A few years back a humorous comic strip centred around golf with some characters whose lives in and around the game are likely very familiar to many of us, was a regular feature in many golf publications and on websites.

Life In The Trap, written by Seattle's Rick Newell, tells the story of Clay, Duff, Rosie, Putts and Carrie, the local golf pro, along with the occasional insight from 'Dimples' the golf ball. After a self-imposed hiatus, Newell has decided now is a good time to bring back the once hugely popular strip.

There is a deeper, more meaningful story as to why Newell has resurrected the comic strip and what he hopes it can do toward a greater good. He and his wife run a program called M.U.S.T. - a mentorship program for young people that is having a real positive effect in their community.

Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

Via Golf Canada

The USGA and The R&A have issued the Distance Insights Report, which provides comprehensive research and analysis on the contributors to, and long-term impacts of, hitting distance in golf.

After extensive stakeholder research, the report features more than 100 years of data, informed by a library of 56 supporting documents. It is accompanied by a 15-page conclusions paper from the governing bodies that summarizes their perspectives on the long-term implications for the sport.

Bell Let’s Talk Day 2020 

On January 29th, Bell will donate five cents to Canadian mental health for every text message and mobile and long distance call made by a Bell, Bell Cause pour la cause, Bell MTS or Bell Aliant customer, tweet using #BellLetsTalk, view of the Bell Let’s Talk video on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, and use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat filter.

Background 

Bell Let’s Talk is a campaign dedicated to moving mental health forward in Canada. The strategy is built on four pillars: anti-stigma, improving access to care, supporting world-class research, and leading by example in workplace mental health. 

Bell Let’s Talk is not only changing the landscape of mental health funding in Canada, but is also contributing to changes in attitudes and behaviours. 85% of Canadians think attitudes about mental health have changed for the better in the past 5 years, and 75% believe the stigma around mental illness has been reduced. 

With the help of Canadians and people around the world, Bell Let’s Talk Day has now surpassed 1 billion messages of support sent and over $100 million in Bell funding towards mental health.

Jared du Toit Has Earned Himself A Fully Exempt Spot On The PGA Tour Latinoamerica Circuit For 2020 Thanks To His Medallist Performance At Their Qualifying Event - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

Courtesy Golf Canada - Written by John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press

A month ago, Jared du Toit wasn’t even sure he’d be playing in the Latinoamerica Qualifying Tournament in Mexico. He’d been frustrated with the state of his game for all of the 2019 season and drilled hard for most of November and December trying to get things back on track. By the time the holidays rolled around, he was fed up.

But fast forward to last Sunday and he’d won the event at the Estrella del Mar Golf & Beach Resort, earning a full exemption for the PGA Tour Latinoamerica season.

“I talked to the people close to me, my coaches and family and everyone was kind of like, ‘Nah, just go do it,”’ said du Toit, who had consulted with Golf Canada coach Derek Ingram and Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood, a mental performance coach with the national program, among others.

“So then I really committed to doing it and really good practices and whatnot and I felt really good for tee off and then obviously played well in the event so it was a big relief getting it done.”

Not only is BC's Ashley Zibrik having a positive impact on the game of golf here at home for golf as a whole and, in many respects, for the advancement of women in the game in particular, her contributions are being duly noted south of the border. 

Recently Zibrik, Shaughnessy Golf Club's Head Professional, was interviewed by Club Trends magazine, a publication put out by the National Club Association based in Washington, DC. She was a major component of an issue put out by Club Trends focussing on the impact women are having at private clubs these days.

The issue, Female Factor: Women's Evolving Influence In Private Clubs,was put out for Fall 2019 and among the articles was a feature Q & A with the former Class 'A' Professional of The Year and two-time PGA of BC Women's Champion, Ashley Zibrik. 

Click HERE see the video by Golf Canada on how your handicap will be calculated by the World Handicap System starting in Canada from January 8th, 2020.

Watch more RULES AND HANDICAPPING on Golf Canada TV

Courtesy Golf Canada

The World Handicap System will ensure handicaps are calculated consistently around the world.

Click here for more information.

