The 2018 Members of British Columbia Golf's NPJL Team: Clockwise From Top Left: Kathrine Chan, Claire Lovan, Phoebe Yue, Angel Lin, Tiffany Kong And Akari Hayashi 

This year is the 32nd edition of the North Pacific Junior Ladies' Team Matches and will see squads from British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington competing May 25th - May 27th at the Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon.

British Columbia Golf is looking for a 'Three-peat' in 2018 having won the last two versions, on home soil at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in 2016 and then defending their title at Illahe Hills Country Club in Salem, Oregon last year.

Courtenay, BC's Abigail Rigsby, Shown Above Playing On BC's Winning Team In The 2016 North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches, Won Her 1st Collegiate Title, Taking The Midwestern State Invitational - Image(s) Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/ OCU Athletics

Courtesy Oklahoma Christian University Athletics/Women's Golf

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (March 13, 2018) – Abigail Rigsby had been close to winning her first collegiate tournament so many times and the Oklahoma Christian golfer finally busted down the door to victory on Tuesday.

Rigsby pulled away from the field in her typical steady fashion, turning a one-shot lead to start the day into a four-shot runaway in the Midwestern State Invitational at Wichita Falls Country Club. Her final-round 4-over-par 76 gave the sophomore from Courtenay, British Columbia, a two-day total of 149 over the 5,843-yard course.

2017 British Columbia Golf Junior Boys Champion Christian Zalli Takes A Drop During The Championship At Squamish Valley GC - Image(s) Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

The USGA nd The R&A have unveiled the new Rules of Golf, to be implemented on 1 January 2019. 

The USGA and The R&A finalized golf’s new Rules this month after an extensive review that included a request for feedback from the global golf community on the proposed changes. Golfers can now access the official 2019 Rules of Golf by visiting www.RandA.org or www.usga.org/rules.

The process to modernize the Rules began in 2012 and was initiated to ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to make the game more attractive and accessible for newcomers.

Sheila Johnson - Image Courtesy YouTube/Salamander Hotels and Resorts

With today being International Women's Day, it seemed appropriate to direct people to the inspiring story of Sheila Johnson, the owner of the Innisbrook Resort where the Valspar Championship - with Adam Hadwin from Abbotsford, BC as the defending champion - is being held this week.

In an article and inteview entitled the Accidental Owner,  PGATOUR.COM contributor Helen Ross tells the story of how an African American Woman became a self-made millionaire and came to be the owner of a resort that hosts one of the premiere events on the PGA TOUR.

The Accidental Owner

by Helen Ross / PGATOUR.COM

When Sheila Johnson bought a floundering Innisbrook Resort for a reported $35 million in 2007, she became what she calls an "accidental hospitality owner in the golf business."

Not for long, though.

Johnson is a savvy businesswoman who recognized the value of the resort and its four 18-hole courses, including the signature Copperhead, which hosts the Valspar Championship this week. She green-lighted the necessary enhancements, and the property in Palm Harbor, Florida, now forms the cornerstone of her portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts across the southeastern United States.

But Johnson, who was named to Forbes Magazine's 2015 list of America's richest self-made women, is so much more than her Salamander brand.

Fast approaching year 3, Women’s Golf Day is a one-day event celebrating girls and women playing golf and learning the skills that last a lifetime. 

In less than three years, one woman’s idea has blossomed into a global movement that is quickly becoming the next big thing in golf. The organizers at WGD are excited to bring you better technology, advanced features, new events, and more as #wgdinspires on June 5, 2018!

As part of this valuable and exciting venture, it is all-important to have as many golf facilities as possible on board and assist with hosting women of all ages for this event as the game continues to grow and welcome everyone who has an interest in 'golf, a sport for life'.

Image Courtesy Golf Canada

For Immediate Publication

(5 March 2018, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, NJ, USA) - The R&A and the USGA have completed the annual review of driving distance in golf, producing a research report that documents and evaluates important findings from the 2017 season.

Introduced in 2015, the annual report examines driving distance data from seven of the major worldwide professional golf tours, based on nearly 300,000 drives per year. The data from studies of male and female amateur golfers is also included.

