PGA of BC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
ACCENT INNS
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, where guests can take advantage of a free, 24-hour shuttle service to YVR. (When that is a thing again!) 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 (login required). Accent Inns are also a great choice as we navigate through the pandemic because of their extensive sanitation protocols, including the cleaning of rooms with an electrostatic sprayer and exterior entrances to rooms.

Accent Inns is a Bronze-level Preferred Partner of the Association. Click below to learn more or reserve a room today!
UPCOMING VIRTUAL EDUCATION SERIES - MONDAY FEBRUARY 28TH
Members are reminded that the second-leg of the 2022 PGA of BC Virtual Education Series featuring Manny Osborne-Paradis continues on Monday at 10:00am PST.

In a presentation titled “Perseverance & Podiums: A Canadian Cowboy's Journey”, the four-time Olympian and a three-time winner on the FIS World Cup circuit will share his successes achieved on the slopes and what he did to overcome some significant obstacles along the way.

The session will be moderated by PGA of BC Professional Simon Jones (Kimberley Golf Club) and will also touch on career longevity, the hurdles he navigated over a 14-year World Cup career and how he now works to share his elite-level experience with a new generation of ski racers.

There are currently over 145 registered attendees and each should expect a pre-event email tomorrow detailing login information for the session. Those not registered and interested in participating the Virtual Education Series may do so by purchasing a Series Pass granting access to all sessions for $39 (plus tax) - please click here to register.
EDUCATION SERIES #3 - THE HARVEST GOLF CLUB
Members are reminded that the third-leg of the 2022 PGA of BC Education Series will continue on Tuesday March 15th at The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna.

As a result of recent changes to provincial health and safety guidelines, this always popular education series event has been confirmed to take place in a live, in-person setting. Presenters, topics and itinerary for the event is as follows:

9:30am - Registration Opens

10:00am-11:00am - "The Upside of Down!"
Presented by Kevin MacDonald; Principal, Clarity Success Coaching Ltd.

11:00am - 12:00pm - "Coaching & Developing Today's Junior Golfers"
Presented by Conner Kozak; Apprentice Professional, The Okanagan Golf Club

12:00pm - 1:00pm - Lunch Served

1:00pm - 2:00 pm - "Community-building through Your Academy and Professional Network"
Presented by Kyla Inaba; Apprentice Professional, Predator Ridge Resort 

*Order of speakers subject to change

The cost to attend the event is $39.00 + GST for members and $69.00 + GST for guests when referred by a Class "A" Professional. Registration deadline is Tuesday March 8th. For more details on this event or to register, please click on the below link.
PGA of BC RELEASES 2022 PLAYING ABILITY TEST SCHEDULE
Applicants are advised that the schedule of Playing Ability Tests (PATs) available in British Columbia for 2022 has been released.
 
Opportunities for applicants to demonstrate their playing ability will be available at the following dates and locations:
 
  • April 7 - GreenTee Golf & Country Club Langley (Pagoda Ridge)
  • June 7 - Rivershore Golf Links
  • July 14 - Arbutus Ridge Golf Club
  • September 13 - Belmont Golf Course
 
In addition to the above, applicants residing in the Kootenay/North region may have the opportunity to attend a PAT in the Alberta Zone, pending health & safety guidelines. Click below to access the PAT schedule via the PGA of Canada website, including registration details and target-score information for each gender and age group.
 
Registration for the above events will open on March 1, 2022. Spaces at each PAT are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that in order to be eligible for registration, all applicants must have "Verified Applicant" status.
 
Please direct any inquiries to PGA of BC Membership & Events Manager Doug Titterington at [email protected]. Those interested in applying to join the PGA of Canada may click here for more information.

REGISTER FOR NCCP INSTRUCTOR OF INTERMEDIATE GOLFERS
Take advantage of the next National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Instructor of Intermediate Golfers Workshop taking place in BC next month.

Moderated by Doug Hastie, this in-person two-day workshop will take place March 5-6 at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club in Richmond.

The workshop will run between 8:30am-5:00pm each day, with registration taking place between 8:15-8:30am on Day 1. Lunch will be provided for both days.

This course is highly recommended for those interested in a teaching-based pathway and will focus on the following six contexts:
  • Introduction
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Design a Golf Instructional Program
  • Analyze Performance
  • Plan a Lesson
  • Manage Elements of a Golf Instruction Program

Registration deadline to attend this workshop is Friday February 26, 2022. For more information and to register, please click on the below link.
TEE TALKS LIVE - DIGITAL SPEAKER SERIES RETURNS NEXT WEEK
Back by popular demand, the PGA of Canada's Tee Talks Live - Digital Speaker Series returns next week as part of a three session series.
 
Members have a chance to hear from some of the most well-known names in their respective industries, including TSN Hockey's James Duthie and Gold-Medal winning Canadian Olympic Women's Soccer Coach Bev Priestman. 
Sessions will occur on three consecutive Mondays - February 28, March 7, March 14 - each being one-and-a-half hours in length and commencing at 11:00am PST. The speaker series is complimentary all PGA of Canada members. 

Registration closes tomorrow. For more information on each session and to register, please click the link below.
NEW SESSION ADDED TO VIRTUAL EDUCATION SERIES SCHEDULE
The PGA of BC is pleased to announce an addition to the already impressive list of presentations for the 2022 PGA of BC Virtual Education Series.

Confirmed to present March 31st at 10:00am PST, Michael Gregory of GGA Partners (pictured, right) and PGA of Canada Employment Manager, Jeff Fry will share their insight in a presentation titled "The Bottom Line - Employability in the Canadian Golf Industry". The 60-minute session will speak on their knowledge on employment standards in the golf industry, from the five differentiating factors to making yourself more appealing in a competitive search environment to strategies for facilities to attract and retain great people.

The presentation will also go over the employment department at the PGA of Canada including, services offered to PGA of Canada members and employers, employment legislation and the Compensation & Benefits information and how to use it.

Those members who have purchased the Virtual Education Series pass will gain entry into this event at no additional charge. An email to all registrants leading up to the event will include all information to access the event. Please click here to register for the Virtual Education Series or the below link for more information about this event.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Jae Hoon (Justin) Chang has successfully completed the National Training Program and becomes a Class "A" Professional at Delta Golf Centre
 
Kevin Maxwell has left Olympic View Golf Club and joins Highland Pacific Golf as a Class "A" Professional

Cole Marshall has transferred from the Alberta Zone and joins Mountain View Golf Club as Head Professional

Kyle German has left Bald Eagle Golf Club and joins Callaway Golf Canada as a Class "A" Professional

Blair Piercy has resigned from the PGA of Canada

Eric Wang has successfully completed the National Training Program and becomes a Teaching Professional at the Victoria Academy of Golf
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Demo Technician – Cobra Puma Golf

Head Golf Professional - Fairwinds Golf Club

Assistant Golf Professional - Olympic View Golf Club
PGA of BC PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT -- GRAHAM OGDEN
Class "A" Professional, Richmond Country Club

PGA of Canada member since: 2005

Why did you become a PGA of Canada Professional? 
Spending a portion of my youth in Arizona, I became addicted to the game and knew immediately that I wanted to make a career out of it and learn as much as I could about the game that I had fallen in love with

What career path led you to where you are today?
My entire career as a Golf Professional has been in the Lower Mainland. Back shop to Apprentice Professional to Class "A", to Lead Assistant Professional. I am very proud of where my path has led me today and extremely grateful for every opportunity that has been given to me

Which significant accomplishments are you most proud of?
Achieving my Class "A" status, and being recognized as one of the Top 100 Professionals in the PGA of BC through the PDP program every year since its inception

What is your most cherished golf memory? 
The day my father and I took the game of golf up together. This game shaped our relationship and I am forever grateful for that
Want to be featured in the Professional Spotlight of an upcoming E-News? Click here to complete the PGA of BC member profile questionnaire.
FACT OF THE WEEK
Members are reminded of the April 1 deadline to receive a full refund of annual dues if resigning from the PGA of Canada, with the exception of insurance and Benevolent Fund amounts pro-rated by month. Please note that all late fees are non-refundable. 
 
Refunds will be pro-rated for any resignations taking place between April 2 and June 30. Refunds will not be issued for resignations taking place after July 1.
 
For more information, please contact PGA of Canada Education & Membership Coordinator Karen Collins at [email protected].
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