Coquitlam, British Columbia's A.J. Ewart Accepts The Medallist Trophy After Winning The Panther Invitational In Florida - Image Courtesy Barry U Men's Golf

Courtesy Hunter DuBois/ Barry University Athletics

DURAN, Fla. -- Another historic day took place on Tuesday, Mar. 3, with Coquitlam, B.C.'s A.J. Ewart leading the  Barry University Buccaneers to their school-record fifth straight win after taking home the victory at the Panther Invitational by a six-stroke margin.

Barry finished strong, shaving nine strokes off their second round 296 with a one-under par 287 in the final round. Three out of the five Buccaneer starters recorded their best round of the tournament on Tuesday to go along with a 70 from Ewart and a 72 from Tyler Bakich.

The Athlete of the Year Awards, founded by Sport BC, is the longest standing sport recognition event in Canada. Awards in 18 different categories are presented each year to athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers for their performance and contribution to sport in our province.

The awards play a valuable role in nurturing athletic success and recognizing some of BC’s growing talent. Sport BC is proud to celebrate the athletes, dedicated coaches, devoted officials and amazing volunteers from all member Provincial Sport Organizations and sport sector partners in British Columbia.

For over 50 years, Sport BC has recognized legendary sport heroes and emerging stars.

This year the Awards Presentation Dinner takes place at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Thursday, March 12th.

Charlie Beaulieu (Golf Canada Image)

Mississauga, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada’s 2020 Annual Meeting culminated on Saturday, February 29 with the re-election of Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Qué., to serve a second term as the National Sport Federation’s President.

Beaulieu will continue to lead Golf Canada’s Board of Directors with Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont., remaining in the position of 1st Vice-President and Dale Jackson of Victoria continuing in the role of 2nd Vice-President.

The PGA TOUR has been closely monitoring all available information related to the continued spread of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19.

We conduct more than 175 tournaments across our six Tours, and the health and safety of our players, employees, fans, partners, volunteers and everyone associated with the PGA TOUR continues to be our No. 1 priority.

After reviewing the relevant positions from the Centers of Disease Control and the World Health Organization, there are no planned schedule changes beyond what has already been decided with PGA TOUR Series-China (a delay to the start of the season).

However, we are establishing additional protocols to promote the health and safety of all participants and fans at our tournaments, and we will regularly review our schedule in light of revised CDC and WHO reports and make any updates as necessary.

Image courtesy PGA of Canada

Written by PGA of Canada/Courtesy Golf Canada

Titleist & FootJoy have become the newest supporting partners of the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company.

In addition to this partnership, Titleist & FootJoy will continue as presenting sponsors of PGA of Canada’s Training Academy.

“Titleist & FootJoy’s commitment to the betterment of golf is first-rate,” said PGA of Canada President Mark Patterson. “We are proud to have their support as national partners and look forward to seeing them elevate an already exceptional experience for golfers across the country.”

BEAUMONT, CA --- On February 17^th and 18^th in California, The Simon Fraser Men's Golf Team took part in the CSUSB Coyote Classic at Canyon Crest Country Club.
 
Leading the way for Simon Fraser was senior golfer Scott Kerr, who took home the individual title after posting a three round total of 216 (72-71-73). Kerr went on to secure the solo victory after fighting off Cal State San Marco's Justin Vrzich in an epic 6-hole playoff.

The Evans Caddie Scholarship Program Exists At The Victoria Golf Club Due To The Tremendous Efforts Of Berne Neufeld, Pictured Here Alongside Angela Bowers, The First Female Caddie From VGC And Canada, To Be A Finalist For The Evans Scholarship - Images Courtesy VGC

By Jenny Dobell

Berne Neufeld is my golf partner. When she hits a great drive I shout, much to her embarrassment, “Feel the Berne!” She didn’t get the reference to that American Bernie, so often in the headlines. While I first did it to tease her (which is easy), I now do it because she is a person whose commitment to a cause reminds me of a political candidate in the heat of a campaign battle.  

And Berne’s cause is the Evans Caddie Scholarship Program.

We lost another great friend and golfer on Friday, February 7th, as Diane Rands (Phillips), an honorary Life Member of Uplands Golf Club, passed away following a courageous fight with cancer. British Columbia Golf and the entire golf community wish to pass along our deepest condolences and best wishes to Diane's family and friends. 

Aside from her stellar nursing career and family life, Diane was an extremely accomplished competitive golfer, still holding the Uplands women's course record of 67, and indeed this past Fall the Uplands Women's Club Championship trophy was renamed the Diane (Phillips) Rands trophy. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Uplands Golf Club on Sunday, March 15, 2020 from 2pm – 4pm.

Below is the memoriam posted on the McCall Gardens website. 

Nine athletes selected to receive extended support during transition to professional golf

Golf Canada adds BC's Jennifer Greggain and Ontario's Andrew Parr as assistant coaches

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the nine athletes who have been selected to the 2020 Team Canada Young Pro Squad.

