(Photo/PGA of BC)

With only three months left until this year’s PGA of BC Professional Development Program (PDP) presented by Sunice and Bobby Jones Golf Apparel winds down, Greg Pool (Capilano Golf & Country Club) and Matt Dunn (Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club) lead an extremely tight points race.

(Photo/USGA)

FAR HILLS, New Jersey (USGA) — The United States Golf Association will host the 2017 North American Golf Innovation Symposium on March 6-7 at the Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown in Vancouver, BC, gathering leaders in sustainable facility management and sports research to share knowledge and advance the game.

Symposium attendees will discuss how research, science, and data can help golf facilities around the world reduce their costs, operate more efficiently and provide a better experience for golfers. Over two days, the USGA and other contributing innovators will share details of their ongoing work in areas such as resource management, golf operations, revenue management, pace of play and equipment standards.

Victoria's Naomi Ko (Bottom Left) Is In Mexico With Team Canada Teammates Maddie Szeryk (Bottom Right), & Josée Doyon (Top) To Compete In The World Amateur Team Championship - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Courtesy Golf Canada

MEXICO – The trio of Canadian women is set to make its first appearance at the World Amateur Team Championship when action gets underway tomorrow at the Mayakoba El Cameleon Golf Club and Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club.

Representing Canada will be Maddie Szeryk, 20, of Allen, Texas, Josée Doyon, 23, of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., and Naomi Ko, 19, of Victoria. The Canadians will be paired with China and Spain for Wednesday’s first round, with Szeryk starting things off at 8:15 a.m. EST followed by Doyon at 8:25 a.m. EST and Ko at 8:35 a.m. EST.

Kimberley's Jared du Toit (L) And Victoria's Naomi Ko (R) Will Represent Canada's Men's & Women's World Amateur Teams Respectively In The World Amateur Team Championship In Mexico This Month - Du Toit Image Courtesy Golf Canada/Ko Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski 

Via Golf Canada

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the six individuals selected to represent Canada at the 2016 World Amateur Team Championship, conducted by the International Golf Federation. The championships—featuring both a women’s (September 14-17) and men’s (September 21-24) competition—will take place in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Representing Canada on the women’s side will be Maddie Szeryk, 20, of Allen, Tex., Josée Doyon, 23, of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., and Naomi Ko, 18, of Victoria, B.C. The trio will compete for the Espirito Santo Trophy at the Mayakoba El Cameleón Golf Club and Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club.

The men’s team selected to represent Canada consists of Jared du Toit, 21, of Kimberley, B.C., Garrett Rank, 28, of Elmira, Ont., and Hugo Bernard, 21, of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que. Also contested on both Mayakoba El Cameleón Golf Club and Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club, the men compete for the Eisenhower Trophy.

For Immediate Release

Florence, Ore. - The 32nd Pacific Northwest Men's Mid-Amateur Championship is being held Sept. 13-15 at Sandpines Golf Links in Florence, Ore. The 54-hole stroke-play championship will be conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Players must be 25 years of age or older by September 13, 2016 and require a USGA Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor of 8.4 or lower to be eligible. In last year's Men's Mid-Amateur Championship, held on the Valley course at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C., Brent Wilson of Cobble Hill, B.C. shot a final round 1-under par 70 to come from behind to win.

Brett Standerwick Of Fairwinds Golf Course Has Been A Longtime Supporter And Fundraiser For The Annual Golfathon For ALS - Standerwick Image Courtesy Fairwinds

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Like so many other members of the Professional Golfers Association of BC, Brett Standerwick has been a longtime supporter of the organization’s annual golfathon for ALS. 

Standerwick, who is sales and revenue manager at Fairwinds Golf Course in Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island, has also tried to put his own personal stamp on a fundraiser that is now more than a decade old. “Typically, guys go out and you play from dawn to dusk and play as many holes and you can,” Standerwick says.

“That’s fun but we all do the same thing, so after the first couple of years I started to think about what I could do that was something different, just to try and increase the exposure a little bit.”

British Columbia Golf Executive Director Kris Jonasson (Middle) Took Some Time From His Extremely Busy Schedule To Win A Gold Medal In The Men's Golf Competition Of The Americas Masters Games. The Silver Medal In This Flight Went To George Franko (L) And The Bronze To Cameron Kusch (R) -Image Credit British Columbia Golf

Courtesy British Columbia Golf

The inaugural Americas Masters Games held in the city of Vancouver from August 25th - September 4th are now complete and by all accounts the event was a tremendous success, bringing together Masters Athletes from across North America and around the world.

