Courtesy Vancouver Park Board

“Four years ago there were six participants in the Junior Program at Fraserview,” says Director of Instruction Derek Thornley.

“We are really pleased with the remarkable progress the Fraserview Golf Academy has made in reaching more youth in the community through an array of programs geared to children of all ages and abilities.”

We anticipate an average increase from 2017 of at least 25%. Our programs have grown exponentially and have come a long way since 2014.

Chaewon Baek Of Langley Leads The Girls Division Of The B.C. Bantam Championship At Shannon Lake GC In Kelowna - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The B.C. Bantam Boys Championship was looking a little like the Coquitlam Open after Tuesday’s first round at Shannon Lake Golf Club in Kelowna. The top three scores were recorded by Coquitlam residents.

Billy Zhang led the way, shooting a two-over 71 that gave him a two-shot lead over Luke Quanson. Fellow Coquitlam resident Ethan Posthumus was alone in third after opening with a five-over 74.

The 2017 Vancouver Open Champion, James Allenby, Will Be Back This Year To Defend His Title At McCleery, Langara And Fraserview Golf Courses - Images Courtesy VGT

Courtesy Vancouver Park Board

The 2018 Vancouver Open will take place August 31st to September 2nd. Spectators are welcome all three days of the event. Round one will be played at McCleery Golf Course on Friday and round two will be played at Langara Golf Course on Saturday.

The final round will take place Sunday, September 2nd at Fraserview Golf Course with the leaders teeing off at 2pm to determine the 2018 Vancouver City Open Champion.

Victoria, BC's Naomi Ko (Bottom Right), A Member Of Royal Colwood GC, Has Been Named To Golf Canada's Women's Team For The 2018 World Amateur Team Championships - Golf Canada Image

Courtesy Golf Canada

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the six individuals selected to represent Canada at the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship, conducted by the International Golf Federation.

The World Amateur Team Championship—featuring both a women’s (Aug. 29 – Sept. 1) and men’s (Sept. 5-8) competition— will be contested at Carton House  (Montgomerie and O’Meara Courses) in Maynooth, Ireland, located 30 minutes west of Dublin.

B.C.'s Adam Hadwin Moved On To The Next Phase Of The FedEx Cup Playoffs After His 11th Place Finish At The Northern Trust - Image Courtesy Adam Hadwin Website

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin didn’t quite end his top-10 drought on the PGA TOUR, but he sure came close. The Abbotsford native tied for 11th place at the Northern Trust, the first of the FedEx Cup playoff events.
Paired with Phil Mickelson in Sunday’s final round, Hadwin closed with a one-under 70 to finish at 10-under par. That was eight shots behind winner Bryson DeChambeau, who beat the rest of the field by four shots.

Hadwin, who beat Mickelson by one shot on Sunday, had his last top 10 back in early March when he tied for ninth at the World Golf Championships Mexico Championship. The Northern Trust result moved Hadwin up 18 spots to 52nd on the FedEx Cup points. The top 100 players advanced to this week’s second playoff event, the Dell Technologies Championship in Norton, Mass.

B.C. Golf Hall of Fame Member Sandy Harper Lost In A Playoff For The Canadian Mid-Master Title To Todd Fanning Of Winnipeg At The Venerable Victoria Golf Club - Images Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- It wasn’t like Sandy Harper didn’t have his chances. So when Todd Fanning holed his bunker shot for eagle on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, Harper wasn’t feeling like he was robbed of the Canadian Mid-Master Championship for players 40 and over.

Hey, at age 61 -- soon to be 62 -- Harper was happy just to have had the opportunity to compete for the championship. “If somebody told me I was going to be in a playoff for the Canadian Mid-Master I’d be more than happy,” said the longtime Nanaimo resident. “It doesn’t hurt to lose to an eagle.”

Thirty-five-year-old Joseph Deraney, A Father Of Three, Came From Behind To Beat Local Favourites Kevin Carrigan And Saare Adams. He Is Flanked By Golf Canada Officials David Atkinson (L) And Dale Jackson (R) - Images Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- Joseph Deraney hails from Kentucky and just like some of those great thoroughbred race horses bred in his native state, he's pretty good down the stretch.

The 35-year-old father of three hung around just behind the leaders for three days at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and then galloped past everyone to the finish line Friday afternoon.

On a day when the rest of the field was having trouble making birdies, Deraney closed with a nearly flawless five-under par 65 at Victoria Golf Club to win by three lengths -- I mean shots.

British Columbia Golf & Inside Golf have partnered to conduct a survey to get golfers' points of views about marijuana use on the golf course.

