PGA of BC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
STEVE NASH FITNESS WORLD & SPORTS CLUB
The community of members and staff at Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Club share an energy that inspires the potential in everyone. With a dedication to developing the most effective training programs for you, no matter your goals, the Steve Nash Fitness World team has been helping people on their mission to achieve results for 60 years.

With 24 locations across the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan, Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Club is British Columbia’s largest fitness provider. Its supportive team of highly skilled professionals will provide you with the latest knowledge on the clubs’ wide range of innovative fitness classes, focused workout programs, the benefits of nutrition, as well as progressive personal training techniques and the most advanced equipment to maximize your experience.

Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Club locations also offer convenience, with extended hours to accommodate your busy schedule, and child-minding available at many locations. Click below to learn more and sign up for a free 30-day pass.

Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Club is a Bronze-level Preferred Partner of the Association and the presenting sponsor of the PGA of BC’s Stan Leonard Player of the Year Award. 
BRIAN SCHAAL NAMED PGA of CANADA'S TOP EXECUTIVE PROFESSIONAL
Brian Schaal (Copper Point Golf Club) was named the recipient of the PGA of Canada's Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year Award last week when the national body's 2019 award winners were revealed in a live online broadcast.

Schaal, seen here receiving the PGA of BC's Cec Ferguson Executive Professional of the Year Award in October, becomes the first member from BC to earn the national honour and just the second individual to capture the award, which was first introduced in 2018.

Schaal will be officially presented with the award during PGA of Canada Night festivities at the PGA Merchandise Show next month in Orlando. Please join us in extending our congratulations to Brian on this tremendous achievement!
SPEAKER LINEUP RELEASED FOR 2020 PGA of BC EDUCATION SERIES
This week, the PGA of BC proudly unveiled the speaker lineup for the Association's 2020 Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada , which returns with informative professional-development gatherings across the province during the winter and spring months.

Featured presenters from a variety of golf-industry backgrounds and areas of expertise, including several PGA of BC members, will cover a number of topics and issues relevant to all Golf Professionals at events taking place in four of the Association’s geographical regions.

The following presentations will be featured at each stop on the Education Series:
 
“Introduction & Overview of World Handicap System”
Doug Hastie ; Senior Manager of Field Competitions, British Columbia Golf
 
“Fitting Top Talent: Experiences on Tour”
Laird White ; Teaching Professional, The Golf Performance Project
 
“Today's Competitive Advantage: Skills that Drive the Customer Experience”
Lindsay Benard ; Senior Corporate Trainer, Dale Carnegie Training of British Columbia
 
 
“Pathways to Long-Term Progress in Competitive Golfers”
Robert Ratcliffe ; Director of Instruction, Bear Mountain Resort Community
 
“The Top 10 Traits Every Golf Professional Should Have”
Greg Pool ; Class “A” Professional, Capilano Golf & Country Club
 
“Today's Competitive Advantage: Attitudes that Drive the Customer Experience”
Lindsay Benard ; Senior Corporate Trainer, Dale Carnegie Training of British Columbia
 
 
“Building a Junior Culture at your Club”
Myles Johnson ; Head Professional, Hillview Golf Club
 
“Overcoming Obstacles to Instruction”
Clay Stothers ; Class "A" Professional, The Okanagan Golf Club
 
“Mental Fitness: Be the Boss of your Brain”
Sian Flanagan ; Founder, The Business of You
 
 
“Effective Tourism: Leveraging & Maximizing Available Grants”
Trevor Simkins ; Head Professional, Bootleg Gap Golf Course, &
Simon Jones ; Head Professional, Kimberley Golf Club
 
“Taking Advantage of Technology”
Jason Giesbrecht ; Head Teaching Professional, The Golf Performance Project
 
Click each event’s heading to learn more about each featured speaker and the content of their respective presentations. 

Registration is now open for all four events and for the Spring Education Seminar, taking place Feb. 10-11 at Tsawwassen Springs. An announcement of the speaker lineup for the seminar will take place in early January. Find registration links on each event page or via our 2020 Schedule of Events linked below.
VOLUNTEER PRESENTERS NEEDED FOR DAY 2 OF VANCOUVER GOLFEXPO
The  2020 Vancouver GolfExpo  will return to the PNE Forum Feb. 8-9 and the PGA of BC administration team is once again seeking Professionals to conduct volunteer lesson demonstrations for Expo attendees on behalf of the Association. 

