2018 BC Men's Mid-Amateur Champion Jay Snyder - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SICAMOUS -- Jay Snyder has played more tournament golf the last few weeks than he has in years and all that work paid off Thursday when he won the B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship. Now he pledges to spend more time with his wife, Sophie, who is expecting their first child in December.

“My wife right now is very unhappy with me because I was away for a week at Winged Foot (in New York), then I played the Squamish Amateur, the Marine Drive Amateur and then I played this, so in June I haven’t seen a lot of my wife and she is pregnant and cranky so . . .,” Snyder said with a smile. He didn’t finish the sentence so we will.

He’d better put the clubs away for a while. 

BC Golf Tournament Director Greg Moody Presents The Women's Mid-Amateur Trophy To 2018 Winner Christina Proteau, Her 6th Victory In The Event - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SICAMOUS -- Christina Proteau has a long list of provincial and national golf titles, so it would be easy to assume that another one wouldn’t mean all that much. That could not be further from the truth. This one meant so much to Proteau, the mother of two young boys who is a Crown prosecutor in Port Alberni.

She fired a one-under par 71 Thursday at Hyde Mountain Golf Course to win her sixth B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship title. The tears she wiped away from her eyes told the story.

Cobble Hill's Brent Wilson, The 2015 PNGA Men's Mid-Amateur Champion, Is Tied For The Lead Going Into The Final Round Of The BC Men's Mid-Amateur At Hyde Mountain GC - Image Courtesy PNGA

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SICAMOUS -- Brent Wilson and Dan Swanson have more in common than the fact they happen to share the lead heading into Thursday’s final round of the B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship at Hyde Mountain Golf Course.

Swanson and Wilson have also both suffered heartbreak at Storey Creek Golf Course in Campbell River during British Columbia Golf championships.

Hyde Mountain GC On Mara Lake - Image Courtesy Golf BC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SICAMOUS -- Here in the Houseboat Capital of Canada, it makes perfect sense that Hyde Mountain Golf Course would have its own marina.

There’s no need to drive your car to the scenic course that sits on Mara Lake. Just pull your boat up to the dock located on Hyde Mountain’s fourth hole, pick up the courtesy phone and a shuttle will be there in minutes to take you to the newly renovated clubhouse.

And once you see the views from the huge triple-tiered patio outside that clubhouse, you will likely play your round in anticipation of some time spent at the 19th hole.

The 2018 British Columbia Golf Women's and Men's Mid-Master and Mid-Amateur Championships are taking place at the Hyde Mountain Golf Course in Sicamous.

BC Golf's Brad Ziemer previewed the event here:

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Last year’s champions will be in the field to defend their titles this week when Hyde Mountain Golf Course in Sicamous plays host to the B.C. Women’s and Men’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Masters Championship.

Last year at Kokanee Springs Golf Resort in Crawford Bay, Victoria’s Craig Doell won both the Men’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Masters titles. Doell beat Cameron Powell of Fernie in a playoff to win the Mid-Am category, which is for players 25 and over. Doell edged Nanaimo’s Sandy Harper by one shot to win the Mid-Masters crown, which is for players 40 and older.

Abbotsford’s Dan Swanson, recently reinstated as an amateur, should be a player to watch this week. On the women’s side, Parksville’s Josee Deslauriers won both of the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Masters titles last year at Kokanee Springs by four shots over Jackie Little of Procter. Little won her sixth B.C. Senior Women’s title last week at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay and is in the field this week at Hyde Mountain.

The 54-hole competition goes Tuesday through Thursday.

Tournament Information 

Recently Reinstated Amateur Dan Swanson Took The First Roud Lead In The Men's Division At The B.C. Mid-Amateur At Hyde Mountain GC In Sicamous - Image Courtesy VGT

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

SICAMOUS -- The views of Mara Lake from Hyde Mountain Golf Course are sublime, but the competitors at this week’s B.C. Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master Championships can’t really enjoy them during their rounds.

They’re too busy focusing on their next shot and avoiding the trouble that seems to be ever present. “It’s not easy,” said Abbotsford’s Dan Swanson, who grabbed the first-round lead with a two-under par 70.