We have already surveyed clubs across the province and somewhat not surprisingly less than 20% currently have developed a clear policy with respect to marijuana.

Input from golfers could be of value as facilities make their decisions over the next 30-45 days.

Complete results of the survey will appear in the Fall issue of Inside Golf's print magazine and the September issue of British Columbia Golf's digital magazine, The Scorecard.

Click BELOW to Participate

bit.ly/MarijuanaSurvey1

Saare Adams Of The Host Victoria Golf Club Has The 54-Hole Lead In The Canadian Men's Mid-Amateur Championship - Image Credit Golf Canada

• Nanaimo, BC's Sandy Harper Shoots Low Round To Tie Todd Fanning In Mid-Master Division

Courtesy Golf Canada

VICTORIA, B.C. – While cold weather conditions at Victoria Golf Club made for a tougher day Saare Adams carded a third-round 69 on Thursday to edge out Garrett Rank for the lead heading into the final day of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Adams battled it out on his home course, where he happens to also be the tournament chair, playing an up and down round with four bogeys and five birdies. The local golfer was one of only four golfers to score in the red during the third round.

“It was a good round. A little shaky start, butchered the first hole after a good drive and then made another bogey and kind of got into the groove, played better and found my putter,” said the 34-year-old. “I’ve got a good home course advantage. It was a little breezier today, so I think lots of the guys kind of struggled.”

Jace Minni Is The 2018 BC Juvenile Boys Champion - Image Credit Ron Tate/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

He wasn’t quite swinging golf clubs before he learned how to walk, but it was close. Golf runs in the family for Jace Minni, the new B.C. Juvenile Boys Champion. His dad Scott is a four-time PGA of BC Champion and noted instructor. His mom Mellodee is the current Women’s Club Champion at Beach Grove´Golf Club in Tsawwassen and his older sister Amanda plays collegiate golf for Oregon State University.

So it’s safe to say Jace caught the golf bug early. “Yeah, I was right into the game from when I was born holding clubs,” the 16-year-old said after beating Vernon’s Ryan Vest in a playoff Thursday at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club in Kelowna.

Victoria's Akari Hayashi Added The B.C. Juvenile Girls Title To Her B.C. Bantam Win 2 Years Ago With This Victory At Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Akari Hayashi is only 15, but that is apparently old enough to be in a slump. The Victoria teen wasn’t happy with her game as she headed to Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club for the B.C. Juvenile Girls  Championship. Hayashi hadn’t played to her considerable potential in 2018 and hoped that might change in Kelowna. She got her wish.

The Mount Douglas Secondary School student came from behind Thursday to win the Juvenile Girls title. “I have been struggling quite a bit this past year and I am very happy to show what I am capable of at the Juvenile tournament and once again win another B.C. championship,” a happy Hayashi said after her round. “I am so excited about this win.”

Ryan Vest, Shown Here In An Event From The Maple Leaf Junior Tour In Whistler Last Year, Is The 36-hole Leader In The B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship - Photo Submitted

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Vernon’s Ryan Vest shot the day’s best score, a three-under par 69 that moved him into the lead heading into Thursday’s final round of the B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club in Kelowna.

Vest, who plays out of the Predator Ridge Golf Resort, had six birdies and three bogeys on his card in Wednesday’s second round. He stands at three-under par through 36 holes and has a one-shot lead on Jace Minni of Delta.

Abbotsford Teaching Pro Kevin Stinson Won By Three Shots At Taking Rock Golf Resort - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kevin Stinson has stopped chasing his PGA TOUR dream, but he certainly has not stopped playing good golf. The 32-year-old Abbotsford resident, who now teaches the game at Cheam Mountain Golf Course in Chilliwack, continued what has been a solid summer by winning the PGA of BC Championship at the Talking Rock Golf Resort in Chase on Tuesday.

Stinson had to come from behind to do it. He began the day two shots behind first-round leader Jonnie Motomochi of Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, but reeled him in with a brilliant six-under 66.

Emma Yang (Pictured) Of Langley Leads The Girls’ Race With Surrey’s Kyle Chang Leading The Boys Division In The B.C. Juvenile Boys & Girls Championships At Kelowna's Gallagher’s Canyon - File Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club played tough for nearly everyone in Tuesday’s opening round of the B.C. Juvenile Boys & Girls Championships. The Kelowna course yielded only two sub-par rounds on the first day of the 54-hole championship for players 16 years old and younger. 

Kyle Changof Surrey was the only player to really have his way with Gallagher’s, as he opened with a four-under 68 that gave him a three-shot lead heading into Wednesday’s second round. Chang, who plays out of Meadow Gardens Golf Club, had six birdies and two bogeys in his round. Cooper Humphries of Kelowna had the only other round below par. Humphries, who plays out of Okanagan Golf Club, opened with a one-under 71.

