The R&A

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. and ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – The R&A and the USGA have announced that a new Model Local Rule (MLR G-10) will be available beginning on 1 January 2022 to provide those running professional or elite amateur golf competitions with the option of limiting the maximum length of a golf club (excluding putters) to 46 inches.

The proposal was announced in February 2021, which opened a notice-and-comment period to allow the industry the opportunity to provide feedback as part of the equipment rulemaking procedures. The comments received from the golf industry, including players, professional tours and equipment manufacturers, were carefully considered before the decision to proceed with the new MLR was reached.

British Columbia Golf would like to offer our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lynne Marie Jeannette Powlik who passed away peacefully on the afternoon of September 27th,  at the age of 77. 

Obtaining her National Status as a golf rules Official, her valuable rules knowledge was an asset to many BC Golf tournaments. Lynne was given the Volunteer Recognition Award in 2011, and certainly was deserving for her work with British Columbia Golf. Lynne was also a member of the Fort Langley Golf Ladies Club for years, and was very giving of her time and support to the club.

Motorized carts have ferried golfers from hole to hole for 50 years, but more players these days are walking their rounds, and some courses have shunned carts entirely - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski

By Bill Pennington/NYTimes

There is a new movement afoot in recreational golf: walking.

In swelling numbers nationwide, golfers are spurning the motorized golf cart — a standard-bearer of American golf rounds for more than 50 years — and instead choosing to stride or stroll from shot to shot.

It has contributed to a substantial rise in rounds played and spawned another novel phenomenon: The verifiable notion that golf, when a round is walked, is exercise that can supplement a fitness regimen since golfers routinely burn 700 calories or more in an outing that can traverse up to six miles.

Scott Vannatter (L) Is Seen Here With Fellow Volunteer Ray Flynn. Scott Was A Long Time Volunteer & Rules Official For BC Golf 

British Columbia Golf was saddened to hear of the passing of long time volunteer official, Scott Vannatter, at Peace Arch Hospital on the afternoon of Thursday, September 30th, 2021.

Scott was a tremendous supporter of the game of golf, especially junior golf. He acted as a BC Golf and Vancouver Golf Tour (VGT) rules official, was a Zone 3 Director for British Columbia Golf as well as a Board Member for the Player Development Trust Fund.

A good player in his own right, Scott was the 2002 Zone 3 Senior Men's Champion.

Condolences go out to Scott's family and friends at this difficult time, he will be missed. 

Please visit the Zone 3 website here to see a more detailed background of Scott's contributions to the game. Click here to see the official obituary for Scott. 

The LPGA Amateurs Vancouver Island Chapter is excited to announce a two-player women's best ball event taking place at Duncan Meadows GC on Friday, October 22nd. Lots of on-course games and prizes and a welcoming environment for LPGA Amateur members and guests.

The registration deadline is Tuesday, October 19th. See the poster below for more details.

Image Courtesy Province of British Columbia

On September 30, 2021, individuals and communities honoured Orange Shirt Day, as well as the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

The individual and collective journeys of Truth and Reconciliation are enduring. It isn’t a destination, but rather a lifelong path of reflection, learning and understanding.

By Latash Maurice Nahanee

Golf is a game that is both fun and challenging. Golf can be a game of leisure and/or demand the best of a great athlete. One element that differentiates this sport from contact sports such as soccer or football is the etiquette.

“First Tee – British Columbia, is a youth development program offered by Golf Canada that introduces the game of golf and its inherent values to young people. We teach values such as integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf,” says Shayain Gustavsp, Manager, First Tee - British Columbia.

Through after school and in school programs, First Tee – BC instills character development as a fundamental element of Golf Canada’s junior golf program.

Kelowna's Jessica Claggett With Past BC Golf President Patrick Kelly - BC Golf Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jessica Claggett of Kelowna has been declared the winner of the B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship after Victoria’s Alyssa Herkel was disqualified due to a rules infraction.

