LPGA Legends Including BC's Gail Graham (Inset) And PEI's Lorie Kane Will Be In The Field For The Suquamish Clearwater Legends Cup - Images Courtesy The Legends Tour

Attention Female Amateur Golfers: Tee it up in the White Horse Women's Team Scramble on June 6, 2018 and if your group posts the lowest gross or net team score YOUR TWO-WOMAN TEAM will tee it up with an LPGA Legend in the Legends Cup Pro-Am on Friday, June 8.

The Suquamish Clearwater Legends Cup is a two-day Legends Tour event featuring 30 Legends of the LPGA to be played at White Horse Golf Club in Kingston, WA on Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10, 2018.

PGA of BC Golf Professionals Will Be Introducing Children To The Sport During Spring Break This Month At Camps Taking Place In Several Locations Across The Province - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

via PGA of BC

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- With a two-week break from the classroom coming up for British Columbia students this month, many PGA of BC facilities are offering the perfect way to keep children active and occupied over Spring Break.

Kids of all ages can learn the game from PGA of BC Golf Professionals at one of many camps taking place across the province during the Spring Break period, providing a chance for youth to pick up golf through the sport’s most trusted instructors at an affordable price.

BC Provincial Coach Colin Lavers Addresses A Group Of Young Players At The BC Provincial Titleist Performance Camp Held Recently At Northview GC In Surrey - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Like a lot of golfers, Dustin Franko is guilty of getting a little down on himself when things aren’t going his way on the course. “I feel like I am not as mentally strong as I need to be,” said Franko, a 17-year-old North Delta resident. “It is probably the weakest part of my game. I find myself getting mad at myself quite a bit.”

Franko left the recent two-day B.C. Provincial Titleist Performance Camp at Northview Golf Course in Surrey feeling like he is now better equipped to deal with some of those inevitable challenging moments on the golf 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.

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.

2018 British Columbia Golf Instagram Contest

Each month of 2018 (excluding January) British Columbia Golf will be giving away a logo shirt (similar to the one worn by 2017 Provincial Order of Merit Winner Chris Crisologo in the picture above) to one of our Instagram followers through our Instagram Contest.

Here is how you enter:

1. Take a photo of yourself or your friends doing any golf related activity (mini golf, driving range, virtual golf etc…)
2. Post that photo to your Instagram page
3. Tag us (@britishcolumbiagolf) and use the hashtag #BCGOLF
4. Follow us on Instagram

Your name goes into a draw at the end of the month to win the shirt.

Rules:

1. To be entered you must be following British Columbia Golf on Instgram
2. Only one entry per person per month

For further information contact either Tyler McKay at tyler@britishcolumbiagolf.org or Bryan Outram at bryan@britishcolumbiagolf.org 

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).

Yes, it's that time of year again. Thank goodness. With the start of each new year comes the desire to get ready to head out onto the local golf links in our fine province as Spring is surely just around the corner. 

And one of the harbingers of that time of year is of course the Vancouver GOLFEXPO, where golf enthusiasts can get an early start on special deals for their favourite courses, see the latest exciting equipment that's being offered and do some great pre-season shopping for apparel as well.

The Vancouver GOLFEXPO is now under the management of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) of Canada and with that there promises to be a host of new and different experiences at the show so be sure to come and check it out.

Find out more details and get the discount PROMO CODE for your ticket below. 

The Golf Community Has Suffered Another Unfortunate Loss With The Passing Of Harry White, Seen Here At The BC Golf House Museum - Image Courtesy Brad Ewart

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The British Columbia golf community is mourning the passing of Harry White, a tireless promoter of junior golf who influenced the lives of countless youngsters and made an enormous contribution to the game.

White died Tuesday in Vancouver following a lengthy illness. He was 72. White was a longtime member of Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver and ran the Junior Linkster Golf Tour where kids as young as five years old learned the game.

After much research and a lot of interesting background work, the folks at Golf Canada have compiled a fascinating interactive map of Canada showing the history of golf course locations across the country dating from 1873 to the present.

The storied legacy of Canadian golf courses is presented through an interactive website mapping out 143 years of Canadian golf course history from coast to coast.

Image Courtesy Golden Eagle Golf Course

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kwadwo 'Kojo' Frempong spends a lot of his working day on the golf course and it seems many people are a little jealous about that. “I get asked a lot, how did you get that job, and how do I get a job like you,” Frempong says with a chuckle. “And I say, 'You have to wait until I die.' Then I add that it’s very stressful.”

Frempong’s job is to do the course and slope ratings for golf courses in the province for British Columbia Golf. And that entails spending a lot of time on the course. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it.

The First Study To Assess Spectator Physical Activity While Watching Golf Shows Fans Averaged Nearly 12,000 Steps Per Day, With 82.9% Achieving Their Recommended Daily Step-Count - Image Credit (LET/Tristan Jones -ladieseuropeantour.com)

(ST. ANDREWS, SCO) – The University of Edinburgh in conjunction with the Golf & Health Project released new research about the health benefits of golf spectating, showing those who attend golf events could potentially gain benefits similar to those playing in them. 

