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“YOU KNOW UNDER PRESSURE.” - ADAM SCOTT
“IT’S THE CONSISTENCY.”
- JORDAN SPIETH
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WHEN YOU P
“I’VE KNOWN SINCE DAY ONE.” “IT’S THE CONTROL.” - SO YEON RYU
“HOW IT FLIES THROUGH THE WIND.”
- WEBB SIMPSON
©2018 Acushnet Canada Inc
- JUSTIN THOMAS
“THE SOFTER FEEL.” - RICKIE FOWLER
“IT’S THE DISTANCE.” - BROOKE HENDERSON
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PLAY ONE, YOU KNOW.
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“IT’S EVERYTHING.” - IAN POULTER
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Con t en t s 6
Top Image: Vancouver Golf EXPO
FEB '18 44
Vancouver Golf Tour Brings Life To Lower Mainland Golf Community
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BC's Susan Xiao Bestows Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour With ANA Inspiration Grant
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More Than 30 Courses Celebrating Anniversaries
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Two From BC Named To Golf Canada 2018 Young Pro Squad
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Freedom 55 Financial Open At Point Grey Kicks Off
48
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Calgary's Leslie Dunning Elected President at Golf Canada AGM
Grizzly Golf Tour Announces 2018 Junior And Cub Schedule
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Sara-Maude Juneau To Lead Team Canada Development Squad
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Golf Canada Deepens Commitment To Responsible Coaching Movement
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BC's Cory Renfrew Joins CJGA Tournament Team
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BC Provincial Titleist Performance Camp At Northview
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Are Golf Courses Too Short?
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Canada To Compete At Inaugural Women?s PGA Cup
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2018 Vancouver GOLFEXPO Proves ?Revitalized? Golf ?s New World Handicap System Designed To Welcome More Golfers Harry White?s Optimist Junior Golf Tour Set To Play On
Golf Pr of iles 21
West Coast Golf Group
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Golf BC
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Whistler
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Tourism Vernon
British Columbia Golf
Staff
#116-7198 Vantage Way, Delta, BC V4G 1K7 Telephone: 604.279.2580 Toll Free: 1.888.833.2242
Kris Jonasson, Executive Director kris@britishcolumbiagolf.org (x204)
Web: britishcolumbiagolf.org Facebook:/BritishColumbiaGolf Twitter: /BC_golfer
Corrie Wong, Manager, Membership corrie@britishcolumbiagolf.org (x202)
Kwadwo Frempong, Manager of Network Services Susan White, Senior Manager of Field Op support@britishcolumbiagolf.org (x205) susan@britishcolumbiagolf.org (x203) Bryan Outram, Communications Manager, Website Debbie Pyne, Managing Dir. of Player editor bryan@britishcolumbiagolf.org (x207) Development debbie@britishcolumbiagolf.org (x206) Tyler McKay, Manager, Golf Participation Andy Fung, Dir. of Finance and Admin tyler@britishcolumbiagolf.org (x208) andy@britishcolumbiagolf.org (x201)
Partner Publisher Inside Golf Inc. TF: 800.764.6537 - Web: insidegolf.ca
Jeff Sutherland Publisher publisher@insidegolf.ca
Sales Inquiries deb@igdesign.ca
THE
TOPIMAGE
Th e Tee Deck A t Th e 2018 Edi ti on of Th e V ancouv er GOLFEX PO Of f ered Th e Opportuni ty To Test Th e Latest From Cal l aw ay, Cobra, Pi ng, Tayl orM ade and Ti tl ei st.
IMAGE CREDIT JEFF SUTHERLAND / COURTESY INSIDE GOLF MEDIA
FROMTHE
BY BRYAN OUTRAM
EDITOR'SDESK In si de Th i s Issue While the weather of late may not exactly reflect it, the 2018 Golf Season is almost upon us and the excitement that goes with that was very evident during the kickoff event to the year at the Vancouver GOLFEXPO held at the PNE Forum February 17th & 18th. In this month's edition of the Scorecard we have a review of the exhibits, demonstrations, terrific deals - many of which are still available - new equipment and more on page 30. Of course the game of golf has become more and more a global pursuit and there's no better evidence of that than the recently announced World Handicap System being readied for launch in 2020 which you can read about on page 39.
On page 12 you'll find a report about two of BC's top male golfers being named to Golf Canada's Young Pro Squad and we're also pleased to bring you the details of 3 junior golf tours in BC going through positive transformations as the Grizzly Golf Tour (page 48), the Harry White-inspired Junior Linksters Tour (page 41) and the CJGA (page 56) have announced exciting plans for their 2018 seasons. Gearing up for the new season also involves the start of the Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada campaign and the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey GC. We have info on the tournament and some of its lead-in events such as Canucks For Kids and the Kids Ball Hockey Classic which you can read about on page 14. You'll also find a piece on the impact and growth that the Vancouver Golf Tour (VGT) is having in the Lower Mainland (page 44)
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST
IMAGES CREDIT VICTORIA GC
Mor e Th an 30 Cour ses Cel ebr at i n g An n i ver sar i es GOLF In 2018 COURTESY BC GOLF HOUSE
Th e V enerabl e V i ctori a Gol f Cl ub, Th e Ol dest 18-Hol e Gol f Course I n Canada Sti l l On I ts Ori gi nal Si te, Cel ebrates I ts 125th A nni v ersary Th i s Year
It 's t he 'Year of t he An n i ver sar y' i n t he Paci f i c Nor t hw est w i t h n o f ew er t han 30 golf f aci li t i es r ecogn i zi n g si gn i f i can t m i lest on e an n i ver sar i es i n 2018.
