Golf Canada

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce its competition schedule including host clubs and dates for the 2017 championship season.

A total of 25 professional and amateur championships, as well as qualifying events into Canada’s two National Open Championships—the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open—will be conducted in 2017.

Patricia and Kenneth W. Mariash Sr., the developers behind Victoria's Bayview Place have supported top-tier pro golf in BC's capital city for more than a decade. Now they are adding support for the amateur side… and more.

The 2017 Canada Summer Games will be hosted in Winnipeg, Manitoba from August 9-12th for the sport of golf. 

The 2nd of 3 Canada Games BC Team Selection Camps is coming up March 4th and 5th at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club.

The games was established in 1967 as part of Canada's Centennial Celebrations promoting unity through sport as it provides an opportunity for amatuer athletes progressing to national and international level competitions.

The Games is Canada's largest multi-sport competition for young athletes. Athletes from the 13 Provinces and Territories across the Nation compete for the Canada Games Flag and Centennial Cup.

The 2017 Canada Summer Games BC Team Selection process includes a series of selection camps with the Final Team Selection to be done by a BC Golf Canada Games Selection Committee of a minimum of 5 individuals: including Coaches, BC Golf Board member(s), BC Golf Staff, including the Managing Director of Player Development.

By Patrick Kelly

As we get ready to head full on into the new golf year for 2017 and the British Columbia Golf Annual General Meeting is to take place March 5th, I am pleased to highlight a number of notable BC Golf accomplishments over the past year.

KICK OFF THE GOLF SEASON WITH SOME FUN!

The 2017 Vancouver Golf & Travel Show is upon us to help get the golf season started. Come on down to the PNE this weekend, February 18th & 19th for great deals and a chance to see & try all the exciting new equipment, take part in fun contests, draws for terrific prizes and so much more.

Peak Golf has been a part of the Vancouver Golf & Travel Show for many years and we are happy to have the Peak Golf Retail Centre here again. Peak Golf will offer some terrific deals on apparel, accessories, shoes, bags, equipment and more! Don't miss this year's event to get your golf season started in all the right gear.

Innovations Golf again brings us the BC Putting Championship. Prove that you are the best putter in BC and win a new Innovations Golf putter and a $100 Peak Golf Gift Card. You get three putts for only $5 with the entry going to support our Golf Show charity. The finals begin on Sunday at 2pm with a head-to-head battle. If you qualify you will receive a free ticket to Sunday's show.

Don't miss out on all this fun!

From L-R: Jared du Doit, Naomi Ko and A.J. Ewart Are All Finalists For Sport BC Athlete Of The Year Awards

Three out of four golfers nominated by British Columbia Golf for a Sport BC Athlete of the Year Award have been chosen as finalists for their particular category.

Jared du Toit of Kimberley is a finalist for the Male Senior AOY, with Victoria’s Namoi Ko as Female Senior Athlete and Coquitlam’s A.J. Ewart in the Male Junior Athlete categories also being acknowledged as finalists with the winners to be announced March 8th at the annual Sport BC AOY awards dinner.

Former BC Golf Zone 3 Chair And Long-Time Contributor To The Game In British Columbia Peter Dobson (December 21, 1931 ~ January 5, 2017)

Peter Dobson, a long-time resident of Abbotsford and Mission, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 5, at Menno Home in Abbotsford. He was 85. 

Peter was an avid, low-handicap golfer throughout his adult life as well as maintaining an interest in boxing.

He received the Sports BC Award of Community Sports Hero for his decades as community advisor and leader: mentoring youth in the Restorative Justice program, training young golfers, Chairing British Columbia Golf Zone 3, volunteering for the Western Canada Summer Games and serving as Director of the BC Amateur Boxing Association.

Shelly Stouffer's Strong 2016 Season Sees Her Nominated For Female Athlete Of The Year By The Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards - Image Courtesy GaugeDesigns.com/Shelly Stouffer 

Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay has been announced as a finalist for the Female Individual Athlete of the Year by the Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards.

The Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards were established in 2006. The awards recognize those within the sport community who, during the course of the year, have made a significant contribution to the community in which he or she lives.

The nominee must be a resident of the Nanaimo area (Ladysmith to Nanoose).

A sport environment in which participants - athletes, coaches, volunteers, and officials - are exposed to negative experiences such as bullying can be harmful and cause individuals to quit.

55% of BC sports organizations surveyed know of athletes who have dropped out of #sport because of bullying. 

That’s why viaSport and the Government of B.C. have launched a new #ERASEbullying initiative for every provincial and local sport organization, and all B.C. citizens.

Click HERE or on the image above to take the online Erase Bullying in Sport pledge. 

On February 22, 2017, provincial sport organizations will celebrate the Province’s first Declaration of Commitment to erase bullying in sport across B.C.

