UBC Thunderbirds Golf Coach, Chris Macdonald - Image Credit Wilson Wong/UBC Athletics

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Having just completed a successful fall schedule, the B.C. Rivalry Series will return in mid-February with several more one-day events. “I don’t think it could have gone any better than it did,” says UBC golf coach Chris Macdonald, who created the series when the regular collegiate golf season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

“We were very lucky, the weather was fantastic, the courses were all really supportive of us being there and it was a great experience for the students.” Eight one-day events were held in the fall, with the final two tournaments played last week at Chilliwack Golf Club and Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey.

By Golf Canada

The World Handicap System stipulates every player is responsible for returning all acceptable scores into one’s scoring record from rounds played on courses observing their active season, which is part of the golf season when courses have acceptable playing conditions.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of authorized provincial golf association to declare active and inactive periods, and it is the responsibility of the area club and golfers to observe these dates for posting purposes.

Each year, provincial associations analyze numerous factors to determine their active seasons. This ensures consistency of when scores would be posted by the majority of golfers to help keep Handicap Indexes accurate.

Courtesy Golf Canada

As the golf season begins to wind down across Canada, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the educational opportunities available to you as a Golf Canada member.

RULES OF HANDICAPPING
With the release of the World Handicapping System (WHS) in January, it is important to understand the changes and how it impacts you – the golfer!

For those that are interested in learning more about the World Handicapping System, we have created an online presentation that highlights the major changes to the Rules of Handicapping.

Tobiano GC In Kamloops Was One Of Many Courses In BC That Found A Way To Flourish During 2020 And The Covid-19 Pandemic - image credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

You will have to forgive British Columbia golf course operators if they happen to be humming a hit song by country music artist Eric Church from a couple of years ago.

After all, many of them have had a Record Year. Take Tobiano in Kamloops, for example. General manager Terry Smith and his staff recently closed the facility for the winter and Smith reports it was a year like no other in the resort’s 12-year history. “We had our best year ever,” Smith says.

Recently two of British Columbia Golf's Performance Team coaches, Jennifer Greggain and Colin Lavers, were recognized by the PGA of BC for their outstanding contributions to the advancement, education and betterment of junior golf. 

Kimberley, BC's Jared du Toit, Is Shown Here During The Golf Canada Camp At Bear Mtn - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

One of Jared du Toit’s lasting memories of 2020 will be of the long hours spent in his car, alone with his golf clubs, in search of somewhere to play. 

When the PGA Tour Latino-America circuit went on hiatus after just one event in March, du Toit had nowhere to play. He went back home to Kimberley for a time before venturing out on the road.

“It has been super weird,” du Toit says. “I had a work visa in the U.S. and I was allowed to enter the country so I kind of made a plan for the summer to just travel around in my car and play as many events as I could.”

As part of British Columbia Golf's mandate "...building participation and supporting the sport by providing resources, education and competition for British Columbians" a Performance Program is in place to offer assistance to aspiring competitive golfers. 

A recent Performance Camp held at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club in Richmond provided an opportunity to speak with the program's leader, Colin Lavers, along with some of the players participating in the camp.

The following video gives us a good insight as to what the program offers and what its participants see as the benefits of such a program.

by Golf Canada

PGA of Canada member Jennifer Greggain has been named coach of the National Junior Squads by Golf Canada.

Working alongside head coach Robert Ratcliffe, Jennifer Greggain will help guide mental performance, physiotherapy, biomechanics and nutrition for the Canada’s top athletes.

Coaching will be based at the national training centre at Bear Mountain in Victoria, B.C., featuring a centralized component from March through June which provides accommodation and education for athletes during their high school second semester.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

OCTOBER 14, 2020 - RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) - The PGA of BC proudly named the provincial recipients of the Association's 2020 Award Program during an online broadcast of the PGA of BC Awards Celebration presented by Replay Golf Supplies & Tribal held this afternoon.

Recipients were announced for the following 11 awards during the course of the afternoon's festivities:

bigsky_hole_5_chomlackphoto

Courtesy Golf Business News

BASEL, Switzerland — New members at golf clubs say stress relief has been an important reason to join during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahead of World Mental Health Day (October 10), a snapshot survey of 250 golfers in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, indicated that more than half (55%) of those who had joined a club in the past six months cited ‘mental wellbeing’ as their primary reason for joining.

courtesy Golf Canada/PGGCC Board of Directors

Golf Canada is saddened to share the news that former President and Honorary Life Governor Findlay Young of Prince George, B.C. passed away suddenly on Friday, October 9, 2020 at the age of 92.

For many of our volunteers and past Presidents, Findlay was a great friend and mentor whose passion for golf and contributions to the game left a lasting impact on our organization and our sport.

