PGA of BC

E-NEWS

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Par Six Golf Media (P6R Golf), they’re not just another marketing firm; they’re the caddies of the digital world, carrying your brand through the fairways of the internet with a creative flair and a touch of sass. Through nurturing long-lasting partnerships with private clubs, golf resorts, and e-commerce golf brands, P6R Golf has established itself as an expert in driving revenues through digital awareness and engagement for all types of golf brands.

With a team of eight experienced marketing professionals, all of whom share a passion for golf, P6R Golf excels in producing and executing robust marketing strategies. Their expertise includes brand identity, social media strategy and management, photography, video production, web design, and digital advertising. 

Focusing exclusively on the golf industry, P6R Golf proudly stands as Canada's premier agency for golf marketing solutions. They’re not just in the game; they are consumers of the game. They prioritize being approachable and easy to work with, and they take great pride in delivering results for their clients.

P6R Golf has already earned the trust of multiple PGA of BC facilities for social media, and video and photo content creation. 

Going forward, member professionals throughout the province can expect to see P6R Golf staff on site at various PGA of BC events as they work to develop new content and drive engagement for the Association as a whole.

As a preferred partner of the PGA of BC, you can find more information about P6R Golf on their website.

The PGA of BC invites members to the next edition of our Interactive Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada. Certified TPI Coach Mike Aizawa will deliver an exclusive, interactive experience on "Golf Fitness: How muscle activation and other exercises can influence the golf swing," taking place Monday, February 26 at 1:00pm. This event will be hosted at Elite Golf Club, located in Richmond, BC. To register today, please click here.

Aizawa is a TPI Coach with an extensive background in golf fitness. His accomplishments and certifications in the fitness world include a Bachelor of Human Kinetics, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, PI Certified Fitness Professional Level 3, PI Certified in Power, Golf, and Medical, Junior Golf. Following the success of our first Interactive Education Series event with Ralph Bauer, we are thrilled to welcome Aizawa and offer members an opportunity to learn more about the intersections of golf, strength, fitness and athleticism.

This session isn't just about listening; it's about engaging, participating, and applying new skills in a practical setting.

The two-hour experience is available to members for $129. To ensure an intimate and focused environment, the number of participants is limited to 24 participants. Early registration is encouraged. For full details, please click here. We extend our thanks to Foresight Sports Canada for their support of the Interactive Education Series.

The PGA of BC is thrilled to welcome our newest partner, E-Z-GO. E-Z-GO will serve as presenting sponsor of the 2024 PGA of BC Pro-Assistant Championship. E-Z-GO joins co-title sponsors Callaway Golf and G&G Brands as Association partners for this year’s championship.

Since 1954, E‑Z‑GO has become a world leader in transportation and a leading global manufacturer of golf carts, utility vehicles and personal transportation vehicles. From their headquarters in Augusta, Georgia, they build tens of thousands of vehicles each year, many of which feature game-changing technology and innovations to improve vehicle efficiency and enhance the user experience like no other vehicle can.

E-Z-GO Territory Sales Manager Wesley Behan said the company looks forward to connecting with PGA of BC professionals at this summer’s Pro-Assistant Championship, taking place July 8-9 at Copper Point Golf Club in Invermere.

“E-Z-GO is thrilled to be a presenting sponsor of the 2024 PGA of BC Pro-Assistant Championship. As we continue to grow and expand in Western Canada, we have wanted to get involved with the sponsorship of an event,” said Behan. “The Pro-Assistant Championship worked out to be the perfect fit. We are looking forward to seeing some of the top local Professionals compete at an awesome venue in the Kootenays. See you all there!”

We extend our gratitude to E-Z-GO and Behan for their support of the Association. For more information, please reach out to Behan at WBehan@textron.com.

The PGA of BC extends our gratitude to 17-time LPGA Tour winner and two-time Major champion Dottie Pepper for her presentation at our Virtual Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada today.

Pepper's presentation focused on her experiences as a golf broadcaster and commentator, delivering an inside look at her schedule, preparation for events and behind-the-scenes insights into some of golf's most-watched tournaments. She shared some of her key takeaways from her broadcasting career, including the need for a consistent routine, flexibility, mentorship and teamwork. Presentation attendees saw photos and heard stories about covering the Masters, chatting with Tiger, and golfing with Jim Nantz, among other highlights from her time as a broadcaster.

Her broadcasting career has seen her work for Golf Channel, ESPN, NBC and CBS, where she currently serves as CBS Sports’ lead on-course reporter for the networks’s golf coverage, including the Masters and PGA Championship. She served as a member on the PGA of America Board of Directors from 2012-2015. Pepper is the author of “Letters to a Future Champion.” To learn more about Pepper, please visit her website here.

Via Michelle McCann, Class "A" Professional, Uplands Golf Club

Are you interested in Coaching? Are you passionate about junior development, shaping their golf game and going for a podium win! Or are you interested in a career of coaching? Then the BC Summer Games are a great start.

The Games are happening from July 18-21, 2024 in Maple Ridge. 