Comprising the 2020 Men’s Young Pro Squad are returnees Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.), Jared du Toit (Kimberley, B.C.), Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver, B.C.) and Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) along with new additions Chris Crisologo (Richmond, B.C.) and Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.). Crisologo, 23, and Savoie, 25, will make their Young Pro Squad debuts after graduating from the Men’s Amateur Squad.

The Women’s Young Pro Squad will be represented by a trio of returning athletes in Jaclyn Lee (Calgary, Alta.), Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.), and Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.).

Adam Hadwin Is A New Dad And It's Helped Put Golf In Perspective For Him - Image Courtesy Inside Golf

Courtesy Golf Canada

To say it’s been a busy start to 2020 for Adam Hadwin is an understatement. Hadwin took a break from golf after his wife Jessica gave birth to their daughter Maddox on Jan. 8, insuring he could spend time with his young family before returning to the PGA TOUR. He was back in time for the Waste Management Open in Phoenix, near his Arizona residence, on Jan. 30.

Hadwin then played in last week’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Southern California before joining the field for this week’s Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles. “This is only my third tournament back and we’re still trying to get used to being parents,” Hadwin said. “It’s still a bit chaotic at home. It’s definitely a change in our life, but it’s very exciting.”

Fellow Canadian Nick Taylor joins Hadwin at the Genesis Invitational this week. They often played together as teenagers at Ledgeview Golf and Country Club in their hometown of Abbotsford, B.C., and remain friends on the PGA TOUR.

OAKVILLE, ONT. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce its 2020 championship schedule which includes 29 amateur and professional competitions hosted at member clubs across Canada.

The 2020 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s premier professional championships – the RBC Canadian Open from June 8-14 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont. (in partnership with Islington Golf Club), and the CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, B.C., from Aug. 31 – Sept 6.

The competition calendar includes eight National Amateur Championships, eight NextGen junior competitions (formerly Future Links Championships) and the World Junior Girls Championship.

British Columbia Golf will present World Handicap Certification seminars across the province, details and registration links are below.

Cost $25.00 (taxes in) Lunch included

January 1, 2020 Golf Associations around the world started moving to a single handicap system introduced and administered jointly by the R&A and the USGA. This seminar is a detailed look at WHS and is appropriate for staff and volunteers who will be involved in handicapping at the club level.

"Hyde Mountain On Mara Lake Golf Course In B.C. Delivers Dazzling Views At A Great Price" According To Reviewer u1748438 From Golf Advisor (Image Credit GolfAdvisor Reviewer u1748438)

GolfAdvisor's list of the top 25 Best Value courses in Canada include 4 layouts found in Britrish Columbia.

Here's how they ranked according to the 'Canada Golfers' Choice list, where raters were seeking the best value among the courses in the country and GolfAdvisor scanned their reviews from 2019.

They combined a course's overall and value star-rating averages from reviews submitted by their 'rating' community throughout the year.

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.

The Vancouver GolfExpo is set to jump start the 2020 golf season in the Lower Mainland and the Pacific Northwest for that matter. This weekend, Feb. 8-9th at the PNE Forum you can try the latest equipment at their indoor range, find some terrific deals on merchandise, get tips from PGA of BC Professionals, and so much more. 

And now, Sandpiper Golf Course is prepared to offer a FREE round of golf to everyone who attends the show! Play The PIPER for FREE!

For more details on the Vancouver GolfExpo click HERE.

BC Children's Hospital In Vancouver Has Been Chosen As The Primary Charity For The 2020 CP Women's Open - Image Courtesy Golf Canada 

Courtesy Golf Canada

Vancouver, January 31, 2020 – Canadian Pacific (CP) and Golf Canada announced today that BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2020 CP Women’s Open. Fundraising initiatives will occur leading up to the tournament and a month-long public match campaign starts February 1st, in recognition of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Month.

“The CP Women’s Open is an amazing opportunity to draw attention to the important work being done by doctors to mend the hearts of the future,” said Keith Creel, President and CEO of CP. “Partnering with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation again is a natural fit and progression from our first partnership in 2015. I look forward to seeing the lasting legacy this brings to the hospital, children and families who need it.”

The weather outside of late may not have been condusive to actual play, but this is the West Coast so we know that getting out on the links regularly is not far away.

One of the best ways to get into the spirit of the coming golf season is always the Vancouver GolfExpo, where enthusiasts can try out the newest equipment, shop for some great deals at the on-site merchandise outlet, visit booths set up by many of the outstanding golf facilities throughout the Pacific Northwest, learn about some enticing golf travel opportunities, as well as take in some terrific lesson and tip presentations by BC's finest teaching professionals.

Of course one of the most popular reasons to visit the GolfExpo is the opportunity to take advantage of the great deals available at so many of the exhibitor's booths. 

The PGA of Canada has released their members' choices for top 50 public and private courses across the country.

BC COURSES AS RANKED - Top Public, Semi-Private, Resort Courses

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.”