PGA of BC

E-NEWS

JUNE 6, 2024

Impact Canopy Canada understands its customers' need for superior and innovative solutions to effectively promote their brand. That's why they make it their business to provide customers with a range of solutions to showcase their corporate message and attract prospects in seconds. The PGA of BC is thrilled to continue our relationship with Impact Canopy Canada after recently extending this fruitful partnership.

Impact Canopy Canada has a long history of manufacturing and distributing all qualities and styles of Instant Canopies, Instant Canopy Accessories and Baseline Marquees.

Impact customers can expect available inventory, an available rental fleet and expert sales and service advice. The Association proudly uses tents, flags, field boards, table coverings and other PGA of BC-branded accessories produced by Impact Canopy at all events, giving each of our tournaments and gatherings a sharp and professional look.



Impact Canopy Canada is a Bronze-level Preferred Partner of the PGA of BC. See our Member Benefits & Corporate Discounts page (website login required) to view exclusive pricing available to PGA of BC members on many items.

Happy Pride Month! The PGA of BC proudly stands with the LGBTQ+ community in celebrating love, diversity and inclusion.

We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment on and off the course for everyone. We believe in the power of diversity to enrich our community and enhance the golfing experience for our members.

Let's continue to support each other, promote equality, and ensure that our sport remains open and inclusive.

Read the full recap HERE

Winning his second COBRA PUMA GOLF Assistants’ Championship in a row, Steven Lecuyer tamed the wild and windy conditions to emerge victorious by one stroke in a hard-fought and grueling tournament at Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course on June 3 & 4.

The formidable winds, gusting over 40 kilometres an hour, formed a chaotic, rigorous environment for competitors as they attempted to keep their balls in play. Seymour Creek Golf Centre’s Lecuyer did his best to manage the weather and stay steady throughout the two rounds. Lecuyer’s quadruple-bogey eight on the par-4 fourth hole would have spelled doom for most competitors in almost any championship, but his persistence and refusal to shake his competitive spirit powered Lecuyer to the victory at what could be dubbed the 'Insanity at Nk’Mip'.

Following a consistent, unwavering first round where he shot an even-par 72, Lecuyer was one stroke back of the lead heading into Round Two. With his quadruple-bogey early in the final round, Lecuyer fell several shots off the lead. However, he managed to make five birdies across a ten-hole stretch to claw his way back up the leaderboard. A par on the 18th for a final-round 75 with a gallery of professionals and members of the Nk’Mip community looking on was enough to fend off runner-up Lionel Taylor (Monte’s Golf Shop).

Finishing as runner-up at four-over for the tournament, Taylor’s one-under 71 yesterday was the most dominant single-round performance relative to the field in a PGA of BC championship of the last decade. Beating the field scoring average by 13.39 shots, Taylor’s showing will go down in Association history as an all-time great display of precision, accuracy and composure.

Rounding out the top-three, John Shin (Northview Golf & Country Club) and Khan Lee (GreenTee Country Club) finished at 5-over for the tournament.

Read the full feature HERE

Cari Chow wanted to be a professional athlete from a young age. The PGA of BC Teaching Professional started golfing at age four, and was also active in soccer, tennis, swimming and basketball.

With her athletic career blossoming, Chow suffered a setback. She seriously injured her knee playing soccer, undergoing two knee surgeries, and limiting her ability to compete.

Chow could only pitch, chip, and putt for a couple years. She was practicing bunker shots one day at Olympic View Golf Club and had a formative experience that shaped her outlook and inspired her to pursue teaching.

“I was almost 14, practicing away kind of in my own world. An older gentleman comes into the bunker and he’s like ‘Oh, I wish I could do that.’ I could see in his face how beaten up he was, having a really hard time getting out of the bunker,” said Chow. “I shared a couple things I had learned from my instructors. To see his face when it clicked, I think his second try he had an even better bunker shot than mine, that was the moment I knew I wanted to teach. I kind of knew from that point on, how it made me feel to help someone and simply say a few words and see their face light up, it made me feel great.”

Once Chow healed from her surgeries, she continued competing at junior tournaments and felt a pull towards competitive golf. She earned a spot on the University of Victoria golf team, where she played for four years.

Chow earned her pro card right out of university and was hired at Ardmore Golf Course. She was mentored by Jeff Palmer, who now serves as General Manager at Highland Pacific Golf. She said that experience opened her eyes to the diverse and different sectors in the golf industry, including teaching, event management and other general managerial roles at a club.

Today, Chow serves as a Teaching Professional at Squamish Valley Golf Club, where she is committed to growing the game through a focus on junior and women’s golf. Her focus on women’s golf has formed a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere at the club, promoting women’s participation and inclusion.

