Richmond, B.C.'s Diego San Pedro, Seen Here Holding The 2014 BC Juvenile Boys Championship Trophy, Has Signed A National Letter Of Intent To Join The Oregon State Men's Golf Team Program For The 2016-17 Season - Image Courtesy Richmond-News.com

via OSU Beavers website

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State men’s golf head coach Jon Reehoorn has announced that three student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2016-17 season.

The class includes Kyosuke Hara from Honolulu, Hawai’i, Shawn Lu, from Honolulu, Hawai’i and Diego San Pedro from Richmond, British Columbia.

Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., qualified for the PGA TOUR’s RSM Classic on Monday at the Brunswick Country Club.

Svensson became one of four qualifiers after advancing via a five-way playoff at 2-under par. The 21-year-old will head to Sea Island Resort to vie for his share of the $5.7 million purse, with action getting underway Thursday.

(Richmond, B.C.) - British Columbia Golf announced this week the addition of Bryan Outram to their staff in the capacity of Communications Manager and Website Editor.

Bryan joins British Columbia Golf in a role that is intended to grow the company's profile through an increased online presence via their interactive website, monthly digital magazine and regular regional e-newsletters. He will also be responsible for maintaining the strong relationship that media outlets have enjoyed with British Columbia Golf for many years.

Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

The second stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school kicked off Tuesday at separate sites across the U.S. going from Nov. 10–13 with 13 Canadians in the field including two from British Columbia. The week following, another 10 Canucks with three hailing from B.C. will tee-it-up at two separate events to complete stage II of qualifying.

Kimberley, British Columbia's Jared du Toit Took Over Top Spot In The Amateur Rankings For Men In Canada This Week - Image Credit

Weekly Top 10 Rankings

(Golf Canada) - Week of November 9, 2015 -  After a five-week reign atop the rankings, Blair Hamilton has been unseated as the No. 1 amateur in Canada by Jared du Toit. The Kimberley, B.C., golfer picked up two spots while Hamilton slipped 30 places to relinquish top spot.

The Historic Victoria Golf Club Will Play Host To The 2016 PGA of Canada Championship - Image Courtesy Victoria GC

(ACTON, ONT.)—The PGA of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious championship is heading to the west coast in 2016.The Victoria Golf Club hosts the PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf June 12-16, 2016.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to take our PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf to Canada’s west coast and the marvelous Victoria Golf Club,” said PGA of Canada president Constant Priondolo.

“Next year’s championship will undoubtedly be a success story thanks to the marriage of a one-of-a-kind-facility like Victoria and a best-in-class event such as the PGA Championship of Canada.”

November 5, 2015 (Victoria, BC) – Golf Canada and Bear Mountain Resort have announced a four-year partnership in which Bear Mountain will become the official Canadian training centre for Team Canada’s National Squads.

Alvie Thompson Accepts His Award From Jim Sutherland (Left) And Dawn Chubai As He Enters The BC Golf Hall of Fame - Image Courtesy Mike Riste

BC Golf House Society president Jim Sutherland wrote in the program accompanying the awards dinner for the 2015 BC Golf Hall of Fame affair that every two years the induction ceremony is held and that, “Every two years it seems less and less likely that the Golf Hall of Fame of British Columbia will be able to maintain the standards to which it has become accustomed.”

Much to his and many other’s delight, the class of 2015 more than lived up to those lofty standards as it witnessed the inclusion of Lyle Crawford, Rick Gibson, Gail Graham, Alvie Thompson and Jennifer Wyatt into the hallowed hall.

Adam Helmer/ Golf Canada's Director of Rules and Competitions

Oakville, Ont. – As golf’s governing body in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), announce the new revisions to the Rules of Golf for 2016.

In accordance with the Joint Rules Committee’s four-year review cycle of the Rules of Golf, the new changes will come into effect on January 1, 2016.

There is a full time position with British Columbia Golf available for qualified candidates as outlined below.

About British Columbia Golf

British Columbia Golf is the Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) recognized by Government and Golf Canada as the organization responsible for golf within British Columbia. The organization is non-profit operating with a volunteer board. Incorporated in 1922 British Columbia Golf has roots extending back to 1893 within the province.

Image Courtesy Vancouver Sun

Arv Olson (Left) From The Book Jacket Cover Of His Definitive History Of BC Golf, "Backspin," and (Right) From His Early Days At The Vancouver Sun As The Golf Beat Writer 

by Kent Gilchrist

We lost Arv Olson Wednesday. I use the collective “we” because golf has lost him, hockey and rugby have lost him and all his friends and family have, too.

And we will really miss him.

Sisters Taylor (L) And Michelle Kim Are Two Very Supportive Sibling Rivals Who Now Find Themselves Both Ranked In The Top 10 Amateurs In The Country - Image Credit Aflie Lau

Weekly Top 10 Rankings - Golf Canada - Week of October 19, 2015

It was quite a week for B.C.’s Kim sisters in the Top-10. Taylor Kim picked up eight spots to climb up to a career-best No. 3 in the Canadian rankings while younger sister Michelle Kim jumped 33 spots and up to No. 5 in Canada following a third place finish at the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invite.

