Martin Slumbers Image Courtesy R&A/St. Andrews Image Courtesy Of Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Jason Logan, representing the Golf Journalists Association of Canada recently conducted an interview with CEO of the R & A, Martin Slumbers, regarding the 'state of golf' today.

Slumbers was appointed Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 2015.

With all the concern these days over pace of play, here's a different take on how to move play along. 

Sergio Garcia hosted the attempt as teams from Spain, France and Denmark tried to break the Guinness World Records title for the Fastest hole of golf by a team of four.

Filmed on the par five fourth hole ahead of the Real Club Valderrama Open de España.

This inspiring effort featurie Garcia and 11 other European Tour stars.

Behind The Scenes video:

In the words of Vancouverite Adam Fine, "Golf helped me persevere through the most difficult chapter of my life."

As Fine explains:

"In 2015 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune liver disease. I began playing twilight golf at Harding Park in San Francisco to distract myself from the slow deterioration of my health. My passion for golf grew into an obsession, and I played frequently until I received a liver transplant in 2018. After recovering from my surgery, I was fortunate to enjoy playing rounds of golf at Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, and other bucket list golf courses."

He goes on to tell the story about one of the first things he found out about the person from whom he received his life-saving opportunity, "Later, I learned that I share a special connection with my liver donor, who shared my passion for golf."

In this video Adam Fine explains the hugely important role the game of golf played in not only dealing with his situation but in his rehabilitation and his life going forward.

Some of the new Rules of Golf appear to have confused people.

This may help, a video highlighting the main changes with the new 2019 Rules of Golf.

If you are Canadian, it is definitely a bona fide 'Where were you when' moment. Depending on one's age you may recall Paul Henderson's winning goal for Canada against Russia in the final minute of the final game in what became known as the 'Summit Series' hockey tournament back in September of 1972.

Or Sidney Crosby's Golden Goal against the Americans in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Of course, there's Mike Weir's playoff victory over Len Mattiace to capture the 2003 Masters title, the only major ever won by a Canadian. And now this...Nick Taylor's improbable 72-foot bomb of a putt on the 4th playoff hole of the RBC Canadian Open to defeat England's Tommy Fleetwood and become the first Canadian in 69 years to win our National Professional Men's Golf Championship. 

Pat Fletcher was the last Canadian to win the event back in 1954 at Vancouver's Point Grey Golf & Country Club and Canadian golf fans had been reminded of that...every...year...since. No disrespect to Mr. Fletcher or his family, but Canada is definitely ready to talk about the newest 'last Canadian to win' our national open. Thank you, Nick Taylor.

There's so much to be said and enjoyed about that moment and indeed the entire tournament. But watching the PGA TOUR video of the broadcasting moment on CBS does a fine job of capturing the joy, celebration and relief of an entire country.

Oh...and a viral social media moment accidentally produced by Taylor's friend and fellow Canadian on Tour, Adam Hadwin, now eternally linked with Taylor's spectacular winning moment.

...Sometimes life just needs to get in they way. Like when Henrik Stenson's young daughter ran out to give her Dad a hug during the Valspar Championship. Perfect.

Shelly Stouffer Celebrates Her USGA Senior Women's Championship With Son Brett, Who Caddied For Her - Image Credit Steven Gibbons/USGA

British Columibia's Shelly Stouffer became the first golfer from our province to bring home a USGA National Title.

Stouffer, from Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island, has had a pretty solid stretch of winning tournament golf over the last couple of years with multiple provincial titles in the BC Senior Women's & Mid-Master divisions and making it to the semi-finals of the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur last year.

This year she had designs on taking it at least a step further. Which she did.

We love the fact that The European Tour helps promote the game and their players by producing fun videos that show not only the skill of these athletes but their humour and ultimately human side as well. 

In their latest venture, the promoters from the Euro Tour have some of the world's best right-handed golfers taking a turn at a 'closest to the pin contest' which, in itself, isn't all that inspiring considering the talent of these fellows.

But when you make them turn around and hit the ball from the other side ala Phil Mickelson or Mike Weir, well, yeah these guys are good too....but not always.

Watch here as Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson and more of the world's best golfers take on the nearest-the-pin challenge at the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Okay, most golfers have heard the phrase, "It's not how...it's how many," or "There's no pictures on the scorecard," when it comes to getting a result in a game of golf despite what may be less than exemplary methods. 

South Korean golf professional Ho-Sung Choi has created a new standard. His incredibly unique 'golf swing' has just enabled him to capture the Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour. It's actually his 2nd win on the tour but now people are starting to notice. Choi needs to be in a major...soon.

Just watch.

This is one of the most upbeat and inspiring videos we've seen in a while. Erik Anders Lang, who does the 'Adventures In Golf' Vlog for Skratch, visited Buhl Park GC in Pittsburgh, PA and discovered a 9-hole golf course with a very rare twist. It's free.

There's a fascinating story behind this course with no green fees or tee times and Lang does a great job of delving into and updating that story with several of the people who frequent the layout, have played it for years and make up the unique community brought together through golf in this region. 

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. 

Recently, in celebrating International Women's Day, The R & A asked women working in golf - inside and outside of The R&A - to talk about their work and why having more women in the industry is essential for the future success of the sport.

British Columbia Golf joins The R&A in being committed to broadening the appeal of the sport for women and girls in all forms whether that is playing the sport or working within it. The Women in Golf Charter and #INVITEHer​ campaign aims to improve inclusivity of golf for women and girls.