“It is kind of claustrophobic on some holes. It kind of makes it easy. You can’t go left, you can’t go right, so there’s only one place to go -- right down the middle. Just pick your line and trust your swing because if you don’t that’s when it starts to go sideways on you.

2017 Mid-Am Champs Craig Doell (L) And Josee Deslauriers Are In Sicamous At Hyde Mountain GC This Week To Defend Their Titles - Images: Hyde Mtn./BC Golf/PNGA

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Last year’s champions will be in the field to defend their titles this week when Hyde Mountain Golf Course in Sicamous plays host to the B.C. Women’s and Men’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Masters Championship.

Last year at Kokanee Springs Golf Resort in Crawford Bay, Victoria’s Craig Doell won both the Men’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Masters titles. Doell beat Cameron Powell of Fernie in a playoff to win the Mid-Am category, which is for players 25 and over. Doell edged Nanaimo’s Sandy Harper by one shot to win the Mid-Masters crown, which is for players 40 and older.

Image Courtesy Golf & Health

At Health and Social Care Questions in the House of Commons, All-Party Parliamentary Golf Group Co-Chair, Craig Tracey MP, raised the benefits that golf delivers to participants, following research from the Golf and Health Project, supported by The R&A.

“As the Minister may be aware, I currently Co-Chair the All-Party Group on Golf, a sport sometimes unfairly labelled as a good walk spoiled.

“Would the Minister agree with me that there are many positive health benefits associated with participation in golf, especially for those people with long term conditions?”

The Minister responded “I certainly will, as somebody who used to work in the golf industry before coming to this place.

Golf Canada is offering 17 scholarships this year to assist aspiring young Canadian golfers. See the information below for details and either click on the Apply Now button in the poster or HERE to be taken to the scholarship page.

The Legend Of Little Continues To Grow With The 6th B.C. Senior Women's Title Won By Procter's Jackie Little At Crown Isle Resort In Courtenay - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

She has one of the most impressive resumes in the history of British Columbia amateur golf and Jackie Little added yet another line to it on Thursday.

Little won her sixth B.C. Senior Women’s Championship, going wire-to-wire at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay. She closed with a five-over 77 to finish the 54-hole event at eight-over par. That was good for a six-shot win over Kim Evans of Vancouver and Lynn Kuehn of Lacombe, Alta.

Procter, BC's Jackie Little Is One Round Away From Securing Her 6th B.C. Senior Women's Championship -  British Columbia Golf Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jackie Little gave the rest of the field an opening, but no one took advantage in Wednesday’s second round of the B.C. Senior Women’s Championship at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay.

Little fired a four-over 76 Wednesday. That was five shots higher than the one-under 71 she recorded in Tuesday’s opening round that had given Little a three-shot cushion.

The 2018 Pheasant Glen Openis being held at the Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island July 21st & 22nd and is offering its Male Amateur Champion a spot in this year's Canadian Men's Amateur, which is being co-hosted at Pheasant Glen along with Duncan Meadows GC from August 6th-9th.

The Pheasant Glen Open is offering divisions of competiton for both men, women and juniors alike.

The Divisions include: 

Mens: Male Amateur, Junior Boys, & Male Professionals

Ladies: Female Amateur, Junior Girls, & Female Professionals

Registration Fee - $165 - Includes Meal Both Days

Registration Deadline - July 14th

For complete details and how to enter please either click on or refer to the poster below. 

Procter, BC's Jackie Little Is Chasing Her Sixth B.C. Senior Women's Championship Crown This Week At, Appropriately Enough, Crown Isle Golf Resort In Courtenay - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

She is one of British Columbia’s most accomplished players and Jackie Little served notice Tuesday that she has lots of competitive golf left in her. Little already has five B.C. Senior Women’s Championships and could be on her way to a sixth after opening this year’s tourney with a one-under par 71 at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay.

The First Annual Charity Golf Club Drive by The First Tee of Greater Vancouver is taking place this Saturday, June 23rd at the Rupert Park Pitch & Putt course on Charles Street in Vancouver. 

