Richmond, BC's Chris Crisologo Wears Vancouver Canuck Colours At The Canadian Open In 2019 - Golf Canada Photo/Marcus Oleniuk

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

At the beginning of this year, Chris Crisologo sat down and made a list of things he wanted to accomplish during 2022 in his journey as a young professional golfer. 

He just crossed off one very important goal from that list. 

By surviving the second stage of the Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school last week in Albuquerque, N.M., the Richmond resident has earned himself Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2023.

Courtesy PGA of Canada

Teams from Canada, USA, Australia, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa, and Sweden are set to head to Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico next week for the second PGA Women’s Cup, where Canada will look to build on their runner-up finish from the 2019 event in Texas.

Two new players, Caroline Ciot and Katy Rutherford, will join second-time competitors Emma de Groot, Casey Ward and Christine Wong at Twin Warriors Golf Club. Wong was the top player on the Canadian squad in 2019, firing the team’s low score two out of three days in the form of a 70 and 71.

If you are, or know a young competitive golfer, you may well be interested in knowing that the Zone Golf Academy is holding a university ID Camp at Lake Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on December 3 & December 4, 2022

Led by Coach Taronne (TJ) Atley, Zone Golf Academy is a leading elite junior golf academy working out of multiple facilities in the Lower Mainland and specializing in USA and Canadian university placement.

As per their Mission Statement:

"Zone Golf Academy is designed to equip the player in all aspects of the game, from the technical fundamentals, short game, on course management, to physical and mental conditioning. The result is ultimately an improved game which is coupled with scholastic readiness. Finally, the player would gain entrance to their top North American University of their choice, ideally on scholarship."

Richmond, BC's Chris Crisologo Wears Vancouver Canuck Colours At The Canadian Open In 2019 - Golf Canada Photo/Marcus Oleniuk

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

At the beginning of this year, Chris Crisologo sat down and made a list of things he wanted to accomplish during 2022 in his journey as a young professional golfer. 

He just crossed off one very important goal from that list. 

By surviving the second stage of the Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school last week in Albuquerque, N.M., the Richmond resident has earned himself Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2023.

Talking Rock Golf Course Head Professional Nathan Grieve Is The PGA of BC's 2022 Dick Munn Golf Professional Of The Year - PGA of BC Photo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

OCTOBER 13, 2022 - RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) - The PGA of BC proudly named the provincial recipients of its annual honours for 2022 during the Association's Awards Celebration presented by Replay Golf Supplies & Tribal on Wednesday evening at the River Rock Casino Resort.

BC Junior Girls Representing Canada In The World Junior Girls Championship Clockwise From Left: Yeji Kwon, Michelle Liu, Angela Arora, Anna Huang & Lauren Kim - Images Courtesy Golf Canada

MARKHAM, Ont. – Canada is set to host a global showcase of the world’s best junior golfers as the seventh edition of the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms will be contested October 10-15, 2022 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

In total, 54 athletes on 18 teams representing 17 countries—including two teams from host nation Canada—will compete for the team and individual titles. The event marks the celebrated return of the prestigious global competition after two years of cancellation due to the pandemic.

For Immediate Release

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- The PGA of BC is proud to name four recipients of the Association's 2022 Awards, as well as this year's PGA of BC Community Leadership Bursary and Jim Gibson Scholarship beneficiaries. These awards are designed to recognize leaders in the golf community exhibiting qualities such as volunteerism, selflessness, passion, and dedication to the game.

These honourees, along with the recipients of 11 other Association awards, will be recognized during the 2022 PGA of BC Awards Celebration presented by Replay Golf Supplies & Tribal, which will take place October 12th at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC.

The CP Women’s Open is back! Golf Canada is proud to partner with Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, BC to host the 2023 CP Women’s Open.

We are excited to bring the world’s best golfers to Canada to compete in the 49th playing of our National Open, hosted at a club with plenty of history and a passionate community.

Each year, over 1,200 people dedicate their time and hard work to make the CP Women’s Open possible.

VIASPORT BRITISH COLUMBIA - On September 30, individuals and communities will be honouring Orange Shirt Day, as well as the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

Collectively, we are marking this important occasion by encouraging members of the sport, physical activity, and recreation sectors to actively participate in this day of Truth and Reconciliation.

The individual and collective journeys of Truth and Reconciliation are enduring. It isn’t a destination, but rather a lifelong path of reflection, learning, and understanding.

Accordingly, we are inviting everyone within the sport, physical activity, and recreation sector to make a personal and/or organizational commitment to reconciliation.

It's time to rally together through programs and activities that encourage all British Columbians to get moving!

Spread the word!

The vast majority of British Columbians believe that sport contributes to healthy communities and individuals. Over the last two years, it was clear that sport connects us and helps us thrive.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 - RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- The PGA of British Columbia is pleased to announce regional award recipients in 11 categories of the 2022 PGA of BC Awards Program.

The individuals and facilities listed below for the Lower Mainland, Interior, Vancouver Island and Kootenays/Northern BC, respectively, were selected as regional recipients following an open nomination period and extensive deliberations by regional nomination committees.

Each of the recipients are now provincial finalists for this year's PGA of BC Awards, with the honourees to be announced next month.

