In 2020, Golf Canada partnered with First Tee to launch First Tee – Canada. Together, the partnership will bring First Tee’s youth development emphasis to strengthen Golf Canada’s junior golf activities – previously conducted under the Future Links brand – that reach kids in communities, schools, and golf facilities.

Golf Canada will serve as the national headquarters of First Tee – Canada. First Tee chapters are being established in markets across Canada to deliver programs in their respective regions, with First Tee British Columbia being the first out of the gate.

Former BC Amateur Champion Jared du Toit Is Looking To Compete On The New Forme Tour - Images Credit BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

As a fully exempt member of the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica circuit, Kimberley’s Jared du Toit could have played in this week’s event in Florida. Instead, the former B.C. Amateur champion is joining a few other British Columbians at the new Forme Tour qualifying school at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

“It was kind of a tough decision, but I felt like it was the better move for me to have something for the summer, ideally,” du Toit said. He’ll be hoping to be one of a select few to earn status at Q-School, which runs Tuesday through Friday.

Master Superintendent Tim Kubash Is Determined To Continue In His Chosen Profession Following A Devastating Accident - Image via GoFundme.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

His many friends throughout the golf industry and so many others are rallying to support longtime superintendent Tim Kubash after a life-altering accident earlier this month. 

Kubash, a Canadian Golf Superintendents Association Master Superintendent, suffered devastating injuries May 5th when the tractor he was using to smooth the driveway at his Salmon Arm home tipped over a slope.

Kubash was thrown head first into the canopy of the vehicle and snapped his C6 and C7 vertebrae. He was flown by air ambulance to Vancouver General Hospital and has lost the use of his legs.

Meadow Gardens Member Michael Caan Joined Another Very Exclusive Club By Shooting A 59 At Home Course - Image via Instagram/@michaelcaan

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Now that he’s dried himself off and had some time to reflect on the round of his life, Michael Caan still can’t quite believe what happened.

His round of 59, which ended with a celebratory dive into the pond surrounding the 18th green at Meadow Gardens Golf Course that went viral on social media, remains a bit of a blur. Especially the closing few holes, when the 27-year-old Coquitlam pro realized he had a chance to do something special.

via Allied Golf Association - British Columbia

We have the great fortune to continue to play golf in British Columbia amidst COVID-19 as our provincial health authorities recognize the activity is performed outside and can be enjoyed with proper protocols in place and adherence to provincial health orders.

Our British Columbia golf course operators have been provided Best Practices for Responsible Operation of BC Golf Courses and we remind golfers in British Columbia to do their part in golfing responsibly for everyone’s continued enjoyment of the game.

Here linked are a pdf version and a word version for the British Columbia Golf Industry’s use.

With all the uncertainty and ups and downs in the world these days sometimes a little humour is in order. To that end we have some new comic strips from Seattle's Rick Newell.

Newell's humorous comic strip, which centres around golf and the characters whose lives in and around the game are likely very familiar to many of us, was a regular feature in golf publications and on websites in the past.

Life In The Trap tells the story of Clay, Duff, Rosie, Putts and Carrie, the local golf pro, along with the occasional insight from 'Dimples' the golf ball. 

Here are Newell's latest creations for your amusement.

(March 23, 2021 – Golf Canada) – Canadians needing a social outlet and a sense of recreational normalcy during the uncertainty of the pandemic in 2020 turned to golf in a major way.

Now Golf Canada, with the support of industry partners, will build on the excitement, increased interest, and elevated levels of play with a national golfer retention campaign to welcome new and returning players back to the golf course in 2021.

All Images Courtesy Haywood Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When competing with industry heavyweights like Taylor Made, Titleist, Ping and Callaway, it’s important to have something that sets you apart.

For Haywood Golf, a Vancouver-based direct-to-consumer equipment company, that would be price. “The way we describe our clubs is 'we’re not cheaper, we are just more affordable,'” says company founder Joshua Haywood.

Not even three years old, Haywood Golf is turning some heads in what is an ultra-competitive business. Golfers like the sleek, simple look of Haywood’s irons and they love the price.

An Aerial View Of The Back Nine At Bootleg Gap GC And The Hoodoos - Image Courtesy Bootleg Gap GC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Since joining Bootleg Gap Golf Course as a young assistant pro in 2004, Trevor Simkins has pretty much done it all. 