Optimist Golf is offering two special awards recognizing the academic accomplishments and/or community service of five junior golfers, the 2018 Hugh Cranford All-Scholastic COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD For Boys and Girls Ages 16-18 as of August 1, 2018.

Image Courtesy Golf Canada

For Immediate Publication

(February 27, 2018 - St Andrews, Scotland): A significant growth opportunity exists for golf if it can attract more women, girls and families into playing the sport more often according to a new research report published by The R&A.

Many countries are seeing a fall in the number of both males and females playing golf and the research report analyzes the factors which affect whole family participation in the sport, including women and girls, and details a number of useful practical recommendations for national golf bodies and golf clubs to help them encourage more women and girls to play.

USGA and The R&A Release Key Features

Golf Canada To Adopt All Features Of The Proposed New World Handicap System

For Immediate Release

February 20, 2018

Liberty Corner, N.J., USA and St Andrews, Scotland – The R&A and the USGA announce key features of the proposed new World Handicap System (WHS), designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability globally.

The idea for a new, unified system was conceived by the USGA and The R&A and developed following an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities - Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The 2018 Chinese New Year begins on Friday, February 16. Chinese New Year takes place on a different date each year, because it is based on the lunar calendar.

New Year's Day normally falls between January 21 and February 20.

The global celebrations are an explosion of light and sound, involving bell ringing, lighting firecrackers and watching traditional lion dances. Chinese families gather together for a reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, and clean their houses to sweep away bad fortune on New Year's Day.

Traditionally, kids would be given red envelopes stuffed with 'lucky money' and positive wishes on New Year's Day.

2018 is a Year of the Dog. In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle. 2018 is an Earth Dog Year.

Years of the Dog include 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, and 2030... The Dog occupies the eleventh position in the Chinese zodiac, after the Rooster, and before the Pig.

For more information on Chinese New Year please CLICK HERE

Courtesy PGA of Canada

The following countries are tentatively committed to play in the 2019 Women’s PGA Cup: Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, Sweden and the United States.

The PGA of America announced recently the formation of an international event, the Women’s PGA Cup – a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world.

The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event. The inaugural competition will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.

The Venerable Victoria Golf Club, The Oldest 18-Hole Golf Course In Canada Still On Its Original Site, Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary This Year - Images Courtesy Victoria GC

It's the 'Year of the Anniversary' in the Pacific Northwest with no fewer than 30 golf facilities recognizing significant milestone anniversaries in 2018. 

Courtesy of the hard work and dedication of curator Mike Riste, The BC Golf House Society has identified more than 30 PNGA courses celebrating an anniversary this year.

Image credit (Michael Schroeder/ Golf Canada)

By John Gordon/Courtesy Golf Canada

“Bifurcation” is a word we’re hearing more and more in the world of golf. It means to divide into two parts. But don’t let that simple definition fool you. It’s an increasingly controversial concept that strikes at the heart of the game as we know it.

The first area of the current bifurcation debate relates to the Rules of Golf. Should there be one set of guidelines for recreational golfers and another for elite amateurs and professionals?

The second bone of contention, which has set off near panic among many of my colleagues in the golf media and some golf administrators, is this: Are golf courses too short? Do we need to stretch them to 8,000 yards? Do we need to rein in the ever-advancing ball and club technology?

No. And no.

Merritt, BC's Roger Sloan, Seen Here Getting Set To Tee Off At Bear Mountain GC In Victoria, Finished 4th In The Web.com Tour's Panama Championship - Image Credit Alfie Lau/British Columbia Golf

Courtesy Golf Canada

PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Canadian trio of Roger Sloan, Ryan Yip and Adam Svensson all finished inside the top 10 on Sunday at Web.com Tour’s Panama Championship.

Sloan, from Merritt B.C., paced the Canadians with a final-round 66 to climb into sole possession of 4th place at 4-under par for the tournament. The finish marks his first top-10 finish early into the 2018 season (he collected four in 2017).

