PGA of BC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
MINUTEMAN PRESS RICHMOND
Contacting Minuteman Press Richmond is a must for your scorecard and other printing needs. Offering off-set, full-colour, digital and black-and-white printing, full bindery services, as well as artwork and design, look to Minuteman Press for an extensive range of printed items.

Production of business cards, envelopes, letterheads, memo pads, NCR forms, brochures, flyers, postcards, cheques, labels, presentation folders, stamps, mail-outs and large-format printing are just some of the services available. A new service offered by Minuteman Press is dye sublimation -- full-colour printing on apparel and promotional items, with no minimums.

When it comes to business communications services, Minuteman Press can do it all, helping you get your message out to patrons and employees. Using the latest printing and document-management technology, Minuteman's energetic and experienced staff is dedicated to delivering what you need, when you need it.
 
Minuteman Press Richmond is a Bronze-level Preferred Partner of the PGA of BC. Click below to learn more.
McDONALD RETAINS LEAD IN UPDATE TO PDP ORDER OF MERIT
Brian McDonald continues to occupy first place following the latest update to the 2021 PGA of BC Professional Development Program Order of Merit presented by Sunice & Bobby Jones, though his lead has narrowed over the past month.

Fairview Mountain Golf Club's Executive Professional holds 48 points to top the standings, adding a half-dozen points in March through Education Series participation. However, his 11-point lead over all pursuers last month has been whittled down to just two.

Scott Kolb (Victoria Golf Club) has made a leap from just outside the top 10 to second place, having accumulated 46 points on the year. Greg Pool (Northview Golf & Country Club) sits third with 40 points. Cindy Soukoroff (St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino) and Lee J.H. Lee (GolfTEC Richmond) round out the top five, as each hold a share of fourth place with 37 points apiece.

Click below to view the current standings, access the link to make a requisition for PDP points and to learn more about the program. Members are reminded that all submissions made to the requisition form must be verified with supporting documentation sent to [email protected].
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW FOR PGA of BC CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
Members interested in competing in the PGA of BC's 2021 championship events are reminded that registration is open now for all tournaments.

Spaces in the field are limited and reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, so all are encouraged to sign up early to avoid missing out.

The field for the Seniors' Championship presented by Natera Sport & Arbor Memorial Inc. has reached capacity and a wait list has been started, with positions awarded based upon priority order and eligibility. Other events are also nearing capacity and will have wait lists developed accordingly should maximum field sizes be reached.

Registration links for all events can be accessed via the Schedule of Events page or from each tournament's info page. Click below to access the schedule.

Members are reminded that in order to register for an event, they must agree to abide by the conditions of the Player Declaration outlined in the 2021 PGA of BC Tournament Manual. All interested competitors are urged to review the Tournament Manual to familiarize themselves with all event policies and eligibility guidelines.

Please direct any wait-list inquiries or other championship-related questions to PGA of BC Membership & Events Manager Doug Titterington. We look forward to seeing you at our championship events throughout the season.
SIX APPLICANTS MEET TARGET SCORES AT FIRST 2021 PAT
Six applicants to the PGA of Canada took an important step in furthering their golf-industry careers on Wednesday by passing the Playing Ability Test (PAT) conducted by the PGA of BC at Ledgeview Golf Club.

Wednesday’s PAT saw 26 men and women attempt to achieve their respective target scores over 18 holes in difficult, wet conditions on the Les Furber-designed layout.

Congratulations to the following applicants who were successful in meeting their target scores, listed alphabetically:
  • Wes Driessen (Chilliwack Golf Club)
  • Patrik Ericson (Valley Golf Centre)
  • Steven Hayes (Point Grey Golf & Country Club)
  • Ryan Hunt (University Golf Club)
  • Daniel Hyun (Valley Golf Centre)
  • Nara Kim (The Vancouver Golf Club)

Having satisfied their playing-ability requirements to join the PGA of Canada, each of the six individuals are now eligible to complete their applications to become Apprentice Professionals within the Association.

As this event served a process in employment-related certification, the Association determined it to be a work-related function for the purpose of essential travel. However, Wednesday’s PAT observed a number of precautions to safeguard participating applicants, PGA of BC administration team members, and patrons and staff at Ledgeview Golf Club in light of ongoing public-health circumstances. This included limiting participation to applicants based within the Lower Mainland region in accordance with British Columbia’s current travel advisory. 