Simkins became head pro at the scenic Kimberley course in 2006 and eight years later was appointed general manager. He’s now about to take on the biggest role of his life.

Simkins has bought the golf course.

Simkins, his father Harold -- a former longtime club pro in Kamloops -- and his step-mother Jeanna take possession of Bootleg Gap on Feb. 11 after purchasing it from the City of Kimberley. 

“From assistant golf pro to owner,” Simkins says. “It’s pretty cool.” Yes, it is.

A Happy, Smiling, Maddox Hadwin Celebrated Her 1st Birthday Last Week - Image Courtesy Jessica & Adam Hadwin

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin and his wife Jessica recently celebrated the first birthday of their daughter Maddox, a day in which they reflected on not only the joy she has brought to their lives but the struggle they faced bringing her into the world.

Adam and Jessica went through many ups and downs, including two failed pregnancies, in their attempts to start a family.

With the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF), Maddox arrived on January 8, 2020. The struggles they endured and the fact they were in a financial position to use IVF led the Hadwins to think about trying to help others facing similar challenges. Late last year they started The Hadwin Family Foundation.

British Columbia Golf will be holding two Provincial Rules seminars online beginning in February of 2021.

Please see the information below for details and to pick which option may be of interest to you.

A Southwest Looking Rendition Of The Cabot Pacific Golf Course Being Built In Revelstoke By The Whitman, Axland & Cutten Golf Architect Group - All Images Courtesy WAC

By Gord Montgomery - Inside Golf

“This setting rivals the best in Canada—and across the world. Our goal is to create inspiring golf that will bring people together and stand the test of time.”

– Rod Whitman

If you’re a fan of phenomenal golf products, such as the outstanding Cabot Links and Cliffs in eastern Canada, then as a Western Canadian you can take great pleasure in discovering that that brand of architecture is coming to Revelstoke, British Columbia.

Speaking on the phone about the latest Cabot-brand project, to be called Cabot Pacific, architect Rod Whitman (he of the famed Wolf Creek GC and Blackhawk in Alberta and Cabot Links in Nova Scotia) and partner Keith Cutten, of Whitman, Axland & Cutten (WAC Golf), expressed their pleasure in the land they're working on and what this enterprise will mean to this area in the mountains of eastern B.C.

Written by Brent Long/ Courtesy Golf Canada

Canadians golfers are playing golf and adapting to new technology such as the Golf Canada App like never before.

In a year where record numbers of recreational rounds were registered with Golf Canada through June (1.2 million), July (1.6M), August (1.5M), September (1.5M) and October (618,500) embracing technology and new apps has become a way of life for most Canadians who have spent much of 2020 learning to deal with COVID-19 lockdowns, quarantines and social distancing measures.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the names of the 29 athletes, male and female, who have been selected to represent Team Canada as part of the 2021 National Amateur and Junior Squads.

Fifteen athletes will compete on Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, consisting of eight players on the men’s squad and seven on the women’s squad.

The announcement marks a significant increase in roster size, adding six athletes to the previous year’s team. The roster expansion is due in large part to a restructuring of team resources in addition to increased funding support from the Golf Canada Foundation’s network of Trustee partners.

Abbotsford, BC's Nick Taylor Has His Eye On A Return To The Masters After His First Experience At Augusta - File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Nick Taylor’s first Masters experience included 17 birdies, a four-putt, an anxious Friday night and Saturday morning sweating out the cut and countless great memories of his week at Augusta National.

He hopes to do it all again someday soon.

“I was hoping for a really low one today to maybe sneak into that top 12, but I will do everything I can to get back here, that’s for sure,” Taylor said over the phone after Sunday’s final round.

Written by National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA)/Courtesy Golf Canada

The Canadian golf industry generated $18.2B in economic benefits across our nation in 2019, according to a recent economic analysis conducted by Group ATN Consulting Inc. on behalf of the National Allied Golf Associations (We Are Golf).

According to The Economic Impact of Golf in Canada (2019), the Canadian golf industry employs the equivalent of nearly 249,000 people through direct and spin-off effects and contributed to $10.6B in household income. The industry also contributed $4.5B in government tax revenue ($1.8B federal and $2.1B provincial) used to support a variety of programs for all Canadians.

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. 

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.

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.