We are currently looking for a few more coaches from various zones around the province. We need Class ‘A’ Professionals as head coaches. Also looking for apprentices to act as managers/adult supervisors to shadow and support the head coach and zone team. This is a great learning opportunity for you to learn on-course college style coaching, in action and guide up-and-coming BC juniors in your region. Head coaches receive a coach honorarium for the weekend. 

There are limited spaces available for these opportunities! Please respond by February 23rd. 

Even if you are just curious about the BC Summer Games or what coaching at the Games would be like, please reach out. 

My name is Michelle McCann and I will be the acting Provincial Advisor for golf at Maple Ridge 2024. I am a Class 'A' Professional at Uplands Golf Club and I have coached at two BC games, and one Canada Summer Games now, and I absolutely love multi-sport games! The environment is unmatched and the connections we get to make with juniors is unforgettable. 

E-mail michelle.mccann.golf@gmail.com for more information.

If you have interest in coaching at the games and would like to learn more/show interest please fill out the form below:

https://form.123formbuilder.com/6613239/coaches-interest-form

This form does not act like an application or a commitment, it’s just so that we know who is interested and we will contact you to follow. 

Michelle McCann

Class ‘A’ Professional

Uplands Golf Club

The 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship is coming to Sammamish, Washington's Sahalee Country Club on June 20-23. The PGA of BC has partnered with the KPMG Women's PGA Championship to offer PGA of BC members the opportunity to serve as marshals on Hole 13 throughout the Championship.

Registration for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship opened September 12, 2023 and will run until 2 weeks prior to the Championship.

PGA of BC members are encouraged to register sometime in the next week, as volunteer opportunities will then open to the general public. Members will still be able to register, but spots will no longer be guaranteed for PGA of BC professionals.

HOW TO REGISTER: 

· Visit the official Volunteer Portal

· Click ‘Register Here’ on the right-hand side of the page 

· Select ‘Adult Volunteer’ as your volunteer type

· Create a username and password and fill out all necessary contact information

· When prompted to select a Committee Choice, select "Marshal Hole 13 - PGA of British Columbia" from the drop down box, enter the security code PGABC2024, and complete the entire registration process

* Using this code ensures that all members of your club will be assigned to the correct hole.

For more information, please contact Communications & Marketing Manager Graham Abraham at graham@pgabc.org.

The UBC Thunderbirds Men's Golf team, coached by PGA of BC professionals Chris MacDonald, Tim Wilson, Patrick Lago and Tyler McNeil, took sixth place at the NCAA Division 1 Vanharte Orange County Collegiate in Fullerton, California last week, an impressive showing against top American college competition. Aidan Schumer, Mackenzie Bickell and Dylan MacDonald led the way for the Thunderbirds, each finishing in a tie for 22nd on the individual leaderboard out of a field of 64 golfers. To read the full recap via UBC, please click here.

The UBC Thunderbirds Women's team, coached by McDonald, Wilson, McNeil and Keri Moffat, returns to competition February 26 at UC Davis in Sacramento.

SFU Red Leafs Men's Golf, coached by PGA of BC pros Matt Steinbach, Krysta Schaus and Matt Cella, kicked off their spring season at the California State University San Marcos Fujikara Invitational in Vista, California. The event featured a strong field of predominantly California schools, with nine currently ranked in the top 10 of the west region. SFU's +16 total placed them seventh and earned important head to head wins over Sonoma State, California State San Bernadino, and Hawaii Pacific University. Michael Crisologo led the Red Leafs with a sixth place finish, finishing the tournament at -2 with scores of 75, 69, 70. To read the full recap via SFU, please click here.

The SFU Red Leafs Women's Golf team, coached by Steinbach, Schaus and Cella, will resume competition February 26 at the California State East Bay Tim Tierney Shootout in Hayward, California.

The UVic Vikes Golf teams, coached by PGA of BC pros Justin Clews and David Rands, will begin their spring season at the Cal Maritime Women's Spring Invite in Vallejo, California on February 26 and the RMC Intercollegiate in Henderson, Nevada on March 5.

The UBCO Heat Golf teams, coached by PGA of BC pro Clay Stothers, will resume competition soon. The Women's team begins their spring season at The Trailblazer in Las Vegas on February 26, while the Men's spring swing starts March 5 at the RMC Intercollegiate in Henderson, Nevada.

The UFV Cascades Golf teams, coached by PGA of BC pros Sean Douglas and Connor O'Dell, travelled to Chambers Bay and Loomis Trail for an inter-team event last week. Jackson Jacob shined with a 68 at Loomis Trail. The Cascades take on the SFU Men's team Sunday, February 25 and Monday, February 26.

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

Myles Johnson has joined Vernon Golf & Country Club as a Teaching Professional

Kattereya Kennedy has joined McCleery Golf Course as a Teaching Professional

Colin Lavers has joined Bowen Island Golf Club and becomes Head Teaching Professional 

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

Lead Associate Golf Professional - University Golf Club

Assistant Golf Professional - Shuswap National

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.

February 26

Elite Golf, Richmond, BC

Interactive Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada:

Mike Aizawa - "Golf Fitness: How muscle activation and other exercises can influence the golf swing"

Register Here

March 12

Virtual Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada:

Michael Caan - "Growing your Social Media Presence from the Ground Up"

Register Here

CONTACT THE PGA OF BC OFFICE TEAM