University Golf Club tees up plan to make course easier for duffers, women
The Play it Forward initiative being promoted by the golf industry is all about trying to convince golfers to play the set of tees best suited to their game.
Trouble is, some courses do not really have tees that suit all golfers.
Some women and high- handicappers, for example, find many courses too long.
Vancouver’s University Golf Club is one of those trying to rectify that. University is in the process of constructing eight new tees that will reduce the front yardage to less than 5,200 yards. That’s nearly 500 yards shorter than the current red tee yardage.
“We know that our layout for many women and beginners is pretty tough,” University Golf Club general manager Michael Mather says. “With the addition of these eight new forward tees ( four on each side) we think it’s a pretty good yardage.”
Those new tees should be ready to play by June 1 and Mather says the course may add six new tees next year to reduce the front yardage to about 4,800 yards.
“I think it will be one more thing here at the golf course that just makes it even more player- friendly and enjoyable,” Mather says.
GOLF FORE GALS: University Golf Club will play host to Golf Fore Gals’ annual membership drive this Saturday at 11 a. m. and members and guests will get an early glimpse of the new tee boxes.
Golf Fore Gals is a multi- course golf club in British Columbia for women of all ages, skill levels and lifestyles.
It has launched a provincewide initiative to bring more women into the game.
Saturday’s event will include lunch, a fashion show, presentations and the option to play 18 holes of golf or attend two one- hour short- and long- game clinics. You can register at golfforegals.com. GAME, SET MATT- CH: Defending champions Matt Makinson of Coquitlam and Matt Daniel of Richmond will have a chance to repeat in Saturday’s final of the Canada Bread B. C. Match Play Championship.
The two Matts beat Surrey’s Ryan Williams and Brendan Dillon of Port Moody 5& 4 in one of two semifinals Sunday at Capilano Golf & Country Club.
The defending champs will meet Chilliwack’s Curtis Baldwin and Mark Heinrich of Langley, who needed 22 holes to beat Vancouver’s Dave Zibrik and Kevin Hogg of Squamish in the other semi.
Saturday’s 36- hole final tees off at 8 a. m. on Northview’s Ridge course in Surrey.
BIRDIE BINGE: West Vancouver’s Seann Harlingten birdied five of his last seven holes to shoot a seven- under 65 and win the Vancouver Golf Tour’s Sandpiper Classic.
Harlingten, who edged Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor and Surrey’s Phil Jonas by one shot, earned $ 1,000 for the win.
Northview’s Kyle German and Lindsay Bernakevitch of Shaughnessy won the first two Srixon Tour events of the season. German blitzed Marine Drive with a seven- under 64 to win the season- opener.
Bernakevitch won this week’s stop at Quilchena with a fourunder 69.
ELS FOR AUTISM: Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club will be the site of an Els for Autism Canada regional golf challenge charity tournament on May 13. All proceeds from the event, as well as another May 27 at Royal Montreal Golf Club, will benefit autism services in Canada.
British Open champion Ernie Els, whose son Ben was diagnosed with autism in 2007, launched the charity tournaments in 2011.
Two- person teams pay $ 1,000 to enter the events and also collect donations from supporters. For more information, visit elsforautismcanada.com.
CHIP SHOTS: Canadian Mid- Amateur champion Kevin Carrigan of Victoria and former B. C. Amateur champion David Rose of West Vancouver are representing B. C. at the Manuel Prado Team Cup competition that begins Wednesday in Lima, Peru ... Longtime Richmond Country Club member Derek Glazer is the latest recipient of British Columbia Golf’s Distinguished Service Award for his many years of volunteer work.