Courtesy of the hard work and dedication of curator Mike Riste, The BC Golf House Society has identified more than 30 PNGA courses celebrating an anniversary this CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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year. Check out their websites for special events...
Hood Golf Club, Top O'Scott Golf Course, Veronia Golf Course, St. Helen's Golf Club 50th Anniversary:
125th Anniversary:
British Columbia
Victoria Golf Club
Birchbank (Trail) Golf Course, Burnaby Mountain Golf Course
100th Anniversary: British Columbia Fernie Golf Club, (Original) Princeton Golf Club,
30th Anniversary: Metchosin GC
Oregon:
25th Anniversary:
Eastmoreland Golf Course (Portland, Or)
British Columbia
90th Anniversary: British Columbia Salt Spring Island Golf Club, Gleneagles Golf Course, Salmon Arm Golf Club Washington Maple Grove (Maplewood) Golf Course, Cedar River Golf Course, Steilacom Lake Golf Course, Monroe Golf Course
Duncan Meadows, Sechelt (Blue Ocean) GC, Trickle Creek GC, Farmington Fairways, Way-Lyn Ranch, Belmont GC, Chateau Whsitler GC, Furry Creek GC, Swan-e-Set Bay Resort &GC, Riverway GC Contact Mike at the BC Golf Museum: Telephone # 604 222 4653 or Email: office@bcgolfhouse.com
Oregon Rogue Valley Golf Club, Mt.
For full story CLICK HERE
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NATIONAL
IMAGES CREDIT GOLF CANADA
Tw o Fr om BC Nam ed To TEAMNEWS Gol f Can ada 2018 Youn g Pr o Squad
Golf Can ada i s pleased t o an n oun ce t he ei ght at hlet es? f our f em ale an d f our m ale? w ho have been select ed t o t he 2018 Team Can ada Youn g Pr o Squad. Comprising the 2018 Women?s Young Pro Squad is Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec City), Brittany
V ancouv er's Stuart M acdonal d (L) A nd K i mberl ey's Jared du Toi t (R) A re BC's Contri buti ons To Th e 2018 Gol f Canada Young Pro Sq uad Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.), Augusta James (Bath, Ont.), and Jennifer Ha (Calgary) while Jared du Toit (Kimberley, B.C.), Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver), Albin Choi (Toronto) and Taylor CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) will represent the Men?s Young Pro Squad. The focus of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad? now in its fifth year? is to bridge the gap for top-performing amateurs transitioning into the professional ranks. Since the inception of the Young Pro Squad in 2014, current and former team members have accounted for 31 wins across various professional golf tours including LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR wins by Young Pro graduates Brooke Henderson and Mackenzie Hughes, respectively. ?The depth of talent in this group of young professionals is a great reflection of our commitment to producing elite-level champions at all levels of Canadian golf,? said Golf Canada?s chief sport officer Jeff Thompson. Jared du
" K now i ng th at I h av e th e Young Pro Sq uad i n my corner i s ex tremel y v al uabl e" JARED DU TOIT
Toit of Kimberley, B.C., will make his debut on the Young Pro Squad after two successful seasons with Team Canada?s Amateur Squad. ?Knowing that I have the Young Pro Squad in my corner is extremely valuable during the many challenges of a full professional season,? said du Toit. ?I know what I want to accomplish in 2018 and look forward to working hard with the coaching staff to achieve my goals.? Also making his debut on the Young Pro Squad is Vancouver ?s Stuart Macdonald. The 23-year old Macdonald was a member of Team Canada?s Amateur Squad in 2016-17. For full story CLICK HERE
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IMAGES CREDIT BRYAN OUTRAM
UPCOMING Fr eedom 55 Fi n an ci al Open EVENTS At Poi n t Gr ey Ki ck s Of f
Th e M ack enzi e Tour ? PGA TOUR Canada I s Set To K i ck Of f I ts Season at Poi nt Grey Gol f & Country Cl ub I n V ancouv er
The Fr eedom 55 Fi n an ci al Open i s set t o open t he Macken zi e Tour ? PGA TOUR Can ada season May 31 ? Jun e 3r d at Poi n t Gr ey Golf & Coun t r y Club i n Van couver . The 72-hole tournament kicks off the Mackenzie Tour ?s sixth season, where up-and-coming
players from over 15 different countries will aim to make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR and earn Web.com Tour status. In addition to showcasing top up-and-coming players, Mackenzie Tour tournaments CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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community and this event will be possible due to 250 aim to make a positive impact in the communities where they volunteers and approximately 100 caddies. Registration is play, raising more than open to register to participate $1-million for charity in each at of the past two years. For the third year in a row, the freedom55financialopen.com The full 2018 Mackenzie Tour Canucks for Kids Fund will be schedule will be announced in the Freedom 55 