(Photo/USGA)

FAR HILLS, New Jersey (USGA) — The United States Golf Association will host the 2017 North American Golf Innovation Symposium on March 6-7 at the Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown in Vancouver, BC, gathering leaders in sustainable facility management and sports research to share knowledge and advance the game.

Symposium attendees will discuss how research, science, and data can help golf facilities around the world reduce their costs, operate more efficiently and provide a better experience for golfers. Over two days, the USGA and other contributing innovators will share details of their ongoing work in areas such as resource management, golf operations, revenue management, pace of play and equipment standards.

British Columbia Golf Executive Director Kris Jonasson (Middle) Took Some Time From His Extremely Busy Schedule To Win A Gold Medal In The Men's Golf Competition Of The Americas Masters Games. The Silver Medal In This Flight Went To George Franko (L) And The Bronze To Cameron Kusch (R) -Image Credit British Columbia Golf

Courtesy British Columbia Golf

The inaugural Americas Masters Games held in the city of Vancouver from August 25th - September 4th are now complete and by all accounts the event was a tremendous success, bringing together Masters Athletes from across North America and around the world.

As was the case at this year's Rio Olympics in Brazil, golf was a featured medal event and provided not only some great play from both the men and the women, it accomplished one of its primary goals, to foster friendship and camaraderie while continuing to promote the sport as a most worthy component in these type of competitions.

By Matthew Steinbach (British Columbia Golf: Manager, Golf Participation)

As the bell rings and children head back to school, I am reminded that the summer golf season is gone and fall is here. The end of summer holidays signals the start of a new school year and our little golfers trade in their clubs for hockey sticks and soccer balls.

Too often, our little golfers, who just a few weeks ago were hitting balls daily, won’t touch a golf club until next spring. Returning to School, however, doesn’t need to mean the end of the golf season.

Surrey's Hannah Lee (L) And Mary Parsons Of Delta Are Both On The Canadian World Junior Girls Team Competing Later This Month At Mississauga Golf & Country Club - Images BC Golf

Courtesy - Herb Fung/ Golf Canada

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The world’s top female junior golfers will head to Mississauga for the third edition of the World Junior Girls Championship from September 25-30 at Mississauga Golf & Country Club.

Two teams of three athletes will don the red and white of the host nation as Canada competes for the title of World Junior Girls champion. Among those representing Canada will be two oustanding juniors from British Columbia, Delta's Mary Parsons and Surrey's Hannah Lee.

Passing On The Love Of The Game And What It Can Also Do For Life Skills Off The Course Is A Major Motivator For BC Golf Intern Stephanie Wong - Image Credit British Columbia Golf 

By Stephanie Wong (British Columbia Golf Participation Coordinator)

Golf is a lifelong sport that teaches values such as integrity, honesty and sportsmanship. I have been fortunate enough to have participated in the game of golf from a very young age.

Along with these life skills, the game of golf has provided me with opportunities I otherwise would never have received. I have travelled around the world representing myself, my province, and my country playing tournaments from the Girls Junior America’s Cup in Reno, Nevada to the Aaron Baddeley international Junior Championship held in Guangzhou, China.

The 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Organizers Have Announced Commitments From (L-R): Mark O'Meara, Vijay Singh, Miguel Angel Jimenez And Colin Montgomerie

Jay Haas, Fred Funk, Craig Stadler And John Cook Round Out The Latest Legends Commitments

VICTORIA, B.C. (September 7, 2016) – Tournament Organizers announced today that World Golf Hall of Fame members Vijay Singh and Colin Montgomerie, as well as four-time European Ryder Cup team member Miguel Angel Jimenez, have committed to play the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

The PGA TOUR Champions event will be contested at Bear Mountain Golf Resort’s Mountain Course in Victoria, British Columbia the week of September 19-25, 2016. The tournament will feature a US$2.5 million purse, with 81 players competing for a winner’s share of $375,000.

The 2016 BC Bantam Champions Ilirian Zalli (L) And Akari Hayashi (R) Receive Their Trophies From Tournament Director Greg Moody At Bowen Island GC

By Bryan Outram/ British Columbia Golf

It was a tale of two different days for the two winners in the 2016 British Columbia Golf Bantam Boys' & Girls' Championships held at picturesque and often demanding Bowen Island Golf Club.

The 9-hole course provided plenty of challenges for the young competitors in the 14 & under competition. First round leader in the Boy's division, Vancouver's Ilirian Zalli, was a little more conservative in round two on the heels of his course record-setting 63 as he settled for a 4-over 74 but it was still good enough for a three shot win over Markus Yiu, also from Vancouver. 

Victoria's Akari Hayashi rebounded from an opening round 6-over 76 to record the only under par round in the tournament by the girls at 1-under 69 and a 7-shot win over her closet competitor, Claire Lovan of Surrey.

