Kaleb Gorbahn - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kaleb Gorbahn earned conditional status at last week’s PGA Tour Canada qualifying school in California, but the Smithers native was in no mood to celebrate. Gorbahn knows conditional status and a couple of dollars will buy you a cup of coffee.

He’s not guaranteed any starts this summer. Maybe he gets some, maybe he doesn’t. Gorbahn acknowledges the grind of chasing his pro golf dream has been difficult. “It has been hard,” he says. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I have had doubts about whether I should be doing this or not.”

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Greg Moody has a rather simple explanation for why he spends considerable time giving back to the game of golf. “I just enjoy volunteering,” Moody says. “I think you’re either born with a volunteer gene or you’re not.”

Moody clearly has his. A highly respected rules official and a longtime champion of junior golf, Moody is the new president of British Columbia Golf. Moody was officially elected by the BC Golf board on April 3rd. He jokes that it is not a position he expected or coveted.

“I never aspired to this position,” says Moody, a North Vancouver resident who has been a member of Seymour Golf & Country Club since the mid-1980s. “I just like volunteering. This is something I started to do when I retired and I have especially enjoyed working with the kids.”

Homestead Farms GC Is Offering Some Great Deals For Canadians Ready To Play Down South Again - Image Courtesy Homestead Farms GC/Pixabay

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The British Columbians are back and no one is happier about that than the folks at Homestead Farms Golf Course in Lynden. Homestead has always relied heavily on British Columbia traffic, so when the border closed more than two years ago due to Covid-19, it had a devastating effect on the course. 

“I would say it is at least half of our business,” says Trevor Parsons, who works in the Homestead pro shop. “We’re right on the border so the last couple of years have been tough. We have been missing the Canadians.” 

As of April 1, costly Covid testing requirements that kept B.C. golfers north of the border, were dropped. Whatcom County courses are obviously hoping to see lots of B.C. golfers this spring and summer.

Kaleb Gorbahn - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kaleb Gorbahn earned conditional status at last week’s PGA Tour Canada qualifying school in California, but the Smithers native was in no mood to celebrate. Gorbahn knows conditional status and a couple of dollars will buy you a cup of coffee.

He’s not guaranteed any starts this summer. Maybe he gets some, maybe he doesn’t. Gorbahn acknowledges the grind of chasing his pro golf dream has been difficult. “It has been hard,” he says. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I have had doubts about whether I should be doing this or not.”

The Dawson City Golf Course is looking to fill two major positions at their facility. Please see the postings below seeking a Clubhouse Manager and Grounds Superintendent. 

The Dawson City Golf Course, situated across the Yukon River in Dawson City, Yukon, features nine-holes, a driving range, a clubhouse, and hosts multiple special events throughout the season. The course is operated by the Dawson Golf Association (DGA), a non-profit association.

Two BC Amateur Champions, Tristan Mandur (L) & Nolan Thoroughgood (R) ReceiveTheir Team Silver Medals At The 2017 Canada Summer Games - Image Credit: 2017 Canada Summer Games/Anthony_Fernando-Golf-1715

The  British Columbia Golf selection committee will use the NextGen Pacific Championship, taking place at Nanaimo GC May 13 - 15, 2022, as a competition to start the process of selecting the top performance juniors for the 2022 Canada Summer Games to represent British Columbia in Niagara Falls in August. 

royalty free photo used with permission

Due to high demand and limited supply in the local market because of extensive flooding in Abbotsford during November of 2021, two of British Columbia's major turf farms have been severely affected.

Western Turf Farms saw their farm and equipment submerged under water for an extended period of time. It is taking quite some time to assess whether any turf is recoverable, which it is likely not, and they in all probability will have to start from scratch from the soil beds up.

Bos Sod Farm is in a very similar situaton and both of these family-run operations are major suppliers of athletic fields, residential requirements and golf courses. In an effort to help these businesses get back on their feet the Canadian Turf Research Foundation, in conjunction with Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation, have created a donation page.

Coquitlam's A.J. Ewart Is Having An Outstanding Year In NCAA Div II - Images Courtesy Barry U

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A.J. Ewart is doing a nice job of following in the footsteps of fellow British Columbian Adam Svensson at Barry University in south Florida. 

Ewart hopes to follow Svensson all the way to the PGA TOUR, but he will be taking one detour. The 22-year-old Coquitlam native insists that, unlike Svensson, he won’t be leaving Barry early to chase his pro golf dream.

“I have to finish my degree or else my mom won’t be too happy with me,” Ewart says over the phone from Florida. “I have to get that done.”

BC Golf File Photo

by Lindsay Knowlton, Iron Lady Golf (via SIRC)

I started playing golf for the hot dogs. As a 14-year-old girl, I wanted to make friends with the other kids at my golf club. My major motivation after 9 holes was celebrating with friends over a hot dog and a chocolate milkshake. Flash forward 25 years, and golf is my passion. I’ve played and competed around the world. I’ve also taught more than 10,000 women how to play golf.

Like me, these women are almost always interested in more than learning how to play golf. They learn to be included in their work events or to spend more time with their partners and families. They learn to find new friendships and travel companions, to exercise, spend time in nature or get some fresh air.

Now more than ever, golf is about much more than just the game. Community is the glue that makes golf stick. In this blog, I offer strategies and tips, based on research and my own experiences, to help golf clubs and organizations create inclusive, welcoming environments that help women say “yes” to golf.

Please click HERE to read complete story on SIRC....

About the Author(s)
Lindsay Knowlton is the founder of Iron Lady Golf and a member of the PGA of Canada. She’s passionate about helping more women say “yes” to golf and building communities. Lindsay was the Captain of the Ohio State Women’s Golf Team, a 3-year Member of Canada’s National Team and a Silver Medalist at the 2004 World Championships. She has also recorded 3 holes-in-1!

