Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Whatcom County Courses Hope British Columbians Keep Coming
North Bellingham GC - image courtesy North Bellingham GC
Taylor top-10s at Genesis Invitational; Jessica Hadwin pokes fun at her husband; SFU men start spring season in impressive fashion
By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf
(February 17, 2025) - Golf course operators south of the border in Whatcom County will be nervously examining their tee sheets in the coming weeks to determine what effect the threats of tariffs and Canada becoming a “51st state” will have on their businesses.
With snow on the ground last week and courses closed, it was too early to say what effect U.S. President Donald Trump’s tough talk regarding Canada is having on golfers who regularly play Whatcom County layouts.
But with polls showing that many Canadians are vowing to avoid travel to the United States, it seems likely that Bellingham and Blaine-area courses like Loomis Trail, North Bellingham and Shuksan could be hurt. Those courses rely heavily on play from British Columbians.
Nathan Vickers, the longtime head pro at North Bellingham Golf Course, said he’s hopeful the British Columbians will keep coming.
“The demand that Covid has driven into the game has definitely outweighed the exchange rate, which is the lowest it has been in a decade,” Vickers said. “The demand (from Canadians) is as a high as it has ever been. The courses in Canada are filling up, so if you want to golf you have to travel. We’re not concerned right now, but obviously if that comes true, it could hurt a little bit.”
British Columbians account for nearly 40 per cent of the play at North Bellingham. Loomis Trail in Blaine gets more than 50 per cent of its play from Canadians.
“We are the closest course to the border,” said Justin Conlan, director of golf at Loomis Trail. “Once we get back open we’ll hear more of the chatter going on. A lot of our customers are pretty regular, so I don’t anticipate that swaying them, but you never know.”
John Tipping, the new general manager at Shuksan Golf course, said his facility does not want to get involved in the current political controversy. “As a facility we need to stay out of that discussion,” Tipping said. “We don’t have any official comment.”
Over at Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club, where British Columbians comprise between 35 and 40 per cent of the membership at the private club, general manager Jeff Mehlert hopes the current political climate doesn’t cost the club any members. “We haven’t had anybody leave because of this situation,” Mehlert said.
“Do they comment on it? Yeah. We are still under some snow, so it hasn’t been super busy. I imagine we will hear more when things thaw out. Of course, we are going to listen and be sympathetic to everything that anybody goes through.”
TOP 10 AT TORREY: Nick Taylor’s special start to the 2025 season continued at the Genesis Invitational, where the Abbotsford product tied for ninth. Taylor has made the cut in all six starts this year and of course had that win — the fifth of his PGA TOUR career — last month at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He currently sits fifth on the FedEx Cup points list.
Taylor closed with a four-under 68 at Torrey Pines’ South Course to finish at six-under par, six shots behind winner Ludvig Åberg of Sweden. He earned $556,667 and now has made $2,517,264 so far in 2025. And it’s only February. Taylor’s finish kept alive an impressive streak by Canadian players on the PGA TOUR this season. A Canadian has now finished tied for 12th or better in each of the seven events so far in 2025.
HUBBY HORRORS: Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin had a miserable first round at the Genesis and it did not go unnoticed by his wife. Jessica Hadwin (@jessicahadwin on X) offered up this post when her husband was 10-over through his 14 holes at Torrey Pines: “This is absolutely nothing against my husband, but I am getting legitimately scared to refresh the PGA Tour app anymore.” Hadwin went on to post an 11-over 83, which matched his worst-ever round on the PGA TOUR.
He rebounded with a one-under 71 in the second round but missed the cut. Jessica Hadwin, meanwhile, is garnering attention for her social media posts. She has recently joined the Skratch platform (@Skratch) as a contributor and offered a humorous take on visiting the recent WM Phoenix Open, where her husband posted a top-10 finish. Click HERE for link to Jessica's posts
POSITIVE START: Simon Fraser University’s men’s team got its spring season off to a positive start with a third-place finish at the Fujikura Invitational in Vista, Calif. The Red Leafs were led by Langley’s Danny Im, who finished solo second at three-under par. Burnaby’s Denby Carswell was 10th at two-over. The Red Leafs completed the 13-team, 54-hole event hosted by Cal State San Marcos at nine-over par.
They were four shots behind second-place San Marcos and 20 behind the winning team from St. Mary’ University of San Antonio, Tex. The SFU women’s team begins its spring scheduled Feb. 23-24 at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout in Alameda, Calif.
HEADING SOUTH: Former Red Leaf Bailey Bjornson is joining Charleston Southern University in South Carolina this fall as a graduate transfer. Bjornson, a Surrey native, played three seasons with Simon Fraser and has a year of eligibility remaining. He had two top-three finishes and nine top 10s during his time with Simon Fraser. Charleston Southern University competes in NCAA Division 1.
FORMIDABLE FOES: The University of B.C.’s men’s team bounced back to play a solid final round, but could only manage a tie for ninth at the 10-team Van Harte Orange County Collegiate Classic in Coto de Caza, Calif. It was the spring season-opener for the Thunderbirds, who were up against formidable NCAA Division I opponents. UBC finished the 54-hole tourney at 49-over par and tied with Southern Utah. Cal State Fullerton won with a score of six-over par. Aidan Schumer, who tied for 17th in the individual competition at five-over par, was UBC’s top player.
TOP 10 FOR EWART: Coquitlam’s A.J. Ewart tied for seventh at the Asher Tour’s Bakersfied Open. Ewart’ 54-hole total of seven-under par left him six shots behind winner Patrick Flavin of Highwood, Ill. Ewart, Khan Lee of Chilliwack, Jace Minni of Delta and John Morrow of Delta are all in the field for this week’s Asher Tour event, the Bayonet Championship, in Seaside, Calif.
CHIP SHOTS: Surrey’s Adam Svensson is the lone British Columbian in the field for this week’s Mexico Open at Vidanta World near Puerto Vallarta. . .Longtime Seymour Golf & Country Club pro Lenny Cyr has been sworn in as the 43rd PGA of BC president. Cyr succeeds Ashley Zibrik, the head pro at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.