Point Grey Golf & Country Club Will Once Again Host Future PGA TOUR Stars At The 2018 Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada Freedom 55 Financial Open - Image Courtesy F55FO

The 2018 Freedom 55 Financial Open will launch the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver the week of May 28 to June 3rd.

The 72-hole tournament will see 156 players from up to 20 countries begin their quest to earn status on the Web.com Tour, with the top five players on the Order of Merit as season’s end making the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR.

Samantha Richdale From Kelowna, BC Is In Daytona Beach, Florida Looking To Gain Full-Time Status On The LPGA Tour For 2018 - Image Credit: Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

 Courtesy Brad Ziemer's BC Golf Notes

Kelowna’s Samantha Richdale is the lone British Columbia player competing at the final stage of the LPGA Tour’s Q-School, which goes Nov. 29-Dec. 3 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Richdale had limited status on the LPGA Tour this year. She played in only four events and made $3,696. Richdale spent most of her year competing on the Symetra Tour, where she placed 47th on the money list with earnings of $17,971.

Victoria, BC's Jim Rutledge Will Attempt To Regain Full-Time Status On The Champions Tour Next Week At The Champions Q-School Final Stage In Arizona - Image Credit: Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

Jim Rutledge has endured a couple of lean years on the PGA Champions circuit, but the Victoria native is making another run at regaining full-time status on the 50-and-over tour. Rutledge, 58, has advanced to the final stage of the Champions Q-School, which goes Nov. 28-Dec. 1 at TPC Scottsdale’s Champions course in Arizona.

Rutledge lost his exempt status after the 2015 season and has had to try and play his way into events via weekly qualifiers. He teed it up in just three tournaments this year and played six times in 2016. His best finish this year was a tie for 40th at the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary.

Vancouver's Stuart Macdonad, Shown Here Competing In The Pacific Coast Amateur, Will Be Looking To Punch His Ticket To The Web.com Tour On A Full-Time Basis This Coming Week - Image Courtesy PCGA

By Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

Qualifying schools are supposed to be golf’s ultimate pressure-cookers, but so far they haven’t fazed Stuart Macdonald. The 23-year-old rookie pro from Vancouver has sailed through the first and second stages of the Web.com Tour qualifying school to earn a spot in the finals.

“Getting through first and second stage isn’t exactly the easiest thing to accomplish,” Macdonald said in an interview. “So to get to the finals and have a chance to play on the Web.com Tour is good. I am excited to get there and see what I can do.”

British Columbia Golf is proud to support the BC Golf House Society & Musuem in their 2018 membership drive campaign.

In order to "Preserve BC's Rich Golfing History" please consider taking out membership in this very worthwhile society.

Click on the image below to see how you can get your membership. 

British Columbia Golfing Legends Alvie Thompson (L) And John Russell (R) Will Be Remembered Always For Both Their Skill And Grace In The Game Of Golf - Images Courtesy BC Golf House 

Golf in British Columbia has a very rich history and our province has had no shortage of outstanding players over the years both at the amateur and professional level.

Recently the golf community as a whole, and here in British Columbia in particular, has been saddened by the loss of a few of those legendary players with two of them leaving us very close together at the end of October and early in November.

As a tribute to those two fine gentlemen we’d like to present here an overview of the accomplishments and contributions to the game by Alvie Thompson and John Russell. Our game and our community are better for having had them here and being able to call them our own.

British Columbia Golf is the Provincial Sport Organization, recognized by Government and Golf Canada as the body responsible for the sport of golf within British Columbia.

Membership is comprised of over 300 golf facilities with an individual membership that exceeds 50,000 golfers. British Columbia Golf is incorporated under the British Columbia Societies Act with By-Laws approved by the membership.

A volunteer board of directors governs British Columbia Golf and sets strategic direction and policies for the association. The board size is twelve and consists of nine directors, elected at large, two elected by the Zone Council and a Past President. Board terms are staggered, with a three-year term.

The nomination committee is currently seeking interested individuals who have an interest and passion in engaging British Columbians in the sport of golf. In total three directors at large will be elected at the Annual General Meeting, which is expected to occur in March 2018.

Please CLICK HERE to see a PDF of the complete Memorandum on the Expression of Interest for the Position of Director with British Columbia Golf.

The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Announced Their 2018 Qualifying Tournament Sites Including Vancouver Island's Crown Isle Resort - Image Courtesy Facility

(November 15, 2017 – Toronto, Ont.) - The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying Tournament will take place at five separate sites during the spring of 2018 as players compete for Mackenzie Tour membership for the 2018 season.

Submitted by Brad Ziemer,  Nov 14, 2017

Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club is making a pitch to bring the Presidents Cup to Vancouver.

“Recently the Club has been asked to participate in a bid process which could see Shaughnessy host the Presidents Cup in 2023,” general manager Jason Sigurdson said in a recent note to members.

Submitted by Brad Ziemer,  Nov 14, 2017

Tobiano Golf Course near Kamloops has changed hands. Michael Ternier, a part owner of the Tobiano real estate development, has purchased 100 per cent of the golf course.

“Owning both makes it much easier to integrate many of the operations, and the two will complement the long-term growth and success of each other,” Ternier said in a news release.

He said he has no plans to make significant changes to the golf course operation, but acknowledged Tobiano’s challenging par 5 8th hole could be tinkered with.

Ternier said a top priority for the golf course will be the construction of a hotel to allow for stay-and-play packages.

“The process of determining the best location for our first hotel, the hotel branding, and the selection of an architect is already underway,” he said.