Read more on The R&A's efforts https://www.randa.org/en/theranda/ini...

Tommy Morrissey was born with only one arm. That, however, has not stopped him from playing sports and playing them well. 

Morrissey, who has already achieved a degree of national fame in his native USA through his appearance at PGA TOUR events like the Shriner's Classic, also plays baseball and has hit his share of home runs for his team.

This particular video is from the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando in 2017 when Morrissey was six years old, but young Tommy has continued to prove he not only belongs on the playing field with other 'able-bodied' youngsters, but that he can excel as well. And he has dreams and aspirations like most kids, including wanting to be a golf pro. Oh, and play in the NFL. And drive in NASCAR.

Here, we see him being interviewed by Matt Fisher of AmateurGolf.com and taking him on in a target challenge at the show's driving range.

The 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Organizers Have Announced Commitments From (L-R): Mark O'Meara, Vijay Singh, Miguel Angel Jimenez And Colin Montgomerie

Jay Haas, Fred Funk, Craig Stadler And John Cook Round Out The Latest Legends Commitments

VICTORIA, B.C. (September 7, 2016) – Tournament Organizers announced today that World Golf Hall of Fame members Vijay Singh and Colin Montgomerie, as well as four-time European Ryder Cup team member Miguel Angel Jimenez, have committed to play the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

The PGA TOUR Champions event will be contested at Bear Mountain Golf Resort’s Mountain Course in Victoria, British Columbia the week of September 19-25, 2016. The tournament will feature a US$2.5 million purse, with 81 players competing for a winner’s share of $375,000.

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.

The stars of the LPGA are heading back West to Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in 2020 for the CP Women’s Open – August 31st through September 6th.

Each year over 1,200 people contribute their time and energy to volunteer at the CP Women’s Open. We are so thankful and fortunate to work with such a hardworking group of people each and every year. Registration fills up quickly, so be sure to get your volunteer registration in early.

Richmond’s Alisha Lau Turns 16 In October And Is On The Radar Of Many College Coaches Looking To Add To Their Teams In Upcoming Years - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

They’re not hard to miss: coaches sporting hats and golf shirts with their school logos on them scouting 44 of the best u-19 female golfers in the world.

The World Junior Girls Championship at The Marshes in suburban Ottawa is a great place for coaches to see top 100 amateur golfers such as South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi (#51 in the most recent World Amateur Golf Rankings), Italy’s Carlotta Ricolfi (#56) and Australia’s Karis Davidson (#74) and Hannah Green (#49).

But every golfer in the field is a potential recruit, simply because girls mature at different ages and someone currently ranked 610 right now might be a top 100 player within a couple of years.

Number 610 is Canada’s top-ranked player, 17-year-old Grace St-Germain of Orleans, ON, who was offered multiple scholarship offers before she decided on Daytona College in Florida.

The SFU Clan Women's Golf Squad Took The GNAC Women's Team Championship At Coeur d'Alene Resort In Idaho - Image Courtesy SFU Athletics

courtesy SFU Athletics

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Sophomore Michelle Waters of Qualicum Beach birdied the first playoff hole Tuesday to win medalist honours and lead Simon Fraser to the team championship at the 2016 GNAC Women’s Golf Championships at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.

Waters, who shot Monday’s low round of 3-over-par 74, turned in a 77 on the second round to finish the day at 9-over-par 151. She held off a valiant comeback attempt by Saint Martin’s Jennifer Liedes for her first tournament victory.

The 'Real Wongster' As Eugene Wong's Twitter Handle Reads,  Is Looking To Improve His Status On The Web.com Tour In Final Stage Q-School Starting Dec. 10th - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Courtesy Golf Canada

Eugene Wong is off to the Web.com Tour in 2016. The No. 7 ranked professional golfer in Canada from North Vancouver finished tied for 27th at the season-ending PGA Tour China Series event in Dongguan. The result was good enough to keep him inside the Top-5 on the Tour’s Order of Merit, giving him status on the Web.com Tour next year. The result also saw Wong pick up two places in the world rankings.

Justin Shin, the No. 12 ranked Canadian pro, was sitting fifth on the PGA Tour China Order of Merit at the start of the tournament. Despite shooting back-to-back 69s on the final two days, his 27th place finish wasn’t enough to retain his position. Shin slipped to No. 6 on the money list, but the native of Maple Ridge, B.C., will have a chance to earn status on the Web.com Tour through the qualifying tournament from December 10-13.

By John Gordon/Golf Canada

Welcome to Golf Handicaps for Dummies: Why having a handicap is not a handicap.

No, I’m not calling you a dummy, but if you’re a golfer of any ability who doesn’t maintain an accurate and consistent handicap, you’re not taking advantage of one of the fundamentals that makes golf the most democratic of sports. And that’s just dumb.

With all due respect, you can’t go one-on-one with a pro basketball player or hope to score on an NHL goalie. They’re not going to let you shoot at a basket that’s lower than regulation or a net that’s 10 feet wide and six feet high.

But golf’s handicap system allows you to compete on an equitable basis with players who are more or less accomplished than you are. Maintaining a handicap also allows you to monitor your progress every time you play. It’s an integral part of your golf experience.

And, starting Jan. 8, the new World Handicap System makes that scenario even more attractive. More user-friendly, in other words.