as he finished the star-stacked $20-million event at TPC Scottsdale at 17-under par, two shots behind new world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler...

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Another Victoria Golf Club caddie lands prestigious Evans Scholarship; Monterey magic continues for Taylor; Former McCleery, Mayfair Lakes pro Pat Dunn passes

    Evans Caddie Scholarship Recipient Aleksej Milojevic - Images Courtesy A. Milojevic/Victoria GC

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    When he began caddying for members at Victoria Golf Club two years ago, Aleksej Milojevic had no idea how profoundly it would change his life.

    He was 15 and as green as the grass he walked on to complete his first caddying loops on the scenic oceanside layout. Milojevic knew very little about golf or life...

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Surrey teen off to Augusta National; Motomochi cashes on NEXT Tour; du Toit third on Asher Tour; Hadwin surprises wife with made cut

    BC's Ha Young Chang Won A Regional Drive, Chip & Putt Competition At Pebble Beach - Image Courtesy Minku Chang

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Surrey teenager Ha Young Chang is counting the days until she visits Augusta National Golf Club for the finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship. She figures to be spending a lot of those days at the driving range and practice green.

    “I am really excited,” says Chang, a Grade 9 student at Elgin Park Secondary. “I have always watched it on TV. I know I’ll be a little nervous.”

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Tower Ranch sold to Vernon-based company; Hadwin enjoys another successful visit to desert; Lauren Kim fifth at Annika Invitational; Osland hot on Cactus Tour

    Tower Ranch GC - Image Courtesy BCGMA

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Vernon businessman Gurjit Jhajj’s timing could not have been much better when he got into the golf business by purchasing Sunset Ranch in Kelowna about five years ago.

    The ensuing COVID-19 pandemic gave golf a boost and brought new players to the game. Sunset Ranch, like most other courses, has benefitted.

    That got Jhajj, owner of Durali Properties Ltd., thinking about adding a second course to his company’s portfolio. He did not have to look much farther than just down the road.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Barker earns nice payday for his virtual round; Taylor T7 in Hawaii; Hadwin set for 2023 debut at American Express tourney; Sloan makes some changes

    Vernon, BC's Bryce Barker Cashed In Virtually For Real - Image Courtesy Bryce Barker

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Vernon’s Bryce Barker just earned his biggest payday as a tour pro and he didn’t even set foot on a golf course.

    Barker was one of 250 players who signed up to compete in the first round of the inaugural NEXT Golf Tour, a virtual professional tour open to players with access to TrackMan’s indoor golf simulators. And when that round was completed, Barker’s six-under 66 left him in a nine-way tie for third place. He earned about $4,700 US.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Sloan hoping Korn Ferry Tour provides quick road back to PGA Tour; Svensson closes well at Kapalua; Taylor to make 2023 debut at Sony Open in Hawaii; Macdonald wins in Arizona

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

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    When the harsh reality of losing his PGA TOUR card hit home, Roger Sloan acknowledges going through a period of mourning of sorts.

    “When we lost our card, it got really dark there for several weeks,” Sloan said in a telephone interview from his Houston-area home. “You don’t know when you are going to get back out there. Your friends are out there, you hang out with a bunch of guys out there and it kind of just gets ripped from you.

    “I still have dreams of winning on the PGA TOUR and it’s hard to win on the PGA TOUR when you are on the Korn Ferry Tour. So some dreams get ripped from you and that tugs at your heart a little bit. It does get dark. There is a period of time where you just have to let it sink in a little bit, know that it is going to pass and look forward to what opportunities you have right now.”

  • Led By Henderson, Hughes And Svensson, Canadian Golf Hit New Highs In 2022

    (L-R) Mackenzie Huges, Brooke Henderson, Adam Svensson - Images Credit Golf Canada File Photos

    Courtesy Golf Canada

    John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press

    There’s an argument to be made that 2022 was the most successful year in Canadian golf.

    Brooke Henderson, Mackenzie Hughes, and Adam Svensson’s combined four wins between the LPGA and PGA Tours were highlights of the season. But the achievements of Canadian golfers were not limited to those victories.

    Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith became the first two Canadians to compete in the Presidents Cup at the same time, Mike Weir was named the first-ever Canadian captain of the International team for the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club, and the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open both returned after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Click HERE for complete story...

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Chilliwack Golf Club approves ambitious renovation plan; Bald Eagle up for sale; Crown Isle Q-school moved to June; Osland comes close in Arizona

    Chilliwack Golf Club - Image Courtesy Facility

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    When Kaleb Fisher was appointed course superintendent at Chilliwack Golf Club just over a year ago, he was asked to come up with a long-term plan for the golf course. 

    “I took over last November and at the first board meeting I went to, the board and (general manager) Bryan Ewart said to me, we need to think forward and we want to task you with some long-term planning goals and try to figure out what we want this golf club to look like in the future,” Fisher recalled in an interview.

    So Fisher went to work coming up with a plan and a year later, that future is now in focus.

