North Vancouver’s Taylor Durham earns a spot in the RBC Canadian Open
NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to speak with Taylor Durham, the North Vancouver Commercial Realtor who earned a place at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.
When did you start playing golf?
Taylor Durham: I started golfing around age 10, which involved local pitch and putt courses and the driving range. From there, I was introduced to the Gleneagles golf course in West Vancouver and would often join my parents or friends for a 9-hole round.
Durham played on the Sutherland Secondary Golf Team and, at one time, wanted to play for an NCAA program, but that didn’t happen. However, that didn’t stop him from playing and enjoying the game that had become such a large part of his life.
Where do you usually play?
Durham: I am a member of Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, so the majority of my play will be there. I live in North Vancouver, so I will often play at Northlands Golf Course as well.
Taylor doesn’t mention that he has won the last two club championships at Marine Drive, and in 2022 Durham qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
How did you earn your place at the RBC Canadian Open?
Durham: On May 12th, I played in the RBC Regional Qualifier at Ledgeview Golf Course in Abbotsford. I believe there were three qualifiers across Canada (one in BC and two in Ontario). This year, I was fortunate enough to play in a large field to provide a direct exemption to the Canadian Open. It was a long day as I tied off in the morning and stayed at the course until about 7 pm (well worth the wait)!
Teeing off in the morning and playing in a field of 123 other golfers, Durham missed a couple of close putts, but then he found his stride and birdied holes nine through 13. “I’ve never had a stretch like that,” he said, “Especially in a tournament.”
Then he had to wait for the entire day to see if his 65 would be good enough to qualify. Fortunately, he beat the rest of the field by two shots.
“I’m still feeling like I am in shock,” Durham told me, “It still doesn’t feel real at all. This has been a lifelong dream, but you don’t really imagine it actually things like this happening, do you? I don’t know what to think right now. I am speechless.”
And how is Durham preparing for his big day?
Durham: I landed in Toronto on Friday and visited Oakdale Golf Course on Saturday for my first look. I will likely spend some time there today before the practice rounds get going on Monday and Tuesday. Other than that, I am trying to take it one day at a time and will be keeping it casual with friends. Likely a Bluejays game and a few other things before we get going on Thursday.
The Last Word
Durham: It may sound like a cliche, but you never know when opportunity will come and knock on your door!
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