Financial Open?s official charity, and the the coming weeks. tournament will once again be About the Freedom 55 incorporating a Canucks for Financial Open Kids Ball Hockey Classic event The Freedom 55 Financial to raise both awareness and Open brings the excitement of donations for the charity. The Mackenzie Tour?PGA Children between the ages of TOUR Canada to majestic 8-12 will have the opportunity Point Grey Golf & Country Club to participate in a ball hockey in beautiful Vancouver, British game on Sunday June 3rd with Columbia. The first stop on the Mackenzie Tour golfers, Tour, this unmistakably West Vancouver Canucks players Coast tournament draws the and alumni and media strongest field and onsite personalities while raising attendance of the season. Past money for the charity. Sign up competitors include Graham is available on DeLaet, Tony Finau, David freedom55financialopen.com Hearn, Mac Hughes, Adam Hadwin, and Nick Taylor. These events cannot happen without the support of our For full story CLICK HERE
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GOLF
BY GOLF CANADA
Cal gar y 's Lesl i e Dun n i n g El ect ed Pr esi den t at Gol f Can ada AGM
Gol f Canada's New est Presi dent I s Cal gary's Lesl i e Dunni ng
Golf Can ada?s 2018 An n ual Meet i n g culm i n at ed on Jan uar y 27t h w i t h t he elect i on of Lesli e Dun n i n g t o ser ve as t he Nat i on al Spor t Feder at i on ?s volun t eer Pr esi den t . Dunning succeeds 2016-2017 President Roland A. Deveau in
IMAGES CREDIT GOLF CANADA
CANADIAN
leading Golf Canada?s Board of Directors while Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que., becomes 1st Vice-President and Liz Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont. assumes the role of 2nd Vice-President. The group will work closely to support new Golf Canada CEO Laurence CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Applebaum who joined the association last July. ?I am humbled and extremely proud to assume this post as the 114th president of Golf Canada,? said Dunning. ?There is a great enthusiasm in the game right now and I believe we have a real opportunity to connect with more of Canada?s current golfers and make the game more welcoming and
accessible for new potential enthusiasts. Together with the Board of Directors, I am looking forward to working closely with Laurence (Applebaum) and our committed staff, volunteers and partners for the betterment of golf in Canada.? Dunning is the past president (2007-08) of Alberta Golf and has volunteered with Golf Canada since 2008. For full story CLICK HERE
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DEALS
AROUNDBC
THE WEST COA ST GOLF GROUP
Hazel mere Gol f & Tenni s Cl ub Bel mont Gol f Cl ub
Sw aneset Bay Resort & Country Cl ub
The West Coast Golf Gr oup i s hom e t o f our pr i st i n e Low er Mai n lan d golf cour ses: Belm on t GC, Hazelm er e Golf & Ten n i s Club an d t he t w o ei ght een s at Sw an eset Bay Resor t & CC. Check out their 'Choice Club' option where registration
gives you a chance to win 'Full' membership and complimentary dues the first year of your membership at all four WCGG courses. Also worth a look is the Belmont GC and Swaneset Bay Resort 'Red Hat' membership offers as well where you can save 50% on your daily green fees.
w w w .w cgg.ca
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PLAYER
DEVELOPMENT VIA BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF
BC Pr ovi n ci al Ti t l ei st Per f or m an ce Cam p At Nor t h vi ew Com i n g Up
The BC Pr ovi n ci al Ti t lei st Per f or m an ce Cam p i s f ast appr oachi n g, Sat ur day Mar ch 10t h Sun day Mar ch 11t h at Nor t hvi ew Golf & Coun t r y Club i n Sur r ey. For those interested in the camp here's some information along with the all-important
registration link. Titleist Performance Camp Cost: $225 including taxes Registration Open Now: Closes March 6th at 9am Location: Northview Golf Course Coaches: Colin Lavers and Jennifer Greggain University of CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Col i n Lav ers PGA of Canada Cl ass ?A ? Prof essi onal Coach i ng Ex peri ence: 11 Years Speci al i zati on: Juni or Coach i ng ? Hi gh Perf ormance and Recreati onal
Jenni f er Greggai n LPGA T&CP Cl ass " A " M ember PGA of Canada M ember TPI Certi f i ed Lev el I I nstructor K -V est Certi f i ed
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the Fraser Valley Assistant Golf Coach Sardis Secondary Golf Academy Head Instructor British Columbia Golf Provincial Coach
email: elizabeth @britishcolumbiagolf.org * Work Hours: Tuesday/Wednesday Program Assistant, Performance British Columbia Golf
For more information and to register please CLICK HERE
ph: 604-279-2580 x 209
Or contact:
Delta, BC V4G 1K7
#116 ? 7198 Vantage Way,
Elizabeth Dunn For full story CLICK HERE
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THEGREEN
BY JOHN GORDON
Ar e Gol f Cour ses Too Sh or t ?