The Latest Canadian Representatives In The 2016 Pacific Links Championship Coming To Bear Mountain Next Month: L-R: Stephen Ames, Rod Spittle And Jim Rutledge

Trio Of Canadian Golfers Add To Strength Of Upcoming PGA TOUR Champions Event Field

VICTORIA, B.C. – Canadians Stephen Ames, Rod Spittle and Jim Rutledge committed to play the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship, to be contested on Bear Mountain Golf Resort’s Mountain Course in Victoria, British Columbia the week of September 19-25, 2016.

The event will feature a US$2.5 million purse, with 81 players competing for a winner’s share of $440,000.

Ilirian Zalli (L) Set A Non-Professional Course Record Shooting 63 In The First Round Of The BC Bantam Boy's Championship At Bowen Island GC. Chaewon Baek (R) Leads The Girls By Three

By Bryan Outram/ British Columbia Golf

Vancouver's Ilirian Zalli not only survived a long, hot day in the opening round of the British Columbia Golf Bantam Boy's Championship at Bowen Island Golf Club, he shot the de facto non-professional competitive course record carding 6 biridies and an eagle to go along with only 1 bogey for a 7-under par score of 63.

According to the pro shop at Bowen Island GC, North Vancouver Professional Bryn Parry recorded a similar score in a Pro-Am not long ago, but nobody in Zalli's age group has ever come close to that number on the 9-hole 6,006-yard par 70  layout. 

The 2016 British Columbia Golf Juvenile Boys' & Girls' Champions: Khan Lee (L) And Hannah Lee (R) - Image Credit Bryan Outram/ British Columbia Golf

By Bryan Outram/ British Columbia Golf

The 2016 British Columbia Golf Juvenile Boys' & Girls' Championships are in the books and the trophy engraver will only have to learn one last name, Lee.

Langley's Khan Lee took the boy's title with a 5-under par total of (211) while Surrey's Hannah Lee (no relation) was the girl's champion also posting a 5-under par total of (211).

Each went about securing their trophies in slightly different fashions at the Chilliwack Golf Club, however.

When Victoria's Jim Rutledge Tees It Up At Bear Mountain Next Month In The Pacific Links Championship It Will Be Like A Home Game - Image Courtesy PGA of Canada

by Gino Cutri/ British Columbia Golf

There’s nothing quite like putting your head down on your own pillow after a long day’s work, and that’s exactly what Jim Rutledge will get to experience next month when he competes in the PGA tour Champions Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

The star studded tournament will run from September 23rd-25th at Victoria’s Bear Mountain Golf Resort. As a professional Rutledge has never left a stone unturned competing for many years on the Canadian, Web.com, Asian, European, and PGA TOUR. But he knows there is nothing like being back at home.

Surrey's Hannah Lee Is Tied For The Lead At The BC Juvenile Girls Championship Being Held At Chilliwack Golf Club - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By Bryan Outram/ British Columbia Golf

After 36 holes at the 2016 BC Juvenile Championships Victoria's Jeevan Sihota sits at 3-under par and leads the Boy's competition by one shot over Vancouver's Ilirian Zalli with another Victoria resident, current BC Amateur Champion Nolan Thoroughgood just one shot further back along with fellow Vancouver Islander, Aidan Goodfellow of Parksville.

The Girls Division has Surrey's Hannah Lee tied at the top of the leaderboard with 13-year old Akari Hayashi from Victoria's Uplands GC. The final round is slated for tomorrow starting at 9:30am with the leaders teeing off at 1:10pm at the scenic and challenging Chilliwack Golf Club.

Eaglequest Coquitlam's Director Of  Instruction Shiella Cowan Addresses Her Latest Group Of Young Girls Eager To Learn The Game - Image Credit Ezzabella Hernandez/British Columbia Golf

by Bryan Outram

The CN Future Links Girls’ Club website tells us the program is a developmental golf program essentially designed for girls 7-18 years of age. As members, young girls will develop the skills, attitudes and positive images of themselves as athletes on the golf course, encouraging both self-esteem and a life-long love of the game.

The Girls’ Club was developed to address the huge discrepancy between the numbers of young girls playing golf compared to the number of young boys. It aims not merely to attract girls to the game but also to help retain them longer.

The Girls Club has been held every Monday at Eaglequest Coquitlam since July 4th and is having a very positive affect according to Shiella Cowan, the Director of Instruction at Eaglequest in Coquitlam, who leads the event.

British Columbia Golf And CN Future Links Were On Hand To Help Celebrate The 5th Annual Ribfest In Kamloops With An Interactive Golf Display - Image Credit British Columbia Golf

British Columbia Golf

The 5th Annual Interior Savings Daybreak Rotary Ribfest took place from Friday, August 5th to Sunday, August 7th at Riverside Park in Kamloops. Over those three days people gathered to enjoy live entertainment, vendors, refreshments and of course, award-winning ribs from Champion Ribbers.

