Alberta/British Columbia Golf News

The Canadian Golf Industry generated $11.3 billion in economic benefits across the nation, according to a recent economic analysis conducted by Strategic Networks Group, Inc. on behalf of the National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA).

The Canadian Golf industry employs the equivalent of 341,794 people through direct and spin-off effects, generating more than $7.6 billion in household income. The industry also contributes more than $29.4 billion in total gross production through direct and indirect and induced spending; generates more than $1.2 billion in property and other indirect taxes; as well provides an estimated $1.9 billion in income taxes used to support a variety of programs for all Canadians.

Canada's Nick Taylor will become the third recipient of the Mark H. McCormack Medal, the award given by The R&A to the top-ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking at the end of the amateur season and following the European and US Amateur Championships.

The 22-year-old from Abbotsford, British Columbia, has had a truly outstanding season. Taylor ascended five places to the top of the Ranking in June after heading the U.S. Open sectional qualifying at Tumble Creek, Washington, at which the First Team All-American finished two shots clear of the largely professional field, and claimed one of the two places available. 

The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) in partnership with title sponsor RBC, announced today that John Daly has accepted an exemption to compete at the 2009 RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario.

Daly, whose last appearance in Canada came in 2007, has competed in seven Canadian Opens throughout his PGA Tour career with his best finish coming in 2001 when he finished fourth. Long considered among the PGA Tour’s highest profile competitors and a Canadian fan favourite, Daly’s return to Glen Abbey will find him among the most followed players during tournament week. 

The PGA Tour's RBC Canadian Open is headed back to Western Canada in 2011.

Thursday April 16, officials at the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) and RBC confirmed that the historic Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, which last hosted the event in 2005, will host the tournanament again in two years time.

On the golf course, a few feet can be the difference between finding a hazard and landing in a safe spot with a good angle to attack the pin, and club selection is often an integral component in reducing distances to the cup if you're able to find the putting surface.

GreenFinder Golf GPS , a system that utilizes already-exisiting global positioning systems on your iPhone or Blackberry to calculate the distance from the golfer to various targets on the course, is a simple, convenient and affordable way to improve your golf game by having the right club in your hand and the information necessary to make the right play.

TORONTO - Golf Town, Canada's largest golf retailer with unequaled selection and competitive prices, has announced a new promotion providing consumers nationwide the chance to vote for the "Top 10 Greatest Canadian Golf Moments" and enter to win a fabulous stay-and-play vacation.

Part of GT-10, the company's season-long 10th anniversary celebration, ballots for this initiative will be available at all Golf Town superstores, as well as online at www.golftown.com. Customers will be able to pick their 10 favorite moments from 25 of the country's most historic golf-related events, with each ballot serving as an entry into the grand prize drawing.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) are proud to announce that Mike Weir has been elected as the 2009 inductee into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

With his induction, the Bright's Grove, Ont. native becomes the 64th honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Weir also becomes the 20th male professional golfer in the Hall of Fame and matches George Knudson with the most victories by inductees who have played on the PGA Tour. 

Golfers keen to test drive Bear Mountain Resort's Nicklaus designed Valley Course now have three combinations of 18 holes to experience.  

As a preview to the Valley course's grand opening in June 2009, golfers may choose to add to the experience of playing the resort's critically acclaimed Mountain course, but mixing it up a bit.  In addition to playing the Mountain course's 18 holes, they can choose to start at the Mountain course's 10th tee and continue onto the Valley course to play holes 1 through 4 and 14 through 18.  Another option is to begin play on the Valley course's 1st tee and continue onto the front 9 of the Mountain course after they have completed the 9 Valley holes.  Vancouver Island residents get a "step up" with a special rate of $99.00 per 18 holes. 

If you are on a tight budget it doesn't mean you can't take up the game of golf. Let's face it, most types of golf equipment and accessories are quite expensive. However, you can find used equipment online, used sporting goods stores, through classifieds, or yard sales. If the majority of your money will be spent on instructors and playing at different golf courses, saving money on equipment can help you stay within your budget.

The most common items you can find used include golf clubs, accessories including gloves, hats, and caps for your clubs, golf carts, and golf bags. Depending on your needs, you can buy almost all of your equipment used. When shopping for used equipment, make sure you test it out to ensure that the quality is good. While you can ignore scratches, bent clubs, or broken golf bags are not worth the investment and you should keep looking. 

VANCOUVER, B.C. – It took one extra hole but Eugene Wong wrapped it up and captured British Columbia’s amateur title in a playoff with Parker Lilly of Victoria, B.C. at the 106th B.C. Amateur Championship at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C.

Wong lead the round until hole 15 where he bogeyed and Lilly finally pulled even. The last three holes saw the two neck and neck but Lilly’s putter just wasn’t working for him when he had a chance for birdie at 17 and 18.