Team BC Rescheduled Their Previously Planned 5-Day Arizona Peformance Camp For Beautiful BC's Mayfair Lakes G&CC - All Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was Mayfair Lakes, not Mesa, but no one was complaining. 

COVID-19 has created challenges for the new British Columbia Golf Performance Program, which was just getting started when the pandemic struck.

But rather than worry about what they could not do, British Columbia Golf Performance Coach Colin Lavers and his team decided to focus on what they could do for the nine junior golfers who are part of the program. So that five-day camp scheduled for Arizona during spring break had to be rescheduled for Mayfair Lakes in July. It wasn’t quite Arizona, but the sun was shining.

image courtesy golfinbritishcolumbia.com

Golf in British Columbia have put together some amazing packages for golf trips in BC. Please take some time to check out the information and terrific golf destinations that British Columbia has to offer below.

There is no better time to explore and enjoy golf in BC than right now.

The Green Mini-Rake That Will Be Issued To Players For Use During BC Golf Championships As GC Rakes Have Been Removed Due To Covid-19 Protocols - Image Courtesy Fairway Products

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Competitors at British Columbia Golf championships this summer will each receive their own mini-rake. “It’s kind of an interesting tee gift,” jokes Doug Hastie, senior manager of field operations and tournament director with British Columbia Golf.

It’s not really a gift, of course, but a way for players to be able to rake bunkers after playing shots out of them.

2019 BC Amateur Champion Jackson Rothwell Is Looking To Defend His Title This Year At Okanagan GC's Bear Course - BC Golf File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A championship season that has risen from the ashes is proving to be extremely popular with British Columbia golfers.

For the longest time, it looked like British Columbia Golf’s entire championship schedule might fall victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it turns out that champions will be crowned in all events in a new condensed season.

And the top amateur players in the province are clamouring to get on board. The season tees off July 28-30 with the 118th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship at the Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear course in Kelowna.

2020 Langley Concrete Chilliwack Men's Open Champion Zach Olson (Middle) Is Flanked By Low Gross Amateur Winner Jace Minni (L) & Overall Net Champion Alex Walker (R) - Image Courtesy VGT/Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

This professional golf thing seems to working out quite nicely for Zach Olson. The former University of the Fraser Valley standout finished fourth in his pro debut last week at the Vancouver Golf Tour’s Ledgeview Open.

It turns out that was just his warm-up act. Olson on Sunday made a clutch up-and-down on the 18th hole to win the VGT’s Chilliwack Men’s Open at Chilliwack Golf Club.

13-Time B.C. Amateur Champion Doug Roxburgh Will Miss His First B.C. Am Appearance Since 1966 Due To The Late Date Change Of Tournament Creating Conflict With His Son’s Wedding - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski(JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The 118th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship later this month is going to be missing a very familiar face. After playing in the event for 53 straight years -- and winning it 13 times -- Doug Roxburgh will not be there.

The date for this year’s B.C. Amateur, which is being played at the Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear course in Kelowna, was recently moved from mid-July to July 28-30. That created a problem for Roxburgh, whose son James is getting married on Aug. 1.

BC Golf Museum's Opening 'Salvo' Was Fired By Kelowna's Dave Barr In May 1989. Now, New Members Are Being Sought To Help The BC Golf Museum Continue Its Work In 'Preserving This Province’s Rich Golfing Heritage' - Image Courtesy BC Golf House Society

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

British Columbia golf courses may be full these days, but the same can not be said for the B.C. Golf Museum coffers.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has helped create an unprecedented demand for tee times, it has also effectively eliminated a significant chunk of the money raised to operate the museum.

The Tradition, the B.C. Golf Museum’s annual fund-raising tourney, had to be cancelled this spring due to COVID-19. Museum curator Mike Riste also lost all the revenue raised by his popular hickory shaft exhibitions at charity events all over the province that have also been called off this summer.

It's All In A Day's Work For These Four-Legged Golf Course Superintendent's Assistants. From L-R: Beans, Jordy & Klay - Images Courtesy Respective Owners As Per Below

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

We’ll start with the obvious: The subjects of this story are all very good boys and girls. They are also very lucky dogs.

What a life they live, up before the crack of dawn and free to run all day on the golf course with their owners.

Now more than ever, the Golf Canada Foundation understands the financial uncertainty that student athletes are facing as the 2020 school year approaches, and it is our pleasure to announce that all Golf Canada Foundation Scholarships will be available to eligible student athletes once again this year.

Though we understand collegiate golf may be modified, postponed to the spring, or even cancelled, our scholarship committee has made the decision to continue to honour and support athletes who have made the team and are enrolled as full-time students in the fall.

For eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit our scholarship page.

Ailey​ Jarvis
Coordinator, Scholarship & Events
Coordonnatrice, Bourses d’études et événements
Golf Canada Foundation
Suite 1‑1333 Dorval Drive, Oakville, ON L6M 4X7
T 905.849.9700 x266
1.800.263.0009
ajarvis@golfcanada.ca

Via Press Release

Federal Way, Wash. – With the recent spike in cases surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the concerns with contestants traveling from all parts of the Pacific Northwest and throughout the U.S. to compete, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of their 2020 championship season, effective immediately.

The PNGA Executive Committee held a special meeting on Friday, June 26 to discuss the spike in cases and the concerns and risks of contestants traveling from across state borders, staying in local hotels, going to local restaurants and bars, grocery stores, and other venues.

The 118th Playing Of The B.C. Amateur Championship Will Go July 28-30 At Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear Course In Kelowna - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The formal announcement of the easing of travel restrictions has allowed British Columbia Golf to salvage part of its championship schedule. Premier John Horgan has given British Columbians the all-clear to travel about the province and that means the 118th playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship will go July 28-30 at Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna.