As was the case at this year's Rio Olympics in Brazil, golf was a featured medal event and provided not only some great play from both the men and the women, it accomplished one of its primary goals, to foster friendship and camaraderie while continuing to promote the sport as a most worthy component in these type of competitions.

Olympic View Golf Club Will Be The Site Of A Canada Summer Games Selection Camp For The 2017 Canada Summer Games In Winnipeg

For Immediate Release

British Columbia Golf will be hosting a Canada Summer Games Selection Camp on Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 at Olympic View Golf Club, Victoria, BC. The 2017 Canada Summer Games will showcase the best athletes in Canada who are on the fast track to the Olympics for 2020 in multiple sports, including golf.

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary and Canada’s 150th Birthday, the Games will be “an extra” special experience for the 4,000 athletes and coaches who will participate in 2017. British Columbia – Team BC Golf has captured every gold medal at the Games since 2009, with past BC gold medalists including: Eugene Wong, Kevin Kwon, Sue Kim and Taylor Kim.

By Matthew Steinbach (British Columbia Golf: Manager, Golf Participation)

As the bell rings and children head back to school, I am reminded that the summer golf season is gone and fall is here. The end of summer holidays signals the start of a new school year and our little golfers trade in their clubs for hockey sticks and soccer balls.

Too often, our little golfers, who just a few weeks ago were hitting balls daily, won’t touch a golf club until next spring. Returning to School, however, doesn’t need to mean the end of the golf season.

Surrey's Hannah Lee (L) And Mary Parsons Of Delta Are Both On The Canadian World Junior Girls Team Competing Later This Month At Mississauga Golf & Country Club - Images BC Golf

Courtesy - Herb Fung/ Golf Canada

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The world’s top female junior golfers will head to Mississauga for the third edition of the World Junior Girls Championship from September 25-30 at Mississauga Golf & Country Club.

Two teams of three athletes will don the red and white of the host nation as Canada competes for the title of World Junior Girls champion. Among those representing Canada will be two oustanding juniors from British Columbia, Delta's Mary Parsons and Surrey's Hannah Lee.

The 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Organizers Have Announced Commitments From (L-R): Mark O'Meara, Vijay Singh, Miguel Angel Jimenez And Colin Montgomerie

Jay Haas, Fred Funk, Craig Stadler And John Cook Round Out The Latest Legends Commitments

VICTORIA, B.C. (September 7, 2016) – Tournament Organizers announced today that World Golf Hall of Fame members Vijay Singh and Colin Montgomerie, as well as four-time European Ryder Cup team member Miguel Angel Jimenez, have committed to play the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

The PGA TOUR Champions event will be contested at Bear Mountain Golf Resort’s Mountain Course in Victoria, British Columbia the week of September 19-25, 2016. The tournament will feature a US$2.5 million purse, with 81 players competing for a winner’s share of $375,000.

Victoria's Namoi Ko Didn't Make It To The Weekend At The CP Canadian Women's Open But She's Got A Bright Future Ahead Of Her - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

PRIDDIS GREENS - While experience in the moment may be painful, down the road it often comes in extremely handy.

That's the viewpoint Victoria, B.C.'s Naomi Ko is taking back to college after failing to make the cut at the 2016 LPGA CP Women's Open outside of Calgary, AB.

Olympic View PGA Of BC Instructor Gordy Scutt Wins The PGA of BC Championship For The Second Time - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

Gordy Scutt Shoots Two-under In Final Round To Win The 2016 TaylorMade & adidas Golf PGA of BC Championship At Royal Colwood Golf Club In Victoria

By Jeff Sutherland

Gordy Scutt, who teaches at the nearby Olympic View GC, started the day at one-over. He was among twenty players who were within three shots of first round leader Luke Bogdan of Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford who had opened with a one-under 69.

Scutt, who won the Championship when it was held at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in 2014, got off to a good start for day two at the 103 year-old AV Macan designed course.

Celebration On Jack Poole Plaza Set To Welcome Athletes For 9 Days Of Celebration

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA – Be a part of history as Vancouver welcomes thousands of Masters-aged athletes to the first-ever Americas Masters Games, taking place August 26 to September 4. The Games’ organizers are thrilled with the progress of this inaugural sporting event, and look forward to hosting athletes competing in 24 sports at some of Vancouver’s most iconic venues and locations.