From L-R: Joan Probert (Vancouver Park Board Supervisor/Commercial Operations), Michael Wiebe (Vancouver Park Board Commissioner), Fraser Mulholland (VGT Commissioner), Dennis Luick (Fraserview GC Head Superintendent) And Defending Vancouver Open Champion James Allenby, Welcomed The Vancouver Open's Return To The Three City Of Vancouver Courses, Langara, McCleery And Fraserview - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf 

By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun

The Vancouver Open is returning home and everyone seems delighted about that.

Vancouver Golf Tour commissioner Fraser Mullholland is pleased to see his flagship tournament return to the three City of Vancouver courses. And the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is also happy to have the tournament back at its Fraserview, Langara and McCleery courses.

“The Vancouver Open should be in Vancouver, right,” says Joan Probert, the park board’s supervisor of commercial operations.

No argument there, but for the last four years the Vancouver Open has not been held in Vancouver. The VGT and park board went their separate ways after the 2013 event, but both sides certainly sounded happy to be partners once again at a media event earlier this week at Langara to promote the tournament.

Golf Canada, the governing body for the sport in our country, is looking for interested applicants for volunteer positions for 2019 with the deadline coming up soon on September 14, 2018.

They are seeking to engage a more diverse volunteer workforce, and will be looking for opportunities to do so in 2019.

Golf Canada’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy is part of the information letter/package in Golf Canada President Leslie Dunning's letter below along with how to apply.

They are also seeking to expand their Duty Roster volunteers through the Provincial Golf Associations and other referrals.

An Aerial View Of The Victoria Golf Club Which Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary This Year - Image Courtesy Wikipedia

By Brad Ziemer

When you get to be 125 years old, one birthday party just won’t do. So Victoria Golf Club, which was founded back in 1893, is having a year-long celebration of sorts to mark its notable anniversary. The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be played Aug. 21-24 on Victoria Golf Club’s spectacular seaside links, is a big part of that celebration.

“Our actual birthday is Nov. 7,” says Head Professional Lindsay Bernakevitch. “We are hosting a bit of a member’s tournament on that day or right around there, but that was the impetus behind us trying to get this national championship that we could host and celebrate our 125th with.”

In July, an outdoor gala was held with about 650 people in attendance. And earlier this month, Victoria’s putting green was the site of a special afternoon high tea. Victoria Golf Club is the oldest 18-hole golf course still on its original site in Canada. It is also among the most beautiful anywhere.

Few Golf Movie Scenes Are Better Than The Bob Barker Fight Scene In "Happy Gilmore." - Photo/YouTube

Recently T.J. Auclair from the PGA of America paid homage to one of the most popular and oft-quoted golf movies of all time on the occasion of its 38th birthday on July 25th. In so doing he also provided us with his version of the top-5 golf movies ever made. Lists of this sort are always great fodder for debate and certainly for entertainment. That said, here is Auclair's ranking. - ed

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The PGA TOUR’s regular season ends with this week’s Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., where Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor needs a big finish to retain his exempt status for next year.

Taylor enters the Wyndham at No. 129 on the FedEx Cup points list. He must move inside the top 125 to remain fully exempt for the 2018-19 season that begins this fall. Taylor currently has 340 FedEx Cup points. Tyron Van Aswegen currently sits at No. 125 with 364 points. Martin Piller, presently No. 124, has 371 points, and Seamus Power, at No. 123, has 377 points.

Taylor must finish no worse than 32nd this week -- which would be worth 25 points -- just to pass Aswegen. But in reality he likely needs a top-20 finish to have a chance of cracking the top 125. A 20th-place finish is worth 45 points, which would move Taylor to 395 points.

British Columbians Sy Lovan (Surrey) (L) And Chris Crisologo (Richmond) (R) Will Be Teeing It Up In The U.S. Amateur At Pebble Beach Starting Monday, August 13th - BC Golf File Images 

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 118th U.S. Amateur Championship, Monday (Aug. 13) and Tuesday (Aug. 14), at 7,075-yard, par-71 Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links and at 6,995-yard, par-72 Spyglass Hill Golf Course, in Pebble Beach, Calif.

The U.S. Amateur consists of 36 holes of stroke play on Aug. 13 and 14, after which the 312-player field will be reduced to the low 64 scorers. There will be six rounds of match play, starting Aug. 15. The quarterfinals and semifinals are slated for Friday, Aug. 17 and Saturday, Aug. 18, respectively. The championship is scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Sunday, Aug. 19, starting at 7:30 a.m. PDT.