?Bi f ur cat i on ? i s a w or d professionals? w e?r e hear i n g m or e an d The second bone of m or e i n t he w or ld of golf . contention, which has set off It means to divide into two parts. But don?t let that simple definition fool you. It?s an increasingly controversial concept that strikes the heart of the game as we know it. The first area of the current bifurcation debate relates to the Rules of Golf. Should there be one set of guidelines for recreational golfers and another for elite amateurs and
IMAGE CREDIT GOLF CANADA
OPINIONSFROM
near panic among many of my colleagues in the golf media and some golf administrators, is this: Are golf courses too short? Do we need to stretch them to 8,000 yards? Do we need to rein in the ever-advancing ball and club technology? No. And no. Wally Uihlein, the recently CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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emulate their professional heroes, no matter what the retired CEO of Acushnet Co., disparity in ability; makers of Titleist clubs and participation fluctuations in balls, is the standard bearer the game is a demographic for the unification movement. Today?s prof essi onal issue, not a rules issue and, ?if game does not mi rror golfers don?t play by the one set of rules that exist today, today?s amateur game why are two sets of rules Back in 2013, he addressed required?? the idea of two sets of Rules in On the second prong of the a blog wherein he refutes the bifurcation tempest? the three arguments most popular impact of technology? Uihlein among bifurcation advocates: spoke out last November, this Today?s professional game time in response to comments does not mirror today?s that technology is making the amateur game; Golf game more expensive for participation has matured and everyone by requiring courses the adoption of different sets to be longer and longer to of rules will allow the game to withstand the onslaught on renew its participation growth; par. Fewer than 0.1 per cent of Golfers just want to have the estimated 61 million fun? They do not play by the golfers around the world are rules and the formalization of professionals. That they are multiple sets of rules is just the catalyst for this bifurcation sanctioning what is already brouhaha is, in my opinion, a reality. classic case of a very small tail In summary, his response was wagging a very big dog. that amateurs enjoy trying to For full story CLICK HERE
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Golf BC w as exci t ed t o r et ur n t o t he 2018 Van couver GOLFEXPO as pr esen t i n g spon sor s, w i t h som e gr eat con t est s an d gi veaw ays! As owners and operators of world-class golf courses across British Columbia and Hawaii, the GolfBC Group delivers the spectacular. All in naturally beautiful settings; many designed by masters; some ranked among North America?s best? from the
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award-winning Nicklaus North, Wailea Golf Club and Gallagher ?s Canyon to the unforgettable
golf experience at Mayfair Lakes, Olympic View, Arbutus Ridge and the Okanagan Club, each GolfBC course encompasses the full breadth of the region?s natural beauty. As unique as they are challenging, each course is an extraordinary golf experience onto its own.
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With a big year ahead, including a new management contract at Blue Ocean Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast; the 3rd annual GolfBC Championship at Gallagher ?s Canyon (Kelowna?s only Mackenzie Tour ? PGA TOUR
Canada event); an improved teaching facility at Mayfair Lakes; and some golf course and restaurant renovations, we were excited to kick off the 2018 season during February?s Vancouver GOLFEXPO.
Seah or se Sw i n g Pass 3 Days of Unlimited Golf on the Gold and Emerald!
Our Most Popul ar Pack age! 3 days of unlimited golf on the Gold and Emerald courses means great savings for 18 or more holes of golf at Hawaii?s top golf resort! NEW: Save the hassle of traveling with your golf clubs and choose the Seahorse Swing Plus which includes 3 days of standard rental clubs!
Gol f BC.com
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CANADIANGOLF
AROUNDTHEWORLD Can ada To Com pet e At In augur al Wom en ?s PGA Cup
The PGA of America announced recently the formation of an international event, the Women?s PGA Cup ? a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world. The inaugural competition will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States. The Women?s PGA Cup will be a 54-hole stroke play event with each team?s lowest three scores being counted after each round. The winning country will be the team with the lowest 54-hole aggregate
IMAGE COURTESY PGA OF CANADA
The f ollow i n g coun t r i es ar e t en t at i vely com m i t t ed t o play i n t he 2019 Wom en ?s PGA Cup: Aust r ali a, Can ada, Gr eat Br i t ai n & Ir elan d, Sw eden an d t he Un i t ed St at es.
total. Each national team will be composed of five players and one captain, who also may be a playing or non-playing captain at the option of the respective country. Those eligible to represent their country must be members in good standing with their respective Professional Golfers Association. For full story CLICK HERE
GOLFEXPO
2018 Van couver GOLFEXPO Gol f EXPO Pr oves ?Revi t al i zed?
IMAGES COURTESY JEFF SUTHERLAND
FROMTHE
BY JEFF SUTHERLAND
When t he Nat i on al Golf Cour se Ow n er s? Associ at i on (NGCOA) t ook over t he lon g r un n i n g Van couver Golf Show last sum m er , t hey plan n ed t o chan ge m uch m or e t han just t he n am e.