This interview feature is part of the Association's celebration of Women's Golf Week presented by adidas Golf Canada. Women’s Golf Week is an annual initiative that ran May 28 to June 4, 2024 to engage, empower and support women and girls in golf, leading to a culmination with International Women's Golf Day on June 4. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on social media for content from a variety of exciting events around the province.

We encourage you to follow Women's Golf Day (Instagram | Facebook | X) and The Women's Golf Project (Instagram | Facebook | X) for additional resources, and tag them in your social media posts.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM STANDINGS UPDATE: JUNE 2024

June 2024 is ALS Awareness Month in Canada.

A time dedicated to raising awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): this devastating disease affects approximately 3,000 Canadians and their families. ALS is a relentlessly progressive motor neuron disease that leads to the loss of the ability to move, speak, and breathe. Approximately four out of five people with ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis. The emotional, financial, and psychological impact on patients and their families is immense (Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2023).

The ALS Society of BC proudly joins the national effort to increase understanding, foster compassion, and inspire action towards finding a cure for ALS. Committed to improving the quality of life for individuals and families affected by ALS, the Society provides essential services and support, advocates for better care and resources, and funds vital research to discover treatments and, ultimately, a cure for this devastating disease.

This June, they invite you to join them in raising awareness and supporting ALS patients, families, and caregivers. Over 60 events are held throughout the province, including the Move to Cure ALS event and the PGA of BC Golfathon for ALS, which has raised an impressive $2.8 million since its inception, thanks to the phenomenal support of the PGA of BC professionals.

Let's unite this June to make a difference and work towards a future without ALS. Learn more at the ALS Society of BC's website.

The PGA of BC encourages members to fill out the Community Engagement Program submission form below to earn points in advance of our first standings update next week.

Launching in 2024, the PGA of BC’s Replay Golf Supplies Trophy Community Engagement Program aims to recognize golf professionals across British Columbia who prioritize community involvement, public volunteerism, and other charitable efforts. This initiative rewards active involvement in key community events like the Golfathon for ALS, Junior Golf Week and Women’s Golf Week, with points awarded for promoting, participating in, and fundraising for these and other community initiatives.

The program also values broader community involvement, such as volunteer work, engagement in other sports, and various fundraising activities, recognizing the diverse contributions of golf professionals beyond the course.

If you have participated in Association or community initiatives, fundraisers or volunteer work on or before May 31, please submit that information via the Google Forms link below:

Community Engagement Program Submission Form

Crucially, the program places a strong emphasis on the use of social media as a powerful tool for professionals to positively promote the PGA of BC, including education events and tournaments. This strategy aims to increase the Association’s visibility and accessibility, making it more public-facing and enhancing reputation and brand growth.

Communications & Marketing Manager Graham Abraham will track the use of PGA of BC-specific hashtags across social media to award points for social media engagement.

For more information on the Community Engagement Program, please click here and scroll down to the final slides. For the Program's best recommended social media practices, please click here.

With the Women's Championship presented by Honma Golf, Levelwear & GolfBC Group and Seniors' Championship presented by Honma Golf & Levelwear taking place later this month at Nicklaus North Golf Course, we remind participants that Monday, June 10 is the deadline to withdraw and be refunded all but $50 of your entry fee.

Any members withdrawing after this date will not receive a partial refund of their entry fee. For more information on the Association's tournament withdrawal policies, please consult the PGA of BC Tournament Manual.

PGA of BC members can receive exclusive discounts at INDOCHINO through the Association's partnership with the custom suiting brand.

This month's discount is active from June 7-17, with members able to save 25% off their purchase with use of the discount code. The code is available on our Member Benefits & Corporate Discounts page (log-in required). The code is valid online and in-person at any INDOCHINO showroom.

For more information, please contact INDOCHINO's Shayna Green at shayna.green@indochino.com.

Did you know the PGA of Canada has a Code of Professional Conduct and Safe Sport Policy?

Safe Sport refers to the process and measures implemented to protect and effectively care for the health, well-being, and human rights of all participants in the PGA of Canada community, especially children and youth. Individuals participating in all disciplines of golf in Canada, including athletes, coaches, officials, sport administrators, volunteers and others should be able to engage in a sport environment free from abuse, discrimination and potential harm. 

All PGA of Canada Professionals and anybody involved with golf in Canada in any form are encouraged to read the PGA Code of Professional Conduct and Safe Sport Policy to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all golfers and athletes.

