PGA of BC

E-NEWS

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Driven by passion and enthusiasm for cutting-edge technology and design, Sunice continues to advance the latest in performance outerwear, layering systems and sportswear for wherever your favorite sport or activity takes you. And like its customers, Sunice is always looking forward to next season.

Evoking their namesake, Bobby Jones products are the definition of class, using only premium-quality materials to create classic, timeless designs that exude confidence on and off the course. The Bobby Jones brand has been a mainstay in the golf industry since the 1990s and is sold in the finest private clubs, resorts and golf courses worldwide. 

Sunice and Bobby Jones are Silver-level Preferred Partners of the Association and Presenting Sponsors of the PGA of BC Professional Development Program. Visit Sunice and Bobby Jones online to learn more.

PGA of BC professionals gathered at Elite Golf Club in Richmond, BC on Monday for an exclusive and interactive education session with golf fitness expert Mike Aizawa. Aizawa's presentation explored the intersections between golf, fitness, strength and mobility. He demonstrated a multitude of exercises that coaches and golfers can employ to improve their body's ability to maximize its golfing potential. Attendees came away with a greater understanding of how different exercises can influence the golf swing. The session was part of our Interactive Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada.

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, TPI Certified Fitness Professional Level 3, TPI Certified in Power, Golf, and Medical, Junior Golf.

We extend our thanks to Foresight Sports Canada for their support of the Interactive Education Series.

The PGA of BC extends our gratitude to Chilliwack Golf Club and Atlas Performance & Golf Academy for their volunteerism at this week’s Vancouver Canucks First Strides event, which saw over 50 local children engage in hockey and golf instruction. Ryan Tofani, Dylan Nickel and the Chilliwack team gave the kids an interactive and exciting introduction to the sport, and also delivered presentations to help inform parents about the Association’s Canucks Junior Golf Week initiative. We are grateful for Chilliwack’s generous commitment to this event.

We also extend our thanks to CaddyPro Golf Products and Vince Cianfagna for their donation of Canucks-branded cart and stand bags, displayed during the Canucks First Strides event. CaddyPro has provided the bags which will be awarded as prizing during the upcoming Sponsor-Media Appreciation Invitational. For more information on CaddyPro Golf Products, please contact Cianfagna at [email protected] or 587-691-3722. 

The Association invites members to register for our upcoming presentation from Michael Caan, as part of our Virtual Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada. Caan's presentation is on "Growing your social media presence from the ground up." Attendees can register for the individual presentation, or can sign up for the full-slate Virtual Bundle, granting access to every upcoming virtual presentation as well as an archive of presentations having already taken place. For more information and to register today, please click here.

Caan is a Class “A” PGA of BC Professional at Riverway Golf Course in Burnaby, and is known for his viral social media following. With over 60 thousand followers on Instagram, Caan shows how PGA professionals can wield the power of social media to advance their career and showcase themselves and the Association. One of his most viral moments came when he shot an incredible 59 at Meadow Gardens Golf Club. Following his 40-foot eagle bomb to seal the deal, Caan jumped into the neighbouring pond, with the video shared across some of the world’s largest golf platforms.

For more information on the Association's 2024 Education schedule, please contact Communications & Marketing Manager Graham Abraham at [email protected].

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 as soon as possible, as volunteer opportunities will soon 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 [email protected].

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, played the Causeway Invitational, an NCAA Division 1 tournament hosted by UC Davis at Sacramento this week. The Thunderbirds finished in seventh place, beating out several Division 1 schools. Una Chou was the standout for the team, finishing in a tie for individual 11th. To read the full recap via UBC, please click here.

SFU Red Leafs Men's Golf, coached by PGA of BC pros Matt Steinbach, Krysta Schaus and Matt Cella, competed against the University of the Fraser Valley in the Fraser Cup. The Red Leafs took the victory following Round One at Meadow Gardens Golf Club, with Round Two cancelled due to the weather. Freshman Justin Bjornson led the way for the team, shooting an even-par 72. To read the full recap via SFU, please click here.

The SFU Red Leafs Women's Golf team, coached by Steinbach, Schaus and Cella, competed in the Tim Tierney Shootout in Oakland, California this week. The team finished in 7th place out of the 16-team field, with freshman Dana Smith impressing for the Red Leafs. Smith shot 74-77 to secure an 18th-place individual ranking in the event. To read the full recap via SFU, please click here.

The UVic Vikes Golf teams, coached by PGA of BC pros Justin Clews and David Rands, will begin their spring season at the RMC Intercollegiate in Henderson, Nevada on March 5.

The UBCO Heat Women's Golf teams, coached by PGA of BC pro Clay Stothers, began their spring season at The Trailblazer in Las Vegas on February 26. The Heat placed 4th in the competition, with Lauren Nedo and Julia Alexander-Carew tied for 9th place in the individual standings. The Men's spring swing starts March 5 at the RMC Intercollegiate in Henderson, Nevada.

The UFV Cascades Men's Golf team, coached by PGA of BC pros Sean Douglas and Connor O'Dell, competed against SFU in the Fraser Cup at Meadow Gardens Golf Club. Mac Smith and Jackson Jacob defeated their SFU opponents in their head-to-head, 18-hole stroke play matches. The Women's team travels to Nevada for the RMC Intercollegiate next week.

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

Kaddy-Lac Push Carts for sale

$95 per cart or $4,000 for 50

50 Kaddy-Lac push carts for sale at $95 per cart or $4,000 for the works. Purchased in 2015, meticulously maintained, sweater baskets replaced in 2022, wheel bearings replaced in 2023, freight not included.

Contact [email protected]

If you would like to place an advertisement in the Classifieds section, please contact Marketing & Communications Manager Graham Abraham at [email protected] to place a listing.

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE

Roman Slabej transfers from the National Zone and becomes an Associate Professional at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort

Shayne Simpson’s application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and becomes an Apprentice Professional at Glacier Greens Golf Club

Christof Appel’s application to the PGA of Canada has been approved and becomes an Apprentice Professional at The Golf Performance Project



Peter Oliphant has joined Lakepoint Golf & Country Club as Head Professional

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

Apprentice Golf Professional - MaraHills Golf Resort

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 [email protected] 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.

March 12

Virtual Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada:

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

Register Here

April 29

Sponsor-Media Appreciation Invitational presented by Rampion Enterprises Ltd.

Invitation Only

CONTACT THE PGA OF BC OFFICE TEAM