2014 PGA of BC Assistants Championship - WON

2014 PGA of BC Assistants Championship - June 2 - 3rd, 2014

Rivershore Golf Links, Kamloops, BC

Recently I played in and won, the PGA of BC Assistants Championship, hosted by the Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, BC.  After birdieing my final hole to post a two day total of four under par, top ranked PGA of Canada professional Bryn Parry, calmly rolled in a 15 foot eagle putt to tie.  After 36 holes, we were both two shots clear of the field.  Bryn and I also happen to work together at Seymour Creek Golf Centre and the Bryn Parry Golf Academy.  

We played a sudden death playoff where I was able to birdie the first playoff hole to win. It was great fun and a confidence builder to be around the lead of a meaningful golf tournament through the final day.  The last few seasons on PGA TOUR Canada have been a struggle for me, and as such, it had been a little while since I have been in contention.   To pull out the win was a big thrill and it is rewarding to see some of my hard work at the range and practice area beginning to pay off.

This was my first win in a PGA of Canada Championship, and was also my first start as a member of the PGA of Canada.  I am very much looking forward to the bigger events this summer both here in BC and across the country and am excited for new opportunities and challenges moving forward. 

Click for the full PGA of BC recap, along with some photos and a pdf of the press release.

Shrunken Treasure - Tsawwassen Springs Golf Course

SCORE GOLF COURSE BLOG - Tsawwassen Springs Golf Course

Published May 30th, 2014 - click here to go to the article

When I first moved to Vancouver, almost 10 years ago, Tsawwassen GC was one of the first courses I played on a regular basis. The club used to host a weekly money game called the Snowman. The entry was $20 with portions going to low gross, skins and a deuce pot. The par-64 executive layout was a tricky mix of par 3s and short par 4s with the odd par 5 mixed in. It was all weather, frustrating, yet loads of fun and great practice.

Knowing it had to improve course conditions to survive in a competitive lower mainland golf market, the ownership team decided to fully renovate the course. The brand new course and associated real estate development opened in 2012. 

Designed by Tsawwassen-based golf course architect Ted Locke, Tsawwassen Springs is a hybrid course of sorts, featuring a mix of four par 5s, six par 3s and eight par 4s. With a par of 70 and measuring 5,439 yards from the back tees, the course is quite short by today’s standards, yet some narrow fairways, many undulations and well-placed hazards really keep you on your toes.  

When asked about the course, general manager Chris Hood offers, “You will hit every club in your bag. The drainage is excellent, and the course playable 12 months of the year. With short walks between greens and tees, the average round is about 3:45.” I couldn't agree more; we played a recent tournament round in well under four hours and the conditions were excellent.

One of the signature holes is the par-5 fifth. At just 475 yards from the back tees, it is not long, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in intrigue. Driving from a slightly raised tee adjacent to the fourth green, you are asked to hit a narrow fairway flanked by a hazard all along the left side and a sparse stand of trees on the right. A second small hazard exists on the right side just where a long drive can reach. While the tee shot is fair, it can be intimidating if you prefer to curve the ball. A well-struck drive will leave approximately 200 yards to a sloping green positioned partway up a hill to the left. A ball curving from right to left has every chance of hitting the receptive green, which has been designed to corral the correct shot. This hole, like many others, offers a great chance for eagle or birdie, yet has the teeth to keep you honest.

Another great hole is the dogleg right par-4 14th. At 334 yards, really long hitters may be tempted to hit across a large pond, although most players will choose the generous fairway to the left. With numerous rolls and wrinkles to aim at and clear sight lines, the tee shot is as difficult as you want to make it. The green is long, narrow and features a large, undulating tier in the back third. With a well-placed bunker at the midpoint on the left and a narrow green centre, the approach must be precise to say the least. In hindsight, choosing the safer play off the tee will leave a much trickier approach. 

