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.

Morningstar GC's 10th And Pro Shop. The Course And Club Are Working Hard To Get Back On Track - Image Courtesy Facility

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

There was a time, not all that long ago, when Morningstar Golf Course was a must-play stop for golfers visiting central Vancouver Island. But Morningstar, beset with ownership and financial problems that took a heavy toll on course conditioning, fell out of favour with golfers in recent years. Happily, it seems the Parksville layout is on the road to re-establishing its once lofty reputation.

“Morningstar had a great reputation and it certainly got tarnished, but not obliterated, and so we hope to get a lot of that back and have people put Morningstar on their play list again,” says Barrie McWha, a familiar and highly respected name in British Columbia golf circles.

Image Courtesy Golf Canada

For Immediate Release

OAKVILLE, ONT. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the names of the 18 athletes, male and female, who have been selected to represent Team Canada as part of the 2020 National Amateur and Junior Squads.

Nine athletes will compete for Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, consisting of five players on the men’s squad and four on the women’s squad.

Team Canada’s 2020 Squad members have competed and achieved impressive results at regional, national and international competitions, including medals at the Pan-Am Games, NCAA Tournament wins and victories at prestigious amateur competitions.

‘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.

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.

As the 2019 golf season begins to wind down in BC, many courses are already planning for next year. You can help the 3 terrific municipal layouts in Vancouver (Fraserview, McCleery and Langara) as they look for input to better serve the golfing public going forward. 

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.

The Venerable Victoria Golf Club Is Also The Home Of Victoria's Most Famous Ghost - Image Courtesy VGC

Courtesy Golf Canada Archives

With its long history and vast geography, Canada boasts many strange and spooky tales. There are haunted coal mines in Cape Breton, poltergeists in Calgary and even a pair of haunted boots in St. Vincent’s Newfoundland.

It is no wonder, therefore, that golf courses across the country are rumoured to be home to some extraordinary spirits.

Six university coaches will be arriving at Zone Golf Academy, located in Richmond, BC, on November 30 and December 1. Two Division 1 NCAA schools, Yale University and UC Irvineand two Division III Universities including Whitman College in Washington and Earlham College in Indiana.

Locally, Burnaby's Simon Fraser University and  Ontario's U of Guelph round out the six universities attending.

“This is our 8th annual winter golf ID camp, open to all and any golfers from the ages of 10-18. We are excited to host a total of 6 universities this year,” said the Director of Golf, TJ Atley.

(Delta, BC) – British Columbia Golf has announced their 2019 PNGA Player of the Year nominees. These are the players nominated for their respective categories for the PNGA annual awards this fall. 

The category nominees are as follows: Men’s, Chris Crisologo of Richmond; Women's, Mary Parsons of Delta; Men's Mid-Amateur, Mike Aizawa of Richmond; Women's Mid-Amateur, Nonie Marler of Vancouver; Senior Men's, Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver; Senior Women's, Jackie Little of Procter; Junior Boys', Jace Minni of Delta ; and Junior Girls', Michelle Liu of Vancouver .

Fairmont Chateau Whistler's Signature Hole - All Images Courtesy Facility

BANFF, Alberta — GOLF Magazine, one of the world’s leading golf media companies, named three Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in Canada’s Western Mountain Region — Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and Fairmont Banff Springs — to its list of the Top 100 Resorts in North America for 2019/2020.

Selections were made by GOLF Magazine editors based upon feedback from GOLF Magazine readers, course ranking panelists and personal experience. All three properties were recognized in the all-around excellence category, with Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club taking the #3 ranking.

Point Grey Golf & Country Club Head Professional Dave Zibrik Was Presented With The PGA Of BC's 2019 Dick Munn Golf Professional Of The Year Award. Zibrik's Honour Was One Of Many Handed Out At The PGA Of BC Awards Celebration Presented By Replay Golf Supplies & Tribal, Held At The River Rock Casino Resort - PGA of BC Photo

OCTOBER 16, 2019 - RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) - The PGA of BC proudly named the provincial recipients of its annual honours for 2019 during the Association's Awards Celebration presented by Replay Golf Supplies & Tribal on Wednesday evening at the River Rock Casino Resort.

