Image Courtesy Golden Eagle Golf Course

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kwadwo 'Kojo' Frempong spends a lot of his working day on the golf course and it seems many people are a little jealous about that. “I get asked a lot, how did you get that job, and how do I get a job like you,” Frempong says with a chuckle. “And I say, 'You have to wait until I die.' Then I add that it’s very stressful.”

Frempong’s job is to do the course and slope ratings for golf courses in the province for British Columbia Golf. And that entails spending a lot of time on the course. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it.

Vancouver Golf Tour’s Flagship Event Begins Friday At Northview Golf Club - Image Courtesy Northview Golf Club

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Vancouver Golf Tour commissioner Fraser Mulholland chuckled when asked if he had been able to talk Adam Hadwin into defending his Vancouver Open title this weekend at Northview Golf Club. “Not quite,” Mulholland says. “We’re glad to not have him in the field if we can watch him play the Tour Championship for $10 million. It’s just so great for him to be hitting all these milestones.”

Hadwin, a three-time winner of the Vancouver Open -- including last year at Pagoda Ridge in Langley -- will be wrapping up his spectacular PGA TOUR season this weekend at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Then it’s on to the Presidents Cup, where the Abbotsford native will play for captain Nick Price’s International team.

Kimberley, BC's Jared du Toit Has Had A Pretty Solid Start To His Pro Career, Earning Canadian Player Of The Year Honours On The PGA Tour Canada-Mackenzie Tour Circuit - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

He wasn’t happy with the way he finished his round, but Kimberley’s Jared du Toit hung on to win Canadian Player of the Year honours on the PGA Tour Canada-Mackenzie Tour circuit.

That award, sponsored by Freedom 55 Financial, carries a hefty $25,000 bonus and du Toit said it helped soothe the frustration he was feeling about ending his round Sunday with three straight bogeys.

Du Toit closed with an even-par 70 to finish the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship in London, Ont., at 10-under par and tied for 17th place. He finished the season 23rd on the money list with $26,233, although he made more than that in unofficial money on Sunday.

The starting tee time for the Pacifi Links Bear Mountain Championship have been released and there are some marquee pairings to follow...

The 54-hole National Championship Takes Place Sept. 18-20 At The Richmond Country Club And Features A Field Stacked With Talent - Image Courtesy PGA of Canada

Via PGA of Canada (Chris Fry)

[RICHMOND, B.C.]—British Columbia’s fourth-largest city is set to host the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.

“The PGA of Canada is excited about visiting the beautiful province of British Columbia and the highly-regarded Richmond Country Club,” says PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “The PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf annually features some of the best players in our association and this year is no different.”

The Idea Of Modernization Of The Rules Of Golf Has Been Well Received By Golfers Around The World - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

FAR HILLS, N.J., USA and ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND (September 7, 2017) - The USGA and The R&A have received comments on the proposed new Rules from more than 22,000 golfers in 102 countries, as well as representatives of golf organizations throughout the world, providing valuable feedback as the organizations work toward their implementation on January 1, 2019.

With the worldwide survey and evaluation period now complete, the USGA and The R&A and their respective committees will continue to review all comments received with the goal of finalizing the new Rules next spring and beginning a comprehensive education program later in 2018.

The Saga Of Sagebrush Golf Club Has Taken Another Turn As The Future Of The Property Outside Of Merritt, BC Remains Up In The Air - Image Courtesy Sagebrush Life

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Two key executives of Sagebrush Golf Club have resigned and the course had some of its maintenance equipment and power carts repossessed earlier this summer.

Sagebrush, located about 15 minutes north of Merritt in Quilchena, has remained closed since Newmark Group, a Langley-based residential development company, bought the course from its original owners nearly two years ago.

Abbotsford, BC's Nick Taylor Reflected On A Positive 2017 PGA TOUR Season And Is Already Looking Ahead To Next Year, Which Is Only A Month Away With The New PGA TOUR Schedule - Image Courtesy Sky Sports

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Nick Taylor says he will take many positives from his just-concluded 2017 PGA TOUR season and can’t wait until next year. He won’t have to wait long. The 2018 PGA TOUR campaign starts in just over a month at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif., which goes Oct. 13-16.

