PGA of BC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
EFAS SAFETY
EFAS Safety is a Burnaby-based mobile supplier of high-quality safety equipment and first-aid products, featuring an experienced team of safety experts dedicated to keeping your place of business, patrons and employees safe and sound.

EFAS Safety proudly serves the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island, delivering an array of premier safety products and equipment direct to your facility, tailored to your business. The company’s team of highly trained representatives also conducts safety audits to help your establishment meet and exceeds WCB requirements, as well as training for your employees in safety and first aid. EFAS Safety is proud to offer preferred pricing on its products and services to PGA of BC facilities.

EFAS Safety is a Bronze-level Preferred Partner of the Association and the presenting sponsor of the PGA of BC’s Facility of the Year Award. Click below to learn more. 
SPEAKER LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR SPRING EDUCATION SEMINAR
Earlier today, the Association was proud to release the lineup of featured speakers for the 2020 PGA of BC Spring Education Seminar, which returns to Tsawwassen Springs next month.

Jeff Smith , PGA Tour coach and founder of online instruction platform Course Kings, will open the seminar when it returns to Tsawwassen Springs on Feb. 10.  Will Robins , an award-winning PGA Professional and developer of the RGX coach-training program, will close out the schedule on Feb. 11. As well, the Association is proud to be welcoming Global Golf Advisors director  George Pinches  and longtime auto-industry executive and business coach  Glen Daman  of 10th Degree Consulting Inc. as presenters for the PGA of BC’s signature professional-development event.

Click here to view the complete lineup announcement.

The schedule for the two-day event will be as follows:

DAY 1 - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10
9:45 a.m. - Introductory remarks: Donald Miyazaki; Executive Director, PGA of BC
10:00 a.m. –  Jeff Smith ; Tour Coach & Instructor, TPC Summerlin; Founder, Course Kings
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
12:45 p.m. – Jeff Smith (continued)
2:00 p.m. -  George Pinches ; Director, Global Golf Advisors
4:30 p.m. – PGA of British Columbia Annual General Meeting

DAY 2 - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11
8:30 a.m. –  Glen Daman ; Owner, 10th Degree Consulting Inc.
11:30 a.m. - Lunch
12:15 p.m. -  Will Robins , PGA; CEO, Robins Golf Logistix (RGX)
3:00 p.m. - Closing remarks; Donald Miyazaki

Click below to view the event page and view more information about each speaker and their respective topics.

The registration fee for PGA of BC members is $129 (plus GST), while non-members can attend for $199 (plus GST) with a reference from a Class “A” member. Lunch service for both days of the event is included in the registration fee. Registration will be open until Jan. 31 at 4 p.m. PT;  click here to sign up  or find the registration link on the event info page.
RECORD TURNOUT FOR OPENING EVENT OF 2020 EDUCATION SERIES
The PGA of BC’s 2020 schedule officially kicked off Tuesday with a record crowd at Richmond Country Club for the first event of this year’s Education Series presented by  Foresight Sports Canada .

Seventy-one PGA of BC members and guests were on hand for a trio of presentations full of great information for Golf Professionals, making it the largest-ever gathering assembled for an Education Series event.

The Association would like to thank our volunteer presenters, including PGA of BC members Doug Hastie (British Columbia Golf) and Laird White (The Golf Performance Project), as well as Lindsay Benard (pictured), Senior Corporate Trainer with our Preferred Partners at Dale Carnegie Training of British Columbia. Thank you as well to host Executive Professional  Mark Strong , Head Professional  Mike Cyndroski  and the entire staff at Richmond Country Club for once again welcoming us for the event.

Video recordings of all presentations will be made available to those unable to attend Tuesday’s event on the  PGA of BC Education Series archive  in the near future.

The PGA of BC Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada continues March 3 at Victoria Golf Club, with further events scheduled for Kelowna and Fairmont Hot Springs. Find full details and registration links for all series events on the  PGA of BC Event Schedule page by clicking below .
FINAL CALL TO RUN FOR PGA of BC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The PGA of BC Board of Directors invites qualified members interested in serving on the Board of Directors to submit their names to run in this month's upcoming election for open positions prior to Friday's deadline. 
 
In the coming vote, there will be four (4) vacant positions on the Board. Each member elected will serve a two-year term. Due to the Board's current composition, at least one (1) of the positions must be assumed by a member based in the Vancouver Island region.
 
All candidates must be Class "A" Professionals who are members in good standing with the PGA of Canada to be eligible to run in the election. Click below to view the requirements and expectations of board members.

Candidates will be asked to submit a brief biography and write-up detailing why they feel they are most qualified for a position on the PGA of BC Board of Directors. Submissions may not exceed 200 words and may not include any supplementary documents or files -- this are firm requirements that will be strictly enforced . Candidates' submissions will be made available online to voting members on the election ballot when voting takes place in late January. Please note that each candidate's 2019 Professional Development Program point total and ranking in the PDP Order of Merit will be included with their personal info on the ballot.
 
To submit your name for consideration, please send an email with your written submission no later than Friday, Jan. 17 at 4 p.m. PT  to  [email protected] .
PGA of BC NAMES TOP 100 GOLF PROFESSIONALS OF 2019
Earlier this month, the Association was proud to reveal the list of the PGA of BC's Top 100 Golf Professionals of 2019, as determined by the Professional Development Program Order of Merit presented by Sunice & Bobby Jones .

