British Columbia Golf swings into the 2013 season

British Columbia Golf's Chris McGrath is proud of recent B.C. hall-of-famers and is excited about the 2013 championship series happening in B.C.

The season is well underway for British Columbia Golf, the governing body for amateur golf in British Columbia, representing some 56,000 members at more than 300 clubs across the province. Chris McGrath, the communications manager for the organization, said the season has already started off with a bang and will continue to excite golfers around the province in the coming months.

B.C. Golf, governed by the British Columbia Golf Association, is responsible for a few different things. The organization focuses on player development from the grassroots level all the way up to high performance. It also organizes a string of championships that run throughout the province. As well, it supports members through its membership clubs, individual members, and semi-private and municipal clubs. B.C. Golf holds a number of one-off events, too, that it uses to promote the game within the province.

Proud to recognize hall-of-famers

So far this season, B.C. Golf has had many reasons to celebrate its athletes. Alison Murdoch was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame, and on August 2, 2013, she will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

"Alison is one of our better senior women's players," said McGrath. "She's won our senior championship a number of times and has won both British and Irish ladies' amateurs. She is a very accomplished golfer."

Jim Nelford and the late John (Jack) McLaughlin were the two other very accomplished B.C. golfers to enter the hall of fame.

Come watch the championships

McGrath said B.C. Golf is getting pumped about its championship series this summer. It will be heading to Revelstoke for the Junior Boys' Championship from July 2 to 5 at the Revelstoke Golf and Country Club. From there, B.C. Golf visits the Columbia Valley, with the B.C. Amateur Championship happening at The Springs at Radium in Radium Hot Springs and at Copper Point Golf Club in Windermere from July 9 to 12.

"We're very excited to be heading to the Columbia Valley," said McGrath. "I've been told it's a beautiful spot and the courses are extremely happy to have us. We're also very lucky it's the week of the Calgary Stampede, so we're hoping people will pop over and come watch. Riley Fleming from Alberta will defend his title. He is the first non-British Columbian to win the amateur since Fred Couples in 1970s."

The 2013 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship is scheduled for August 4 to 9 at Royal Colwood Golf Course in Victoria, B.C.

Enjoy the sport

"Our main passion and message at B.C. Golf is to promote golf as being a healthy, active and social sport," McGrath said. "We are excited about this season and getting kids, families and friends out to enjoy the sport and have a great time."

For more information on B.C. Golf's championship series and other events this season, visit the B.C. Golf website.