The expanded range included equipment from five of the top manufacturers (Callaway, Cobra, Ping, TaylorMade, and Titleist) and its increased size saw almost no-one having to wait more than a few minutes to try out the latest clubs.
It started with a new show layout to give attendees room to breathe plus an expanded tee deck to give everyone the chance to hit as many balls as they wanted.
There were also quite a few new exhibitors including the now renamed track at Point Roberts (now to be known as Bald Eagle at Point Roberts). Architect Wayne Carleton, who CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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was at the show, has been busy updating the layout which will open in April with a new real estate component attached. This show has always been about deals and the competitive Long Dri v e - Th e Gol f zon si mul ator, h ome to th e Eagl eq uest Long Dri v e landscape in the Lower contest prov ed v ery popul ar Mainland saw facilities only available at the Show, offering some pre-season ranged from GolfBC offering a deals that were simply $250 gift card useable at any awesome. The deals, most of which were
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PGA of Canada M ember and Tri ck Sh ot A rti st Sandy K urceba of their facilities for $200? in essence putting an extra 50 bucks in your jeans, to the Fraser Valley Golf Trail card where $119 got you one round of golf at Chilliwack, Sandpiper and The Falls? in other words for less than $40 per round. Redwoods GC had a deal where you could purchase two any-day green fees paired with a power cart for only $126, a $60 (or 30%) savings! Even those facilities who were there more to just promote their ongoing deals had some great offers.
One that really stood out was for Homestead just south of the border in Lynden where you could get a Mon-Fri annual membership for just $800? and that?s in Canadian dollars. Another is the long running Red Book (an NGCOA initiative with discounts for 118 facilities). This is one of those 'can?t-miss' deals where the book pays for itself with its first use. And at the show they had it on for half price ($20). The PGA of BC Stage, with CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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speakers ranging from PGA Tour Canada player Corey Renfrew to well regarded teaching professional and Highland Pacific GM Jeff "Stick" Palmer was the usual hit, and the Peak equipment store was packed constantly. There were also an amazing number of contests. Bottom line, the overall change this year was a new vitality. The show was fresh, the exhibitors were offering some great deals and the
contests were fun with first-rate prizes. One word to the wise when you are planning to go to the EXPO next February. Going on Sunday is a great idea. The crowds are a little smaller, the exhibitors are a little more available so finding those great deals and contests will just be a little bit easier. See 2018 @VanGolfEXPO slideshow here: For full story CLICK HERE
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IT STARTS WITH MOUNTAIN GOLF... Golf in Whistler boasts a variety of classic Canadian mountain golf courses. Surrounded by incredible mountain views, each course has its own unique style. From the rolling greens of the Palmer Course, to the mountainside vistas from Robert Trent Jones, the dramatic par 3?s by Jack Nicklaus and the stunning backdrop of Mount Currie above Bob Cupp?s creation, Whistler offers four unique golf experiences that make it one of North America?s leading golf destinations. Of course mountain golf in Canada wouldn?t be complete without incredible wildlife viewing. A visit from one of the local black bears is pretty much a guarantee on your trip.
WHY WHISTLER? Located in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia just two hours north of Vancouver, Whistler is Canada?s favourite year-round destination. Highlights
include two majestic mountains with a vibrant base Village, amazing summer activities along with four championship golf courses, unbeatable shopping, restaurants and bars, accommodation to suit every budget, hiking trails, spas and arguably the best mountain bike park in the world. Before becoming a ski area and Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, this was already a place that drew visitors from far and wide. All of this is accessed by the incredible Sea to Sky highway, a wonder in itself.
PLUS GREAT VALUE ! Whistler boasts an array of world class hotels providing unlimited options for golf and stay packages. Booking agents can tailor your package to your needs. Many guests also choose The Golf Whistler Passport. Each passport includes a round of golf at each of Whistler ?s four amazing courses. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Play them all in one trip or split it up and enjoy a few trips to Whistler- the choice is yours (see story below).
TO BOOK NOW
To book a golf and stay package call one of the Golf Whistler experts at 1-844-955-3263. For more information or to purchase a Golf Whistler Passport online visit www.golfwhistler.com
Th e Gol f Wh i stl er Passport Rated Canada?s number one golf destination by Golf Digest, Whistler ?s four championship, designer courses (Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Big Sky Golf Club, Nicklaus North Golf Club and the Whistler Golf Club) provide an unparalleled mountain golf experience.