Tournament director Doug Hastie said Herkel contacted him over the Labour Day weekend to discuss a shot she attempted on the seventh hole during the final round of the event, which was held Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Gorge Vale Golf Club in Victoria.

Herkel told Hastie she “whiffed” a chip shop attempt from the rough on the par 5 hole.

Former British Columbia Golf President Peter Bentley Is Shown Here With Current President Michelle Collens - Image Courtesy Michelle Collens/Twitter

British Columbia Golf is saddened to learn of the passing of past BC Golf President, Peter Bentley (March 17th, 1930- September 6th, 2021). 

Peter John Gerald Bentley OC, OBC, LLB (Honorary) died peacefully in his sleep in Vancouver, B.C. September 6, 2021 at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife Sheila (nee McGiverin) and their 5 children, Barbara Hislop (John), Susan Kololian (Vahan), Joanie Ball (Mik), Michael Bentley (Lesley) and Lisa Turner (Terrence), 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Peter, highly respected in the BC golf & hockey communities, was named to the order of Canada in 1983 and later also became a BC Sports Hall of Fame WAC Bennett Award winner, and served as the Hall's chair in 1974-75 as well as being a long-time board member.

Nanoose Bay Resident Shelly Stouffer With The Trophy Haul From Her Canadian Senior Women’s Championship in Bromont. Que. - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

As you can probably imagine, there is no quick way to get from Nanoose Bay to Point Clear, Ala., the site of this week’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. 

Shelly Stouffer was scheduled to leave on a 6 a.m. flight Tuesday from Comox to Calgary, where she’ll connect to Atlanta. From there she’ll fly to Pensacola, Fla., where she is supposed to catch a shuttle for a one-hour ride to her hotel near the golf course.

Stouffer’s win at last week’s Canadian Senior Women’s Championship in Bromont, Que., earned her a spot in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. “I didn’t realize the tournament was this week, so I was like holy crap,” Stouffer says with a laugh. “But I’ve got my negative COVID test and I am ready to go . This whole experience has been a whirlwind.”

Christina Spence Proteau Collected Her Sixth Career Mid-Amateur Title At Golf Château Bromont - Image Credit Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada

Golf Canada/Media Release

BROMONT, Que. – Christina Spence Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C. won the Mid-Amateur division at the 2021 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship on Thursday at Golf Château Bromont in a playoff over Vancouver’s Nonie Marler.

Proteau entered Thursday’s final round one stroke back of Marler, who held the Mid-Amateur lead for the first two rounds, and whose first-round 72 would end up being the lowest and only single-round score under par for the entire tournament.

The two B.C. golfers were tied at 5 over par after the final hole of the 54-hole tournament, forcing the division to go to a sudden-death playoff. Proteau came out victorious after a birdie on the first playoff hole.

2021 BC Men's Mid-Amateur Champion Craig Doell - BC Golf Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Craig Doell knew he would have to play a solid round and also get some help from the guy he was chasing on the final day of the B.C. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Victoria’s Gorge Vale Golf Club.

He got both and completed his B.C. Mid-Am hat trick with his third victory in the competition for players aged 25 and older. The 49-year-old Doell played near flawless golf in Thursday’s final round.

He made just one bogey in his two-under round of 70 and it came on the 18th hole when he already had the tournament won. He beat Courtenay’s John Robertson, who had led through the first two rounds, by three shots.

Alyssa Herkel Carded Consecutive Rounds Of 4-Over 76 And Has A 6-Shot Lead At The BC Women's Mid-Amateur - BC Golf Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- Alyssa Herkel has home course advantage at this week’s B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Gorge Vale Golf Club and she appears to be making the most of it.

Herkel, a Gorge Vale member, has a six-shot lead heading into Thursday’s final round of the 54-hole competition for players aged 25 and older.

The 32-year-old former University of Victoria golfer shot her second straight 76 Wednesday and stands at eight-over par through 36 holes. Kelowna’s Jessica Claggett is second at 14-over after posting the day’s best score, a two-over 74.