Dr. Jack Lamey Was a PNGA Representative From 2004-2019, And Also Served As PNGA President In 2010-2012

British Columbia Golf wishes to join the Pacific Northwest Golf Association and indeed the entire golf community in expressing our sadness upon the loss of Dr. Jack Lamey over the Christmas Holidays. Dr. Lamey was a very thoughtful and passionate giver to the game of golf and he will be missed by his family, all his friends and acquaintences in and around golf as well as all who knew him. 

We share with you here an announcement put out through the PNGA by its Executive Director, Troy Andrew. 

By John Gordon/Golf Canada

Welcome to Golf Handicaps for Dummies: Why having a handicap is not a handicap.

No, I’m not calling you a dummy, but if you’re a golfer of any ability who doesn’t maintain an accurate and consistent handicap, you’re not taking advantage of one of the fundamentals that makes golf the most democratic of sports. And that’s just dumb.

With all due respect, you can’t go one-on-one with a pro basketball player or hope to score on an NHL goalie. They’re not going to let you shoot at a basket that’s lower than regulation or a net that’s 10 feet wide and six feet high.

But golf’s handicap system allows you to compete on an equitable basis with players who are more or less accomplished than you are. Maintaining a handicap also allows you to monitor your progress every time you play. It’s an integral part of your golf experience.

And, starting Jan. 8, the new World Handicap System makes that scenario even more attractive. More user-friendly, in other words.

Victoria, BC's  Anna Wu Is Part Of A Canadian Trio Advancing To 2020 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship At Augusta - Image courtesy YouTube

Written by Golf Canada

Three Canadian juniors will be among the 80 competitors in the sixth annual Drive, Chip and Putt championship at Augusta National on April 5, 2020. In the Girls 7-9 division, Canada will be represented by the duo of Alexis Card (Cambridge, Ont.) and Anna Wu (Victoria, B.C.).

Card punched her ticket to Augusta with a score of 107 at the Oakmont Country Club qualifier while Wu posted a total of 122 at Chambers Bay Golf Course. The Canadians are rounded out by Cole Roberts of Oshawa, Ont., who qualified at TPC River Highlands with a score of 107.  (scoring is based on a 25-point-per-shot basis, explained below - ed.)

20129 U.S. Open Champion Gary Woodland - Share Alike 4.0 International

By DOUG FERGUSON, Associated Press

Every club in the bag had a story to tell this year.

Some of them were breathtaking, such as Gary Woodland boldly going for the green on the 14th hole at Pebble Beach in the U.S. Open. Some of them were devastating, such as Francesco Molinari going into Rae’s Creek at the Masters.

What follows are 14 shots from every club in the bag of those who won majors, those who didn’t and some who didn’t win at all.

Image Courtesy WAGR®

(20 November 2019, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, N.J., USA): The R&A and the USGA today announced the World Amateur Golf Ranking ® (WAGR ®) will be determined by a new system called the Power Method beginning with the first update in January 2020.

The Power Method aims to better reflect the current performance of golfers by placing greater emphasis on current form and results by improving the algorithms used to determine the WAGR.

In the new structure, every event in the world will earn a Power based on the strength of its starting field which will then determine the total number of ranking points on offer to the field. This will extend to a maximum of 1000 for amateur events with players also able to gain ranking points from playing in professional tournaments.

Renee Powell Personifies The Caring, Giving Qualities In A Person That So Often Are Synonymous With The Game Of Golf - Image Courtesy PGA of America

By JAMES BROWN & ALVIN PATRICK, CBS News

It was a beautiful day for golf on the Clearview Golf Course in East Canton, Ohio, but for these women, being here is about much more than sinking putts.

"You look at that little white ball, it's very little!" said one woman. "And you don't think of anything else when you're trying to hit that ball."

The women are part of Clearview Hope, the first golf program for female military veterans in America."It's freedom," said one golfer. "You can look at your other comrades, your other sister, and you know what she's saying without even saying a word."

‘Outstanding Volunteer Service’ Award Given To 2019 National Golf Day Community Service Project Recognizing The Contribution Of The Golf Industry As A Whole To Communities And The Environment

For Immediate Release

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – A coalition of golf’s leading associations and industry partners will be presented the group award for “Outstanding Volunteer Service” for their April service project, which achieved in just one day the equivalent of 800 hours of work and four months of labor from one National Park Service (NPS) employee.