A celebration on Jack Poole Plaza (Celebration Site) will kick off the Games with the Opening Ceremonies on August 27. It is free to the public and will begin at 6 pm with a march of Masters athletes representing 30 different countries, and will include music, entertainment and speeches from local politicians, representatives from the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) in Switzerland, athletes, dignitaries and welcoming remarks from local First Nations elders.

The Games will be officially declared open with a ceremonial lighting of the Cauldron.

The 2016 BC Bantam Champions Ilirian Zalli (L) And Akari Hayashi (R) Receive Their Trophies From Tournament Director Greg Moody At Bowen Island GC

By Bryan Outram/ British Columbia Golf

It was a tale of two different days for the two winners in the 2016 British Columbia Golf Bantam Boys' & Girls' Championships held at picturesque and often demanding Bowen Island Golf Club.

The 9-hole course provided plenty of challenges for the young competitors in the 14 & under competition. First round leader in the Boy's division, Vancouver's Ilirian Zalli, was a little more conservative in round two on the heels of his course record-setting 63 as he settled for a 4-over 74 but it was still good enough for a three shot win over Markus Yiu, also from Vancouver. 

Victoria's Akari Hayashi rebounded from an opening round 6-over 76 to record the only under par round in the tournament by the girls at 1-under 69 and a 7-shot win over her closet competitor, Claire Lovan of Surrey.

The Latest Canadian Representatives In The 2016 Pacific Links Championship Coming To Bear Mountain Next Month: L-R: Stephen Ames, Rod Spittle And Jim Rutledge

Trio Of Canadian Golfers Add To Strength Of Upcoming PGA TOUR Champions Event Field

VICTORIA, B.C. – Canadians Stephen Ames, Rod Spittle and Jim Rutledge committed to play the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship, to be contested on Bear Mountain Golf Resort’s Mountain Course in Victoria, British Columbia the week of September 19-25, 2016.

The event will feature a US$2.5 million purse, with 81 players competing for a winner’s share of $440,000.

Innovative And Dedicated Are Just Two Ways To Describe Life-Long Golf Instructor Jack Westover Who Is Being Recognized By The PGA of BC With A Lifetime Achievement Award

Courtesy PGA of BC

The PGA of British Columbia is proud to announce Jack Westover as recipient to receive the PGA of BC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Westover becomes only the 9th recipient of the award, the Association's highest honour. Westover joined the PGA of Canada in 1957 while apprenticing under Bill Thompson and Len Collett at Marine Drive Golf Club until the mid-1960s.

According To Dale Jackson, Golf Belongs In The Olympics, Especially Based Upon His Experience In Rio As A Rules Official - Image Credit Dale Jackson

Victoria's Dale Jackson has been in Rio as a golf rules official for the 2016 Olympic Games and provided a blog on what he saw and experienced as Canada attempted to defend its Gold Medal from the 1904 Olympic Games the last time golf was a part of the quadrennial event. Here is the final entry from his trip to Brazil.

Langley's Adam Cornelson Came Oh-So-Close To Winning Sunday At The Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Stop In Ottawa, Losing In A 3-Man Playoff - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A bogey-bogey finish proved costly for Langley’s Adam Cornelson, who lost in a three-man playoff Sunday at the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada stop in Ottawa.

Cornelson looked to be in control late in what was a soggy final round of the $175,000 National Capital Open, but wayward drives on the 17th and 18th holes cost him. Cornelson ended up in a three-man playoff with Brock Mackenzie of Coos Bay, Ore., and Samuel Del Val of Spain. All three players finished the 72-hole event at 15-under par.

Richmond's Chris Crisologo Made The Biggest Gain Among Canada's Top-10 Rankings This Week Following His 4th Place Finish In The Canadian Men's Amateur - Image Credit Bryan Outram/ British Columbia Golf

Hugo Bernard added to his impressive season, coming from behind to claim the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The result saw the Team Canada National Amateur Squad member climb 104 spots in the world amateur rankings, moving up to No. 4 in Canada.

He becomes the first Canadian to win the National Men’s Amateur title since Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Mackenzie Hughes won back-to-back championships in 2011-12. He is the first Quebec native to win the competition since Craig Matthew of Montréal accomplished the feat in 1998. Bernard previously claimed medallist honours at the 2016 NCAA Division II Championship before capturing this year’s Alexander of Tunis event. The win earned the Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., native an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open and the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship.