PGA of BC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
REPLAY GOLF SUPPLIES
Replay Golf Supplies Inc. offers an extensive catalogue of golf balls and other services with the goal of passing savings on to its clients and their patrons. With packages ready for retail in a variety of sizes, brands and models, Replay Golf Supplies can help bring affordable ball options to customers at your facility. The company can also provide multiple grades of range balls, logo placement on balls and diving services to recover the potential revenue left in hazards by errant shots.

Replay Golf Supplies Inc. is a Bronze-level Preferred Partner of the Association and a longtime Presenting Sponsor of the PGA of BC Awards Celebration. Click below to learn more.
PGA of BC NAMES TOP 100 GOLF PROFESSIONALS OF 2021
Earlier this week, the PGA of BC proudly unveiled its list of the Top 100 Golf Professionals of 2021, as determined by the Association's Professional Development Program (PDP) Order of Merit presented by Sunice & Bobby Jones.

The PDP Order of Merit acknowledges PGA of BC Professionals who make outstanding contributions to the Association, their communities, the province’s golf industry and, most importantly, themselves. The PDP provides an avenue to showcase and reward the diverse strengths of PGA of BC Professionals by crediting their participation in continuing education, the Association’s annual Buying Show and Awards Program, tournament competition and various forms of volunteerism. Congratulations to all who achieved a place amongst last year's Top 100.

Additionally, the PGA of BC is pleased to acknowledge Brian McDonald (Fairview Mountain Golf Club) as the first-place finisher on the 2021 PDP Order of Merit. McDonald accumulated 107 points over the course of the season to top the standings by just a single point. The 50-year-old earned the maximum number of points available in the Education category through his participation in PGA of BC-administered professional-development sessions via the Spring Education Seminar, Education Series and Buying Show, as well as in extracurricular education.

McDonald barely edged Dennis Bradley (Copper Point Golf Club) for the PDP title, as Bradley amassed 106 points to finish just one off the winning total. Three past leaders of the PDP Order of Merit rounded out the top five, each falling just short of becoming the program’s first-ever two-time winner. Adam Blair (Talking Rock Golf Course, 2016 winner) placed third with 99 points, while Greg Pool (Northview Golf & Country Club, 2017 winner) and Nathan Grieve (Talking Rock Golf Course, 2020 winner) tied for fourth place with 95 points apiece.

Thanks to the patronage of Sunice and Bobby Jones, the top-10 finishers on the Order of Merit will once again split a bursary purse of nearly $5,000, meant to provide financial opportunity and incentive to pursue additional education and professional-development undertakings in the future. We thank Sunice and Bobby Jones for their generous, ongoing support of the program.

Click below to read our Top 100 announcement, including the complete list of honoured members, access to final 2021 PDP standings and comments from McDonald on topping the Order of Merit.
SPEAKER LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR 2022 SPRING EDUCATION SEMINAR
The PGA of BC announced Wednesday the lineup of featured guest speakers to appear at the Association’s 2022 Spring Education Seminar, which is set to be conducted virtually on Feb. 7-8.

Following the success of the first-ever virtual Spring Education Seminar in 2021, the PGA of BC is pleased to be conducting this year’s event online once again. This format will ensure no disruptions resulting from public-health circumstances, allow member Professionals of the PGA of BC to participate from all corners of the province, and has provided the Association's Education Committee and administration team the opportunity to engage world-class speakers from around North America to join us for two great days of learning and professional development.

Based upon the membership’s response to education sessions hosted virtually since 2020 and the tremendous lineup of speakers that has been assembled, next month’s Spring Education Seminar is sure to be an outstanding and well-attended gathering. The event will once again feature a variety of subject matter relevant to all members, delivered by some of the leading minds and experts in our sport and from notable figures outside the golf world. The presentations and discussions comprising this year’s seminar will cover topics that include golf instruction, leadership, career longevity, fitness and nutrition, golf-course design and more. 

The Day 1 schedule will include presentations from business mogul and Seminole Golf Club President Jimmy Dunne, acclaimed short-game guru Gareth Raflewski, a panel discussion featuring prominent hockey personalities Jarome IginlaBob Nicholson and Jim Hughson, and a session led by renowned instructor Trillium Rose.

Day 2 of the event will feature a workshop guided by fitness expert Ali Gilbert, PGA of BC Professional Dave Zibrik speaking on brand and culture, insights into the career longevity of actor Lochlyn Munro, a conversation with golf-course architect Christine Fraser and a session with esteemed instructor Andrew Rice.

Registration is open now until Feb. 4. The two-day event is priced at $99 (plus tax) for PGA of BC Professionals. Non-members may attend for $199 (plus tax) with the reference of a Class "A" member.

Click below to access the Spring Education Seminar event page, which includes registration links, an event itinerary and more information on each of our featured speakers and topics.
EDUCATION SERIES KICKS OFF WEDNESDAY, REGISTER NOW
Members are reminded that the first event of the 2022 PGA of BC Virtual Education Series will take place next week.