L-R: Jay Janower, Brian Schaal, Callway Golf, Jennifer Greggain and Kyla Inaba - PGA of BC photo

RICHMOND, British Columbia — The PGA of BC is proud to name three recipients of the Association's 2020 Awards, as well as this year's PGA of BC Community Leadership Bursary and Jim Gibson Scholarship beneficiaries. These awards 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 during the 2020 PGA of BC Awards Celebration presented by Replay Golf Supplies & Tribal, which will be broadcast online at 12 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The Chris Macdonald-Led UBC Women's Golf Team Swept The First Two Events Of The BC Rivalry Series - Image Credit: Wilson Wong/UBC Athletics

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The BC Rivalry Series continues this week with one-day events scheduled for Wednesday at Sandpiper Golf Course in Harrison Mills and Thursday at Mayfair Lakes Golf Course in Richmond.

The series, featuring the UBC, University of the Fraser Valley and UBC-Okanagan men’s and women’s golf teams, got started earlier this month with two one-day events played at Okanagan Golf Club Bear Course in Kelowna.

BC's Callum Davison Is Headed Across The Pond To Attend The PGA EuroPro Tour Q-School - Image Credit: Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Duncan’s Callum Davison has headed to England to try and earn a spot on the PGA EuroPro Tour. The 20-year-old Davison, a former B.C. Bantam Boys champion, will tee it up Tuesday and Wednesday at a first-stage Q-school site at Donnington Grove Golf Club in Newbury, England, about 80 kilometres west of London.

He hopes to advance to the final stage of Q-school which goes next week in Oxford, England. “It’s a tour I played on when I was 18,” Davison says. “With COVID I just want to make sure I have somewhere to play full-time next year. I’d rather play on the Mackenzie Tour but the way I look at it, if you don’t have a full schedule you don’t have a chance to go anywhere.”

Christine Wong Is The 2020 PGA of BC Women's Champion - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

Courtesy PGA of BC

RICHMOND, British Columbia — Two rounds of near-flawless golf propelled Christine Wong to a convincing victory in the 2020 PGA of BC Women’s Championship presented by Dexim Golfwear, as the University Golf Club Apprentice Professional ran away with the title at Richmond Country Club.

Entering the final round of the 36-hole, stableford-scoring tournament with a five par-point lead, Wong’s tally of 42 points left her with a total of 80 for the event, 10 more than runner-up Kyla Inaba (Predator Ridge Golf Resort). Wong’s six-birdie, bogey-free performance over the final 18 holes was the best round of the championship.

image credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

Written by Leslie Dunning/Courtesy Golf Canada & CSCM

The Invictus Games, held in Toronto in September 2017, included a golf event hosted by St. George’s Golf Club where spectators were treated to outstanding performances by the athletes. Those of us fortunate enough to attend the event could not help but imagine the opportunities of engaging more people with disabilities in golf.

“This was the most memorable and inspirational event we have been a part of,” said Jason Clarke, CCM, who was general manager at St. George’s during the Games.

image courtesy Golf Canada/R&A 

Written by The R&A/Courtesy Golf Canada

An international research study backed by The R&A has found new evidence to suggest golf can provide significant health benefits to older participants in the form of improved muscle strength and balance.

Muscle strength and balance exercises form an important part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended guidelines to tackle physical inactivity in older people about which little was previously known for golf.

The Strength and Balance Study, carried out with two sample groups over two years by Professor Maria Stokes OBE at the University of Southampton and Dr George Salem at the University of Southern California (USC), has indicated that older golfers have and develop strength and balance benefits.

An Aerial Shot Of Bootleg Gap GC In Kimberley, BC - Image Credit bootleggapgolf.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A year after putting it on the market, the City of Kimberley is still trying to sell Bootleg Gap Golf Course. Scott Sommerville, chief administrative officer with the City of Kimberley, says a deal with a prospective purchaser appears to be dead.

“I think because of the pandemic the deal with the preferred proponent that we had identified is falling apart,” Sommerville said in a recent interview. “It's kind of in-camera with (city) council right now.”

Ruby and Pals is a fun read where children, parents and grandparents can relate to different characters. This series is for children of all ages. Ruby and Pals has 25 Book titles with different concepts in each. Of course, golf lingo, golf rules and etiquette will be described and explained.

This book not only teaches the values of etiquette, manners, and sportsmanship, but also demonstrates conflict resolution and instills problem solving techniques that readers can use in their everyday life.

The creators/writers of this series believe that learning to be a good friend and competitor is just as important as learning the rules and options of golf.

Two-Time PGA TOUR Winner Nick Taylor Tee'd It Up At Northview Recently With Vancouver Canucks Troy Stecher, Elias Pettersson And Broadcaster Dan Murphy - Twitter Photos

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin sets the bar high when it comes to his expectations and it’s safe to say he didn’t meet them at the U.S. Open. Of course, the Abbotsford product had plenty of company.
Winged Foot punished the field at the 120th playing of the U.S. Open with winner Bryson DeChambeau the only player to finish under par.

Hadwin did survive the 36-hole cut but couldn’t get much going on the weekend as he closed with a 10-over 80 and finished in 54th place at 19-over par.

Hadwin, who failed to make a birdie on Sunday, did earn $26,224 for his troubles. Four Canadians teed it up at Winged Foot, with Hadwin and Korn Ferry Tour regular Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., making the cut.