December 16, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

With the 2014 B.C. Juvenile Girls’ Championship already in her possession, Nanaimo’s Shirin Anjarwalla has her eyes set on winning even more titles in 2015.

“I think I need to play more tournaments in 2015,” said the Grade 9 student. “I will be playing more CN Future Links events, the B.C. Women’s Amateur and more national events because my goal is to continue to earn merit points toward making Team Canada.”

Live on Vancouver Island, or interested in playing on the Island this year?  A number of courses have some special offers for you.

Your membership is so very important to the BC Golf House Society and on behalf of the Director's, we wish to extend our appreciation. Members are the life blood of the Society and it is our hope that we can count on your support. The BC Golf House Society has set the goal of selling 125 memberships before December 31, 2014. Please renew or join now to assist us to fulfill our goal -  "to preserve BC's rich golfing history".  To join and read more, click here.

December 8, 2014

Jim Lee, British Columbia Golf

Are you looking for a way to get a friend, spouse or youth started playing golf?

NGCOA Canada and the PGA of Canada have developed a program to do just that.

Get Golf Ready is designed to teach everything you’ll need to play golf in just a few lessons. PGA of Canada Professionals will show you that there are lots of ways to play by combining fun, friends and fitness. Each session will focus on the various golf skills you will use while playing. In addition to learning the basics, you will be guided onto the golf course to put your skills into action in a casual, friendly setting.

BC courses signed up (to date) for 2015 for Get Golf Ready include:

-Cowichan Golf & Country Club
-Eaglequest Coyote Creek
-Hope Golf Club
-Michaelbrook Ranch Golf Course
-Eagle Ranch Golf  Resort

For more information, click here.

November 29, 2014

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

Surrey’s Adam Svensson keeps on adding honours to his resume.

Svensson was named a nominee for the Sport BC Male Athlete of the Year Award and will find out at the Sport BC Athletes of the Year Awards on March 12, 2015 whether he wins one of the most prestigious titles in the province.

Svensson was just named the Pacific Northwest Golf Association’s Male Golfer of the Year, is currently ranked number 2 in Golf Canada’s ranking of top amateur golfers, is a member of Golf Canada’s National Team and has put together an impressive and consistent championship record in 2014.

November 27, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

The giddy smile on 15-year-old Alisha Lau’s face couldn’t hide the fact that she had just been named to Golf Canada’s Development Squad.

But when she came to work for an hour-long session with her long-time teacher Rob Houlding, that smile was replaced by a fierce look of determination.

Lau had just finished working with Ann Carroll, Team Canada Women’s Squad Development Coach and had discovered a new grip.

She wanted to work with Houlding on that grip and as the two watched her swing on the TrackMan at Houlding’s Surrey facility, you couldn’t help but notice how their relationship is based on empowerment.

November 24, 2014

Jim Lee, British Columbia Golf

The Provincial Government is cutting the red tape around liquor licensing for golf courses and ski areas.  This will make it easier for courses to hold special events outside of their licensed areas.  Previously, courses had to apply for special permits for each use and pay a $330 fee for each application.

The process has now been streamlined so that ski areas and golf courses need only apply once per year, with one fee, and hold up to 26 events per year.  These events are typically held outdoors, away from the licensed areas of the club.  Clubs can now plan in advance what events they wish to hold and book these events secure in the knowledge that they will be able  use their license.

The change will come into effect on December 9, 2014 and courses will be able to apply for their annual permits at that time.  Courses must still obtain local government approval.

Kris Jonasson, Executive Director of British Columbia Golf attended the announcement and said "Its great to see the government working hard to cut red tape for small business and tourism operations in the province.  Golf courses throughout BC extend their licensed areas quite often for our customers, to host weddings and for large gatherings.  This change will be a great relief for many."

Watch the government video here (and Kris sink a putt!)

November 17, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

He comes from one of British Columbia’s most renowned golfing families, but James Harper has carved his own story in the world of local golf by doing a little bit of everything.

He started the year in Portugal, trying to qualify for the European Senior Tour. While he didn’t succeed in the tournament that started on his 50th birthday – Harper had to be the youngest senior playing that Q-School – he also didn’t fret too much over the disappointment, as he was able to enjoy everything that a warm January and February in the Iberian Peninsula offers.

In fact, Harper and his wife, Josephine Mirandolle, used the time to explore the area before Harper’s better half had one more responsibility.

November 17, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

It’s a typical West Coast autumn day, with grey skies and intermittent showers and rain, but that doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm of David O’Connor.

As Burnaby’s manager of golf operations, O’Connor has weathered his share of storms and one day of bad weather never fazes him.

“Are there going to be ups and downs in this business? Of course,” said O’Connor. “But we’re just looking for consistency in this market.”

November 14. 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

By day, Kevin Carrigan is a mild-mannered full-time financial planner with Investors Group in Victoria.

But get him out on the golf course and he’s the sixth-ranked amateur in Canada and 334th in the world, according to Golf Canada’s most recent amateur rankings.

