PGA of BC

E-NEWS

JULY 4, 2024

Accent Inns is a family-owned, BC hotel chain with heart! There are Accent Inns located in Victoria, Burnaby, Kelowna, Kamloops and in Richmond at the Vancouver Airport. You will feel instantly at home at Accent Inns with their family-vibe plus they don’t take themselves too seriously, you will appreciate their humour sprinkled throughout your experience. Who couldn’t use a laugh right now?!

Stay at Accent Inns when traveling to PGA of BC championships and events, as well as for business and personal accommodations. Members are eligible for discounted stays for any purpose; visit the Member Benefits & Corporate Discounts page for full details (log-in required).

Accent Inns is a Silver-level Preferred Partner of the Association. Click here to learn more or reserve a room today!

The G&G Brands & Callaway Golf Pro-Assistant Championship presented by E-Z-GO makes its return to the Kootenays as 40 teams will take on Copper Point Golf Club in Invermere next Monday and Tuesday.

Situated in the stunning Columbia Valley, Copper Point Golf Club offers an exceptional golfing experience.

Surrounded by rugged mountains and pristine wilderness, the club provides a unique blend of challenge and playability, complemented by spectacular views. Copper Point is framed by the majestic Rocky Mountains to the east and the Purcell Mountains to the west, providing a dramatic backdrop. The shimmering waters of Lake Windermere lie nearby, adding to the scenic charm. Known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere, Copper Point seamlessly combines natural beauty with top-tier golfing amenities, making it a true gem in British Columbia’s golf landscape. The club previously hosted the Pro-Assistant Championship in 2019.

At last year’s Championship at St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino, Fairview Mountain Golf Club’s Rob Tadey and Brian McDonald emerged victorious to take their third career Pro-Assistant title, having also won the event in 2017 and 2020. The duo dominated, especially in the scramble format where they shot a 13-under 59 to seal the win.

Joining the Fairview Mountain duo among the favourites this year, Shadow Ridge Golf Club’s two-time champions James Presnail and Mark Kitts will be teeing it up in Invermere. Other teams to monitor whose competitors have enjoyed recent success in the event include Chilliwack Golf Club’s Ryan Tofani and Kaleb Fisher, and Kamloops Golf & Country Club’s Alec Hubert and Andrew Bentley. 

To view the Round One draw, please click here. For more information, please visit the tournament page on our website, or reach out to Membership & Events Manager Doug Titterington at doug@pgabc.org.

To read the full preview, please click here.

The PGA of BC is proud to announce that over 800 junior golfers throughout the province have signed up to participate in Canucks Junior Golf Week, taking place July 15-22 at golf facilities across British Columbia. Capacity has been reached for this year's program and the registration portal is now closed.

We are thrilled to see the growing interest in this important program, and extend our gratitude to all the participating professionals and clubs who will be hosting camps in July. We also thank the Vancouver Canucks for their continued support of this initiative.

For more information, please contact Business Development Manager Dan Czerwenka at dan@pgabc.org.

The PGA of BC extends our gratitude to Lovely Day Beverage Co. for their generosity in supplying parting gifts for all competitors at the recent Seniors' & Women's Championships at Nicklaus North Golf Course.

All competitors were gifted a variety three-pack of Hard T Vodka Iced Tea on behalf of Lovely Day Beverage Co. Thank you to company president Brad Kirkham for his great support of our competitors.

Via Michelle McCann, PGA of BC Professional and BC Games Golf Provincial Advisor

BC Summer Games is coming up July 18 & 19 at Meadow Gardens in Maple Ridge and we are in need of some volunteers for on course duties including: 

• Scoring
• Starting
• Spotting (minimum 4 hour shifts)
• Registration

In accordance with the PGA of BC's Professional Development Program sponsored by Sunice & Bobby Jones, volunteers will be rewarded with 1 PDP point for every 2 hours volunteered, up to a maximum of 8 points.

These roles might change slightly and we would have some roles doubled up (example first tee starter might also go out and do scoring once first tee is done). The shifts will be mid day (approximately 9am-5pm) both Friday and Saturday. You only need to commit to 2-4 hour shifts at a time. 

We ask that anyone interested please email Michelle McCann, the BC Games Golf Provincial Advisor, at michelle.mccann.golf@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration and please reach out if you have any questions.

Throughout the month of June, PGA of BC Professionals are participating in the Golfathon for ALS in partnership with the ALS Society of BC. Golf professionals pledge to golf from sunrise to sunset lending their muscles to support those who have lost theirs to ALS. All donations raised through the Golfathons go to provide direct support to people living with ALS, their families and caregivers to ensure the best quality of life possible living with ALS.

Over the last week, several PGA of BC professionals took part in the Golfathon:

Gallagher's Canyon Golf Club's Josh Johnston and Lee Alarie took part in the Golfathon on June 27, playing 102 holes across 18 hours.

On June 27, Mount Paul Golf Course's Brian Wornstaff participated in the initiative.

Mike Pearson, Cindy Soukoroff and Ryan Chernuska of St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino golfed throughout the day on June 27. They totaled 246 holes, making 33 birdies and 2 eagles.