If I had to offer a criticism it would be towards the scaled down nature of the course. The reduced size of green surrounds, putting surfaces, collections areas and bunkering, really test the accuracy of your approach shots and short game skills. In my mind, at times a little too much for the beginner golfer, although it is a wonderful test of accuracy and short game.

Tsawwassen Springs is a challenging, yet eminently fun layout, providing something for everyone. It is a championship golf course, scaled down to a length that can be enjoyed by all.

Squamish Success Story - Squamish Golf Club

SCORE GOLF COURSE BLOG - The Squamish Valley Golf and Country Club

Published April 22nd, 2014 - click here to go to the article

In every region of Canada, there exist hidden-gem golf courses, known for great value, service, conditioning and golfing interest. Locals flock to these courses, yet out of town visitors often drive past on route to better-known destinations. The Squamish Valley GC is one of these hidden gems. 

Situated just off Highway 99, in Squamish, the golf, squash, and curling club is a staple in the local community. The-60 kilometer stretch of highway from West Vancouver to Squamish, commonly known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway, is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Refurbished as part of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the roadway is an absolute pleasure. Featuring the deep blue waters of Howe Sound and the majestic peaks of the coastal mountain range, first-time visitors will for surely marvel at the beauty.

Gordon McKay designed the par-72 Squamish Valley layout with 18 holes opening for play in 1970. From 1992 to 1995 the course underwent an extensive refurbishment at the hands of golf course architect Robert Muir Graves. Since then, it is commonly referred to as one of the most enjoyable golf offerings in the Lower Mainland.  

The course is built upon the old riverbed of the nearby Squamish River, which over hundreds of thousands of years carved out the Squamish Valley from the surrounding Garibaldi Mountain Range. The turf is tight and the greens firm, often reaching their summer speeds much earlier than one would expect.

Opening with a gentle par 5, you tee off and watch your ball soar against a snow-capped peak. With the fairway curving slightly left, the first is a benign three shotter, routinely offering a great chance for birdie. The second is a narrow, straightaway par 4 with a devilish green and the third is a drivable par 4 protected by a deep greenside bunker. It is entirely possible to begin your round with three straight birdies and so begins the charm of the course.

Stretches of fun, accessible golf holes are interspersed with challenging par 3s, some worthy 4s and a collection of inviting 5s. The fourth hole is a 440-yard brute, playing gently uphill, usually into a prevailing breeze, to a large, sloped green. Two strong accurate shots are required and par is a well-earned score. The sixth, a reachable dogleg left par 5, offers another opportunity for birdie, yet beware the inky black water of a small greenside lake. The 10th is another highlight par 4. The gently curving fairway is flanked to the left by a boundary fence and protected on the right by a well-positioned fairway bunker and trees. Humps and hollows guard a long, elevated, multi-tiered green, where correct distance and accuracy is a must. Two strong shots will yield another birdie chance, but an errant approach will test your scrambling limit.

The 13th is another strong par 4. At 451 yards from the back tees, the No.-2 handicap hole features a forced carry across a recently enlarged pond to a fairway angling left and a small green tilted from back to front. The hole is simple in design and asks you straightforward questions: Can you hit this fairway? Can you leave your approach below the hole? Par is a great score.

Catering to all levels of golfer, Squamish Valley GC is a fun and accommodating course offering challenge, opportunity and variety. The conditions are always better than expected, the views spectacular and the service top notch. An easy day trip from both Vancouver and Whistler, visitors to B.C.’s west coast will be well served to include Squamish Valley on their next golf trip. 

Basking in Sunshine - Sunshine Coast Golf Club

SCORE GOLF COURSE BLOG - The Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club

Published March 6th, 2014 - click here to go to the article

A short ferry ride across the scenic Howe Sound Inlet is all that separates B.C.’s Sunshine Coast from the hustle and bustle of Metro Vancouver. This quaint stretch of coastline is easily within day-trip distance of Vancouver, yet feels a world removed. With an abundance of art, culture, and outdoor recreation, the Sunshine Coast is truly a vacationer’s paradise. A scenic 20-minute drive north of the Langdale ferry terminal, is the small community of Roberts Creek. Known for a beautiful sandy beach, quaint town centre and legendary Gumboot Cafe, it is also home to the Sunshine Coast G&CC. Ranked fifth on the 2012 PGA of BC Hidden Gems list, twice host of the Canadian Junior Championship and of the Canadian Club Champions Championship, this fun layout offer’s one of B.C.’s most enjoyable golfing experiences.  

