Greetings!

Welcome to the eNewsletter from the BC Golf House Society. I hope you will read it, and forward it to your friends in golf. The objective is to raise the level of awareness of the activities and the importance of this wonderful asset to the golfing community in British Columbia. Each month we will share articles that we hope you find interesting.

Please send your feedback on our newsletter and continue to look at our web site as we update the appearance and the content over the next couple of months.

Remember, golf is the game of a lifetime! Encourage a friend or relative to learn to play this year!

Sincerely,
Barrie McWha
Executive Director

2545 Blanca St., Vancouver, BC, V6R 4N1
604 222-4653 (GOLF)
www.bcgolfhouse.com

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New Board/ Constitution / Sylvia retires

June 16 was the 25th annual general meeting of the BC Golf House Society. Highlights of the meeting were the adoption of a revised constitution that addressed a number of issues. The bylaws were updated to be gender neutral in their terminology, the purposes were updated to reflect new initiatives such as the involvement with the Evans caddie Scholarship Program in conjunction with the PNGA and the Evans scholarship Foundation. The election process was changed so that all Directors were not being elected all in the same year, and the Directors now have a maximum of four consecutive two year terms that they can serve.

Former President of the BC Golf House Society, Sylvia Mellish

Another highlight of the meeting was the retirement from the Board of former President Sylvia Mellish, who has served the Society for many years, capping off her tenure by leading the revision of the constitution. President John Snyder presented Sylvia with an inscribed framed photo of the BC Golf House in appreciation of her many years of service.

Dick Zokol enters Canadian Golf
Hall of Fame

July 19th during a ceremony at his home club, Marine Drive Golf Club, Richard Zokol was officially made an Honoured Member of the Canadian Golf hall of Fame. Recognized for his highly successful amateur career in which he won the Canadian Amateur, the Morocco Invitational amateur and was a member of the NCAA Championship team for Brigham Young University. After turning professional, Dick competed successfully on the PGA Tour, winning twice, as well as winning the Canadian PGA Championship. After leaving competitive golf Dick turned his attention to creating the award winning Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club just outside Merritt, BC. Dick was inducted as an Honoured Member into the Golf Hall of Fame of BC in 2009.

Dick Zokol winning the PGA Tour Milwaukee Open

John Bodenhamer / Troy Andrews
– changes at the PNGA

John Bodenhamer, Executive Director of the PNGA, the Washington State Golf Association, the Pacific Coast Golf Association and CEO of the Home Course, just outside Tacoma, has accepted the position of Senior Director of Amateur Championships and Amateur Status with the USGA. John has long been a strong supporter and great friend to the BC Golf House Society. It was difficult decision for him in some ways because of his life-long career in the Pacific Northwest, however it marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in a distinguished career of service to the game of golf. This move also marks the opportunity of a lifetime for Troy Andrews who has been directly assisting John over the past four years and has already distinguished himself during a .... career with the PNGA. Troy too has been an great friend of the BC Golf House, particularly recently with the work we have been doing on the Evans caddie program in BC. We all wish John and Troy the very best of success in their new positions.

Tradition Vancouver Island coming up

September 26 isn’t far off. The second annual Tradition Golf Classic - Vancouver Island is being held at the Royal Colwood Golf & Country Club and interested players can register individually or as a foursome by visiting...... http://www.bcgolfhouse.com/tradition-vancouver-island It is getting more challenging by the day to fund non-profits and their work. This is event is very important to the BC Golf House not only from the point of view of finances but also by raising awareness of the work the Society does. To have a full field of 10 foursomes is our goal and I hope our readers will respond. What good be nicer than spending a day on a great golf course followed by a wonderful meal among friends! I encourage you to enter on line now!

BC Golf House at Canadian Open

The BC Golf House assisted Golf Canada at the Canadian Open last week by displaying clubs and memorabilia of Davey Black and Fred Wood, two of the great professionals at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club from yesteryear. Over 700 people had their photo taken with the RBC Canadian Open trophy, or when it was being displayed elsewhere, the Seagram Gold Cup (won by Pat Fletcher in ’54 at Point Grey and Don Massengale in ’66 at Shaughnessy) or the Olympic Trophy (won by Canadian George Lyons in 1904, the last time golf was in the Olympics). Imagine, in 2016 when golf goes back into the Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Canada will be the defending champion!

Pat Fletcher with the Seagram Gold Cup at Point Grey in 1954

More hickory days

By the end of the season, the BC Golf House will have hosted 16 hickory events. These are held on par 3 holes and players get to tee off with hickory clubs and use replica balls from 1910. They also get to putt out using hickory putters. It is an opportunity to experience the game as it was 100 years ago, albeit on modern playing surfaces. Our thanks go out to volunteers Bob Tate, Brian King and Mike Riste for helping to host these events. We already have a commitment to provide hickory sets to the Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club for their centennial coming up in 2013.

Golf as it was 100 years ago – at Koksilah GC near Cowichan on Vancouver island