A nd you can use th e 2018 Gol f Wh i stl er Passport to pl ay al l f our of th ese at a 40%sav i ngs pl us get di scounts on any addi ti onal rounds. Purchase your 2018 Purchase your Golf Whistler Passport from $349 CAD. Some restrictions apply. For more information on the Golf Whistler Passport, stay and play packages and Whistler Resort visit www.golfwhistler.com or call our golf specialist at 1-844-955-3263
Gol f Wh i stl er.com
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THERULES
COURTESY
IMAGE CREDIT GOLF CANADA
OFGOLF GOLF CANADA Gol f ?s New Wor l d Han di cap Sy st em Desi gn ed To Wel com e Mor e Gol f er s
Li ber t y Cor n er , N.J., USA USGA and Th e R&A Rel ease K ey Features. Gol f Canada an d St An dr ew s, To A dopt A l l Features Of Scot lan d ? The R&A an d Th e Proposed New Worl d Handi cap System t he USGA an n oun ce key f eat ur es of t he pr oposed developed following an extensive review of systems n ew Wor ld Han di cap administered by six existing Syst em (WHS), desi gn ed t o pr ovi de all golf er s w i t h handicapping authorities - Golf Australia, the Council of a con si st en t m easur e of National Golf Unions (CONGU) playi n g abi li t y globally. The idea for a new, unified system was conceived by the USGA and The R&A and
in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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(EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the United States Golf Association (USGA). The tenets of the new system focus on three main objectives: to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap; to enable golfers of differing abilities, genders and nationalities to transport their handicap to any course globally and compete on a fair and equitable basis; and to indicate with sufficient accuracy the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions. Some of the features of the new system: Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count
for handicap purposes, a minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; a recommendation that the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap be 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds, an average calculation of a handicap taken from the best 8 of the last 20 scores, a calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player ?s performance each day, daily handicap revisions, a limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only) and a maximum handicap limit of 54.0 regardless of gender. Given worldwide alignment towards a single system, all parties will now embark on a two-year transition period targeting implementation in 2020. For full story CLICK HERE
GOLFNEWS
Har r y Wh i t e?s Opt i m i st Jun i or Gol f Tour Set To Pl ay On
Opti mi st Juni or Li nk ster Tour
Than ks t o hi s dedi cat ed f r i en ds Har r y Whi t e?s jun i or golf act i vi t i es w i ll oper at e as n or m al i n 2018. The gr oup, headed by Mi ke Ri st e at t he BC Golf Museum , i s i n t he pr ocess of est abli shi n g t he Har r y Whi t e Jun i or
IMAGE CREDIT MICHELLE FEDOSOFF
JUNIOR
Li n kst er Golf Soci et y. The new society will: operate Harry White?s Optimist Junior Golf Tour, select the BC Junior America?s Cup Boys Team, select the Optimist Team members, and administer the Harry White Scholarship . CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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For updated information visit. www.juniorlinkstertour.com.
The GOAL of the Board is to ensure Harry's legacy does not die.
FREE MEET & GREET SUN. MARCH 11, 2018
REGISTRATION WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE EVENT.
The Board is inviting all past and new players who plan to play on the 2018 JUNIOR LINKSTER TOUR to a free reception at the BC Golf Museum on SUNDAY MARCH 11, 2018 from 1PM - 4 PM. LOCATION: BC GOLF MUSEUM 2545 Blanca St, Vancouver TIME: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM The Board would like to meet the players and parents to discuss the 2018 schedule. We are seeking input on how to improve the tour.
For full story CLICK HERE
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IMAGES COURTESY VACOUVER GOLF TOUR
Van couver Gol f Tour Br i n gs Li f e To Low er Mai n l an d Gol f Com m un i t y BY BRA D Z I EM ER
The Van couver Golf Tour can boast a couple of n ot able alum n i i n PGA TOUR w i n n er s Adam Hadw i n an d Ni ck Taylor , w ho bot h hon ed t hei r gam e on t he VGT bef or e m aki n g i t bi g on golf ?s gr an dest st age. But VGT commissioner Fraser Mulholland is equally proud of the fact that his tour, now entering its 12th year, has provided amateur players of all abilities a place to compete.
A mateurs Can Tee I t Up Under True Competi ti on Condi ti ons (Sh ow n I s Web Desi gner M i k e West).
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A t typi cal peak -season ev ents amateur w i nners w i l l earn pri ze credi ts ?This is their PGA TOUR,? w orth about $ 400 or $ 500. A t th e V ancouv er Open, Mulholland th e V GT?s marq uee ev ent says of the each summer, th e w i nners earn $ 1,000 i n amateurs merch andi se credi ts. who play on the VGT. ?I think I am most proud of the fact we have built something locally for players of all abilities to come out and really challenge themselves. It has really stimulated the golf community here in the Lower Mainland.? Langley?s Peter Jones can attest to that. Jones has been a VGT regular since 2010 and last year teed it up in 26 events all over the Metro Vancouver area. He says the VGT provides him with the competition he craves and has helped him whittle his handicap index down to about 12. ?I'm 56 and I still compete with guys in their 20s, 30s and
40s,? Jones says. ?Playing on VGT allows your game to become more consistent and you are also able to deal with pressure. I mean everybody has a bad hole, but you can rebound quickly.? That pressure, Jones says, is part of the attraction of being a VGT member. ?It's tough if you have never played competitive golf,? Jones says. ?The first Vancouver Open I played I was nervous as hell for the three days. Normally it's all about getting off the first tee and not making a fool of yourself. That's what people worry about.? Mulholland figures the VGT has staged about 400 events since its inaugural event at Northview Golf Club in Surrey in 2006. He and his team put CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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on a great show. The events are professionally run, with live scoring and some great prizes for amateur participants. ?I would say we are kind of the home club for a lot of players that don?t have a home course,? he says.