On April 30, the golf industry came together for the third-annual Community Service Project, which was part of the 12th annual National Golf Day.

Bellevue, WA's Ian Siebers Was Named PNGA Junior Boy's POY For The 2nd Straight Year - Image Courtesy PNGA

For Immediate Release

Federal Way, Wash. – The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) has announced the 2019 Players of the Year for the region. Those honored include Men's Player of the Year, Joe Highsmith of Lakewood, Wash.; Women’s, Ellie Slama of Salem, Ore.; Men's Mid-Amateur, Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho; Women's Mid-Amateur, Gretchen Johnson of Portland, Ore.; Senior Men's, Pat O’Donnell of Happy Valley, Ore.; Senior Women's, Lara Tennant of Portland, Ore.; Junior Boys', Ian Siebers of Bellevue, Wash.; and Junior Girls', Gihoe Seo of Mercer Island, Wash.

Click here for a list of playing accomplishments of this year’s recipients, and here for a complete history of all past PNGA Player of the Year recipients. 

Geoffrey Cornish Was A Disciple Of Stanely Thompson And Helped Build The Capilano Golf Club In West Vancouver. He Was Also A Major In The Canadian Army, Serving In Europe From 1940-45 - Golf Canada Image

By Terry Lenyk/Golf Canada

They are some of Canada’s most renowned golf legends, a list amassed of professional and amateur players, course architects and administrators. They have all contributed to the growth of the game of golf in this country. However, their contributions to golf pale in comparison to their contributions to the fabric of our nation.

November 11th is Remembrance Day. A day we remember and pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. What better day to remember Canadian golfers of the past who helped our nation during its greatest times of need.

Adam Hadwin Was Made One Of The International Team's Captain's Pick By Ernie Els - File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin has the second chance he so desperately wanted and is determined to make the most of the opportunity afforded him by Ernie Els. Ever since dropping his Sunday singles match 2&1 to Phil Mickelson at the 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey, Hadwin has been yearning for a return engagement to the biennial matches.

The 32-year-old Abbotsford product got his wish when Els, the International captain for next month’s matches in Melbourne, Australia, made him one of four captain’s picks.

For Immediate Release

(4 November 2019, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, N.J., USA): The World Handicap System (WHS) is ready to be launched from January 2020 and will provide golfers with a unified and more inclusive handicapping system for the first time.

Though many countries are planning to adopt the new system in January, the system will go live in other parts of the world throughout the year to accommodate different implementation plans and variations in the golfing calendar.

Courtesy PGA OF AMERICA

AUSTIN, Texas — Team golf, whether conducted on a televised global stage or in the cozy confines of the Fazio Foothills of Austin, Texas, is the sport’s minute-by-minute drama series.

The inaugural Women’s PGA Cup had its share of compelling vignettes  as a five-member United States team dug deep to hold off Canada and capture a sparkling silver trophy by four strokes, 671-675, at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa.

The 54-hole competition, the first international event for women PGA Professionals, opened with the U.S. owning a 10-stroke advantage only to see that cushion trimmed twice to four. The day closed on a sun-splashed tableau of rolling terrain with Canada and the U.S. dueling on the Foothills’ renowned final four holes.

The European Disabled Golf Association Has Been Announced As The Official Charity To The Portugal Masters At Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course October 24-27th - Image Courtesy Facebook/EDGA

Courtesy European Tour

The EDGA changes the lives of people with disability through the power of golf. Made up of volunteers from the National Golf Federations from 29 countries around the world, its objective is to help more than half a million people living with a disability try the sport of golf.

All charitable funds raised by EDGA at the Portugal Masters from tournament draw sheet sales, a longest drive competition sponsored by Golfbreaks, taking place during Wednesday’s Pro-Am, and a raffle, with some fantastic prizes to be won, will help fund the delivery of training, education and programmes in the country.

By JOEL BEALL, Golf Digest

It's a good thing professional golf does not have a "Number of Days Since Last Rules Controversy" sign placed at tournament sites. Because it would never crack double digits.

[In a span of one week], the sport has seen Lee Ann Walker assessed 58 penalty strokes for having her caddie improperly line her up on putts and Jesper Parnevik dinged for not taking a mulligan.

Joining those ill-famed ranks is Marcel Siem.

Click here for the full story...