The study is the first to assess spectator physical activity while watching golf, showing that of the fans surveyed, 82.9% met the recommended daily step-count levels by achieving on average 11,589 steps.

The study suggests that golf spectating can provide health enhancing physical activity; whilst also allowing spectators to spend time in green space, socialise with friends and family, and watch their sporting heroes compete in real life.

The much anticipated start of British Columbia Golf's 'Get Out And Play' program launches this Sunday commensurate with Golf Canada's 'Get Out And Golf Day' celebration. 

The goal is to see 150,000 British Columbians partake in 1.5 million golf activities in a span of 150 days beginning on May 28th. As of right now, the Golf Activities Centre is up and running on the Golf Canada site and we will begin officially 'counting activities' beginning this Sunday, the 28th.

It's a simple process to become involved and help reach this goal as we help celebrate Canada's 150th in a fun, healthy and inclusive enviroment.

FAR HILLS, N.J., USA and ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND (March 1, 2017) – The USGA and The R&A have unveiled a preview of proposed new Rules of Golf, as part of a joint initiative to modernize the Rules and make them easier to understand and apply.

The online release of this preview begins a six-month feedback and evaluation period during which all golfers worldwide can learn about the proposed changes and provide input before they are finalized in 2018 and take effect January 1, 2019.

A sport environment in which participants - athletes, coaches, volunteers, and officials - are exposed to negative experiences such as bullying can be harmful and cause individuals to quit.

55% of BC sports organizations surveyed know of athletes who have dropped out of #sport because of bullying. 

That’s why viaSport and the Government of B.C. have launched a new #ERASEbullying initiative for every provincial and local sport organization, and all B.C. citizens.

Click HERE or on the image above to take the online Erase Bullying in Sport pledge. 

On February 22, 2017, provincial sport organizations will celebrate the Province’s first Declaration of Commitment to erase bullying in sport across B.C.

Learn more about this initiative and how you can get involved as an organization or individual at www.viaSport.ca./erasebullying

Adam Helmer/ Golf Canada

As golf’s governing body in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), today announced a new Local Rule which will come into effect January 1, 2017.

Along with the R&A and USGA, Golf Canada holds a unique position as the only other governing body that sits on the Joint Rules Committee.

Golf Canada will be implementing this Local Rule as part of their Standard Local Rules which will be formally ratified at our annual general meeting by the Rules and Amateur Status Committee.

The 2016 Winner Of The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship, Colin Montgomerie, Advocated For Having The Event Return To Victoria Locale And He'll Get His Wish - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

Courtesy Golf Canada

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The Champions Tour announced today its 2017 tournament schedule, featuring 26 official tournaments and two “Challenge Season” events.

The 23-event regular season will again highlight the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, which will be used to determine the season-long Charles Schwab Cup champion. The Tour will contest events in four countries and 18 states, with total prize money of $55.7 million (U.S).

Canada will once again have two Champions Tour stops. The Shaw Charity Classic will be played September 1-3 at Canyon Meadows G & Country Club in Calgary.

The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship will be contested at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C. from September 15 – 17.

Syngenta Golf Ambassador Carin Koch & Syngenta Global Head of Lawn & Garden Jeff Cox Launched The New Report At The HSBC Golf Business Forum. (Photo/Syngenta)

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom — Women account for just 24% of golfers worldwide, yet the number of prospective female players could add $35 billion to the global golf economy.

These are the findings of a groundbreaking global study into female golf participation commissioned by Syngenta and conducted by an independent international market research company.

The new report, ‘The Global Economic Value of Increased Female Participation in Golf,’ surveyed 14,000 people in eight markets in North America, Europe and Asia.

After 10 Years At The Helm Of Golf Canada, CEO Scott Simmons Is Stepping Down - Image Courtesy Golf Canada Archives

Dan Pino/ Golf Canada

(Oakville, Ont.) – Golf Canada announced today that after 10 years at the helm, CEO Scott Simmons has made the decision to depart the organization in early February 2017.

Originally hired to lead Canada’s National Sport Federation for golf in the summer of 2007, Simmons will continue to lead the organization during the transition period and assist Golf Canada’s Board of Directors in the search for a successor as CEO.

Kelowna's Megan Osland Was The Low Canadian In The Field In Stage II Of LPGA Q-School Earning Her Way Along With 3 Other Canucks Into The Final Stage Starting End Of November - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Courtesy Golf Canada with files from Symetra Tour

VENICE, Fla. – Four Canadians were among 84 competitors that advanced to Stage III of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament on Sunday at the Plantation Golf & Country Club.

Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C., led all 10 Canadians in the field, finishing at 5-over par (72-72-73-76) to grab a share of 30th. Team Canada graduate and Calgary product Jennifer Ha was the next Canadian in line, closing at 7-over par (69-71-79-76) to end in a tie for 47th.