February 17, 2015

British Columbia Golf

The 2015 Western Canada Summer Games will be hosted in Wood Buffalo, Alberta, from August 12-16th for the sport of golf.

The Western Canada Summer Games brings together athletes from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut.

February 15, 2015

by Rob Houlding, Rob Houlding Golf

Well respected instructor Rob Houlding recently posted a commentary on his Facebook Golf Sports Science forum about the current controversy on the value of technology and science in golf teaching. An abridged version appears here...

I have been observing (with amusement) an increase over the usual level of debate comparing ‘old school’ versus ‘new school’ teaching in golf, particularly from certain staff of the Golf Channel.

Merritt's Roger Sloan (L) Gained Valuable Experience At Pebble Beach

February 15, 2015

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

By the time the final putt dropped on another brilliant day in Northern California and Brandt Snedeker won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the second time in three years, the best British Columbia golfers had already hightailed it out of the Monterey Peninsula.

Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor will be getting ready to play practice rounds at Riviera for the Northern Trust Open this week while Roger Sloan is back in Houston to work on his game in anticipation of his next PGA TOUR stop, hopefully in Florida.

Victoria’s Cory Renfrew will be trying to Monday qualify for Riviera with a 12:55 p.m. tee time alongside Billy Mayfair and aspiring PGA TOUR pros Ryan Williams and Adam Cornelson will be planning their Web.com schedules for the spring.

After three weeks covering this golden generation of British Columbia golf professionals, this much is clear: It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions for these young men as they pursue their golf dreams.

February 13, 2015

Tyler Costigan/Golf Canada

LAKELAND, Florida (Tyler Costigan/Golf Canada) — Team Canada’s Adam Svensson continued his winning ways, notching the second win of his junior season with a victory at the Matlock Collegiate Classic.

Cory Renfrew (L) With Coach Matt Palsenbarg (image credit Alfie Lau)

January 28th, 2015

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

When we last saw Matt Palsenbarg, Golf LAB at Northview Golf & Country Club co-owner, he had spent two action-packed days teaching some of the best British Columbia juniors high-performance golf techniques.

He started this week on Monday, giving a presentation on those high-performance techniques to PGA of BC professionals at the Vancouver Golf Club.

He had just enough time to get home to spend some time scootering with his daughter when he found out that another of his charges, Victoria’s Cory Renfrew, had Monday qualified for the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

January 26, 2015

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

It was just after 6 p.m. at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale and almost too dark to see anything, but Victoria’s Cory Renfrew smiled so widely that it almost lit up the course.

Renfrew, listed officially as a Scottsdale resident – he does live here with roommate Eric Hawerchuk, as they chase their golf dreams – is the pride of Victoria and shot a (-6) round of 66 on the Pine Course at McCormick Ranch to claim one of the three spots into the Waste Management Open, Phoenix’s biggest party masquerading as a golf tournament.

January 1, 2015

Inside Golf

Recently in a tune-up session at Houlding’s Golf Academy the two put together a recording of how Svensson could hit either a fade or a draw from virtually the same set up, changing only his alignment by a ball width or so.

December 20, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

The history books may show 2014 as the year British Columbia golfers thrust themselves onto the world stage, but to understand how this happened, you have to go 150 miles south, to the campus of the University of Washington Huskies golf teams.

Men’s coach Matt Thurmond and women’s coach Mary Lou Mulflur have successfully mined a sterling crop of British Columbia golfers who have bright futures in front of them.

December 18, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

During the school year, Surrey golfer Taylor Kim is a proud member of the Kent State Golden Flashes university women’s golf team.

But the rest of the year, the former Team Canada member is winning titles, most notably the 111th British Columbia Golf Women’s Amateur at Kamloops Golf and Country Club.

Kim finished two strokes ahead of another Surrey golfer, A Ram Choi, to take home the top prize in provincial women’s amateur golf.

Kim, who honed her game alongside Team Canada superstar Brooke Henderson, had a simple game plan for winning the BC Women’s Amateur.

Dec 1, 2014

Bryan Outram, Inside Golf

Winter may be upon us, but it's definitely more upon many of our friends further east than here in the Lower Mainland. 

December 16, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

With the 2014 B.C. Juvenile Girls’ Championship already in her possession, Nanaimo’s Shirin Anjarwalla has her eyes set on winning even more titles in 2015.

“I think I need to play more tournaments in 2015,” said the Grade 9 student. “I will be playing more CN Future Links events, the B.C. Women’s Amateur and more national events because my goal is to continue to earn merit points toward making Team Canada.”

