VANCOUVER — The British Open begins tomorrow while the British Columbia Amateur begins next week at the Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver. One champion among many who developed their games at this club will be following the Open from Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, while preparing for the B.C. Amateur. That champion, Doug Roxburgh, was honoured in Vancouver on Monday.
Roxburgh, 56, joined the club in April of 1965. He's won 13 B.C. Amateurs and four Canadian Amateurs. He's a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and works for the Royal Canadian Golf Association on its player development program.
With the B.C. Amateur coming to Marine Drive, the club was the right setting for the B.C. Golf Association to honour Roxburgh. "When Marine Drive gets behind a tournament, it goes all out," BCGA executive director Kris Jonasson said during a dinner in front of a couple of hundred people.
That was apparent on the course, which, although less than 6,400 yards, demands accuracy. Its fairways are framed by tall trees, the holes demand a wide variety of shots, and, as the B.C. Amateur approaches, the high rough adds to the challenges.
None of this prevented Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., from shooting four-under-par 67 Monday. Taylor won the 2006 Canadian Junior and the 2007 Canadian Amateur. He qualified for the U.S. Open last month, where he missed the cut by three shots. He'll play the Canadian Open next week at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Taylor, like most every golfer in B.C., is aware of Roxburgh's accomplishments. It wasn't surprising to see a who's who of B.C. golf show up at Marine Drive. Richard Zokol, the RCGA's professional golf adviser, was the master of ceremonies for the dinner. He grew up across the street from the club and is an honorary life member.
Dave Barr, Zokol's colleague during the years they played, and won, on the PGA Tour, joined the Roxburgh celebration. Johnnie Johnston, long one of Canada's top amateurs, was there, along with Philip Jonas, a Quebec Open and B.C. PGA champion who has earned a reputation as a first-rate teacher in the area, and fine local pros Wayne Vollmer, a former PGA Tour player, and Muncie Booth. Booth told stories of a two-hour lesson he had in Palm Springs, Calif., with Butch Harmon's father, Claude.
"He told me to get the club up high and hit fades, like [Jack] Nicklaus," Booth said. "But the way my mind works, I see the ball coming off like this," he said, indicating a slight right-to-left flight, the opposite of a fade.
Then there's Roxburgh, who was clearly moved by the occasion and spoke following a couple of presentations. Anne Peabody, the BCGA's president and the first woman to take on the role, had just presented Roxburgh with a painting of him in his finish position.
Jonasson then announced that the Order of Merit trophy for the top amateur of the year would be known from now on as the Doug Roxburgh Trophy. He then unveiled the Max Roxburgh Trophy, in honour of the golfer's father, who was in attendance. This trophy goes to the Order of Merit winner in the junior category.
Now it was Roxburgh's turn at the podium.
"I was so lucky to get put in a group lesson with Jack Westover after the first week I was down here with my brother," Roxburgh said. "He was so far ahead in coaching golf."
Westover was sitting at a table and listening to Roxburgh. He's really been Roxburgh's only instructor. Whatever he did with Roxburgh, Westover should bottle it. One only wishes Roxburgh had elected to play more international championships, such as the U.S. and British Amateurs. He played in some, but not many. Zokol believes Roxburgh was good enough to win a U.S. or British Amateur.
But Roxburgh chose to restrict his world golf to international competitions such as the Commonwealth Trophy and the World Amateur, while representing Canada. It would have been interesting to see how he would have fared in more international amateur championships.
Roxburgh looks forward to next week's provincial championship.
"I love this time of year, trying to get my game in shape and to qualify for teams," he said. The light was fading over the course as Roxburgh finished his remarks, but some club members were still on the range. Roxburgh honed his long-lasting form there, and on the course's narrow fairways and firm, fast greens.
Next week? While the Canadian Open proceeds at Glen Abbey, Roxburgh could contend for his 14th B.C. Amateur. It would surprise nobody if he wins.
