Golf Canada Launches Season-Long Campaign That Highlights The Many Health Benefits of The Sport

- New Golf and Health campaign website along with Golf Canada mobile app enhancements to focus on the sport’s positive physical, mental, and social benefits for participants -

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is highlighting the physical, mental, and social benefits that the sport can provide on Canadians through its brand-new Golf and Health campaign.

The campaign – Golf, It’s Good for You – launched leading into World Health Day April 7. All of the World Health Organization’s key criteria for health enhancing physical activity can be achieved through the sport of golf and Golf Canada is prioritizing communicating health as part of its strategic plan.

BC's Stuart Macdonald - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was a great day to be a Purdue Boilermaker. That included the guys who bounce an orange ball around a basketball court and another who chases a little white ball around a golf course.

On the day the Purdue Boilermakers advanced to their first Final Four appearance at the NCAA basketball tourney in nearly half a century, one of the university’s alma mater was having himself a nice day on the links.

Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald, who played his collegiate golf at Purdue, closed with a four-under 67 to finish tied for third at the PGA Tour Americas’ Totalplay Championship at Atlas Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Ledgeview GC, Site Of The 2024 BC Amateur - Image Courtesy Ledgeview GC

With the 2024 golf season getting underway throughout much of the province, British Columbia Golf would like to remind those who wish to enter that registration for our 2024 championship events is now almost completely open. 

Please find details below.

BC's Lawren Rowe - Photo Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Lawren Rowe of Squamish closed with the low round of the day, a five-under 67, and the former University of Victoria standout tied for seventh at the PGA Tour Americas’ debut event, the Bupa Championship at Tulum in Mexico.

The PGA Riviera Maya course played tough all week. The 36-hole cut was five-over par and only 11 players finished the event under par. Rowe was one of those 11 as he completed the tournament at one-under par.

Clay Feagler of The Woodlands, Texas won the event on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff after finishing at four-under par.

BC's Shelly Stouffer Is Being Inducted Into The Pacific Northwest Golf Hall Of Fame - File Photo

For Immediate Release

Tacoma, Wash. – For the seventh time in Northwest golf history, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) and the Pacific Northwest Section PGA (PNWPGA) will conduct a joint Hall of Fame ceremony to honor inductees from each organization. This combined Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held at Seattle (Wash.) Golf Club on April 27, 2024.

Their respective Halls of Fame recognize those who have distinguished themselves through outstanding playing accomplishments as well as contributions to the game in the region.

Being inducted this year for the PNGA are Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C..; Dr. Jack Lamey of Bellevue, Wash.; and Bon Stein of Seattle, Wash. The PNWPGA will be inducting Doug Doxsie of Issaquah, Wash.

Jeff Sutherland, Long-Time Publishing Partner To British Columbia Golf Has Officially Joined The Association’s Staff As Director, Communications

Effective March 1st, Jeff Sutherland has started a new position as team leader for the Communications Department. The department is one of four operational groups in a revamped organizational structure for the Association that represents more than 60,000 amateur golfers across the province.

This hire takes place at a time when British Columbia Golf is looking to expand its communications with members and all golfers across the province. In support of that goal, the Board has formed a committee to provide direction and governance.

BC's Lauren Kim Will Tee It Up At Augusta Next Month - Kim Photo Couresty Golf Canada/BBrault

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Surrey’s Lauren Kim had to pinch herself a couple of times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, that she really was walking the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club.

“It was kind of unbelievable that I was even there,” Kim said of her recent visit to the legendary layout. “I didn’t think I would ever be playing at Augusta.” The really good news is that the 18-year University of Texas freshman will be playing it again very soon. Hopefully, twice.

ALL BCGA VOTING MEMBERS

ALL SECRETARY/TREASURERS OF ZONES

ALL ZONE CHAIRS

SECOND NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 21^st Annual General Meeting of the British Columbia Golf Association will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The meeting will take place virtually utilizing Zoom technology. Details as to how to attend the meeting will be circulated to voting members prior to the meeting.

BC's Jared du Toit Is Seeing Some Promising Results From All His Hard Work - Golf Canada Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The plan was to take a couple of weeks off, return to his Arizona home and rest after a gruelling four-week stretch that saw Jared du Toit tee it up in Malaysia, Oman, New Zealand and Chile.

But the Kimberley native had a change of heart. After tying for eighth at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Astara Chile Classic, he headed for the Santiago airport and instead boarded a flight to Hong Kong where he will play in this week’s International Series Macau event on the Asian Tour.

In Celebration of International Women’s Day, happening March 8, 2024 and recognizing women in sport and golf, we present a video from the 2023 Sport BC Athlete of The Year Awards dinner and presentation, where two very influential women were recognized and honoured with 'In Her Footsteps' awards.