All the activities were free to enjoy, including the Family Fun Zone sponsored by Save-On Foods, which featured an assortment of bouncy castles, live family entertainment, face painting, kids games and a very popular British Columbia Golf/CN Future Links interactive golf display.

The View From The 12th Hole At Chilliwack Golf Club, Site Of The 2016 BC Golf Juvenile Boys' & Girls' Championships - Image Courtesy Chilliwack GC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Phil Jonas believes Chilliwack Golf Club is a perfect choice to play host to the B.C. Boys’ and Girls’ Juvenile Championships. “I would say it is a very under-rated course in terms of how good it is,” says Jonas, a former PGA TOUR member who now teaches out of Hazelmere Golf Club in Surrey.

“If you just look at the scorecard you’d think you’d kill it, but you won’t. I think it is a great course for the juveniles to be playing. You really have to think your way around it.”

Victoria, BC's Naomi Ko Accepts The Canadian Junior Girls Championship Trophy From Golf Canada President Roland Deveau (R) And One Of Canada's Finest (L) - Image Courtesy Twitter

Mary Parsons Finishes Third As B.C. Places Seven Players In Top 11

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It hasn’t been a great summer in British Columbia, but don’t try telling that to Naomi Ko. She has been so much better than the weather. The 18-year-old Victoria resident’s super summer continued Friday in Shubenacadie, N.S., where she  won the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. 

Ko birdied three of her first five holes en route to a even-par 72 at The Links at Penn Hills and finished the 72-hole event at five-under par. That was good for a four-shot win over Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont.

Sam Meek Of Peterborough, ON Is The 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Champion - Image Courtesy Golf Canada 

Courtesy Herb Fung/Golf Canada

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Any memories of inclement weather during the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship were all but forgotten thanks to clear skies and brilliant sunshine during the final round at Clovelly. Sam Meek took advantage of the conditions to earn a come-from-behind victory and claim the national junior title.

With the victory, Meek becomes the prestigious championship’s 78th winner. The history of the competition and the significance of the victory were not lost upon the champion.

“This win means the world,” said the native of Peterborough, Ont. “This is what I’ve strived to accomplish my entire junior golf career. To have my name on the same trophy as some of those winners is incredible. This is the top of junior golf in Canada, so just to be a part of that is an amazing feeling.”

BC's Eddie Hogan Cup Team: From (L-R) Thomas Verigin, Jaewook Lee, Matt Palsenbarg (Coach), Andy Kim And Isaac Lee

British Columbia Golf has announced their team for the 2016 Eddie Hogan Cup Team Matches to be played from Friday, August 12, 2016 to Sunday, August 14, 2016 at Riverside Golf & CC in Portland, OR.

British Columbia has sent a team every year as a chartered member, for the last 47 years, to this tournament. The competition includes teams from Southern California, Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Hawaii and other states. 

The competition is well attended from college coaches from the North Pacific region and is an elite Championship, some of the best junior boys will be at the Eddie Hogan matches and its always an honor to be on this team.

Victoria's Nolan Thoroughgood Has Enjoyed Success In His Home Province This Summer And Hopes To Have Similar Results As He Goes 'National' With His Game - Image Courtesy Brad Ziemer

By Brad Ziemer British Columbia Golf

Nolan Thoroughgood literally travelled from sea-to-shining sea to compete in his first national championship. The 15-year-old from Victoria, who last month became the youngest winner in the 114-year history of the B.C. Amateur Championship, is in St. John’s, Nfld., to compete at this week’s Canadian Junior Boys’ Championship.

Thoroughgood, who also won gold at the recent B.C. Summer Games in Abbotsford, will also compete in next week’s Canadian Amateur Championship in Ottawa. He knows these two events will be a stern test.

Vancouver's Stuart Macdonald Moved Himself Into Contention At The 50th Pacific Coast Amateur Championship With A 10-Shot Second Round Improvement At Seattle Golf Club - Image Courtesy PNGA

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Stuart Macdonald’s round Wednesday at the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship had a little bit of everything. 

We’ll start with the good because there was lots of that. Macdonald carded two eagles in his round at Seattle Golf Club, one of them coming when he holed out from 160 yards on the par 4 12th hole. He also added four birdies.

Then there was the bad, including a four-putt on the par 3 16th green that resulted in a double-bogey. He wasn’t happy about a three-putt that led to a par on the par 5 18th green either.

But when it was done, Macdonald had carded the day’s best score, a six-under 66 that moved him into contention at the 50th playing of the prestigious tourney.