For the first installment of the online series, Colby Johannson from our Preferred Partners at P6R Golf will lead a session focused on effective social-media strategies on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. PST. Click here for more details.

Those interested in participating in the Virtual Education Series may do so by purchasing a Series Pass granting access to all sessions throughout the winter and spring months for $39 (plus tax). There are currently three sessions scheduled, with further webinars to be added in the weeks ahead. Click below to review the PGA of BC's entire 2022 education schedule and to access registration links for any of our upcoming events.

All Series Pass holders will receive information on how to connect to next week's session on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Please note that registration is also open for each of the in-person Education Series events on the schedule, including our first gathering on Jan. 18 at Richmond Country Club. The administration team has determined that this event qualifies as one that can operate at 50 per cent of venue capacity under the current provincial health order. Proof of vaccination and mask use will be required for all participants. However, the administration team continues to monitor the evolving public-health situation will advise all registrants of any changes or other crucial details prior to the event.
DECLARE YOUR CANDIDACY FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION
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. 
 
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 of the directors elected must be a representative of 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 here to review the expectations and requirements of board directors.

Prospective candidates are asked to submit a brief biography and write-up detailing why they feel they are 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 -- these are firm requirements that will be strictly enforced. Candidates' submissions will be made available online to voting members on the election ballot. Please note that each candidate's 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. 14 at 4 p.m. PT to Executive Director Donald Miyazaki at donald@pgabc.org. Confirmation will be sent to candidates upon receipt of application. 
 
Once a list of candidates has been compiled, the membership will have an opportunity to vote in the online election for a period of one (1) week. Please note that, contrary to previous communications, the voting period will run from Jan. 17-24. Due to regional quota considerations, the Vancouver Island-based candidate receiving the most votes will be guaranteed one of the four open positions regardless of their finish in the overall vote totals. 
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Josh Horsthuis has left The Okanagan Golf Club and joins The Harvest Golf Club as an Apprentice Professional

Cadence Hellmann has left Bear Mountain Golf Resort and joins The Golf Performance Project as an Apprentice Professional

Darcy Dhillon has left Modern Golf Vancouver and transfers to the Alberta Zone

Jake Scarrow has left Chilliwack Golf Club and joins Gorge Vale Golf Club as an Apprentice Professional

Sangvin Kang has left Richmond Country Club and joins Par-Tee Golf as an Apprentice Professional

Rob Boyle has left Cedar Hill Golf Course

Diego San Pedro has resigned from the PGA of Canada

Blake Ceron has successfully completed the National Training Program and becomes a Class "A" Professional at Fraserview Golf Club

Brian Wise has left Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community 
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Assistant Golf Professional - Morgan Creek Golf Course

Associate Golf Professional (2 positions) - Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community

Assistant Golf Professional - Salmon Arm Golf Club
PGA of BC PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT -- MIKE HEENAN
Head Professional, Gorge Vale Golf Club

PGA of Canada member since: 2009

At which golf facility did you first begin working within the industry, and who was the PGA Professional? 
I started working at the Vancouver Golf Club with Randy Smith as the Head Professional. We had a lot of great years, topped off by being part of two Canadian Women's Opens and multiple Bandon Dunes trips.

Who has influenced your career the most, and how? 
I've been lucky to lean on a lot of people in the industry. Of course, Randy Smith was the Golf Professional I worked with the longest. He allowed me to really understand and manage the business side of the industry, which has become a passion of mine. As a junior, seeing the class of Gerry Chatelain is something I greatly respected from a young age. Lastly, my passion and respect for the game clearly came from my father.

What is the most rewarding part about being a member of the PGA of BC? 
Seeing juniors grow in to not only skilled golfers but great young men and women through the junior programs we built is extremely rewarding. The lifelong friendships I've made through the industry are special to me as well.

What is an interesting fact about yourself that doesn't involve golf? 
I have a French Bulldog, Norman, who has chewed every pair of shoes and remote left out.
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FACT OF THE WEEK
With the the winter months representing a time of change for facilities' Professional staffs, please ensure the PGA of BC administration team is advised if you secure a new place of employment, or if any changes have been made to the personnel at your facility.
 
Club Professionals in particular are encouraged to review their Professional staff listing via the PGA of BC's Find a Facility page, accessible by clicking below. Each facility's roster of affiliated members in good standing is listed in that location for public view.
 
If you have changed facilities, left a position and are now unaffiliated, or if your facility's staff listing is no longer current, please contact Membership & Events Manager Doug Titterington at doug@pgabc.org to have the administration team update affiliations accordingly. Similarly, if your home address or other contact information such as email address or phone number have recently been changed, please click here to log in to your PGA of Canada profile and update your information accordingly. 
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