The purpose of In Her Footsteps…Celebrating BC Women in Sport, is to name and honour women who have made a significant contribution to sport in BC. The athletes, coaches, officials, builders, pioneers, teams, officials, and members of the media who have been selected for this honour have helped shape sport in BC.

Sagebrush Golf Club In Quilchena, BC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

If all goes as planned, the Sagebrush experience will cost a little less this season and taste much better.

The highly regarded Merritt-area layout is moving to a more traditional fee green-fee structure for the 2024 season and new general manager Chris Hood is also focused on upping Sagebrush’s food and beverage game.

“We did a survey at the end of last year of our players and one of things that came back from people is they wanted to see more simplified rate structure more in line with what other courses do,” Hood, a veteran of the B.C. golf industry, said in an interview.

Victoria's Royal Colwood Is A NGL Participating Club - Image Courtesy Royal Colwood

League registration is now open for the 2024 BDO National Golf League in support of First Tee – Canada! Make sure your league gets a spot by letting your league operator know about the opportunity!

The 2024 55+ BC Games will take place in Salmon Arm from September 10-14, 2024. Participants will be attending from all 12 zones within the province to compete in a possible 23 sports.

The 55+ BC Games is British Columbia’s premier annual sporting event for residents aged 55 years and over. 

In addition to high-quality competition, the Games experience includes social events, which highlight the host community, as well as Opening and Closing Ceremonies to give participants a full multi-sport experience of partaking in Games Culture.

Late last year British Columbia Golf sponsored a couple of golf pools free to our membership and we received some very positive feedback. So, for 2024 we are going to run the Majors Challenge for each of the four men's major championships, as well as three from the LPGA.

All those who entered last year will receive a Monday reminder the week of the event to choose their team and confirm an entry should you wish to participate. 

Once again, entry in these contests is FREE to BC Golf Members and there will be prizes for 1st - 5th place as shown below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce its full 2024 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

The 2024 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s two signature National Open Championships — the RBC Canadian Open, returning to the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. May 28 – June 2, and the 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open to be held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, July 23-28.

Golf Canada’s 2024 competition calendar also includes 11 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Three new previously announced championships for the 2024 season include the BDO National Golf League Finals, the Canadian U15 Championship, and the Canadian Collegiate Invitational.

The 2024 golf season is upon us in many areas of BC and to help kick things off the Women's Golf Cloud Series events for April and May are now open for registration. See more information and the link for registration below. 

The Spring Tour Series is BACK!

Ezzabella Hernandez and Christine Wong have committed to their roles as the Zone 3 and Zone 4 Junior Girls Chair for 2024 and look forward to hosting the junior girls this year.

A big thank you to the Spring Tour Series hosts this year for supporting the Junior Girls - Richmond GCC, Quilchena GCC, Capilano GCC. Your support is greatly appreciated!

*They will be adding to the schedule in the next few weeks. The official schedule has now been shared to the public, click on the link below.

BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF VOTING MEMBERS

SECRETARY/TREASURER OF British Columbia Zone committees

FIRST NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

TAKE NOTICE THAT the 21st Annual General Meeting of British Columbia Golf will be a virtual meeting held on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The meeting will use “Zoom” as the meeting platform and all voting members will be provided with a meeting link to log-in to the meeting.

All supporting documents can be located at the links found at the bottom of this page.

BC's Nick Taylor Putted Brilliantly At The WM Phoenix Open - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Nick Taylor did more than win the WM Phoenix Open in dramatic fashion by birdieing three of his final four holes and then adding two more in a sudden-death playoff with Charley Hoffman.

Taylor served notice that he is right now Canada’s best male player and, quite frankly, a world-class talent who seems to have that ability to rise to the occasion and perform at his best in the big moments.

Shayain Gustavsp Is In Scottdale To Experience The WM Phoenix Open -  Image Credit: Shayain Gustavsp

Editor's Note:This week, BC's Golf contributor, Shayain Gustavsp ('Coach Shayain' to many of her students and social media followers), has flown south to take in the very unique spectacle that is the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. Shayain will be posting daily observations from the 'Greatest Show on Grass' offering a wide-eyed Canadian's perspective on both the golf and the party-like atomosphere that surrounds the TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course.

By Shayain Gustavsp (Special To BC Golf)

Heading to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, I was buzzing with the excitement of a snowbird fleeing the chill, ready to soak up Scottsdale's desert sun. Yet, Mother Nature had a twist in store, swapping my sunhat for a tuque as Vancouver's signature drizzle followed me to Arizona.

Who knew the desert could feel like a brisk day by the Pacific? Thank goodness for my stash of Lululemon layers – a shoutout to my Canadian roots and a lifesaver for weather-whiplashed golf enthusiasts like me. Lesson learned: even in the land of cacti, layering is key!