Tsawwassen Spring Golf's Deneb Rondinone, Matthew Steger, Bruno Vieira and Andy Garcia also took part on June 27. They played 388 total holes across 16 hours, making 38 birdies.

Rivershore Estates & Golf Links' Wes Driessen participated in the Golfathon on June 29.

Glacier Greens Golf Club's Nick Crookall and Mark Valliere took part on June 30. They played 162 holes over 16 hours of golf.

Follow along each week this month to stay up-to-date with the latest from the Golfathon for ALS. To donate today, please visit the Golfathon for ALS website.

Did you know that Fairview Mountain Golf Club's Rob Tadey and Brian McDonald are one of only three duos that have won three Pro-Assistant Championship titles?

Joining Tadey and McDonald as three-time victors, Darryl Stubbs and David Bolton, representing Savage Creek Golf Course, won in 2001, 2003, and 2005, while Jeff Buder and Trevor Hay, representing Point Grey Golf & Country Club, captured titles in 2006, 2007 and 2011.

Tadey and McDonald are competing in next week's Pro-Assistant Championship at Copper Point Golf Club, and will look to become the first four-time champions.

The Lower Mainland's G&G Tour hosted their latest tournament at Squamish Valley Golf Club on June 17. Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course) won the event by two strokes, shooting a 4-under 68. Shingo Akizuki (Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club) and Zac Carson (Nicklaus North Golf Course) each shot 70 to tie as runners-up.

The Vancouver Island Club Pro Tour held a team scramble event at Bear Mountain Golf Resort's Valley Course on June 25. Sean Hay (Uplands Golf Club) and Eric Wang (Victoria Academy of Golf) took the victory with a 7-under 64. Mark Bicknell (Gorge Vale Golf Club) and Jake Scarrow (Gorge Vale Golf Club) finished as runners-up, one shot back of the winners, while Brad Liptrot (Nanaimo Golf Club) and Zach Anderson (Nanaimo Golf Club) earned third place at 4-under par.

The Westland Insurance Interior PGA Tour hosted their latest event at Sagebrush Golf Club on June 17 for a two-man match play tournament. The duos of Keith Martin and Ryan Stugis, Ethan Danish and Finlay Young, Russ Latimer and Shane Pugliese, and Sam de Sira and Jonathan Garratt have all secured their place in the semifinals.

The Kootenay Pro Tour took on Shadow Mountain Golf Course on June 17. Scott Merriam (Cranbrook Golf Club) emerged victorious by a shot, shooting even-par. Chase Bodoano (The Springs at Radium) finished in second, while Peter Kenneford (Creston Golf Club) earned third place. In a family showdown, Harold Simkins (Bootleg Gap Golf) took fourth place and bragging rights over his son Trevor Simkins, who finished one shot back of his father.

Make sure to read the Regional Tour Roundup every week to stay up-to-date with the achievements of our members and to never miss any information!

If you would like to place an advertisement in the Classifieds section, please contact Marketing & Communications Manager Graham Abraham at graham@pgabc.org to place a listing.

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE

Chris Wilson's application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and he becomes an Apprentice Professional at Squamish Valley Golf Club

Noah Barnum's application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and he becomes an Apprentice Professional at The Harvest Golf Club

Edwin MacDonald has left Redstone Resort and joins Osoyoos Golf Club as Head Professional 

Jacob Vanderpas has successfully completed the National Training Academy and becomes a Class “A” Professional at Point Grey Golf & Country Club

For all Members on the Move information, please click HERE.

Teaching Professional - Prime Golf

For any job postings that have been approved and published on the PGA of BC website, the Association will share relevant social media posts to assist your facility in the search for a candidate. We will share one post/story per job posting. Please ensure that you tag the PGA of BC's social media account in any post or story relevant to the posting. To ensure that we share the post/story in a timely matter, please also reach out to Communications & Marketing Manager Graham Abraham at graham@pgabc.org to notify us of the post.

For all job opportunities listed on the PGA of BC website, please click HERE (Log-in required).

For all job opportunities listed on the PGA of Canada website, please click HERE.

July 8-9

G&G Brands & Callaway Golf Pro-Assistant Championship presented by E-Z-GO

Copper Point Golf Club, Invermere, BC

July 11

Jack McLaughlin Pro-Junior Championship Series - Kootenay Region

Cranbrook Golf Club, Cranbrook, BC

July 15-22

Canucks Junior Golf Week

July 22

Jack McLaughlin Pro-Junior Championship Series - Lower Mainland Region

Cultus Lake Golf Club, Cultus Lake, BC

July 24

Jack McLaughlin Pro-Junior Championship Series - Interior Region

Shadow Ridge Golf Club, Kelowna, BC

July 29

Jack McLaughlin Pro-Junior Championship Series - Island Region

Fairwinds Golf Club, Nanoose Bay, BC

Cancellation deadlines for PGA of BC tournaments are 30 days prior to the event. Please ensure that you communicate your withdrawal to the PGA of BC Office Team before this date.

CONTACT THE PGA OF BC OFFICE TEAM