The PGA of BC Proudly Named Six Recipients Of The Association's 2019 Awards, From Left: The Sunday Morning Golf Show (co-host Fraser Mulholland, PGA, pictured), Bryn Parry, Odlum Brown Limited, Gordon Mink, Myles Johnson and Jared Siminoff - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

Courtesy PGA of BC

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- The PGA of BC is proud to name four recipients of the Association's 2019 Awards, as well as this year's PGA of BC Community Leadership Bursary and Jim Gibson Scholarship beneficiaries. These honours are designed to recognize leaders in the golf community exhibiting qualities such as volunteerism, selflessness, passion, and dedication to the game.

These honourees, along with the recipients of 11 other Association awards, will be recognized at the PGA of BC Awards Celebration presented by Replay Golf Supplies & Tribal, taking place Oct. 16 at the River Rock Casino Resort.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – A field featuring five PGA governing bodies: Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, Sweden and the United States, will compete in the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup – a first-of-its-kind team competition for women PGA Members from around the world.

Canada's squad consists of Ontario's Emma De Groot (Team Captain), Meaghan Allum, Rebecca Lee-Bentham and Casey Ward along with Richmond, BC's Christine Wong.

The international showcase event is Oct. 22-26, at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, in Austin, Texas.

The UBC Women's Golf Squad Took The Inaugural Canada West Golf Championship Title - Image Credit Ken Reid/Greystoke Photography

Courtesy UBC Athletics

VANCOUVER – Shania Remandaban led the UBC Thunderbirds to the women's golf title at the inaugural Canada West golf championships at Kelowna's Okanagan Golf Club. She'll also be able to say she was the first individual to capture the conference women's gold medal in the sport.

Remandaban, a third-year golfer from Coquitlam, B.C., roared back to take the women's individual crown and guided her squad to the win. "It's super cool. When I'm older, I'll be like: I did that first."

The 2019 USAGA International, America’s only USAGR triple-weighted tournament with opportunities to earn WR4GD world ranking points is underway at Desert Pines Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The International is a 54-hole stroke play event with the 18-hole final round scores from selected players also determining the International Cup Team Challenge winner.

After the opening round there are 3 Canadians in the top 5 and you can follow the results by clicking on the link shown below.

The Rise Golf Course In Vernon Is A Fred Couples Signature Course - All Images Credit Gord Montgomery

By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf

Having warmed up on more modest terrain at the Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club and Vernon Golf & Country Club, iG writer Gord Montgomery was ready to test his skill, and wayward shot-making abilities, at higher elevations in the North Okanagan as he headed upward and onward to challenge The Rise and Predator Ridge Resort’s two courses.

VERNON, British Columbia — A bit of a drive upwards in Vernon can change your perspective of golf in a big way. The dramatic elevation changes tossed your way at both The Rise, a Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, and the two outstanding tracks at Predator Ridge Resort, The Predator and The Ridge, mean you’ll be using every club in your bag.

At the same time though, you’ll be using every shot your phone camera can handle with stunning hilltop views of Okanagan Lake and the mountains beyond.

Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club In Vernon, B.C. - All Images Credit Gord Montgomery

By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf

VERNON, British Columbia — Whether you choose to hit the links in Vernon, B.C. in the spring, summer or fall, you can be guaranteed one thing: You’re going to have your argyle socks knocked off.

This city, located in the northern end of the famed Okanagan Valley, is resplendent with top-end golfing playgrounds and whether you’re a fan of parkland, mountain, or hybrid-links style of challenge there’s something to fit you, and your playing partners, in this vibrant community.

RBC Canadian Open (Marcus Oleniuk/ Golf Canada)

Whether you’re a club member, an avid public player or a new enthusiast to the game, spending on the sport of golf drives massive benefit to communities across Canada.

The impact of golf on the Canadian economy is enormous—an economic impact in excess of $14B is only part of the story. Golf courses and the industry at large account for hundreds of thousands of jobs. Canadians and international visitors plan golf vacations to communities that market themselves as golf destinations and resorts offer golf packages that result in millions of tourism dollars.