Learn more about this initiative and how you can get involved as an organization or individual at www.viaSport.ca./erasebullying

The Canucks Autism Network (CAN) provides year-round, high- quality sports, recreational, arts, and social programs for individuals and families living with autism, while increasing awareness and providing training in communities across British Columbia.

The Canucks Autism Network team consists of a diverse group of trained staff, experienced support workers and dedicated volunteers who administer programs for families and individuals living with autism in our province.

Jared du Toit of Kimberley has been nominated for the Sport BC Senior Male Athlete of The Year Award.

Du Toit, who had an outstanding 2016 season, has been the number one ranked amateur male golfer in Canada for over 44 weeks straight as well as being ranked as high as number 23 in the world, will find out on March 8th, 2017 during the awards ceremony dinner being held at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver, whether he will be adding another honour to his name.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Ward Stouffer, who spent more than 20 years as head professional and director of golf at Fairwinds Golf Club in Nanoose Bay, passed away Thursday, January 5th. He was 56.

Friends and playing competitors remember Stouffer, who stood about 6-feet, 8 inches, as a gentle giant with a heart of gold who hit the ball a mile.

Naomi Ko of Victoria has been nominated for the Sport BC Senior Female Athlete of The Year Award.

Ko, who had an outstanding 2016 season with 2 significant victories to go along with medallist honours in two other high profile events, is the number two ranked amateur female golfer in Canada and will find out on March 8th, 2017 during the awards ceremony dinner being held at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver, whether she will be adding another honour to her name.

Canada's Players Of The Year From L-R: Mary Parsons, Maddie Szeryk, Jared du Toit And A.J. Ewart - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

By Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

Team Canada athletes Maddie Szeryk and Jared du Toit finished first in the women’s and men’s National Order of Merits, respectively, to claim honours as the top amateur athlete in each division and be named Canada’s 2016 Players of the Year.

On the Junior Order of Merits, two-time Development Squad athlete A.J. Ewart captured the boys’ title, while Development Squad rookie Mary Parsons took home the honours for the girls.

“We’re pleased to recognize the outstanding accomplishments that these athletes have worked so hard to achieve through this past season,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer.

Dear Golf Clubs,

BC Golf has a great opportunity for your members. We are hosting a Community Golf Coach Course, January 13th - 15th at the Musqueam Community Centre.

Two days will be at the Musqueam Community Centre with one day at the BC Sport Conference, registration included in the course.

If you would like to pass this information on to your members there is a poster attached that can be emailed or printed. If you choose to email, the registration link is active on the poster. Registration is now open on the BC Golf website.

By Dan Pino/ Golf Canada

Lighthouse has been selected as the firm to lead the CEO search

Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson has been appointed as interim CEO effective January 9, 2017

With the recent announcement that CEO Scott Simmons will be leaving the organization, Golf Canada’s Board of Directors is engaged in the process to search for a new CEO.

Golf Canada wishes to take an inclusive and comprehensive approach with this CEO search. The process will involve garnering input from key stakeholders in the golf industry to design the optimal CEO profile.

Proposals were sought from executive recruitment firms that expressed interest in participating in the search for Golf Canada’s new CEO.

(Image credit - Chuck Russell/Golf Canada)

Courtesy Adam Helmer/ Golf Canada

Golf Canada’s second installment of the Tournament Administration and Referees’ School (TARS) will be held at the Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport in Richmond, B.C., from April 27th to 30th.

New for 2017, they are extending the invitation to all certified level 2 rules officials and PGA of Canada professionals!

The objective of the Tournament Administration and Referees’ School is to get championship volunteers and staff members from key golf associations/clubs in Canada assembled to discuss important topics related to tournament administration and competitions.

 Matthew Steinbach (Inset) Will Become SFU's New Golf Coach Beginning In January Of 2017, Taking Over From John Buchanan (Pictured With SFU Golf Bag)

Courtesy Steve Frost/ SFU Athletics

BURNABY, BC – Former Simon Fraser University men’s golf captain, Matthew Steinbach, has been appointed Interim Head Coach of the men’s and women’s golf programs while long-time coach John Buchanan is on medical leave from the University, Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation Theresa Hanson announced today.

Buchanan, the legendary SFU Athletics Hall of Fame coach, who started the Clan men’s soccer and golf programs, has worked at the University for almost 50 years until recently.

Adam Helmer/ Golf Canada

As golf’s governing body in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), today announced a new Local Rule which will come into effect January 1, 2017.

Along with the R&A and USGA, Golf Canada holds a unique position as the only other governing body that sits on the Joint Rules Committee.

Golf Canada will be implementing this Local Rule as part of their Standard Local Rules which will be formally ratified at our annual general meeting by the Rules and Amateur Status Committee.