The freshman at Idaho shot a career-best final round 69 which included a 30-foot putt on her final hole of the tournament. The result was enough to also land Kim 'Big Sky Conference Player of the Week' honours for the third time in four tournaments this fall.

Michelle is also tied for 17th in par-3 scoring in the U.S. “She has transitioned to college well and is building off the experience she gained this past summer at national events,” said her coach Lisa Johnson. That experience included winning the B.C. Women’s Amateur title over her older sister Taylor.

Michelle Kim, The British Columbia Women's And Junior Girls Champion Of 2015 Heads Up A Contingent Of 8 B.C. Players Who Will Represent Canada On The National Amateur Team Squads For 2016 - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by BCG editors with files from Golf Canada

OAKVILLE, Ont. – No fewer than 8 players from British Columbia have been named to the National Amateur Team squads for 2016. Those teams include the Men's and Women's National Amateur Teams as well as the Developmental Squad. The Young Pro Squad for 2016 is expected to be announced in mid-November.

USGA Agronomist Larry Gilhuly Talks To Kids From Pitt River Middle School During A First Green ‘Links As Labs’ Program At Redwoods Golf Course Demonstration On Oct. 2 - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

Up until now a field trip to a golf course would usually mean swinging some clubs and learning some golf etiquette. No longer.

24 wide-eyed Grade 7 and 8 students from Pitt River Middle School stepped off a school bus and onto a real-life science lab.

And that lab was The Redwoods Golf Course in Langley on Oct. 2 as the Western Canada Turfgrass Association (WCTA), in partnership with the First Green Foundation, launched the first program in Canada that brings environmental education to grade 5 and up students using golf courses as environmental learning labs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 14, 2015

Richmond, BC (PGA OF BC) - On Wednesday October 14, 2015 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, the PGA of British Columbia recognized the proud achievements of its members at the 2015 PGA of BC Awards Celebration.

Sixteen awards were presented Wednesday night, preceded by a special presentation by the ALS Society of British Columbia. The PGA of BC has supported the Society for 10 years with its Golfathon for ALS fundraisers across the province, and has raised just shy of $1.2 million for the duration of the program.

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of BC) - The PGA of BC is proud to announce the recipients of both the 2015 Forestar Golf Community Leadership Bursary, as well as the Jim Gibson Scholarship.

This recognition program is designed to honour individuals in the golf community that exhibit qualities such as volunteerism, selflessness, passion, and dedication to the game.

The Forestar Golf Community Leadership Bursary recognizes an individual who demonstrates an extraordinary desire and passion to to use their abilities to make a difference in the lives of others, setting an example of "giving back" with which all PGA of BC members are proud to be associated.

B.C.'s Jared Du Toit (Shown Holding The BC Men's Amateur Trophy Has Been Nominated As The PNGA Men's Player Of The Year - Image Credit Alfie Lau

Courtesy Tom Cade and PNGA

At the end of each golfing season, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association selects the region’s Players of the Year in eight different categories: Men’s, Women’s, Mid-Amateur Men’s, Mid-Amateur Women’s, Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s, Junior Boys’, and Junior Girls’.

The players are voted on by the PNGA Championship Committee, and this committee extends to the NWGMA one vote in each category as part of the process.

Below are the nominees in each of the eight categories.

Victoria's Cory Renfrew Was The Low Monday Qualifier For The PGA TOUR's Season Opening Frys.com Event - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

courtesy Herb Fung/ Golf Canada

Victoria native Cory Renfrew posted a 7-under 65 to earn medalist honours at the Monday Qualifier for the Frys.com Open – the season-opening event on the PGA TOUR.

The 29-year-old collected eight birdies en route to a four-stroke victory over runners-up Ben Geyer, Eric Hallberg and David Bradshaw. The quartet completed the full field of 144 hoping to notch a win at Silverado Country Club in Napa, Calif.

Toni Taylor Shows Female Golfers Some Finger And Wrist Exercises At Richmond Country Club During A Women With Drive Workshop On Oct. 6 - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

All throughout the province, for most of September and October, women golfers have been getting together with certified PGA of Canada or LPGA coaches in Women With Drive, Get In The Game workshops funded by British Columbia Golf and the Golf Canada Foundation Women’s Fund.

“We’ve organized clinics all throughout the province which will enhance opportunities for women to gain interest and develop their golf skills so that we can continue to grow women’s golf,” said Debbie Pyne, the managing director for player development for British Columbia Golf. “We’ve had clinics all throughout the province and they have been well attended.”

Christina Proteau Has Advanced To The Quarterfinals Of The U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur For The Second Straight Year - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

courtesy Joey Flyntz (USGA)

CHOUDRANT, La. – Christina Proteau, 32, of Port Alberni, B.C. advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, for the second straight year, which would have been hard to imagine after she shot a 15-over 87 in the first round of stroke play.

Proteau, a prosecutor for the province of British Columbia, rebounded with an even-par 72 in the second round to make match play and has posted three impressive wins.