Carrigan is different from most of the amateurs on this list because while many of them are younger and playing college golf, Carrigan has to fit his competitive golf in between business meetings and obligations.

Not bad for the Royal Colwood club champion who has to use most of his vacation time to play in worldwide golf tournaments.

November 7, 2014

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf 

Two Interior golfers are on Golf Canada’s radar after cracking their most recent Top 10 rankings for amateur golfers in the country.

Kimberley’s Jared du Toit, currently attending school at the University of Idaho, is the fifth-ranked male amateur in Canada and 332nd in the world, while Kelowna’s Megan Osland, currently at San Jose State University, is 10th in Canada and 227th in the world.  

Both du Toit and Osland have carded wins in the first part of their golf seasons, with both now currently on winter break.

November 7, 2014

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf 

Two Interior golfers are on Golf Canada’s radar after cracking their most recent Top 10 rankings for amateur golfers in the country.

Kimberley’s Jared du Toit, currently attending school at the University of Idaho, is the fifth-ranked male amateur in Canada and 332nd in the world, while Kelowna’s Megan Osland, currently at San Jose State University, is 10th in Canada and 227th in the world.  

Both du Toit and Osland have carded wins in the first part of their golf seasons, with both now currently on winter break.

November 5, 2014

by Alfie Lau

It’s somehow appropriate that two young women who went to the same high school (Gleneagle Secondary in Coquitlam), learned the game at the same course (Swan-E-Set Bay Resort) and now attend the same university (U of Washington), are separated by only three spots in Golf Canada’s most recent Top 10 rating of top female amateurs.

Washington Husky seniors SooBin Kim, ranked third in Canada and 38th in the world, and Jennifer Yang, sixth in Canada and 117th in the world, are the next wave of Canadian golfers set to make their mark in the world of golf.

November 2, 2014

by Don Bodger - Cowichan News Leader Pictorial

Tristan Mandur recognized his own golf ability from an early age.

“I’d say around six or seven, that’s when I did my first tournament and I had a lot of fun and I really wanted to pursue it,’’ he said.

Currently in Grade 10 at Shawnigan Lake School, Mandur became a household name in golf this year for those who hadn’t heard of him already.

October 27, 2014

Jim Lee, British Columbia Golf

Maureen was competitive in five sports - badminton, swimming (syncronized), tennis, field hockey and golf.
 Her athletic career started with her involvement in sport while a student at UBC.  There, she
competed in badminton, field hockey and swimming and won an unprecedented nine Big Blocks
(four badminton, four swimming and one field hockey), a record that held for several years.

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

After 16 hours of High Performance Camp for the province’s best junior golfers, I learned that while golf is hard, getting better at golf isn’t quite as difficult. Many of the lessons coaches Matt Palsenbarg, Jody Jackson, Helene Delisle and Matt Cella, along with trainers Nick Mueller and Lindsay Manion, had can be used by golfers of all abilities.

And while you may not get to the championship level of an Alisha Lau, Shirin Anjarwalla, or Keaton Gudz, you can improve your game with these tips from the experts.

June 9, 2014

Blair Armitage, Golf Canada

I recently spent a terrific day with three-time World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan.

Patrick had signed on as a spokesperson for a Vancouver development company and they wanted to film a television commercial featuring Patrick playing golf. I was asked to search out the ideal golf course for the shoot. Naturally I choose the Quilchena Golf & Country Club in Richmond, BC. (I was the General Manager at Quilchena for seven years prior to joining Golf Canada.)

August 22, 2014 - (British Columbia Golf)

Euna Han came from behind to win the 2014 B.C. Girls’ Bantam Championship at Meadowlands Golf Club, while Andrew Spalti held on to win the 2014 B.C. Boys’ Bantam Championship after leading both days of competition.

Han shot a 2-under 68 on the second day to take the lead from her position in third place following the first round, and finishied with a two-day total of 138 (-2) as the only female competitor under par.

October 22, 2014

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

By all measurements, 15-year-old Richmond golfer Alisha Lau has had a 2014 golf season to remember.

Lau finished T5 at the BC Junior Girl's Championship in early July and just a week later, finished third at the BC Women's Amateur.

Travelling to Ontario at the end of July, Lau finished T20 at the Canadian Junior Girl's Championship and then capped off her summer by tying for low medalist in stroke play – with another BC golf prodigy, Naomi Ko - at the PNGA Junior Girl's Amateur in mid-August before losing in the semi-finals of the match play segment of the competition at the Olympia Golf & Country Club in Washington State.

October 22, 2014

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

By all measurements, 15-year-old Richmond golfer Alisha Lau has had a 2014 golf season to remember.

Lau finished T5 at the BC Junior Girl's Championship in early July and just a week later, finished third at the BC Women's Amateur.

Travelling to Ontario at the end of July, Lau finished T20 at the Canadian Junior Girl's Championship and then capped off her summer by tying for low medalist in stroke play – with another BC golf prodigy, Naomi Ko - at the PNGA Junior Girl's Amateur in mid-August before losing in the semi-finals of the match play segment of the competition at the Olympia Golf & Country Club in Washington State.