Richmond's Chris Crisologo Became The First Canadian Male To Win The South American Amateur With His 4 Stroke Victory In Buenos Aires - Image Courtesy Argentina Golf Association

By Golf Canada

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – National Amateur Squad member Chris Crisologo hoisted the South American Amateur trophy on Tuesday following a four-stroke victory at the Martindale Country Club.

The Richmond, B.C., native struggled early in the final round, going 4-over par through his first five holes before recovering on the back nine with four birdies. Crisologo, 23, recorded the tournament’s two lowest rounds (64-66) to hold a lead as large as seven.

He went on to close the event at 13-under par, four strokes clear of runner-up Alejandro Tosti of Argentina.

BCer's Stuart Macdonald (L) And Seann Harlingten (R) Both Survived The Pressure Of Q-School To Obtain Solid Status On The Web.com Tour For 2018 - Images Courtesy PGA TOUR Mackenzie-Tour Canada

Calgary's Ryan Yip And Toronto's Albin Choi Also Earned Status As All Four Canadians In The Final Stage Of Web.com Q-School Finished Inside The Top 45 

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

If there were any doubts about whether he could make birdies when it mattered most, Stuart Macdonald erased them on the back nine of the fourth and final round of the Web.com Tour qualifying school.

With the butterflies in his stomach in full flight, the 23-year-old rookie pro from Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf & Country Club, calmly made six birdies on his final nine holes to earn Web.com Tour status for 2018.

No sweat? Not really.

Vancouver's Stuart Macdonad, Shown Here Competing In The Pacific Coast Amateur, Will Be Looking To Punch His Ticket To The Web.com Tour On A Full-Time Basis This Coming Week - Image Courtesy PCGA

By Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

Qualifying schools are supposed to be golf’s ultimate pressure-cookers, but so far they haven’t fazed Stuart Macdonald. The 23-year-old rookie pro from Vancouver has sailed through the first and second stages of the Web.com Tour qualifying school to earn a spot in the finals.

“Getting through first and second stage isn’t exactly the easiest thing to accomplish,” Macdonald said in an interview. “So to get to the finals and have a chance to play on the Web.com Tour is good. I am excited to get there and see what I can do.”

Vancouver Islanders Aidan Goodfellow (L) And Shirin Anjarwalla (R) Are Set To Join The Simon Fraser University Golf Program Next Season - Images Credit British Columbia Golf

BURNABY, BC – Matthew Steinbach has signed five student-athletes during the NCAA early signing period in his second recruiting class as head coach of the Simon Fraser University golf programs.

Shirin Anjarwalla of Nanaimo is set to join the women’s golf program in September 2018, while Aidan Goodfellow (Parksville), Sylvain Ruest (Winnipeg), Jordan Bean (Canmore), and Isaac Lee (Seoul, South Korea) have signed their National Letters of Intent to compete for Canada’s NCAA men’s golf team next season.

Surrey, BC's Susan Xiao Added The Junior Girls PNGA Player Of The Year Award To Her 2017 Trophy Case Which Includes The Hardware Shown Here From The Canadian Junior And Juvenile Girls Titles - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Federal Way, Wash. – The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) announced its 2017 Players of the Year for the region and among those winners is Susan Xiao of Surrey, B.C., who topped the Junior Girl’s category.

In 2017, Xiao captured the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, the AJGA UA Canadian Championship and the MJT Vancouver Season Opener. She had top-5 finishes in four other events.

Team Canada's Joey Savoie (L) And Josh Whalen Pose With The Tailhade Cup - Image Courtesy (Argentina Golf Association)

Courtesy Golf Canada

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – National Amateur Squad duo of Joey Savoie and Josh Whalen marched to an emphatic 16-stroke victory on Sunday to win the Tailhade Cup at the Los Lagartos Country Club.

The Canadians were led by Savoie of La Prairie, Que., who fired his lowest round of the tournament with a 5-under 66 en route to capturing medallist honours. The 23-year-old finished at 8 under par (69-73-68-66), two strokes ahead of runner-up Machado Herik of Brazil.