Amateur Golf

Longtime British Columbia golf volunteer Anne Peabody of Delta, B.C. as well as Vancouver Sun golf writer Brad Ziemer of Coquitlam, B.C. have been honoured for their contributions to the game of golf as 2013 co-recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Peabody and Ziemer on Saturday, February 9th as part of the National Sport Organization’s Annual General Meeting at The Westin Bayshore in Vancouver.

“Golf Canada is proud to acknowledge Anne Peabody and Brad Ziemer and celebrate their outstanding contributions to the game of golf as our 2013 Distinguished Service Award recipients,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “In their own unique way, Brad and Anne have had a significant impact on the game of golf. Their commitment and passion for the sport makes each of them a truly deserving recipient.”

Created in 1993, Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award has been awarded annually to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the game of golf in Canada.

Recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award are traditionally selected from within the province of the organization’s incoming president. On Saturday, February 9th, Michael P. Carroll QC of Vancouver was sworn in as Golf Canada’s 110th President.

As President-elect, Carroll succeeded 2012 President Diane Dunlop-Hébert of Montreal. Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting and presidential appointment concluded after four days of meetings, February 6-9, at The Westin Bayshore in Vancouver.

ANNE PEABODY

Anne Peabody has dedicated a significant amount of her adult life to improving golf in British Columbia and across the country. Serving as President of the former British Columbia Ladies Golf Association (BCLGA), Peabody was instrumental in the amalgamation of what is now the British Columbia Golf Association, designated by the government of British Columbia as the Provincial Sport Organization for golf. A trailblazer in her own right, she became the first Vice-President of the British Columbia Golf Association following the amalgamation and then served as the first female president of the BCGA in 2007-08. During her time with the former BCLGA, Peabody also served on the board of the former Canadian Ladies Golf Association (now amalgamated with Golf Canada). She served Golf Canada in several capacities including the Provincial Council from 2009–2012 as well as the governance committee. In addition to being a Master Golf Course Rater, Peabody has held various roles on Course Rating and Handicapping Committees as well as being named the Provincial Course Rating and Handicapping Director in 1994, a role she held for seven years. A winner of several club events in her playing career, Peabody has also competed on behalf of British Columbia on numerous occasions, including at the 1989 BMW National Club Teams Championship. In addition to her golf involvement, the Delta, B.C. resident raised nine children and has been an active volunteer with various community organizations.

BRAD ZIEMER

Brad Ziemer has worked at The Vancouver Sun, a newspaper he delivered as a kid, since 1985. A former Deputy City Editor and Sports Editor at The Vancouver Sun, Ziemer has covered the British Columbia golf scene for the better part of the past 20 years. During that time he has covered the accomplishments of the provinces finest golfers while also reporting on the many stories that have touched the B.C. golf community. Ziemer has also reported on golf at the national and international level, with many of his articles running in media outlets across the country. While the bulk his golf writing comes in the Vancouver Sun, he has also contributed articles to a number of provincial and national golf publications throughout his career. In addition to numerous local and provincial golf championships, Ziemer has covered major professional golf championships including the Greater Vancouver Open/Air Canada Championship, the CN Canadian Women’s Open, the RBC Canadian Open and the US Open. Ziemer, who also writes about hockey for The Vancouver Sun, is a graduate of Western Washington University and began his journalism career in 1980 with the Canadian Press news agency. He and his wife Alanah live in Coquitlam and have two sons, Matthew and Ryan.