The Professional Development Program (PDP) is an annual Order of Merit designed to recognize PGA of BC members who make outstanding contributions to the Association, their communities, the province’s golf industry and, most importantly, themselves. Through participation in continuing education, competitions, the PGA of BC Awards Program, annual Buying Show and various forms of volunteerism, the PDP provides an equal avenue to showcase strengths of the diverse membership.

Congratulations to all PGA of BC members for their commitment to professional development and efforts to better serve patrons of our game across British Columbia.

Additionally, the PGA of BC is pleased to name  Gordon Mink  (Hi-Knoll Golf Centre) as the winner of the 2019 PDP Order of Merit. Mink kept a busy and balanced schedule throughout 2019 that allowed him to accumulate 121 PDP points for educational pursuits, volunteerism, championship play and recognition through the PGA of BC Awards Program.

Cailean Hourigan  (Bear Mountain Resort Community) was the only other member to eclipse the 100-point mark in 2019, collecting 114 during the season to secure a second-place finish in the Order of Merit and improve upon his 10th-place result one year ago.  Jeff Wiggins  (Mountain View Golf Club) earned 98 points on the year to place third, marking his first finish inside the top 10.  Colin Lavers  (Seymour Golf & Country Club, 94 points) and  Graham Ogden  (Richmond Country Club, 93 points) rounded out the top five.

Thanks in large part to the support of Sunice and Bobby Jones, a total bursary purse of nearly $5,000 will be divided among those finishing among the top 10, providing financial opportunity to pursue further professional development and education. The PGA of BC is pleased to announce that Sunice and Bobby Jones have committed to continuing as presenting sponsor of the Professional Development Program in 2020. We thank them for their generous, ongoing support of the program.

Click below for the full Top 100 list and more details.
APPLY FOR NEW PGA of BC EVENT SUBSIDY GRANT
​​​​​​​Beginning annually in 2020, the PGA of BC will be awarding five (5) grants to members in the amount of $300 to help offset the cost of attending Association events and championships.

Funds may be used at the member's discretion to subsidize travel, accommodations, registration fees or other foreseeable expenses. The intent of the program is to encourage members who haven't had the opportunity to attend PGA of BC events in the past to participate. 

To apply, please complete the form below and indicate which event you plan to attend with the grant's assistance. Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel to determine recipients. All information collected by this form will remain strictly confidential. 

All PGA of BC members are eligible to apply, but considerations will be given to the following: 
  • If applicant is attending declared event for first time, or first time within past five years
  • Significance of travel required by Professional to attend declared event
  • Membership category, with preference given to Apprentice Professionals

Please note that each individual may make a grant application for one (1) event per calendar year. Successful grant recipients will be reimbursed following their participation in the declared event or their application being selected, whichever occurs later. 

Click below to access the Event Subsidy Grant application form. Please direct any inquiries about the Event Subsidy Grant to PGA of BC Communications & Marketing Manager Eric MacKenzie at [email protected] .
NOTICE OF 2020 PGA of BC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association of British Columbia will be held on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Tsawwassen Springs Golf, 5133 Springs Blvd, Tsawwassen, BC, V4M 0A6, for the following purposes:

  1. To receive the financial statements of the Association for the period ended November 30, 2019, and the auditor’s report thereon;
  2. To appoint auditors for the ensuing year, and to authorize the directors to fix their remuneration;
  3. To pass motion to vote in new directors of the Association;
  4. To approve all acts, deeds and proceedings of the directors since the last Annual General Meeting;
  5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Important reminders:

Dress code : PGA of BC “Business Formal” dress code is highly recommended for the Annual General Meeting.  Click here  for more information.

Copy of financials : Should any PGA of BC Member require a copy of the Association’s Audited Financial Statements in advance of the Annual General Meeting, please contact the PGA of BC office to obtain a copy by mail.

Click below to view a formal notice for the Annual General Meeting.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Greg Pool has left Capilano Golf & Country Club and he becomes Head Professional at Northview Golf & Country Club

Ryan Tofani has left Langley Golf Centre and he becomes Head Professional at Chilliwack Golf Club (January 27)

Kenneth Maki has successfully completed the National training program and becomes Class "A" Professional at Fernie Golf & Country Club

Oliver Tubb has left University Golf Club and goes to Lobb & Partners Golf Course Architects
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Academy Instructor - Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club

Assistant Professional - Talking Rock Golf Course

Apprentice Professional - Capilano Golf & Country Club

Assistant Professional - Yellowknife Golf Club

Golf Operations Manager - Talking Rock Golf Course

Demo Day Representative - Callaway Golf

Assistant Professional - Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club

Assistant Professional - The Falls Golf Club
FACT OF THE WEEK
Members who have held Class "A" status for a minimum of 25 years whose age and number of years as a Class "A" Professional are a sum of 90 or greater are eligible for Life Professional designation, provided they are retired or employed on a casual basis. Please contact the zone or national office to inquire about your pathway to Life Professional status.
PGA of British Columbia | [email protected] | (604) 303-6766 | pgabc.org
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