Kris Jonasson, chief executive officer of British Columbia Golf, is delighted that tournaments will be played this summer.

“It is really pleasing that we are able to get part of our championship season in,” Jonasson said. “It only really happened because Golf Canada unfortunately had to cancel all of the national championships because we needed to move into those time slots to make it happen.”

Trail Native And Former Burnaby Mountain Assistant Kate Weir Is The New Head Pro At Rivershore, A Robert Trent Jones Sr. Layout In Kamloops - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Ask Kate Weir how she got started playing golf and the new head pro at Rivershore Golf Links will tell you that she really didn’t have a choice. 

Her parents golfed and they were determined their daughter would, too, so Weir accompanied them to Rossland-Trail Country Club (now called Birchbank Golf Course). 

It wasn’t exactly love at first swing.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Commissioner Michael Whan likes to refer to the LPGA Tour as family, one that has grown with the addition of three British Columbia chapters to the LPGA Amateur Golf Association.

Whan was part of a recent conference call welcoming British Columbia to the association, an organization that aims to connect women who play the game. “Whether you play the game professionally, whether you teach it, whether you are helping young girls learn it, or whether you just play with your friends on a nine and dine, we all want to be engaged in this together,” Whan said.

LPGA Commisioner Michael Whan & Canadian Golf Hall Of Fame Member Lorie Kane Will Be On Hand For The Online Announcement Of BC's LPGA Amateur Golf Association Chapters And Canadian Women's Open Champ Brooke Henderson Will Have A Recorded Message To Share - Images Courtesy LPGA and BC Golf/JKam photos

Recently, British Columbia Golf became one of the latest golf associations to affiliate with the LPGA Amateur Golf Association, with the creation of 3 'Chapters' in B.C., the Vancouver Island chapter, Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley chapter and the Okanagan/Kamloops/Shuswap chapter.

The LPGA Amateurs focus on creating opportunities for women of all ages to become involved in and enjoy the game of golf. Here is the 'About Us' message as taken from their website:

Walking A Golf Course Is One Of The Most Health Beneficial Activities We Can Take Part In - Image Courtesy wallpaperflare.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was another frustrating day on the golf course, where a round that had shown considerable early promise was derailed once again by sloppy play. But my numbers were not all bad. Despite my less than stellar score, there were some positives about that recent round at Peace Portal Golf Course in Surrey.

When I checked the step-counter on my phone, it told me that I had taken more than 13,000 steps during the round and walked about nine kilometres. (Clearly, I did not hit every shot straight down the middle).

I also climbed the equivalent of 23 floors, which is testament to Peace Portal’s hilly terrain. It is numbers like these, rather than the ones I mark on my scorecard, that have convinced me that golf is good for me.

- National Orders of Merit, a points-based ranking which recognizes top male and female amateur performance, will not be awarded for the 2020 championship season -

For Immediate Release

OAKVILLE, ONT. (Golf Canada) – Due to continued health concerns as well as government restrictions on travel and group gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Golf Canada has cancelled all of its amateur golf competitions for the duration of the 2020 season.

The National Sport Federation had previously announced the cancellation or postponement of a number of its junior and amateur competitions scheduled through mid-June.

BC Golf Hall Of Fame Inductee Bill Hobbis Has Received The Highest Honour That Can Be Awarded From His Home Club, Royal Colwood GC 

Story & Image: Courtesy Royal Colwood Golf Club

Bill Hobbis, Lifetime Membership Announcement

The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that Bill Hobbis has been selected to be awarded a Lifetime Membership. Our bylaws state, “The Board shall have the power to elect to Life Membership any Member who has given the Club unselfish and meritorious service.”

Bill certainly fills those criteria. Briefly, and for the sake of brevity, incompletely, here are the highlights of his golfing career.

Coach Shayain Leads Her Women's Golf Day Clinic In Their Warm-up Session - Image Courtesy Shayain Gustavsp

At this year's Annual General Meeting, British Columbia Golf welcomed 3 new directors onto their Board. One of those new directors is Shayain Gustavsp, who also happens to be an accredited LPGA Teaching Professional. 

In honor of Women's Golf Day, on Tuesday, June 2nd 2020, Coach Shayain hosted a Women's Golf Clinic in Richmond. She knew this clinic was going to be different than those she'd held in the past. Due to Covid-19 she would have to adhere to social distancing guidelines and yet still create an intimate environment for her students.

Jared du Toit Of Kimberley BC Is Intrigued By The PGA TOUR's Hint At Having Some 'Make-up' Events For Players Who Have Been Affected By The Shutdown. James Allenby Of Langley And Riley Wheeldon Of Comox Are Also Interested - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

This year was supposed to be a golfing adventure of sorts for Jared du Toit, the former B.C. Junior Boys champion who has exempt status on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica circuit.

But instead of visiting and playing in exotic locales like Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, du Toit has been playing all of his golf in the East Kootenays near his Kimberley home. He returned home from his winter base in Arizona in late March and has tried to keep his game in shape, which wasn’t easy at first with snow still on the ground.

Join in Virtual Women's Golf Day - Digital Celebration, June 3rd!

Women's Golf Day, with events around the globe is planned for September 1st.

Meanwhile, here is the statement put out from Women's Golf Day with respect to the one day delay from June 2nd to the 3rd on the Virtual Celebration:

We have decided to pause our social media activity today. Join us JUNE 3rd in honouring the people that we work with in the 50+ countries where Women’s Golf Day takes place and we kindly ask you to post and share WGD content tomorrow as we unite to Support, Engage and Empower women and men around the world. #wgdUNITES

This engaging virtual experience will be hosted on the WGD website http://www.womensgolfday.com and will include ways to engage through social media, videos, content and an online charity auction.

Links to all of the WGD action can be found below.