Until then, Taylor will enjoy some down time and work on sharpening the one part of his game that he felt at times let him down this past season. That would be his putting. “On the greens I wasn’t great this year putting, so I think that is an area where I can get better,” Taylor said in an interview with British Columbia Golf.

Coquitlam, BC's Euna Han Is In Ottawa As A Member Of Team Canada For The World Junior Girls Championship At The Marshes Golf Club - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/ BC Golf

Two Teams Will Fly The Flag For Canada At The Marshes Golf Club In Ottawa

OAKVILLE, Ont. – The world’s top 18-and-under female junior golfers will head to Ottawa for the fourth edition of the World Junior Girls Championship from Sept. 26-29 at The Marshes Golf Club. As host nation, Canada will send two teams of three athletes to compete for the international title of World Junior Girls champion.

“It is an honour to host this prestigious event and we look forward to welcoming these players to Canada,” said tournament director Mary Beth McKenna. “The course is in fantastic shape and we are thrilled to host some of the world’s best juniors at this historic club. Our partners at The Marshes Golf Club and the communities in the surrounding area have come together to make this a truly memorable event for our competitors.”

2017 BC Junior Boys Champion Christian Zalli Will Be Studying And Playing Golf At UBC This Fall - All Images Credit: Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When Christian Zalli won the B.C. Junior Boys Championship in July at Squamish Valley Golf & Country Club, the Vancouver resident was adamant that college golf was not in his future. 

He was going to the University of B.C. to focus on his studies and would not be playing golf. End of story. But Zalli has had a change of heart and UBC golf coach Chris MacDonald is thankful about that.

Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin Clinched His Automatic Selection This Weekend To The International Squad For This Year's Presidents Cup Competition In New Jersey - Image Courtesy adamhadwin.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It wasn’t quite the round he had hoped for on Monday, but Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin still accomplished a huge goal by clinching a spot on the International team for this fall’s Presidents Cup.

That Presidents Cup berth is the cherry atop what has been a spectacular year for Hadwin, who shot a 59 at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January and earned his first PGA Tour win two months later at the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Hadwin finished 10th on the International team points list for the Presidents Cup, which goes Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. International captain Nick Price will make his two captain’s picks later this week.

British Columbia Golf's Manager Of Golf Participation, Tyler McKay, Seen Here With A Budding Golf Superhero, Is Bringing The Concept Of The Game To Youngsters In A Fun Fashion - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/ British Columbia Golf

Tyler McKay discovered golf as a kid growing up in the West Kootenay community of Rossland and it wasn’t long before he became hooked on the game.

Years later, it’s now McKay’s job to get British Columbia youngsters interested in golf and he relishes that challenge. McKay, British Columbia Golf’s new Manager of Golf Participation, figures the game sells itself.

His biggest challenge is getting kids exposed to golf, so he spends most of his days doing just that. McKay sets up shop in parks and lets children take their first swings.

Merritt, B.C.'s Roger Sloan (L) And Surrey's Adam Svensson (R) Are Looking To Earn PGA TOUR Cards For Next Year As They Play The Web.com Finals This Week - Image Credits- Alfie Lau (Sloan)/ SportBox (Svensson) 

Written by Austin Stanton / Golf Canada

Four Canadians will be in the field this week at the first Web.com Tour Finals event the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Charity Championship at Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course in Arlington, Ohio. Leading the way with his PGA TOUR card already locked up is Thornhill, Ont., native Ben Silverman.

Silverman is playing the best golf of his professional career with four top-10s in his last four starts – including his first career Web.com Tour win at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper.

He finished the regular season No. 10 on the Web.com Tour Money List securing one of 25 cards available in the regular season and will be jockeying for priority on the PGA TOUR card list during the Finals.

Joining Silverman in Ohio are fellow Canadians Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Roger Sloan (Merritt, B.C.),and Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.).

The focus of the upcoming 2017 British Columbia Regional Camp being held October 14th at Chilliwack Golf & Country Club is to identify female players in a particular region on the competitive stream and to align Provincial Coaching support with them for the 2018 competitions.

Coaching and training will serve to support player growth and encourage the development of an annual training plan for the upcoming competitive season. In addition, players and families of competitive juniors will be informed and guided on all aspects of the Long Term Player Development Pathway inclusive of leading them to the next stage.

