PGA of BC

E-NEWS

JANUARY 24, 2024

The PGA of BC Office Team informs you that our website is currently experiencing technical difficulties and is not accessible at this time. Our technical partner is looking into the issue and we expect the website to return online in the near future.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.

Fresh Golf Solutions will celebrate its second year in business in February. In that time it has created a popular website platform, supplying all golf jobs from coast-to-coast of all golf departments in one spot. For those interested, there is a weekly email of all the new positions that come out across Canada.

Fresh Golf is a search firm that specializes in finding leaders in the Golf & Club world. In the last two years, Fresh Golf has found candidates for Head Professionals, General Managers, Superintendents, Marketing & Communication, Sales and Executive Directors. To separate itself from other search firms – besides pricing that all Clubs can afford – the advisory team is the most connected team in the industry because we are still active members of the golf world. If your facility needs help finding a leader in the future or you want to know what you need to be ready for your next job search, please go to www.freshgolf.ca or contact founder and lead recruiter Scott Kolb at scott@vbgolf.ca.

Voting for vacant positions on the PGA of BC Board of Directors is now open. There are five (5) positions available. Four (4) of these positions will be two-year, non-renewable terms; the remaining one (1) will be one-year, non-renewable terms. 

Included in the link below are biographical information and qualifications as provided by each candidate. Incumbent candidates seeking re-election to the Board of Directors are indicated as such. Please read all materials, fill out the required information and complete your ballot in the section below. All selections will remain strictly confidential; personal information is collected only for the purpose of verifying voter identities.

Due to regional quota considerations, the Vancouver Island-based candidate receiving the most votes will be guaranteed one of the (two-year) open positions regardless of their finish in the overall vote totals.

The remaining two-year term positions will be awarded accordingly to those candidates otherwise receiving the highest vote totals. The one-year terms will be offered to the candidates otherwise receiving the next-highest vote totals.

All PGA of BC membership categories, including Apprentice Professionals, may vote in this election. Members can vote by selecting up to a maximum of five (5) candidates below. Each member may only submit one ballot in this election. Any additional ballots submitted will void all ballots.

Voting Closes at 4:00 p.m. PST on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

Twelve (12) candidates are in the running for the open positions (listed alphabetically):

• Ashby, Callum, Head Professional, Highland Pacific Golf
• Campbell-Leveck, Courtney (Incumbent), Head Professional, Gleneagles Golf Course
• Hajer, Andy, Head Professional, Arbutus Ridge Golf Club
• Lacusta, Caine, Class "A" Professional, Riverway Golf Course
• Liddicoat, Steve, Head Professional, Northview Golf & Country Club
• Pool, Greg, Class "A" Professional, Unaffiliated
• Rourke, Jordan, Class "A" Professional, The Vancouver Golf Club
• Scollon, Drew, Class "A" Professional, Point Grey Golf & Country Club
• Tofani, Ryan, Head Professional, Chilliwack Golf Club
• Vu, John, Class "A" Professional, Quilchena Golf & Country Club
• Ward, Chris, Class "A" Professional, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club
• Wright, Adrien, Class "A" Professional, Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community

To vote, please click on the link HERE, read the biographical information provided by each candidate, fill out the required information and submit the ballot.

The PGA of BC is thrilled to announce TaylorMade Golf Canada as the official presenting sponsor of the 2024 Education Seminar, taking place February 5 & 6 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC.

TaylorMade Golf Canada joins the Association as a committed partner and is excited to support the Association's marquee education event.

"TaylorMade Golf Canada is proud to support the PGA of BC Education Seminar and become a year-long partner. Through our partnership our goal is to encourage continued growth and innovation, helping all professionals succeed in their careers and craft," said Matt Cizmar, Brand Director & Interim General Manager, TaylorMade Golf Canada. 

"BC already includes a long list of distinguished professionals and we look forward to helping their continued leadership as well as guide new professionals launching their golf careers."

The brand looks forward to aligning with PGA of BC professionals and their core values through supporting career development and continuous growth, inspiring PGA engagement and connection within the golf industry, and leadership in innovation and performance.

