Tee 2 Green with Barry Sharpe - - December 20/08

Vancouver Island's George Faithfull of Coble Hill has been elected president of the British Columbia Golf Association for the next two years. A distinguished member at Victoria's Royal Colwood Golf & Country Club, Mr. Faithfull will chair the BCGA's Annual General Meeting on March 28th in Penticton. One of the topics slated for discussion will be increased dues, which may cost adult members $30 for the coming season

The 2009 BCGA Executive Committee
George Faithfull - - President
Keith Larson - - First Vice-president
Jack Stevens - - Vice-president Championships
Helen Steeves - - Vice-president Finance
Ken Oleschuk - - Vice president Membership/Member Services
Jim McKinnon - - Vice-president Player Development
Anne Peabody - - Immediate Past Presiden

Directors at Large
Lynn Benedictson - - Zone 6
Gail Crane - - Zone 2
Michael Darnbrough - - Zone 2
Jim McKinnon - - Zone 8
Hugh Murray - - Zone 4
Ken Oleschuk - - Zone 3
Judy McMartin - - Zone 4
Barry Anderson - - Zone 5

2009 Board of Directors
Carol Brown - - Zone 1
Dave Herron - - Zone 1
Keith Larson - - Zone 2
Barb Silvester - - Zone 2
Bob Ladouceur - - Zone 2
Marlene Dance - - Zone 3
Scott Vannatter - - Zone 3
Helen Steeves - - Zone 4
Greg Moody - - Zone 4
Karen Vanzella - - Zone 4
George Faithfull - - Zone 5
Barb Rainey - - Zone 5
Gerry Walker - - Zone 6
Dee Horie - - Zone 6
Sandy Dore - - Zone 7
John Ross - - Zone 7
Jack Stevens - - Zone 8
Kathy Mears - - Zone 8

RCGA Governors
Jack Croucher
Pat Thompson

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The International Golf Federation has selected two of the game's all-time greats, Jack Nicklaus and Anika Sorenstam, to serve as Global Ambassadors in support of the IGF's bid to reinstate golf as an Olympic sport. The two World Golf Hall of Fame members will represent the Olympic golf effort at select international events and lend ongoing support to the IGF's Olympic Golf Committee, which is spearheading the bid. This will include the Committee's future communication and meetings with the International Olympic Committee, which will vote on whether to add as many as two new sports to the 2016 Olympic Games in October 2009 at the 121st IOC session in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The next step in the process is for each sport to submit responses to a detailed questionnaire in March that will constitute the formal and technical bid. The IGF will be soliciting input from the world's top players to help finalize the proposed format for Olympic golf competition. Dawson and Votaw told the IOC that the IGF's initial thinking is for 60-player fields for both men and women playing in a yet-to-be determined individual competitive format.

Golf last was an Olympic sport in 1904 in St. Louis and the Olympic champion was 46-year-old George S. Lyon of Toronto, the all-time Canadian Amateur winner with eight titles.

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According to Golf Digest contributor Thomas Bonk, Jack Nicklaus wishes Tiger Woods a healthy return to the game after his reconstructive knee surgery, but "I obviously don't want you to break my records."

In an interview with Bonk, the Golden Bear, who has won 18 majors, recalled a conversation he'd had with Woods, who has 14 majors, his last being the U.S. Open in June. "Nobody wants their records to be broken - but I don't want you (Woods) not to break them because you're not healthy."

"He's such a great athlete and he's such a hard working guy and he's such a credit to the game of golf that I'd like to see him play for a long time because he can only do good for the game."

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It's possible the Canadian Open may draw some players into the field in 2009 that would not normally play in Canada. PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Fincham has just sent a video to players and their agents asking them to consider adding tournaments they don't typically play and to pitch in during a tough economy to help give sponsors their money's worth.

Two-time Canadian Open champion Jim Furyk (2006-2007), who says he has not seen the video, adds: "My guess is they're going to ask some more of the players to do some meet-and-greets, rub some elbows, thank people, make people aware of the fact that we appreciate what they're doing,"

"And I think they will," says Furyk. "I think the players will respond positively to that. They should realize how fortunate we are."

So far the PGA TOUR has not lost any tournaments during a key portion of the upcoming schedule of its schedule because of the economic downturn, However, commissioner Finchem has said if the recession persists into the coming campain, there could be problems.