Fraser M ul h ol l and w i th Ch ad Haral son f rom Rampi on Enterpri ses... One of th e sponsors w h o h el ps mak e th e Tour h appen.
Mulholland has endeavoured to keep it affordable. An annual VGT membership runs $200 and tournament entry fees are reasonably priced. ?It's a very affordable membership if you think about what it costs to join somewhere else,? Mulholland says. ?It's $200 and you are getting at least that
much value in 'schwag' -- balls and stuff like that. And we have very affordable tournament fees where players get an opportunity to play in an event professionally managed for them.? Click HERE for full story. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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JUNIORGOLF
BC's Susan Xi ao Best ow s NEWS Mapl e Leaf Jun i or Gol f Tour Wi t h ANA In spi r at i on Gr an t Rancho Mirage, California, March 22-25, 2018, are each given the opportunity to give a local golf association that has impacted their life a grant of $5000, courtesy of ANA and the AJGA. Xiao competed for many years on the MJT and is the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Champion. For full story CLICK HERE
IMAGES CREDIT MJT
Can ada?s t op f em ale Jun i or Golf er , Susan Xi ao, 16, of Sur r ey, Br i t i sh Colum bi a, has select ed t he Maple Leaf Jun i or Golf Tour (MJT) t o r ecei ve t he ANA (All Ni ppon Ai r w ays) In spi r at i on ?s Gat ew ay Ci t y Gr an t f or 2018, helpi n g t o laun ch t he 20t h season of Can ada?s n um ber on e played Jun i or Golf Tour on a hi gh n ot e. The top-ranked girls in each of ANA?s 11 North American Gateway Cities - of which Vancouver is one ? who have qualified into the ANA Inspiration tournament held by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) at Mission Hills Country Club in
BC's Susan X i ao
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JUNIOR
IMAGES CREDIT GRIZZLY TOUR
GOLFNEWS
Gr i zzl y Gol f Tour An n oun ces 2018 Jun i or An d Cub Sch edul e
The GGT Cub Di vi si on f or boys an d gi r ls aged 5 t o 15 has a f ull com plem en t of 30 t our n am en t s, an d t he Jun i or Di vi si on f or gi r ls an d boys aged 12 t o 18 f eat ur es 20 t our n am en t s t hi s year . These tournaments are posted on the GGT website
www.grizzlygolftour.com. "We have built a strong schedule on good golf courses that will allow local juniors a regular competitive platform to develop their game and take it to the next level," said GGT Tournament Director Brad Ewart. And young golfers CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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who are new-to-the-game now have a chance to learn the rules and etiquette of golf while making friends for a lifetime." The Cub Division events will be staged on par three, executive, and full-length courses. The Cubs will play from tees and to course yardages that correspond to their age. The Junior Division events will be played on top local facilities. "For many years southwest BC has been the development grounds for some of the best players in the country. Almost every one of
these golfers started playing golf tournaments with the late Harry White and the Junior Linkster tour," said GGT's Ewart.
Website: www.grizzlygolftour.com For More Information Contact: Brad Ewart Tournament Operations / Managing Director Grizzly Golf Tour Tel: 604.808.4653 Email: brad.ewart@telus.net For full story CLICK HERE
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TEAM CANADA
IMAGES CREDIT GOLF CANADA/ BEAR MOUNTAIN RESORT
NEWS
Sar a-Maude Jun eau To Lead Team Can ada Devel opm en t Squad At Vi ct or i a's Bear Moun t ai n
Team Canada's Nati onal Dev el opment Sq uad Wi l l Be Based A t Bear M ountai n Resort From February - June Led By Former Team Canada M ember Sara-M aude Juneau (M i ddl e). On Her Ri gh t I s Dev el opment Sq uad M ember El l i e Szeryk A nd On Her Lef t I s Cél este Dao
Golf Can ada i s pleased t o an n oun ce t hat Can adi an pr of essi on al golf er an d f or m er Team Can ada m em ber Sar a-Maude Jun eau of Fossam bault -sur -le-Lac, Que., has joi n ed t he
or gan i zat i on i n t he r ole of assi st an t , Developm en t Squad an d Next Gen er at i on Per f or m an ce. Juneau? who played on both the LPGA and Symetra Tours during her career? will work CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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closely with the 10 Development Squad athletes (5 girls, 5 boys) as well as Golf Canada?s National Team coaches and Sport Science consultants. ?Sara-Maude brings a unique combination of skill and hands-on experience which we feel is critical to the success of developing our top-level juniors,? said Jeff Thompson, Juneau will help in leading the new centralized component of the Squad based out of Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C.? Team Canada?s Official Training Centre. The program will send Development Squad athletes, who include Victoria's Nolan Thoroughgood and Coquitlam's Euna Han, to Bear Mountain from February through to early June to be immersed in a centre of excellence. For full story CLICK HERE
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BCGOLF
PROFILE Ther e's so m uch t o see an d do i n Ver n on a li t t le sli ce of par adi se sur r oun ded by lakes, golf cour ses, hi ke an d bi ke pat hs an d t r ai ls an d ever yt hi n g else t he gor geous Okan agan has t o of f er . There are five golf facilities in the area: 1) Predator Ridge Golf Resort is the only area facility that features luxurious accommodation with 36 holes of golf? plus the option to live in this paradise. 2) Spallumcheen G&CC which offers two distinct challenges ? a 9-hole, par 35 course (2,624 yards), and an 18-hole championship layout of 6,423 yards. Both feature lush green fairways and colourful
TOURI SM V ERNON flowerbeds. 3) The semi-private Vernon G&CC has been part of Vernon for over a century. The championship par 72 course, lined with towering lombardi poplars and mature weeping willows, plays longer than the 6,609 yards that the scorecard states. 4) Designed by Fred Couples and Gene Bates, The Rise is a spectacular championship course 1,000 feet above Okanagan Lake. Generous landing areas and five sets of tees accommodate golfers of all abilities. 5) At Hillview they have created a fast playing par 57, 18-hole layout with short but challenging holes. Eight ponds connected by a stream make this a target course.