Rosie Bee Kim (L) And Matthew Wilson (R) Are NextGen Fall Series West Championship Champs - Golf Canada Photo

For Immediate Release

Golden, B.C. – The NextGen Fall Series West Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, wrapped up at Golden Golf Club Sunday with Matthew Wilson of Nanaimo, B.C. and Rosie Bee Kim of Edmonton, Alta. besting a field of 90 young amateurs to take home the respective Junior Boys and Girls titles.

In the Junior Girls Division, 15-year-old Rosie Bee Kim, a member of Highlands, Golf Club, used a final-round, even-par 72 and tournament-total 3-under 213 (69-72-72) for a 4-shot, wire-to-wire victory over runner-up Erin Lee of Langley, B.C. at 1-over 217. Lucy Lin of Vancouver, B.C. (+3) finished alone in the third while Kelly Zhao of Richmond Hill, B.C. (+5) and Elisa Liu of Richmond, B.C. (+5) rounded out the top 5.

Mark Kitts Holds The Dick Munn Memorial Trophy For The Second Time After Winning The 2022 Srixon/Cleveland Golf PGA of BC Club Professional Championship Presented By Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP And Nike Golf - PGA of BC Image

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 - OLIVER, BC (PGA of British Columbia) – Mark Kitts (Shadow Ridge Golf Club) overcame difficult scoring conditions at Fairview Mountain Golf Club on his way to victory at the 2022 Srixon/Cleveland Golf PGA of BC Club Professional Championship presented by Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP and Nike Golf.

In a week that presented wind gusts of up to 50 km/h and peak-season green speeds, the Kelowna-based Head Professional overcame the elements to top a field of 45 Club Professionals to claim his second Dick Munn Memorial trophy.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Tee times in Langley figure to be tough to come by the next few months as another area course is forced to close temporarily due to the TransMountain pipeline expansion project. 

The West Coast Golf Group says Belmont Golf Course will close in mid-October and is not expected to re-open until sometime next summer. “Construction of the pipeline is scheduled to be complete by June 2023, with the course needing a period of recovery before re-opening,” WCGG said in a weekend message to its customers.

“We will advise everyone of our anticipated re-opening date as soon as we are able.”

Kevin Stinson Tees Off During A VGT Event - Image Courtesy Vancouver Golf Tour

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kevin Stinson has collected something much more valuable than a bunch of frequent-flier points the past three weeks. He has stored away some precious golfing memories that will last a lifetime. 

It has been a September to remember for Stinson, a Mission resident who plays and teaches out of Cheam Mountain Golf Course in Chilliwack. He’ll never forget the camaraderie he had with his three teammates at the inaugural Four Nations Cup in South Africa and the immense pride he felt when they won the competition for Canada. 

“Probably one of the coolest golf experiences I have ever had,” Stinson said in an interview.

‘Your Heart Can Be In Two Places,’ Says Former UBC Golf Star Kat Kennedy (R) - Brad Ziemer Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

They were the best days of her golfing life and as Kat Kennedy reflected upon them she wondered if she could perhaps recreate them in a different kind of way.

Not as a player, but as a coach. And as it turned out, not with her UBC alma mater, but with Simon Fraser University.

Kennedy is just a couple of weeks into her new job as the SFU golf program’s first full-time assistant coach and is loving every minute of it.

Belmont GC, Part Of The West Coast Golf Group, Will Be Closed Until Next Summer

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Tee times in Langley figure to be tough to come by the next few months as another area course is forced to close temporarily due to the TransMountain pipeline expansion project.

Kimberley, BC's Jared du Toit Will Head To DP World Tour Q School This Fall - BC Golf Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Qualifying school usually means a trip or two to southern California or Arizona, but this Fall Jared du Toit will do his ‘studying’ abroad. And he’ll have lots of Canadian company. 

The Kimberley native has decided to travel to Europe for the DP World (formerly the European) Tour Q School. “I am putting my eggs in that basket,” du Toit says. “Costs are kind of crazy to do both. It’s $6,500 US to do the Korn Ferry Q School, which is nine grand Canadian, and the Euro school is about three grand Canadian. So that played a factor.”

Du Toit was also influenced by the fact his close friend Aaron Cockerill of Manitoba is experiencing success playing the DP World Tour.

Padraic O'Rourke, The 2021 PGA of BC Club Professional Champion, Is Heading To Marine Drive As The Venerable Club's New Director Of Golf - PGA of BC Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Padraic O’Rourke grew up on the west coast of Ireland and had the opportunity to play many of the famed links courses in his homeland.

He quickly gained an appreciation of the game’s history, something he said was top of mind in accepting the position of director of golf at Vancouver’s Marine Drive Golf Club. “The history of the club was definitely an attraction,” said O’Rourke, who has spent the past nine years as head professional and director of golf at Chateau Whistler Golf Club.

“It’s known for producing some great players and having a very active playing membership. I’ve met lots of Marine Drive members over the years working at the Chateau and I always found them to be very, very pleasant to deal with.

In a very well done short documentary aired by Skratch, Erik Anders Lang travels to Bald Eagle GC in Point Roberts, WA, a formally 'unreachable' course to find out what happened to so completely isolate the facility in this episode of Adventures in Golf, presented by United Airlines.

Golf boomed during the pandemic...everywhere except here. Two years later, it's finally making its comeback. Bald Eagle GC has a unique story of being virtually abandoned during the pandemic, which was far from unique in the U.S. and Canada at the time, but is slowly making a comeback thanks to the local volunteers who are helping as they play.

To see Brad Ziemer's recent story and interviews on Bald Eagle's comeback click here.