The PGA of BC intends to administer four more PAT opportunities during the 2021 season, each to take place in a different region of the province. The next scheduled PAT is set for June 9 at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops. Current and prospective applicants may visit www.pgaofcanada.com/join to view the 2021 PAT schedule and find registration links for each test.

Click below for more details on Wednesday's PAT, including a link to final results.
PGA of CANADA AGM TO BE HELD APRIL 28
Members are advised that the PGA of Canada's 2021 Annual General Meeting will be conducted virtually on April 28 at 10 a.m. PT.

Click below to access the meeting info booklet. Pre-registration to participate in the AGM via Zoom is required by April 27. Find the registration link inside the meeting info booklet or click here to sign up.

Please be reminded that all members and Apprentice Professionals are welcome to attend the AGM, but voting on motions is open only to Class "A" Professionals. Those eligible to vote can do so in advance via the PGA of Canada website. Visit www.pgaofcanada.com and log in, after which a pop-up voting window should appear. You may need to log out and log back in for the voting window to appear.

Members are also able to vote via proxy form until April 21. See the info packet below for the relevant instructions.
CLASSIFIEDS
For Sale: Used Range Balls

Richmond Driving Range has approximately 30,000 used balls available for purchase.

All balls two years old or newer and white in colour. More experienced balls are Callaway with Practice label. Newer balls are from Forestar Golf Supplies, customized with Richmond Driving Range logo.

Asking price is 20 cents per ball, or 15 cents per ball on purchases of at least 10,000 balls.

Please direct inquiries to Alysia at [email protected] or 778-859-6896.

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Click below to access PGA of BC Classifieds page (login required).
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Cory Betz has joined Lakepoint Golf & Country Club as Head Professional

Troy Knight becomes Executive Professional at Lakepoint Golf & Country Club

Chris Webster has left Furry Creek Golf & Country Club and joins Whistler Golf Club as an Apprentice Professional

Connor Beeston has left The Springs at Radium

Walt McIlhone has transferred from the Alberta Zone and joins Predator Ridge Golf Resort as a Class "A" Professional
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
No new opportunities
PGA of BC PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT -- DON MARK
Class "A" Professional

PGA of Canada member since: 1993

What career path led you to where you are today? 
From Professional Engineer to Head Golf Professional -- serving that role at Rivershore Golf Links, The Dunes at Kamloops, The Falls Golf Club and Burnaby Mountain Golf Course -- to retirement.

Which significant accomplishments are you most proud of? 
To work in two outstanding professions and succeeding in both.

What is your most cherished golf memory? 
My son flying me to Sandpiper Golf Club on Father's Day for a round, then letting me fly the plane back to Langley.

If you had to share one piece of advice with a new member of our Association, what would it be? 
Be aware of who you are working for and have FUN!
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FACT OF THE WEEK
The week of The Masters is always a great time to reflect on how two PGA of BC Lifetime Achievement Award recipients -- Stan Leonard (left) and Alvie Thompson -- made their mark by playing in the storied tournament at Augusta National.

No Canadian had as much sustained success at The Masters as Leonard. The longtime Head Professional at Marine Drive Golf Club and a former PGA of BC president, Leonard was once a perennial contender at The Masters. In the seven tournaments held between 1955 and 1961, Leonard finished among the top 25 every year, notching four top-10 finishes. That included back-to-back T4 results in 1958 and 1959, sharing the 54-hole lead with Arnold Palmer the latter year, when Art Wall, Jr. birdied five of the final six holes to claim the title.

Leonard would exact some revenge on Wall, Jr. the following year by defeating him in a playoff to win the 1960 Western Open, the last of his three PGA Tour victories. The Vancouver native made his 12th and final Masters appearance in 1965. The PGA of BC's Player of the Year Award is named in Leonard's honour.

Thompson, meanwhile, joined Leonard in the field at the 1963 Masters. Although Jack Nicklaus won the first of his six Masters titles that year, Thompson's 13 birdies on the week were two more than the Golden Bear made during the tournament. Thompson carded a final round 1-under 71 to finish in a tie for 28th place. The PGA of BC's Teacher of the Year Award is named in memory of Thompson, himself a former Head Professional at Marine Drive Golf Club.
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