Richmond Native Christine Wong Was Recently Named A Titleist Brand Ambassador - Image Courtesy Titleist/FootJoy

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When she has a spare moment, which doesn’t happen often in her life, Christine Wong sometimes thinks about one final run at the LPGA Tour. But then she reflects on how happy she is with her life right now and wonders why she’d want to change a thing.

“I think for the next couple of years or so I will probably just keep doing what I have been doing,” Wong says. “I feel like I am in a really good place in my life right now and it’s kind of nice.”

Nice and busy. Wong, a two-time B.C. Women’s Amateur champion who is now nearly eight years removed from a successful collegiate golf career at San Diego State University, has a lot on her plate.

In the latest edition of The ModGolf Podcast, creator and host, Colin Weston, interviews Andy Walker, the Director of The UGA Academy & Player Development.

Walker explains how the state-of-the-art facility in Florida he calls The Wakanda For Golf aims to teach this game at the highest level "...with resources that include biomechanics and short game area to learn how to score develop emotionally, physically and mentally.”

We will introduce players of African decent to the industry because not all of them are going to play on tour. We want to flood the industry with qualified professionals that go into the management side of the game, or golf architecture, club design, agronomy. All the different opportunities with the PGA and on The PGA Tour.”

With The Masters about to tee it up in a couple of days, we thought it might be interesting to read why one prognosticator includes at least one Canadian in his top 10 picks for players 'Most Likely To Win The Masters'- ed.

By Rich Hunt/golfwrx.com

Each year for the Masters, I create a filtering process to help determine the players who are most likely to win the green jacket based on criteria that have strongly predicted outcomes at Augusta. I usually get the list down to roughly 20-25 players.

Last year, Dustin Johnson was one of my 21 players who could win the Masters. Dustin was at 9/1 odds. The other top finishers, like Cameron Smith and Sung Jae Im, were filtered out unlike previous years where players that were in contention were typically shortlisted. My theory on that is that due to the tournament being played in November, the course was not playing as firm and as fast as it normally does, and that allowed players who typically do not get through my filter to get into contention.

Before I discuss my picks for this year’s Masters....

Click HERE to see full article

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.

Recently, in celebrating International Women's Day, The R & A asked women working in golf - inside and outside of The R&A - to talk about their work and why having more women in the industry is essential for the future success of the sport.

British Columbia Golf joins The R&A in being committed to broadening the appeal of the sport for women and girls in all forms whether that is playing the sport or working within it. The Women in Golf Charter and #INVITEHer​ campaign aims to improve inclusivity of golf for women and girls.

Read more on The R&A's efforts https://www.randa.org/en/theranda/ini...

The PGA Tour Champions Is SetTo Hold A 3-way Cup For All Parts Of The World - Image Courtesy World Champions Cup

CHICAGO (MARCH 16, 2021) – A unique and exciting new professional golf competition is ready to take the world stage, as sports media and marketing firm Intersport announced the creation of the World Champions Cup, scheduled to debut in the fall of 2022.

Inspired by the passion and tradition of the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, the World Champions Cup will be a first-of-its-kind golf tournament featuring Team USA, Team Europe and Team World squaring off over three days of competition that will renew some of the game’s most storied rivalries as the teams battle for international pride and global bragging rights.

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.

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.”

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.

Welcome to a Monthly Lunch & Learn Series to bring together women in the sport and physical activity sector (and beyond) to discuss a range of topics

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.

To open Season 9, host Colin Weston is joined by LPGA Teaching Professional Dr. Greta Anderson - Founder of Dr. Greta Golf - to learn how she applies her PhD in Higher Learning and voracious curiosity to help students understand the WHY.

"We are making progress but there definitely are a lot of areas that we need to do more work. It's implied bias. I'm continuously saddened by the number of people - especially women of colour - who land at my lesson tee. Often times it is a return to golf after a bad experience that happened a decade or two ago and for whatever reason they have decided to give it one more shot and they found me."

- Dr. Greta Anderson

Listen to the podcast by clicking on the image below. You can hear more ModGolf podcasts HERE. 

To learn more about Dr. Greta, check out her bio page and Instagram @drgretagolf

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...

For Immediate Publication

22 February 2021, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, N.J., USA: The R&A and the USGA have announced proposals for significant changes to the Rules of Amateur Status that govern the game worldwide.

These proposals result from a modernisation initiative that has identified a clear need to bring the Rules up to date to reflect today’s global amateur game and ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply.

The proposed Rules, along with explanations to key changes, have been posted on www.RandA.org and www.usga.org and the organisations are now inviting feedback from golfers and stakeholders. Comments will be accepted until Friday, 26 March 2021 with the new Rules scheduled to be adopted on 1 January 2022.

Click on the image below to hear the latest ModGolf Podcast with host Colin Weston as he interviews Charles Dillahunt to share how The PGA of America is working to break down barriers to entry for not only playing golf but to participate as a business supplier within the golf industry.

"My biggest hope for the golf industry is that it one day grows to be more representative of the population of the world, and that it openly welcomes and serves members of all communities and from all walks of life equally and inclusively."

Via Press Release

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Feb. 17, 2021) – The USGA announced today that Mike Whan will join the organization this summer as CEO, and will become the eighth top executive in USGA history.

Last month, Whan announced his intention to step down as LPGA Commissioner in 2021, after his organization completes a search for the next Commissioner. His transition follows an impressive 11 years at the helm of the LPGA, during which the organization experienced historic growth in virtually every aspect of the business.

British Columbia Golf would like to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year 2021 falls on Friday, February 12th, 2021, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 26th, 2021. See the full calendar.

Celebrations last up to 16 days, but only the first 7 days are considered a public holiday (February 11th–17th, 2021).

Chinese New Year marks the transition between zodiac signs: 2021 is the year of the Ox; 2020 the year of the Rat.