Coquitlam's Steven Diack, Shown Here Getting Set To Tee Off In The VGT Golden Ears Open At Pitt Meadows GC, Is Raring To Get His Pro Career Under Way - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When Steven Diack decided he was going to turn pro, there was an obvious place to start the next phase of his golfing life. The Vancouver Golf Tour’s Vancouver Open is being played Sept. 22-24 at Northview Golf Club in Surrey, a place that has been good to Diack in the past.

“Once I saw the Vancouver Open was at Northview I was like, that is so good for me,” Diack said in an interview. “I love that place and I can’t wait to go out and start this new chapter in golf. I have actually won two tournaments out there. I won a MJT (Maple Leaf Junior Tour) tournament a long, long time ago and I won the VGT Spring Championship out there as well.”

Quesnel, BC's Kathy Gook Was One Of The Top Instructors Recognized From More Than 1,700 LPGA Certified Professionals Worldwide - BC Golf Image

Via Press Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., August 28, 2017 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) membership announced today the launch of an annual recognition of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional’s Top 50 LPGA Teachers, presented in partnership with Women’s Golf Journal.

This new initiative will identify and recognize the best LPGA instructors from more than 1,700 LPGA certified professionals worldwide.

All LPGA Class A Members in good standing who meet the eligibility requirements were invited to apply. An independent golf industry selection committee reviewed eligible applications and identified the LPGA Top 50 Teachers, utilizing a weighted points formula.

One of those recognized was Quesnel, British Columbia's own Kathy Gook who moved to Phoenix in 1985 after graduating from Simon Fraser University to pursue a career in golf.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It is the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs this week on the PGA TOUR and Nick Taylor must be feeling a little like he’s about to play Game 7. It’s do or die for the Abbotsford native.

After missing the cut in last week’s playoff opener, The Northern Trust in Old Westbury, N.Y., Taylor fell to No. 92 on the FedEx Cup points list. The top 100 advanced to this week’s Dell Technologies Championship near Boston, but only the top 70 will move on to the third of four playoff events, the BMW Championship near Chicago.

Northview Golf Academy's John Shin Holds The William Thompson Trophy As The 2017 PGA of BC Champion After Prevailing In A Playoff At Capilano GC - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

AUGUST 25, 2017 - WEST VANCOUVER, BC (PGA of British Columbia) - John Shin endured in a thrilling finish Friday to capture the TaylorMade & adidas Golf PGA of BC Championship presented by Axis Insurance Managers.

After carding a 4-under-par round of 68 to reach 3-under for the 36-hole championship, Shin went on to defeat Brady Stead on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to secure the title at Capilano Golf & Country Club.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

GolfBC, Western Canada’s largest golf course owner and operator, is spreading its wings. The company, which owns and operates eight championship courses in B.C. and three more on the Hawaiian island of Maui, has recently entered into a management contract to run Blue Ocean Golf Club in Sechelt.

It’s a first for GolfBC, whose vice president of operations, Andy Hedley, says the deal with Blue Ocean could be the start of a new venture for the privately owned Vancouver-based company.

Players At This Week's CP Women’s Open Will Be Wearing Yellow Ribbons In Honour Of Cowichan, B.C.'s Dawn Coe-Jones Who Passed Away From Cancer Last Year - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

by John Gordon (Courtesy Golf Canada)

When you see players wearing yellow ribbons at this week’s CP Women’s Open at the Ottawa Golf and Hunt Club, think “DCJ.”

Those are the initials of Dawn Coe-Jones, one of Canada’s most outstanding golfers who died of bone cancer last November at the age of 56. The ribbons are to honour her memory and to remind us all of the toll this terrible disease takes.

Born in Lake Cowichan, B.C., Coe-Jones won the B.C. Junior Championship in 1978 and 1979 and then the B.C. Amateur in 1982. In 1983, she defended her provincial amateur title and capped off the season by winning the Canadian Amateur Championship.

After being named an NCAA All-American at Lamar University in Texas, Coe-Jones headed to the LPGA Tour where she won three times, including the 1995 Tournament of Champions.