  • PGA TOUR Canada Announces 2023 Qualifying Tournament Schedule

    Courtesy Press Release

    PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida — PGA TOUR Canada announced Wednesday it will hold six Qualifying Tournaments to determine Tour membership for the 2023 season, with registration beginning Monday, January 9, 2023, at noon EST.

    The Tour will hold five Qualifying Tournaments in the U.S., beginning in late-February, and conclude with its final qualifier in Canada at BC's Crown Isle a week before the Tour’s regular season, its ninth in history, begins.

  • Shaughnessy Has A Tough Act To Follow As It Prepares For CP Women’s Open Next Summer

    The Hockey Boards 17th Hole Was A Big Hit At The CP Women's Open In Ottawa And Will Be Returning In Vancouver - Image Credit Gary Yee (Golf Canada)

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    As he prepares for the 2023 CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, tournament director Ryan Paul knows he has a tough act to follow. 

    The 2022 tourney, held this past summer at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, was a huge success and was named Tournament of the Year by the Tournament Partners of the LPGA at the recent season-ending awards ceremony in Naples, Fla. 

    Golf Canada’s Paul now must decide what he and his team are going to do for an encore. It’s a nice problem to have...

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Shaughnessy has tough act to follow as it prepares for CP Women’s Open; B.C. head pros head south; Uplands superintendent Brain Youell honoured

    The Hockey Boards 17th Hole Was A Big Hit At The CP Women's Open In Ottawa And Will Be Returning In Vancouver - Image Credit Gary Yee (Golf Canada)

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    As he prepares for the 2023 CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, tournament director Ryan Paul knows he has a tough act to follow. 

    The 2022 tourney, held this past summer at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, was a huge success and was named Tournament of the Year by the Tournament Partners of the LPGA at the recent season-ending awards ceremony in Naples, Fla. 

    Golf Canada’s Paul now must decide what he and his team are going to do for an encore. It’s a nice problem to have...

  • 2022 CP Women’s Open Named LPGA Tournament of the Year

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    Golf Canada

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    NAPLES, FLA. (Golf Canada) – ​The 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club has been named Tournament of the Year by the Tournament Partners of the LPGA.

    Tournament organizers from Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific were presented with a prestigious Gold Driver Award during a ceremony held in conjunction with this week’s LPGA Tour season-ending CME Group Tour Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Fla.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: After battling to make cut, Adam Svensson wins his first PGA TOUR event; Surrey native now sixth in FedEx Cup points race and has spot in Masters and Tournament of Champions; No passing grades for B.C. Q-school entrants

    Adam Svensson - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Childhood dreams do come true, sometimes when you least expect it. Just ask Adam Svensson. Winning wasn’t on Svensson’s mind when he began the second round of the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Ga. The 28-year-old Surrey native was in grind mode, simply trying to make the cut after opening the tournament with a disappointing one-over 73 at the Plantation course.

    But just like he did years ago as a young British Columbia golfing prodigy, then later as a top amateur and collegiate player and more recently on the Korn Ferry Tour, Svensson produced a magical stretch of golf and earned the biggest win of his life.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Golf Expo is back and moving to Abbotsford; Hadwin top-10s in Houston; Angela Arora joins Tennessee Volunteers, while Rebecca Kim heading to Oregon State; SFU adds B.C. recruits

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    British Columbia’s annual golf expo is returning after a two-year Covid-induced hiatus with a new name and location. What is now called the Western Golf Expo is scheduled for Feb. 24 and 25 and is moving from its former home at the PNE Forum building in Vancouver to Abbotsford ’s Tradex facility.

    The show is being held on a Friday and Saturday rather than the traditional Saturday and Sunday. “We are switching it up a bit,” says Joan Probert, regional director for the B.C. and Alberta chapters of the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada, which owns and operates six golf expos across the country.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Crisologo, Macdonald fall short at Q-school; Taylor, Hadwin and Svensson head to Houston; UBC women retain No. 1 ranking; Osland wins on Cactus Tour

    BC's Chris Crisologo - Image Courtesy Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    The final stage of Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school is as much a test of players’ nerves as their golf games, a place where one mistake can make the difference between a passing and failing grade.

    Richmond’s Chris Crisologo learned that the hard way at the recently completed Q-school in Savannah, Ga. Crisologo missed finishing inside the top 40 and ties and earning guaranteed starts on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour by six shots.

    While that may make it sound like Crisologo wasn’t particularly close, the 26-year-old Simon Fraser University graduate will look back at one hole of the 72 he played as being the difference.

  • Vancouver's Stuart Macdonald Breezes His Way Into Final Stage Qualifying At Korn Ferry Tour Q-School

    Stuart Macdonald Is Shown Here Competing In The RBC Canadian Open - Image Credit BBrault/Golf Canada

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Stuart Macdonald made it look easy as he sailed through the second stage of Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school in Murrieta, Calif.

    But the 27-year-old Vancouver native will tell you it was anything but. Q-school, Macdonald says, is never easy...