Submitted by Brad Ziemer,  Nov 14, 2017

Canoe Creek Golf Course is getting a new name for the 2018 season. The Salmon Arm course, which was designed by two-time PGA Tour winner Dave Barr, is being re-named Shuswap National.

This name change is in part, recognition of new ownership who are undertaking major upgrades.

On their website, it says: 
"Mike and Sean Foss, our new owners, have an exciting vision for the golf course... Spring of 2018 will be an expecially exciting time as we anticpate that most of their phase one revitalization plan will have been completed."

Submitted by Brad Ziemer,  Nov 14, 2017

West Vancouver’s Seann Harlingten and Stuart Macdonald of Vancouver have both qualified for the final stage of the Web.com Tour qualifying school.

Harlingten advanced by finishing tied for 20th at a second stage Q school site at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, Calif., while Macdonald finished alone in seventh place at another site at the TPC at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Tex.

Riley Wheeldon of Comox missed advancing by one shot at Bear Creek, while Kimberley’s Jared Du Toit fell four shots short.

Macdonald and Harlingten will join fellow Canadians Ryan Yip of Calgary and Albin Choi of Toronto at the Q school finals, which go Dec. 7-10 at Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Ariz.

Join Viasport Brtish Columbia on November 21st for an impactful and empowering day of expert-led discussion, policy development, and networking on protecting youth from sexual abuse in sport.

Vancouver Islanders Aidan Goodfellow (L) And Shirin Anjarwalla (R) Are Set To Join The Simon Fraser University Golf Program Next Season - Images Credit British Columbia Golf

BURNABY, BC – Matthew Steinbach has signed five student-athletes during the NCAA early signing period in his second recruiting class as head coach of the Simon Fraser University golf programs.

Shirin Anjarwalla of Nanaimo is set to join the women’s golf program in September 2018, while Aidan Goodfellow (Parksville), Sylvain Ruest (Winnipeg), Jordan Bean (Canmore), and Isaac Lee (Seoul, South Korea) have signed their National Letters of Intent to compete for Canada’s NCAA men’s golf team next season.

Vancouver, BC's Stuart Macdonald Is Moving On To The Final Stage Of Web.com Tour Q-School In Arizona Next Month - Image Credit (Chuck Russell/Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada) 

Courtesy Golf Canada

Canadians Stuart Macdonald and Albin Choi both advanced to the third and final stage of Web.com Tour Qualifying School on Friday at separate events across the United States.

Macdonald, a Team Canada graduate and Vancouver product, carded a final-round 68 (-4) to finish alone in 7th place. The Purdue University alumnus came in at 11-under par (66-75-68-68) to become the only Canadian to advance at the TPC at Craig Ranch event in McKinney, Texas.

Surrey, BC's Susan Xiao Added The Junior Girls PNGA Player Of The Year Award To Her 2017 Trophy Case Which Includes The Hardware Shown Here From The Canadian Junior And Juvenile Girls Titles - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Federal Way, Wash. – The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) announced its 2017 Players of the Year for the region and among those winners is Susan Xiao of Surrey, B.C., who topped the Junior Girl’s category.

In 2017, Xiao captured the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, the AJGA UA Canadian Championship and the MJT Vancouver Season Opener. She had top-5 finishes in four other events.

BC's Chris Crisologo Made A Nice Jump In The World Rankings And Was Recenlty Named As The Youngest Member Of Golf Canada's National Team - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Charles Corner made the biggest gain among the Top-10, picking up 50 spots in the world rankings after finishing sixth at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate. It was his first top 10 result in four tournaments this fall. Corner moved up from No. 9 up to No. 7 in the Canadian rankings.

Chris Crisologo, who was named the youngest member of the Golf Canada National Team, gained 12 spots in the world rankings after finishing third at the Otter Invitational. The senior from Richmond, B.C. has finished in the top three in all four tournaments this fall.

Life Professional Alvie Thompson (centre) Is Joined By Wife Donna While Receiving A Trophy From Barrie McWha To Commemorate His Induction Into The PGA of Canada Hall of Fame Earlier This Year. Thompson Has Passed Away At The Age Of 81. - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

OCTOBER 27, 2017

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) --  The PGA of BC and British Columbia Golf are saddened to learn that honoured Life Professional Alvie Thompson has passed away at the age of 81.

Born in Unity, Sask., in 1936, Thompson became a Professional in 1957 and spent the majority of his career based in British Columbia. First working as an assistant at Marine Drive Golf Club in the late 1950s, Thompson moved on to postings in Ontario and Quebec before returning to Marine Drive as Head Professional in 1972 for a four-year stint. He then spent 18 years as Head Professional at McCleery Golf Club before retiring to the Sunshine Coast in 1994.

British Columbia Golf Players Of The Year - Top L-R: Christina Proteau, Jackie Little, Doug Roxburgh, Craig Doell & Alison Murdoch. Bottom L-R: Steven Diack, Nolan Thoroughgood, Naomi Ko, Chris Crisologo & Susan Xiao.

The British Columbia Golf Championship Committee meets each year in October to vote and select the Players of the Year in the categories of Women's, Men's, Senior Women’s, Senior Men's, Women's Mid-Amateur, Women's Mid-Master, Men's Mid-Amateur,  Men's Mid-Master, Junior Girls' and Junior Boys'.

The British Columbia Golf Titleist Order of Merit Performance Points list is used as the primary guide for the selection.

Surrey Native Susan Xiao Is To Be Honored By Rolex And The AJGA As One Of Junior Golf’s Best - Image Courtesy AJGA

BRASELTON, Ga. – Susan Xiao of Surrey, British Columbia, was named an honorable mention Rolex Junior All-American by the American Junior Golf Association, establishing herself among the top tier of current and former junior golfers from around the world.