The Lower Mainland's G&G Tour hosted their latest tournament at Pitt Meadows Golf Club on May 27. Christine Wong (University Golf Club) took the victory with a two-stroke winning margin, shooting a 5-under 67. Curtis Baldwin (Meadow Gardens Golf Club), Zac Carson (Nicklaus North Golf Course) and Craig Titterington (Capilano Golf & Country Club) tied for a share of second at 3-under 69.

The Vancouver Island Club Pro Tour played Bear Mountain Resort on May 14. Lucas Nonni (Bear Mountain Resort) earned the win at home, shooting a 3-under 68 for a two-stroke victory. Jake Scarrow (Gorge Vale Golf Club) finished in second place at one-under par, while Nate Ollis (Cordova Bay Golf Course), Ben Griffin (Uplands Golf Club) and Christof Appel (The Golf Performance Project) shared third place at even-par.

The Westland Insurance Interior PGA Tour hosted their latest event at Bighorn Golf & Country Club on May 27. Jordan Relling (Tobiano Golf Course) dominated en route to a four-stroke victory, shooting a 7-under 65 for the win. Lee Alarie (Gallagher's Canyon Golf & Country Club) and Austin Bosquet (The Rise) tied as runners-up at 3-under.

The Kootenay Pro Tour took on Copper Point Resort on May 27. Nicklaus Kennedy (Granite Pointe Golf Club) earned the victory with a 2-under 69 to win by five strokes. Jamie Curiston (Wildstone Golf Course), Scott Merriam (Cranbrook Golf Club) and Harold Simkins (Bootleg Gap Golf) each posted a 74 to share second place.

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!

The Canadian University/College Championship wrapped up today at Idylwylde Golf & Country Club in Sudbury, Ontario.

The UBC Thunderbirds Men's and Women's Golf teams swept the national championship, winning both team competitions. Congratulations to the Thunderbirds!

The Thunderbirds Men's Team shot a cumulative 7-under across four rounds to run away with the title. Dylan MacDonald, shooting 70-72-73-72, emerged victorious as the individual national champion.

The UFV Cascades Men's Team earned a runner-up finish. Eli Greene and Jackson Jacob tied for seventh place at 2-over for the tournament, with Greene shooting a 67 for today's low round.

The UVic Vikes tied for third place. Owen Croft finished earned a T-4 result, shooting 74-67-71-77 across four rounds to end up at 1-over par.

The UBCO Heat earned a sixth place result. Hunter Kutcher placed tenth, shooting 73-73-73-78.

The UBC Thunderbirds Women's Team will also be travelling home with a national championship. Una Chou took the individual title with an amazing 13-stroke margin of victory. Her second round 67 set the all-time women's course record at Idylwylde. Teammates Bo Brown and Grace Bell also earned a podium finish, tying for third place.

The UBCO Heat took national runner-up honours. Julia Alexander-Carew finished in second place on the individual leaderboard, shooting 73-75-77-76.

The UVic Vikes earned fourth place on the team leaderboard. Pacing the Vikes was Cindy-Cruise Koira, who finished in fifth.

The UFV Cascades took fifth place at the championship. Lucy Park led the way for the Cascades, earning an eight place result.

The PGA of BC extends our congratulations to all competitors and teams for their successful seasons!

Thank you to all the PGA of BC professionals who are committed to helping develop our province's student-athletes through coaching. Your time and effort does not go unnoticed and we appreciate your vital contributions to the sport!

For more information on BC's collegiate golf programs, including their 2023-24 results and schedules, please visit the links below:

UBC Men's | UBC Women's

SFU Men's | SFU Women's

UVic Men's | UVic Women's

UBCO Men's | UBCO Women's

UFV Men's | UFV Women's

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

Jie Zhang has successfully completed the PGA of Canada Training Academy and becomes a Class "A" Professional at Quilchena Golf & Country Club



Helene Delisle becomes Head Teaching Professional at Fairwinds Golf Club

Gabriel Hill has transferred from the Alberta Zone and joins Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort as an Apprentice Professional 

Eli Harris's application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and he becomes an apprentice Professional at Gallagher's Canyon Golf Club

Alexander Sykora's application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and he becomes an apprentice Professional at Shadow Ridge Golf Club

Quinn Vilneff has left Northview Golf & Country Club and joins GOLFTEC North Vancouver as an Apprentice Professional

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

Assistant Driving Range Manager - University Golf Club

Head Professional - Squamish Valley Golf Club

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.

June 24-25

Seniors' Championship presented by Honma Golf & Levelwear

Nicklaus North Golf Course, Whistler, BC

REGISTER FOR WAITLIST

June 24-25

Women's Championship presented by Honma Golf, Levelwear & GolfBC Group

Nicklaus North Golf Course, Whistler, BC

REGISTER HERE

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