To see how you can get some great brand name used golf equipment at terrific values, check out the details of the event in the poster below. Not only can you get great deals on equipment for yourself, friends or family members, you'll be helping the YMCA's First Tee of Greater Vancouver introduce the game to youth from across the Lower Mainland.

Kimberley/Cranbrook 2018 55+ BC Games – September 11-15, 2018

The 31st Annual 55+ BC Games is taking place in Kimberley/Cranbrook this year from September 11th to 15th. Over 2,500 participants aged 55+ from 12 zones across British Columbia are expected to compete in 23 sports and activities. The registration deadline is fast approaching. 

Don’t miss out on participating in your favourite sport while discovering the beautiful East Kootenays. Please get in touch with your Zone Sport Coordinator for more information.

For more information, please visit https://www.55plusbcgames.org/.

Jared du Toit Was In Contention Throughout The GolfBC Championship Earning Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player Of The Week Honours - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By BRAD ZIEMER, British Columbia Golf

Kimberley’s Jared du Toit recorded a career-best fifth-place finish at the GolfBC Championship in Kelowna.

Du Toit fired a four-under 67 in Sunday’s final round of the $200,000 Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada event at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club to finish at 16-under par. That left the 23-year-old four strokes behind winner George Cunningham of Tucson, Ariz.

“I feel very positive,” du Toit said. “I was up on the leaderboard pretty much all week it felt like. And to be there and to be in the mix basically until I made a bogey on 16 felt good. My old college coach used to say the main goal is to be in the mix on the back nine on Sunday and I did that today, so I am pretty optimistic about where things are at.”

Margaret Todd Is Shown Here With Two Other BC Golf Legends, Doug Roxburgh And Alison Murdoch At Murdoch's 2013 Hall Of Fame Induction In Victoria - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

On the occasion of one of British Columbia's and indeed Canada's all-time great Amateur Golfers reaching a milestone birthday, British Columbia Golf, its staff and membership would all like to join in celebrating and congratulating Margaret Todd who turned the magical age of 100 on May 31st.

The Shot Clock Masters 2018 Cover Photo - Image Courtesy European Tour

In this week's edition of the Globalgolfpost.com, contributing writer Lewine Mair's column The Take, offers an eye-opening perspective on some of the European Tour's efforts at addressing slow play, a topic that has become a very hot issue in recent years. 

A major proponent of 'actions speak louder than words' Canada's Keith Pelley, the European Tour's Chief Executive, has put into action some new ideas to test the waters as far as effecting change in the way the game of golf has appeared to slow to a snail's pace. Case in point is the recently played Shot Clock Masters at the Diamond Country Club in Austria. 

Mair goes in depth in her story on not only the event itself but the overall reaction and possible ramifications of golf tournaments where players are timed in 50 seconds or less for each shot, depending on certain circumstances, with the threat of an immediate penalty hanging over them should they fail to pull the trigger in time. 

Read the complete story HERE.

Click HERE to see a video of Keith Pelley discussing the effects of this type of event. 

Duncan Meadows Golf Course Is Co-Hosting The 2018 Canadian Men's Amateur 

In advance of the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship being held this August 6th - 9th at Duncan Meadows Golf Club in Duncan and Pheasant Glen Golf Club in Qualicum Beach, Duncan Meadows is holding an Exemption Qualifier at their course on Saturday, June 23rd at 10 a.m.

This is in addition to the Golf Canada Qualifier taking place on Friday, August 3rd at Duncan Meadows. Information on that event can be found HERE.

For information on the June 23rd Exemption Qualifier at Duncan Meadows please refer to the poster below. 

BC's Phil Jonas Has Played His Way Into The U.S. Senior Open For The Second Straight Year - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Phil Jonas is getting another crack at the U.S. Senior Open. Jonas played his way into the event for the second straight year, winning the lone spot up for grabs at a qualifier Monday in Sequim, Wash.

The 56-year-old Jonas, who runs a golf academy in his name at Hazelmere Golf Club in Surrey, shot a three-under 69 at The Cedars at Dungeness to beat a field of 51 players by two shots. 

“I played decently today after playing so poorly last week at the PGA of B.C. Seniors tourney,” Jonas said in a telephone interview. “I was happy with the way I played.