On the men’s side, Courtenay’s John Robertson matched his opening round with a three-under 69. His six-under total has him three shots in front of Nasheel Kassam of Vancouver.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- Courtenay’s John Robertson had a nice B.C. Amateur Championship, where he tied for fifth at Storey Creek Golf Course in Campbell River earlier this summer. He’s hoping for an even better B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship.

Robertson got off to a great start Tuesday, firing a three-under 69 at Gorge Vale Golf Club in Victoria to grab the first-round lead in the Mid-Am. The 50-year-old, who plays out of Crown Isle Golf Resort, had four birdies and just one bogey in his round.

BC Girls Bantam Champion Amy Lee - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

 A funny thing happened when Langley’s Amy Lee made back-to-back birdies on the back nine during the final round of the B.C. Bantam Girls Championship at Langara Golf Course. 

The 13-year-old suddenly started believing she could win the tournament. “Those birdies gave me some momentum and some courage to go for it,” Lee said after after she beat Grace Yao of West Vancouver in a sudden-death playoff. “At the beginning of day I thought I had no chance.” 

Lee shot a two-under 69 to finish the 36-hole event at one-over par and tied with Yao, who closed with an even-par 71.

BC Boys Bantam & Novice Champion For 2021 is Alex Zhang - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Former Canadian Tour winner Eugene Wong of North Vancouver and Surrey’s Adam Svensson, who is off next month to begin his second stint on PGA TOUR, are among the past champions of the B.C. Bantam Boys Championship.

Their play in winning those titles could not have been any more impressive than the performance of new winner Alex Zhang of Richmond.

After opening the 36-hole tournament with a three-under 68, the Beach Grove Golf Club junior member closed witha near flawless round of 67 on Tuesday to win the championship by eight shots at Langara Golf Course.

The win came on Zhang’s final day as a 12-year-old. He turns 13 on Wednesday.

Richmond's Alex Zhang Leads Both The Bantam & Novice Boys Divisions After Round One At Langara - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

These kids get good fast. As Exhibit A, we present 12-year-old Alex Zhang. The Beach Grove Golf Club junior shot a three-under par 68 at Langara Golf Course in Vancouver on Monday to take the first- round lead at the B.C. Bantam Boys Championship for players aged 14 and younger.

The Richmond resident had four birdies and just one bogey and was proud of the way he handled Langara’s tricky greens. “I didn’t have a three-putt,” Zhang said after completing his round in some heavy rain. “My speed control was good. I was pretty happy with my round. The course isn’t too tough, but the greens are pretty tricky. You have to try and leave the ball in the right spots because there are lots of big ridges.”

Katherine Hao of Burnaby shot an even-par 71 and leads the Bantam Girls division.

Nanaimo's 15-year-old Matthew Wilson Wins The B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship After A Non-Stop Stretch Of Golf This Spring And Summer - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

PITT MEADOWS -- It wasn’t that long ago that Matthew Wilson was having trouble breaking 100 in zone tournaments on Vancouver Island. Back then, the thought of becoming a B.C. champion wasn’t on his mind. He was just happy making a few pars.

My, how things have changed in a relative hurry for the 15-year-old from Nanaimo who is the new B.C. Juvenile Boys champion. Wilson shot a tournament-best four-under 66 in the final round to win the championship for players 16 and under by five shots at Golden Eagle Golf Club’s South Course.

BC Juvenile Girls Champion Luna Lu - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

PITT MEADOWS -- The heat was on in more ways than one for Luna Lu in the final round of the B.C. Juvenile Girls Championship. 

The 14-year-old from Burnaby not only had to handle the pressure of playing with the lead, she had to deal with the oppressive heat during her afternoon round on Golden Eagle Golf Club’s South Course. 

Lu draped a wet towel around her neck much of the day to try and stay cool. As for that other pressure, it didn’t seem to faze her. Lu shot a final round of one-under 69 and won the championship for players aged 16 and younger by seven shots.