Riverway Golf Course Delivers Championship Test at 124th B.C. Amateur

By WCTA Staff

BURNABY, B.C. - Riverway Golf Course proved a stern and fair examination for British Columbia's top amateur golfers during the 124th B.C. Amateur Championship, held July 13-16.

all images courtesy Peter Sorokovsky

The BC Am was held this year for the first time at a Municipally-run golf course and the Riverway GC in Burnaby received rave reviews from the players and those who attended as part of the week-long Burnaby Golf Festival.

In the opening round, only 10 of 156 players broke par of 72 at the highly regarded municipal layout, stretching nearly 7,000 yards.  Morning conditions were near perfect, while a brisk afternoon wind made scoring more demanding.

Riverway's 2nd fairway

Players described the greens as true but not overly fast, turning the week into something of a putting contest. Trouble was limited for those who stayed in position, with few large numbers posted. Length remained a defining factor; the course's demanding setup from the tips tested even strong competitors.

Course officials adjusted the setup strategically. The ninth hole's tee was moved forward in the third round, creating a driveable par-4 of about 280 yards into a light breeze, with a hazard fronting the green that rewarded precise aggression. The fifth hole, normally a par-5, played as a 490-yard par-4 and ranked as the toughest hole through three rounds with a stroke average of 4.53. By contrast, the par-5 13th proved the easiest, yielding numerous birdies and eagles.

12th green complex

Riverway's grounds crew kept the course immaculate throughout the four days, ensuring fairways, rough and greens presented consistent championship conditions. The layout's combination of length, strategic options and true putting surfaces confirmed its reputation as one of the Lower Mainland's strongest tests and a worthy venue for B.C. Golf's premier amateur championship.

Stats:
- Greens stimped 11.7 on the final day
- Fairways & tees were mowed every morning before play
- Greenside bunkers were hand raked every morning and fairway bunkers were machine raked every morning
- Rough was only cut once on Tuesday at 3" on green surrounds and lapped double width on fairway surrounds
- Final score was -7, won in a playoff. All 3 players in the final group were tied a -6.
- 18 (very proud!) grounds staff