Live on Vancouver Island, or interested in playing on the Island this year?  A number of courses have some special offers for you.

Your membership is so very important to the BC Golf House Society and on behalf of the Director's, we wish to extend our appreciation. Members are the life blood of the Society and it is our hope that we can count on your support. The BC Golf House Society has set the goal of selling 125 memberships before December 31, 2014. Please renew or join now to assist us to fulfill our goal -  "to preserve BC's rich golfing history".  To join and read more, click here.

December 8, 2014

Jim Lee, British Columbia Golf

Are you looking for a way to get a friend, spouse or youth started playing golf?

NGCOA Canada and the PGA of Canada have developed a program to do just that.

Get Golf Ready is designed to teach everything you’ll need to play golf in just a few lessons. PGA of Canada Professionals will show you that there are lots of ways to play by combining fun, friends and fitness. Each session will focus on the various golf skills you will use while playing. In addition to learning the basics, you will be guided onto the golf course to put your skills into action in a casual, friendly setting.

BC courses signed up (to date) for 2015 for Get Golf Ready include:

-Cowichan Golf & Country Club
-Eaglequest Coyote Creek
-Hope Golf Club
-Michaelbrook Ranch Golf Course
-Eagle Ranch Golf  Resort

For more information, click here.

November 29, 2014

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

Surrey’s Adam Svensson keeps on adding honours to his resume.

Svensson was named a nominee for the Sport BC Male Athlete of the Year Award and will find out at the Sport BC Athletes of the Year Awards on March 12, 2015 whether he wins one of the most prestigious titles in the province.

Svensson was just named the Pacific Northwest Golf Association’s Male Golfer of the Year, is currently ranked number 2 in Golf Canada’s ranking of top amateur golfers, is a member of Golf Canada’s National Team and has put together an impressive and consistent championship record in 2014.

November 27, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

The giddy smile on 15-year-old Alisha Lau’s face couldn’t hide the fact that she had just been named to Golf Canada’s Development Squad.

But when she came to work for an hour-long session with her long-time teacher Rob Houlding, that smile was replaced by a fierce look of determination.

Lau had just finished working with Ann Carroll, Team Canada Women’s Squad Development Coach and had discovered a new grip.

She wanted to work with Houlding on that grip and as the two watched her swing on the TrackMan at Houlding’s Surrey facility, you couldn’t help but notice how their relationship is based on empowerment.

November 24, 2014

Jim Lee, British Columbia Golf

The Provincial Government is cutting the red tape around liquor licensing for golf courses and ski areas.  This will make it easier for courses to hold special events outside of their licensed areas.  Previously, courses had to apply for special permits for each use and pay a $330 fee for each application.

The process has now been streamlined so that ski areas and golf courses need only apply once per year, with one fee, and hold up to 26 events per year.  These events are typically held outdoors, away from the licensed areas of the club.  Clubs can now plan in advance what events they wish to hold and book these events secure in the knowledge that they will be able  use their license.

The change will come into effect on December 9, 2014 and courses will be able to apply for their annual permits at that time.  Courses must still obtain local government approval.

Kris Jonasson, Executive Director of British Columbia Golf attended the announcement and said "Its great to see the government working hard to cut red tape for small business and tourism operations in the province.  Golf courses throughout BC extend their licensed areas quite often for our customers, to host weddings and for large gatherings.  This change will be a great relief for many."

Watch the government video here (and Kris sink a putt!)

November 17, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

He comes from one of British Columbia’s most renowned golfing families, but James Harper has carved his own story in the world of local golf by doing a little bit of everything.

He started the year in Portugal, trying to qualify for the European Senior Tour. While he didn’t succeed in the tournament that started on his 50th birthday – Harper had to be the youngest senior playing that Q-School – he also didn’t fret too much over the disappointment, as he was able to enjoy everything that a warm January and February in the Iberian Peninsula offers.

In fact, Harper and his wife, Josephine Mirandolle, used the time to explore the area before Harper’s better half had one more responsibility.

November 17, 2014

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

It’s a typical West Coast autumn day, with grey skies and intermittent showers and rain, but that doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm of David O’Connor.

As Burnaby’s manager of golf operations, O’Connor has weathered his share of storms and one day of bad weather never fazes him.

“Are there going to be ups and downs in this business? Of course,” said O’Connor. “But we’re just looking for consistency in this market.”