The original nine (back nine), designed by Ernie Brown, is a back and forth layout, featuring narrow fairways lined with mature fir trees and smallish greens. Opening in 1996, the new nine (front nine), designed by Less Furber, is an out and back layout, cut from dense fir forest, which truly takes you on a journey into the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast.  

The course opens with an elevated tee shot to the gently sloping, although visually narrow fairway. You’ll watch your tee shot soar through the air, noticing just how big the large old growth fir trees actually are. You’ll soon realize the fairway isn’t as narrow as first thought, a theme which continues throughout. The front nine presents a series of fun, challenging but fair golf holes. The fairways are generous but tree lined, slopes are gentle but ever present and the greens subtle enough to challenge without being excessive. Featuring three reachable par 5s, four mid-length par 4s and a pair of difficult par 3s, the front nine provides numerous chances to score yet keeps the better player honest.

A wonderful three-hole stretch begins with the dogleg left par-5 eighth hole, ending with the mid-length tough par-4 10th. Framed by a stand of large Firs and three fairway bunkers, the eighth hole curves downhill to the right before pitching back up to a semi-blind green. With a generous bailout area left, you’ll be tempted to cut the corner with your drive but you must risk a short side pitch out. A strong drive will reach the corner of the dogleg and set up a great chance to go at the large, multi-tiered green in two. The hole is a definite birdie or even eagle opportunity, yet an errant shot can result in bogey or worse. 

At 196 yards from the back tee, the ninth hole is a challenging par 3, requiring a well-struck tee shot towards a long, narrow yet receptive green. Protected by a bunker and steep fall away to the left, and a high side collection area to the right, you must decide whether to go after the pin, risking a short side miss, or play safe to the high side and face a delicate downhill chip. Par is a great score but anything from a one to five is possible.

The long par-4 10th hole presents one of the tougher tests on the day. An accurate tee shot is required to a generous but completely tree-lined fairway. With the potential for a sidehill/hook lie (for righties), you’re asked to hit a mid to long iron across a shallow ravine into a kidney shaped green, all while navigating the constant right to left slope. Here the potential exists for one of those rare highlight swings, where the ball curves through the air, matching the terrain, lands, takes the slope and chases towards a back left pin.  Then again, a missed approach leaves a stern test of your skill, creativity and finesse. Par is a most satisfactory score.

The course continues in this fashion with a few demanding shots, mixed in with ample birdie opportunities, pleasant views and a most enjoyable walk. The back nine is more open with room to swing the driver. There are views to the ocean, the mountains, and the variety of holes, terrain and shot selection keep you interested. Ending with the strong dogleg right, uphill par-4 18th, I notice I’ve hit almost every club in my bag, have made some birdies, a few bogeys and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Head professional Jim Pringle offers this quote: “I feel the greatest compliments  given are the reactions from first time visitors. They finish their round and tell us that they can’t wait to come back and play here again. The course is a playable length for all levels of golfers, and challenges the expert player with challenging greens and surrounds. All this and you get to spend time on the Sunshine Coast, on of B.C.’s great vacation destinations.”

If I had to offer criticism, it would be towards a select few forced carries located on the front nine and to the over abundance of large trees lining the fairways, both of which can be overly punishing to a higher handicap. While the course is not long, it is varied, scenic and during the summer months, in superb condition. There are opportunities for all skill sets and it is a one of the more affordable and enjoyable golfing experiences on the west coast. A post-round beverage on the large patio, starring out towards Vancouver Island and the Straight of Georgia caps off a great day.