TaylorMade Golf Canada will also serve as presenting sponsor of the Cec Ferguson Executive Professional of the Year Award, to be granted at the Association's Awards Celebration in the fall.

"The PGA of BC is delighted to announce that TaylorMade Golf Canada has signed on as the presenting sponsor of our 2024 Education Seminar. TaylorMade Golf shares our vision of advancing the game of golf and supporting the professional development of our members," said Mark Strong, Executive Director of the PGA of BC.

"We are grateful for TaylorMade Golf's generous support and look forward to partnering with them to deliver high-quality education seminars that will benefit our members and the golf industry in British Columbia."

For any questions, please contact Strong at mark@pgabc.org.

Registration for the 2024 PGA of BC Education Seminar presented by TaylorMade Golf Canada closes this Friday, January 26 at 4:00pm. Members are encouraged to sign up for the Association's marquee education event, taking place February 5 & 6 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC.

Join over 200 of your peers and participate in two days of presentations and workshops from some of the brightest minds and inspiring individuals in the worlds of golf, business and retail. We are incredibly excited to welcome many formidable speakers to the Education Seminar, including Ralph Bauer, Director of Instruction at Hamilton Golf & Country Club and founder of the Tour Read Golf Green Reading System; Sarah Spain, ESPN reporter, columnist, and host; and Tara Llanes, Team Canada Paralympian and advocate for athletes of all abilities, among other impressive presenters.

To register for this unparalleled education opportunity, please click here. Please be advised that registration is currently limited to this payment link, as our website undergoes maintenance.

Attendees are also reminded that the PGA of BC has reserved a room block at the River Rock Casino Resort for Association members, with a preferred accommodation rate on offer. When you call the River Rock to reserve your room, make sure to mention the PGA of BC Education Seminar to secure the preferred room rate. To learn more, please contact Executive Director Mark Strong at mark@pgabc.org.

The 2024 Virtual Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada kicked off last Thursday, January 18 with a fantastic, moving presentation from mental health advocate Allan Kehler.

"Find your Voice, Find your Power" focused on the ways in which individuals, including golf professionals, often suppress their emotions and shy away from seeking help and support for their mental health. Allan spoke of his own struggles with mental health and his inspiring road to recovery from addiction. His key message was to urge those struggling in their personal or professional lives to be open and honest about those challenges. Vulnerability can give strength and a sense of connection with those you are close with.

Allan recently compiled a Demo Reel on YouTube to showcase his work and highlight his presentations. The Demo Reel can be viewed here. In addition, Allan delivered a TEDx TALK focusing on "Mental Health Crisis in Men". That presentation can be viewed here. Allan's website includes many resources to learn more about his work uplifting and supporting others. Please click here to visit Allan's website.

The Association extends our gratitude to Foresight Sports Canada for their continued support of education and professional development.

The PGA of Canada Member Assistance Program (MAP) provided by Family Services Employee Assistance Programs (fseap) is a benefit for PGA of Canada members offered by an experienced national provider with a background in not-for-profit organizations and member-based associations.

The MAP provides members and eligible immediate family members with access to free, professional, and confidential counseling, coaching, and consulting services. These services can help you manage personal, family, and/or work-related concerns.

For full details on the MAP and how you can reach their 24-hour services, please click here.

BC university and college golf teams will return to competition soon. We look forward to continuing our updates upon the return of competitive play.

For more information on BC's collegiate golf programs, including their 2023-24 results and schedule, 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

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

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 5 & 6

River Rock Casino Resort, Richmond, BC

Education Seminar

Register Here

February 6, 4:15pm (Following the Education Seminar)

Ace Performance Centre, Richmond, BC

Interactive Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada:

Ralph Bauer - "Reading Greens with Tour Read Golf"

Registration Capacity Reached

February 7, 9:30am - 3:00pm

Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club, Richmond, BC

National Golf Course Owners' Association (NGCOA) Spring Conference

Register Here

February 21

Virtual Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada:

Dottie Pepper - "My experiences as a Tour Player, On-Course Analyst, and Golf Legend"

February 26

Elite Golf, Richmond, BC

Interactive Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada:

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

March 12

Virtual Education Series presented by Foresight Sports Canada:

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

CONTACT THE PGA OF BC OFFICE TEAM