The golf season is very much upon us here in British Columbia and a number of events are getting back on track as we move carefully away from the cancellations and postponements caused by the Covid-19 pandemic over the last couple of years. 

One of the tours that is getting ready to operate again is the Grizzly Golf Tour which runs events for juniors aged 5-18 and adult recreational players 18 and over throughout the Lower Mainland. Check out the information in the poster below and click on the image to go to their website to find out more about the Grizzly Tour.

In 2019 British Columbia Picked Up Their 4th Consecutive Win In The NPJLTM - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski/BC Golf

British Columbia's North Pacific Junior Ladies Team will be on a quest not often realized at any level of sports competition when they tee off at the Home Course in Washington State this May 27th - 29th for the 34th edition of the North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches.

Although the annual NPJLTM competition has been cancelled the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they are back on track this year and Team BC just happens to have won the last four events played, from 2016 - 2019. Thus they take to the links in search of the rare 'Five-Peat'. 

The return to competition after a two-year break will bring with it some new faces to the BC Team, both on the player's side and the coaches as well.

UBC Golf Coach Chris Macdonald - BC Golf Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Chris Macdonald has spent considerable time thinking about the young lives lost in the devastating accident in Texas involving a New Mexico school’s golf teams.

The longtime coach of the University of British Columbia’s men’s and women’s golf teams has also reflected on how much time he has spent driving his teams to and from tournaments.

“It’s just devastating, such a tragedy,” Macdonald said of the crash that killed six members of the University of the Southwest men’s and women’s golf teams, as well as their coach, and left two other students critically injured. “I think I have probably driven over 200,000 kilometres in a mini-van with the teams in the 22 years I have been here.

MARCH 17, 2022

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) – The PGA of BC will hold all eight of the traditional championship events in three of the Association’s geographical regions in 2022, allowing its membership several opportunities to compete against their peers throughout the season.

Following a delay to the 2021 tournament calendar due to health & safety protocols, the 2022 season is set to return to a traditional timeline. The Jack McLaughlin Memorial Pro-Junior Championship will also return after a two-year hiatus.

BC Golf's Debbie Pyne (L) With BC Blind Golfer Darren Douma and All Abilities Golfer Joe Higgins (putting) - image credit Jeff Sutherland/Inside Golf

Hello Players,

We welcome you to register for the 2022 BC Golf Provincial Training Camp - Western Blind Golf being held at Westwood Plateau, Lago Golf Academy in Coquitlam on April 30th and May 1st.

This camp is open to all BC Blind Competitive Golfers, Men and Women, who are members of BC Golf/Golf Canada in good standing along with their personal coaches/guides.

Update to Program Handicap Stipulations Coming

(Acton, ON) - The PGA of Canada is pleased to announce that some of Canada’s top courses have been secured as host sites for the 2022 RBC PGA Scramble Regional Finals.

Building on last year's return to Cabot Links for the National Final and the largest draw of players ever to participate in the program, we are excited to announce that players who qualify from their local qualifier will head to one of the following Regional Final hosts:

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The start of British Columbia Golf’s championship season is just two months away and Chief Executive Officer Kris Jonasson is delighted with the courses that will play host to the events. 

“We have an outstanding set of venues for our championships this year,” Jonasson says. “We’re really excited about where we are going.” 

The season tees off May 16-19 with the Women’s and Men’s Mid-Amateur/Mid Master Championships at Talking Rock Golf Course in Chase. “We have been trying to go to Talking Rock for an event the last three years and we have been thwarted by the pandemic,” Jonasson says.

Player Registration Is Now Open For The 2022 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying Competitions In British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, & Alberta

(March 14, 2022) - Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, is pleased to announce the qualifying format for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto with nearby Islington Golf Club serving as the official practice facility.

A two-stage qualifying process for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship will feature regional qualifying competitions in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec as well as Alberta which is new for 2022. Three of four regional qualifier dates and host sites are set with the Quebec qualifier details to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The 111th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship Returns June 6-12, 2022 At St. George’s Golf & Country Club In Partnership With Islington Golf Club In Toronto

For Immediate Release

(March 10, 2022) – The RBC Canadian Open is officially back to kick off the 2022 summer festival season!

Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, is pleased to offer a full selection of ticket options for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.

Following two years of cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RBC Canadian Open returns June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto with nearby Islington Golf Club hosting the tournament’s official practice facility.

The stars of the PGA TOUR will return to Toronto as St. George’s prepares to host the tournament for the fifth time and first since 2010.

From L-R: David Atkinson, Berne Neufeld, Scott Vannatter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

First as a high school teacher and then as the director of Victoria Golf Club’s Evans Scholarship program for caddies, Berne Neufeld has made changing the lives of young people a personal passion. 

Neufeld is the reason the Evans program exists at Victoria Golf Club and her steadfast determination is why it has prospered. “Berne just took it upon herself to make it happen,” says John Bodenhamer, who is now chief championships officer with the United States Golf Association.

“She singlehandedly made it happen.”

Gary Puder Won The BC Mid-Amateur At His Home Vancouver Golf Club In 2001 -Image Courtesy VGC/@batchp

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Gary Puder, a longtime Vancouver Golf Club member who won the B.C. Amateur, B.C. Mid-Amateur and B.C. Senior titles in three different decades, died last week following a lengthy illness. Puder, a retired high school principal, was 84.

Friends and fellow competitors remembered not only Puder’s great golf game, but his impeccable character. “Gary Puder was a special person in British Columbia golf,” said former PGA TOUR winner Richard Zokol. “A great gentleman, great competitor and great player.”