We will be hosting multiple, 20-minute instructional talks on the PGA of BC Presentation Stage on both days of the Expo. Presentation time slots are still available for Sunday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. In addition to being credited with four (4) PDP points for volunteering their time, these lesson demos are a great opportunity for Professionals to receive exposure to potential new clients. 

Please contact Executive Director Donald Miyazaki at  [email protected]  for more information or to indicate your interest in presenting at the Expo. 
PGA of CANADA ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO PLAYING ABILITY TEST
Earlier this week, the PGA of Canada introduced changes to Playing Ability Test requirements that will take effect as of Jan. 1, 2020.

Under the new format, the PAT will change from a 36-hole test to an 18-hole assessment, with new target scores based upon age and gender. Male applicants younger than 50 will need to achieve a score within nine strokes of the course rating, while those aged 50-plus must score within 11 strokes. Female applicants younger than 50 will have a target score within 13 strokes of the rating, while those aged 50 and older must score within 15 shots to pass.

Applications to the PGA of Canada are now valid for one calendar year, and there are no longer restrictions on the number of PAT attempts per applicant.

The "in" and "out" score requirements have been removed, meaning any Professionals who have previously achieved an "in" score are now considered to have demonstrated their playing ability and have completed the PAT process.

Click below for full details on the coming PAT changes.
PAY OUTSTANDING DUES BY DEC. 31 TO AVOID SUSPENSION
Professionals who have yet to pay their PGA of Canada membership dues for 2020 are reminded that payments must be completed by Dec. 31 to avoid being placed in the suspended category.

Members who have not paid their dues and $125 late fee by Jan. 1 will have their membership suspended and will be subject to an additional reinstatement fee of $450, plus tax, as well as a background check.

Please contact Darcy Kral, PGA of Canada Managing Director of Membership & Support Services, at [email protected] with any inquiries related to membership dues and payments.

As a reminder, PGA of Canada members have until April 1 to request a full refund of dues in the event a change of category or resignation is required. Please note that all late fees are non-refundable. 
OFFICE CLOSURE NOTICE
Please be advised that the PGA of BC administration office will be closed during the holiday period from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, inclusive.

Regular office hours will resume on Monday, Jan. 6 at 8 a.m. PT. This edition of E-News will also be the final issue of 2019, with the first newsletter of 2020 scheduled for release on Jan. 8.

The PGA of BC wishes all members, industry partners and their families a safe and happy holiday season and a Happy New Year!
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Douglas Schneider has reinstated with the PGA of Canada and joins St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino as a Class "A" Professional

Brett Standerwick has resigned from the PGA of Canada

Austin Bosquet has left The Okanagan Golf Club and joins Hillview Golf Club as a Candidate for Membership

Jake Kwon has left Golf Mecca Junior Academy

Troy Knight goes to Lakepoint Golf & Country Club as Head Professional

Darren Fawcett has transferred to the Ontario Zone
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO Tech Rep Specialist - Nielsen Agencies

Course Manager - The Ridge Course at Cordova Bay

Assistant Professional - Nicklaus North Golf Course

Assistant Professional - Lakepoint Golf & Country Club

Assistant Professional - Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community
FACT OF THE WEEK
In addition to the PGA of BC Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada, don't forget to save the dates for the Spring Education Seminar, which returns to Tsawwassen Springs on Feb. 10-11. The speaker lineup and registration for this event will be made available in early 2020, but members can register to attend now.

For Professionals striving toward Top 100 Golf Professional status, the seminar one of the most crucial events on the annual schedule in consideration of the Professional Development Program. Of the members who will comprise the Top 100 Professionals of 2019, only nine did not attend either day of the Spring Education Seminar.

Click below to access the Spring Education Seminar registration link on our Schedule of Events page.
PGA of British Columbia | [email protected] | (604) 303-6766 | pgabc.org
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