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Th e Ri dge Course A t Predator Ri dge
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SCENES
BY TERRY LENYK
Gol f Can ada Deepen s Com m i t m en t To Respon si bl e Coach i n g Movem en t
Golf Can ada i s pr oud t o an n oun ce i t i s w or ki n g t o com bat an d pr even t abuse, bullyi n g an d har assm en t i n golf by adopt i n g Respect i n Spor t an d Respect i n t he Wor kplace as par t of i t s Laurence A ppl ebaum (L) & K ev i n deepen ed Th i stl e (R) Joi n Oth er NSF?s I n com m i t m en t t o Work i ng To Prev ent Bul l yi ng, A buse, Harassment A nd Di scri mi nati on t he Respon si ble The program?s mission is to Coachi n g Movem en t empower participants to (RCM). Respect in Sport and Respect in the Workplace are online resources used to prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD).
IMAGES CREDIT GOLF CANADA / TYLER COSTIGAN
BEHINDTHE
recognize signs of BAHD and eliminate it from the game and workplace, through a global culture of respect. For full story CLICK HERE
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NEWS
BC's Cor y Ren f r ew Joi n s CJGA Tour n am en t Team
"I'm i n cr edi bly exci t ed t o t ake on t hi s n ew challen ge as BC Tour n am en t Di r ect or f or t he CJGA an d con t i n ue t o develop jun i or golf on Th e Canadi an Juni or Gol f A ssoci ati on t he w est (CJGA ) announced th e h i ri ng of Cory coast ". Sai d Renf rew , a f ormer M ack enzi e-PGA TOUR Canada pl ayer f rom V i ctori a, B.C. Ren f r ew as i ts new Tournament Di rector f or th e w hen asked prov i nce of Bri ti sh Col umbi a about joi n i n g t he CJGA com pet i t i on s outstanding product that t eam . undoubtedly contributed to "Even though I began my competitive junior golf career quite late by today's standards, the CJGA was there to welcome me and provide an
IMAGES CREDIT CANADIAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION
JUNIORGOLF
the experiences and successes I have enjoyed to this day". "We could not be happier to add Cory to our staff and have CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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him as the face of the CJGA in the province of British Columbia" said Brad Parkins, CJGA COO. "Cory's experiences as a player, from his junior days to the professionals, make him not only a valuable resource for our Association, but for our members, many of whom have the aspirations of doing what Cory did." Renfrew is no stranger to the CJGA. He played in the CJGA program from 2003-2005 as a junior. He captained the Euro Junior Golf Cup team that captured the John Clarke Trophy in 2005 and then went on to compete at the University of Victoria (2006-2010), before turning professional in 2011. In 2012 Cory earned status on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and went onto a breakthrough season, finishing 2nd in his first event at the
Bayview Place Times Colonist Open and taking home his first professional win at the Syncrude Boreal Open, finishing 3rd overall on that seasons Order of Merit.
" We coul d not be h appi er to add Cory to our staf f and h av e h i m as th e f ace of th e CJGA i n th e prov i nce of Bri ti sh Col umb i a" BRAD PARKINS, CJGA COO
Renfrew continued to play on Tour for three more seasons and earned some starts on the Web.com Tour before stepping back his playing at the end of 2016. For more information please visit cjga.com
For full story CLICK HERE
THE
PARTINGSHOT Nei th er snow nor rai n nor th e ch al l enge of a snow man bui l di ng contest sh al l k eep th ese young tal ented gol f ers f rom th e compl eti on of th ei r appoi nted rounds. FLASHBACK: A Team BC Summer Games golf camp was held at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club last March 4-5th in snowy conditions, but players, coaches and a dedicated photographer fought through the cold and wet and snow to get their work done. From L-R: Hannah Lee, Alisha Lau, Frosty, Frosty jr., Euna Han and Mary Parsons, pose after a 'Team Building' exercise.